$2,138,401Average Value$1,637Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
Picturesque views in southern Santa Barbara neighborhood
Set between downtown Santa Barbara and the calm, blue Pacific Ocean, West Beach is a lively waterfront area with panoramic views of the Santa Ynez Mountains. “You’ll see people sitting outside on their patios with their cocktails and wine,” says Caleb Overton, Realtor for Keller Williams and longtime Santa Barbara resident. “It’s an out-and-about community—the beach is right there and closer to lower State Street and the Funk Zone.” Along with tons of vacation rentals, housing here consists mainly of Spanish-style condos with impressive courtyards. All ages reside here, including some students from Santa Barbara City College. Mature trees line the perimeter of significant thoroughfares like West Cabrillo Boulevard, where people stroll the wide boardwalk passing sand volleyball courts. They also pass the intricate Syuxtun Story Circle, a 20-foot-wide mosaic that tells the story of the Chumash Native American tribe, the first inhabitants of Santa Barbara. People here enjoy swimming, lounging and surfing at the beach, walking near Stearns Wharf for local shopping and eating, and gathering at the Santa Barbara Harbor for annual holiday events and festivals.
Overview of the breathtaking harbor in West Beach.
West Beach has a harbor in which many people take out kayaks.
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Plenty to do at Leadbetter Beach and the Santa Barbara Harbor
Surfing, stand-up paddleboarding and relaxing at Leadbetter Beach are all popular pastimes in the neighborhood. Because of its flatness, the beach is also a popular spot for beachfront yoga classes from local studios. Boaters dock and launch from the Santa Barbara Harbor to go fishing or scuba diving in the deep blue waters of the Pacific. Folks can even take a boat tour 22 miles off the coast to Channel Islands National Park to kayak through sea caves and check out seals, pelicans and even whales. The nearby Santa Barbara Maritime Museum has detailed exhibits about the harbor’s history and environmental preservation. Farther inland, the 8-acre Pershing Park features eight lighted tennis courts, two softball fields and a baseball diamond surrounded by green foliage. The 15-acre Shoreline Park is about a mile west of the area and includes a playground, paved walking paths and a stairway leading to the rock-covered beach below. For a break from the beach, residents can attend Vaqueros football and soccer games at Santa Barbara City College’s on-campus La Playa Stadium.
West Beach residents have access to miles of beautiful Californian beaches.
Take your paddleboard out on the harbor in West Beach.
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Gridded streets with million-dollar condos in West Beach
The sidewalk-lined streets of West Beach are laid in a grid and shaded by rows of coastal live oak and sycamore trees. Street lamps dot roads here, and most people park in the street in front of their residences. Homes consist of single and multifamily properties within walking distance of the beach and nearby parks, and most of them are dispersed throughout the northeast pocket of the neighborhood. The area also houses tons of short-term vacation rentals. “There could be a $3 million condo that’s used as a second home next to a rental,” Overton says. Late 20th-century condos with Spanish-tiled stairs and stucco exteriors are typically priced from $1.5 million to $3.5 million. These units sit in resort-like communities like Harbor Court and feature pools next to saunas, well-manicured courtyards with stone fountains and small back patios overlooking towering palm and fruit trees. Some condo HOAs charge more than $700 in monthly fees, which may cover earthquake insurance, trash collection and grounds maintenance. A few early 20th-century built cottages and bungalows with Spanish influences are scattered around West Beach. These one to two-story houses have small front entryways and fenced-off yards with rust-colored terracotta roofs. Prices range between $1.7 and about $2.8 million.
Large palm trees provide West Beach residents plenty of shade.
The West Beach neighborhood is a vibrant community in Santa Barbara, CA.
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Perusing artwork in the Funk Zone
The Funk Zone, an energetic shopping and art district near the eastern side of West Beach, is a central gathering spot for socializing and events. Locals can go to bimonthly wine, dine and shop events where tons of small businesses stay open late so visitors can browse through jewelry and artwork and eat savory snacks. In July, the city hosts its Fourth of July celebration along West Beach’s waterfront and Stearns Wharf; crowds gather with lawn chairs and blankets on the sand to mingle, eat local food, listen to live music and watch the fireworks over the water.
Belgian waffles at Chad’s and clam chowder at Breakwater
Residents in West Beach are within walking distance of several beachfront eateries. Chad’s Café is a local favorite serving all-day breakfast foods like steak and eggs and Belgian waffles paired with mimosa flights. For lunch, Breakwater Restaurant serves its highly rated New England clam chowder and fish tacos under bright, turquoise umbrellas next to white boats in the Santa Barbara Harbor. Residents can order Cajun seabass and swordfish at Brophy’s Bros or walk along Leadbetter Beach farther west in the neighborhood to grab seafood and fruity cocktails at the Shoreline Café. For groceries, neighbors can pick up a few essentials at Harbor Market or pop by the Santa Cruz Market near the northern border for fresh produce, a full-service meat department and salsa made in-store. The Stearns Wharf, located on the eastern portion of West Beach, also features a handful of restaurants and shops; fisherman can purchase bait and fishing gear at Stearns Wharf Bait and Tackle, and The Great Pacific Ice Cream Company sells locally made sherbet and ice cream. Paseo Nuevo shopping mall is about a mile drive north of West Beach and is filled with dozens of clothing and accessories boutiques like Bungalow West and Elenita.
