December 2020 | Santa Barbara Real Estate

December 2020 | Santa Barbara Real Estate

  • Kirk Hodson
  • 02/18/21

Santa Barbara 

 

Real Estate 

2020 Insights
2020 came and went, and it proved to be one of the busiest and most productive years in recent memory in Santa Barbara real estate.
 

The below quote embodies our housing market the second half of 2020: 

 

"...closing tomorrow, 2 bed 2.5 bath List price $1,695,000 Purchase price $2,110,000. This was the 10 offer home with one of the competing offers having no escalation cap." ~ recently shared by an agent in our office. 

Not everything was selling at 19% over the list price, but the fact that it continues to happen often is telling.

 

 

Sales and prices finished the year up after falling off dramatically beginning in March. The second half of the year with more demand than supply, we witnessed price increases and multiple offer situations regularly.

 

 

 With the ability to work remotely and what initially seemed to be the desire for smaller cities, the Santa Barbara County housing market heated up the second half of the year. We ended the year with only a 1.6 month's available inventory supply. The strong demand and lack of inventory strongly favored the Seller the second half of the year.  Interest rates continued at all time lows helping to fuel the demand and price escalation.

 

 

"

U.S. Home Price Index up 9.2% in December from a year earlier, largest annual gain in more than six years fueled by low inventory and attractive low-interest rates. 

Accelerating home prices could lead to affordability challenges in 2021" ~ CoreLogic

 

 

 

 It's a great time to sell Santa Barbara if you know where you want to be next. 

____________________________

 

December 2020 

 South County Sales

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Total December Sales: 231 Homes & Condos

 

December 2019: 176 Sales

 

 

Up 31% Year Over Year

 

Single Family Median Sale Price: $1,563,000

 

Condominium Median Sale Price: $788,500

 

19% of the Sales were Off-market

 

29% were All-Cash

 

*Average 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage as of 02/12/2021: 

2.86%

 

2020 

South County Total Sales

2020 finished the year with 2118 total single family home and condo sales. The last time we saw more than 2000 sales in a single year was 2012 with, ironically, 2118 single family home and condo sales. Year's 2003, 2004, and 2005 all had total sales over 2000.

 

For the forseeable future, there is nothing obvious to change the course we're on...it may be like this for a while.

 

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Recently Sold
12 Lorinda Place

Santa Barbara

Westside
2 Bed | 1 Bath

$920,000

 

3012 Tiana Drive

 Santa Ynez

 

3 Bed | 2.5 Bath

1962 SF

$864,500

 
2211 Mt Calvary Road
5 Bed | 6.5 Bath                                                                    $4,600,000
 

____________________As always, thank you for allowing me to work for you. It's truly an honor and a blessing!____________________

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The Luxury Market

Montecito sales activity was very active the last six months of 2020 - December was no exception.  There was simply not enough inventory to satisfy all the Buyers looking for homes in Montecito. The lack of inventory is putting upward pressure on prices.

 

December 2020:

 

 

 Sold Properties: 42

 

December 2019 Sales: 25

 
 15 of the December 2020 sales were in excess of $5M.

 

 

64% of the December sales were all cash.

 

 

 

2020 not only saw a fresh high in the number of total sales in Montecito at 384,

but sales activity in the upper tiers of the luxury market were very busy.

 

71 sales between $4M and $6M

40 sales between $6M and $10M 

24 sales were over $10M

 

 

Highest December Sale:

 

2845 Sycamore Canyon Road

 

$32,250,000

 

 

 
 

North County Santa Barbara 

 2020

December sales were up 71% with only 1.9 month's of inventory supply at year end.  North County home and condo sales finished the year up 11% with the median single family home sales price jumping by 21%.

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2021 IS HERE, so now what?!  Let's revisit this question in June and see how we're all doing. 

 

Life is short. Play hard, stay safe and be prepared to leave. 

Blessings!

~ Kirk

Work With Kirk

Whether you’re considering buying, selling, or trading, Kirk would love to spend some time getting to know your needs. Give him a call.