Neighborhood Spotlight: Birnam Wood

You and your team helped us find the perfect spot in Montecito! I have experience in residential real estate in Northern CA., but needed an agent who knew the neighborhoods of Santa Barbara. It can be difficult to find a suitable home in such a popular vicinity, but Marsha and Allie had the scoop! You answered my many detailed questions and negotiated diligently on our behalf. Thanks to you, we are now happily settled in this lovely community.

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Marsha and the Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group! From start to finish, Marsha went above and beyond to uncover an off-market gem that checked every box on our extensive list of requirements, truly everything we had hoped for and more. It was truly the ultimate needle-in-a-haystack find! When it came to the bidding war, Marsha was extraordinary. She developed a very unique strategy that not only made our offer stand out but also secured us the win in an incredibly competitive market. During the inspection period, Nell demonstrated remarkable knowledge and provided invaluable guidance to us, ensuring that every d...

We have had the opportunity to work with Marsha and her team since 2018 for both buying and selling properties. When it comes to industry and local real estate knowledge, we have yet to meet a sharper realtor. She and her team are extremely thorough and professional. They are very responsive and made the process of both buying and selling so smooth. We have referred MK Properties to many people now, after having such great experiences, and they have all been very pleased! With all this said, there is no one else we would rather work with! Thank you, and your fabulous team, Marsha!

From the onset, we knew we had chosen the right team with Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group. Marsha and her incredible team took the time to get to really know our family's vibe before we began our home search. Her honest, thoughtful, communicative approach let us know we were in good hands. Our family was living abroad during the majority of our house-hunting, which added an extra layer of complexity. Yet she navigated that obstacle with ease, leaving no room for doubt that we would find the perfect home for our family. She has a passion for the community, and her enthusiasm for the magic of Santa Barbara is infectious. Her team far surpassed our expecta...

This team is the best, and we would not think about using anyone else! We have worked with Marsha and her team for both selling and buying properties. In both roles, they were exceptional and provided us comfort and confidence throughout the transactions. Marsha has a deep understanding of the local market and its nuances, but more importantly, she took the time to understand our family's needs. Thanks to the Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group, we've found our forever home and couldn't be more grateful.

The Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group was introduced to us as the very best, and they proved themselves with their market intelligence, willingness to accommodate our needs, and a committed, hands-on approach to bringing out the value of our property. It was a pleasure to work with Marsha and her team, always efficient, forthright, and spot-on in their counsel. With deep ties to local professionals, they were able to help buyers conceptualize the long-term potential for our property.

Working with Marsha, Nell, and Allie was a complete delight. Professional, thorough, and kind. Thank you all!

My wife and I recently used Marsha and Allie for the purchase of a residence in Montecito. Their attention to detail, knowledge of the market, and foresight in negotiations far exceeded the many previous agents we've used in other parts of the country. There were no surprises in the purchase process. Everything went smoothly. We would highly recommend using Marsha and her team for either the purchase or sale of a residence in the Santa Barbara or Montecito area.

I am so very impressed with you and your team - getting this sale done in record time, with me being out of town, taking care of all the details - I already have friends in SB asking how I did this and will most warmly recommend you and your team.

Marsha and the MK Group team are truly a dream team. We were introduced to them after a few years of searching in the Montecito and Santa Barbara market, and we felt in good hands from the first interaction. They are a world-class team and really listen to their clients. We were coming from San Francisco and felt the communication was frequent, seamless, and they always had their eye on the market for us. We appreciated how they would filter listings and give their honest take for our family and situation. They were one step ahead in the market, always sending off-market listings and or knowing invaluable information about properties. They landed ou...

Marsha and every single member of her team are excellent! Not only do they have fantastic taste and understand what it is that you need and want, but they also handled and navigated even the most difficult part of the negotiations and transactions with grace, strategy and intelligence from years of experience. We were also operating from a distance and whatever the local need was, they handled for us, making what could have been a stressful situation unbelievably easy. Not to mention, Marsha and her entire team are simply a joy to be around as well. I couldn’t recommend buying or selling your home with them enough. From all aspects of the process, y...

You and your polished team provide an extraordinary service, and I cannot thank you enough. The extensive knowledge of the Montecito real estate market, the time and effort put into marketing, and the perseverance that your team brought are invaluable. Your ability to bring in qualified buyers from so many different places is extraordinary, rising above and beyond expectations. It was a wise decision to have chosen you to sell a much-loved home with both grace and conviction, and it is with great confidence that I highly recommend you and your team.

