Make Your Life Easier With a Reverse Mortgage

Posted on 2nd December 2011 by Alan Blumenthal in General,Houes for sale in Marin,Reverse Mortgage
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 If you are 62 or older, you may want to consider a Reverse Mortgage on your home. Reverse Mortgages have improved and bring you more benefits at a lower cost.

Advantages of a Reverse Mortgage

If you are at least 62 years old and owe very little or nothing on your home, you can use a Reverse Mortgage (FHA-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, or HECM) to live on your equity without mortgage payments, for the rest of your life:
 

  • Obtain the equity in your home now, in monthly installments, or as a line of credit.
  • Live in and own your home without mortgage payments–as long as you occupy your home–regardless of your age or the amount of equity left in the home.

Homeowners with larger existing mortgage balances can pay off their mortgage with a Reverse Mortgage, obtaining immediate payment relief of principal and interest, and potentially collect equity if the approved loan size is larger than the current pay off amount. Reverse Mortgages can also be used to purchase a primary residence if you can pay upfront the difference in the cost of the home and the amount of the Reverse Mortgage.

You’ll own your home as long as you live, without mortgage payments, independent of the future value of your home.

Your responsibility is limited only to paying annual property taxes and insurance. You must also maintain your home and complete typical repairs.

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Corte Madera Extreme Makeover

Posted on 5th August 2011 by Alan Blumenthal in Houes for sale in Marin,Selling Homes
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Produced and Directed by Madeline Schaider Real Estate

Madeline Schaider recently sold a renovated Kott house in the Chapman Park area of West Corte Madera. By directing an extensive renovation of this 1956 home and gardens, the house sold quickly for $1,050,000, more than the asking price of $1,029,000.  The sellers received two good offers within three days, sold their house for a good price, and realized almost a 5-fold return on their investment in renovations.

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How to Lower Marin Property Taxes

Posted on 10th July 2011 by Alan Blumenthal in Home Values in Marin,Marin Events,Marin home prices,Marin homes,Marin Property Taxes
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We Can Help You Lower Your Marin Property Taxes

From now till November 1st, you can request a review of your property taxes and may be able to obtain a reduction in your next tax bill. The process is simple—a one page form—and the application is free.

The first step is to obtain the form from the Marin County Tax Assessor at their web site:

Request For Assessment Review 2011

Then, you will need this information:

  • The Assessor Parcel Number for your home.
  • The present assessed value of your home.
  • The sale price of three homes in your neighborhood. These must have been sold close to January 1 of this year, but no later than March 31.
  • The estimated current value of your home.

Don’t worry about finding this information. We can do it for you. Read on.

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Marin Schools Maintain Their Well-Deserved Reputation

Posted on 27th May 2011 by Alan Blumenthal in General,Marin Home Buyers,Marin Schools
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Marin schools have uniformly high scores in the California Academic Performance Index (API). A school with a score of 800 or more is considered excellent. 70% of our schools have scores of 800 or greater and 38% are 900 or greater.

While these do not give the complete picture of the personality of each school, they do paint a picture of how well students are learning and performing. Here is a chart of API scores reported for 69 Marin schools in 2010:

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The Enduring Appeal Of Marin

Posted on 3rd February 2011 by Alan Blumenthal in Featured Marin homes,General,Marin condos,Marin home prices,Marin Land and Water,Marin waterfalls,Ring Mountain,Steep Ravine,Stinson Beach
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The 2011 Marin Real Estate Market

There was an unexpected and unusual surge in buyer activity in December of last year that has continued through January. Sunday open houses have had better attendance and multiple offers have been reported for some properties. Because of this increase in buyer interest (and the good weather), houses are going on the market earlier in the year than usual. This should be a realistic year for Marin buyers and sellers, with prices holding steady.

Marin Home Sales Picked Up in 2010

Compared to 2009, the number of Marin single family homes that sold countywide increased by 10% and prices increased by 4 %.

Marin condo values countywide increased by about 8%, while the number of condos sold dropped by 7%. The increase in value reflects the smaller proportion of foreclosed (and discounted) Marin condos in 2010.

While Marin real estate values vary significantly with neighborhoods, the countywide increases indicate a strong and steady real estate market in Marin. It is still the place people want to live and raise their families. And, a significant pool of buyers can afford Marin homes.

