What happened in the Santa Barbara real estate market over the New Year holiday week?
This past week delivered a surprisingly strong start to 2026, with a noticeable uptick in buyer activity even as new inventory remained low.
Key Market Activity at a Glance
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2 Coming Soon Listings
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12 New Listings
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6 Price Changes
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15 Pending Sales:
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3 under $1 million
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6 between $1–2 million
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5 between $2–4 million
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1 between $4–8 million
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16 Closed Sales:
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3 under $1 million
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6 between $1–2 million
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6 between $2–4 million
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1 between $4–8 million
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Compared to This Time Last Year
Looking at the same week in early January 2025, we saw:
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24 New Listings
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8 Pending Sales
That means new listings are down by half this year, while pending sales have nearly doubled. In a traditionally slower holiday week, that shift says a lot about current market dynamics.
What's Driving This Activity?
A few factors may be contributing to these early signs of momentum:
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Interest rates are trending downward, which is bringing more buyers back into the market.
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Buyer demand is already high, possibly fueled by pent-up interest from the holiday season.
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Storm delays may have caused some sellers to hold off listing until after the weather cleared.
We’re optimistic that more inventory will hit the market soon, especially now that the new year is underway. If you're thinking about buying or selling, this could be a great time to get ahead of the curve.
What This Means for You
If you're a buyer, you'll want to be prepared to act quickly. Inventory is still tight, but opportunities are clearly out there, especially as more homes come to market in the coming weeks.
If you're a seller, this early surge in buyer demand is encouraging. Listing now - or preparing to list soon - could position you well to take advantage of renewed energy in the market.
We’re here to help you strategize the best next move based on your goals.
Let’s Talk About Your 2026 Real Estate Goals
Whether you're just starting to explore your options or ready to make a move, let’s connect. Schedule a consultation with us to map out the smartest plan for buying or selling in Santa Barbara this year.
data from SB MLS from December 29, 2025 - January 4, 2026 Carpinteria through Goleta, presented by Dianne and Brianna Johnson, Village Properties Realtors DRE 00947199 & 01943572 All information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.
