Inside Montecito California

22Feb/110

Who Says the Real Estate Market in California is Cooling? In Santa Barbara, the Luxury Real Estate Market is Red Hot

Santa Barbara, CA (PRWEB) October 22, 2006

In the last couple weeks the Santa Barbara luxury real estate market has been especially active, closing 3 sales above the $ 10 million each. This in the wake of the negative press about the real estate industry.

All three sales are located in Montecito, one of the crown jewel locations of Santa Barbara. One of the three sales, a beautiful historic 1926 estate sold for $ 15,750,000. to one of hollywood’s elite after being on the market for 889 days. The other two sales were quietly available for sale, and sold before coming onto the market. One of the sales sold at $ 11,100,000 the other sold at $ 14,000,000.

Adding these three sales to the 2006 tally of $ 10+ million dollar sales puts 2006 at $ 203,850,000. through mid October, nearly double the full year 2005. You can also see from the data below that 2000 was the first year in the Santa Barbara Multiple Listing Service to see a sale at $ 16 million, and the revenue for this real estate segment has increased quite impressively every year since.

$ 10+ million Estate Market Revenue

Jan - Oct 2006    $ 203.850 million

2005    $ 128.8 million

2004    $ 74.7 million

2003    $ 64.5 million

2002    $ 50.3 million

2001    $ 33.5 million

2000    $ 16 million

Source: Santa Barbarba Multiple Listing Service

So why is the $ 10+ million Estate property market in Santa Barbara booming? Well there are several reasons, one of which is Santa Barbara has seen very little new inventory from which affluent buyers might select from. This limited amount of existing Estate inventory, coupled with a limited supply of Estate land options and the difficult and exhaustive process of getting approvals and then building have been the catalyst for the very impressive sales data in the Estate market. Another reason is that Santa Barbara offers a wonderful quality of life that is difficult to find anywhere else in the world. Santa Barbara is a small, beautiful and clean oceanfront resort community that enjoys great weather all year long.

In response to the need to serve clientele in this high end boom, Distinctive Real Estate was born. Distinctive Real Estate is the only luxury boutique real estate firm in Santa Barbara with a focus on serving the affluent clientele with the very best service and representation. In addition to the traditional buying and selling, Distinctive Real Estate provides individualized concierge service that provides a wide array of services ranging from Estate Management, Vacation Rental and Interior Design, as well as to restaurant reservations, tee times at golf courses, and hard to get spa appointment down to filling the refrigerator with all our clients favorites upon their arrival.

Affluent buyers are finding that Santa Barbara’s fantastic quality of life, coupled with its historically limited inventory and low growth philosophy creates a wonderful living environment and perhaps a darn good investment strategy as well.

For more statistical analysis or market data, contact Wendy Elizabeth Gragg, President, Distinctive Real Estate 805.565.0246 www.DistinctiveRealEstateOnline.com

###



13Feb/110

Glendale California Real Estate Agent Kendyl Young Announces the Launch of Her Newly Redesigned interactive website



Glendale, CA (PRWEB) February 26, 2010

Kendyl Young, the leading real estate agent serving the city of Glendale, CA today announced the launch of her new interactive website – KendylYoung.com. Designed to be the definitive online resource of Glendale CA homes for sale, the website promises to match the superior business approach and level of services that Young provides her clients.

Kendyl Young has built a strong reputation over the last 23 years within the Glendale market, from Northwest Glendale homes for sale to La Canada CA homes for sale. Within her first year, she was not only a multi-million dollar producer, but she also received the “Distinguished Achievement Award” – the first of many awards she would collect over the years. She seems focused on always improving and refining the many benefits she has to offer, and the website is clearly a product of this forward-thinking approach.

For Kendyl's website, interactivity is a key part of its success. The homepage balances simplicity and efficiency by harmonizing three separate sections. The top section invites visitors to use a navigation bar that leads to area, property and financing information, as well as a complimentary MLS search tool. The middle section focuses on featured news, properties and communities that are continually updated. The third section is Kendyl's welcome message, which details her specialties in Glendale, including Rossmoyne CA real estate, Sparr Heights real estate and being a certified EcoBroker®.

