Noteworthy new listings….
The second-to-last property at the western end of Carpinteria’s Sandyland Cove, 4217 Avenue del Mar ($39.995 million) is a one-acre, street-to-shoreline compound with main house, guest house, cottage, pool, beach volleyball court, and a fabulous deck overlooking the sand, perfect for waving at—or not—any plebes who pass by. The listing says the house was built in 1958, but the upstairs primary suite looks like it might’ve been added a couple of decades later. The warm wood interiors on the ground floor of the main house feel very of the moment, and they’re a welcome change from the usual all-white beach house vibe. Some refreshing might be in order upstairs and in the outbuildings. P.S. As the listing points out, Sandyland Cove homes rarely change hands; according to my records (for what that’s worth), there have been just a handful of sales in the past few years, all for properties much smaller than this.
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The 2011 house at 468 Crocker Sperry Drive ($12.995 million) in Birnam Wood has a distinctive roofline, to say the least—it looks like the kind of thing an architect designs for him- or herself when freed from the constraints of clients. But this one was actually for clients who wanted a showpiece, and they went all in everywhere you look—obvious places like the ceilings and the corner windows, but also in moments like the little door between the garage and kitchen (for unloading groceries), the radiant heating in the floor and walls of the outdoor sunken bar (where there’s also a pop-up TV so you can watch golf while watching golf), and the painted automatic shade to block the view from the living room into the kitchen. Some choices—I’m looking at you, front door—may prove too idiosyncratic. While I’m certainly no inspector, this much attention to detail suggests deep-down quality. P.S. That’s the Birnam Wood clubhouse across the way.
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A pitch shot away is 2000 Sandy Place ($9.45 million), a 1969 three-bedroom* with stripped-down interiors and big mountain views. I haven’t seen it in person, but the photos make some rooms look a bit narrow, and the Valley Club’s pickleball courts might be within earshot. Was the water feature once a pool? Could it be one again? (*One of the guest rooms is inside the primary suite, so it’s more of an office or snore room.)
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The spec reno at 3211 Padaro Lane ($7.95 million) sold for $3.4 million in April 2025, back when it was known as 3211 Beach Club Road. Every trace of the 1977 origins in the interiors (before shots here) has been erased and replaced with clean, contemporary minimalism. It’s sharp, to be sure, even if some of the touches—the wine wall, the sleeping loft, the display shower in the primary—raise an eyebrow or two. While the property its located on Padaro Lane, it’s part of the Beach Club community, with access to the private community’s beach gate. P.S. After the open house, I took another look at the trees on the south side of Padaro. If adding a second railroad track requires 40 feet of clearance, or even 30, the change to the street will be drastic, and something magical will be lost forever. Before you disagree, go see for yourself.
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Those of us who love to walk will envy the location of 1714 Anacapa Street ($4.375 million), one of three Spanish Colonial–inspired homes on a driveway between Islay and Valerio. Inside has plenty of charm, with an upstairs primary, a view of red-tile roofs, and an elevator if you need it. The backyard isn’t huge, but there’s enough space for a hot tub.
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With a broad terrace in front and a terrific view, 1615 Overlook Lane ($3.95 million) is a sweet compound with a single-level (once you make it up from the garage), two-bedroom house and an ADU below. Sure, the Tuscan schtick gets spread rather thick, but toning it down shouldn’t be too difficult, and the location on the south side of Eucalyptus Hill’s Overlook Lane loop is convenient to Santa Barbara and Montecito.
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2211 Calle Culebra ($3.65 million) really benefits from its location near the far end of Calle Culebra, on Summerland’s western fringe—unlike in most of the town, the property is only impacted by one neighbor, and it has broad, unobstructed views from two sides. The boxy architecture suits the setting, but I’d be curious to see it stripped of frippery like the bay window, trellises, and little second-floor pergolas. Let the classic lines of the curvy staircase lead the way. P.S. When a homeowner loads up on decor that uses the word “beach,” it always makes me think of memory care.
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And a few others worth checking out:
••• 5390 Rincon Beach Park Drive ($5.599 million): Mediterranean 1962 three-bedroom right on the sand midway between Carpinteria and Ventura.
••• 3791 Pescadero Road ($2.998 million): Hidden Valley four-bedroom.
••• 200 Morada Lane ($2.895 million): “An opportunity for further customization and personalization”—a.k.a. a spiffer-upper—above San Roque built by Paul Greene in 1957.
••• 21 W. Quinto Street ($1.949 million): 1937 three-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath spiffer-upper on the view side of the street.
••• 4 San Marcos Trout Club ($1.495 million): 1928 three-bedroom in the mountains with the chimney of the year (below).
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