Candy Mills

Katrina,
The fees you mentioned are only the beginning. If you list a house, the majority of marketing costs will be your responsibility. The gentleman below I think was very conservative in his estimate of 9 months of reserve. Unless you have a spouse who is willing to support you while you get going. The average for a realtor to become self sufficient is 2 years depending on how hard you work. But there is no way around spending money to market not only properties and yourself. This is a very tough time to get in the business. - Wed Aug 6 2008, 17:18

Santa Barbara is considered one of the most desirable cities in California. While not perfect, I consider Santa Barbara as close as one could get. One previous person pointed out the undesirable areas of Santa Barbara. While yes those areas do exisit, by comparison to most cities our low income, "bad neighborhoods" are still high above the bad neighborhoods of many comparable cities in California. Having lived in other cities, I have seen first hand the comparison and Santa Barbara is by far the jewel of the coast. Aside from the beautiful beaches to enjoy, Santa Barbara has much to offer. The Santa Ynez Valley is short drive for a day of wine tasting, or an afternoon on Lake Cachuma. Santa Barbara is host to many recreational activities, such sailing, surfing, kayaks, beach volleyball or just soaking up the sun. There are also numerous hiking trails and parks to enjoy. If you prefer more cosmopolitan adventures you can enjoy wonderful shopping, restaurants or museums. Santa Barbara even has it's own zoo! In addition, we have numerous annual events through out the year, such as Fiesta days in early August. We are also still considered a small town and you can become as involved as you choose with numerous activities that are available for both children and adults. UCSB hosts many lectures available for the public to attend. The local city college has great adult education programs, such as cooking classes, writing and gardening.
For me, the perfect day ends at Carlitos sidewalk cafe enjoying their wonderful ceviche with a margarita as the sun goes down. - Tue Apr 1 2008, 08:08

Every large city has it's element of crime. However, Santa Barbara is certainly not a high crime city. With tourist about, our great police departments works overtime to make sure the streets are safe for both tourists and residents, and they do a wonderful job! - Mon Apr 23 2007, 15:51

Santa Barbara is a wonderful place to raise children. With the high level of culture and the endless recreation and organized activities, you just can't beat this coastal paradise. - Mon Apr 23 2007, 15:51

Buellton has all the necessities needed for a great lifestyle. A great local shopping area with Albertson's, Long's Blockbuster and a variety of eating establishments. Also local banking and various small retail stores. - Mon Apr 23 2007, 15:51