Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Monday, August 30, 2010

Weekly Real Estate Snapshot 8/23 - 8/29

New Listings: 35

Price Improvements:  53

Pending: 27 breaks down to:
     under $1 million: 16
     $1-2 million: 5
     $2-4 million: 4
     $4-8 million: 1
     $8 million+: 1

Closed:  16 breaks down to:
     under $1 million: 9
     $1-2 million: 3
     $2-4 million: 2
     $4-8 million: 2
     $8 million+: 0

Off Market (expired, canceled, withdrawn): 29

Back On Market: 10

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Habitat For Humanity Tour of Green Homes October 9th

Habitat logo
2010 Tour of Green Homes

When:
Saturday October 9, 2010 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM




Please join us on Saturday, October 9th for the 2010 Tour of Green Homes.  Showcasing the latest in green building techniques,  the tour will include six homes in Santa Barbara and Montecito - including the new Victoria Garden Mews project and the Habitat for Humanity San Pascual affordable housing site.


Demonstrating how environmentally friendly construction methods and materials can be incorporated into any project, tour patrons will enjoy a wide range of home styles from modest to grand, from contemporary to craftsman.
Register and Buy Tickets Now!

Regular self-guided tour -  $25
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • Learn how to incorporate green design into your home
  • Talk to designers and vendors of green building materials
  • See how green building techniques can be affordable
  • View homes in Montecito and Santa Barbara
  • Tour the Habitat Build Site
VIP guided tour - $125
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • Transportation provided in Airbus type comfort
  • Boxed lunch
  • Professional presentations en route
  • Post-tour private reception at the new Victoria Garden Mews
All proceeds from the tour will benefit Habitat for Humanity  as we strive to eliminate substandard housing from Santa Barbara.


I hope you'll join us!
Joyce McCullough
Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County
(805) 692-2226
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Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County | PO Box 176 | Goleta | CA | 93116

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Just Listed: 601 East Victoria Street Santa Barbara, CA 93103

This new listing in the coveted Bungalow Haven will be open on today, 8/26 from 10-1pm and on Sunday 8/29 from 2-4pm.  Come on by and say hello! 

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Village Properties

www.villagesite.com
*|1250 Coast Village Road, California 93108|*
Copyright (C) 2009 *|Village Properties|* All rights reserved.

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Monday, August 23, 2010

Weekly Real Estate Snapshot 8/16 - 8/22

New Listings: 52

Price Improvements: 62

Pending: 36 breaks down to:
     under $1 million: 25
     $1-2 million: 6
     $2-4 million: 5
     $4-8 million: 0
     $8 million+: 0

Closed:  21 breaks down to:
     under $1 million: 17
     $1-2 million: 2
     $2-4 million: 2
     $4-8 million: 0
     $8 million+: 0

Off Market (expired, canceled, withdrawn): 35

Back On Market: 16

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Price Adjusted Again at 1509 Mountain Avenue $699,000


show details 10:00 AM (4 hours ago)

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Village Properties
www.villagesite.com
*|1250 Coast Village Road, California 93108|*
Copyright (C) 2009 *|Village Properties|* All rights reserved.

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Thursday, August 19, 2010

August Santa Barbara EcoBroker Newsletter

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In This Issue:

LATEST & GREATEST...
  
  SANTA BARBARA REAL ESTATE SNAPSHOT:
 
 July 19 - August 15, 2010

New listings: 205
Price Improvements: 237
Pending: 117
(break down:)
Sub $1million: 77
$1-2M: 25
$2-4M: 10
$4-8M: 4
$8M+: 0
Closed: 96
Off Market:  103
Back On market: 29

This is a look at statistics provided through the Santa Barbara Multiple Listing Service over the past month.  They include single family residences and condos, from Carpinteria to Goleta.

INDUSTRY NEWS
 
Green is Alive and Well!
Recently it has seemed that energy and environmental issues have taken a back seat to the noise and smoke of the foreclosure, REO, and Short Sale market. Inevitably, this major issue has sucked up a lot of attention with the public and within our real estate industry. In fact, there is a lot going on in the "green" area as well. Let's look at some good and a little to create caution.

Commercial real estate and business in general have been very active in adopting energy efficiency and a variety of environmental improvements. With financial challenges to commercial occupancy and investor returns, the ability to create immediate improvements to the rental bottom line have really caught the attention of building owners as well as major tenants. This activity creates discussions and "general interest" press coverage about things like Walmart and the Kroger grocery chains saving millions of dollars on utilities across the country. Homeowners see these stories and are more open to your messages that upgrades can produce measurable savings.

