Our experience and common sense, plus a few numbers, suggest the Marin housing market will continue to increase in value, though perhaps at a lower rate than the the last few years. Here are some factors that support the healthy real estate market in Marin: Our economy is strong. If the Bay Area economy is growing, there will be demand for homes in Marin. Bay area employment Continue Reading
Selling your Marin Home: Make the Best First Impression
You have only one chance to make the best first impression Most buyers see your home for the first time on the Internet. If you make a good first impression through attractive photos, they visit in person. When they enter the house, the first impression starts on the street and continues through the first rooms. To excite buyers, it is important to communicate the “WOW” factor immediately. Continue Reading
Affordable Alternatives to Single Family Homes in Marin
If you are a first-time home buyer or are otherwise limited by your budget, you may have affordable alternatives to a single family home in Marin County: condos and town houses. Before you reject the possibility, consider the important advantages. The average price of a single family house in Marin over the last year was $1,628,000. This "average" house had three bedrooms and 2 3/4 baths Continue Reading
Foreclosures in Marin County
In the current sellers' market, there are few foreclosures in Marin County--but there are some. Here is a snapshot taken today, May 2, 2018, when the housing market is very active: There are 4 properties for sale: three REO sales and one short sale. This is 0.6% of the 662 homes for sale. In the last year, there have been 27 foreclosure properties sold: 11 REOs, 8 Short Sales, and 8 Continue Reading
Saving the Oak Trees of Marin County
Vintage oak trees are dramatic and beautiful complements to many Marin County homes. Millions of these trees, plus California bay, Douglas fir, and redwoods are under attack and have been killed by Sudden Oak Death (SOD). I found in the the Marin Independent Journal (Saving oak trees from SOD) a hopeful cure and preventative for your trees. The method, proposed by William Binzen Continue Reading
Increase in Marin Property Taxes for 2017-18
You may see an increase in your Marin property taxes for 2017-18 Your Marin property taxes may increase for 2017-18. Here are the reasons: Increase in the assessed value of your home. Since an amendment in 1978 to the California State Constitution (also known as Proposition 13), assessed values of homes can increase up to 2% per year. Since your tax bill includes other items, like Continue Reading
Where is the Marin real estate market going?
Prices for single family homes in Marin are the highest in 15 years. Will prices continue to go up? Can we expect home values to level out or decrease? First let's see where we are. Home prices continue to increase in Marin The median price of a single family home in Marin County continues to move upward and is now about $1,333,000 (last half of 2018). The most sought-after homes often sell Continue Reading
Challenges for Seniors Buying Marin County Homes
Many seniors are looking for Marin homes that are easier for living: usually single level, smaller, and with less upkeep. They may be moving to be closer to family and convenient to shopping and services. It’s important to understand the challenges seniors may have in buying their next home. Selling your current home It’s important that seniors have qualified help in selling their homes, Continue Reading
What Kind of Home Can You Buy in Marin County?
Your next house in Marin County will probably be a single-family home. Single family homes (SFH) are larger and more expensive than most of the alternatives, but the most popular and available. This blog explains your options for different home types you can buy. Marin Single Family Homes About 75% of Marin home sales in 2016 were SFHs. The median price was $1,200,000 for an average of 3 Continue Reading
Aerial View of Marin County in 1920’s
Marin County was a different place before the Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937, opening Marin to population growth. Most of Marin was undeveloped and unpopulated. The bridge made Marin easily accessible to residents of San Francisco looking for warm, fog-free recreation and summer homes. The Second World War brought an in influx of residents to work in the Sausalito shipyards. After Continue Reading
