Monthly Statistics
How Solar Power Can Help Your Home Sell Faster
It Just Takes Common Sensor
to Stop Sprinklers in Rain
Green Drinks & LoaTree Lounge
Tonight, March 15, 6pm-11pm
SOhO Restaurant and Music Venue
Renewable Energy
Santa Barbara County Energy Rebates
SANTA BARBARA REAL ESTATE SNAPSHOT:
February 14 - March 14
New listings: 180
Price Improvements: 156
Pending: 119
Closed: 80
(break down:) Sub $1 million: 54
$1-2M: 17
$2-4M: 6
$4-8M: 3
$8M+: 0
Off Market: 90
Back On Market: 36
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:
The following is a guest post by Nami Sung of SunRun With home prices down and decreasing, homeowners struggle to make their homes more marketable and identify improvements that deliver a noticeable return on investment. For example, how do you know if a kitchen remodeling project is going to increase property value or eat at your savings without helping you sell? Smart homeowners can look at studies or reports to find home improvements that will help get their house off the market faster, and recent studies indicate that solar panels help homes sell. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy states that a solar home will sell twice as quickly as a home without solar panels, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reports that energy-saving improvements "attract attention in a competitive market."
Homeowners have started to speak to the benefits of solar for home sales as well. For example, a San Jose resident who purchased a solar home explained, "even if my house didn't come with solar, I would have put panels on it because I know it will save money on utility bills, and I want my house to match or surpass the value of others in my neighborhood." The same homebuyer indicated that she was excited to learn the home she liked had solar because she knew it would benefit her financially while she lived there. In her words, "utility rates aren't getting any cheaper." Studies also show lower electric bills can increase property values. According to ICF Consulting, reducing electric bills by $1 a year can add $20 to your home value. So, if you cut electric costs by $1,000 each year, you may see a home value increase of $20,000. Solar Power Can Lower Monthly Electricity Bill
Home solar power lowers monthly electric bills because homeowners replace traditional electricity from the utility with affordable solar energy. The cost savings from a solar investment can save money today and allow homeowners to market a built-in cost reduction when it's time to sell. With home solar, you have more control over how much you'll pay for power and you can rely less on the volatile rates characteristic of traditional utilities. One cause of utility rate volatility, for example, is fluctuating fuel costs. Factors such as utility operating costs - anything from infrastructure to healthcare for employees - are also a factor. Residential electricity rates in California increased about 6.7% on average per year from 1971 to 2001, according to the California Public Utilities Commission. When it's time to sell, the stable cost of solar energy becomes a valuable asset and a tremendous selling point. Solar Power as Service Lowers Financial Risk for Homeowner
Many homeowners shy away from solar because of the high upfront costs of $30,000 or more. However, new solar service options eliminate this cost barrier. With a solar service, the solar provider owns, installs, insures and maintains the solar panels; the homeowner just pays monthly for the power they use. The average homeowner saves 10-15% on their total monthly power bill - in addition to making a marketable home improvement in a tough market. One example of this type of solar service company is SunRun. The company designs agreements that allow homeowners to transfer their cost-saving service to new homebuyers in the event of a move. If you're still skeptical, take a look at the numbers: Shea Homes, a new homes builder, performed a study showing resale value of California homes with solar panels increased by 55%, while that of homes without solar panels increased by only 45% during the same period of time. Another study by Clarum Homes reports that all 257 solar homes in one Clarum Homes development sold two years faster than planned! Further, while these homes were priced between $379,000 and 499,000, they sold for as much as $600,000. As real estate prices continue to drop, home improvements that save you money and help you sell your home faster are a smart choice. As studies show, home solar will not only reduce cost of ownership, but also help your home stand out from the pack. Nami Sung blogs for SunRun, a home solar company offering a solar power service. SunRun owns, installs and insures the solar panels, and the homeowner just pays monthly for the power they use.
