House & Home: March 11, 2023

6 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 1 Acre

871 Deerpath Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108

At the top of a private cul-de-sac this special retreat provides soothing ocean & harbor views along with easy access to the Montecito Village, pristine beaches & downtown Santa Barbara. The recently renovated single level residence and fully permitted ADU on a private acre of estate-like grounds offers a perfect getaway in an ideal location. High end designer finishes are evident throughout the light-filled home which features 4 bedrooms, a fabulous great room & a separate fully equipped 2-bedroom guest cottage.

Offered at $5,995,000

Tour this incredible property at SBRivieraHomes.com

Chris Palme DRE# 00989478 805.565.8823

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The Misunderstood “Exclusive Use Common Area”

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL

The typical condominium project consists of three categories of property – the “separate interest” (normally called the “unit”), the “common area”, and a subset of common area called “exclusive use common area.” Misunderstandings regarding exclusive use areas lead to many avoidable disagreements. Simply put, exclusive use areas are not “your” property, but area portion of the common area set aside for one member’s use.

The unit is normally defined in the “notes” portion of the condominium plan, an important but often overlooked document. While some developers have become more creative, the typical condominium unit configuration is a box of airspace surrounded by the unfinished surfaces of walls, ceilings, and floors. Everything else is “common area.” However there are many areas which are common area but which clearly are intended for the use and enjoyment of a single unit owner, and these areas are called “exclusive use common area”.

Exclusive use common areas are sometimes defined in the Condominium Plan or CC&Rs, but Civil Code 4145 provides a default definition if the governing documents do not fully cover the topic, including: “shutters, awnings, window boxes, doorsteps, stoops, porches, balconies, patios, exterior doors, doorframes, and hardware …, screens and windows or other fixtures designed to serve a single separate interest, but located outside the boundaries of the separate interest…”. Fixtures serving a single unit but existing outside of the unit boundaries may include water heaters or air conditioning equipment, for example.

Many condominiums are bought with the mistaken belief that the exclusive use area, such as a balcony, or patio, is “theirs” and so the HOA has nothing to say about it. Unfortunately, members often think that, because their use is ex-

clusive, their control of the area is also exclusive and so the HOA has no say. That can lead to enforcement situations and disputes, because associations can control how exclusive use areas are used and typically have various rules regulating their use.

Who maintains exclusive use common area? Who repairs it? Is the broken window or leaky water heater an association concern? The inquiry usually starts by reviewing the governing documents regarding the area in question to determine if it is exclusive use common area, followed by analyzing who maintains it and who repairs it — and the two responsibilities might not be placed on the same party.

If governing documents do not answer the question, the Davis-Stirling Act fills in the blanks. Under Civil Code Section 4775, the association repairs, replaces and maintains common area and repairs and replaces exclusive use common area, and the member maintains exclusive use common area, unless the CC&Rs state otherwise.

Note that only association CC&Rs can allocate repair and maintenance responsibility differently than Civil Code 4775 — HOAs cannot do this in rules. Therefore, many association rules presently in place may be invalid to the extent they purport to allocate such responsibility.

Exclusive use areas are often misunderstood as the unit owner’s property, but such areas are still part of the common area and therefore jointly owned with all other owners and subject to association control. “Use” is different than “control”, and maintenance responsibility may be allocated differently than repair responsibility. Exclusive use is a necessary complication of shared ownership, and better understanding will enhance enjoyment and reduce conflict.

By Todd Shea President of the Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS®

Vintage Motoring in Santa Barbara

One of the best ways to see Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley is by car. Cruising around and taking in that fresh ocean air, checking out the incredible architecture, and stopping into all of our amazing restaurants. Better yet, do it in a vintage classic car; that is where AACA comes in!

Since its founding in 1972, the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) has gone a long way. The club initially supported a successful national tour in 1976. Yet, over time, the club shrank to a core of 6–8 members. When Dana Newquist joined the club 20 years ago, things were like this. Thank you to Dana for some details about the AACA and some history behind it. Below is some great information about a very fun and active community of enthusiasts in Santa Barbara.

Like any newcomer, Dana was passionate about vintage and antique vehicles. After a few meetings, the club’s then-president, Jeremy Hass, approached him about taking over the club’s leadership. Dana agreed to the offer but soon understood how difficult it would be.The club was small, and he needed to build it up from scratch.

Dana started by concentrating on the caliber of the meetings. He was aware that more people would join if he could secure some notable speakers. Dana was aware that not everyone was interested in technical details like rear-end ratios and carburetors. As a result, he saw to it that the speakers were picked for subjects that would interest all of the members.

