With fewer sales, lower prices, and more inventory in 2018 people grew concerned. As the market teetered, everyone wondered what was coming.
In the last month, Santa Barbara real estate has begun to pick up, at least for homes under $2M. We are again seeing scattered multiple offers. Open houses and showings are strong. Clearly there is more action in this market than at any other time in the past 12 months.This bodes well for the Mesa with a possibly strong 2019.
From $2M to $5M the Santa Barbara real estate market is still slow. Above $5M there are a few notable but sporadic sales, with homes spending a longer time on the market. Reductions are usually required for a sale.
You might point to 12 houses last year selling for over $10M as a bellwether of good things to come for the high end in Santa Barbara. Despite those sales the big mansions continue to be out of fashion. People with expensive homes are hoping the pick-up for moderately priced homes will spread to their part of the market. It’s too early to tell if this will happen but sellers are optimistic.
If the real estate recession is ending many people will be pleased.
Mesa Market Report
Contra Dancing
After a day working as a real estate agent, I really enjoy a bit of down time. One of my favorite hobbies is dancing. Over the years I have taken courses from the Recreation Department and from various dance studios, including Arthur Murray. One of my favorite ways to dance is Contra Dancing at the Carrillo Rec Center on Sunday nights.
Contra Dancing dates back several hundred years, when it was imported to the United States from Europe. It is considered the folk dancing of America. It is sometimes referred to as country dancing, but the music is not country music. The music is in the Irish or bluegrass style, with violin, fiddle, mandolin, guitar,keyboard, and many other instruments. It is quite lively music – generally instrumental – no singing. The local dances always have a live band.
It has similarities to the line dancing down South in that it is fairly vigorous, and it’s a cousin to square dancing, which is still practiced all over the US. The patterns that the dancers execute originate from a caller on the stage. That means you can take it easy and relax as you follow the directions from the caller. As long as your ears are open and your feet are moving, you will have fun. There is leading and following but it does not have to be gender specific, with only men leading and women following.
Although I’ve explored many types of dancing, I have always maintained a relationship with Contra Dancing because it is so much fun! You can learn everything you need to know in about half an hour at your first dance. You will move from being a beginner in a matter of weeks. No partner is required either since plenty of willing dancers show up each week. Dances are held most Sunday nights at the Carrillo Rec Center from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. A Beginner’s lesson starts at 6:00 and the first time is free. Member price is $10, General Admission is $12.
Everything you need to know about times and schedule can be found at http://www.sbcds.org/.
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