In This Issue:
LATEST & GREATEST... SANTA BARBARA REAL ESTATE SNAPSHOT: March 16 - April 11, 2010
New listings: 216 Price Improvements: 146 Pending: 131 (break down:) Sub $1million: 92 $1-2M: 27 $2-4M: 8 $4-8M: 3 $8M+: 2 Closed: 87 Off Market: 96 Back On market: 43
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.
Governor Signs Home Buyer Tax Credit Bill Governor Schwarzenegger today signed AB 183 providing $200 million for home buyer tax credits. The bill allocates $100 million for qualified first-time home buyers who purchase existing homes and $100 million for purchasers of new, or previously unoccupied, homes.
Eligible taxpayers who close escrow on qualified principal residences between May 1, 2010 and December, 31, 2010, or who close escrow on a qualified principal residence on and after December 31, 2010 and before August 1, 2011, pursuant to an enforceable contract executed on or before December 31, 2010, will be able to take the allowed tax credit.
This credit is equal to the lesser of 5 percent of the purchase price or $10,000, taken in equal installments over three consecutive years. Under the bill, purchasers will be required to live in the home as their principal residence for at least two years or forfeit the credit (i.e. repay it to the state). Buyers also must be at least 18 years old and be unrelated to the seller. First-time buyers are defined as those who have not owned a home in the past three years. California has initiated its own homebuyer tax credit. The credit is for 5% of the purchase price, with a maximum credit of $10,000. That’s a dollar-for-dollar reduction against income tax payments that would otherwise be due. Homebuyers must claim the tax credit in equal installments over three consecutive years, beginning with the year of purchase. Purchasers are required to live in the home as their primary residence for two years or forfeit the credit To be eligible, first-time homebuyers can purchase a new or existing home. Repeat or move-up homebuyers are eligible for the credit only if they buy a new home. Buyers of existing homes must close escrow between May 1 and December 31, 2010. The credit is available to buyers of new homes who sign purchase agreements between May 1 and December 31, and close escrow by August 1, 2011. Separate from the California tax credit is the federal tax credit. The federal homebuyer tax credit will expire soon. If your clients want to take advantage of this tax credit, they must act fast. The tax credit is available to buyers who sign purchase agreements on a new or existing primary residence home between December 1, 2009, and April 30, 2010. Buyers have until June 30 to close the mortgage loan on their new home. Click HERE for a Federal and State Tax chart. The above content is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a tax advisor.
Canary Hotel CEC Earth Day Opening Night Party April 14th 5-9pm The last party we (Green Drinks, Loa Tree and Weekend Hippie) threw was sold out. Now our good friends at New Noise Santa Barbara are putting together our opening night shindig for Santa Barbara Earth Day. It is going to rock, we can already feel it. Are you coming? Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at the door
Green Shorts Film Festival Join the Community Environmental Council, in partnership with Traffic Solutions and other tri-county organizations, for the screening & awards presentation of the second annual Green Shorts Film Festival on Friday, April 16 at 7:30 pm at the Lobero Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara.
Tickets for the event will be $7.00 at the door or in advance at the Lobero Theatre online.
The Green Shorts Film Festival is an annual online film festival about saving our planet, helping our environment and being green. The 2010 contest theme is “Bringing it Home” (this year’s Santa Barbara Earth Day theme).
This is the second annual Green Shorts Film Festival and is part of the Santa Barbara Earth Day 40, which will take place on April 17 and 18 at Alameda Park in Santa Barbara, organized by the Community Environmental Council. Collection Event: The City of Santa Barbara is sponsoring an Electronic Waste Collection event in April in celebration of EARTH DAY! This event is free to residents and businesses alike.
When: Friday April 23 & Saturday April 24
Time: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm (note earlier start time!)
Where: Sears parking lot, 3845 State St. (corner of Calle Real and La Cumbre), Santa Barbara
What will be accepted: All business and consumer electronic devices ….TVs, Computer Monitors, Computers (CPUs), laptops, keyboards, mice, cables & cords, printers, fax & copy machines, hard drives*, stereos, DVD & VCR players**, telephones, cell phones, radios, microwaves and more!
* Hard Drives will be completely destroyed and recycled according to FACTA standards.
** Sorry - but we CAN NOT accept DVDs, CDs, tape cassettes, batteries (of any kind), fluorescent bulbs, toner cartridges, or large appliances.
We hope to see you there, and please spread the word to your friends, family and neighbors!
For questions or more information, please call the Environmental Services Division at (805) 564-5631.
Energy Financing Program For Home Owners: "Empower" Join us in asking the Board of Supervisors to approve an energy financing program for property owners --
The County Board of Supervisors is set to give its final approval to an innovative financing program at its Tuesday, April 13 hearing in Santa Maria. If approved, emPowerSBC - an Elective Municipal Program to Optimize Water, Energy and Renewables - is expected to create up to a thousand jobs and substantial utility bill savings through energy and water efficiency retrofits and renewable energy installations at homes and businesses in Santa Barbara County. Plan Santa Barbara Needs Your Input
A Draft Program Environmental Impact Report has been prepared to evaluate the potential environmental effects of the proposed Plan Santa Barbara General Plan policy amendments and future growth in the City to the year 2030 and beyond.
You are invited and encouraged to provide written comments on the draft EIR document and to attend upcoming public hearings described below. Note that Public comments on the draft General Plan documents and draft EIR are requested no later than May 17, 2010, 4:30 p.m. More details here.
Cradle to Cradle: A style of manufacturing that attempts to provide for recycling of all components, from their first use in one product to their reuse in another product.
COOL WEBSITE OF THE MONTH:
Your guide to green giveaways and deals! GREEN TEAM WEBSITE:
We are proud to be your Santa Barbara Green Team and ready to help you with all of your real estate needs. |  | Join us for our 3 year Anniversary where it all began...Arnoldi's Tuesday April 20th 6-8pm 600 Olive Street See you there...
Earth Day Booth: Come visit us at the Green Drinks/Village Properties Booth. April 17 & 18th.
We are booth #225 near the Green Home Pavilion. We are hosting an "informal" Green Drinks throughout the 2 day Earth Day Festival, come by for some refreshments and networking.
FOR SALE:
Laurel Springs Ranch
2720 Painted Cave Road Santa Barbara, CA 93117 Reduced recently to $10,900,000
160 acre, 5 parcels Turn key retreat business, 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.
Retreat Center Website:
VACATION RENTAL:
Casa San Miguel
Available to rent by the night/week/ month.
3br/2ba remodeled home with roof top ocean view deck and jacuzzi.
Features non-toxic cleaners, Natura mattresses, organic linens, energy efficient appliances and many more healthy/green details.
Book a stay at:
Your Referrals are always welcomed and appreciated!
Please forward this informative newsletter to all that are interested in:
Green Homes, Real Estate and a healthy lifestyle.
You can help us grow the green home movement in our community.
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