"Luxury that Whispers"
-Nancy Kogevinas
Montecito’s Golden Quadrangle was featured last week in the Wall Street Journal’s Mansion Global. The article quoted me along with several other realtors on why Montecito is in a class by itself.
Montecito: California’s Golden Quadrangle is a celebrity haunt that some say is undervalued.
Understated and casually elegant, this neighborhood represents the epitome of luxury living in California’s celebrity-centric town.
Some of the most expensive properties in the community are in this area, which is a five- to 10-minute drive from Santa Barbara and offers a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere for all the boldface names it attracts.
Boundaries The Golden Quadrangle is bounded by East Valley Road on the south, East Mountain Drive on the north, Hot Springs Road on the west and Buena Vista Drive on the east.
Nancy Kogevinas, director of Berkshire Hathaway Luxury Collection, noted that “the neighborhood is pretty much all estates, ranging from 5,000 square feet on an acre to 12,000 square feet and over with multiple buildings.”
What Makes It Unique The uniqueness of the Golden Quadrangle starts with its name.
“The Golden in Golden Quadrangle refers to the sunlight offered in this area—the topography is such that it typically rests above the fog line,” Dusty Baker says.
Proximity to world-renown beaches, fine dining, a perfectly calm and idyllic microclimate, and extraordinary public schools all make the Golden Quadrangle such a special place to live.
“It really is a throwback to a time when things were simpler, no big-chain stores and luxury that whispers, not screams,” Ms. Kogevinas said.
Montecito is also home to some extraordinary hotels and resorts. The San Ysidro Ranch and its Stonehouse Restaurant are iconic. The ranch, which has 38 vine-covered cottages surrounded by gardens, has had a celebrity-studded history: Groucho Marx, Winston Churchill, Sinclair Lewis and John Houston stayed there. Lawrence Olivier and Vivian Leigh held their wedding on the grounds, and John F. and Jackie Kennedy honeymooned in the cottage that is named for them. The Montecito Upper Village Shopping area, which is on the southern border of Golden Quadrangle, features an enclave of boutiques ranging from the Montecito Coffee Shop and the Tecolote Book Shop to the House of Honey interior design shop and William Laman Furniture and Garden Antiques.
Not to mention the neighborhood offers an abundance of outdoor activities, including biking, hiking and world-class surf.
Who Lives There This area is home to all types of people: "titans of industry, Hollywood celebrities, Silicon Valley transplants and regular people working regular jobs who want to raise their families in this idyllic environment,” Mr. Ebbin said. Many people are flocking to this neighborhood and about half of the homes in Golden Quadrangle are primary residences.
Outlook One of Montecito’s greatest assets, is that compared with other major markets, it has been undervalued.
Sales increased 82% in the first quarter of this year compared to a year ago, and the median sale price rose by 61% during that time. In addition, where zero sales over $10 million were recorded in the first three months of 2020, the same period this year produced 12 such sales.
The market has never been hotter, especially for this unrivaled community.