Dana’s second action was to make an effort to make the group more all-inclusive. Dana was well aware that collecting vintage and classic cars is not just for men. He, therefore, made sure that women felt welcome to join the club and that the programs and topics catered to

all audiences.This approach worked, and the number of members started to increase gradually.

The AACA Santa Barbara Chapter has more than 100 members today and is continually expanding. A fantastic core group at the club has decided it’s time to stage a new national tour. The Santa Ynez Marriott will serve as the tour’s home base from September 25 to September 29. This marks an important turning point for the club and is evidence of the effort and commitment of its members.

The AACA is not just about cars; it’s about a sense of community and camaraderie. Members of the club share a common interest and bond over their love for antique automobiles. They attend events together, share stories and experiences, and learn from each other. The AACA is more than just a club; it’s a family.

ACCA meets the last Monday of every month at5:30pm, Pilgrim Terrace (649 Pilgrim Terrace Dr. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (off Modoc).A delicious buffet isavailablefor dinner for an additional fee. Every month a special guest is invited to discusstopics important to our members.It has been nearly 50 years since the Santa Barbara Region hosted a National Tour. Classic cars will be coming from all points of the US to join.

To best get more information, to look into joining and a description of the Tour, please go to AACA SB website.https:// www.aacasb.org/

Looking forward to seeing all of these beautiful cars on the road around Santa Barbara. Thanks again to Dana Newquist for the insight into a really cool local club.

With Gratitude, Todd

Shea

Todd Shea

Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers andPartnerof Richardson Ober DeNichilo LLP, a law firm known for community association advice.

Calm your living space with these four design elements

By Hunter Boyce

Years of living in a pandemic has inspired interior designers and homeowners alike to make some changes inside their living spaces. Decorators are experimenting with how they can bring more calming atmosphere to their projects.

From decluttering high-traffic spaces to giving the walls a new coat of paint, these design trends are just what you need to make your home a little more peaceful.

Install a window seat

One of the best ways designers are turning homes into calming sanctuaries is by bring the outside in. Specifically, installing a window seat in your home can give you a place of warmth, light and rest when life gets stressful.

“Window seats elicit a feeling of rest and quiet time for oneself,” West Hollywood-based interior designer Katie Hodges told Living Etc. “They are a little pocket of a special moment, and add a quaint coziness to any space.

“Any window or room is fair game for a window seat. Just be sure that the window is large enough or at the right height to be able to see out of, and that the window seat depth is substantial enough to actually sit down.”

Candles, candles, candles

A great way to make the home a more soothing place is to light candles. It’s an aromatic answer to a multisensory problem. However, interior designers are taking advantage of it all the same.

“In the morning, I like to light candles in the kitchen and living room and let them burn until evening,” Cofounder, principal designer and chief creative officer of Metal + Petal, Jade Joyner, told Better Homes & Gardens. “It creates a soothing ambience while adding a little luxe to my day.”

Declutter the mess

While it may not be as fun as decorating your new favorite room, decluttering the more visually overwhelming areas of a home can do wonders for mental health.

“Few things create mental unrest like clutter,” Houston-based designer Marie Flanigan told Veranda. “Spend time cleaning out unused items for donation, and invest in appealing organizational tools like woven baskets, oversize clear jars, and drawer inserts.”

Muted and bright colored walls

Environmental psychology has shown that the color of a home’s walls can have a significant impact on personal comfort. For a calmer environment, consider using bright yet muted colors.

“Research suggests that we feel cooler in cooler-toned rooms and warmer in warmer-toned rooms, regardless of the actual temperature, so this is one way to steer a space to your comfort zone,” environmental psychologist Toby Israel told the Washington Post.

“The colors that are relaxing to look at are not very saturated and relatively bright,” expert Sally Augustin added. ©2023 Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Installing a window seat in your home can give you a place of warmth, light and rest when life gets stressful.

Photo courtesy Dreamstime/TNS

What are the biggest upcoming home spending trends?

By Paul F. P. Pogue

Pandemic lifestyle changes, inflation, and rising interest rates all have an impact on spending plans for the next few years.

courtesy Poramate Cheewapat/Dreamstime/TNS

The past few years have seen tremendous change in our lifestyles and spending, and our homes are no exception. Angi’s State of Home Spending Report for 2022 demonstrates how things have changed this year, and what you can expect for 2023.

The single biggest impact on home spending in recent years, of course, has been the pandemic. As homeowners hunkered down in their houses for much of 2020, they thought less about how home improvements might affect value, and instead how they would change and improve their lifestyles as everyone was staying at home more often.

