New Listing! Open This Weekend

121 W De La Guerra #7 

Award winning luxury town home in downtown Santa Barbara w/a walk score of 98! Large 1 bedroom+loft unit showcases an open concept floor plan with wood floors, gourmet kitchen, granite counters, stainless appliances, gas fireplace & private patio. Luxurious bedroom features Juliette balcony, en-suite bathroom with double vanity & oversized walk-in closet. Loft is perfect for overnight guests or dedicated office. Completely gated building with elevator to street level and parking garage. Steps away from renowned amenities - including restaurants, theaters, galleries, museums, historic sites, boutiques and shopping. Less than 1 mile to waterfront and beaches.

OPEN 1-3 SATURDAY AND SUNDAY (805) 351-2101

One Twenty One is the winner of The American Institute of Architects Santa Barbara Chapter Merit Award for excellence in design and has been awarded the coveted Santa Barbara Beautiful Award for 2014.

Want to know what it's like to live at One Twenty One? See what neighbor Doug has to say...

An interview with resident of the One Twenty One complex in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara.

Listing Spotlight: Nantucket Farm House with Stunning Unobstructed Views

4900 Via Los Santos | Santa Barbara, CA 93111

5 BEDROOMS | 6 BATHS

OFFERED AT $3,395,000

Listed by Randy Glick of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: MoveGreen Moving Services

Kat Hitchcock interviews Nick Jacobson the General Manager of Movegreen

Kat: Movegreen has been established for 9 years? I’m surprised it has been that long, it feels like such a young company.

Nick: Yes, young, but it grew pretty quick - it’s grown 23% each year.

Kat: That’s amazing! I know Movegreen helps a lot with Junior League of Santa Barbara’s Rummage Event every year. You do so much with keeping our rummage items stored and then all the man power the weekend of the event. Does Movegreen do any other non-profit work?

Nick: Yes- Teacher’s fund is a big one

Kat: Nice! I know that golf tournament is a big event every year. 

Nick: So that's the biggest one…we also do tree’s for humanity - so for every move we partner with a company that will plant ten trees. 

Kat: That’s amazing! Is there a specific place they plant them?

Nick: They are mostly third world locations.

Kat: Very cool!

So my next question will be good for our clients, what’s the best tip you could give someone who is going to be moving?

Nick:  Organization, planning ahead, and to relax! 

Kat: I know we just got done working together on one of my Montecito listings. If I remember correctly your process is first come to the home and go over everything that needs to be moved. Then from there you break it down by time, labor and materials? 

Nick: Yep, that's how we do it.

Kat: So how many guys are on a job for, let’s say… a 1,500 square foot house?

Nick: About 3.

Kat: Is it all day pack and move? Or….

Nick: So a 1,500 square foot house pack and move would take 3 guys and 10-12 hours over 2 days. Pack one day, move the next day.

Kat: So what would be the average cost?

Nick: $68 per man/per hour. So around $2,000. 

Kat: Not that bad for not having to move yourself!

Nick: I would never move myself again-it’s horrible.

Kat: I totally agree! Before I married my husband I moved every year for 6 years straight here in Santa Barbara. Its absolutely exhausting trying to move by yourself. 

Do you have any other moving locations other than Santa Barbara? 

Nick: We are in Ventura too!

Kat: No way, that’s huge! I feel like Ventura is a good market to be in. 

Nick: Absolutely. 

Next question is Kylie’s (assistant) question what do you love most about your job?

Nick:  The location is amazing. I love living in Santa Barbara and our employees are great- the guys we work with make it fun. 

Kat:  Everyone from Movegreen that helped with the Junior League of Santa Barbara Rummage event were such great guys to work with and sweet to give us their time.  

Nick: We are pretty picky about the guys we hire so they make it fun - and then I love dealing with the customers too. 

Kat: That’s awesome. Well thank you for meeting with me!

For any of our clients you will receive 10% off your move with MoveGreen services when you mention Ralston and Hitchcock!!!

