If you find a condo under $1 million (even in a down economy) then you are doing great. Prices are generally over $1 million for modest accommodations, and the finer homes and estates can be yours for $2 million and up. On a recent look, we saw homes quite a few homes with $15 million asking prices, and even some costing $25 million. Who can afford these prices, and for 2nd homes, at that?
Drew Barrymore, Jeff Bridges, Carol Burnett, John Cleese, Jimmy Connors, Fred Couples, Christopher Cross, Kirk Douglas, Michael Douglas, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Paul Hogan, Steve Martin, Chynna Phillips, Jonathan Winters and Troy Aikman can! They are a few of Montecito's esteemed 10,000 residents who have enjoyed getting away from it all on their country estates near the ocean, approx. 90 minutes from Los Angeles film studios.
Montecito includes many luxury mansions and elegant homes, and has a beautiful polo club. Most of Montecito is in accessible to the public as wealthy homes are gated and shrouded in shrubbery and foliage to obscure public prying eyes.
The little village of no more than one block contains a hotel, Montecito Inn, where Charlie Chaplin stayed. The hotel used to feature his movies you could check out of the library during your stay.
For a luxurious ranch stay, live the good life at Montecito Ranch where privacy and luxury are available to the rest of us for a mere $500 per night (and up).
Framed by the Santa Ynez Mountains, some of the homes are located on the lower foothills of the range, much like neighboring Santa Barbara. Those rugged hills are not without their beauty and perils. A fire in 2008 burned brush that annually grows throughout the region, and also burned 80 houses and estates in Montecito (and 130 more homes in Santa Barbara, too.)
The mountains gently flow to the sea, where you'll find some of the
homes, estates and even a hotel have ocean views along Butterfly Beach.
The Biltmore is a favorite for the five diamond crowd wanting to receive
special attention with their Aston Martins.