Now that many pre-pandemic activities and behaviors have returned, how has this affected home spending? Angie surveyed 6,500 consumers to determine what was most important to them. It turns out that lifestyle needs are still a major driver. Prior to 2020, “return on investment” was the top motivator for home improvement spending on Angi surveys. This year, 61% of homeowners say lifestyle considerations are the most important reason for doing work on their homes, whether to make it better suited for their needs or to get more enjoyment out of an outdated home.

After a huge 2021, in which homeowners spent more than $10,000 on average on home improvement spending, the average returned to $8,484 in 2022, more in keeping with previous years. With pandemic-related lifestyle changes settling down, inflation was a big factor in home improvement in 2022. Nearly three-quarters of homeowners said inflation influenced both their spending and the number of projects they undertook. And interest rates have their own impact.

1.Regular maintenance, 38.2%

2.Interior painting, 33.6%

remodeling, 28.9%

flooring, 27.8%

home device, 22.9%

painting, 22.9%

remodeling, 21.4%

20%

And here’s where people expect to put their dollars in 2023:

1.Regular maintenance, 29%

painting, 23%

remodeling, 22%

installation, 20%

remodeling, 17%

home device, 17%

painting, 17%

landscaping, 16%

16%

fencing, 15%

1.Bathroom remodeling, 35.93% 2.Solar panels, 29.41% 3.Outdoor work, 26.89% 4.Basement refinishing, 26.43%

upgrade, 23%

home office, 22.77%

a new addition, 21.85%

a bathroom, 20.94%

garage to gym, 20.48%

Photo

Here’s a rundown of the top 10 projects where people spent their money in 2022:

Looking ahead, though, here are the top 10 major investment projects homeowners tell us they intend to pursue in the next five years:

LISTING | 94 LA CUMBRE CIRCLE, SANTA BARBARA CA 93105

Exceptionally well priced in La Cumbre Circle! This 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom single story home sits on one of the largest lots in the complex. 18 lemon, orange and tangerine trees, plus an avocado and apple tree! Newer flooring throughout. Attached 2 car garage with sto rage cabinets. Front patio. Living room opens to large rear patio and very large yard. Split floor plan. Primary bedroom with en sui te bath has dressing area and two closets. Separate wing with two bedroom and one bath. Community pool, spa and clubhouse. Close to the new Modoc bike path. Just minutes to schools, La Cumbre Plaza, State Street, dining and entertainment. This home will need updating and is priced accordingly. Shown by appointment only to buyers with proof of funds or pre-approval from a local lender

The unit is approximately 1,280 sq. ft on a 7,100 sq. ft. lot! HOA fee just $390 per month. Community pool & spa, gym, and club house.

Santa BarBara County SaleS

This is a partial list of all recorded residential sales in Santa Barbara County from February 21 thru February 24, 2023. While these recordings are public record, the News-Press receives this information from an outside source. This list does not represent all sales that occurred over this time period. Consult your REALTOR® for further information regarding home sales in your area of interest.

Santa BarBara County SaleS

Real Estate Q&A:

What’s going on with the housing market?

By Gary M. Singer

Question:

We have to move for family reasons and put our house up for sale. It has been several months, and we are not getting much interest. Our real estate agent keeps telling us to lower the price, but I know what our home is worth. Just a year or so ago, several nearby homes sold for more than our listing price. What is going on?

Answer:

The real estate market can change quickly.

– Joan

Sometimes the changes are local, like when a new school is built close to an aging community, making it attractive to younger families. Other times, the change in the market is caused by more universal causes like a bad economy and rising interest rates.

Not long ago, houses were selling in bidding wars for above asking prices, and it seemed like property values went up every time you turned around. The seller’s market got so hot that it became hard to find an affordable home.

But that was then, and now the housing market has significantly cooled

off.

Interest rates have risen, increasing mortgage payments for prospective buyers. Property taxes are up, as is the cost of insurance. Most home buyers are limited by the monthly payment they can afford.

As these costs have increased, so have the monthly housing payment tied to them. To compensate for this, buyers have started looking for less expensive homes.

Due to the foibles of human nature, it takes some time for home sellers to realize that the housing market has cooled.

No matter what houses were selling for in the past, homes are only worth as much as potential buyers are willing to pay today. Many sellers feel they are losing “profits” rightfully theirs and are slow to accept the new realities.

If you want to sell your house now, ensure it shows well. Keep it clean and uncluttered, and make sure the landscaping looks nice. You may want to spruce it up with a little fresh paint.

You will also need to accept that today’s prices are what matters, not what you could have sold it for a couple of years ago. Work with your agent to adjust the price to match what buyers are willing to pay now.

