Santa Barbara County · Multifamily brokerage
Santa Maria apartment building sales
Santa Maria is the most populous city in Santa Barbara County and the commercial center of the North County, with an economy anchored by agriculture. Our Santa Maria sales include some of the largest apartment properties, by unit count, that we have sold anywhere.
Since 2003 we have closed 24 transactions in Santa Maria, totaling 1,525 units. The most recent closed in July 2026.
Market figures are the Santa Barbara North County submarket's, which includes Santa Maria: Radius proprietary research, calendar year 2025, vacancy as of Q4 2025. Our closings and listings are the Golis Team's own in Santa Maria.
Track Record
What we've sold in Santa Maria.
420 E Fesler St
Santa Maria · Commercial
$950,000 · July 2026
1314 S Broadway
Santa Maria · 127 Units · Multifamily
$13,800,000 · June 2022
826 W Cook St
Santa Maria · 16 Units · Multifamily
$2,500,000 · February 2020
511 W Cook
Santa Maria · 11 Units · Multifamily
$1,625,000 · August 2018
511 W Cook Street
Santa Maria · 11 Units · Multifamily
$1,319,000 · January 2017
1249 Mini-Storage W Stowell Rd
Santa Maria · 522 Units · Self-Storage
$3,275,000 · May 2014
All 24 of our Santa Maria closingsShow the list
| Property | Type | Units | Price | Per unit | Closed | We represented |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 420 E Fesler St | Commercial | — | $950,000 | — | July 2026 | Buyer |
| 101-191 Rice Ranch Road | Multifamily | 10 | $3,150,000 | $315K | March 2024 | Buyer |
| 1314 S Broadway | Multifamily | 127 | $13,800,000 | $109K | June 2022 | Both sides |
| 826 W Cook St | Multifamily | 16 | $2,500,000 | $156K | February 2020 | Both sides |
| 511 W Cook | Multifamily | 11 | $1,625,000 | $148K | August 2018 | Buyer |
| 511 W Cook Street | Multifamily | 11 | $1,319,000 | $120K | January 2017 | Buyer |
| 719 McClelland St S | Office | — | $500,000 | — | September 2014 | Seller |
| 1249 Mini-Storage W Stowell Rd | Self-Storage | 522 | $3,275,000 | $6K | May 2014 | Seller |
| 1711-1723 S Broadway | Retail | — | $7,226,587 | — | September 2013 | Buyer |
| 616 W Cook St | Multifamily | 24 | $2,335,000 | $97K | December 2012 | Both sides |
| 628 E Mill St | Multifamily | 4 | $422,000 | $106K | June 2009 | Buyer |
| 1016 S Russell Ave | Multifamily | — | $1,567,549 | — | April 2007 | Seller |
| 1249 Mini-Storage W Stowell Rd | Self-Storage | 522 | $2,699,122 | $5K | May 2006 | Both sides |
| 1059 (Price Reduced) W Stowell | Multifamily | 11 | $1,500,000 | $136K | August 2005 | Seller |
| 616 and 702 W Alvin | Multifamily | 48 | $4,300,000 | $90K | July 2005 | Both sides |
| 401 E Mill | Multifamily | 6 | $970,000 | $162K | June 2005 | Both sides |
| 415 thru 632 Chape | Multifamily | 14 | $1,865,000 | $133K | June 2005 | Both sides |
| 200 N McLelland | Multifamily | 112 | $6,905,024 | $62K | March 2005 | Both sides |
| 810 S Depot | Multifamily | 6 | $725,000 | $121K | October 2004 | Both sides |
| 213 & 318-322 E Mill Miller | Multifamily | 7 | $784,000 | $112K | August 2004 | Seller |
| 319 & 301-311 N Miller Mill St | Multifamily | 9 | $1,160,000 | $129K | August 2004 | Seller |
| 2801 Santa Maria Way | Office | — | $3,150,000 | — | June 2004 | Seller |
| 1415 N Miller | Multifamily | 65 | $5,875,000 | $90K | May 2004 | Both sides |
| 541 Betteravia | Industrial | — | $5,125,000 | — | December 2003 | Seller |
These are the Golis Team's own closings, grouped by each property's mailing city, not a record of every sale in Santa Maria. Mailing cities don't always follow city limits, so an address here can sit just outside the City of Santa Maria. How we count.
