Economic Cycles

Tough times? This too, will pass.For some, this economy is “the best of times” ; for others, it is “the worst of times.” Wall Street has gone from the “season of light” to the “season of darkness.” In the midst of the current economic uncertainty, there are those who look to future with great trepidation. For them, it is the “winter of despair.” Others look to the future through the eyes of an optimist. For them it is the “spring of hope.”
That some people are able to maintain a positive focus and perform admirable and successfully, regardless of the conditions that surround their efforts, has always fascinated me. Faced with identical circumstances, some people rise to the challenge, tapping into the best of themselves, and achieve what other can’t even imagine. Consider this: In tough times, 25 percent of businesses fail, 70 percent survive, and 5 percent thrive.
On a broader scale, some people play the cards they are dealt while other people fold em’ and go home. Some people thrive on the challenge; others wilt in the heart of the battle. The resilience of the human spirit is nature’s way of equipping us with the fuel we need to soar above whatever obstacles we encounter.
Since 1854, we have experienced 33 economic downturns in the U.S., each lasting about one and one half years, followed by an expansion of about three years. It seems we’ve discovered a way to handle these downturns more effectively over the past 60 years. Since 1948, we have had 10 recessions; the average contraction is 11 months, and the average expansion is four years. We spend 80 percent of our time in good economic times. If you work in business long enough, you will experience a downturn.
What’s the point? Economic nirvana is always followed by economic nervousness that is always followed by nirvana that is always followed by nervousness. It’s a cycle. The most important thing to know about tough times is that they pass and are replaced by good times. Businesspeople who wring their hands today will ring their cash registers tomorrow. Tough times? This too, will pass.

Surveillance Cameras In Tiburon

  The Town of Tiburon and City of Belvedere are uniquely situated such that their own geographys plays an important role in why crime statistics are so low in these areas.  With one road in and one road out, these communities have proven themselves more difficult for criminals because of this dynamic.  None the less, thefts remain the most commonly committed felony in Tiburon. According to the Town of Tiburon’s virtual newsletter “Tiburon Talk” published November 28, 2008, “In 2007 Tiburon experienced 99 thefts from vehicles, 15 residential burglaries, and 10auto thefts.  Most of the crimes occurred between midnight and dawn, and most thefts were from unlocked cars.”  The department publicized the problem in the Ark and in a Town Newsletter, and encouraged the public to lock their cars and homes, and to conceal valuables left in their cars.  Good advice wherever you live.

     The Chief of Police for Tiburon, Micael Cronin, is proposing two fixed cameras on Tiburon Boulevard and one on Paradise Drive.  The cameras would be focused on the traffic lanes in a direction and at an angle that would most likely capture the vehicle’s license plate.  While the images would be available in real time, the system would not be monitored in this manner except in extraordinary circumstances.  Images would be purged after a specified period.
    This proposal will be brought forward to the Tiburon Town Council in a public hearing early in 2009.  Most of the concerns voiced at this time are in regard to privacy issues. 
  Big Brother? Or, good idea?

A new website in Marin County  More Marin  has posted another very good article on this subject.

Tiburon Frank Howard Allen Canned Food “Drop Off” Location

Please bring any canned foods to help those in Marin County that cannot help themselves.  A large collection can will be placed daily in front of Frank Howard Allen Realtors at 1660 Tiburon Boulevard in downtown Tiburon.

If you need any help in this regard please feel free to contact me, and I will come pick up any donations (canned foods) you’d like to contribute to this cause during the holidays.

You can reach me at  415-385-7404  (cell phone) to pick up your canned contributions. Or email me at MDLomas@gmail.com

Mark Danforth Lomas: Frank Howard Allen Realtors Tiburon:  415-435-1000

It’s A Different Market For Home Sellers

On November 9, 2008 Marni Leff Kottle wrote a very timely article, “It’s a Different Market for Home Sellers” in the San Francisco Sunday Chronicle’s Real Estate Magazine:
It’s a Different Market for Home Sellers

And, back in October Marni also wrote another timely and very insightful article about how hard the credit crunch has hit the Bay area. Here’s that article that was published in the San Francisco Chronicle:

Credit Crunch Hits Bay Area Hard

Mortgage Update: Mortgage rates dropped last week, providing a dose of welcome news to prospective home buyers.  Freddie Mac reported Thursday that rates on 30 year fixed rate mortgages averaged 6.20 percent for the week ending November 6, 2008.  That was down sharply from 6.46 percent the previous week.

The retreat in mortgage rates comes as the economy is getting weaker.  The drop in rates is good news for people thinking about buying a home.  However, tight credit conditions are still making it difficult for some people to obtain financing.

