Whether buying or selling your primary residence or a financially sound investment property, Brandon has the knowledge and demeanor to find creative solutions for all your real estate needs. Brandon takes an analytical approach, while employing the best tools in technology, communication, and marketing to offer you privileged knowledge, service, and expertise on every detail of your real estate transaction.
Learn More
See what my clients have to say about my service.
Read My Success Stories-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Browse through a few of my sold properties.
With its Mediterranean climate, sun-drenched beaches, and tile roofs atop charming hillside homes, Santa Barbara has earned the moniker “American Riviera.” The peaceful community, just over an hour or so north of Los Angeles and home to approximately 90,000 permanent residents, is embraced by the Pacific Ocean on the south and Santa Ynez Mountains on the north.
High-end buyers are increasingly seeking space for everyone under one roof, bringing family together—at home or on holiday Pescadaro, California | Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty “It’s where the family heartbeat is,” says Rodd Macklin, co-founder and managing director of Pennington Partners & Co, of the rise in multigenerational living, where grandparents, children and grandchildren share a home. The setup is emerging as a significant trend in luxury real estate, strengthening emotional connections, spreading caregiving duties and forging family legacies. “A home is often the anchor where families come together, making it a natural place for conversations about prosperity,” continues Macklin. “At the same time, it’s a major asset that must be structured thoughtfully if it’s going to last across generations.” And generational considerations matter. According to Macklin, Baby Boomers (born 1946-64) often downsize their daily living arrangements but keep a home for family gatherings, while Generation X (1965-80) increasingly house elderly parents and adult children. For Millennials (1981-96) and Gen Z (1997-2012), flexible living spaces beat large houses. “What’s the same across all generations is that their homes give a sense of belonging. It’s not just real estate,” Macklin says. Tokyo, Japan | List Sotheby’s International Realty Indeed, the pull of multigenerational living is being felt globally, especially in countries with a culture of honoring and valuing older family members. “In Japan, the idea of a family living together has profound roots,” says Kantaro Aoki of List Sotheby’s International Realty, Japan. “Historically, it was common for the grandparents, parents and children to live together in the same household, especially in rural areas. Although the nuclear family became more common in the postwar years, the trend toward multigenerational homes is re-emerging.” Suitable properties are shaped by location, purpose, architecture, land availability and cultural norms. “Thoughtful planning by an architect of how people want to live is the difference between successful intergenerational living and a big house,” says Bob Zuber, a partner at Morgante Wilson Architects in Chicago, Illinois. “Think rec rooms, sitting rooms, separate entry points if necessary, reading nooks and playrooms. Not everyone wants or needs to be surrounded by family members at all times.” São Paulo, Brasil | Bossa Nova Sotheby’s International Realty For Sandra Wendland of Legacy Sotheby’s International Realty in Portland, Maine, multigenerational housing comes in many forms. “Sometimes it’s a lakefront property, sometimes oceanfront or even island compounds, because it goes back to the family seeking meaningful time together.” One of Wendland’s recent transactions—a lakefront property near the base of a ski resort—included the buyer’s mother, who had grown up skiing there. “She was elated to be able to enjoy the mountain and lake with her grandchildren,” says Wendland. Just as space to come together is important, often so is real estate with space to be apart. “From the cultural aspect, I think the luxury end is really about unplugging,” says Margaret “Meg” Smith of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty in Bay Shore, New York. Southampton, New York | Sotheby’s International Realty – Southampton Brokerage Smith recently sold a multigenerational property on Fire Island, New York. It comprised three separate houses: one on the bay, one ocean-facing, and the third centered between them as an entertainment space. Two brothers thought it was perfect because each one could have their own home and they could bring their families together in the middle, Smith says. For affluent families, these purchases represent more than a lifestyle choice—they are strategic investments that address multiple financial objectives while creating space for the family to thrive across generations. Whether used for vacations with extended family or year-round living, multigenerational homes offer the chance to deepen family connections and create a lasting real estate legacy. As Macklin concludes, it’s about having “somewhere that ties everyone together.” This is an edited extract from Sotheby’s International Realty 2026 Luxury Outlook report. Read and download the full report at luxuryoutlook.com
From a €164M sale in Sardinia, Italy, to US$56M sale in Portola Valley, here are ten top sales represented by the Sotheby’s International Realty global network in 2025. Sardinia, Italy Lodovico Pignatti Morano | Italy Sotheby’s International Realty, €164M View properties in Sardinia, Italy Dubai, United Arab Emirates Regan Faulkner, Ioana Armeanu | Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty, AED 330M View properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates Portola Valley, California Chris Iverson | Golden Gate International Realty, US$56M View properties in Portola Valley, California Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Sotheby’s International Realty, AED$200M Del Mar, California 2920 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA " src="https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/3-1-1-1024x686.jpg" alt="Home in Del Mar, California" class="wp-image-345952" srcset="https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/3-1-1-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/3-1-1-300x201.jpg 300w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/3-1-1-768x514.jpg 768w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/3-1-1-1536x1029.jpg 1536w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/3-1-1-2048x1372.jpg 2048w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/3-1-1-1200x804.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" Rande Turner | Pacific International Realty, US$50M View properties in Del Mar, California Aspen, Colorado Mandy Welgos| Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty, US$45.55M View properties in Aspen, Colorado Palm Beach, Florida Architectural Photography/Renderings " src="https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/REAR-1024x683.jpg" alt="Back yard and Pool in Palm Beach, Florida" class="wp-image-345955" srcset="https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/REAR-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/REAR-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/REAR-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/REAR-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/REAR-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/REAR-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" Tom Shaw | Sotheby’s International Realty – Palm Beach Brokerage, US$48.5M View properties in Palm Beach, Florida Point Piper, Australia Michael Pallier | Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty, AUD$55M View properties in Point Piper, Australia Zermatt, Switzerland Oliver Herweg| Stieger & Cie Sotheby’s International Realty, CHF 22M View properties in Zermatt, Switzerland Greenwich, Connecticut Joseph Barbieri, Helene Barre, Fran Ehrlich| Sotheby’s International Realty – Greenwich Brokerage, US$23M View properties in Greenwich, Connecticut Discover previous editions of Significant Sales on the blog
