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.

10 Ways to Prep Your Home for Sale

Make your home stand out with a few easy improvements. With the high inventory of homes on the market today, homebuyers can afford to be choosy. Buyers are looking for the best, so a home for sale can easily slip through the cracks if it's not in pristine condition. Use these 10 tips to whip your home into shape and wow potential buyers.

Improve your landscaping. Curb appeal is crucial to a good first impression, so make sure your home's lawn is immaculate. Mow the lawn, prune the bushes, weed the garden and plant flowers.

Clean the outside. A sloppy exterior will make buyers think you've slacked off on interior maintenance as well. Be sure to clean the gutters and pressure wash your home's siding.

Make repairs. In a buyer's market, you want your home to be in the best condition possible. Take care of major defects like broken windows or a leaky roof that could discourage buyers.

Make the front door inviting. A fresh coat of paint, especially in a color that contrasts with the home, will make the front door stand out. Replace faded house numbers so buyers can see them from the curb.

Buy a new welcome mat. Let buyers know they're invited into your home.

Remove clutter and depersonalize. Buyers want to envision their belongings in your home. Clean up by renting a storage unit for knickknacks, photos, extra furniture and other personal items.

Organize closets and drawers. Messy closets give the appearance that your home doesn't have enough storage space.

Make every surface shine. From ceiling fans to floors and everything in between, clean your home until it sparkles.

Take color down a notch. You might like your lime-green bedroom, but it may sour buyers. Paint your walls a neutral color that will appeal to a wide range of buyers.

Eliminate bad odors. Hide the litter box and spray air neutralizer throughout your home. When showing the home, fill it with inviting smells by putting out fresh flowers and baking a batch of cookies.

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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!

Referral Agent Spotlight: Roh Habibi

We’re so excited to have had the opportunity to work with Roh Habibi, our go-to referral agent for San Francisco and the new star of Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing: San Francisco! Habibi has quickly made his mark as an expert in high-end Bay Area real estate, becoming one of San Francisco's top Realtors. A dedicated professional and authority on all things luxury real-estate, Habibi is a guru when it comes to San Francisco real estate and a pleasure to work with!