By now, many of us have heard through news or advertising that a small change in mortgage rates can make a big difference. In Marin County a home price is a big consideration when selecting real estate in this most desirable market. Interest rates will also be an important consideration, particularly for first time home buyers on a limited budget. Will a 5% mortgage rate make a substantial Continue Reading
How to Choose a Marin County School
Choosing a Marin County school, either private or public, for your child is a very personal issue. To investigate the considerations in choosing a school, we interviewed Debra Lambrecht, Founder and Head of Caulbridge School, a private, K-8 school in San Rafael, CA. The most important factor in choosing a school is what parents want for their child. This decision is weighted by Continue Reading
Marin Home Prices Past and Future
Marin home prices have appreciated greatly over the last five year. The statistics show a surge in values in 2013 to 2015, and a recent leveling. Prices for single family homes increased 57% over the last five years: Year Median Price Increase 2012 $765,000 --- 2013 $900,000 18% 2014 $1,010,000 12% 2015 $1,105,000 9% 2016 $1,199,000 9% The Continue Reading
Walking and Biking to School in Marin
Marin has been a national leader in promoting students walking and biking to school Walking, cycling, and commuting on school buses were once an American tradition and an important part of free public education. By year 2000, most parents drove their children to and from school--many one student per car. The most common reasons for driving children to school have been longer distances to schools Continue Reading
Winter Home Maintenance Marin County
We are in the middle of winter, but there is still time for home maintenance that can save you larger repair costs. Inspect windows and doors for leaks. Check the window and door sills and surrounding trim. Don’t forget to check the high windows that you can’t see close-up. Minor water stains could be due to condensation. Peeling paint, damaged sheet rock, or warped wood can indicate Continue Reading
How to Sell Marin Homes in the Winter Months
With over 26 years of selling Marin homes, we have found that the winter months can be active and productive. Due to the low supply and high demand, buyers have recently become more active during the last quarter of the year. Here are the factors that contribute to a successful sale in the winter months: Correctly price the property Most important is price. If the seller Continue Reading
Marin Real Estate Market Update: Marin Real Estate is More Valuable Than Ever
Marin Real Estate Market Report for the First 9 Months of 2016: Median price for single family homes increased about 9%. Median price for condos and townhouses increased about 6%. Number of houses sold in Marin decreased by 9% compared to 2015. Supply of Houses for Sale is Low The lack of available housing in Marin County, CA is a primary factor in increasing home sale prices. Continue Reading
Is It Better to Rent or Buy a Home in Marin?
Buying versus Renting a Marin Home The New York Times recently published a very sensible article regarding the real estate market and its impact on home buyers and renters: “Four Not-So-Obvious Things to Consider When Deciding to Buy or Rent.” For your convenience, here is our summary as it applies to buying or renting a home in Marin County, CA. Advantages of Owning a Home As Continue Reading
For Seniors in Marin Homes: Keeping Your Property Taxes Low
Proposition 60 Can Reduce Your Marin Property Taxes When you sell your home and downsize, California Proposition 60 allows homeowners 55 or older to save on property taxes. You can continue to pay the amount of your existing property tax bill if you sell your home and buy a replacement house of equal or less value. For example, the property taxes for the home that you have Continue Reading
Marin Home Prices Up in 2016
Marin Home Prices Q1 2016 In the first quarter of 2016, Marin home prices rose about 5% compared to the same time in 2015. The Marin Real Estate market is a strong sellers' market. As always, prices vary for each city. For example, Mill Valley +2%, Tiburon +4%, San Anselmo-Fairfax +12%, San Rafael +10%, and Novato +7%. Insights for Marin Home Buyers If you are buying a home in Marin Continue Reading
