Deborah Samuel

We had the pleasure of working with Deborah Samuel, a Senior Specialist Realtor in Santa Barbara, CA, over the past six months as we searched for the perfect retirement condo—and we couldn’t be more grateful for her guidance. Deborah demonstrated exceptional patience, professionalism, and deep knowledge of the Santa Barbara and Montecito real estate market. We wrote multiple offers, and she remained steady, strategic, and encouraging throughout the entire process. What sets Deborah apart is her understanding of the needs of senior homebuyers. She listened carefully to what mattered most to us and kept us focused, even when the process felt overwhelming. There were moments when we felt discouraged, but Deborah never gave up on us—her persistence and optimism made all the difference. Her construction background and attention to detail gave us confidence in evaluating each property, especially regarding long-term livability and potential maintenance concerns. When we found the right condo, Deborah’s negotiation skills ensured a smooth, successful escrow. She also connected us with trusted local professionals, making the transition seamless. If you are buying or selling in Santa Barbara, Montecito, or Goleta—especially as a senior or downsizing—we highly recommend Deborah Samuel. We are now happily settled and grateful she helped us find the perfect home.

I had an outstanding experience working with Deborah Samuel, a Senior Specialist Realtor in Santa Barbara. Deborah and her team went above and beyond to help me prepare my longtime home for sale. At our first meeting Deborah asked me numerous questions to understand my reasons for selling my home and I asked for her ideas about selling my home. She clearly presented her multi-faceted plan. She also accurately identified the likely age of the buyers and the size of their family. Her SBSOS downsizing team coordinated trusted local vendors and helped organize everything needed to get the house ready for the market. Everyone who works at SBSOS is polite, efficient, hardworking, and knowledgeable. Deborah’s creative, high-end marketing strategy generated immediate attention, including a broker open with a coffee bus that brought more than 80 real estate professionals through the home on the first day. The results were incredible — my home sold in just three days with multiple offers and over the asking price. She also guided me through the complex paperwork and escrow process, making everything smooth and stress-free. If you are selling a home in Santa Barbara and need an experienced Realtor who understands senior transitions and downsizing, I highly recommend Deborah Samuel and her SBSOS team. Jim Whipple

My father passed away somewhat suddenly in California. I live in Washington state and was my dad’s only child and surviving relative. My dad had a modest home and overall small estate but he had “lived” in his home filling it with items that gave him enjoyment and a sense of purpose. He was also paralyzed from the waist down for over 40 years so his home was full of ADA equipment wheelchairs and even a modified minivan he could wheel into and drive himself. I still have a full time job and family to take care of myself so the idea of taking care of all the clean up needed for my dads home let alone the soft remodel and demolition needed just to try and sell his home and getting an agent to represent the sale all while living over 1000 miles away was daunting to say the least. I found Deborah Samuel by happenstance searching the internet for help. There are truly no words to accurately describe what Deborah and her team did for me and my family. She took ALL the stress that I had been under away and handled every step of the process needed to settle my dad’s estate. She is very well connected and has a strong team of professionals that are all of the same mind and ilk. They are all caring respectful and understanding. They know what needs to be done and how to do it in a timely and most professional manner. Her expertise and connections are truly inspiring and I was able to put all my trust in her through the whole 5 month project. Her communication with me was thoughtful understanding and backed by her extensive knowledge of her profession. Thank you Deborah and the rest of your team from the bottom of my heart.

I needed to sell my home of 49 years. I chose Deborah for her enthusiasm, marketing plan and experience of walking older folks through the home selling process which is so complicated these days. What I appreciated was her honesty of getting inspections done and being straight forward with buyers when selling my house in an as-is condition. She prepared all the paperwork so I could sign documents in ink and explained anything I did not understand. She was constantly in touch with all the timelines getting the house on the market and all the way through closing. I would highly recommend her as a realtor. She is very kind, thoughtful and respectful to everyone she works with.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Deborah on two transactions now, and each experience has been nothing short of excellent. She’s consistently professional, communicative, and collaborative - making the process feel smooth and seamless for all parties involved. Deborah brings a calm, thoughtful presence and a genuine commitment to her clients. It’s always a joy working alongside her, and I look forward to the next opportunity.

Deborah is thorough in her research and preparation of each property for a smooth sale in a very timely manner. She is able to bring the best buyers to examine the property and help them understand how it will be the perfect place for them. Bringing the best offers and concluding the sale is a technique that she has perfected.