Marin Community Food Bank

Ann Rodgers, executive director of the Marin Community Food Bank sits among bags ready to be distributed at the Food Banks warehouse.  The Marin Community Food Bank agency gives out 2 million pounds of goods each year and will provide meals to more than 3,500 families during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah.

Marin Community Food Bank

75 Digital Drive, Novato, California   94949
 41… / fax: 415-883-5178

You can always deliver donations to the food bank at the above address.  You can also write a check and send it to that address.  The Food Bank spends $150,000 a year buying traditional food to fill out the Holiday boxes.  You can also leave food donations under the 20 foot tall turkey at the Town Center in Corte Madera.  The turkey was created by employees of Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light and Magic, and has been a fixture at the mall for the last 13 years.

Marin Independent Journal Article: One Giant Turkey Feeds the Hungry

Come see John “Lucky” Lister’s massive mechanical Turkey to collect canned food for the needy (bring canned foods!) at the Corte Madera Town Center!

Mortgage Rates

  Mortgage rates dropped for a third straight week, reflecting the impact the weakening economy is having on financial markets.  Freddie Mac reported Thursday that rates on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage averaged 6.04 percent last week, down from 6.14 percent the previous week.  It marked a sharp decline since rates hit a a recent high of 6.46 percent during the week of October 16, 2008.
     Concerns about the economy and worries over the fate of Detroit automakers have caused Wall Street’s major stock indexes to hit levels not seen since 2003, sending investors swiftly into government debt.
     Thirty year mortgages rates hit a high for the year of 6.63 percent in late July and then dropped to seven month low of 5.78 percent and for the week of September 18, shortly after the government took control of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

The Blue Angels

The Blue Angels from 118 Lyford Drive in Tiburon, California.  For more information on this wonderful property scroll down to the video below!

Marin Real Estate Home Sales Pick Up

Marin’s home sales increased on the strength of condominium sales last month while prices continued to drop, mimicking Bay Area trends.   The median price of a single family home in Marin last was $825,000, down from $860,000 last year.  159 single family homes were sold, about the same as the 158 homes sold in September 2007 reported DataQuick of San Diego on Tuesday.
Marin Independent Journal’s article: Condos Buck Up Marin Home Sales
And, check out my Marin History web site with the Marin Independent Journal: Marin History

The Angel Island Fire

   Sunday evening, around around 9pm, smoke and a red glow over Angel Island could be seen from the Tiburon Peninsula. By 11:30 pm the media reported that an estimated 75 to 100 acres on the east side of Angel Island was burning.  This morning the media reported that about 200 firefighters were battling a 250 acre wildfire. The photos below were taken from Sausalito and Tiburon October 13, 2008 between 9am and 10am.

Angel Island Fire from Sausalito 9am October 13, 2008

Angel Island from Downtown Tiburon

Helicopter Bailing Water From The Bay To Fight Fire

En route to Angel Island Fire

Firefighters prepare to relieve fellow firefighters on Island

A huge Helicopter siphoning water from the Tiburon Marsh
behind the Town Hall. The wind from the helicopter was blowing
me backwards as I took this photo… while the Tiburon Police
cleared the area.

At this time the fire has spread from the east facing side of
Angel Island to the North side of the 740 acre island. Angel
Island State Park has several historic buildings (that at this
time were not endangered) from the days it served as an
important station for the West Coast as well
as a military facility.

Alan Greenspan and the Economy

“Not only have individual financial institutions become less vulnerable to shocks from underlying risk factors, but also the financial system as a whole has become more resilient.” Alan Greenspan, former Federal Reserve Chairsman, 2004

“A critical pillar to market competition and free markets did break down.
I still do not know why it happened?”

