Rick Sawyer
The Ranch Broker
Sawyer Real Estate

Thank you for visiting our website!
      Since 1984 I have helped people buy and sell Hollister Ranch real estate. As long term Hollister Ranch owners, we are involved with all aspects of the properties--including development and property management.  Please call to discuss your particular needs and find out more about properties not shown on the website.
     Our team specializes in working with buyers interested in the Hollister Ranch and other ranch property throughout Santa Barbara County.
      If you are a qualified buyer please review our website and call our office. We look forward to hearing from you.

Hollister Ranch Conservancy Website

• HR Tradition Statement

The Hollister Ranch is a unique rural subdivision on the West coast of the United States.   Hollister Ranch is comprised of 136 one-hundred-plus acre parcels covering 14,400 acres. An estimated 80 homes have been built on Hollister Ranch since 1971.  Several parcels have additional guest houses, employee houses, and barns.  About 50 families are full time Ranch residents. The Hollister Ranch Owners Association owns 3 parcels totaling nearly 500 acres for all owners common use.  This includes ownership and use of 8.5 miles of private beach, 3 cabañas (showers, sinks, BBQ, lawn, and picnic tables), pathways and riding trails. All Ranch parcels have ocean views, though not necessarily from the building site. The Hollister Ranch has a tradition of Wildlife and Environmental Preservation.

Ranch Access and Guests
• As many as 24 people per parcel including owners and their guests are permitted at any one time. An extended guest list, if filed and approved by Hollister Ranch management, allows each parcel more guests for special occasions.
• A maximum of 12 family members (specified lineal descendants of the deeded owner) per parcel may be designated for access through the Hollister Ranch gatehouse. They are defined as the deeded owners’ lineal descendants. EXAMPLE: if you own a 1/3 interest, 4 family members who are your lineal descendents can be registered as "designated owners" and have access through the Hollister Ranch gatehouse anytime.  Everyone else must come in as a guest of a "designated owner" and may only be on the Hollister Ranch when the owner is present.  Surfing guests, while in the water surfing, must be with a designated owner at the beach.  Each parcel is allowed up to 3 families for access. Prior to 1988 as many as 12 individuals could purchase any one parcel. If you are seeking Hollister Ranch property for access to common areas and are not concerned with building, it is important to remember that 1/12 interests means that only 1 person can be designated as an owner and everyone else is considered a guest.  These older partial interests are "grandfathered in" by the Hollister Ranch C.C.& R's and can be resold separately as a partial interest.  All interests include use of the common area, beaches, cabañas, riding trails, and more.

Partnership Interests
• A partnership or co-ownership agreement determines who can develop the various building rights and other responsibilities on the parcel. Forming a partnership to own a Hollister Ranch parcel reduces costs of acquisition, construction, and maintenance. Partnership interests can later be resold to a new owner. These interests can be purchased for much less than an entire parcel, with all the owners having the same use of Hollister Ranch beach and common areas. Partnership interests are available with an existing home or as vacant land. The typical ownership arrangement is 3 families deeded to the property.  Under a partnership agreement each family would have the right to build one of the following structures: main house, guest house, employee house.  The land cannot be legally divided, but each family would have exclusive use of their individual home.  The County of Santa Barbara imposes certain restrictions for each type of structure built at Hollister Ranch:

Financing at Hollister Ranch
• Bank financing is available on parcels with 100% ownership. Typically the financing is 50% of the appraised value for vacant land parcels. Unfortunately, financing from conventional lenders is not available for "Partnership Interests". Sellers will sometimes finance "Partnership Interests" with a substantial down payment. Each Partnership Interest is unique.

Hollister Ranch Owners Association (HROA)
• The HROA monthly maintenance dues are approximately $995 per parcel (as of March 2006, this includes the special assessments of $148 per month). Special Assessments are voted on at the annual HROA meeting in December. These fees pay for the services of the 24 hour security system, a full time maintenance crew, ranch manager, bookkeeping, and outside consultants. The fees also cover the maintenance of common areas, ranch roads, the beach cabanas, limited insurance, some legal fees and other vital services.

Structures & Parcel Improvements
• Hollister Ranch Agricultural zoning also allows employee dwellings and barns.
• Barns, storage buildings, and fencing may be built for use with agricultural projects. Some current agricultural projects on Hollister Ranch include: horse raising, training and boarding, brood mare, macadamia nut trees, avocado and lemon orchards, Protea and Leptospermum flower operation, oak tree regeneration, native grass seed harvesting, and beekeeping.
• To make improvements on a Ranch parcel, you must first review the Hollister Ranch Design Committee requirements. A complete development guideline package is available from Hollister Ranch Office.
• The first step is to design a master plan for the parcel. Most parcels currently have a master plan on file. The HROA Design Committee meets the first Saturday of every month to review owners’ master plans and detailed architectural and landscape projects.
• Several contractors, builders, and architects own and live on Hollister Ranch and can help you. They have extensive experience with Hollister Ranch developments. All parcel development plans are on file at the Hollister Ranch office. A full time development coordinator is on staff with the HROA to answer all your questions and help fill out forms.