Quick links featured at the bottom of the homepage also direct visitors to more information about Northwest Glendale, La Canada, Rossmoyne and Verdugo Woodlands real estate.

With this new website, Kendyl Young has earned yet another reason for accolades. To learn more, visit www.kendylyoung.com today.

About Kendyl Young: A Realtor® since 1987, Kendyl Young is an award winning real estate agent that has been active in the Glendale CA real estate market since 1993. She currently specializes in the areas of Northwest Glendale, Rossmoyne, Verdugo Woodlands, Sparr Heights and Montecito Park. She is also a certified EcoBroker® that can advise buyers about the many environmentally friendly properties in the area.

###





10Feb/110

Connecting China to Luxury Real Estate

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) December 9, 2005

Luxury Real Estate today announced that it is expanding its global network by launching operations in China. Mr. Wang Cong of Shanghai has been appointed as Luxury Real Estate’s Director for China. Mr. Cong has a decade of experience in the real estate market and has been an influential member of the business elite in China and throughout Asia. His most recent real estate endeavor, Sheshan Golf Club, was host to Tiger Woods for the HSBC golf tournament in Shanghai last month. Sheshan Golf Club has joined the Luxury Real Estate network and is listing luxury villas on the 18-hole international golf course with an average listing price of 2.5 million.

John Brian Losh, CEO/Publisher of Luxury Real Estate and LuxuryRealEstate.com says, “I am thrilled to have Mr. Wang Cong represent us in China. He has been extremely well received by our 770 plus members as he represents an emerging market where many of our luxury brokers are seeing increasing activity.”        

Luxury Real Estate member, Ruth Chizzini of Julia B. Fee Real Estate in Westchester, NY just returned from a two week tour through China and reported an immensely strong real estate market. “There is so much money flowing in China,” says Chizzini. “Shanghai is Manhattan! Beijing, Hong Kong, even Singapore are all aglow with bustling business.” Luxury Real Estate’s appointment comes at a time when western investors are moving their funds into China at a fierce pace. US investment alone reached over 3.5 billion for 2005. ”I have no doubt that the timing of Mr. Cong’s appointment couldn’t be better,” declared Losh.

Luxury Real Estate’s global expansion continues with its newest international affiliates: Insight Prestige of Australia; Dingle Partners of Australia; Royal LePage Timeless Properties Realty of Canada; Sheshan Golf Community of China; Better Homes of Dubai; CB Richard Ellis Asesor Inmobiliario of Panama; Rive Droite Immobilier of Switzerland; Precious Villas of U.K.; Hamptons International of U.K.; Grace Bay Realty of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

Its newest US affiliates include: The Grubb Co of Oakland, CA; Susan Burns of Coldwell Banker of Montecito, CA; Harry Kolb of Sotheby’s of Santa Barbara, CA; Julie Williamson of Palm Desert, CA; Up Valley Real Estate of St. Helena, CA; The Debbie Reed Team of Rehoboth Beach, DE; Kelly Osborn of Florida Executive Realty of Tampa, FL; The Greg Ellingson Team of Satellite Beach, FL; Tomlinson Black of Coeur d'Alene, ID; Town & Country, Realtors of Camden, ME; Land Rush Realty of Flathead Lake, MT; Lake Toxaway Company of Lake Toxaway, NC; Coldwell Banker Milestone Real Estate of New London, NH; Heritage House Realtors of Rumson, NJ; Award Realty of Las Vegas, NV; Devlin McNiff Real Estate Inc. of East Hampton, NY; Pauletta Caldwell of Platinum Realty of Avondale, PA; Properties of the Carolinas of Mount Pleasant, SC; Bob Parks of Nashville, TN; Thomas & Talbot Real Estate of Middleburg, VA; Jackson Hole Real Estate & Appraisal of Jackson Hole, WY.

The Luxury Real Estate membership consists of more than 776 boutique and specialty real estate brokerage firms from around the world that consistently sell in the top 10% of their markets. The network includes 2,814 offices with 72,768 sales associates in 64 different countries. LuxuryRealEstate.com has been named “Best of the Web” by Forbes magazine for five consecutive years and currently provides access to more than 35,000 for-sale properties from around the world, with an average list price of $ 2,146,691. For more information, please visit www.LuxuryRealEstate.com or call 1-800-488-4066.

