Private Beachfront Home in Fernald Cove

Take a look at this new-on-the-market single-family home in idyllic Fernald Cove, perfect as a home-away-from-home or a full-time residence! Formerly owned by John Cleese, this modern beachfront property offers privacy and sophistication. Listed at $8,250,000, the 3BD/3.5BA home also has a separate guest apartment, perfect for hosting weekend guests. Features include recently renovated kitchen and bathrooms, private deck, extensive wine cellar, and stunning 180 degree ocean views. Check out the photos below!

Listed by Sotheby's International Realty.

Just Listed! 125 & 129 W Pedregosa, Santa Barbara CA

New on the market! Fantastic opportunity to own 2 Craftsman homes on 1 lot just a few blocks to State Street! Built in 1915, each home has 1 bedroom & 1 bathroom, but are functional as 2 bedrooms. Featuring remodeled kitchens and bathrooms, 9ft. ceilings, beautiful Fir floors and on-site laundry. Strong rents and solid tenants. A+ location! 

Offered at $1,150,000

Check out the photos below or go to http://www.jakeralston.com/listing/just-listed-125-129-w-pedregosa/ for more details.

Beach Listing of the Week: 1473 Edgecliff Lane, Montecito

Experience coastal California living in this beachfront home with views of the gleaming Pacific Ocean! Listed at $14,444,000, this exquisite oceanfront property is located on Montecito's coveted Edgecliff Lane. Spread along 130 feet of beachfront, the .65 acre property features a charming 1BD/1.5BA cottage and a private guest apartment, perfect for visiting guests or as a home studio. Stroll through the picturesque terraced gardens or sunbathe by the pool underneath towering palms that look out over the water. Offering privacy and seclusion, Edgecliff Lane is close to Montecito's Lower Village, the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel, and beautiful Butterfly Beach. Scroll through the photos below for a look at this charming beachfront property!

Listed by Riskin Partners

Berkshire CEO Named #2 Real Estate Exec

Real estate research firm, The Swanepoel T3 Group, released their Swanepoel Power 200 last week, an annual ranking of the 200 most powerful people in real estate. The report focuses on "CEOs and other C-level executives that hold a senior position with a national franchise, referral network, or other collective group." Ron Peltier, Chairman and CEO of HomeServices of America, Inc., made it to the top of the rankings this year, coming in as number two of Swanepoel's Top Corporate Executives in Real Estate.

Peltier was first appointed Chairman in 2008, after 30 years in the real estate industry. Peltier has long been recognized as an innovator by the real estate industry, ranking consistently on Inman's Top 100 list and REALTOR Magazine's Top 25 Most Influential People in Real Estate. Under Peltier's leadership, HomeServices of America has grown steadily each year. According to The Swanepoel T3 Group, HomeServices has 70,000 Agents and generates a whopping 550,000 transactions per year. In 2015 alone, HomeServices added multiple companies, "the largest of which was First Weber in Wisconsin, with...$2.5 billion in sales in 2014."

Peltier's ranking on The Swanepoel Power 200 confirms Berkshire Hathaway is off to a great start in 2016!

See the full list of 200 executives here.

RealtyTrac Reports Decline in California Foreclosures

Last week RealtyTrac released its 2015 Year-End US Foreclosure Market Report, which shows annual foreclosure filings (default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions). According to the data, foreclosures are down 3 percent from 2014 and at a nine-year-low on a national level, and California's doing even better. In 2015, California saw 92,671 homes get foreclosed upon, or 0.68 percent. That adds up to a 14.66 percent decrease from 2014, and an incredible 83.05 percent decrease from the 2010 peak. RealtyTrac Vice President Daren Blomquist said that 2015 "saw a return to normal, healthy foreclosure activity in many markets."

Nationally, foreclosures were down 3 percent from 2014 and 62 percent from 2010. The report also found that during 2015, homes were in the foreclosure process for a shorter period of time.

Check out the graphic below to see the counties in California that had the highest and lowest percentage of foreclosures in 2015.

Ralston & Hitchcock 2016 Property Updates!

Charming Family Home w/ 1bd Guest House!

4bd/4ba country home with in-laws apartment on a gated & fenced .46 acre

236 Toro Canyon Road | Carpinteria, CA

Offered at $2,195,000

MLS# 15-1375

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Build Your Dream Home in Hope Ranch!

