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SANTA BARBARA REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATE: AUGUST 2022

September 23, 2022

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August saw real estate sales in Santa Barbara and throughout the nation cool as market conditions began to enter a new phase. This new phase centers on the recent 0.75% interest rate hikes, creating a long-term concern as we wait to see if the Federal Reserve’s monetary policies continue to drag and pull the market along with it. However, for now, pricing remains steady, and inventory remains tight.

Locally, total sales in August were down by 41% compared to August 2021, with 97 single-family homes and 36 condos sold in Santa Barbara South County. Among those, cash sales were king, representing 44% of market transactions. Compared to last year's period, average sale prices for single-family homes in the area rose by 7%, and the medium sales price rose 34%. Locally, we saw 742 sales, a decrease of 33% compared to last year, while the average and median sales price rose 11% in 2021 and 17% in 2022.

To be clear, California is still a seller's market, with home prices strong. However, listings are staying on the market longer for the first time in two years. As a result, sellers need to adjust their expectations with the realization that fewer properties are selling above the asking price. And moving forward, inventory is expected to remain tight, which will continue to drive prices. Still, buyers can take their time before making a decision.

As predicted in my last Santa Barbara real estate market update, August showed an increase in consumer confidence despite three months of decline. Most likely, consumer insecurity relating to household spending power will influence large ticket items as inflation erodes spending power. However, real estate investments make an excellent hedge on inflation, creating a classic double-edged sword scenario.

More Insight

In my latest video, I share more insight into the current real estate market and the future in Santa Barbara and our surrounding communities.

Neighborhood Market Update

Large swimming pool and pool house captioned with Montecito August home sales statistics
Fire pit in the foreground overlooking Santa Barbara, ocean and islands, captioned with August 2022 Santa Barbara home sale statistics
Palm Trees frame a beautiful sunset over the ocean, with a caption of August 2022 Summerland/Carpinteria home sale statistics
Lawn and large home of a Hope Ranch estate, captioned by August 2022 Hope Ranch home sale statistics

Featured Listing

Row of Miramar beach houses just feet from the beach and waves
1 MIRAMAR AVENUE, MONTECITO CA - Offered at $15,500,000

My Full Portfolio of Fine Homes For Sale

Stunning New Rental

Bird's eye view of a large Montecito estate, with swimming pool, and tennis court surrounded by trees
SYCAMORE CANYON ROAD, MONTECITO, CA - Offered at $70,000/monthly


A Collection of My Recent Sales

Sun setting behind a stunning Carpinteria home
3568 TORO CANYON PARK ROAD, CARPINTERIA, CA - Offered at $19,995,000 | Represented Seller
A red tiled roof Spanish style estate in Santa Barbara, surrounded by trees and with ocean in the background
1209 CIMA LINDA LANE, SANTA BARBARA CA - Offered at $7,395,000 | Represented Seller and Buyer
A classic California Contemporary style 2-level home in Santa Barbara, with a gnarled tree in the yard
684 LADERA LANE, SANTA BARBARA CA - Offered at $5,000,000 | Represented Buyer
Home of Foothill Farms: a historic English Country-style Ojai Estate
1104 FOOTHILL LANE, OJAI, CA - Offered at $4,995,000 | Represented Seller



If you’re considering making a move, please call me at (805) 886-9378 or send me an email at Cristal@montecito-estate.com for a complimentary consultation. Meantime, stay apprised of local, regional and national real estate trends with my next market update.



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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