Real Estate

Estate Offerings in Montecito

2018 and 2019 saw solid years for sales in the $10,000,000+ range. In 2019 there were 10 homes that sold over $10,000,000 in the Montecito 93108 zip code, and 14 over $10,000,000 if you include homes sold in the Padaro Lane area. In 2018 there were seven sales in Montecito over the $10,000,000 price point. And this year we have not yet seen any closed sales in Montecito over $10,000,000, although there are two properties over $10,000,000 currently in escrow.

As of the writing of this article there are approximately 24 properties for sale above $10,000,000 in the Montecito area. At this price point one can expect a larger home (often 8,000 to 10,000 square feet or more), an acre of land or more (unless it’s a beachfront home then a full acre is rare indeed). Also one can expect ocean views, parking for guests, a pool and spa, a guest house, sometimes a tennis court and pavilion and even more amenities depending on the estate listing.

Most homes over $10 million include two or more stories and grand staircases, long driveways, gates and more. These are the homes most people dream about… and yet for some, a $10 million or $15 million estate might be just a second home for weekends and holidays. This is where the differences in needs and tastes comes into play. What style of architecture does one want? What location in town? Are ocean views critically important? It is in these details that one can get lost deciding between one lottery winning fantasy home and another. Here are four options of Montecito estates for sale in the $10,000,000+ category for you to consider.

1050 Cold Spring Road - $11,950,000 Crafted from a singular vision, this estate at the top of Cold Spring Road is known as Ca’ di Sopra (meaning ‘’House Above the Clouds’’). This is a modern-day heirloom estate embracing the style, design and romance of the Golden Age of architecture from the early 1900s.

This revitalized Mediterranean residence is located on a prominent lane among other world class estates, and stands as an enviable property with ocean views, impressive attention to detail and mature landscaping.

The house includes seven bedrooms and a total of eight bathrooms in 12,500 +/- square feet of living space. There is central air conditioning, Montecito water, and a well in place. Ca’ di Sopra is located within the Cold Spring School District.

1475 East Mountain Drive - $13,900,000 Rebuilt in 2014 by Giffin and Crane, and perfected by Harrison design, this Mediterranean estate is a study on beauty, luxury, design, and indoor/outdoor living. No stone was left unturned. This estate features vast verandas, covered terraces, pool, north/south tennis court, organic orchard, and gardens (aided by two wells).

There is a media room, wine cellar, gym, luxury guest accommodations, and more in the over 11,000 square feet of living space.

743 San Ysidro Road - $15,800,000

Casa Leo Linda is a classically designed estate set on approximately 2.7 acres just a short block or two from the upper village shops and the San Ysidro Ranch. You know you have arrived as you drive through your own gates and up the long private driveway leading to the landscaped gardens and motor court.

The home features over 8,500 square feet of living space. There is a pool, cabana, tennis court, and a dog run. Homes on San Ysidro Road are located within the Montecito Union School District.

Situated among homes of similar and even higher prices, there is a feeling of peace and serenity here, with the home offering glimpses of the Pacific, stunning mountain views and the sounds of birds singing and frogs warbling in the koi pond and garden surrounding.

975 Lilac Drive - $16,900,000

Ocean views, timeless architecture, and world-class craftsmanship coalesce in a magical Montecito location. Designed by Marc Appleton and built by Unander Construction, Villa Ravello is an estate of over 10,000 square feet of living space that offers understated elegance and a sense of sophistication on a lovely 2.62-acre lot.

Long site-lines showcase thoughtful details throughout the home. Nearly every room in the residence opens to a terrace offering different views of natural beauty; the sea, mountains, lacy oak trees, or lush lawns.

The guest house is ideal for extended visitors and the pool/cabana calls for fun. A detached office is perfect for focusing on business or creative ventures. This home is located within the Montecito Union School District.

1989, she was appointed fiscal director for the city’s Community Housing Corp. and in 1993 became director of finance for the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, a position she held for 11 years.

She was also vice president of finance and administration at the Music Academy of the West before rejoining the Scholarship Foundation as operations director in 2011. Appointed chief operating officer in 2016, she served as the foundation’s interim president and CEO from February to December 2018.

Versailles has competition

years to complete.

Geoffrey, who has worked on homes with quite stratospheric budgets in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Jakarta and Japan, is listed by the Robb Report as one of its Top Ten designers.

The Louis XIV-style grand chateau, which makes Versailles look like a fixer-upper, uses Geoffrey’s knowledge of feng shui, the Chinese system of geomancy used to ensure harmony and balance.