2.35 acre ocean-view parcel in exclusive Hope Ranch neighborhood

Via Esperanza | Hope Ranch, Santa Barbara

Offered at $2,000,000

MLS# 15-3777

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Award-Winning Luxury Condo in the Heart of Downtown!

1bd/2ba + loft 1 mile from the beach & walking distance to local restaurants, shops & nightlife

121 W. De La Guerra #7 | Santa Barbara, CA

Offered at $1,450,000

MLS# 15-905

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Available - Not in MLS!

3bd/3ba beachfront condo with panoramic ocean views, 2 blocks to downtown Ventura

Address & Price Available Upon Request

Ventura, CA

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Available - Not in MLS!

Beach bungalow with separate 1bd/1ba apartment, 2 blocks to the beach

Address Available Upon Request

Carpinteria, CA

Offered at $3,000,000

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Exclusive - Oceanfront Land on Oregon Coast!

4.52 acre building site along the Pacific Coast in scenic Oregon

Florence, OR

Offered at $1,990,000

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Exclusive - Riverfront Oregon Vineyard & Event Center!

27+ acre property features a 19 acre vineyard, large event center, & tasting room

Myrtle Creek, OR

Offered at $1,900,000

Just Sold! 284 Coronado Drive, Goleta

What a great year of sales! We are pleased to announce our final sale of 2015, which closed on December 31st! This charming Goleta home features 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, vaulted ceilings, fireplace and a sparkling swimming pool. Located close to the beach and UCSB in the desirable Santa Barbara Shores neighborhood. A great buy for the lucky new owners!

Sold for $780,000

Preparing Your Home for Sale

Many factors can affect a home's sale price, some of which are out of your or your agent's control (think your neighborhood's location or nearby competitors). One thing that makes a substantial difference and is in your control, however, is cleanliness! When examining a home, potential buyers look for clean, light areas that make a home look warm and inviting. Properly cleaning your home before an open house or before a buyer checks it out can affect your sale price substantially. Whether you're cleaning your property yourself or hiring outside help, make sure you do it right. Take a look at this visual checklist before getting down and dirty for advice from industry pros and tips on cleaning each area of your house.

Building Your #FamilyWealth

As the economy continues to improve, more and more Americans are seeing their personal financial situations also improving. Instead of just getting by, many are now beginning to save and find other ways to build their net worth. One way to dramatically increase their family wealth is through the acquisition of real estate.

For example, let’s assume a young couple purchases and closes on a $250,000 home in January. What will that home be worth five years down the road?

Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts and investment & market strategists every quarter. They ask them to project how residential prices will appreciate over the next five years. According to their latest survey, here is how much value that $250,000 house will gain in the coming years.

Over a five year period, that homeowner can build their home equity to over $40,000. And, in many cases, home equity is large portion of a family’s overall net worth.

Bottom Line

If you are looking to better your family’s long-term financial situation, buying your dream home might be a great option.

#HomeEquity Increasing As Home Prices Rise

Some Highlights:

• 91.9% of homes in the US have positive equity
• 256,000 homes regained equity in the third quarter of 2015
• 37.5 million homes have significant equity (defined as more than 20%)

How Long Does It Take To Save For A Down Payment

In a recent study conducted by Builder.com, researchers determined that nationwide it would take“nearly eight years” for a first-time buyer to save enough for a down payment on their dream home.

Depending on where you live, median rents, incomes and home prices all vary. By determining the percentage a renter spends on housing in each state and the amount needed for a 10% down payment, they were able to establish how long (in years) it would take for an average resident to save.

According to the study, residents in South Dakota are able to save for a down payment the quickest in just under 3.5 years. Below is a map created using the data for each state:

What if you only needed to save 3%?

What if you were able to take advantage of one of the Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae 3% down programs? Suddenly saving for a down payment no longer takes 5 or 10 years, but becomes attainable in under two years in many states as shown in the map below.

Bottom Line

Whether you have just started to save for a down payment, or have been for years, you may be closer to your dream home than you think! Meet with a local real estate professional who can help you evaluate your ability to buy today.

Happy Holidays!

We hope you have had a great year and are enjoying a festive holiday season. Thank you for your continued support. Warm wishes to you and your family and all the best in the coming New Year! - Jake & Kat