Santa Barbara Real Estate Articles

Resources to help you buy, sell, or improve your Santa Barbara home

selling home low inventory

The Power of Scarcity: How Fewer Homes for Sale Benefit Home Sellers In Santa Barbara

In the ever-changing landscape of the real estate market, the dynamics between supply and demand play a pivotal role in shaping the experiences of both buyers and sellers. While a surplus of homes for sale can tilt the advantage towards buyers, a market with fewer homes for sale can greatly benefit home sellers. In this…
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Introducing the Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan Program

The dream of owning a home is still alive for many individuals and families, especially for those who live in Santa Barbara. However, the high cost of housing can be a major obstacle to achieving this goal. Fortunately, the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) just launched a new program that can help first-time homebuyers overcome…
santa barbara music academy

Santa Barbara Spotlight: A Brief History of the Music Academy of the West

The Santa Barbara Music Academy (SBMA) is a non-profit organization that has been providing music education to the community of Santa Barbara for over 50 years. The school’s mission is to provide high-quality music instruction to students of all ages and skill levels, while fostering a love of music and the arts. The SBMA was…
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Why your home’s Zestimate valuation is incorrect in 2023

Zillow’s “Zestimate” feature, which uses complex algorithms to estimate the value of a home, has been the subject of much debate and controversy. Some homeowners have praised the feature for providing valuable insights into the value of their homes, while others have criticized it for being inaccurate and unreliable. So, what is the real truth…
sell home for most money

10 tips to help you prepare your home for sale

If you’re planning on selling your home, you want to make sure you’re getting the best price possible. But, how do you make your home stand out and attract more potential buyers? Here are 10 tips to help you prepare your home to sell for more money. Start with curb appeal. A well-maintained lawn, fresh…
santa barbara home sellers

Buyer & Seller Perks in Santa Barbara’s Real Estate Market

Right now, the housing market is full of outstanding opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying your first home, moving up to a bigger one, or selling so you can downsize this spring, there are perks today that are powering big moves for residents of Santa Barbara. Here are the top…
home reno projects

7 Renovation Projects to Maximize Your Home Value in Santa Barbara

Spring is in the air, and Santa Barbara residents are looking to buy homes at an unprecedented rate. If you are having thoughts of selling your home, this may be the best opportunity we’ve seen in modern history to sell. One of the key questions every Santa Barbara home seller asks is: How can I…
sell home in spring

5 Reasons To Sell Your Santa Barbara Home This Spring

When selling a house in Santa Barbara, most homeowners hope for a quick and profitable transaction that puts them in a position to make a great move. If you’re waiting for the best time to win as a seller, the market is calling your name this spring. Here are five reasons why this is the…
santa barbara real estate market

The 2021 Santa Barbara Housing Market Continues To Boom

2020 will be known for a lot of things, and a record-breaking year for real estate will certainly be one of its more unexpected legacies,” prominent economist Daryl Fairweather said. And he’s right: most of us would have expected the housing market to suffer from circumstances like a once-in-a-hundred-years pandemic and historic inventory shortages. But,…
buy house bad credit santa barbara

Can You Buy a House in Santa Barbara with Bad Credit?

Some people are under the impression that you must have impeccable credit in order to buy a house in Santa Barbara. That’s truly not the case — there are plenty of opportunities for people with poor credit to start on the journey toward homeownership and end with a set of keys to their very own home…
buy home santa barbara

How to Buy a House in Santa Barbara

Buying a home in Santa Barbara is one of the most rewarding — and expensive — decisions any of us will make. Before you put out the welcome mat declaring “Home Sweet Home,” you’ll want to ensure that your home and your home loan, are sound both legally and financially. This article covers the basic…
christmas giving programs in santa barbarba

5 Ways You Can “Give Back” in Santa Barbara This Christmas

It is the season of giving here in Santa Barbara, and this year our community has more needs than ever. With Santa Barbara now entering yet another mandatory lockdown, we felt this was a good time to highlight 5 organizations that are making a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable residents. Each of…
Realtor mistakes to avoid

19 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your House In Santa Barbara

Selling your house in Santa Barbara can be an intensely emotional experience in any market, but it’s particularly nerve-wracking when it seems like other homes are going under contract in a matter of days while your listing lingers. In that situation, sellers can’t help but wonder if there might be something wrong with their place.…
guide to selling santa barbara home

Does The Real Estate Brokerage Matter When Selling a Home in Santa Barbara?

