This edition of The Home Page was originally emailed to subscribers on March 12, 2024. To receive Sarah Sinclair’s real estate newsletter in your inbox each Sunday, sign up at independent.com/newsletters.
On this Mother’s Day, I celebrate my amazing mom, Sally. You may have heard me brag about her: relentless volunteer, generous friend, and unofficial ambassador of Carpinteria, with a special talent for tour-guiding and sharing the beaches, bluffs, and best spots in town. I wrote about my mom’s house back in February 2020, when she was planning to move. Things didn’t quite work out as planned, and instead of moving, Mom got a brand-new house put onto her current lot. It’s beautiful, and she loves her new home in the same sweet spot, right near the beach in Carpinteria. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you.
We welcomed two brand-new local real estate babies this week, just in time for Mother’s Day. Mackenzie Robitaille handles the fast pace in the Village Properties marketing department with ease. Which is a good thing, since she had barely a moment between her last day of work and her first day as a mom of two. Sweet baby Eloise Marie was born on Monday, May 6, making 2-and-a-half-year-old James a new big brother. Welcome, baby Eloise.
Just two days earlier, mortgage broker Holly Onak and family welcomed baby William Gerald on Saturday, May 4, making them a family of four as well. Welcome, baby Will. Happy Mother’s Day to both Holly and Mackenzie.
Back to real estate — sort of — a pair of house finches has chosen the eaves of my house as their nesting spot. I’ve been enjoying hearing the baby birds’ sweet high-pitched chatter and chirps as their parents come and go throughout the day. In more mama-bird-related news, the Santa Barbara Zoo announced the hatching of three Humboldt penguin chicks in late March and early April. They’ll be behind the scenes for a bit, rejoining the colony once they grow their waterproof feathers. Welcome to Santa Barbara, little ones.
Okay, okay, back to real estate: The new Zillow Gone Wild show premiered on HGTV this week, featuring the lighthouses, penthouses, castles, and more that we’ve come to love on their over-the-top Instagram account. The relatively unassuming-looking home shown above is located in San Luis Obispo. In addition to the amazing mountain view, it’s a recipient of the San Luis Beautiful Home Award. In a case of “more than meets the eye,” the interior of the house is covered in intricate tilework in just about every room. Bedrooms, living room, kitchen — even the skylights are lined with mosaics. Listed for $1,950,000, check it out now before it hits the TV airwaves.
I’ll be in Chicago visiting my son and daughter-in-law next week, so I’m skipping the newsletter next Sunday. I’ll look for fun houses and other tidbits on my trip that I can share when I return. Here’s this week’s Independent front and back to help you plan your Sunday. However you spend it, enjoy!