As noted in a recent news report in the Marin Independent Journal, growth rates in Marin were relatively low over the past year. Overall, population growth was 0.9 percent last year (for a total population of 255,982).
In Novato, however, the population grew by 2.4 percent to 52,426, largely due to new housing in [...]

The past month has seen a significant rise in the numbers of homes entering the market, especially in the $2 million to $4 million range (the number of active listings is up by 26 for a total of 96 homes). That may seem like a lot. But, 23 homes in that price range sold in [...]

Marin County, California, sits just north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, straddling Highway 101, and boasts some of the most valuable real estate in the Bay Area. Homes in Marin (cities and towns include: Mill Valley, Sausalito, Tiburon, Belvedere, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael and Novato) have, by [...]

For years real estate agents have recommended pricing homes using a technique called ?just under? or ?9-ending? pricing. Thus, up until recently, almost all homes were priced ?just under? what the seller was really thinking the home was worth (e.g., a million dollar home was priced at $999,999). It was a ubiquitous tactic even though [...]

A recent story in the Marin Independent Journal about the City of Novato?s efforts to normalize and accelerate home re-sale inspection processes was well received by many of my clients. As you probably know, all homes sold in Novato must be inspected prior to being sold. While many people think that the home re-sale inspection [...]

The Marin condo market has been the hardest hit segment of the Marin market over the past two years. Inventories have swollen and prices fallen, in some places, by as much as 20%. Yet, depending on the complex, some condos continue to sell very well at appreciating amounts. Overall, there are currently 254 units on [...]

Prices for high-end luxury homes continue to rise. As reported in San Francisco Chronicle, a recent survey by First Republic Bank shows that prices in the Bay Area edged up by 1.5% in the last 3 quarters of 2006, as compared with the same period in 2005. The average price of homes in First Republic?s [...]

The Mill Valley market has really heated up over the past few weeks with the percentage of homes in escrow going up virtually across the board (homes in the $1.25 - $2 million range stayed the same). There are no homes in Mill Valley under $725K and that the homes under $900K tend to be [...]

Marin County, California, sits just north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, straddling Highway 101, and boasts some of the most valuable real estate in the Bay Area. Homes in Marin (cities and towns include: Mill Valley, Sausalito, Tiburon, Belvedere, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael and Novato) have, by and [...]

Overall, the market in Novato seems fairly typical. There are currently 126 active listings (single family homes) for sale (the most in Marin County). About 1/3 of those are priced under $750,000?making Novato a desirable option for buyers priced out of Central and Southern Marin (for example, Mill Valley, at the time of this writing, [...]