There has never been a better time to purchase a piece of real estate, although the Santa Barbara real estate market is slowing. As soon as you found a home in a hot market, you had to jump on it.
You can take your time to search for the perfect home now, since there is a greater choice in housing. Room for negotiations is possible in the existing market. Buyers have much more say at the table, although the overall process may take a bit longer. Presently, interest rates remain rather low. Rates might not be at 5.84%, as they were in 2004, but you are still getting a pretty good deal, all things considered.
Above all, a home is a great investment. Owning a piece of real estate will produce great tax advantages, whether you are buying to sell or buying to keep. More ...
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008
Times they are-a-changing, especially in regards to the design of Santa Barbara homes . It is likely that the greatest change since the 1970s is the amount of square footage. Up from 1,600 square feet in 1973, the average new home has a spread of 2,400 square feet. Bathrooms have moved from less than two per home, to at least two.
Kitchens have had an increase as well, from a humble 9x10, to a tremendous 285 square feet. Islands, breakfast bars, and nooks are a few of the additions to many kitchens. An old-fashioned living room is a feature of the past. Nowadays families assemble around the flat screen TV instead. Many garages allow for more than two cars and a complete laundry room is essential. Children are less likely to share a room as four bedrooms are becoming typical. Keep posted, Santa Barbara real estate is going to change with the times. More ...
Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Plenty of baby boomers are modifying the extra bedrooms in their Santa Barbara homes. Aging parents or children in their 20s, coming home after college, are the main occupants of these rooms. Decorating a room for kids is very different from decorating for an older adult.
In the case of an aging parent, a separate sense of space and privacy must be created. Space for medical materials in the bedroom or bathroom should be considered too. More ...
Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008
The hot months of summer mean an increase of fire risk, not just pool parties and BBQ's. To make sure you and your family stay safe in the case of a fire in you Santa Barbara home , you must be prepared. Install smoke alarms in every room of the house, including stairwells. Each month, test and clean them.
With your family, review and practice escape routes. Make sure all exits are easy to access and are cleared from obstructions. Never keep flammables indoors and have all heating systems and electrical outlets inspected regularly. Get in touch with Santa Barbara real estate or your local fire department for additional tips on fire safety. More ...
Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008
The fight over cell phone towers close by Santa Barbara homes is many times inconsistent. Most people want not as many dropped calls with even better cell phone coverage. On the other hand, a lot of communities hope to keep cell towers out of their neighborhoods. Towers might lower property value and are very unattractive. To work properly, a cell tower needs to be in sight. This means an ugly, massive piece of steel must be put in higher than the tree line. This does not fit well into a community layout, but is OK for an urban setting.
To combat this, companies began putting towers in that resemble trees. Although, there isn't anybody that is fooled by a fake tree. When discussing towers with communities, cell phone companies need to be sensitive and open. In turn, Santa Barbara households should remember that they are capable of winning a fight against cell phone companies. By going into the situation with a team mentality, both sides should get what they want. More ...
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