Gary M. Singer is a Florida attorney and board-certified as an expert in real estate law by the Florida Bar. He practices real estate, business litigation and contract law from his office in Sunrise, Fla. He is the chairman of the Real Estate Section of the Broward County Bar Association and is a co-host of the weekly radio show Legal News and Review. He frequently consults on general real estate matters and trends in Florida with various companies across the nation. Follow him on Twitter @GarySingerLaw. ©2023 Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Let Mezoo madness take over your baskets and containers

The hanging basket features Amore Queen of Hearts petunias, Boldly White geraniums, Diamond Frost euphorbia, an unseen mandevilla and Mezoo Trailing Red Livingstone daisy spilling over the rim. Photos courtesy Norman Winter/TNS

HOMES

To view this weekend’s Open Home Guide and all other Real Estate for sale or rent go to: newspress.com – click on Special Editions, House & Home

GOLETA SOUTH

365 Greencastle Circle

12-3

This spacious 5-bed, 4.5 bath Spanish retreat offers 3200+ SF, mountain views, architectural flare, & a perfect template for luxury living ready to be updated to a buyer’s taste.

Zia Group | eXp Realty California Alexander Stoeber805-450-9944# 02090649

MESA

2306 Cliff Drive

1-4 $1,749,000

Exceptional dual living opportunity on the Mesa. Enjoy walkable access to the finest beaches in town, hiking trails at nearby Elings Park, and a plethora of grocery stores/restaurants.

Big Block Realty Ursula Santana805-455-9025# 01965452

OPEN HOUSE DIRECTORY

We no longer take submissions via e-mail, instead an easy-to-use form can be found at newspress.com

Click on “SPECIAL EDITION”

then click on “OPEN HOME”

Deadline is 5 p.m. on Wednesdays for the following Friday & Weekend publications.

If you have any questions

please e-mail: openhomes@newspress.com

To view this weekend’s Open Home Guide and all other Real Estate for sale or rent go to: newspress.com – click on Special Editions, House & Home

GOLETA NORTH

635 Avenida Pequena

4/2.5

1-4 $1,495,000

Stunning 4 bedroom 2.5 bath home with beautiful upgrades throughout, ground floor bedroom, private & peaceful patio with mountain views

Coldwell Banker Realty Jeani Hansen Burke 805-451-1429# 01194965

GOLETA SOUTH

365 Greencastle Circle

5/5

10-1 $2,295,000

This spacious 5-bed, 4.5 bath Spanish retreat offers 3200+ SF, mountain views, architectural flare, & a perfect template for luxury living ready to be updated to a buyer’s taste.

Zia Group | eXp Realty California Phillip Savas 805-708-9242# 02113928

GOLETA SOUTH

365 Greencastle Circle

5/5

1-4 $2,295,000

This spacious 5-bed, 4.5 bath Spanish retreat offers 3200+ SF, mountain views, architectural flare, & a perfect template for luxury living ready to be updated to a buyer’s taste.

Zia Group | eXp Realty of California, Inc.

Kimberly Rockwell805-698-8848# 01482947

MESA

2306 Cliff Drive

3/1

12-4 $1,749,000

Exceptional dual living opportunity on the Mesa. Enjoy walkable access to the finest beaches in town, hiking trails at nearby Elings Park, and a plethora of grocery stores/restaurants.

Big Block Realty Ursula Santana805-455-9025# 01965452

By Hunter Boyce

No, it’s not a myth: Vinegar can truly improve your washing, making your clothes cleaner than ever before. But, you don’t need it for everything.

“Most detergents are formulated at a specific pH to work best, and directly adding vinegar can interrupt the active ingredients and actually create more problems, like discoloration and poor cleaning,” Tide senior scientist Sammy Wang told Marthastewart. com. “Vinegar has a low pH (typically three to five), so it can help dissolve away residues that bind body soils to fabrics.”

From combating underarm odor to brightening white clothing, here are the top reasons to use vinegar in your laundry. Mildew and underarm odor

According to The Spruce, the acetic acid found in distilled white vinegar is strong enough to dissolve residues left by soaps and detergents while remaining weak enough to damage fabrics. Adding half a cup of vinegar to the final rinse cycle of your laundry will lead to brighter, clearer colors. The vinegar also acts as a whitener for stained white socks, dirty dishcloths and delicates.

To remove underarm odor from clothes,

1229 E Cota

3/1 & 3/2

2 detached 3BD units on a flat 1/4 acre lot. 1,097 sq. ft. garage! Ample room to add an ADU. Ideal for investors or owner-users. Front house is a charming cottage. Back unit was built over the garage.