###



More Montecito Press Releases

8Feb/110

Estate Trustees and Executors Now Have Help in the Santa Barbara Area

Santa Barbara, CA (PRWEB) January 29, 2009

Santa Barbara Estate Services (http://www.SantaBarbaraEstateServices.com) has just launched a new service to help estate trustees and executors settle the estates of loved ones who have passed away.

"Many estate trustees or executors are given that role by a family member or close friend who has passed away. They may not be fully prepared for the time-consuming tasks that are required to settle an estate. Oftentimes, the executor is also dealing with grief over the passing of a loved one, and these tasks can become overwhelming," states Lindsay Leonard, founder of Santa Barbara Estate Services. "This can be especially burdensome if the executor is not located in the area and/or has other obligations, such as a job or family to attend to. I started this company to help these people."

Santa Barbara Estate Services will help manage such tasks as notifying institutions or businesses where the deceased had accounts, performing an inventory of the assets of the deceased, liquidating and distributing financial assets to the beneficiaries, selling, distributing, or giving away personal items such as clothes, jewelry, furniture, and various collections, preparing and selling real estate and/or vehicles, and communicating with the beneficiaries and the court system.

Santa Barbara Estate Services can also provide assistance for the immediate needs of the family after the death of a loved one, such as making funeral service arrangements, notifying family and friends of the services, making arrangements with mortuaries and cemeteries, writing and publishing an obituary, making local arrangements for catering and lodging, and more.

"We are focused on helping settle estates primarily located in the greater Santa Barbara area, including Goleta, Montecito, Carpentaria, Ventura, and Oxnard," says Ms Leonard, "However, the executor or trustee can be located anywhere in the world."

For additional information about the services provided by Santa Barbara Estate Services, contact Lindsay Leonard or visit http://www.SantaBarbaraEstateServices.com.

###



4Feb/110

Santa Barbara Real Estate Information – Free MLS Access, Local Real Estate Listings and Over 100 Local Links Are Now Available at Realestatesantabarbara.info

(PRWEB) January 28, 2005

The most comprehensive source for Santa Barbara Real Estate and general information is now available at www.realestatesantabarbara.info - the website was created and developed by Paul Luoma, a sales-associate with Century 21 A Hart Realty, Inc.

Visitors to the site can learn more about Santa Barbara Real Estate including the communities of Santa Barbara, Hope Ranch, Montecito, Goleta and Carpinteria by linking directly to the local multiple listing service (MLS). You can quickly view a large database of available homes, ranches and estates for sale throughout Santa Barbara County and even personalize your search to fit your specific needs. Access to the MLS is Free as is the variety of other helpful tools on the website including mortgage calculators, reports for buyers and sellers, and a very helpful home notification service.

But the best part of the site is the Local Links section - over 100 relevant links that bring you just about everything imaginable in the Santa Barbara...City and Visitor Information, Schools, Local Activities, Places to Stay, Golf Courses, Wineries, Horse Farms, Flying Information and happily, all of the links have been organized into an easy-to-find format.

If you are looking for information about Santa Barbara, including general information, real estate listings, access to the MLS, and over a 100 local links, you'll see why they call www.realestatesantabarbara.info your home away from home.

###



More Montecito Press Releases

3Feb/110

Los Angeles Commercial Real Estate Loan Firm Watermark Financial Secures $15m for House Refinance



Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 27, 2008

Watermark Financial, Inc., (www.watermarkfinancialgroup.com) a Los Angeles based boutique commercial mortgage firm, secured $ 15,000,000 in financing for the refinance of a single family home in Montecito, CA.

The variable rate loan, fixed for 6 month periods carries a 4.47% interest rate and an interest only payment schedule, was facilitated by Watermark for the privately owned home.