EcoBroker® Carson Matthews, tracks the sale of third-party certified homes in the Atlanta market on his website; and he reports that these homes are a larger percentage of the market than they have ever been, and they are selling with fewer days on the market. That's very good news. EcoBroker® Cheryl King's company,  Hybrid Home Living, has been working with investors in the Phoenix market foreclosure properties to use green upgrades to make the homes more attractive and marketable. This innovative approach helps clear these properties from the market more quickly and upgrades the existing housing stock. These are two examples of green activity in what is still a troubled real estate market.

Government incentives at federal, state, and local levels are making it easier for homeowners to improve their homes at more reasonable cost. Some of the federal tax credit incentives will end this year, unless they are extended by Congress. This creates a good reason for homeowners to get these eligible upgrades done before December 31. Other incentives are in place until 2016, but the cost of these alternative energy projects is probably as low now as it will get with plenty of contractors available and the equipment companies competing for a smaller retrofit market. Lots of state and local incentives are showing up with incentive dollars approved in past years and just now getting actual funding at the local levels. Keep your eye on  Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency and stay in touch with your state energy offices (find them through the National Association of State Energy Officials) for these benefits available to the sphere of homeowners you connect with regularly - and for yourself! In addition to all of these programs, the Home Star legislation is still working its way through Congress as part of the Jobs Bill. That program will add additional incentives for quality retrofit projects.

A note of caution: consumers are being bombarded with "green" claims. They are leery of things that sound too good to be true. As EcoBrokers we spend a lot of time and effort identifying and avoiding greenwash. With the current market sentiment, this becomes even more crucial. The comfort and health messages of good environmental choices do resonate with homeowners. Saving money is important as well, but they hear a lot of exaggerated claims, so go easy on that message. "Future proofing" - preparing now for the inevitable rising utility costs in the near future - is a personal security message that also gets good responses. Use the tools, use them professionally, and be prepared to back up all of your statements. You have the background to stand out with authentic professional service.
 
So, Green is NOT dead. It has been hiding a bit and is really coming back to the attention of your clients at a time when the market need is great and the opportunities are numerous. Learn what is going on in your market and what your target clients need the most. There are good programs out there. The "free lunch" financing is gone and will not be back, at least in the foreseeable future. Use what is there, explain to your customers and clients how they will benefit and build your business on the solid footing of good advice.
 
Reach John Stovall, EcoBroker International, V.P. of Business Development at jstovall@ecobroker.com
 
High End Sales Increase
A surprising sign of our current market is the 92% increase in the number of home sales over 4 million as tracked by our local Multiple Listing Service .  Total sales have increased by 30% in 2010 compared to the year before, due in part to the incentives given to first time home buyers.  So to see such a dramatic increase in the upper end is a sign of increasing confidence in our area and in real estate as a safe place to invest.
 
Mortgage Update Through
First Half of 2010


While we are still as an industry working our way through the challenges of the “Credit Crunch”, so far 2010 has brought many of positives. 
First, rates have been at historic lows at a point when most industry analysts were expecting them to go higher.  As part of the 2008 Stimulus Act, the Fed was buying mortgage backed securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to the tune of $1.25 trillion.

At the start of 2010 the Fed started to slowdown and ultimately stopped their mortgage backed security purchase program by the end of the 1st Quarter of 2010.  Without the Fed buying mortgages from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the unanimous expectation was that their rates at would start to inch up.  In fact, the opposite happened and we are now seeing conforming rates at all time lows.
Second, FHA financing continues to provide opportunity for more buyers to get into the market with little money down with loan amounts up to $729,750.  All though the upfront mortgage insurance premium (the charge FHA adds to their loans as an insurance against default) increased from 1.75% to 2.25% FHA it is still a great financing option for buyers that otherwise may not have one.

Also, we have seen more use of the FHA 203k renovation loans.  These loans allow buyers to finance home improvements into the purchase loan.  Now, fixer properties become more of an option to first time buyers as they can use the renovation loan for anything from a new roof to new appliances, kitchen or bath.  This loan can also be used by existing homeowners that do not have much equity, but would like get additional funds to improve their home.