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Marin Beach Houses

Posted on 8th December 2010 by Alan Blumenthal in Houes for sale in Marin
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Dreaming of Your Marin Oceanside Home?

Did you ever think of having your own seaside retreat? Marin has spectacular oceanside homes from Dillon Beach in the north to Muir Beach, just 15 minutes out of Mill Valley.The beach towns all reside in the natural setting of  West Marin. Much of this spectacular land  is preserved in the The Golden Gate National Recreational Area.  As you wind along the 43 miles of Highway One between Muir and Dillon beaches, you’ll also pass quiet inland villages along Tomales Bay. Here is a map to refresh your memory .Now may be your opportunity to buy an oceanside home in Marin, there are some wonderful properties on the market. As a Scottish friend recently remarked, you can never go wrong buying ocean front property! read more
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What’s Happening to Marin Home Values? – 2010 Year to Date

Posted on 3rd November 2010 by Alan Blumenthal in Home Values in Marin,Houes for sale in Marin
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Marin Home Values

Now that we are through most of 2010, it is time to look at the state of our Marin home values.  Here is the short story for all of Marin County:

  • Compared to the peak of Marin home prices in 2006-07, Marin single family homes have decreased 19% and condos/townhouses are down 35%.
  • In 2010 (through October) single family homes are up 4% and condos are up 11%, compared to 2009.

It looks like Marin home values are stabilizing.

There has been variation from city to city. A city-by-city report on our web site, www.LivinginMarin.com, shows that values increased in Belvedere, Kentfield, Mill Valley, Sausalito, and Tiburon.  Greenbrae values stayed about the same, and all other cities experienced decreases.

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Oktoberfest Celebrations in Marin

Posted on 5th October 2010 by Alan Blumenthal in General,Houes for sale in Marin,Marin Events

Octoberfests

Marin recreates its own versions of the Munich Oktoberfest. Last weekend, Tiburon had an Oktoberfest, but there will be three more through October. All will be quite different and worth attending. A great way to meet Marin!

Corte Madera Oktoberfest

At Menke Park in the old Town Square
Saturday, October 9, noon till 5 pm.

For the 17th year, the Corte Madera Beautification Committee is hosting this special fundraiser and party. The Beautification Committee is responsible for much of the colorful landscaping that you see as you drive trough Corte Madera. They also donate trees to enhance Corte Madera neighborhoods.

This Oktoberfest–in the park just in front of Madeline Schaider Real Estate–features beer and ale produced by the best northern California microbreweries, and offers traditional foods. There is music by a German band, a silent auction, and activities for kids. Admission with beer tasting is $17. No dogs or bikes.

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Madeline’s Favorite Hike in Marin

Posted on 28th September 2010 by Alan Blumenthal in General,Marin Land and Water
 Christmas Tree Hill Walk

Right behind our office on the Old Town Square (Menke Park) is the oldest part of Corte Madera, winding up Christmas Tree Hill. Like many of the older neighborhoods in Mill Valley and Sausalito, there are stairs to take residents and summer visitors up the hills to the good life and spectacular views

One of Madeline’s favorite hikes starts at our office and proceeds uphill via stairs and streets to Summit Ave, then onto trails that show you the best that our mountain has to offer: views of San Francisco and the Bay, a panorama of Corte Madera north past San Rafael, oak and redwood forests, and fern-lined canyons.

You can pick up a trail map to the right of the front door of Madeline Schaider Real Estate, at 217 Corte Madera Ave. Then walk two doors south past Stefano’s Pizza, make a right turn and start up the hill on the Hill Path stairs. The hike is about 1.5 miles long and takes about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours.  Be warned, the first part of the hike up to Summit is steep, so you may have to stop a few times. It is worth the effort. You will once more be refreshed by the beauty of Marin.

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Marin Home Values in a Changing Market

Posted on 1st September 2010 by Alan Blumenthal in General,Marin Home Buyers,Selling Homes

Time to Buy a Home in Marin?

Some of our Marin buyers have asked, “Is this is a good time to buy?”  Looking at the long range picture of home values in Marin, we think this is not only a good time to buy but an opportunity for buyers.

These are confusing times for home buyers. Some economic indicators are not great, and the media continues to support a pessimistic view. While some Marin house prices are coming down–we think of this as an adjustment to a previously runaway market–others are not. This is definitely a great time for buyers!

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