Apartment buildings we've sold, by size
- 2–4 units1
- 5–19 units10
- 20–49 units2
- 50+ units3
Median building size: 11 units.
Who we represented
- Represented the seller8
- Represented the buyer6
- Represented both sides10
Multifamily 17 · Office 2 · Self-Storage 2 · Commercial 1 · Industrial 1 · Retail 1
Available Now
For sale in Santa Maria.
Nothing is listed in Santa Maria right now. Many of our sales start as a quiet conversation with a buyer we already know, so if you own a building here, or want to hear about one before it reaches the market, talk to us.
Rent Rules
Does Santa Maria have rent control?
We are not aware of a local rent cap on apartments. The state cap applies.
- California's Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) limits yearly increases on most apartments more than 15 years old to 5% plus the regional change in CPI, never more than 10%, and requires just cause to end most tenancies after 12 months.
- Santa Maria's local rent debate has centered on mobile home parks, not apartments. Confirm current local rules with the City before relying on this summary.
Sources
City of Santa Maria rules as summarized on October 12, 2026. A summary, not legal advice: rules change, and exemptions turn on the details of a property and tenancy. Confirm with the City of Santa Maria or an attorney before acting.
The Wider Market
Santa Maria sits in our Santa Barbara North County report.
What draws buyers to Santa Barbara North County
- The Central Coast’s best in-place cash flow — higher cap rates and lower entry prices.
- Governed by AB 1482 rather than a local RSO, giving owners more room on rent resets.
- A real value-add runway: older stock with room to renovate and push rents.
What gives Santa Barbara North County buyers pause
- Softer occupancy than the coast, particularly in Lompoc and Santa Maria.
- Weaker rent growth and more sensitivity to the local economic cycle.
- Tenant stability can swing with the agricultural and labor-market cycle.
These points, like the market figures at the top of the page, describe the whole Santa Barbara North County submarket, not Santa Maria alone.
Research
Reading for Santa Maria owners.
AB 1482 in Plain English: Statewide Rent Caps and Just-Cause
The AB 1482 rent cap is 8.6% in Santa Barbara, Ventura and SLO counties through July 2027: the math, exemptions, just cause and stricter local rules.
Central Coast Multifamily: Q1 2026 Market Report
Q1 2026 Central Coast multifamily: 18 sales of 5+ unit buildings for $307 million, plus 17 South Santa Barbara County 2–4 unit sales.
The 1031 Exchange for Multifamily: Timeline, Pitfalls, and Replacement Strategies
How 1031 deadlines, boot and California's FTB 3840 rule work, with a Santa Barbara tax example and Central Coast replacement strategies.
Frequently Asked
Santa Maria,
answered.
Short answers to what Santa Maria owners and buyers ask us, from our own closings and the current rules.
How many properties has the Golis Team sold in Santa Maria?
Since 2003, we have closed 24 transactions in Santa Maria, totaling 1,525 units. The most recent closed in July 2026.
What do apartment buildings sell for in Santa Maria?
Santa Maria is part of the Santa Barbara North County submarket, where apartment buildings averaged $178,532 per door at a 4.72% average cap rate across 11 sales in 2025 (Radius proprietary research). Our most recent apartment sale there was 101-191 Rice Ranch Road, 10 units, at $3,150,000 in March 2024. A broker opinion of value prices a specific building against current comparables.
Does Santa Maria have rent control?
We are not aware of a local rent cap on apartments. The state cap applies. California's Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) limits yearly increases on most apartments more than 15 years old to 5% plus the regional change in CPI, never more than 10%, and requires just cause to end most tenancies after 12 months. (Summary as of October 12, 2026; not legal advice.)
Which market report covers Santa Maria?
Santa Maria is part of our Santa Barbara North County report, which has the submarket's 2025 cap rate, price per door and volume, its Q4 2025 vacancy, and our commentary on where the market is heading.
Can I get a confidential valuation of my Santa Maria apartment building?
Yes. A broker opinion of value from the Golis Team is free and confidential, with no obligation to list. It is built on our own closed sales and current rents. Request one at https://www.centralcoastmultifamily.com/apartment-building-valuation or call 805-728-5561.
Own an apartment building in Santa Maria?
A broker opinion of value is free and confidential, with no obligation to list. We price it against our own closings and current rents, and walk you through the number.