Moving to Santa Barbara? Don't Be Fooled by These 8 Myths!

[@chapinachango8002]

The working class survives by living like sardines in homes, or living in 400 SF size apartments with low quality appliances and interior spaces. The price we pay for low quality apartments here, we could pay for a luxury apartment in South Carolina with full amenities. You won’t find many young professionals or young families here, it’s too expensive. The working/middle class is disappearing and we’re seeing the repercussions of this by the evidence of empty commercial buildings, restaurants, and stores. Every facet of industry in Santa Barbara has a staffing shortage because there are no young professionals to operate the City. What’s worse, a whole generation of the SB workforce is retiring, with no one to replace them because of the lack of young professionals moving in. I question whether greed in the real estate industry has perpetuated the high cost of living and contributed to the City’s low economic growth. Thank the tourists who keep the City’s economy going, because the locals are suffering, and the young professionals who do reside here are burned out.

[@joesbparker]

You make some very valid points, and that’s an interesting perspective on the workforce retiring with no one to replace it. It’s a reflection of the general consolidation of wealth in the country. The wealthiest can live anywhere they want, and they like Santa Barbara. If you own property and you want to sell it, wouldn’t you want to sell it for the highest possible price? If you own property and you want it rented it, wouldn’t you want to rent it for the highest possible price? It’s the owners of properties that are asking for these numbers because they see that the market will give it to them. The real estate industry works for these property owners and they are obligated by law to work for their clients best interest, meaning get them the best price and terms the market will offer them. No one is to blame it’s just the nature of supply and demand. There’s a big push for new affordable housing in Santa Barbara so hopefully that will help in the future.

[@chapinachango8002]

@@joesbparker I see your motive, and I understand that is your job. My motive to own property is not to make a profit, but reside there forever. If I ever chose to rent it, i’m empathetic to the socioeconomic state of the neighborhood and would charge a reasonable rate. Unlike the outsider’s who move here. Hawaii is having the same issues, where the locals are being pushed off the island due to gentrification raising the cost of living. Ethics doesn’t play any part in the real estate industry. I guess this endless cycle of catering only to the wealthy in this town will continue, the locals will continue to suffer, more families will be pushed out of SB, more locals will end up homeless and drug addicted, and the economy will continue to suffer. Now that I know the motive of the real estate industry in this town, I highly doubt the rates would go down if there were more residential units in supply. I think the wealthy would simply buy them all up and charge ridiculous rental rates. I guess I’m just a very jaded local who has observed that nothing has changed after a 10 year hiatus from living in SB. I wish you the best of luck in your business.

[@joesbparker]

@@chapinachango8002 I agree 💯. There is a lot of greed in the real estate industry. I’m from SB and I did not grow up privileged. I lived on Quinientos and my parents were divorced so being single parents they always had housemates in the house with us to cover the cost, and this was in the 80s. My dad was a mailman and my mom a nurse. After graduating from SBHS I to SBCC and the UCSB, I took out student loans and graduated. I worked hard and made my way into real estate back in 2001. I bring this up as not all local are rich and yet they still manage to find a way. Your point of building more would only provide the wealthy more property to hoard is 💯 true. That’s why mama California is stepping in to require that a good chunk of the new allotment for housing density is designated low to moderate income housing. Will it help, maybe a little. Two points I want to make besides the State’s requirement for affordable housing. 1) Local who are not rich have found way to stay in SB. 2) it is important to foster an abundance mindset. This universe is an infinite one and the more we focus on lack the less we have. Would you like to live in with a lack mindset or abundance mindset, it’s a choice you make and it effects your experience in this life. I have purchased one home and have never moved so your housing goal resonates with me.

[@chapinachango8002]

@@joesbparker That’s great, time will only tell if new affordable housing laws and a collective effort of the real estate industry, investors/developers, and design industry working together will be able to make a real impact in this town. Growth mindset? Of course, how do you think immigrants survive and succeed in this city? My great grandparents came from China, started their life in this country as servants for Montecito residents, and yet after 3 generations, with college education and great government jobs our family still couldn’t afford a home here. Countless stories of families such as mine are everywhere. Glad to hear you have been blessed with the life you’ve had. My hope is that the SB real industry will listen to the locals and take more accountability for their actions in the future. You have the power to make real impact. Good luck!

[@joesbparker]

Thank you for sharing. I’ve enjoyed our online conversation. All the best to you and your family.