Designers are creating a warm, intimate home atmosphere with candlelight and elevated accessories, writes Francesca Perry Ramona Albert’s Ramus candleholder subtly lights a bedroom. Photograph: Olivia Steuer In an electrified world, we may not need candles, but we certainly long for them, and in the dark days of winter, candlelight is almost impossible to resist. While elegant candleholders are a decor staple, the prominence of candles at home is only growing. More designers are creating artful holders, scented candle sales are booming, and the soft glow and traditional atmosphere that candles create are the perfect fit for today’s interiors. Candlelight creates a calming, intimate atmosphere—something that modern, stress-filled lifestyles often call for. The ritual of lighting candles at home can bring a sense of occasion or mark a moment of transition, such as from work to relaxation. Unlike electric lamps, candles feel connected to nature, making the art of lighting a more sensory one, and with their ancient origins, they bring a sense of timelessness to the home. It’s even been shown that the low light of candles can help improve mood and sleep. “I often start the day with a candle at breakfast, letting its glow set a quiet, mindful tone,” says designer Lola Lely, co-founder of London candlemakers Wax Atelier, which uses traditional methods and sustainable waxes in its products. “Candlelight softens a room, highlighting the warmth in colors, textures and objects, while the gentle play of shadows creates a beautiful atmosphere.” Start your day with a candle, says Lola Lely of Wax Atelier candlemakers. Photograph: Wax Atelier In the home, Lely recommends a candle on a dining table to bring warmth and enhance conversation; on a mantelpiece or coffee table to make the room feel inviting: and in the bathroom to create a “spa-like moment.” Interior stylist Colin King lights taper candles when he needs quiet or wants to make dinner feel “more cinematic.” “They are my shortcut to warmth, my go-to design therapy,” he writes in his popular newsletter, “The Last Layer.” Candles can be used in myriad ways, he explains—sconces, standalone tapers, chandeliers, candelabras—and the fact they are old-fashioned adds to their “magic.” Jamb, a brand specializing in antique furniture and fireplaces, launched its new Scipio candleholder in January. Inspired by the aesthetic of English country houses and ancient Roman artefacts, the candleholder is carved from precious marble fragments and is designed to become a conscious part of a curated home collection of art and antiques. Candles certainly lend themselves to this moment of peak collectible design. Inventive or sculptural holders created by contemporary designers are becoming covetable objects for the home: a focus for a dining table, a crafted accent in a living room or an eye-catching feature in a hallway. Jamb’s new Scipio candleholder mixes English and classical influences. Photograph: Christopher Horwood Mariah Nielson, director of the Blunk Space gallery in Northern California and daughter of American sculptor JB Blunk (1926-2002) has brought together contemporary designers from all over the world for the exhibition “100 Candleholders” (running until March 28). From small ceramic pieces to a chandelier decorated with shells, the 100 pieces on show demonstrate the creative potential of candle decor and its current design prominence. Big-name brands are also getting in on the action. Italian designer Osanna Visconti recently collaborated with Dior Maison to create a range of delicate bronze candleholders with floral motifs. Centering craftsmanship and elegance, the tall pieces are made using the lost wax technique, an ancient method of metal-casting used for jewelry and sculpture, befitting of the storied French fashion house. Sarah Sherman Samuel’s “bow” sconces flank a mirror. Photograph: Courtesy of Lulu and Georgia LA- and Michigan-based designer Sarah Sherman Samuel, celebrated for her luxuriously crafted interiors and furniture, has created a range of decorative sconces and candlesticks for interiors brand Lulu and Georgia. Characterized by ribbon-like bows, the metal pieces bring elegant charm to a room. “In a world saturated with digital glow and artificial light, candlelight restores something human,” she says. Flanking a mirror or piece of art with candles in sconces, she says, feels “considered, architectural, and timeless.” In 2025, New York-based architect and designer Ramona Albert designed a range of polished brass candleholders inspired by tree roots, presenting them in a spellbinding candlelit installation for the NYCxDesign festival. The Ramus collection, she explains, was crafted for “poetic” interiors. “They bring a quiet drama to the room—anchoring space with texture and shadow… The collective flicker of flames interacts with the diverg Ramona Albert’s Ramus candleholder range is modelled on tree roots. Photograph: Olivia Steuer At home, Albert recommends grouping candleholders into clusters to create “a visually dynamic arrangement” and varying the height of the pieces to build depth. “This deliberate layering of form and materiality transforms a space into a ritualized sanctuary,” she says Living with candles is special because it introduces a “rhythm of light” that grounds a space in a sense of peace, says Albert. Unlike electric lighting, candlelight creates a layering of lighting that “drapes a room like silk on skin.” What’s more, as candles can be moved and rearranged depending on mood, they become the ultimate flexible vehicle of elevated decor, creating the exact atmosphere and aesthetic in each room that is desired, whenever the flame of inspiration is ignited. On the scent: read more about the rise of fragrance in luxury interior design
Experience the benefits of working with Brandon, a dedicated real estate professional in Santa Barbara & Montecito. With a commitment to exceptional service and access to exclusive resources, reputation, and clientele through a global brand, Brandon can help you navigate the complex Santa Barbara Coastal real estate market with success."
Let's Connect