Last, Jumbo and Super Jumbo financing is really starting to open up.  Over the last few years Jumbo financing has been very difficult to find, and when we did find it, it was very restrictive.  In the last six months we have seen the Jumbo loan market start to heat up.  There are new products available, more investors offering Jumbo programs and extremely low rates.  We now have a broad offering of well priced 5, 7 and 10 year ARM’s as well as competitively priced 30 year fixed loan options.
Written by Adam Black, Senior Loan Officer
Coast Village Lending, a Division of Prospect Mortgage
Adam can be reached at: 805-452-8393
 

COMMUNITY:

Fairview Garden's Harvest Festival
Sun. Aug 22nd 12-5pm
 
Save the Date:

Big Green Weekend
Oct. 7 - 10th
 


GET INVOLVED:
 
Sauna Bathhouse Natural Building Workshop
with Sasha Rabin of Seven Generations Natural Builders & Vertical Clay  
www.verticalclay.com
@ Quail Springs Permaculture Farm
October 9-16, 2010
REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 1ST FOR EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT!

Experience the beauty, functionality, and ecological sense of natural building! For first-time as well as professional builders who want to delve into natural materials.

Gain guided hands-on experience building with cob, light straw clay, adobe block, wattle & daub, & integrating materials, prospecting & testing materials, mixing cob, installing windows, attaching doors & roof, sculpting niches, shelves & furniture.

Complemented by slide shows & discussions on theory of natural building, siting, design, passive solar, foundations, natural plasters, earthen floors, roofs, electric & plumbing for earthen buildings.

Cost $675 by Sept 1 / $800 thereafter Includes intensive hands-on workshop, farm fresh & locally grown meals, camping nearby, joyous work, discussions, and celebrations with community, nature walks & high desert star gazing in Quail Springs spring-fed canyon. Capacity 10 students.

Contact to register info@quailsprings.org or 805-886-7239

VOCABULARY LESSON:

Passive Solar Heating:
   Designing and building features that effectively trap heat from the sun during the day and release that heat slowly throughout the nighttime. The effect is similar to living near a large body of water where the thermal mass of the water lessens temperature extremes. That means reduced heating and cooling load for a building, and that saves you money.


COOL WEBSITE OF THE MONTH:
 
Santa Barbara County's Green Resource Website:
 
 
 
Tonight!
August 17, 2010 6-8pm
 
The Marquee
(at the Granada)
www.marqueesb.com
 
1212 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 560-0100
 
Save The Date For Next Month:
 
Tuesday, September 21st 6-8pm
 
Location TBD
 
 
to join email:

SOLD:
 
921 Spring Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Listed at $649,000

Very clean 3 bedroom, 2 bath 1,316 sq. ft. home recently redone on SB’s eastside. Short distance to Milpas shopping and SB High. Recent upgrades include: new roof, new kitchen with new cabinets, stainless sink, granite counters, and tile floors, new carpet throughout, fireplace in living room, new fixtures, remodeled baths 2 car garage & more.
 

 

 

PENDING
 
1230 Manitou Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
 
Listed at $995,000
(multiple offers)

Wonderful compound 1.4 acres! Home and artist’s studio offers many possibilities.
 
Studio + oversized bedroomm and loft with 1/2 bath.
 
Main house 2bed/ 2.5 bath, very large "L" shaped light filled living room.
 
Surrounded by botanic garden like grounds with protruding boulders, winding paths, rock walls, decks and viewing sites.
 
Canyon/mountain feeling by Hendry’s Beach, the Mesa and Elings Park!


IN ESCROW:

1010 Belmonte Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Listed at $1,599,000

Beautifully remodeled (2006) craftsman.
 
Hickory hardwood floors throughout this 4000+/- sq. ft. home with 5 bedrooms & 5 full baths, bonus room could be media room or 6th bedroom.
 
French doors open to pool with patio and lawn. In the New Harding University Partnership School District that is now associated with UCSB.
 


FOR SALE:

1509 Mountain Ave,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101  

Listed at $699,000

Double lot with updated and charming house on one of the best streets on the Westside! Gorgeous well maintained two bedroom, 1 bathroom home with fireplace, hardwood floors, and mountain views from the deck.

Light and bright with many French doors to the peaceful outdoors – great for indoor outdoor living. Fabulous yard filled with fruit trees, mature landscaping even a secret garden.

By appointment with Elizabeth

 

FOR SALE:

319 Consuelo Drive
 
Duplex"
3 bed 2 bath + fireplace, rental income $2500
and
2 bed, 1 bath,
rental income $2100
 
Price Adjusted
$895,000
 
A very nicely updated duplex in San Roque with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a fireplace on one side and 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom on the other.
 
Private patios and yards with fruit trees and raised beds, two car garage and interior laundry hook-ups.
 
Central location to hikes, transportation, shopping and in the Hope School District.
 
