In This Issue:
LATEST & GREATEST... SANTA BARBARA REAL ESTATE SNAPSHOT: June 14 - July 18, 2010
New listings: 269 Price Improvements: 245 Pending: 131 (break down:) Sub $1million: 95 $1-2M: 25 $2-4M: 4 $4-8M: 4 $8M+: 3 Closed: 129 Off Market: 144 Back On market: 55
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.
New Certified Homes Command 18% Price Premium in '09-'10. PORTLAND, Ore., June 16, 2010 - While fewer new homes were built in the past year in the Portland metropolitan area than in the previous year, the market share of third party certified homes increased. Twenty three percent (23%) of all newly constructed homes in the Portland metropolitan area sold between May 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010 received a third party certification. This finding is based upon data reported by the Portland area RMLS to Earth Advantage Institute.
The term "certified home" refers to homes that received an Earth Advantage, Energy Star, or LEED for Homes designation, or a combined Earth Advantage/Energy Star designation. Certification and sales information is reported by participating real estate brokers to RMLS. The Portland metropolitan area region includes Multnomah, Clackamas, Columbia, Washington and Yamhill Counties in Oregon and Clark County in Washington. This finding continues a three year trend in which the market share of certified homes in the Portland region has increased. Homes with a third party certification sold for more than their non-certified counterparts, both in the new home and existing home markets. New homes in the six county Portland region sold for 18% more, while existing homes with a certification sold for 23% more. "As energy efficiency and healthier homes gain more attention, builders and homeowners increasingly place value on home certification," said Sean Penrith, executive director, Earth Advantage Institute. "It is very encouraging to see the market share of certified homes continue to rise over the past three years despite the difficulties in residential markets." RMLS reports sales data by county. Table Three below provides more detailed information on the range of price premiums observed in different parts of the Portland metropolitan area. Clark County, WA was the one area in the metropolitan region where newly constructed certified homes did not sell for more. However, certified existing homes in Clark County continued the trend. As a group, existing homes with a sustainable certification in Clark County sold for an average of $278,400 versus $234,100 for homes without such a certification, or 16% more.
The Portland area RMLS first began collecting information about home certification in the spring of 2007. It is the first RMLS in the country to do so. Top 10 Must-Have Features in Today’s New Homes RISMEDIA, January 25, 2010—(MCT)—Americans want smaller houses and they are willing to strip some of yesterday’s most popular rooms—such as home theaters—from them in order to accommodate changing lifestyles, consumer experts told audiences at the International Builders Show.
“This is a traumatic time in this country and the future isn’t something we’re 100% sure about now either. Buyers today want cost-effective architecture, plans that focus on spaces and not rooms and homes that are designed ‘green’ from the outset,” she said. The key for home builders is “finding the balance between what buyers want and the price point.”
For many buyers, their next house will be smaller than their current one, said Carol Lavender, president of the Lavender Design Group in San Antonio, Texas. Large kitchens that are open to the main family living area, old-fashioned bathrooms with clawfoot tubs and small spaces such as wine grottos are design features that will resonate today, she said. “What we’re hearing is ‘harvest’ as a home theme—the feeling of Thanksgiving. It’s all about family togetherness—casual living, entertaining and flexible spaces,” Lavender said.
10 “must” features in new homes:
1. Large kitchens, with an island. “If you’re going to spend design dollars, spend them where people want them—spend them in the kitchen,” McCune said. 2. Granite countertops are a must for move-up buyers and buyers of custom homes, but for others “they are on the bubble,” Cardis said.
3. Energy-efficient appliances, high-efficiency insulation and high window efficiency. Among the “green” features touted in homes, these are the ones buyers value most, said Cardis. While large windows had been a major draw, energy concerns are giving customers pause on those. The use of recycled or synthetic materials is only borderline desirable.
4. Home office/study. People would much rather have this space rather than, say, a formal dining room. “People are feeling like they can dine out again and so the dining room has become tradable,” Cardis said. And the home theater may also be headed for the scrap heap, a casualty of the “shift from boom to correction.”
5. Main-floor master suite. This is a must feature for empty-nesters and certain other buyers, and appears to be getting more popular in general. That could help explain why demand for upstairs laundries is declining after several years of popularity gains.
6. Outdoor living room. The popularity of outdoor spaces continues to grow, even in Canada. The idea of an outdoor room is even more popular than an outdoor cooking area, meaning people are willing to spend more time outside.
7. Master suite soaker tubs. Whirlpools are still desirable for many home buyers, but they clearly went down a notch in the latest survey. Oversize showers with seating areas are also moving up in popularity.
8. Stone and brick exteriors. Stucco and vinyl don’t make the cut.
9. Community landscaping: with walking paths and playgrounds. Forget about golf courses, swimming pools and clubhouses. Buyers in large planned developments prefer hiking among lush greenery.
10. Two-car garages: given at all levels; three-car garages, in which the third bay is more often than not used for additional storage and not automobiles, is desirable in the move-up and custom categories. for the BIG GREEN WEEKEND: Thursday, October 7, 2010 Annie Leonard, Author of Story of Stuff Majorie Luke Theater Friday, October 8, 2010 at Double Tree Inn Saturday, October 9, 2010 Green Home Tour Permaculture Farm Tours: Fall Farm Tours: September 25 & October 24 Triple Bottom Line:
The triple bottom line is made up of "social, economic and environmental" the "people, planet, profit" phrase was coined for Shell by SustainAbility, influenced by 20th century urbanist Patrick Geddes' notion of 'folk, work and place'. "People, planet and profit" succinctly describes the triple bottom lines and the goal of sustainability.
COOL WEBSITE OF THE MONTH:
click to edit |  | This month: TONIGHT!!! July 20, 2010 6-8pm Kunin Winery 28 West Anacapa Street Save The Date For Next Month: Tuesday, August 17th 6-8pm Location TBD www.greendrinks.org/CA/Santa Barbara to join email: click to edit
FOR SALE: 319 Consuelo Drive Duplex 3/2 & 2/1 Price Adjusted $929,000 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. Projected Rents: 2 bedroom: $2100 3 bedroom: $3500
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. Open Sunday June 20, 2-4pm or by appointment with Elizabeth.
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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:
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In Escrow: 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 bath 2 car garage & more. click to edit
VACATION RENTAL:
Casa San Miguel
Available to rent by the 3 nights/week/month.
3br/2ba remodeled home with roof top ocean view deck and jacuzzi 2 blocks to the beach.
Features non-toxic cleaners, Natura mattresses, organic linens, energy efficient appliances and many more healthy/green details.
Book a stay at:
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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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