The Upper East neighborhood of Santa Barbara has been know as “the crown jewel” of the city with the most sought after homes for decades. The houses are outstandingly large and impressive, intricate, beautiful, & many with architectural or historical significance.  Another standout feature of Upper East homes is the notably large yards with tall hedges and groomed landscaping. This area in relation to other areas in Santa Barbara, is quiet and clean- honored as one of the most prestigious areas to live in Santa Barbara. The “Upper East” is defined by its location east of State Street and above Valerio Street, and then eventually merges into the Mission Canyon neighborhood and the Riviera foothills.

The iconic Santa Barbara Mission sits center stage amidst this area of premier homes, providing a historical landmark, which is visited by many throughout the year. With a beautiful rose garden and a picturesque backdrop of mountains and blue sky, the mission is constantly one of the most photographed areas in Santa Barbara. Established  by the Franciscan’s in the 1700’s, the mission has been added onto and rebuilt three times. Now “she” stands in all her glory, increasing the property value of those around her. Every year, the Mission is host to a busy schedule of public events, including the annual blessing of the motorcycles, the I Madonnari chalk art festival on Memorial Day weekend, and the opening night of Fiesta on the first Wednesday in August. Local families gather on the nearby Mission Park lawn, just across the street, to watch fireworks on the fourth of July, and a Christmas time nativity display with real animals in late December is fun for children. Of course, the Mission is still a working Catholic church, so there are also regular mass services- as well as regular tours of the premises. The Mission neighbors Rocky Nook park, a peaceful wooded place away from the crowds and the street- strewn with boulders and a central creek surrounded by twisting hiking paths .

Many of the homes in the Upper East neighborhood are so significant historically and architecturally that the Pearl Chase Society offers annual walking tours of the neighborhood. This neighborhood has a relatively high walking score, as it is only a few blocks from State Street’s restaurants,theaters, and shopping, and it is a relatively flat area of town.  Most of the houses are set back from the street with tall hedges for privacy and to help eliminate noise pollution. But you can still manage to get a peek at many turn of the century Victorians.

Both Alice Keck Park and Alameda Park (also known as Kid’s World) are included in the Upper East. Roosevelt Elementary sits just down the way from the mission, and there are also several churches in the area. For the most part this neighborhood is very calm and friendly- full of families, and regular dog-walkers alike.

The Upper East Real Estate values average around $1 million to $2.5 million with the highest end estates generally in the $2.5 to $3 million price range. There are currently 16 properties available in the Upper East as of 11/29; ranging in price from $670k – $4.7 million for homes and between $500k – $700k.
If you would like to view the properties in this area, or any other neighborhood in Santa Barbara, please visit this link below, and enter “Upper East” or any other neighborhood / zip code you prefer. https://montecitolandc.wpengine.com/santa-barbara-montecito-search