Reprinted from Casa Classic Homes, April 3, 1998.

Harry Kolb has been specializing in the marketing of estate properties in our area for the past 18 years. In just the last 12 months, Harry has sold 13 homes priced from $1,500,000 to $15,000,000. That's a record that makes even the most jaded agents in Beverly Hills envious.

Before entering the real estate market here in Santa Barbara, Harry was a marketing consultant with Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. where he designed special campaigns for firms such as Gates Lear Jet, Mobil Oil and Chase Manhattan Bank. An especially successful campaign for a small oil and gas exploration firm located in Denver resulted in his being hired as their Vice President. Harry lived in Denver and Vail for several years before returning to Montecito in 1978. He had spent several summers here as a teenager in the 1960s and the unique beauty and lifestyle drew him to become a permanent resident. He says that friends here encouraged him to apply his marketing skills to the Harry and Karen Kolb selling of estate properties, and he couldn't have been more pleased with the decision.

"Twenty years ago, real estate was pretty much a cottage industry just about to mature into the more sophisticated environment it is today. My timing couldn't have been better." Harry must be doing something right - he's sold more homes valued over $1 million than any other local agent and on three occasions represented the most expensive homes sold in Montecito. Many of his clients are from among the rich and famous in Hollywood or the Fortune 500 list of business executives, but Harry doesn't talk about that much. He says his clients like to work with him because he helps them retain their confidentiality. "Many of my clients buy homes here specifically to escape the limelight and attention; that's one of the most appealing aspects of their move to Santa Barbara. I want to help keep it that way."

Harry and his wife, Karen, live in Montecito where she devotes much of her time to volunteer work at Lotusland, the Santa Barbara Art Museum and Meals on Wheels. When they can take any time off, they enjoy skiing, sailing and traveling.