  By appointment with Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Wagner & DeAnn Wilson
Village Properties
4050 Calle Real Suite 120 | Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Elizabeth: 805.895.1467 or DeAnn 805.451.7488
www.SantaBarbaraEcoBroker.com and www.GreenHomesSB.com
SantaBarbaraEcoBrokers@gmail.com

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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Weekly Real Estate Snapshot 8/9 - 8/15

New Listings: 49

Price Improvements: 63

Pending:  35  breaks down to:
     under $1 million: 18
     $1-2 million: 9
     $2-4 million: 5
     $4-8 million:3
     $8 million+: 0

Closed: 25 breaks down to:
     under $1 million: 20
     $1-2 million: 5
     $2-4 million: 0
     $4-8 million: 0
     $8 million+: 0

Off Market (expired, canceled, withdrawn): 23

Back On Market: 13

Friday, August 13, 2010

Reminder: Green Drinks This Tuesday at The Marquee

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The Marquee
(at the Granada)
 
1212 State Street
(805) 560-0100
 
August 17, 6-8pm
 

What Is Green Drinks?
Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up at informal sessions known as Green Drinks. 

We have a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business. Come along and you'll be made welcome. It's a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts.  Everyone invites someone else along, so there's always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organizing network.
 
These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity. It's a force for the good! 
 
WHAT: The world-famous Green Drinks
 
WHEN: 6-8pm
 
RULE: Third Tuesday of every month
 
WHERE: Different each month, join the email list for reminders!
 
HOW: Walk, cycle, bus, or carpool
 
WHO: Anyone interested in the environment
 
WHY: Fun, contacts, info, gossip, inspiration, business and pleasure
 
NEW: Just go up to someone and say "are you green?", and you'll be made welcome.
 
STATUS: Informal, self-organizing network.
Every month in SB since 2006.
Average attendance: 75

GLOBAL: Over 600 Cities!

NEXT MONTH:
 
September 21, 2010
 
TBD
 
REMIND: To get on this email circulation list, send an email to: SantaBarbara@GreenDrinks.org

FaceBook:
Green Drinks Santa Barbara

Asuncion, Paraguay
Green Drinks

Bucharest, Romania
Green Drinks

Cairo, Egypt
Green Drinks

New Delhi, India
Green Drinks

Mumbai, India
Green Drinks
Elizabeth Wagner & DeAnn Bauer
The 1st EcoBrokers© & Green Designees Realtors® in Santa Barbara
Village Properties | 4050 Calle Real Suite 120 | Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Email us at: SantaBarbaraEcoBrokers@gmail.com | Contact us at: Elizabeth: 805-895-1467 or DeAnn 805-451-7488
www.SantaBarbaraEcoBroker.com and www.GreenHomesSB.com

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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Santa Barbara Real Estate through the end of July 2010


