RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR SANTA BARBARA STYLE | Luxury Realtor Cristal Clarke

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With New Year’s Eve right around the corner, the question on many of our stressed-out minds is: Where should we go in Santa Barbara to ring in the New Year? Perhaps the hottest, hippest place to ring in the New Year in 2023 is your Santa Barbara home.

The words Happy New Year surrounded by festive foliage on a grey background — Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Ringing in the New Year at Home

Here are a few reasons why “party animals” of all ages are choosing to celebrate at home instead of some especially annoying, jam-packed club or restaurant:

You don’t have to drive
New Year's Eve and Day are the second most deadly times for drivers, according to the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety. Studies have shown that even one drink impairs anyone’s driving ability a bit.
You’ll have a place to sit
No matter what age, it’s nice to sit down and have a real conversation for a change.
You’ll get to sleep in your own bed
Your party guests might choose to sleep over, too!
You will know almost everyone there
It’s nice to meet new people, but on New Years, you’ll want to kiss your significant other at midnight. So just make sure you and your significant are in the same place!
Anyone can throw one
Nothing says you can’t throw your own New Year’s Eve party, so go ahead! Here’s a little extra tip for serving champagne: nothing says ring in the New Year like a super-chic Champagne tower. While pulling off such a party spectacle may seem like a feat best left to the pros, it’s actually surprisingly simple.

And here are some ideas to usher in the New Year Santa Barbara Style -- from hosting a Pinterest-worthy event, to a cozy and casual gathering or a swanky soiree.

A Pajama Party
Invite your friends to a cozy and casual gathering to watch the ball drop together.
Add a Countdown Wall
No need to rent a photo booth where guests can shoot selfies throughout the evening. Instead, DIY a countdown wall with balloons, cardboard, hats and a little gold paint.

Photo by Dave Lastovskiy on Unsplash
Gather Outside
Nothing says Santa Barbara quite like spending time in the great outdoors. And thanks to our year-round Mediterranean weather, we can gather outside. All you need to do to make it festive is light the fire in your firepit.
New Year’s Resolution Jar
Set out a New Year’s Resolution jar with paper and pencils for your guests to write down their goals, resolutions, and wishes for the coming year.
Have a Spa Night
Unwind with an at-home spa party and melt away the stress of the previous year. Have an assortment of luxe skin and hair care products waiting for partygoers to try.

Photo by Tamara Menzi on Unsplash
Host a Fancy Ball
Your dress-up party where all guests wear their finest garb is sure to be the talk of the town.
Game Night!
A game night is always fun, especially on New Year’s Eve.
Movie Night
Have a chill New Year’s Eve by inviting your friends and family to binge watch movies together. Score some of the delicious takeout we have here in Santa Barbara, along with some cocktails, and your movie marathon will be one to remember

So, where is the best place in Santa Barbara to ring in the New Year? If you’re thinking about it being your new home in 2023, give me a call at (805) 886-9378, or shoot me an email at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. I would be happy to share with you all the unique properties that are on the market now.

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Client Reviews

“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