#25-1600, Maurie McGuire, Scott Westlotorn, Listing office: Sotheby's International Realty
$4,950,000 List price
118 E Islay St Santa Barbara, CA 93101
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
- Partial Bathrooms: 1
- Full Bathrooms: 2
- Appliances: Refrigerator, Gas Range, Tankless Water Heater, Dishwasher
- Flooring Type: Hardwood, Tile
- Fireplace: Living Room, Dining Room, Other
- Total Bedroom Count: 4
- Attached Garage: No
- Parking: Gar #2
- Exterior: Deck, Fence
- Architectural Style: Victorian
- Heating: Forced Air
- Cooling: Central Air
- List Price: $4,950,000
- Price/SqFt: $1,519
- Annual Tax Amount: $30,300
- Tax Year: 2024
- Lot: Level, Near Public Transit
- Directions: Mid-block south side of Islay Street between Anacapa Street and Santa Barbara Street.
- Year Built: 1887
- Stories: 2
- Living Area: 3,257 SqFt
- Lot Size: 0.23 Acres
- 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
The 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: 6/4/2025, 4:40:36 PM Eastern. If you have any questions regarding the accuracy of this data, please contact us at help@rockethomes.com.
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$4,950,000
118 E Islay St
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Price information
Property sales
| Date | Event | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 07, 2015 | Home Sold | $2,415,000 |
Tax history
| Year | Assessment | Property 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.
Neighborhood
The neighbors living near this home have an average income of $81,675. The most common annual income of people living in Santa Barbara, CA is between $35k-100k. Residents typically live in single, no kids family. 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 Opera
Yoga/pilates
Continuing Education Courses
Where do the neighbors shop?
Chico's
H&M
Express/Express For Men
Where do the neighbors go to eat?
Boston Market
Dominos Pizza
Qdoba
What do the neighbors drive?
Volvo
Audi
Volkswagen
What do the neighbors listen to?
Talk/Personality
Alternative
Urban Contemporary
All data provided by Home Junction and Claritas
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Frequently asked questions
About 118 E Islay St
The listing price of 118 E Islay St property is $4,950,000.
The property 118 E Islay St is a house located in Santa Barbara, California, 93101.
Active Listing: 118 E Islay St is For Sale (Active/New) which means the seller is accepting offers.
The nearby schools for 118 E Islay St are: Roosevelt Elementary School (GreatSchools Rating 7/10), Santa Barbara Community Academy (GreatSchools Rating 5/10), Harding University Partnership School (GreatSchools Rating 6/10), La Cumbre Junior High School (GreatSchools Rating 4/10), Santa Barbara Junior High School (GreatSchools Rating 3/10), La Colina Junior High School (GreatSchools Rating 7/10), Santa Barbara High School (GreatSchools Rating 6/10), La Cuesta Continuation High School (GreatSchools Rating 1/10), Alta Vista Alternative High School (GreatSchools Rating 5/10).
According to the records, the last property tax for 2024 is $30,300 (source: MLS/based on county public records data).
The last sale was on April 7, 2015 for $2,415,000 (source: MLS/tax record).
The property at 118 E Islay St has 4 bedrooms and 2 full and 1 half bathrooms.
The property 118 E Islay St is 3,257 SqFt (source: MLS/tax record).
The year of construction for 118 E Islay St is 1887.
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.
In May 2025, from all listings sold in Santa Barbara, CA there were more than 30 sold above asking price, over 46 sold below and more than 18 were sold right at the asked price. The number of homes for sale in Santa Barbara, CA increased by 9% between April and May 2025. Listings spent 44 days on the market in May 2025, and had a median list price of $2,101,250 during the same period.
From Rocket Homes Real Estate and based on county public records data.