End of Summer Sales
As the heart of summer winds down and long days, golden evenings, and summer holidays come to an end, the promise of routine comes back into focus. In Montecito, now is the time to explore the places where legacy, luxury, and lifestyle converge.
Here's a staggering figure: Baby Boomers are sitting on nearly $19 trillion in real estate wealth alone, an unprecedented concentration of property equity that is shaping national and local markets, influencing generational dynamics, and quietly powering the next era of real estate activity. Right now, more homes are available in Montecito than we’ve seen in some time, a reset that’s offering the first signals of a shift ahead.
August Snapshot
In August 2025, there have been 7 sales, averaging $4,784,142 with a median of $4,054,000. The more interesting stat: 12 sales are currently pending, a sign that activity is building even if closings haven’t yet caught up.
Inventory in Context
Nationally, inventory is up 24% year-over-year, and growth has slowed earlier than expected. Analysts describe it as a coiled market: pent-up demand ready to be released.
In Montecito there are currently 94 homes on the market, ranging from $1.68M to $65M. That depth of inventory gives buyers exceptional choice, but it also means sellers are competing for buyers in one of the most selective markets we’ve seen in years.
End of summer and back-to-school season is a great time to revisit what sets this community apart: award-winning schools, a strong sense of connection, and a lifestyle where outdoor entertaining continues long after summer ends.
What Happened in Montecito Last Week?
August 10th – August 16th
community spotlight
A Short History of Birnam Wood
What is now Birnam Wood began in the late 19th century as the Crocker- Sperry lemon ranch, over 200 acres planted with lemon and olive trees, anchored by a massive stone packing house built in 1894. For decades it was one of California’s most productive lemon operations.
In 1964, Robert McLean Jr. and partner Pete Sears acquired the property and, inspired by Shakespeare’s Macbeth, named it “Birnam Wood.” They transformed the old packing house into the clubhouse, preserved as a county landmark, and commissioned Robert Trent Jones Sr. to design an 18-hole, par-70 course that he later called “the best short course I ever built.”
By the early 1970s, the first custom homes were completed, each set on generous parcels designed to frame the fairways, gardens, and mountain views that define the community today.