Each month a very generous and talented colleague, Gary Woods compiles all the Santa Barbara Multiple Listing and Cort sales data and provides many of us in the real estate industry with a synopsis of the current market. Thank you Gary, as always your expertise and data is very appreciated!
For the Home Estate/PUD market of Santa Barbara, Montecito, Hope Ranch, Carpinteria, Summerland and Goleta sales rose in the month of July 2010 after declining from April to June. Going from 89 in April, 85 in May and 82 in June the numbers of sales rose to 84 for July. The median sales price slid slightly however to $871,250 from $915,000 the previous month but the average sales price rose from $1.2 million in June to about $1.5 million in July. The average days on the market that it took to get an accepted offer remained at about 75 for July which is down from earlier in the year when it was in the mid 80s.
The numbers of opened escrows for the month fell back to the low 80s where they've been for most of the year after rising to over 100 in June. But, the median list price on those escrows fell below $800,000 dropping from close to $900,000 the previous month while the average days on the market that it took to get those accepted offers continued at right around 70.
The inventory of houses listed for sale went up to around 680 for the month with approximately 165 new listings coming on the market. The median list price on those new listings was just below $1 million while the median list price of the overall inventory remained at about $1.575 million.
Looking at the first 7 months of '10 compared to '09 the numbers of sales are still dramatically ahead of where they were last year but the median sales price is starting to come back to what it was last year at this time after being ahead of last year's numbers for most of this year. The numbers of escrows for '10 have slid slightly below the '09 pace and the median list price of those is declining to right about where it was last year after being above last year’s median list price most of the year.
Looking at the Districts, starting out in Carpinteria/Summerland the numbers of sales are still ahead of where they were last year with 38 compared to 35 but the median sales price of $675,000 this year finally fell below where it was last year when it was about $690,000. The numbers of escrows this year are way behind where they were last year so things are currently not looking very good for Carpinteria/Summerland home sales at this time.
For Montecito, there have been 79 Home Sales so far this year up from 71 last year and the median sales price is up from $2.25 million in '09 to about $2.5 million in '10. The escrows are also up from 84 to 93 this year but the median list price on those escrows has dipped slightly from $2.8 million last year to $2.75 million this year.
On the East Side of Santa Barbara home sales are way up from about 116 last year to 141 this year with the median sales price also up from $900,000 last year to $1 million this year while the average sales price is also up from $1.06 million in '09 to $1.24 million in '10.
On the West Side of Santa Barbara sales are also up from 96 last year to 112 this year with the median sales price rising from about $750,000 last year to $800,000 this year. The average sales price is also up from $835,000 last year to $950,000 this year and the escrows are way up from 107 in '09 to 135 in '10.
After being way ahead of last year's pace all year things have gotten quiet in Hope Ranch. There have been 11 sales so far this year compared to 8 last year and the median sales price is up from $2.35 million to just under $3 million. But, the numbers of escrows have fallen behind the '09 pace with only 1 home currently in escrow which is listed for $1.95 million.
For Goleta South the numbers of sales are still ahead of '09 with 63 this year compared to 48 last year but the median sales price has dropped from $705,000 in '09 to $665,000 in '10. The numbers of escrow are even closer with 55 in '09 compared to 62 this year but the median list price on those escrows for both years is right at $725,000.
On the North Side of Goleta sales are also up from 87 last year to 98 this year and the median sales price is up from $707,000 last year to $732,000 this year. The average sales price is also very close rising from $840,000 last year to $870,000 this year.
Up until this point the '10 numbers have been substantially ahead of the '09 numbers for sales as well as median and average sales price but that should start to change because the second half of '09 started to move forward and it looks like the second half of '10 is starting to pull back.
July marked the 3rd month in a row for declining condo sales. The numbers of  sales having fallen from 37 closings in May to 34 in June down to 22 in July. The median sales price fell from May to June but leveled out in July going from $467,000 in May to $437,000 in June and stayed at about $436,000 in July. The average days on the market for those approximately 20 sales was rather brisk however coming in at 34 and the sales price to original list price ratio went up to over 95%.
The pended properties declined for the past 3 months dropping from 35 in May to 31 in June and to about 24 in July and the median list price on those pended properties dropped from $473,000 in May to $439,000 in June but came back up in July to about $479,000.
There were about 50 new listings that came on the market for the month with a median list price of about $480,000 and the overall inventory rose to about 155 available properties with a median list price of approximately $555,000 and an average list price of about $830,000.
Looking at the Districts, Carpinteria/Summerland sales are up from 26 to 39 this year while the median sales price continues to hover right around $390,000. Montecito condo sales are still way ahead with 12 compared to 2 last year but the median sales price for both years is right around $1.06 million.
On the East Side of Santa Barbara sales are up from 34 to 44 but the median sales price has dropped from $517,000 in '09 to about $465,000 in '10. The West Side of Santa Barbara also has sales above the '09 level with 46 this year compared to 36 last year and the median sales price is very close but dropping slightly from $505,000 last year to $495,000 this year.
Goleta South sales are down from 42 to 27 this year with the median sales price dropping from $455,000 to $355,000 and there are only 6 condos available for purchase in the area and the Goleta North sales show 25 for both years while the median sales price rose a little from $380,000 last year to $400,000 this year.
With sales of both homes and condos falling for the past few months and the median sales price for homes coming back to where it was last year at this time things could be cooling off for the last half of '10. The end of the first time buyer credit has brought sales down even though we still have record low interest rates. There are definitely buyers out there but getting them to commit at this time seems to be more difficult. 
Gary Woods
 

Monday, August 9, 2010

Weekly Real Estate Snapshot 8/1 - 8/8

New Listings: 51
Price Improvements: 57
Pending: 33 breaks down to:
under $1 million: 21
$1-2 million: 8
$2-4 million: 4
$4-8 million: 0
$8 million+: 0
Closed: 25
Off Market (expired, canceled, withdrawn): 28
Back On Market: 9

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Just Sold: 921 Spring Street Santa Barbara, CA 93103


Listed at $649,000 and Sold for $625,000!!

Very clean 3 bedroom, 2 bath 1,316 sq. foot home recently redone on Santa Barbara's Eastside. 

Short distance to Milpas shopping and Santa Barbara High School. 

Recent upgrades include: new roof, new kitchen with new cabinets, stainless sink, granite counters, and tile floors, new carpet throughout, fireplace in living room, new fixtures, remodeled bath 2 car garage and more.