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Montecito’s 93108 Zip Code: Consistently One of Forbes Richest

May 7, 2020

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IT'S A PRIVILEGED ENCLAVE EXUDING AN UNPARALLELED AMBIANCE OF CASUAL LUXURY

Panorama of the Santa Barbara Mountains

The Santa Barbara-Montecito area, also known as the “American Riviera,” has been a magnet for the rich and famous for over a century. It boasts some of the most spectacular and expensive real estate in the United States and is consistently ranked by Forbes as one of the country’s wealthiest communities. With a median home value just north of $3 million, Montecito property is coveted and often chosen by the well-known and well-heeled.

Famous Zip Code, Famous Residents

Among the approximately 10,000 residents claiming the 93108 Zip Code are numerous A-list celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Rob Lowe, Ellen DeGeneres, Drew Barrymore, and many more.

READ: Santa Barbara Recognized As One of the Best Small Cities in the Nation

But drawing celebs here is nothing new. Movers and shakers from around the globe have been vacationing in Montecito since the early 1800s. That is not surprising since the enclave itself, along with its surrounding communities including Santa Barbara, Hope Ranch, Summerland, and Carpinteria, are about as idyllic as you can get; often compared to the South of France and Tuscany.

Other Kudos

Forbes is not the only publication ranking Montecito and its 93108 Zip Code among the wealthiest and most famous in the country. Travel + Leisure Magazine named Montecito one of The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2019. The website “Richest in the World” gives Montecito the #1 spot as the most famous Zip Code, not only in America but in the entire world.

Among My Favorite Things to See and Do

There are so many things to love about Montecito’s chic eight square miles. In the Upper and Lower Villages, residents have many incredible restaurants and high-end boutiques to choose from, as well as galleries, distinctive gift shops, and luxury hotels and spas.

Perhaps the draw is our perfect Mediterranean weather. Or maybe it’s the stunning stretches of coastline from Fernald Point and Miramar Beach, to Hammonds and Butterfly Beaches. Then there is the fact that Montecito is a paradise for outdoor lovers.

Water sports abound here. From surfing and sailing to paddleboarding, kayaking, and more. Or, you can simply relax on the white sand at sunset and enjoy the light show accompanied by the sounds of the waves crashing.

I have many hiking trails to choose from in the hills of Montecito. There’s nothing better than to enjoy the epic views over Montecito and Santa Barbara, to the Channel Islands and beyond. As an avid gardener, I appreciate the area’s beautiful natural flora and the landscaping at private homes and estates. Lotusland is one of the world’s 10 best gardens. Plus, Montecito has many charming homes in Spanish colonial/Mediterranean and other classic architectural styles, as well as historic estates, some older ranch-style homes, cottages, and a few amazing contemporary abodes.

New Listings in 2020

The housing market is quite buoyant right now, which means if you are interested in moving to the exclusive 93108 Zip Code or any of the nearby communities, you’re in luck. In fact, since the beginning of the year, I’ve sold four properties and found the perfect home sweet home in the area for two more of my discerning clients. I also have five new listings on my comprehensive website with many more set to come on board in the next few months.

READ: Santa Barbara Housing Market: Home Prices in the Shadow of COVID-19

The inviting living room of a stylish home in Montecito listed by Cristal Clarke

One of my favorite new listings is this Montecito Charmer on a Country Lane. Once you take a look at the details, you’ll see why this 3-bedroom, 3-bath home is so exquisite.

Privacy, serenity and security are assured at this Mediterrean-style Montecito home just listed

If you are looking for a home that offers breathtaking, unobstructed ocean and mountain views from almost every room, check out this Quintessential Mediterranean-style Montecito View Estate, created by award-winning architect Don Nulty, AIA.

Terrace of a Barton Myers-designed home in Montecito at dusk

Or how about this sustainably constructed, award-winning Iconic Modernism by Barton Myers, named “one of the most beautiful homes in the world” by Architectural Record.

The front of a Montecito home for sale

This 5-bedroom, 7.5 bath European-Inspired Montecito Contemporary Estate is also on the market right now. The former residence of celebrated comedian Jonathan Winters is nestled on approximately three acres, showcasing breathtaking ocean, island, and mountain vistas.

front view of a French country-style home in Montecito at twilight

Golf aficionados and lovers of Shakespeare will appreciate this French Country-Style Montecito Home in Birnam Wood. Built in 2019, this home overlooks the community’s cherished world-class golf course. Birnam Wood's name is tied to Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.”

If you’re considering buying in the 93108 Zip Code, or selling to move to a different Santa Barbara area community or neighborhood, give me a call at +1 (805) 886-9378 or email me at Cristal@Montecito-Estate. You can trust me, the #1 Ranked Individual Agent in the entire Santa Barbara MLS. My total sales last year were in excess of $155,000,000, with 31 transactions closed for 19 sellers and 12 buyers in 2019 alone. Let me put my magic to work on your behalf!




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Client Reviews

“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

- J & A

“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

- M.F.

“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

- P.B.

“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

- T.C.

“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

- D.R.

“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

- M.A.

“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

- D.K.

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch