Homes for Sale in Carpinteria

Carpinteria is a highly desirable Southern California beach town within easy reach of Santa Barbara. It sits between the gentle slopes of the Santa Ynez Mountains’ foothills and Pacific Ocean, surrounded by the contrast of rugged terrain and farmland. The city’s many charms include the plentiful beaches, parks, and trails. It offers enough activities and amenities for locals to spend many of their evenings and weekends close to home.

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Carpinteria Listings

Carpinteria Real Estate

Ranch-style homes, bungalows and craftsman homes on large individual large lots comprise much of the residential housing stock in Carpinteria. The town’s balmy climate allows for attractive wooden paneling and gently sloped eaves. Many homes have private gardens both at the front and at the rear.

Home prices for some of the more compact homes and manufactured homes near the coastline prove to be the most affordable.

About Carpinteria

Named after the Chumash nation boat-building yard that once stood here, the city enjoys a balmy climate year-round and is home to much flora and fauna, including the thousands of animals at its large seal sanctuary.

Contrasting dramatically with Toro Canyon and Summerland to the west, Carpinteria has a dense, busy suburban feel with plenty to do and see. Californians looking for a middle way between the drama of the big city and the peace and quiet of a small town often find their haven here.

The picturesque coastline is a major draw and Carpinteria is known as having the “world’s safest beach” due to its calm waves and lack of riptides. This makes it more popular with swimmers than surfers who must head further west for their breakers.

Restaurants and Shops

Linden Avenue and Carpinteria Avenue are the main shopping thoroughfares in downtown, where both locals and visitors congregate to browse the antique shops and have lunch in the many restaurants and cafes.

A dramatic local attraction is the Wardhome Torrey Pine, an immense and rare tree which towers 130 feet over Carpinteria Avenue and is designated a historical landmark. Featured on the national historic trees list, this is thought to be the tallest of its species.

Carpinteria Beaches

Popular with locals and visitors alike, Carpinteria City Beach is a large, sandy strip lined with palms, with the Toro Canyon range providing a scenic backdrop. It’s an unspoiled and attractive place to wander, sunbathe, throw a frisbee or swim, watched over by pine trees and soaking in all-year-round sunshine. There’s a boardwalk through the dunes and you may even spot beach volleyball being played here. In the height of summer this can be a busy, lively place.

The city’s other beach is the smaller strip at Tar Pits Park (see below) which tends to be quieter, as there are fewer facilities. The industrial pier to the east of this beach adds an interesting silhouette at sunset.

Parks in Carpinteria

Where Carpinteria excels is in its many green spaces, parks, and trails. The most famous of these is Tar Pits Park, where natural asphalt lakes bubble up the black stuff from a geological vault below. Nearby, there are a series of trails overlooking the beach and a large car park on Dump Road.

The Carpinteria Bluffs Trail, which runs from the visitor center and car park on 4th Street, past the Seal Sanctuary, is you’ll see up to 100 adult seals and their cubs basking on the beach. The trail runs east along the coast to Viola fields, where there are two baseball diamonds, restrooms, and additional parking.

At the western extent of the city, adjacent to Franklin Creek, there’s the Carpinteria Salt Marsh, a nature park which is home to a unique range of flora and fauna ranging from striped shore crabs to snowy egrets and even the scarlet pimpernel (a pretty, orange-red flower).

Covering 110 acres, the park conducts free tours on Saturday mornings and there’s a short looping trail with information boards, all of which contributed to its winning an environmental award from the White House.

As well as Viola Fields, the city has several other playing fields dotted around the inland zone, making this a very sporty place to live.

Farmers Market

On Thursday afternoons, Carpinteria has a sizable farmers’ market, which extends down both sides of the street and includes fruit and vegetables, locally produced honey, flowers, meat, and craft items, as well as street food. Smaller than its Santa Barbara counterparts, the market is situated in an area noted for its unique stores and boutiques.

Avocado Festival

In early October each year, Carpinteria hosts an annual avocado festival. As well as celebrating the local crop, which includes holding a competition for the best homemade guacamole, this event has grown to become one of California’s largest free music and food festival.

Carpinteria Realtors®

If you'd like to buy real property, contact our Carpinteria real estate agents; we're the LOCAL experts and can answer all of your home buying and neighborhood questions.

Please get in touch if you're thinking of selling your home in Carpinteria or the surrounding area. Our listing agents can provide dates and prices of recently sold units nearby and up-to-date local real estate market information.