Storybook and Stylish Near the Upper Village

Noteworthy new listings….

“Is this the new normal?” I asked in August 2021, when 1567 East Valley Road ($17.95 million) sold off-market for $12.2 million—an impressive $7.5 million more than it went for two years prior. But the new normal kept moving, and $12 million would be a steal these days. Granted, the 1991 house had been renovated then, and it more recently got spruced up more. The once-unfinished third floor is now an atelier-style guest room, and there are permits for a pool and cabana. The 1990s origins peek through, particularly in the many types of flooring, but the location is super-prime and the interiors look sharp.

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The seller of 1091 E. Mountain Drive ($8.2 million), at the corner of Ashley Road, paid $3.865 million in January 2022 and turned an uninspired 1965 house into something striking. Love the kitchen, love the primary shower, love the brick pool deck. (Less enamored by the all-black exterior.) I wish the floor plan was online, to better illustrate the conundrum at the core: the foyer opens onto an awkwardly narrow room with no clear purpose and a loft that has been staged as if it’s for a child whose welfare is of little interest.

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Built in 2013, 1667 Las Canoas Road ($5.675 million) displays some interesting choices. For one thing, it prioritizes the mountains, with big views out the back, rather than the ocean and sun. For another, the floors are concrete, including in the bathrooms and out on the terraces. And the two guest rooms share a hallway bath that also serves as the powder room.

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Over in Yankee Farm, the three guest rooms at 3229 Vista Arroyo ($4.495 million) also share one hallway bath, but at least there’s a powder room. The location and 1.14-acre lot are rather tempting—especially if you play tennis, as there’s a lighted court. (New ones aren’t allowed anymore.) I wouldn’t be surprised if the 1980 house comes back as a spec reno. P.S. I’d reinstate the hot tub that used to be outside the primary bedroom.

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A.k.a. the toothpaste-y one, 517 Brinkerhoff Avenue ($1.8 million) is being billed as “the cutest house in town,” which might not be hyperbole, and it comes with two cottages. Inside, however, brings back memories of the Tenement Museum in New York City.

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And a few others worth checking out:
••• 4045 Lago Drive ($6.75 million): 1928 Joseph Plunkett house in Hope Ranch that sold for $6.273 million eight months ago—making this a get-out flip attempt, now known as a floops.
••• 0 Paseo del Ocaso ($5.495 million): 2011 compound way up Mission Canyon with an exterior that looks sort of contemporary but the inside is traditional Santa Barbara. (P.S. The address is undisclosed, but there’s only one 14.59-acre lot on the street.)
••• 3710 Woodstock Road ($6.495 million): Nice enough five-bedroom on 20.18 acres northeast of Los Olivos, if you don’t mind the trio of roof pyramids that resemble tinfoil hats.

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