Anyone who’s bought or sold a house before is already aware that choosing the right Santa Barbara real estate agent can make a big difference in your experience. But what about the brokerage where the agent is affiliated — does the brokerage involved in your home transaction really affect you as a consumer? Brokerages can…
Buy a Forclosure in Santa Barbara

How To Buy a Foreclosure in Santa Barbara

Many buyers are understandably nervous about buying a foreclosed home in Santa Barbara, also known as a distressed sale. There are many horror stories about people purchasing a foreclosure and regretting it, but buying a foreclosure isn’t necessarily the nightmare that some people portray it to be. However, there are some things you need to…
sell santa barbara home during christmas

7 Reasons to List Your Santa Barbara Home this Christmas

Around this time each year, many homeowners decide to wait until after the holidays to sell their houses. Similarly, others who already have their homes on the market remove their listings until the spring. Let’s unpack the top reasons why selling your house now, or keeping it on the market this season, is the best…
beachfont homes santa barbara

Beachfront Homes for Sale in Santa Barbara

The city of Santa Barbara and its surrounding residential neighborhoods from Carpinteria to Goleta are located along one of the most breathtaking and pristine stretches of coastline in California. Nestled between the rugged foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the vast expanse of the glittering Pacific Ocean, these oceanfront communities are sustained year-round by…
Moving from city to Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Experiencing Major Influx of Out-of-town Homebuyers

As you have been hearing from Zia Group recently, the Santa Barbara real estate market continues to be extremely active. As of now, most Zia Group listings are generating multiple offers and extraordinary results for home sellers. In part, this has to do with an ever-increasing number of “work from home” buyers leave urban cities…
election housing market

4 Reasons the Presidential Election Won’t Impact Santa Barbara Real Estate

This week, Americans will decide our President for the next four years. That decision will have a major impact on many aspects of life in this country, but the residential real estate market will not be one of them. Analysts will try to measure the impact feasible changes in regulations might have on housing, the…
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2 Ways Home Equity Grows Your Net Worth

Equity continues to rise, helping Santa Barbara homeowners secure a much more stable financial future. According to the most recent data from CoreLogic, the average homeowner (nationally) gained $9,800 in equity over the past year. In addition, experts project 2021 home prices to continue rising. With prices going up, equity gains will also keep accelerating.…
tenants mistakes to avoid

A Complete Guide To Selling a House With Tenants In California

It’s stressful being a landlord at the best of times, but when the time comes for you to sell your investment property and move on, the stress can feel palpable. You’ve probably spent time getting to know your tenants and have built a relationship with them, and most humans don’t deal with change all that…
santa barbara neighborhood guides

Should I Sell My Vacation Home in Santa Barbara?

The travel industry is one of the major sectors that’s been hit extremely hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, it’s hard to know how long it will take for summer travelers to be back in action and for the industry to fully recover. Homeowners who rent their secondary properties on their own or through programs…
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How to Find Good Tenants for Your Santa Barbara Rental Property

Real estate investment can be tricky. We’ve all heard horror stories about renters who don’t pay on time, or damage property. So how do you find good tenants for your rental property and ensure your tenants will keep your investment secure? Avoiding potential damage to your rental property can be as simple as taking the…
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Will Unemployment Rates Impact Santa Barbara Home Sales?

Ten million Americans lost their jobs over the last two weeks. The next announced unemployment rate on May 8th is expected to be in the double digits. Because the health crisis brought the economy to a screeching halt, many are feeling a personal financial crisis. James Bullard, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, explained that the…
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Governor Newsom Takes Executive Action to Establish a Statewide Moratorium on Evictions

Executive order banning eviction orders Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order banning the enforcement of eviction orders for renters affected by COVID-19 through May 31, 2020. The order prohibits landlords from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent and prohibits enforcement of evictions by law enforcement or courts. It also requires tenants to declare…
disaster jobs

SBA Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state’s or territory’s Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness…
housing crisis

3 Reasons Why This Is Not a Housing Crisis

In times of uncertainty, one of the best things we can do to ease our fears is to educate ourselves with research, facts, and data. Digging into past experiences by reviewing historical trends and understanding the peaks and valleys of what’s come before us is one of the many ways we can confidently evaluate any…
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Fun Activities for Kids While At Home

