Earlier this month marked the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the equities market meltdown, which profoundly impacted Marin County, California’s luxury real estate market. In our New Economy, real buyers have become less numerous and have placed increased emphasis on prestige locations, views, lifestyle amenities (usable yards, proximity to clubs/shopping, etc.), schools, and sensible [...]

Marin County, California real estate held steady, for the most part, through Summer 2009. While year over year prices are down across the board no matter how you slice it, many feel as though absent further crisis, we may be nearing the end of the downward cycle — after a full 3 years. Certainly, well [...]

Tiburon and Belvedere, California real estate is some of the most valuable in the Bay Area — Belvedere had a closing at $5.1 million in August 2009. Perhaps because of this, sales and activity remain choppy, despite the favorable market environment for buyers. In fact, even the "anti-real estate" Wall Street Journal recently noted that [...]

 The Mill Valley, CA. real estate market fulfilled low expectations in August 2009 with 22 sales — same as in July 2009. It has become apparent over the past several months that asking prices have largely halted their downward spiral. As is evident in the graph below, which tracks the median price per square foot [...]

San Rafael, CA’s real estate market is increasingly fueled by foreclosures and short sales. The entry level price band (under $600K) remains extremely hot (84% of such homes are currently in escrow) and the $600K to $800K price band has seen steady activity with 35% of homes in escrow (same as last month). Increased affordability, [...]

I have written in past months about the high level of competition in Novato, California’s entry level real estate market. This trend continues into Q3 2009. In August 2009, 38 Novato homes sold. This is down from 47 sales in July and the same as in June. Many of these sold properties were bargain basement homes [...]