Archive for the ‘Marin County’ Category
June 29, 2008
Ross is one of my favortite towns in Marin. I’m sure a main factor is all the fabulous homes, but what I really love about Ross is that it reminds me of a quaint New England town from yesteryear. And this year, it is celebrating its centennial.
At a small 1.6 square miles, there was approximately 2,300 residents in the 2000 census. These 2,300+ residents enjoy the good life—as evidenced by the incredible homes and estates and one of the highest median incomes in the state and nation.
Life is centered around Ross Common—a very tiny couple of block area bordering the local school (with one of the most incredible fields ever) and post office. There is a definite small town community feel. One contributing factor is that no mail gets delivered to any Ross resident. Everyone needs to pick up their mail at the post office (a very nice post office).
So don’t be sticker shocked at the home prices. This is a VERY desirable area and folks are willing to pay top dollar for a Ross address. The lowest asking price of a Ross house that’s on the market is $729,00 and it’s because it sits on Sir Francisc Drake and is a small 2 bed/ 2bath. Most other homes are well in the $5MM plus range.
June 28, 2008
With the housing market the way it is, all sorts of gimmicks are showing up. Sellers coming into a not so promising 
environment are hoping to get their homes sold as quickly as possible. Their agents are also thinking the same thing. The Marin IJ recently profiled a few agents who are turning to the St. Joseph, who is the patron saint of real estate.
A bit comical is the fact that the Marin Association of Realtors office started selling these little figurines a few months ago. Guess when the going gets bad, you really start to dig deep.
This ritual lends itself back hundreds of years ago to Europe. A statue of St. Joseph woud be buried upside down in the yard of homes that were up for sale. And it seems that the few agents who have paid homage to an old world tradition have found some luck.
With the market the way it is, I guess it doesn’t hurt to invest in a $10 statue. Why not? You never know…
June 27, 2008
Forget your psychic friend and magic 8 ball. CurbedSF has it that today’s savvy home hunters leave it to programmers to come up with a way to tell them, via scientific survey, whether a neighborhood is a good fit or not. Indeed, Hoodeo is the “neighborhood match maker,” your online connector of human to ‘hood.
So I gave it a spin- God knows I am having a hard time finding a place I can afford in SF; maybe Hoodeo knows something I don’t. Among its questions, the survey asks me if I wanted to stay in this city or if I would go anywhere. Since my job and friends and life are here, I actually do want to stay here, but just for fun, I chose “will go anywhere.” Hoodeo also smartly inquires how much I make and how much I “want to spend” on my next home, as well as how big I want it, cleverly reminding me that those square feet I desire will also have to be cleaned (I picked 1000 square feet, and since I had the option, 2 beds and at least 1.5 baths since I share with a man whom occasionally disgusts me). I decided the fair amount to pay, based on what we make, and that we would like to have money left over to travel and buy beer and such, would be 400 to 450K.
I should be, according to Hoodeo, living in Philidelphia. Wait, but you didn’t ask if I like sub-zero winters! I don’t!
Back to Hoodeo then, this time insisting on staying in the Bay Area. If I am to spend what I want to spend, I will need to think about Pacifica, San Bruno, South San Francisco, or– if I want the city proper– Bayview. Wait, you didn’t ask if I like gunfire in my front yard. I don’t!
Needless to say, Hoodeo has left some poignant questions off the list in determining if a ‘hood will fit you. For instance, nowhere am I asked what I think of On Deadline’s report that
Members of the Presidential Memorial Commission tell the San Francisco Chronicle that they’ve already collected 8,500 signatures on a petition to put the proposal before voters this November. If it passes, the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant would be renamed [the “George W. Bush Sewage Plant.]
To which I say: I am home.
June 23, 2008
It you price it right and your place is in a good location, they will come. As they have to two properties this week which sold so quick after their debut that the for sale sign barely went up.
74 Meadow Dr, Mill Valley - 3 beds, 2 baths - $839,000: Rare to find a single family home in Mill Valley for under $1 million. So this one, in a well positioned location, is simple and straightforward and priced to attract those looking to get a Mill Valley address. It went into contract within a couple of days.
507 Oakdale Ave, Corte Madera - 3 beds, 1.5 baths - $829,000: No pics as ths one was billed a fixer. But in very favored Chapman Park of Corte Madera. Someone who saw the potention was very willing to put some work into this and got this into contract shortly after the listing became active.
So those are the lucky two for the past week. And below are a few who are in need of some luck, having been on the market for 90+ days:
32 Mariner Green Dr, Corte Madera - 4 beds, 2 baths - $610,000: Two+ months shy of the year mark, this attached home is in the Mariner Green community. There hasn’t been a price reduction since Nov 2007. Maybe it’s due for another one.