As Santa Barbara children are displaced from their schools due to the coronavirus, the question has risen for parents: What will the kids do all day? The widespread school closures have sent a ripple effect into parent communities as many scramble to find ways to smoothly transition kids into at-home life. It’s one thing to…
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Coronavirus Resources for Property Owners

The following resources provide property owners with assistance during the COVID-19 crisis. Article written by National Association of Realtors. American Land Title Association (ALTA) has provided the following resources: County Record Office Closures(link is external): Real-time database of offices that are closing or reducing operations as a result of the coronavirus. Click on the link…
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Surprising Real Estate Predictions for 2020 from Industry Leaders

This will be an interesting year for residential real estate. With a presidential election taking place this fall and talk of a possible recession occurring before the end of the year, predicting what will happen in the 2020 U.S. housing market can be challenging. As a result, taking a look at the combined projections from…
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27 Tips To Simplify The Home Selling Process

Because your home may well be your largest asset, selling it is probably one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. To better understand the home selling process, a guide has been prepared from current industry insider reports. Through these 27 tips you will discover how to protect and capitalize on…
real estate listing agreement

What To Know Before Signing a Listing Agreement When Selling a House

When you hire a listing agent, you’ll be presented a listing agreement that outlines the duties and responsibilities your real estate broker will have in selling your property for you. In this article, we’ll explain the purpose of a real estate listing agreement, the types of listing agreements, as well as what happens when your…
fix house or sell

Should I Fix Up My House Or Sell It As Is?

With the fall season upon us, change is in the air. For many families, children are growing up and moving out of the house, maybe leaving for college or taking a jump into the working world. Parents are finding themselves as empty nesters for the first time. The question inevitably arises: is it finally time to downsize?…
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A Quick Guide To Reviewing & Accepting An Offer On Your Home

Negotiation is a fine art and typically works best when both parties get what they want. For example, you may be willing to take less money for your home in exchange for an all-cash offer or a quicker closing. Your buyer may be willing to pay your asking price, but they may ask you to…
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Is This Really The Best Week To Buy a House in Santa Barbara?

The week of Sept. 22, which marks the beginning of fall, is the best time of year to buy a home, according to a new realtor.com analysis. Buyers tend to find less competition, more inventory, and the biggest reductions on list price during that week, according to the study, which evaluated housing data in 53…
santa barbara cleaning

14 Tips for Deep Cleaning Your New Home in Santa Barbara

If you’ve never owned a house before, then it’s entirely possible that you’ve never deep-cleaned a house. (Hey, no shame in that game.) But when the house is yours, the desire to see it as clean and sparkling as it can possibly be is strong — and you might have no idea where to start…
Off market homes in santa barbara

Buying a Fixer Upper in Santa Barbara? Read This First!

Fixing up a house — either to live in or to flip — has become an increasingly popular dream, and it makes sense: Who doesn’t love watching all those shows on HGTV while you ponder how much money you could make on your own flip (or how nice it would be to live in a…
renting vs buying house

Renting vs Buying: Is it better to rent or own a home?

When is it time to stop renting a home and seriously consider buying your own place? That’s a personal question and a very personal decision — it really depends on your lifestyle, your finances, your employment plans, and many other factors that could make buying a house a really good idea, or an absolutely terrible…
home buying guide

7 Steps To Buying Your First Home In Santa Barbara

1. Get prequalified for a loan Before you begin the home buying process, it is essential to know how much you can pay for a home. Your lender can make this easy for you, by pre-qualifying you before you and your real estate agent begin looking for a home. A prequalification is free and can…
6 questions to ask about title insurance

4 Questions to Ask When Selling Your Santa Barbara Home

There comes a time in every homeowner’s life when he or she realizes: “I am not the same person I was when I bought this place.” Maybe your lifestyle or your family configuration has changed, or maybe the house just isn’t as appealing as it was when you signed that ream of paperwork on closing…
real estate closing

10 Things Homebuyers Should Know About The Closing Process

If you’re reading this, you’re probably entering the home stretch. Hang in there! The closing process, or settlement, transfers ownership of your new home from the seller to you. Yes, there’s a lot going on, and a lot of money is going to change hands. But when you know what to expect and plan well,…
downsize home

4 Considerations When Helping Your Senior Parents Downsize

Watching your parents age is never an easy thing, and helping to make life decisions on their behalf can be immensely stressful. This is one of the reasons why children who are tasked with helping their parents downsize into a more lifestyle-appropriate home often delay in doing so. And when you combine this stress with…
millennial buy home