Marsha and her talented team successfully marketed the sale of our home in record time! We appreciated the professionalism shown every step of the way in this process. Their marketing materials were first-rate, including the photos, video, brochures, and mailers. Communication from her and her staff was beyond reproach. We were thrilled to get an over-asking all-cash offer, and I continue to get excellent follow-through at every juncture. We will highly recommend Marsha and her team to anyone who wants the best Real Estate team in the market.

My experience as a buyer with the Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group can be best characterized by this statement: “put a team of experts in place, take their advice and trust and follow their direction!” This market is ultra competitive with multiple offers coming in far over asking. I would not have gotten this home if it were not for their honest, straightforward knowledge. This is an example of putting a team of professionals in place, following their direction and ultimately purchasing a dream home in this insanely competitive market. As far as reports, deadlines, escrow and all that goes along with a home purchase, their team was there every step of t...

Marsha and the MK Group Dream Team (Allie, Brittany and Nell) are the absolute best. We are forever grateful to them for helping us find a beautiful home during a uniquely challenging time. We had very particular requirements in the midst of historically low inventory and a very competitive seller's market. Marsha & team were open, honest, and tremendously helpful during the search phase. They are incredibly plugged in to the community and always seemed to be a step ahead of the market. When the right opportunity presented itself, we needed to move quickly and Marsha's team not only matched our pace but were trusted advisors as we navigated the proc...

We had the pleasure of working with Marsha, Allie and team while searching for a home for our family of 5, in a crazy hot Santa Barbara market. We looked for 6 months and never found anything we even wanted to write an offer on. Then, when the right house finally came along, they were ready to help us pounce, make a strong offer and get our dream home, at what we felt was a very well-negotiated price. Marsha and team were, of course, great during the search process, showing us off-market options and getting us in early so we could be competitive, but when it was time to make an offer, we were really impressed. We've worked with several realtors in v...

We recently worked with MK Group on the purchase of our new home in Montecito and could not be happier with the entire process. The group is truly a cohesive team with everyone adding a special value and talent throughout. Some circumstances during the process could have been considered complex and difficult, but MK Group reacted and responded in such a professional way that it was seamless, smooth and simple. MK Group helped make our entry into this coveted market and for that we cannot thank them enough. We would recommend them to anyone and everyone.

When we decided to purchase a home in Santa Barbara while still living in New Jersey, my wife and I wondered how to navigate what seemed to be a logistically insurmountable task. We had no idea when we contacted Marsha Kotlyar and her team that they would make the process not only possible but enjoyable and effortless. Through every phase, from finding a property to formalizing the purchase, they couldn't have been more professional, helpful, and supportive. Upon seeing our new home and getting to meet Marsha, Allie, Brittany, and Nell for the first time, we were even more certain we were in very capable hands. We are still a few years away from rel...

Marsha and her team's combination of warmth, tenacity, and expertise made us feel beyond lucky to have found them. On multiple occasions, we felt like the Kotlyar team truly went to bat for us in a uniquely difficult market and especially challenging time. Could not recommend more highly.

Words can't express how thankful we are to the MK group for helping us find our home in Santa Barbara. During an incredibly hot real estate market, Marsha and team were the calm we needed in the storm. As an out-of-area buyer, it was imperative to work with a group we could trust implicitly to see houses for us, understand our needs, and ultimately deliver. We know the only reason we were able to secure our home with over 8 offers was because of Marsha's incredible relationships and rapport with fellow agents and her expert knowledge of every nook and cranny of the Santa Barbara market. We recommend everyone we know to contact the MK group should th...

We bought a home in Montecito during a crazy time in the real estate market. Because of the professionalism, kindness, and experience of Marsha and her team, what could have been nerve-wracking was instead more of an adventure. The Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group is highly sought after for good reason.

Big thanks to you and your team. This was my first (and hopefully only) experience selling a house in the role of trustee. But at least I didn't need to concern myself with not being local. I appreciate all the on-the-ground support up there from you and your team. I don't know many people in your hood, but if anyone asks, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend your group.

