Fire, ice, cocovated; Harry and Meghan, Oprah, Gwyneth: these are certain but certainly not all the factors that lead Montecito real estate into the stratosphere.
The post-pandemic influx of celebrities and royal family, as well as local restaurants openings that are more like red carpet events, have catapulted the small town not made up of less than 10,000 people in the real estate stratosphere, while a large part of Southern California stagnates. At the end of May, closed sales increased by 31% compared to the same period in 2024, according to Riskin Partners Estate Group.
Even more amazing: since 2019, the median price of a Montecito house has increased by 80%, according to Zillow. Take the compound of 2 acres from Meg Ryan on Picacho Lane: bought by Ryan in 2020 for $ 5.4 million, the house is currently listed for $ 19.5 million.
Images Craig Barritt / Getty for time
And while a-visers can draw unwanted attention to the formerly interesting city, most are assimilated to the primordial Matecito aesthetics: more beekeeping, less bling. Designers like Meredith Still and Kari Ivanitsky of the Meredith project work regularly with homeowners who seek to capture the high -end look of the region: “Montecito can be relaxed, but it is never insufficient. Behind the relaxed linen covers and open shelves is rigorous attention to the details of the offense for recent projections. “Here, the houses are like a film by Nancy Meyers, but in real life.”
For Josiah Hamilton, a local resident and real estate agent, the real draw for the enclave is less celebrities and more topography: “Santa Barbara is the longest expanse of bond -oriented south until you arrive in Alaska. This means that the sun rises on the left side and takes place on the right. This is a remarkable thing. ”
This story appeared in the June 18 issue of the Hollywood Reporter Magazine. Click here to subscribe.