The Millennial’s Guide to Buying a Home in Santa Barbara

Millennials who want to invest in real estate have it harder than many other generations. Real estate prices are at record or near-record highs in just about every major market in the country, and even though employment is good, wages still haven’t kept up with the home price increases, making it tougher than ever to…
host open house santa barbara

Host the Ultimate Open House When Selling Your Santa Barbara Home

An open house can be an ideal way to introduce a bulk of buyers to the property you’re hoping to sell them, and done right, an open house can sometimes generate multiple offers. The key, though, is “done right” — not every open house is going to be a buyer’s bonanza, and not every open…
home renovation

Painful Home Renovation Mistakes to Avoid this Year

One of the very best things about owning your own home is that you can change it to fit yourself and your lifestyle. Home renovations are more popular than ever before, and there are countless shows, blogs, magazines and other resources where you can indulge your dreams of a perfect home — if you’re willing…
santa barbara yard

19 Ideas to Upgrade Your Yard This Summer

Even though humans are a species that builds and maintains our own shelter (also known as “homes”), we can all appreciate the beauty that the natural outdoors has to offer — and indeed, there are entire industries dedicated to beautifying our own outdoor spaces so that we can reap maximum enjoyment out of them.  If…
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10 Considerations When Calculating Your Santa Barbara Home Value

There’s a reason why estimating a home’s value is a specialized process that’s typically executed by a licensed professional (also known as an appraiser) — it’s not easy to determine the fair-market value of a home in a particular point in time. Dozens of factors influence how much an average buyer might be willing to…
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9 Common Types of Mortgage Loans for Homebuyers in Santa Barbara

If you’ve never bought a home before, the sheer number of mortgage loan options can be overwhelming. What’s the difference between a conventional loan and a government loan, and should you go with an adjustable-rate or fixed-rate mortgage? Even if you have bought a home before, if it’s been several years, then you might not…
home inspection santa barbara

13 Things Santa Barbara Homebuyers Should Know About Inspections

If you’re not familiar with home inspections, then you might have a lot of questions about what gets inspected, how thorough the inspectors are, why you even need one, and what you can expect if you’re walking with an inspector through the house you’re hoping to buy in santa barbara. There’s a lot to know…
real estate agent

21 Telltale Signs of a Good Real Estate Agent

Just like in any other profession, there are good real estate agents … and there are, unfortunately, subpar real estate agents, too. But how do you know if you’ve got a dreamboat or a dud handling your real estate transaction? One way to know whether you’ve got a good agent (or not) is to consider…
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10 Tax Breaks for Santa Barbara Home Owners

Being a homeowner definitely has its advantages, and saving money on your taxes each year just might be at the top of the list. Make sure you’re taking advantage of these common tax perks as a homeowner: 1) Mortgage interest One of the most common tax perks, you can deduct mortgage interest for your primary…
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4 Questions to Ask Before Selling Your Santa Barbara Home

There comes a time in every home owner’s life when he or she realizes: “I am not the same person I was when I bought this place.” Maybe your lifestyle or your family configuration has changed, or maybe the house just isn’t as appealing as it was when you signed that ream of paperwork on…
own home

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a House in Santa Barbara

Buying a home can be an anxiety-ridden process, and that potential anxiety gets amplified for anyone who’s embarking on homeownership for the very first time. There’s so much to do and so much you don’t know that “being overwhelmed” hardly seems like an appropriate description of how it feels. And even though you don’t want…
daniel zia magazine cover

Daniel Zia Awarded Cover & Featured Interview In World Class Magazines

Founder of Zia Group, Daniel Zia, was awarded the cover and featured interview in World Class Magazines. Below, you can read the complete article written by author Katrina World. Focus, appears to be fundamental to Daniel Zia and his Zia Group’s business strategy. Zia surrounds himself with a stellar team of eight, each centering in…
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11 Questions To Ask When Interviewing A Realtor in Santa Barbara

If you’re in the market to sell your Santa Barbara home, OR purchase a home, there’s something you should know… all Realtors are NOT the same! Your decision to place your home for sale involves more than simply running an ad, holding a few open houses, and waiting for the sales proceeds check. And your…
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How To Sell a Home During Probate In Santa Barbara