It Just Takes Common Sensor
to Stop Sprinklers in Rain
To avoid leaving your sprinklers on when it's raining, get a free rain-shutoff sensor from the City's Water Conservation Program. City residents can call 564-5460 to schedule a free water-checkup to receive a free rain-shutoff sensor. A rain-shutoff sensor is an irrigation shutoff device that prevents an automatic sprinkler system from turning on during and after a rain storm. These devices override a scheduled irrigation when a sensor on the shutoff device detects water. When the collected rainwater has evaporated from the device, scheduled irrigations resume. It is recommended that you turn the sprinkler timer to "rain off" for extended wet periods during the rainy season. Rain shutoff sensors work best for short off periods. For extended periods, it is more accurate to have irrigation controller in the "off" position. Green Drinks & LoaTree Lounge
Tonight, March 15, 6pm-11pm
SoHO Restaurant and Music Venue
We're kicking off Earth Month with Green Drinks, the social networking hub of people interested in making a better world. Hosted by LoaTree, the March Green Drinks will benefit CEC and will reveal exciting highlights and features of Earth Day 2011. is energy which comes from all natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished). In 2008, about 19% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.2% from hydroelectricity. [1] New renewables (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels) accounted for another 2.7% and are growing very rapidly. [1] The share of renewables in electricity generation is around 18%, with 15% of global electricity coming from hydroelectricity and 3% from new renewables. [1] [2] Santa Barbara County Energy Rebates: Find out if you qualify for some or change it up and then apply! |  | FOR SALE:
Laurel Springs Ranch
2720 Painted Cave Road Santa Barbara, CA 93117 SELLER IS MOTIVATED $9,500,000
160 acre, 5 parcels Turn key property, panoramic views lodge that sleeps 30, yoga studio, main house, multiple guest houses, spa, solar heated pool, barn, riding arena, pond, hiking trails, plentiful water, organic garden & more.
Please contact or
FOR SALE:
1521 Olive Street Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Offered at: $1,575,000 Beautiful downtown townhouse. Low energy use home includes radiant floor heating, dual paned windows & quality insulation. Watch the fireworks from the oceanview deck. Ideal upper East location. This spacious home is newly built in 2003, quality throughout, 3br/3ba, gourmet kitchen, 2 car gar + guest spot.
Contact DeAnn for an appointment.
BACK ON MARKET:
748 Dos Hermanos
Santa Barbara, CA 93117 MOTIVATED! MUST SELL ASAP! MAKE US AN OFFER!
Price Adjusted to $659,000 Spacious detached home in Villa San Marcos. This 3br 2.5 ba cul de sac home boasts a outdoor patio area, vaulted ceilings, fireplace, french doors off dining area and attached two car garage. affordable HOA dues. Priced below the 2 smaller units that sold in 2010, great deal!
 SOLD:
3952 Foothill Road Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Listed at $575,000 Located down a private lane off the main road, this is a great opportunity to buy in the HOPE School district. Approximately 1/5 of an acre in the County of Santa Barbara, the property includes a dozen varieties of fruit trees, a towering redwood, a shaded flagstone patio, a shed/workshop, raised garden beds, chicken coop, and a sense of privacy while just minutes from all that Santa Barbara has to offer. The bright and airy home, built in 1954, has a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom layout that allows for an extended family or rental income, with a wood burning stove, vaulted ceilings, dual-paned windows, and gorgeous hardwood floors.
 PENDING: Short Sale finally approved (6 + months)
328 Loma Vista
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Listed at $609,000
 FOR RENT: Eco-Friendly Mediterranean Urban Oasis
3+1 (tower) bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms 3,000 sq ft specially designed new custom home. Stone and bamboo floors with radiant heat. A Beautiful fireplace in the high ceiling living room, a small fireplace in the master bedroom. Formal dining area with 13 foot ceiling. Gourmet kitchen with 2 subzero refrigerators. Wolf 6 burner + griddle Fisher and Paykel Dishwasher Miele washer + dryer Mountain views with peaks of ocean too!
Roof top deck with beautiful sunset views. Solar PV system. Only non-toxic cleaners used No-VOC paint and cotton insulation.
Off street parking + optional garage. Antique gates, windows and lamps installed in the house. Furnished with organic mattresses & linens and unique antiques from around the world. Unfurnished is possible.
$ 7,500 a month 6mo. or longer term lease preferred. Available Now. No pets or smoking. Monte Vista/Hope School District.
Please contact DeAnn for a private showing. |