[@ghostie7790]

I used to live in LA from when I was 24-27. I used to travel to SB by myself to relax. It is boring but that’s exactly why I loved it. I’m from a boring upstate NY town and SB reminded me of that vibe, plus beautiful weather and beaches. It’s such a great place. And the food is great. I used to visit so often. I miss it!

[@joesbparker]

Thanks for watching and sharing your experience!

[@Desertskyobservatoy1925]

I was born and raised in Santa Barbara (SB), I left back in 1987 for college in Arizona. Things really began to change there in the late 80s' in my opinion. I always dreamed of returning after school, but it was still out of reach. I can never have in SB what I have been able to obtain here in Arizona. After owning a horse property for 10 years, which I thought I could never afford here, I moved to a small town called Fountain Hills, about 35 miles NE of Phoenix. Fountain Hills is much like Santa Barbara in the 1980's and things are changing here as well. Prices have jumped considerably and in 10 yrs my house value increased 90% in ten years. I do miss the beach, I was an eastside kid growing up just off of Milpas St. and would fall asleep to the smell of the sea air. Family and friends always ask me to come home, but I'd basically be living in a condo. I retired early and enjoy our small town here, I live in an area called "Sunridge Canyon" just 1/4 miles away from the mountains. If you can make it in SB, you can make it just about anywhere else, and kudos to you!

[@joesbparker]

Loved reading your story, thanks for sharing. I too grew up on the east side Kenny industry. I remember as a kid walk into TG&Y to get Star Wars action figures. And also hating up McDonald’s for french fries. In the summertime, we would ride our bike to the plunge and go swimming a.k.a. Los Banos pool. How do you cope with the summer heat? Just stay indoors with the air conditioning?

[@Desertskyobservatoy1925]

@@joesbparker There's quite a bit you can do in the Summer if you get up early enough. As for the middle of the day, most folks stay inside where you can't live without air conditioning. I was always hot as a kid, even kept a fan going all night with the windows open in Santa Barbara. Definitely remember TG&Y, Jordano's and other small shops on the corner of Milpas and Carpinteria Streets. I worked at Jess's Union 76 on Milpas and Montecito Streets before leaving for college. Definitely spent a lot of time at "The Plunge" as well, played ice hockey at the Ice Patch, fished Stearn's Wharf and surfed Hendry's, Ledbetter and Rincon. And in my opinion, the best pizza in town was Deano's on the Mesa. If you're not a member, join "Memories of Old Santa Barbara" on Facebook....I'm one of the Admins there. I've posted many stories growing up in Santa Barbara which are still there. I wrote of 200 stories, for the last 8 or so years, encouraged but never published. I swore to return to SB to write the last story about returning home, but decided not to pursue it; unfortunately a lot of folks don't read anymore....lol. Best to you sir and I'll leave you with an ending excerpt from one of my stories; "Whether the memories were good, bad or made you think, they were remembrances that have kept us going, structured our existence and guided us through our lives in one of the most wonderful places in the world, oh how lucky we were to have grown up in a place called Old Santa Barbara."

[@SirCarlosMusicBMI]

Being born and raised there I know that you completely nailed it! It’s a beautiful place to live if you can afford a house 🏡. I miss Santa Barbara But Santa Barbara misses me more. Thank you for another awesome video today. Blessings, Carlos ✝️🙏❤️😊❗️

[@joesbparker]

Appreciate you my friend!

[@SLOBeachboy]

I lived in Santa Barbara for ten years after living in San Luis Obispo for 15 years and I never heard a single one of these myths either before or after moving there. I always just thought of it as a fun little College town with some nearby nice beaches just like SLO, which of course it is. As for the sunny days I think pretty much everyone who grew up in California knows about the marine layer along the coast during the summer months. Speaking of which I remember one summer that was particularly gloomy and I was going insane not seeing the sun for days at a time so on all my days off work I would drive up through the San Marcos pass - and into the sunshine - and just sit there in my car at the lookout point for hours on end. I just get in a really depressed mood if I cannot see the sun every day and if the sun will not come to me, I need to go to it. That by the way, is why I like SLO so much. Its close enough to the beaches for easy access but far enough away to be out of reach of the marine layer and as such there are a huge number of sunny days there each year.