Selling a home during probate and trust in Santa Barbara has its own unique set of challenges and can be daunting for those who are unfamiliar with the process. If you or someone you know is preparing to sell a home during probate, this guide will help prepare you with a general understanding of the…
sell home santa barbara

The Complete Guide To Selling A Home In Santa Barbara

This home seller’s guide is designed to help you understand the selling process before you put your home on the market in Santa Barbara, and it will help you make smart decisions every step of the way. For answers to questions about your specific situation, we encourage you to consult one of our real estate…
multifamily real estate santa babara

5 Reasons to Invest in Multifamily Real Estate in Santa Barbara

Investing in small multifamily real estate is one of the best investment strategies for building lucrative and consistent cash flow on a monthly basis. That alone makes small multifamily real estate a smart investment, but this merely scratches the surface. In this article, I will outline just five of the MANY reasons to invest in…
1031 exchange santa barbara

1031 Exchange Rules for Real Estate Investors in Santa Barbara

As an active real estate investor, there will come a time where you need to sell one investment property and buy another. Perhaps the market has appreciated and it’s time to cash out and reinvest your earnings in another deal. Great! But what do you do about the hefty Capital Gains tax you’ll face with…
sell home off market santa barbara

Pros & Cons of Selling a Home Off-Market in Santa Barbara

Wondering if it’s time to sell your home off-market? It’s a good question to ask. Last year, 88% of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker. But where did they find the home they purchased? According to the National Association of Realtors, buyers found these homes: -On the internet: 51%-Through a…
downsize in santa barbara

11 Things to Consider When Downsizing in Santa Barbara

Nothing lasts forever — including a home where you raised a family or lived most of your working life. And it’s a fact of life that suddenly, a place that was perfect for you a decade or two ago might start to feel cavernous and empty (or just contain more square footage than you really…
energy efficient santa barbara home

33 Tips to Make Your Santa Barbara Home Energy Efficient

Not too long ago in our country’s history, talking about making your house “greener” might get you labeled a hippie tree-hugger. But times change, and as gas, electricity, and water prices creep up, more and more homeowners are seeing the (strong) advantages that come with considering the environment when you make decisions about your household.…
santa barbara winter

18 Ways to Prepare Your Santa Barbara Home for Winter

Winterizing your house might seem complicated, especially if you’ve never done it before. But if you follow these tips, you’ll be ready for rain, wind, or the occasional hail before you know it (or at least before the inclement weather actually arrives). Winterize your home early It’s a smart move to start thinking about your…
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The Ultimate Guide to Buying & Selling Off-Market Homes in Santa Barbara

You have probably hearing a lot about off-market listings lately.  There seems to be some confusion about whether they’re a good idea or a bad idea, so we wanted to clear this up for you. An off-market property is a home that is not listed on the MLS.  Both buyers and sellers may prefer an…
choose neighborhood buy home

How To Choose The Best Neighborhood When Buying A Home

There are many factors to consider when selecting a neighborhood that is right for you. Below are just a few of the many factors — you may think of others that are important to you. Neighborhoods have characteristic personalities designed to best suit single people, growing families, two-career couples, or retirees. Scout the Neighborhood It…
Benefits Home Ownership Santa Barbara

12 Benefits of Owning a Home in Santa Barbara

Every family has a list of important dates. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, pet adoptions…and the list goes on. For 64.4 percent of households in the United States, this list includes the day they became a homeowner for the first time! Why is this date important? Homeownership is not just a roof over your head! It represents shelter,…
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February 2019 Santa Barbara Real Estate Market Update

What a wet beginning to 2019 it has been! Good thing it is “sunny with a chance of clouds” within the real estate market in Santa Barbara. Many areas are seeing positive increases like our median sales price increased 3% over January 2018 and 20% more homes were sold. Single Family Homes in Santa Barbara…
Buying a Second Home

8 Questions to Answer Before Buying a Second Home

1) How much will a second home cost? Besides sale price, you should factor in mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance fees—and some of those expenses are probably higher than you think—plus up to 1.25 percent of the purchase price to cover annual maintenance and unexpected repairs. You’ll also need to budget 20 percent…
Family Wealth

4 Reasons Real Estate is One of the Best Ways to Build Generational Wealth

Recently, David Greene, co-host of the BiggerPockets podcast and a nationally renowned author and speaker, wrote an article in Forbes explaining how investing in real estate could help build wealth. Many of the points he made also apply to a family owning their own home. Here are a few: 1. Real Estate Appreciates In Value “The rising of home prices…
home appraisal