Canadian-born architect Richard Landry, whose clients include footballer Tom Brady, Eddie Murphy, Mark Wahlberg, Sylvester Stallone, and Rod Stewart, also worked on the extraordinary project.

Land of the Rich Montecito is ranked at 44 with an average household income of $265,940 in Bloomberg’s Richest Places just released annual index.

Atherton, a town of 7,000 in the heart of Silicon Valley, tops the list for the fourth consecutive year with an annual income of $525,324.

Scarsdale, New York, a town in wealthy Westchester County, north of Manhattan, is ranked number two, with more than half the towns on the list in New York or California.

Malibu is at number 37 with an average household income of $275,675.

On the Market One of America’s 400 richest people, Peter Sperling, 60, son of John Sperling, the founder of the University of Phoenix, who sold his Montecito three and a half acre estate, formerly owned by British actress Jane Seymour for $10.5 mil

lion in 2015, is now selling his eight bedroom, 14 bath Spanish-style Holmby Hills property for $18.995 million.

The 11,653 sq. ft.1927 property on 1.65 acres, formerly owned by actor Vincent Price, was originally on the market last year for around $21 million.

Audition Evacuations Singer Katy Perry and her fellow American Idol judges had to evacuate the set of the hit ABC show during auditions in Sunriver, Oregon, because of a gas leak.

In a clip from the show, the former Dos Pueblos High students becomes increasingly alarmed about a strong propane smell, saying:

“Do you guys smell gas?” As fire alarms go off, Katy eventually picks up her belongings and makes for the exit, along with the show’s bemused contestants. The clip, on People magazine’s website, shows her complaining of a headache before dropping to the ground as EMTs arrive to revive her. “Finally dot it right! How do you make a mistake like that? #Pinterest fail.”

New CEO Canadian Barbara Robertson, who has held a succession of finance, operations and administrative positions with several area nonprofit organizations, has been named president and CEO of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara.

Robertson studied business economics at the University of British Columbia and accounting at the British Columbia Institute of Technology before working as a consultant, first at Peat, Marwick and Partners in Vancouver.

After relocating to Santa Barbara in

• The Voice of the Village • Ink Slip Santa Barbara warbler Katy Perry’s British actor fiancé Orlando Bloom has just corrected a tattoo blunder. Bloom, who starred in Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, had the inking on his arm featuring a thin black line and a series of numbers – representing the date and time of the birth of his son Flynn, 9, with actress Miranda Kerr –, with Morse code supposed to spell his son’s name. But instead it spelled ‘Frynn.’

The 43-year-old corrected the spelling error and went on Instagram, blaming Pinterest for the initial mistake. Barbara Robertson new president of Scholarship Foundation

Natural Beauty It was a no maquillage moment when Montecito actress Gwyneth Paltrow threw an A-list party in Beverly Hills.

The Oscar winner invited Demi Moore, 57, Kate Hudson, 40, and Los Angeles-based artist, Alexandra Grant, 47, who is dating actor Keanu Reeves, but made it clear it was makeup-free event.

The bash was to promote her new Goop Glow skin products.

Moore, ex-wife of actor Bruce Willis and Carpinteria actor Ashton Kutcher, seemed particularly delighted to ditch makeup.

“Beauty is more than what you see, it is what you feel,” she raved on Instagram. “A powerful, memorable and meaningful evening!”

Rest in Peace On a personal note, I offer my condolences to Summerland winemaker and Santa Barbara Polo Club player Bilo Zarif, who has just lost his son, Jason Davis, at the all too early age of 35 in Los Angeles.

Jason, who voiced the character of Mikey Blumberg in the Disney animated series Recess, had long been open about his struggles with substance abuse and co-founded a charity, Cure Addiction Now.

Bilo was married to Jason’s mother, Nancy Davis, daughter of the late Texas oil tycoon Marvin Davis, owner of the Beverly Hills Hotel and 20th Century Fox, who died in 2004 aged 79.

Sightings: TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres celebrating Valentine’s Day with actress wife Portia de Rossi noshing at the Plow & Angel... Oscar winner Natalie Portman checking out the Public Market... Singer Neil Young at the Hotel Californian

Pip! Pip!

MONTECITO JOURNAL 49 Readers with tips, sightings and amusing items for Richard’s column should e-mail him at richardmi neards@verizon.net or send invitations or other correspondence to the Journal. To reach Priscilla, email her at pris cilla@santabarbaraseen.com or call 805-969-3301 •MJ