No. 001 · August 4, 2026

The SB Residency: Slim Pickings

Santa Barbara just hit the mid-year mark, and the story isn't "hot" or "cold." It's slim pickings. Active listings are down almost a quarter from a year ago, which is why we're calling this issue what it is. Fewer homes, faster sales, and buyers who show up ready to move. Here's what's actually happening on the ground, plus three places worth a second look.

The Nitty Gritty

This issue's market, by the numbers.

Santa Barbara City, Single-Family Homes (June 2026, via FLEX MLS)

• Active listings: 201, down 23.3% year-over-year (262 in June 2025)
• Median sold price: $1,712,500, down 6.2% year-over-year ($1,825,000 in June 2025), essentially flat to slightly softer, not a crash
• Average days on market: 37.9 days, up 30.2% year-over-year (29.1 days in June 2025)

The read: inventory is the real story here. Down almost a quarter from a year ago, which is why homes are sitting a bit longer even as prices barely move. There's simply less to compete for. If you've been waiting for more choices to show up, they're not coming. If you've been sitting on the fence about listing, you're facing less competition than you were a year ago.

Stats reflect single-family homes in the City of Santa Barbara only, not condos, not the wider county. We rotate through a different market each issue.

Window Shopping

Some listings that caught my eye this issue.

3661 Sunset Drive, Santa Barbara: $2,995,000

San Roque single-level, fully reworked inside and out. French oak floors, a kitchen that means business, in-ceiling speakers, updated wiring and networking, and a backyard that got the same love as the interior. Quiet neighborhood, walkable, done right. 3 bed | 3 bath | 2,288 sqft | 0.21 acre. Listing courtesy of Aaron Gilles, Village Properties. (MLS #26-2513)

1249 Diana Lane, Santa Barbara: $3,175,000

Compact footprint, big price: proof that in this market, location and finish beat square footage every time. 3 bed | 3 bath | 1,381 sqft | 0.17 acre. Listing courtesy of Pippa Davis, Compass. (MLS #26-2488)

1461-1463 Edgecliff Lane, Montecito: $58,500,000

This one's not for browsing, it's for gawking. A gated, dual-parcel oceanfront compound with 195+ feet of Montecito coastline, four structures (main house, guest house, beach pavilion with a wellness center and art studio, plus a beach cottage), private access to Hammonds Beach, and a four-car garage, which on this stretch of coast is basically a unicorn. 9 bed | 11 bath | 8,934 sqft | 0.86 acre. Listing courtesy of Timothy Di Prizito, Christie's International RE SoCal. (MLS #26-2458)

See something you like? Reach out and let's talk. Not my listings. Sharing because they caught my eye. I'm happy to show you any of these or find something that fits even better.

This Issue's Vibe

Local adventurers, storytellers, eats & other must-follows.

Follow: @petitsoleilslo

A European-inspired boutique bed and breakfast tucked into downtown SLO. Cobblestone courtyard, nightly wine hour, the kind of place you book for a weekend and end up staying at every time you drive up the coast.

Follow: @rinconrooms

Six quiet, contactless boutique rooms in downtown Carpinteria, just opened this summer. English restraint meets coastal light, steps from Rincon. Local owners, no front desk, no pretense.

House Radio

The soundtrack to the SB Residency, updated all the time.

Everything we're listening to here in Santa Barbara, updated all the time. Listen on Spotify

On repeat this issue: BLINK (Deluxe Edition) by Bob Moses. Dropped July 10. Electronic, 14 tracks, exactly the record for a drive up the 101 with the windows down.

Currently Obsessed With: Claude AI

Whatever's got my attention this cycle: tool, trend, or otherwise.

I've been deep in it the last couple weeks. Rebuilt my website, built out a virtual assistant, set up an email checker, and yeah, this newsletter you're reading is part of it too. It's making me faster, more efficient, and more connected to my clients than I thought possible, without losing my voice in the process. If you're curious how any of it works, ask me next time we talk.

And it's not just a smarter Google. If you don't know how to do something, it'll walk you through it step by step: screenshots, explanations, the works, like having a patient expert sitting next to you instead of a search bar spitting out ten blue links you have to sort through yourself. I've had it walk me through coding, which I had zero background in going in, one step at a time until it actually worked. Basically: if you can think it, you can try it. That's been the real shift for me, not just getting answers faster, but actually building things I had no business being able to build on my own.

Ready When You Are

Buying, selling, or just curious what it's worth? I'm here.

Thinking about buying, selling, or just want to know what your place is worth in this market? Let's talk. No pressure. It's always worth the conversation.

Get in touch →