Alan Greenspan, the Oracle, never really understood what he was talking about when it came to the economy. Greenspan was so consumed with his own self-importance he overlooked the most basic fundementals of a healthy economy, and helped create the current melt down on Wall Street that has now spread throughout the world. Amazingly, Congress was so enamored with Greenspan they rarely questioned him. And yet, those entrusted to protect our Country…did not. Where is the accountablity?
On October 9, 2008 Peter S. Goodman reported in the New York Times: “George Soros, the pominent financier, avoids using the financial contracts known as derivatives “because we really don’t understand how they work.” Felix G. Rohatyn, the investment banker who saved New York from financial catastrophe in the 1970s, desicribed derivatives as potential “hydrogen bombs.” And, Warren Buffett presciently observed five years ago that derivatives were “financial weapons of mass destruction, carrying dangers that, while now latent, are potentially lethal.”
Amazingly, one prominent financial figure has long thought otherwise. And, his views use to be held in the highest regard in debates about the regulation and use of derivatives that he refered to as “exotic contracts” that promised to protect investors from losses, thereby stimulating riskier practices that led to the current financial crisis.
Even more amazingly, on October 23, 2008, Greenspan denied before Congress that the nation’s economic crisis was his fault, but conceded that the meltdown had revealed a flaw in a lifetime of economic thinking and left him in a “state of shocked disbelief.” Greenspan was unable to defend his resistance to recommendations to use the Fed’s power to crack down on sub-prime mortgages, and opposing efforts to impose regulations on derivatives (the complex financial instrument that include credit default swaps – that figured in prominently in the current crisis).
On October 23, 2008 Greenspan was asked by the House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, after pointing out that Greenspan had contributed to irresponsible lending practices by rejecting appeals that the Fed intervene to regulate a surging sub-prime mortgage industry and also noted that the list of regulatory mistakes and misjudgments was long … asked Greenspan, “My question to you is simple, were you wrong?” To which Greenspan replied,”Well, partially” And then Greenspan went on to blame overeager investors who did not stop to think about risks. My question is ,”why didn’t Greenspan, the Federal Reserve Chairman, stop to think about risks?” Where is the accountability?

118 Lyford Drive in Tiburon, California

118 Lyford Drive is offer at $3,595,000. Secluded,private, and uniquely situated at the end of a long driveway, where the property backs onto open space. The gated driveway assures your peace and privacy. Have a front row seat to the most spectacular views Tiburon can offer. Amazing views abound from this amazing 3 bedroom 3 and 1/2 bath home of San Francisco through to the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean. For a private tour contact Mark at: 415- 385-7404 cell/direct.

Wall Street vs. Marin Real Estate

  How did we find ourselves in such an economic mess?  How could the powers that be not have the foresight to see what was right around the corner?  We’ve been led to believe that the sub prime mortgage melt down was the cause, when the truth of the matter is - it’s the derivatives, created by the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act by a greedy Banking industry.
    The Glass-Steagall Act, passed in 1933, mandated the separation of commercial and investment banking in order to protect depositors from the the hazards of risky investment and speculation – the cause of the 1929 Stock Market crash.  It worked fine for 50 years until the banking industry began lobbying for its repeal during the 1980s.
    The main cheerleader for the repeal was Phil Gramm, but there is plenty of blame to go around here. Both Republican and Democratic Senators and Congressmen supported this disgraceful bow to the banking industry which was eagerly signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1999.
    According to Wikipedia, many economist have criticized the repeal of the Glass-Steagal Act as contributing to the current economic volatility in the Stock Market.  The banking industy laid out more the 200 million dollars for lobbying in 1998 according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The banking industry succeeded  in their two decades long effort to repeal the act.  This lust for banking largesse is as wanton among Democrats as Republicans – right up to the current campaign, according to the Phoenix Business Journal.  Both McCain and Obama have accepted substantial amounts of money from Wall Street bankers, investment and securities firms, and their executives during this campaign cycle.

    Personally, I believe the Glass-Steagall Act needs to be re-enacted.  Before we bail out the banking industry, insurance firms, and Wall Street some reforms and regulations need to be put into place or the game will just continue. 
    The American International Group – AIG – upon receiving $85 Billion Dollars from the government recently sent executives to a $440,000 retreat at a posh California resort?  Where’s the oversight?  How many times can the taxpayer’s trust be betrayed before someone steps in and does something? Congress seems to only act in times of crisis… is anyone listening?!
    Late in the game our government realized what had to be saved was not the housing market or the dollar, but the financial derivitives industry: and the precepice from which it had to be saved was an “event of default” that could collapse a quadrillion dollar derivatives bubble, a bubble that could take the entire global banking system down with it.
     Right now  derivatives represent the biggest financial market in the world.  Derivitives are financial instruments that have no intrinsic value, basically they’re just bets.  “The point everyone misses” wrote economist Robert Chapman a decade ago,”is that buying derivatives is not investing.  It’s gambling, insurance and high stakes bookmaking.  Derivatives create nothing and they serve to enrich non producers at the expense of the people who do create real goods and services.”  As bets, you can hedge your bet that something will go up by placing a side bet that it will go down. Hedge funds hedge bets in the derivatives market. Bets can be placed on anything, from the price of tea in China to the movements of specific markets.
                                                                                                                        
     What to do?  Re-enact the Glass-Steagall Act for starters.  Separate commercial banking from the stock market. Then, have Congress focus on the Dirivatives Bubble and articulate a solution, simply and clearly. Steve Krofts on 60 Minutes last week did a great job of explaining what’s happening.  Where’s the political discourse?
     Just my opinion.

