Modern Twists on Santa Barbara’s Classical Architectural Style

"Predictably beloved by dreamy-eyed tourists but frequently mocked by innovation-minded modernists, Santa Barbara’s official architecture of red-tiled roofs and white-washed walls still rules the day, as any architect who tries to sneak a too-contemporary building past the city’s design review process will tell you. But as the upcoming annual tour through the city hosted by the American Institute of Architects will reveal, there’s increasing room for creative flexibility within the parameters of Spanish colonial revivalism — and, in some cases, bold examples of how modern design does indeed fit nicely, if at times almost secretly, into a somewhat homogenous cityscape."

Read the rest of the article at the Santa Barbara Independent.

Why You Should Be Investing Your Money in Real Estate

1. Gain more leverage. Real estate is one of the few investment vehicles where using the bank's money couldn't be easier. The ability to make a down payment, leverage your capital, and thus increase your overall return on investment is incredible.

2. Grow, tax-free. Buying rental property based on speculation of its value is a dangerous tactic since cash flow is the key. However, appreciation over the long-run is certainly realistic and at the least you should be considering a tax-deferred strategy. In the future, you may even consider a 1031 exchange, charitable trust, or an installment sale to lesson your tax liability further.

3. Tax free cash flow. It's no secret that because of depreciation and mortgage interest deductions (if you leverage your capital), your cash flow should be tax-free. That's right! The far majority of the time an investor will never pay taxes on their cash flow and can wait for capital gains on the sale of the property in the future.

4. The tax write-offs against your other income. Depending on your classification as an Active Investor or Real Estate Professional and your income level, there is a good chance your rental property will not only give you tax-free cash flow, but an overage of tax deductions you can use against your other income. With that said, this is something you want to discuss with your tax professional before investing so your expectations are realistic.

5. Increased tax deduction strategies. Rental property affords investors with another incredible opportunity to convert personal expenses to potentially valid business deductions. Don't forget that rental real estate is a business. This means that travel expenses to check on your properties and payments to family members who manage your properties (such as students away at college) can be deductible and increase the tax benefits when it comes to cash flow and the future sale of the property.

6. Rental real estate is a forced retirement plan. Americans are terrible savers. We lack the self-discipline to put a monthly deposit into our IRA, SEP or 401k as small-business owners. However, buying a rental property is a significant commitment that you are required to commit to and maintain. You will always be grateful in the long-run when you don't give up on it and build future cash flow and wealth.

Read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/228506#ixzz2fwHXcBRN

How to Hire the Perfect Realtor

Great article by Fox News detailing the perfect way to hire a Realtor.

• Find Someone Local
• Ask for References
• Check Their Workload
• Make Sure They Sell Houses Like Yours
• What's the Timeline?
• Ask About Fees
• Are They Part of MLS

Drew Barrymore Drops Asking Price on Montecito, CA Mansion

The celebrity's sprawling estate was listed onto the market in May, and her real estate team have now dropped $600k off the asking price down to $6.9 million.

Megawatt stars like Oprah Winfrey, George Lucas and Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi all maintain properties in the easygoing Santa Barbara area. While it's just 90 minutes or so away from Los Angeles (on a good traffic day), there aren't any paparazzi -- and the locals aren't fazed by celebrity, notes the Hollywood Reporter.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/10/drew-barrymore-santa-barbara-mansion_n_3901692.html

How To Find A Real Estate Agent Who Has Your Best Interests At Heart

Finding a Realtor who has your interests at heart is one of the most important tasks anyone looking to buy or sell can tackle.

Check out this article which gives some perspective on how to get there.

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-find-a-real-estate-agent-2013-9