From Hope Ranch to Rincon Point, greater Santa Barbara has some of the most sensational high-end real estate in world. Siteline covers it editorially, with the journalistic ethics that you would expect from traditional news outlets. I’m not a real-estate broker, and I’m not trying to sell anything other than advertising—and editorial and advertising will always be entirely separate.
Having grown up in Orange County and moved to New York City after college, I never thought I’d return to California. But when my husband, Adam, and I visited Santa Barbara a few years ago, I realized that the area is everything I love about the state, without all the stuff I don’t. At the start of 2019, I sold my hyperlocal website, Tribeca Citizen, and we moved here. (Before Tribeca Citizen, I was a magazine editor: Budget Travel, Fortune, Travel + Leisure, Town & Country.) There’s no zealot like the recently converted, as the saying goes, so don’t be surprised when Siteline ventures beyond real estate to tangentially related Santa Barbara subjects such as restaurants, shops, and so on.
I come at the topic of real estate, and the area in general, from a place of enthusiasm rather than expertise. As a result, you can expect me to get excited about things that you’ve known about for years, and I will make mistakes. By all means, feel free to correct or contradict me; we know more collectively than any of us can on our own. But when you criticize, be constructive. If not, I’ll probably delete your comment. Life is simply too short. And if you have a vested interest in whatever you’re commenting about, I insist that you make the connection public.
Please reach out with any questions, concerns, tips, or even compliments. (If you’re a broker with a property you think I should see in person, let me know. Previews are especially welcome.) The best way to follow Siteline is by subscribing to the email newsletter. And If you know someone who might be interested in this site, please pass it along.
Erik Torkells
Founder
917-209-6473
[email protected]


















Recent Comments
Does the Après Ski party include a lift ticket? — Heidi Smith
Bravo, Music Academy of the West! — Deborah David
Santa Barbara Museum of Art gift shop has moved upstairs. Still a great place to shop with lots of Impressionist merchandise to match the GREAT… — LG
This is the box outside of Ca’ Dario at the corner of Anacapa and Victoria. — Mike
Renaming the post office and spending $500 k to do it. Is another great example tax payers money being wasted. — Dan Kolodziejski
Hallelujah! The return of that Southbound on-ramp is long overdue — Tammy
You've done a great thing for the hapless men of Santa Barbara with this series. Stopping by half of these stores. — Andy
The post office renaming will cost roughly $500,000 paid for by the USPS internal funds from stamps and fees. — Derek
Thank you, Erik, for reminding your readers to support local businesses; it is one of the critical ways to help our communities thrive. (I laughed… — Pat
I agree about the skimpy wine pour. However, we loved the shared entrees (chicken and salmon) with their special rice. Yes there were leftovers but… — ElizabethW