Reliable and responsive to client real estate goals
30 years of high-end product knowledge of Santa Barbara, Montecito and Carpinteria homes and estates, including ranch and beach properties.
Nationally recognized by top-ranked companies for top sales and marketing track record.
Mission Statement:To provide the best service to her clients with the highest level of integrity and to build a relationship for the future with each and every person she has the privilege to serve. Kathleen thinks "outside the box"!
Background:Kathleen is committed to providing first class service to both her buyers and sellers. She is eager to bring to her sellers personalized staging services, inspired by her 20 years in Interior Design.
Kathleen's first experience in Real Estate began at the age of 8 years old when she assisted her grandfather, a broker at Dahl Realty in Minneapolis, with tear sheets and open houses. This was just the beginning of her interest in Real Estate.
From there she went to work for a land developer at Lake Tahoe and Santa Barbara. This piqued her interest in Interior Design. Kathleen has bought and sold homes in Minneapolis, MN; Atlanta, GA; Naples, FL, as well as Montecito, CA.
She is extemely accountable, responsible, trustworthy, and devoted to integrity.
She is tenacious at networking!
Experience:Since the mid-seventies she has been active in real estate, interior design and residential renovation in Santa Barbara, Minneapolis, Atlanta, and Naples.
She was former President of Villa de Montecito Homeowners Association, where she was involved in renovating the club house, pool, and other common areas. Her focus was on maintaining the integrity of the Association.
When involved in land development, she was successful in marketing prime lake front property in the midwest. She co-owned a design firm in Montecito, where she met the needs of many homeowners in the community to further enhance their lifestyle. She helped increase the market value of many properties by simple modifications that were within the clients' desired budget.
In the area of Interior Design, she traveled to other regions of the country to increase revenue for the company. She successfully presented and sold products to high end designers and architects in specified locations.
In residential renovations and sales, she remodeled and sold properties appreciating a return on original investments. She staged homes for owners for the purpose of marketing, and acted as the contractor on kitchens, bathrooms, as extensive as total remodels.
Personal Interests:
Kathleen has been part of the Santa Barbara community for over 30 years.
Her chief passion: She cares about people! (She collects & cultivates Friends, not things.)
She has raised two children in Santa Barbara.
She enjoys long walks on the beach, skiing, and gardening.
She appreciates theater and art.
She always enjoys the company of family and good friends.
"Kathleen, I want to thank you for the excellent volunteerism at the 2004 CALM Design Showcase House & Gardens Event. Your effort helped to make this project a success. It has been a pleasure working with you. Thank you for helping CALM help children in Santa Barbara."
~ Rebecca Adler
"Kathleen called us in Minnesota to tell us about a property she was selling in FL. She thought it would be a great opportunity for Daryl and I to get into the second home market. Thanks to Kathleen, we were able to make the purchase while still residing in MN. Kathleen's confidence, her knowledge of real estate, and understanding our needs, made this an ideal transaction."
~ Daryl and Gail Swanson
"Kathleen listed my house, and she was very professional, personable & helpful. She was extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the selling procedure. She was the most outstanding realtor I've ever been involved with regarding sales, and my entire family loved and respected Kathleen."
~ Pat Haglin
"Thank you for your expertise, honesty and attention to details. I already feel like a member of the community because of your introductions, tours and information you gave me."
~ Mary Lynn Kuna,
Ann Arbor, MI
"I am writing to endorse Ms. Kathleen St James' outstanding ability. Our paths crossed when I responded to a real estate listing (for Kathleen's then residence). The moment I entered her home I was impressed by the style, comfort and balance of the interior. Unfortunately, I was not the first to see the property and lost the chance to rent from her, but Kathleen's warm personality made a positive impression on me and we kept in touch. Less than two years passed before I purchased a house. Kathleen was the first person I called to help me turn it into a home. She served as consultant on the project and I found her to be professional, honest and a great deal of fun! I cannot overstate her competence in the field, and trust you will find her an asset to any project to which she commits her time and talents."
~ Gail D. O'Neill, HGTV
"I am pleased to introduce myself on Kathleen's behalf and also to share my knowledge of her personally and professionally. For the past 26 years I have been involved with real estate projects on many different levels. These include being a licensed Realtor, a Real Estate Appraiser, a Property Manager and an Investor. I am currently in the business of refurbishing homes and have just completed the restoration of a home on the Historical Register. Kathleen has worked as a consultant on many of my projects. Kathleen has been my mentor and inspired me to get started in real estate. We met several years ago when I worked for her on an estate she managed in Minnesota. Kathleen knows how to get things done. She is incredibly resourceful and tenacious. Her enthusiasm is contagious and she is a motivator, both qualities which contribute to her success in managing others. She approaches each project with a clarity of purpose and she adds class and a unique sense of style to every project. Kathleen has a wealth of personal and professional experience and contacts in the business world and in the real estate and design fields. If you are looking for a highly responsible, honest, reputable individual whom you can trust to take initiative, Kathleen will not disappoint you."
~ Nancy Stratton,
Minneapolis, MN
(805) 705-0898
DRE #: 01408798
KathleenStJames@gmail.com 