[@SirCarlosMusicBMI]

@@SLOBeachboy Thank you for your reply. I live in Paso Robles and it’s not even close to the SLO WEATHER. Santa Barbara will always be home to me. Blessings,Carlos ✝️🙏❤️😊🇺🇸

[@Viktor-yd1ef]

When I was 17 years old I lived in SB for 3 weeks for going to a language school to learn english and experience the californian culture. Since I’m back in Germany I really miss so much of California, especially Santa Barbara. I really want to come back but the cost of living is just crazy expensive. 😅 Still great video about a great place

[@joesbparker]

I’m glad you’re getting to reminisce about your time in California and Santa Barbara. I appreciate you watching. Please share it with anybody you know who is considering Santa Barbara as a home or a vacation destination to purchase a second home.

[@solarplexus4003]

I got my PADI divers license in Santa Barbara. Diving the Channel Islands is great. Best dives ever.

[@joesbparker]

Yes, very good diving out there. I got certified in Guam, another epic place to dive.

[@WillieBowen-o2n]

I would love to reside in a Bungalow house or Townhouse on the beach in Santa Barbara, California

[@joesbparker]

Please reach out if you’d like a complimentary buyers consultation including a Lifestyle and Real Estate Planing Guide.

[@WillieBowen-o2n]

@@joesbparkerPlease send me a copy

[@cyrusfieneteam]

Spend some time in Wisconsin lolllll that was good one 😂 good video! - your friendly Seattle agent 💪

[@joesbparker]

Thank you my friend. Appreciate the engagement!

[@jerryherriott3651]

Are any of the ANU available to rent short time, a month?

[@joesbparker]

typically not below 30 days, that’s a minimum for most operations. Properties along the coastal zone may be able to rent short term less than 30 days.

[@msell8107]

I love Wisconsin! The people there are the salt of the earth. 🌎

[@joesbparker]

I need to go visit and check it out.

[@StacyKilcoin-g8k]

Yeah but midwest folks are very complacent and close minded.gullible and overly religious too. I know because I'm from the midwest and that's some of the things I don't like about them.

[@andreafarland9680]

Great video thanks 🙂

[@joesbparker]

Thank you really appreciate you watching it and leaving a comment. Here to help if you ever have any questions about real estate.

[@telephilia]

Nice place. Too expensive.

[@joesbparker]

Many agree with you, more and more these days. Very hard for a lot of locals to stay in their home town.

[@timmyjones1921]

Thank You.

[@joesbparker]

You’re welcome thanks for watching.

[@joemchang]

You should talk about about downtown the center of what SB is and the terrible condition that it has become. It will be the starting point of the new biggest myth that Santa Barbara is a good place for tourists to visit, which i no longer believe it is. Quite the opposite now. Of course it may always get deleted as i do not see any videos at all addressing the struggles Santa Barbara faces on a continuous basis to become a healthy normal functioning place.

[@joesbparker]

Great idea, I am going to make a video about where State St is at today. Things are happening. You are not totally wrong, but I don’t think it is as bad as it’s reputation amount some.

[@egcruzer]

All the long time locally owned stores and restaurants closed and were displaced with breweries. Funk zone and Cabrillo are nice for weekend visit or short stop ins. Use to loc living there 15 years ago but it’s changed too much to pay the added cost.

[@PeterOtte]

I figured out Myth #6: Santa Barbara doesn't have any culture. We have the Granada and the Lobero as well. The Lobero is the oldest continuously running theater in California, dating back to 1870. We also have and opera company (Opera Santa Barbara), a ballet company (State Street Ballet), professional theater (Ensemble Theater), and a symphony (Santa Barbara Symphony). All the shows are well attended and enjoy strong support from the community.

[@joesbparker]

Those are great attributes of the Santa Barbara community. Thank you for the engagement. I appreciate your comments.

[@alex47_in_downtown18]

Are there any Asian Indians living in Santa Barbara?

[@joesbparker]

Yes. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kICcaJaHiNWNi5o

[@chapinachango8002]

Local here…born and raised…recently returned from the bay area where there’s a very large community. It’s very rare to see an asian indian, definitely the minority.

[@armeniaforever5977]

👍👍👍

[@joesbparker]

Appreciate your support. Thank you for watching.

[@LevK-s4y]

With a crime rate of 36 per one thousand residents, Santa Barbara has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 28. Enjoy!

[@joesbparker]

Santa Barbara is hardcore.