Sold!🏡 Charming 3 Bedroom Ventura Home

1319 Egret Avenue | Ventura, CA  93003 

Bedrooms: 3  |  Bathrooms: 1.5  |  Laundry: In Garage  |  Parking: 2 car garage
Sold Price: $488,000

 

Charming single family home in a central Ventura location at the end of a cul-de-sac street. Features custom archways, crown molding, open floor plan and sky lights. Laminate wood flooring throughout, recessed lighting, and newer windows. The Kitchen offers tile counters, gas cook top, built in microwave, trash compactor, dishwasher, refrigerator, and lots of cabinets for storage space. The great room features a gas fireplace and mantel with canned lighting and dimmers.  The sliding glass doors lead to a welcoming back yard area perfect for entertaining, complete with a producing Avocado tree! 

 
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Listing Spotlight: Funk Zone Modern

125 Gray Avenue | Santa Barbara, CA 93101

2 BEDROOMS | 2 BATHS

OFFERED AT $1,799,000

Listing agent: David Kim 

Listing Brokerage: Village Properties

Sold 🔑 Modern Living Downtown Carpinteria

Sold 🔑 Modern Living Downtown Carpinteria

Another home sold to a satisfied buyer!  We are happy to have represented the sellers in the sale of this modern 2 bedroom, 2 bath Berkus designed townhome only a short distance to the beach.  Remodeled throughout featuring cathedral ceilings, large master suites on each level, spacious living/entertaining areas, pool and large 2-car garage.

Modern living in downtown Carpinteria only a short distance to the beach! Stunning Barry Berkus designed 2-story town home features soaring cathedral ceilings and a flexible floor plan with large master suites on each level. Spacious living/entertaining areas offer potential to create a third bedroom. Features fresh paint and new carpets throughout, crown molding, smooth ceilings, new stainless steel refrigerator, washer/dryer included, granite counters, claw foot tub, wainscoting, gas fireplace and a large finished attic. Enjoy private patios off both the master bedroom and the dining room. Heated pool. Oversized 2-car garage + excellent guest parking.

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

The Crown Jewel of Holmby Hills

Last week we were invited to attend the Inman Luxury Connect Welcome Party in Beverly Hills - essentially a huge mixer for luxury real estate agents from around the country. One of the best parts was that the event was held in the stunning Owlwood Estate, also known as the "Crown Jewel of Holmby Hills." This massive estate is currently represented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate and was last listed in 2012 by The Agency for a whopping $150 million!

Designed in 1936 by acclaimed Los Angeles architect Robert Farquhar, Owlwood Estate first opened in 1937, and has been home to big names ever since, including Joseph Schenck, the founder of the studio that would become 20th Century Fox, and Sonny and Cher Bono. Built in the Italian Renaissance style, the mansion boasts a total of 9 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms and is over 12,000 square feet. Originally one single residence, the estate now encompasses what were once three separate properties: the main house, porn producer Bill Osco's neighboring estate, and actress Jayne Mansfield's notorious "Pink Palace." Today, the estate consists of close to 10 acres of land in the beautiful Holmby Hills neighborhood, which is home to esteemed names and some of the most expensive homes in the world.

Private and luxurious, Owlwood Estate has had its share of prominent inhabitants from well-known celebrities to powerful magnates. Initially built for Florence Quinn, the ex-wife of real estate mogul Arthur Letts Jr., the mansion has since been home to Joseph Drown, the entrepreneur who converted Hotel Bel-Air into a hotel in the 1940s, Superior Oil founder William Keck, actor Tony Curtis, and even a possible arms dealer! The home is currently owned by Dawn Arnall, widow of subprime mortgage profiteer Roland Arnall.

Exploring the grounds of the Crown Jewel of Holmby Hills was definitely one of the highlights of the event - check out some of the images below of this Los Angeles treasure!

California Housing Market Expected to Thrive in 2016

The California Association of Realtors' (C.A.R.) 2016 California Housing Market Forecast, released yesterday, foresees 2016 to be "the best year for home sales activity since 2012." According to the report, California is expected to see over 430,000 home sales next year, exceeding 2015 sales by over 25,000 closings, an annual increase of 6.3%. Demand in less expensive areas (like the Central Valley and San Bernardino) is projected to stay strong thanks to solid job growth.

The forecast calls for a 3.2% increase in home prices next year, compared to 6.5% in 2015, 9.8% in 2014, 27.5% in 2013 and 11.6% in 2012.

Although home sales are expected to grow in the coming year, home affordability will continue to be an issue in the Golden State. Despite this cost affordability, 2016 is anticipated to be the best year for sales activity since 2012, which is great news for the California housing market.

Fixed rate 30-year mortgages are also expected to reach 4.5% in 2016.