Santa Barbara Real Estate

Southern Santa Barbara Real Estate Insights

In 2024 the southern Santa Barbara real estate market saw a 16% increase in inventory.  The number of new listings for the southern Santa Barbara real estate market in 2024 was 1,169, up from 1,009 in 2023. With nearly 100 homes listed each month, on average, 70 homes sold each month with the strongest sales in the summer.

Some homeowners were unhappy with interest rates and held back listing their homes.  While the supply of available homes is still relatively low, buyer demand continues to drive prices up.

The three most active zip codes in 2025 are Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, and Goleta which are experiencing a “seller’s market.”

Montecito cooled some in 2024 but had an unusually busy January in 2025.  During the pandemic buying frenzy nearly 300 homes sold each year in Montecito.  In 2024 130 homes sold in Montecito and the median home price rose from $5,460,000 to $5,687,500.

The average days on the market in 2024 for southern
Santa Barbara was 55 days and sellers, on average, walked away with 96% of their asking price.

The California Association of Realtors forecast is for a modest rise in the median price and an increase of homes for sale in 2025. The reality is that there aren’t enough properties for sale to satisfy every buyer’s demand for Santa Barbara.

In 2025 keep an eye on interest rates, politics that affect real estate, and best of luck out there.

Share this:
Mark Danforth Lomas

Recent Posts

I Madonnari Festival returns Memorial Day Weekend!

Every Memorial Day weekend, our local slice of paradise does something incredible. The historic plaza…

1 day ago

Weekend Open Houses May 23rd & May 24th, 2026

Explore this weekend’s featured open houses across the South Coast. From coastal retreats to hillside…

2 days ago

Market Trends

The Volume Surge: Total sales in April jumped 22% year-over-year. After a slow start to…

1 week ago

Housing

We’ve all seen the headlines. The "1%," the billionaires, the exploding cost of living—and right…

1 week ago

Santa Barbara’s State Street

The Santa Barbara’s State Street Blues. It’s the first time in history a city might spend…

3 weeks ago

Private Listings vs. Pocket Listings

There's been a massive shift in the industry. As of early 2026, Compass has become a true…

4 weeks ago