These words don't do justice to all that you guys did for us. We are grateful: We set out to interview a few real estate agents, and luckily, Marsha and Allie were the first ones we spoke with. A stellar team, we decided to look no further and hired them on the spot. They were patient, professional, and followed through at every step of the way in a timely manner. We were impressed with their unique combination of tenacious work ethic, experience, and approachable demeanor. We would work with them again in a heartbeat.

Marsha Kotlyar and her team are a bright group that exudes confidence in their ability to handle any problem in a potential sale or purchase. It's a confidence based on a track record of success. Marsha's personality is stamped on the team. They work for you as if they were selling their own home, and that was a new and more than pleasant experience. Smart and nice people.

Thank you and the rest of your team for a job very well done. Your advice, wisdom, and your attention to detail plus some solid teamwork and a little luck all combined to produce a great outcome for me, for Dan and for my growing family. I know we will be very happy in our new digs as we transition into a new life in Santa Barbara- mostly thanks to all of you.

Marsha Kotlyer of the Berkshire Hathaway office of Montecito and her team are professional and perfectly handled all of the complexities of selling our home, especially during the COVID-19 times. Marsha has a toolbox of knowledge of the market, stagers, photographers, advertising, and relationships within the industry, local, international, and online. These tools helped so much to result in two full-price offers to purchase our home in Montecito. This was most important as we are living 3,000 miles away and cannot travel across the country at this time. We highly recommend the Berkshire Hathaway team and Marsha Kotlyer Estate Group to a seller or b...

Working with Marsha, Allie, and Brittany made our family of five's move from Los Angeles to Montecito as seamless as possible. Not only did they find us a gem of a property in a very competitive market, but guided us through the process in a supportive and assuring way. They also fostered a buyer/seller dynamic that provided a very warm welcome to our new home and community. Their local knowledge and willingness to connect us to others (schools, service providers, neighbors, etc) continue to help us thrive in Montecito today. Not to mention, we loved supporting a woman-owned and operated business!

We had listed our home previously with another agent and were disappointed with the number of prospects that came to see the house. We had noticed Marsha’s ads in various publications and moved our listing to her firm. We were surprised at the significant increase in showings, which led to a successful sale. We were very happy with our experience with Marsha and her team.

We arrived in Santa Barbara not really knowing much about the town or the local real estate market but knew that we wanted to move to this beautiful area and that a home here was a wise investment. We were very fortunate to meet Marsha and her team who efficiently lined up several worthwhile properties for us to consider. Within a week after starting our search, we had found a perfect home, negotiated an agreement, and entered into escrow. We felt our interests were well-represented and protected, and Marsha’s associate, Allie, did an excellent job with follow-up guidance—walking us through the legal documents, the inspections, and finally the closing.

Within two years, Marsha sold two of my houses and helped me find my dream home. Her knowledge, professionalism, responsiveness, and excellent instincts resulted in selling both homes within a couple of weeks on the market. Marsha made what most consider a stressful process fun, educational, and a pleasure. I felt she kept my best interests in sharp focus and is extremely detail-oriented, which brought me great peace of mind.

I became very fond of the team while looking to buy a home. They were gracious, thorough, competent, and always positive. They worked hard to find us what we were looking for, and at a reduced price. I had given up, but they didn't. Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group is very on top of what's happening and delightful to work with!

Marsha and her team helped us secure our dream home in a transaction we were delighted with. Her professionalism was reassuring, Marsha's accurate read on the market was fiscally pinpoint, and her guidance through the negotiations was masterful.

We have worked with Marsha Kotlyar in the capacity of both buyer and seller and found her to be knowledgeable, conscientious, diligent, and most importantly, successful. She is a pleasure to work with, and we will continue to employ her on all of our future real estate transactions.

Marsha Kotlyar and the team are exceptional Real Estate professionals! I was very happy to have their assistance when buying my new home. Their attention to detail and excellent negotiation skills made a huge difference in the outcome of my transaction.

The experience we had with Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group was very professional and effective. Excellent Service! Great Advertising!

We want to let everyone who may be looking for a Realtor or Realtor team to assist in finding their new forever home, or selling their property, look no further. The entire team at Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group was well-informed, extremely professional, thoughtful, and empathetic to our needs. We wanted for nothing. They worked seamlessly with and for us every step of the way. Their knowledge of the Real Estate business and their unique market was nothing less than thorough. Their recommendations, when requested or needed, were spot on. Please, whether you may be selling or buying, do yourself the service of at least making a ‘discovery’ appointment. ...

