Why move to Santa Barbara when you can spend less money somewhere else?

I just had a client contact me today who has looked at our beautiful properties here - as well as in other spots in Southwestern US. Our median price in Montecito and Hope Ranch, our two exclusive communities, is well over $2.3MM; in the City of Santa Barbara proper it is around $900K, after reaching a high of $1.3 in 2006. He asked me why I thought he should buy here when he can get so much more for so much less $ in some other exclusive communities...here is my answer.

SB is a major destination for both travelers and 2nd, 3rd home buyers. The weather is temperate and beautiful year round. I cannot imagine a nicer place to live for about 9 months of the year. I personally don't like fog, but most people who live in areas where it is HOT love it. Because we have such an international audience, our little town has everything - and this is quite a change from when I moved here in 1974. Then, it was known as the home of the newly wed and nearly dead. The only place to get maternity clothes was Sears, and there was only one toy store. There were few restaurants or venues that stayed open past 9 p.m.

NOW - you have UCSB Arts and Lectures, sports at UCSB/Westmont/SBCC, professional baseball and basketball teams, opera, civic light opera, Chamber Orchestra, Symphony, dozens of movie theaters, many playhouses, more restaurants per capita than anywhere else on the west coast. Did I mention the great weather? Sandy beaches up and down the coast, never crowded. Hiking trails, dog-free zones all over town (both off and on leash).

You can join the Santa Barbara Newcomers and you will meet many new friends there, as well as get a terrific overview of things to do in town. I promise you will never be bored. The airport is small, convvenient and very user friendly. Our prices are higher than some, but our appreciation has also been better than most. (Over 350% in some areas from 1996 to 2006). We are sandwiched between the Los Padres Natl Forest and the Pacific Ocean, with no more room to grow. What is here, is what will be here with very little new development.

Did I mention the weather? A temperate 73 average temp, and very little rain.

www.sbco.org - Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra

www.artsandlectures.sa.ucsb.edu

www.santabarbaraca.gov/Visitor

www.thesymphony.org