95 Nelson Ave, Mill Valley - 3 beds, 1 bath - $1,065,000: My guess for why this one isn’t gaining much attention is that no one wants to pay over $1 million for a house that is a tad bigger than 1000SF. The location in Sycamore Park of Mill Valley is great, but at over $1000 per square foot, it is on the higher end of MV asking prices. Maybe time for another reduction here.
June 22, 2008
It’s no doubt that it’s still a buyer’s market in Marin. And for those home sellers who are looking for a buyer and still haven’t found one, there have been a few eyebrow raising price reductions. These price drops signal a motivated seller and for the right person, possibly a deal in the making.
Below are this week’s recent reductions which turned my head:
246 Miramar Ave, San Rafael - 4 beds, 2 baths - $699,000: This is a 2 bedroom home with a 2 bed, 1 bath unit downstairs, bringing a total of 4 bedrooms. Located in Gerstle Park, it just knocked off $50,000 from its first ask of $749,000 about 19 days ago. Short sale approved.
111 Labrea Way, San Rafael - 4 beds, 2 baths - $459,990: Near China Camp in the Santa Venetia area, there are some good bargains to be found around here. This one is approved for short sale and is looking for a buyer fast. A nearly $80K reduction, the original ask was $538,000 when it was first listed a little less than 2 weeks ago.
55 Park Ave, Mill Valley - 3 beds, 1 bath - $939,000: This one just slashed its price by $100,000. Great location in central Mill Valley, it first asked $1,099,00 a little over a month ago.
15 Corte Placida, Greenbrae - 3beds, 2 baths - $859,000: On the market for almost 6 weeks, this is the first price reduction on this home high up in the Greenbrae hills. Hoping to garner more attention, it just cut its ask by $40,000.
9 Sunnyhill Rd, Novato - 4 beds, 2.5 baths - $669,000: If Novato wasn’t too far for me, I would be totally checking this one out. For under $700K, you get a 2600+SF house on a quarter acre that includes a pool. It’s short sale approved and has been on the market since November, when it made its debut at $779,000.
June 21, 2008
May has been the best month in Marin so far in 2008 - in terms of sales activity and median home price. As told by the Marin IJ, Dataquick statistics show Marin bucking the trend that is statewide. 
While significantly down from a year ago, home sales were up compared with April 2008. In April, 165 single family homes sold and May saw an uptick of 13 homes to 178. A year ago, that number was 287, an near 40% drop.
While the small increase brings a ray of hope to home sellers, the news they will probably like more is May median home price. Clocking in at $1,102,000, it was a whopping 19% higher than the $925,000 median figure of a year ago and also a big jump from the $935,000 median price of the prior month.
However, if you have read my other postings, you’ll know that I think this figure is quite misleading and volatile on a month to month basis since it takes into account only those homes that sold and finds the number right smack in the middle.
With the current credit conditions, it’s no surprise to me that those who can still buy in this market are those who are relying heavily on bank financing - hence the media hovers around the higher end.
With summer now here, there may be an interest by families to make the move while kids are out of school. We’ll see what the action is like for June.
June 20, 2008
Yep, that’s right, you can head on over to the Sonoma Marin Fair and witness the 20th annual World’s Ugliest Dog Contest, as show on Animal Planet each year. The fair started Wednesday and runs through Sunday and offers the gamut of entertainment. In addition to carnival rides, home and fine arts exhibitions, livestock judging, there will be chef demos, wine tasting, midway games, a Daily Cheese Contest (really?) and the following special events:
Today:
World’s Ugliest Dog Contest (6pm): bring your mutt and enter the fray
Luche Libre Wrestling (7:30 pm) $8 adults/$5 children
Smash Mouth performs on the Bud Light State (8pm)
Saturday:
Diaper Derby (2:30pm) at the Kiwanis Park Stage
Alisa Childers/Christian Concert (3:30pm) at the Kiwanis Park Stage
Branded Heart performing (2:30 and 8:30pm) at the Kiwanis Park Stage
Pat Monahan performs on the Bud Light State (8pm)
Sunday
Fiesta Latina (4-8pm) at the Bud Light State
Claudia Nygaard (3:30 and 7:30 pm) at the Kiwanis Park Stage
The Motels (6pm) at the Kiwanis Park Stage
Destruction Derby (7pm) at the Grandstands
Times: 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. Daily
Fee/admission: $8-$14 (some events have additional cost)
Where: Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Dr. Petaluma, CA
Maybe after winning the Ugly Dog Contest or the Diaper Derby you can turn those cash winnings into a down payment on a house? Here are few affordable options in the town of Petaluma, that will be open this weekend:
856 Chardonnay Circle: Love the name of this street. The listing is a 3/2.5 townhouse of 1301 sf. On the market 12 days, the listing price is $350,000, which is 30% less than it sold for in 2006 ($500k). HOA: $285. Open Sunday 1-4pm.