I felt every aspect of your service was truly outstanding. I have no suggestions for improvement, which is rare for me.

Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group made the purchase of our home an enjoyable experience. Not only are Marsha and her team knowledgable and honest realtors, but they are incredibly personable as well. I would recommend Marsha and her team to anyone I know!

Following several interviews with competing brokers in the Santa Barbara's high end residential sub-market; Marsha Kotlyar and her outstanding team including Kathleen Winter were chosen to list a beach front property in Carpinteria. I was not disappointed with my selection. Marsha and her team quickly took charge of the marketing process, assisted with property clean-up and staging and greatly enhanced the market appeal of the property. Marsha was able to quickly take the property to market. Results were the quick receipt of several offers with one being at full list price and a quick closing. The entire process was extremely smooth with a closing i...

Working with Marsha and her team far exceeded our expectations; Marsha knows the Montecito market exceedingly well, and has an incredible team of responsive, professional and great to work with folks!

We appreciate that our home sale was given just as much attention as your bigger projects. We also leaned heavily on your expertise when dealing with a difficult buyer 's agent. We are grateful for your guidance and patience throughout the entire process. Your team is truly a class act and we look forward to our new home sale or purchase!

We have bought and sold properties across the country since 1974 and Marsha Kotlyar and her team are the most outstanding realtors we have ever worked with. Marsha makes you feel like you are her only client, attending to every detail on both the personal and professional level, even though she is dealing with multiple multi-million dollar properties simultaneously, I think this level of care along with her list of active prospects truly sets her apart among a number of top realtors in the Santa Barbara/Montecito area. It was a pleasure for us to work with Marsha and her team and she deserves the highest possible recommendation.

After our house had not sold for around five months, we retained Marsha and her team to sell the house. Marsha made a few recommendations, including some relatively minor repairs and cosmetic changes, which we did. Then they did some excellent photography and marketing. Within a few weeks, we received two offers, one of which was almost full price and the other exceeded the asking price. We then sold the house to the buyer who made the first offer. We were completely pleased by the work Marsha and her team did. They did an excellent job.

Marsha and her team did an outstanding job selling our home. Strict attention to details with above and beyond help made this transaction go smoothly and quickly. Marsha understands the market and what it takes to match buyers and sellers. A joy to work with, always! Thanks, Marsha!

Calm, classy and very knowledgeable. As an out of area real estate broker buying in an unfamiliar city, I'm very thankful to Marsha and her team for their help in navigating local real estate waters. Marsha also provided quality local resources ( inspectors, contractors) to advise me in my purchase. I'm a happy buyer and probably a better broker for my experience.

Marsha recently helped my husband and me with our first home purchase, and it was a smooth, exciting, and very satisfying experience! We were interested in finding our home for quite some time before we were actually ready to purchase, and Marsha patiently, thoughtfully, and respectfully showed us many houses over the course of 1-2 years. She talked to us at great lengths about what we wanted and why, where we wanted to be, what was important to us, and she also prompted us to think about things that were not on our mind such as yard space and school districts (I was pregnant at the time) and she helped us weigh the pros and cons of doing a renovati...

Marsha and her team are the best. We had used another realtor previously to try to sell our house but once we changed to Marsha our house sold quickly with multiple bids and over asking. All the little things she did made a big difference in a successful sale of our home. She also helped us find our new home and understood exactly what we were looking for so she could help direct us to the right homes and not waste our time looking at homes that had no appeal for us.

We recently had the pleasure of using Marsha Kotlyar to sell our home. We couldn't have made a better choice. She gave us an honest appraisal of our home, recommended a superb stager (the expense was worth every penny), and created a thorough marketing plan. She gave us weekly updates on showings and the market status, and was a maestro in negotiations.

I recently worked with Marsha on the sale of my condo in Carpinteria. From start to finish, she was great. Super friendly and totally professional. We listed, adjusted slightly, and sold within 4 weeks. I can't say enough about how easy and non-stressful the process was. Excellent all the way around. Thank you, Marsha.

Marsha is very professional, shows great enthusiasm, and has a great positive attitude. She is efficient, focuses on your needs. She makes the process very easy! Highly recommended.