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
Yes, and last time you asked, I replied thus: Are you referring to the temporary railroad bridge (a.k.a. a shoofly) to be installed so a… — Erik Torkells
Do you know about the new set of tracks and railroad bridge that will be built at cabrillo blv and the 101 so the old… — Marc Hyman
So happy LOSSAN moved the Padaro track project. The loss of that many trees would have been heavy on the heart. — Dominique Lujan
You might like to look at the article in the New York Times to see about how Patrick Nesbitt has made his money. It’s in… — Enna
Same experience for us. Unfortunately. The waitstaff/servers are lovely and hopeful. But in reality nothing much has changed. — Sarah
The Biltmore...forever under change (like State Street)...Warner either has terrible design consultants or none at all. I suppose with his F you money he just… — Cee Oh
Couldn't agree more about the Knock. Went there just to see what it was like and was greeted with mediocre food, slow service, and pricey… — SusanA