4 Hill Drive: I chose this one as it has some charm. A 1,011 sf 2/1 Craftsman bungalow, it sits on a 8843 sf lot with large yard and sunny deck. On the market 32 days, it is listed at $529,000 (down from $545,000). Last sold in 2006 for $579,000. Open Sunday
1128 Clelia Court: Another oversized lot, this time with a tri-level home. Located on a cul-de-sac, you get 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and a price of $575,000, which is only $249/s/f. Currently vacant, the 2308 sf seems huge and in good shape. Last sold for $580,000 in 2004, it is open Sunday from 1-4.
418 5th Street: Another vintage Craftsman, but this time a 3/2 on 10,000 sf lot. Close to downtown, you get an updated charmer with large yard. On the market 20 days, it was originally priced at $649,000, but was reduced earlier this week to $639,900 ($443/sf). Last sold in 2003 for $480,000. Open Sunday 2-4pm.
June 15, 2008
If you are a lucky Marin homeowner, you have about two weeks left to join thousands of your neighbors in asking for a property reassesment.
With the high median home prices in Marin, if you purchased in recent years, the property tax associated wth your home is sure to be on the higher end. And if you bought not so long ago, chances are the value of your property has gone down. That’s the bad news but the only shining light is that the property tax bill should go down with it.
The MarinIJ reported that many Marinites are in this boat, as they are filing property tax reduction requests by the hundreds and thousands:
“Hundreds of Marin homeowners are lining up to get property tax breaks, saying their homes have lost value and thus are unfairly assessed by the county. The county assessor’s office now expects 2,000 to 3,000 Marin homeowners to get property tax cuts in the 2008-09 fiscal year due to slumping real estate prices.”
While the article noted that Southern Marin prices are holding up and Northern Marin, especially Novato, is tanking pretty hard, it did not say if the requests followed this similar pattern. It would seem safe to say it does.
For home seekers, it looks like even homeowners (and potential home sellers) are acknowledging that their home is not worth with it was a year or two ago.
June 14, 2008
Sausalito and Mill Valley are two of the pricier neighborhoods in Marin. Single family home asking prices straddle the million dollar mark. So, what to do if you want to be a homeowner in this vicinity? One option is to consider condos or coops, where there are a few options for under $400K. Be sure that a single family home in either of these locations will go for at least twice that.
Sausalito:
4 Buckelew Dr - 1 bed, 1 bath - $170,000: New listing for under $200K. A top floor coop unit with 750 square feet, which seems reasonable considering there are often detached two bedroom cottages that hover around 1000 square feet. The HOA dues pay for property taxes and cable.
Undisclosed - 2 beds, 1 bath - $265,000: On the market for a bit - 135 days. Though the location is undisclosed, it’s probably in the same vicinity of the coop above. Coop ownership too but this one looks a bit more updated.
Mill Valley:
384 Pine Hill Rd #1 - 1 bed, 1 bath - $315,000: In the redone Pine Hill complex. This is a TIC and looks to be the model unit. End unit gives you some private outdoor space but at 545 square feet, it may be good for a single person.
530 Seaver Dr - 1 bed, 1 bath - $399,000: Another Mill Valley one bedroom, this is a top floor condo unit. Pluses include the in unit laundry and a community pool for the summer.
June 13, 2008
Only in California will you find a Pirate Festival, right? I mean, how fun does that sound and it’s the perfect venue for Father’s Day. Make a family outing out of it and have some fun in the sun. This second annual event is held along the waterfront in Vallejo on both Saturday and Sunday, and features music, swordfights, and the chance to shop for pirate booty. The Brotherhood of Oceanic Mercenaries (BOOM) will be blowing things up, you can learn a bit about swordfighting and swashbuckling, or how to load a cannon (might come in handy some day, guarding the castle, you know), go on a treasure hunt, or listen to one of the dozen or so musical talents being showcased. You can partake of Blackbeard’s Beverages or dine on Fyne Pirate Grub. You are encouraged, but certainly not required, to attend in costume. Transform yourself into Captain Jack Sparrow, Blackbeard, or the infamous Anne Bonny. Admission is free and you can get there via the ferry, public transit, or car. Warships will not be allowed within the vicinity. For directions, you can check out this link.
If pirates are not your thing, or want to attend one of the most popular of San Francisco’s summer festivals, then head on over to North Beach to their annual shindig. I spent about 10 years working a booth at this festival, which takes place in the heart of North Beach. Sidewalk art, great food from vendors and the local restaurants, beautiful art and jewelry, as well as crafts of all kinds can be found here. Block and blocks and blocks of venues, plus music in Washington Park. It will make for a great day in the city, especially with this gorgeous weather.
Lastly, over in across the Golden Gate Bridge, is the Marin Art Festival in San Rafael. The public is invited to attend the fine arts and crafts festival representing over 250 artists. Location: Marin Center Exhibit Hall and Fairgrounds, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Cost: $8 approx.; 14 and under free.
