The Home Page | Flavorful Favorite Fare

This edition of The Home Page was originally emailed to subscribers on March 31, 2024. To receive Sarah Sinclair’s real estate newsletter in your inbox each Sunday, sign up at independent.com/newsletter

I have more than a few favorite homes in Santa Barbara. The “Pagoda House,” shown above, is one. Sitting at the top of East Valerio Street, it’s one I had admired for years, and I was eager to tour it when it was on the market in 2016. I was able to meet with the lovely owner at that time, and write this article. When it changed hands, I went to the estate sale and bought a few souvenirs that are still treasures around my home. I also love this one:

Over a bridge and tucked behind another property, this tiny cabin in the woods found a place in my heart. After I wrote about it in February 2022, a friend told me that he had lived in the house years ago. I love those stories that shed even more light onto the history of a home. One of my all-time favorite homes is not a house at all. When I wrote about this houseboat in 2016…

…I fell in love. I’m not a sailor. I’ve only spent the night on a boat a few times (and one was a cruise … does that count?), so I know nothing about owning a boat, let alone living on it. But I fell in love. The Thomas Jefferson was a classic, old-school, Sausalito-style houseboat. I started dreaming and calculating — pondering subjects such as, “Would Scout be happy living on a houseboat?” — and wondering whether I could/should/would make an offer. But my practical side won out. I came to my senses. As it turns out, the Thomas Jefferson was purchased, completely renovated, and is now on the market again.

You can have your chance to own it for $4,900,000. Take a look today from 1-4 p.m. at the open house (or is that “open boat”?) at Santa Barbara Harbor, Marina 3-C, Slip ST-13. You can’t miss it. I won’t be bidding against you, though. As much as I love all of these houses, I love my little cottage as well. And so does Scout!

One last thing before you head off to enjoy your Sunday. IT’S BURRITO WEEK! Including today, you’ve got four more days to enjoy as many mouthwatering $8 burritos as you can. Burrito Week ends Wednesday! So whether you’re hitting the beach or the open houses, make sure to include a burrito or two in your Sunday plans. Enjoy!