Chad's Cafe is a popular brunch spot by the water in West Beach.
Breakwater Restaurant is hot tourist spot in the harbor at West Beach.
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Hands-on learning at San Marcos Senior High
The area is zoned for the Santa Barbara Unified School District. Kids start at McKinley Elementary, which offers kindergarten through sixth grade and is rated C-plus by Niche. For seventh and eighth grade, students move on to La Cumbre Junior High, which earns a B from Niche, and then San Marcos Senior High, which scores an A. The school is known for its Health Careers Academy, where students get hands-on training in nursing, kinesiology and sports medicine. Santa Barbara City College is located within the community for post-grad plans; the school offers career pathways like healthcare, anthropology and journalism.
McKinley Elementary School challenges West Beach students to do their best.
Students love to learn at La Cumbre Junior High School near West Beach.
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Walkable avenues in West Beach
Folks in West Beach can connect to U.S. Route 101 on the northern border to get to other city neighborhoods like East Beach and Bel Air. The area is highly walkable -- most subdivisions have sidewalks, and a wide paved walkway stretches along West Cabrillo Boulevard. Streets like Castrillo and Montecito feature bike lanes, and Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District buses make stops in and outside the area. Locals can also access a Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle Service that runs along West Cabrillo Boulevard and State Street, and an Amtrak Station is near the neighborhood's northeast corner. Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital is a 3-mile drive northwest of the area, and Santa Barbara Airport is 10 miles west via U.S. 101, where residents can get flights to major West Coast cities like San Francisco and Seattle.
Enjoy beautiful views of the harbor on your walk in West Beach.
There are a wide selection of housing styles inWest Beach.
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Staying prepared for any tsunami threats
West Beach is in a tsunami warning zone. Even though the likelihood of one coming to shore is low, Santa Barbara County recommends that coastal homeowners know their evacuation zone and how to get to higher ground in a coastal emergency. Folks are also encouraged to register for Ready SBC alerts for any live updates during environmental emergencies, and the Santa Barbara County Fire Department warns residents to avoid downed power lines and stay clear of buildings where heavy objects may fall during a tsunami.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
West Beach
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
6
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
West Beach Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in West Beach, Santa Barbara sell after 40 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in West Beach, Santa Barbara over the last 12 months is $3,550,000.
It is here where the anchor drops. A one-of-a-kind masterpiece designed and rebuilt by a father (engineer) and son (carpenter) over a period of four years. No detail was overlooked in crafting this remarkable gem. The Thomas Jefferson is berthed in the beautiful and sought after Santa Barbara Harbor. As the Municipal Code has imposed restrictions on similar structures, it emphasizes the inherent
An exceptional investment opportunity across from the beach in Santa Barbara's coveted waterfront district. This mixed-use property features the renowned Toma Restaurant & Bar—one of the city's most celebrated dining destinations—and a charming single-family residenceoffering flexible use or rental income. Situated directly along Cabrillo Boulevard with stunning ocean views, this property
Recognized as one of Santa Barbara's most iconic and cherished apartment properties, La Casa Rosalia is for sale for the 1st time in nearly 40 years. In a premium West Beach location 1.5 blocks to the waterfront and 1 block to State Street, the property is a crowning example of local Spanish Colonial architecture at its peak era, designed in 1930 by E. Keith Lockard. Today the 17 total units in 3
Ken SwitzerBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
Property Id: 2144708 Conveniently located within walking distance distance to Santa Barbara City College. Or take a 5 min walk to the sand at the beach. Or 5 minute walk to downtown State St or the Funk Zone .The apartment sits upstairs overlooking the street on one side and over the patios of two fun local bars/restaurants.The apartment is newly renovated with AC and heating.
$9,870 per month
2 Beds
2 Baths
974 Sq Ft
Fully furnished Vacation Rental. Daily pricing varies due to the seasons. This charming downstairs two-bedroom, two-bathroom is in a quiet coastal neighborhood, just three blocks from the beach, two blocks from downtown, and two blocks from the Funk Zone. Unit B downstairs is also available.
Beautiful spacious luxury apartment in a modern building featuring a terraces and large living space in the heart of the Funk District. Walk to Chase Palm Park, the beach, and State St. One block from the freeway. In-unit washer and dryer. Parking. Fireplace. Stainless steel appliances. Heated floor. Ample natural light. 1full bath, 2 half bath. Contact today for a showing!
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