"Watermark specializes in making the best match between borrower and lender. We are proud to have helped a client close on a large balance transaction, especially during such volatile market conditions," said Watermark President Georgia Ragsdale. "The client is a former Wall Street executive and he is thrilled with the interest rate. This is a custom loan product for special borrowers with high value properties over $ 5,000,000."

The subject property was completed in July of 2008. This spectacular estate compound commands a view of the entire Santa Barbara coastline and Channel Islands.

Watermark was formed by Georgia Ragsdale and Elizabeth Braman, Esq., CCIM and serves clients in the development and real estate investment sector.

ABOUT WATERMARK FINANCIAL, INC.

Los Angeles based commercial real estate mortgage firm Watermark Financial is an experienced financial lending team offering individuals and companies access to debt and equity financing for all their funding needs. With access to nationwide investors and lending sources, the firm specializes in custom solutions for their clients.

To learn more, please visit www.watermarkfinancialgroup.com

For additional information or to schedule an interview with Georgia Ragsdale please contact Angela Hartman.

# # #





More Montecito Press Releases

1Feb/110

Estate Gardens of California

Estate Gardens of California


Detailed with loving accuracy in the photography of Melba Levick and in the lucid prose of Karen Dardick, Estate Gardens of California showcases fifteen magnificent estate gardens that are uniquely, exuberantly Californian. Included within are the classically inspired, 654-acre gardens of Filoli near San Francisco, a property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation-an estate with grounds of such alluring beauty that many times the cameras of Hollywood have come here to film; the Huntington Library Gardens in San Marino, one of the most important botanical gardens in the world; and the opulent and strange but wildly popular Lotusland in Montecito, a fantasy world of exquisite beauty created by Madam Ganna Walska with famed designer Lockwood de Forest. Other gardens featured are in Pebble Beach, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills, the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, and Rancho Palos Verdes. It is the plant palette of almost endless possibilities that makes California's great gardens so breathtaking. In Estate Gardens a rare and privileged glimpse of these possibilities is given. Cohen Estate, Newport Beach (owner of Four Seasons Hotel, Los Angeles) Collins Estate, Beverly Hills Hacienda Mar Monte, Pebble Beach Descanso Gardens, La Canada (open to public) Filoli, Woodside (open to public)Lotusland, Montecito (open to public)Rancho Los Alamitos, Long Beach (open to public) Stathatos Estate, San Marino Beaulieu Residence, Napa Valley (private residence of owner of Beaulieu winery) Villa Fiore, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County Huntington Library, San Marino (open to public)Val Verde, Montecito (open for limited public viewing) Villa Narcissa, Rancho Palos VerdesVirginia Robinson Estate and Gardens, Beverly Hills (open for limited public viewing)Alden Estate, Santa Monica Canyon.

Price: $ 30.59
Sold by Buy.com

18Jan/110

Santa Barbara Real Estate Information – Free MLS Access, Local Real Estate Listings and Over 50 Local Links are now Available at Realestatesantabarbara.info

(PRWEB) March 13, 2005

Visitors to the site can learn more about Santa Barbara Real Estate including the communities of Santa Barbara, Hope Ranch, Montecito, Goleta and Carpinteria by linking directly to the local multiple listing service (MLS). You can quickly view a large database of available homes, ranches and estates for sale throughout Santa Barbara County and even personalize your search to fit your specific needs. Access to the MLS is Free as is the variety of other helpful tools on the website including mortgage calculators, reports for buyers and sellers, and a very helpful home notification service.

But the best part of the site is the Local Links section - over 50 relevant links that bring you just about everything imaginable in the Santa Barbara...City and Visitor Information, Schools, Local Activities, Places to Stay, Golf Courses, Wineries, Horse Farms, Flying Information and happily, all of the links have been organized into an easy-to-find format.

If you are looking for information about Santa Barbara, including general information, real estate listings, access to the MLS, and over a 100 local links, you'll see why they call www.realestatesantabarbara.info your home away from home.

# # #



17Jan/110

Economic Crisis Forces $15M Montecito Estate into Unprecedented Online Auction



Full Suit of Austrian Armor


Santa Barbara, CA (PRWEB) July 6, 2010

Nestled comfortably between the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the city of Santa Barbara, California,lays the community of Montecito. It's one of the most beautiful and affluent communities in the country, yet even here the devastating effects of the current economic crisis take their toll. Despite the resident’s proclivity for silver spoons and golden parachutes, this township's once-mighty affluence has failed to insulate at least one of its favorite families from dire economic tragedy.