2-4 $2,100,000 Mike Richardson, Realtors Kyle Richardson805-680-3131# 01902531

These are the top reasons to use vinegar in laundry

keep a spray bottle full of undiluted white vinegar on hand. Spray the vinegar directly on the underarm fabric and let it rest for 10 minutes. Then toss the piece of clothing into the washing machine with the rest of your laundry.

Hypoallergenic alternative

Washing your clothes with half a cup of distilled white vinegar, instead of standard detergents, is a great hypoallergenic alternative, Healthline reported.

People with sensitive skin can sometimes be irritated by the harsh chemicals used in certain detergents. Utilizing vinegar in place

of these more standard detergents can lead to less irritation while keeping your laundry clean.

A great fabric softener

Vinegar can be a great fabric softener alternative, according to SF Gate. To use vinegar as a fabric softener, pour half of a cup of distilled white vinegar into the detergent or fabric softener dispenser during the final rinse cycle. Adding a few drops of essential oils can give your clothes a wonderful fragrance as well.

BBy Norman Winter

It’s been 15 years, maybe more, since Mezoo showed up in trials and then some really progressive garden centers. It was way ahead of its time for the succulent craze in which we now find ourselves. Many of us snickered at the time, but today we love it. and our kids in the business think they have discovered a new plant.

Come to think of it, maybe it took our children growing up to show us how to use Mezoo and to push the envelope in our designs.

I suppose I should really give its official name: Mezoo Trailing Red. Botanically speaking, it is Dorotheanthus bellidiformis, commonly called Livingstone daisy. You will find it in the Aizoaceae, or fig-marigold, family (if you recognize even one relative you qualify as a taxonomic genus in my book). Just think, this trailing succulent that no one heard of and most laughed at has hung around for over 15 years and firmly planted itself in Proven Winners’ available Proven Accents list.

Mezoo Trailing Red is a glossy green with cream margin succulent that can be used as a groundcover or as a spiller plant in mixed containers and baskets.

You are probably wondering where the red comes from in the name. Does it bleed when you snap a branch? The answer is obviously no. The red comes from dime-sized flowers that accent the plant. Notice I said “accent.” The flowers will never steal the show from the foliage.

It is a Proven Accents plant indeed. In the last couple of years, son James has used it as a super trailing spiller in hanging baskets with red Amore Queen of Heart petunias, Boldly White geraniums, Diamond Frost euphorbia, and mandevillas. The dime-sized red flowers produced by Mezoo Trailing Red were the perfect color echo for the red petunias.

As the common name Livingstone daisy suggests, it is from the Cape Peninsula of South Africa. It is tolerant of wet or dry conditions and high or low pH. In other words, anyone can grow this plant.

Although it’s tolerant of wet conditions, my inclination would still be to recommend well-drained soil that helps prevent a host of root issues. This will be more critical if used as a groundcover; this is rarely an issue in baskets and containers.

While searching Proven Winners for their Mezoo Trailing Red recipes, I found one

called Tracy’s Garden. This is no doubt from Tracy’s Plaids and Poppies in Dorr, Michigan. I follow them on both Facebook and Instagram, and trust me, you should too. The window planter in the recipe features Goldilocks Rocks bidens, Superbells Red calibrachoa, Luscious Royale Red Zone lantana, Superbena Red and Superbena Violet Ice verbenas, Truffula Pink gomphrena and the Mezoo Trailing Red Livingstone daisy at the bottom. As you can tell the window box is a complete garden.

Son James also designed a large container that would be perfect for pollinators. It featured Rockin Blue Suede Shoes salvia, Uproar Rose zinnia, Luscious Marmalade lantana and Mezoo Trailing Red Livingstone daisy as the spiller.

It gets about 6 inches tall with a 15- to 24-inch-plus spread in the South. It is rated as a zone 9 and warmer perennial but worth every penny as an annual in colder areas. It can take all the sun you can give but does quite well with partial sun. If it should grow more than its allotted space, by all means, clip to tidy up.

If you want to have a lot of fun with your friends, neighbors and garden club members, just tell them your new Mezoo Trailing Red is a variety of Dorotheanthus bellidiformis, which was formerly known as “Mesembryanthemum criniflorum.”

Norman

Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.”

This window planter recipe called Tracy’s Garden features Goldilocks Rocks bidens, Superbells Red calibrachoa, Luscious Royale Red Zone lantana, Superbena Red and Superbena Violet Ice verbenas, Truffula Pink gomphrena and the Mezoo Trailing Red Livingstone daisy at the bottom. As you can tell the widow box is a complete garden.

Photo courtesy Dreamstime

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