Santa Barbara CA Community & Homes for Sale

From wooded hills and magnificent estates to the laid back beaches, Santa Barbara’s renowned beauty is more than skin deep. Known as “The American Riviera,” has shaped this metropolitan area into a well-rounded, multifaceted gem of a place for the discerning person to live and work, many who are convinced they live in paradise.

Nestled comfortably between one of California's most beautiful stretches of Pacific Ocean and the striking Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara literally glows as the mostly white-stuccoed, red-tiled roof buildings of its central business and shopping district bask in the California sun. Homes of character and style - many incorporating Spanish-Mediterranean architectural influences - rise above the town on a backdrop of foothills.

History of Santa Barbara

Early on, Santa Barbara’s soothing climate provided a prime stomping ground for the Chumash Indians. They were followed by the Portuguese, Spaniards and Franciscans, who later left their stamp with the beautiful Mission Santa Ines in Solvang, La Purisma Mission State Historic Park in Lompoc and the Queen of the Missions, Mission Santa Barbara. Mexico stepped in for 24 years before Colonel John Fremont crowned Santa Barbara a U.S. territory in 1846.

In the early 1900s, Santa Barbara became the film capital of the world before the motion picture industry centralized in Hollywood. More than 1,200 movies (mostly Westerns) were made in a 10-year span and Santa Barbara became a favorite retreat for such legendary film stars as Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin.

The area soon evolved into a haven for wealthy Easterners and a hot spot for health-seekers lured by the city’s curing mineral baths.  At the turn of the century, luxury rail cars turned out the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Carnegies and Duponts, followed by an artistic swell of painters, poets and authors.

Santa Barbara Community & Attractions

Today, Santa Barbara proper is home to some 95,000 residents and still exudes the warmth and relaxation of a small city, coupled with the major attractions of a metropolis.

The scenic beauty of Santa Barbara attracts a variety of home buyers looking for a peaceful place to live.  The Santa Ynez Mountains, the Channel Islands National Park wilderness and the calm climate make it a favorite for celebrities and Los Angeles residents looking for a getaway home. Pedestrian-friendly with roughly 76 designated historic landmarks, an impressive line-up of performing arts venues, museums, galleries and restaurants.

With a moderate year-round climate, Santa Barbara is an excellent location for recreational activities.  The stunning beaches are an attraction for anyone wanting to just spend a day relaxing at the beach, get in a run, play in the sand and surf or just soak up the wonderful views of the ocean.

Santa Barbara CA Homes for Sale & Real Estate

Santa Barbara real estate may draw home buyers looking for beautiful surroundings, but residents looking for outstanding schools will also be drawn to the area.  There are great public schools, as well as secondary institutes with prominent reputations.

Many of the buildings, homes and estates built in Santa Barbara have a Spanish-Mediterranean architecture and are located anywhere from the relaxed pristine coastline to the foothills. Santa Barbara’s unique neighborhoods vary in size, topography and real estate values, all with their own unique characteristics.