118 E Islay St Santa Barbara, CA 93101

$4,950,000
4 beds
2 full, 1 partial
3,257 sqft
0.2 acres
$1,520 / sqft
House

Property details

About 118 E Islay St

Now available for sale is one of Santa Barbara's most iconic and amazing homes, at the beginning of the exclusive Upper East neighborhood just a few blocks to the heart of downtown. This gorgeous Queen Anne Victorian is one of the first grand homes built in this idyllic coastal town - in 1887 by prominent local financier Joseph Howard - and in recent years has been brought back to its full glory in a meticulous and impeccable authentic restoration. You will marvel at the historic details throughout, and the luxurious new conveniences incorporated in the restoration process by renowned historical architect Peter Becker, punctuated by a spectacularly-designed newer kitchen and primary bathroom. The turnkey property includes . . . an almost-new roof, new A/C for upstairs, re-built deck, added structural, outdoor kitchen, new irrigation, private low-maintenance yard areas, several fruit trees, and a carriage house which is now a 2-car garage plus workshop plus loft space above for a potential ADU. The location is ideal as it gets - at the beginning of Santa Barbara's Upper East neighborhood just 4-5 blocks to downtown's Theatre/Arts districts, with its many fine dining spots, world-class performing arts theaters, museums, boutique retail and parks. The mid-block location on a cross-street is rare for the semi-urban Upper East, providing a low-traffic low-noise refuge compared to much of the area. See vicinity map and floorplan under Documents. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to purchase a one-of-a-kind gem!

Highlights

Home typeSingle Family Residence
HeatingForced Air
StatusActive
CoolingCentral Air
Size3,257 sqft
Lot size0.23 Acres
Year built1887
ParkingGar #2
MLS #25-272
FireplaceLiving Room, Dining Room, Other

Summary

  • MLS Number: 25-272
  • MLS Name: Santa Barbara Multiple Listing Service
  • Office Name: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
  • Office Phone: (805) 969-5026
  • Office Email: dstalter@bhhscal.com
  • Listing Agent: Ken Switzer

IDXThe data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes from the Internet Data Exchange Program of the Santa Barbara Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by other are marked with the “MLS” logo and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers. Based on information from the Santa Barbara MLS. Display of MLS data is usually deemed reliable but is NOT guaranteed accurate by the MLS. Buyers are responsible for verifying the accuracy of all information and should investigate the data themselves or retain appropriate professionals. Information from sources other than the Listing Agent may have been included in the MLS data. Unless otherwise specified in writing, Broker/Agent has not and will not verify any information obtained from other sources. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent. Displays of minimal information (e.g., “thumbnails”, text messages, “tweets”, etc., of two hundred [200] characters or less) are exempt from this requirement but only when linked directly to a display that includes all required disclosures. Audio delivery of listing content is exempt from this disclosure requirement only when all required disclosures are subsequently delivered electronically to the registered consumer performing the property search or linked to through the device’s application. Copyright 2025 Santa Barbara Multiple Listing Service. All rights reserved.
Data displayed may be a portion of, and not a complete set of all listings published in the MLS.
Last updated on: 2/6/2025, 11:50:55 PM Eastern. If you have any questions regarding the accuracy of this data, please contact us at help@rockethomes.com.

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view of front of property featuring a porch

$4,950,000

118 E Islay St

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Price information

Property sales

DateEventPrice
Apr 07, 2015
Home Sold
$2,415,000

Tax history

YearAssessmentProperty Tax
2024$2,862,957$30,300
2023$2,806,821$29,751
2022$2,751,787$29,241
2021$2,697,831$28,572
2020$2,670,170$28,278
2019$2,617,815$27,319
2018$2,566,486$27,319
2017$2,516,164$26,416

History based on county public records data.

Nearby schools

7

Roosevelt Elementary School

Public District KG-6

0.4 mi

1990 Laguna St

5

Santa Barbara Community Academy

Public District KG-6

1.1 mi

850 Portesuello Ave

6

Harding University Partnership School

Public District PK-6

1.2 mi

1625 Robbins St

School ratings are a score out of 10, where 10 is the highest and 1 is the lowest.

All data from GreatSchools

Neighborhood

The neighbors living near this home have an average income of $81,675. Residents of Santa Barbara, CA typically earn between $35k-100k each year. Most families are single, no kids. Most residents in this area have post secondary degree education.

How much money do the neighbors make?

20%
<35k
45%
35k-100k
27%
100k-200k
8%
200k+

What level of education do the neighbors have?

High School Diploma
Post Secondary Degree
Masters Degree
Doctorate

What types of families live nearby?

59%
Single, No Kids
7%
Single, with Kids
24%
Married, No Kids
10%
Married, with Kids

Are the neighbors home owners or renters?

Home Owners
Renters

How old are people in this area?

8%
<11 yrs old
4%
12-17 yrs old
33%
18-34 yrs old
39%
35-64 yrs old
16%
65+ yrs old

What do the neighbors do for fun?

  • Symphony or OperaSymphony or Opera
  • Yoga/pilatesYoga/pilates
  • Continuing Education CoursesContinuing Education Courses

Where do the neighbors shop?

  • Chico'sChico's
  • H&MH&M
  • Express/Express For MenExpress/Express For Men

Where do the neighbors go to eat?

  • Boston MarketBoston Market
  • Dominos PizzaDominos Pizza
  • QdobaQdoba

What do the neighbors drive?

  • VolvoVolvo
  • AudiAudi
  • VolkswagenVolkswagen

What do the neighbors listen to?

  • Talk/PersonalityTalk/Personality
  • AlternativeAlternative
  • Urban ContemporaryUrban Contemporary
All data provided by Home Junction and Claritas

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Frequently asked questions

About 118 E Islay St

This home is located at 118 E Islay St in Santa Barbara, CA and zip code 93101 in the Downtown neighborhood. This 3,257 square foot home, which was built in 1887, sits on a 0.23 acre lot. Features: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. It has been listed on Rocket Homes since January 18, 2025 and is currently priced at $4,950,000.

While more than 11 listings in Santa Barbara, CA in January 2025 were sold above asking price, there were more than 8 listings sold at asking price, and more than 49 were sold below. The number of homes for sale in Santa Barbara, CA increased by 26.1% between December and January 2025. In January 2025 median list price was $2,100,622 and the average listing age was 58 days.

From Rocket Homes Real Estate and based on county public records data.

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