Utilities & Fire Protection
• Each parcel has it's own water well.  Some parcels are also on a canyon water system.
• Electricity is provided via the main road power poles and is currently available up some of the canyons. Back parcels often use solar electricity or propane powered generators. Electrical and phone line extensions must be buried underground.
• Propane gas can be delivered to all parcels.
• Septic tanks with leach fields or dry wells are used for sewage disposal on each parcel.
• Trash dumpsters are located on Hollister Ranch for owner household convenience. Hollister Ranch owns two fire trucks and has a volunteer fire department consisting of Ranch employees and owners. A newer Santa Barbara County fire station is located just outside the main gate at Gaviota (site of old Gaviota store).

Schools
• Vista De Las Cruces School (Kindergarten—8th ) is located 3 miles from Hollister Ranch main gatehouse. Bus service is provided from within Hollister Ranch to the school.
• Santa Ynez Valley High School is located 15 miles from Hollister Ranch main gatehouse. Bus service is provided outside Hollister Ranch.
• Dos Pueblos High School (Goleta/Santa Barbara) is located 20 miles from Hollister Ranch main gatehouse. Bus service is provided outside Hollister Ranch.
• Santa Barbara County Education Office: http://www.sbceo.k12.ca.us/

Board of Directors, Committees, & Activities
• All owners meet once a year in December, to review internal and external issues and vote in a new Board of Directors.
• A five member Board of Directors is elected annually. The Board meets once a month to give Hollister Ranch management direction and develop Ranch policies. The Board meetings are open to all owners and owner issues can be placed on the Board Agenda.
• Owners are encouraged to join committees that have been set up to help improve the Hollister Ranch. The committees are Beach Use & Rules Committee, HR Road Committee, HR Design Committee, Conservancy Committee and the HR Social Committee. These committees hold their own meetings, usually monthly, and give input to or ask support from the HR Board of Directors.
• A monthly newsletter, The Hollister Hawk, is sent to all owners to keep them informed of HR Board decisions, Committee actions, and upcoming social events at the Hollister Ranch.
• Yearly activities for all to enjoy usually include a Spring Roundup BBQ, Father's Day BBQ, Summer Hoedown Dinner/Dance, and Hollister House Christmas party! (Social events vary from year to year)

Santa Barbara County Property Taxes
• The Hollister Ranch is in the Agricultural Preserve Zoning status (Ag-320). Most undeveloped, vacant, 100 acre parcels are taxed at a very low rate based on an agricultural usage formula (not sale price or market value). However, structural improvements are taxed at approx. 1% of the construction costs by the Santa Barbara County Assessor.

The Hollister Ranch was part of the famous Spanish land grant known as Nuestra Señora del Refugio. The Hollister Family acquired the property in 1869. In the most recent 100 years this land has been a working cattle ranch. The Hollister Ranch began selling 100 acre parcels in 1971.

Ancient California Oaks stand on the hillsides and in the 15+ canyons. The canyon creeks flow out to the beautiful Ranch beaches into the Pacific Ocean. The wildflowers and rare untouched coastal flora are preserved for the owners enjoyment.

The Hollister Ranch is located only 30 miles North of Santa Barbara. Next to the Gaviota State Beach Park. The Hollister Ranch maintains a 24-hour gate security system. Hollister Ranch Manager and maintenance crews take care of over 120 miles of common roadway and several hundred acres of common ownership property.

The Hollister Ranch consists of 14,400 acres subdivided into136 parcels. The current Santa Barbara County zoning allows for each parcel to build one Main Residence, a Guest Home, and an Employee Dwelling with Ag Project. All owners share 8.5 miles of sandy beach, and three attractively landscaped beach cabañas. The Beach Cabañas include hot showers, dressing rooms, barbecues, and entertainment areas. Hollister Ranch beach area provides some of California’s finest in fishing, water sports, and scenic coastal stretches.

Each 100+ acre Hollister Ranch Parcel is unique. Most have south facing slopes with ocean and mountain views. In general, the parcels are rolling hills to mountains, although the terrain does vary depending on the combination of range grasses, oak tree forests, willow lined creeks, sagebrush, sandstone outcroppings, and native shrubs. The weather is typical of the Santa Barbara coastal area. Summers are warm but seldom hot, 65° to 80° depending on the season. The Hollister Ranch occasionally experiences fog and wind, but most days are clear and beautiful.

Hollister Ranch owner activities include horseback riding, unlimited hiking, and other outdoor activities due to an easement network covering the entire Ranch. These easements have been designed to not interfere with each owner's private parcel use areas. On a clear day, the views from most Hollister Ranch parcels are truly spectacular, with panoramas of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands, and the unique Santa Ynez coastal mountain range toward Point Conception. The open and vast feeling of this rare area of California must be experienced to be appreciated.

The Hollister Ranch is dedicated to a tradition as a Wildlife Preserve, allowing birds, marine animals, full-time cattle ranch, and other beautiful wildlife to live in peace. NO Hunting, No motorcycle riding, or jet ski launching is permitted. The Hollister Ranch Conservancy Committee is dedicated to documenting flora & fauna and providing access for school children to the tide pools and major scientific studies of the Ranch.

Further Information available from Rick Sawyer, The Ranch Broker 805-567-1112