7 Steps to Take If Your Appraisal Comes In Low

Appraisals that come in below the agreed-upon purchase price can kill a sale. Having a response plan can save you from losing out on all the hard work you’ve undertaken to find your dream home. Why does the appraisal matter? Mortgage lenders will only fund transactions up to a certain percentage of the appraised value…
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New Reports Show It’s a Great Time to Sell your Home

We all realize that the best time to sell anything is when the demand for that item is high and the supply of that item is limited. The last two major reports issued by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed information that suggests that right now continues to be a great time to sell your house.…
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7 Ways To Make The Most Of Your Backyard in Santa Barbara

Thanks to Santa Barbara’s year-round mild weather, backyard barbecues aren’t just for Summer months. Whether it’s July or November, Santa Barbarians are always looking for the opportunity to BBQs with friends, toss a ball with the kids, or relax in the sun with a good book. But … it may be time to refresh your…
real estate myths

3 Myths About Today’s Real Estate Market

There are many conflicting headlines when it comes to describing today’s real estate market. Some are making comparisons to the market we experienced 10 years ago and are starting to believe that we may be doomed to repeat ourselves. Others are just plain wrong when it comes to what it takes to qualify for a…
own home

Should I Buy a Home or Continue Renting?

There are some people who have not purchased homes because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. Everyone should realize, however, that unless you are living with your parents rent-free, you are paying a mortgage – either yours or your landlord’s. It’s either your mortgage or your landlord’s As Entrepreneur Magazine, a premier source…
santa barbara moving checklist

Handy Moving Checklist For A Smooth Move in Santa Barbara

Moving can be a very overwhelming experience because there’s always plenty to do! But this Santa Barbara moving checklist helps you stay organized and on top of your move. Enjoy! 6-8 Weeks Before Moving Request quotes & hire a local moving company Reserve a storage unit, if required Organize belongings and set aside anything you…
home stager tips

Home Staging Tips to Attract Santa Barbara Home Buyers

You’ve settled on a solid list price, you’ve made updates to your interior and exterior — now, it’s on to staging. Making your home look both functional and beautiful and marketing your revamped home to the right audience takes some skill. Luckily, your agent can help you find the right designers and photographers to ensure…
proce home for sale

4 Considerations When Pricing Your Home For Sale

Assuming you price your property appropriately, your home for sale should start to gain awareness and leads within hours. But what exactly goes into setting a list price? Let’s delve into the primary factors that affect the specific dollar amount you ask for your residence. 1) Understand the local real estate market As noted, your…
guide to selling santa barbara home

5 Reasons You Need a Realtor When Selling Your Santa Barbara Home

With the advent and continual evolution of online search, you can access significant amounts of information within seconds. What the internet doesn’t offer, though, is provide detailed knowledge of the countless intricacies that go along with selling. Nearly nine in 10 sellers use an agent or broker to help them sell their homes — and…
price home sale

7 Steps to Prepare your Home For Sale In Santa Barbara

Congratulations on taking that next step in selling your home! We will walk you through the process, so please look over these helpful steps, and then drop us a note to begin. Step 1: Identify Your Reason For Selling It is often more emotional to sell a home than to buy a home, and the…
tight housing market

The Impact Of Tight Inventory On The Santa Barbara Housing Market

The housing crisis is finally in the rear-view mirror as the real estate market moves down the road to a complete recovery. Home values are up, home sales are up, and distressed sales (foreclosures and short sales) have fallen to their lowest points in years. It seems that the market will continue to strengthen in…
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Competition is Coming for Home Sellers

The number of building permits issued for single-family homes is the best indicator of how many newly built homes will rise over the next few months. According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Residential Sales Report, the number of these permits were up 7.4% over last year. How will this impact…
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Santa Barbara Real Estate Market Update for Summer 2017

As we settle into 2017, and into the beautiful summer months here in Santa Barbara, we want to take a quick look back at the first half of 2017 and share a few thoughts moving into the second half of this year. In general, our market is very similar to 2016. While it has been…
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Santa Barbara Real Estate Market Update for Spring 2017

Happy Easter! As we wrap up a very active first quarter of 2017, we wanted to share with you a quick snapshot of what’s happening in our Santa Barbara real estate market. Overall we ended March with about 8% more homes sold that last year and with an average sales price up 13% (when not…