"It's disheartening to discover that the economy is so bad it can destroy even multimillion-dollar estates”, says Drew Donnen, founder of Seized Assets Auctioneers, the company conducting the auction. Case in point: On July 11, 2010, the entire contents of a $ 15 million Montecito estate will be sold in an unprecedented online auction. “Unfortunately, nothing can be saved,” Mr. Donen added, “that’s why every bid is starting at just $ 1.”

Among the 1,000+ items made available through this unique auction are many rare and important works of art and tapestries, exquisite jewelry and antique furnishingsand many one-of-a-kind items that may never be seen again.

Mr. Donen referred to the event as a "tremendous auction with some really exquisite pieces." Most prominent among the many items featured at www.santabarbaraestateauction.com are a 17th-century Venetian Portal estimated at over $ 45,000,a 60"x 42" landscape in oil by Peruvian artist Pablo Muñoz valued at a minimum of $ 8,000, and a full suit of Austrian armor, c. 1850, appraising for at least $ 5,000. Mr. Donen added, “When you consider the monetary value of each of the pieces in the lot, starting all the bids at just a dollar equals an unprecedented opportunity for bargain hunters and serious collectors alike to walk away with some amazing deals.”

Though the house and property themselves are not included in the offering, the auction is nonetheless brimming with opulent jewelry for both ladies and gentlemen, luxurious antique home furnishings and fixtures as well as highly sought after collectible items such as coins, sports memorabilia and vintage toys. There are several sets of sterling silver services, flatware and cutlery, antique crystal chandeliers, as well as many statues, vessels and figurines cast in bronze or carved in natural stone.

The auction begins at 9 AM PST on July 11, 2010 and lasts until all items are auctioned off. Interested parties are encouraged to preview the showcase found at www.santabarbaraestateauction.com and register for both the auction and pre-bidding.

###





Find More Montecito Press Releases

16Jan/110

Montecito Realtor Offers New Interactive Website For The Luxury Santa Barbara Real Estate Market

Montecito Realtor Offers New Interactive Website For The Luxury Santa Barbara Real Estate Market












Santa Barbara, CA (PRWEB) January 3, 2011

Showcasing the best of the Santa Barbara real estate marketplace, Realtor® Joanne Sizemore announces her interactive website, http://www.JoanneSizemore.com, with great new features. “The new site is primarily intended to be a one-stop resource for homebuyers looking for luxury Santa Barbara homes and other choice properties in nearby areas,” says Sizemore.

Nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara offers enchanting communities against a picture-perfect landscape and offering a wide variety of world-class amenities and recreational opportunities. And with its close proximity to Los Angeles, Santa Barbara offers an ideal location often considered one of the finest in the country.

Visitors to JoanneSizemore.com will find it easy to navigate the site and find the properties they want. Sizemore has provided extensive search tools that can let homebuyers narrow down their specific choices, whether it’s residences in Santa Barbara, oceanview homes in Hope Ranch, Rincon Point real estate, or Carpinteria CA real estate.

JoanneSizemore.com also features useful guides and step by step roadmaps for buyers and sellers, along with links to various community profiles. Rounding up the site’s features is a constantly updated newsfeed for the latest real estate news in the region.

A seasoned Montecito real estate agent, Joanne Sizemore specializes in all types of luxury Santa Barbara homes, which include primary and secondary homes, vacation homes, oceanview real estate, and income properties. Her goal is to always provide her clients the utmost in service. “My aim is to make every part of your real estate transaction as comfortable and stress-free--even enjoyable--as possible,” she says. “Knowing how important a successful real estate transaction is to you and your family's future, it's my goal to ensure that you only get the most professional support and expertise.”

For more information, visit JoanneSizemore.com or get in touch directly with Joanne Sizemore today.

###





















Vocus©Copyright 1997-2010, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Page 1 of 141234510...Last »