Some of the information for this post was gathered from Wikipedia, William Kaufman’s “Shattering the Glass – Steagall Act”, the Phoenix Business Journal, and Ellen Brown’s post on her blog (Web of Debt) It’s the Derivatives Stupid!

Tiburon and Belvedere Real Estate

 The current issue of the San Francisco Business Times has a special supplement “Luxury Living” that  features the top 4 Zip Codes in the Bay Area where property values continue to go up despite the general downturn of the real estate market.  One of those Zip Codes is 94920 (Tiburon and Belvedere) here in Marin County.
                         
     A brief excerpt from the article:  Yes, residents cite the excellent public schools, the burgeoning sense of community, and the Tiburon International Film Festival  as reasons for moving to tony Tiburon or Belvedere, but really, in Marin’s highest earning Zip Code it all comes down to the views.
     You’d be hard pressed to find a house on Belvedere at any price that doesn’t have a glimpse of water.  At an average sales price last year of almost $3.9 million dollars, a view  may not be too much to ask.
     ”One of the economic factors that increases desirability is there’s very little land, if any to build on,” said  Mark Lomas , a realtor with Frank Howard Allen  and a Tiburon/Belvedere resident since 1976. ” To build, people usually have to buy a property, and gut it.”
                                            
      Mark Lomas  with fellow realtor  Kirsten Wolfe preview an unlisted property on Belvedere Island that is being offered for over 8 million dollars.  For more information about this spectacular property located on Belvedere Avenue (Not on MLS)  contact Mark Lomas at: 415-789-7777  or   Kirsten Wolfe  415-789-7724.
For the whole story from the San Francisco Buisness Times click:                                       

San Francisco Business Times Article

 

Win Marin County “Dream House” !

  For a second year Community Action Marin, a San Rafael-based nonprofit, is offering a raffle to help fund its programs for the poor by offering raffle ticket buyers the chance to win a San Rafael “dream home” priced at $2 million.  Last year’s winner chose the cash over the house that was priced at $2.1 million.  At the bottom of this post is all the information you’ll need to participate in this event.

   Community Action Marin – which operates 15 programs that focus on mental health services, early childhood development, HIV/AIDS, food programs, the homeless and more. ”The fact that the local anti-poverty agency is raffling off a $2.1 million house is a little ironic,” said Gail Theller, the agency’s exective director.  But cuts in funding by the Marin Community Foundation, the federal government and the state government left Community Action Marin with little choice, Theller said. 
   The nonprofit lost about $200,000 a year in funding from the Marin Community Foundation recently when the foundation’s trustees decided to take money away from ongoing programs so they could finance new initiatives. In addition, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger eliminated funding for a homeless program that served the mentally ill when he sliced $703 million in health spending from the budget. That move cut $500,000 a year from Community Action Marin’s budget, Theller said. 

   Stacy Swor, a Mill Valley lawyer who has been on the agency’s board for 18 years, said, “The truth of the matter is we’re being bled to death. Believe me, we’ve tried everything. Bake sales and car washes just don’t do it these days.    ”People are willing to support a charity if they can see something for their money,” Swor said. “What we’re faced with is ongoing operational expenses, and those are expenses that are just about to get contributions for.”

   Although last year was the first time that a nonprofit in Northern California has used such a raffle to generate revenue, the practice has gained popularity in Southern California, where it has been used by St. Jude Medical Center, school districts and cultural organizations, Theller said. A law passed by the California Legislature in 2001 made it legal for nonprofits to conduct such raffles. 
   Still, the agency took no chances, Theller said. It checked with the state attorney general’s office and the Marin County district attorney before proceeding with the raffle. 
   Last year Community Action Marin hired Neal Martin, a former high school school teacher who oversaw a similar raffle for a college prepatory school in Watsonville, to manage the raffle. Mount Madonna School sold 19,000 raffle tickets costing $150 each and raised about $1 million for the school while paying out a grand prize of about $1 million, Martin said. Community Action Marin expects to do better than that.
   ”We are convinced we are going to net $2.2 million,” Theller said last year.  This year, the same house, is offered in the raffle. (Last year the winner chose the cash option)

   Because Community Action Marin is also charging $150 per raffle ticket, it needs to sell 35,000 tickets to meet their goals. The prizes will be paid for with proceeds from ticket sales. If fewer tickets are sold than expected, Community Action Marin has reserved the right to reduce the size of the grand prize – to an even split of the raffle’s total profits. The grand prize winner also has the option of a $1.6 million cash prize in lieu of the “dream house.” 

   Theller said she found the house at 204 Southern Heights Blvd. in San Rafael by mailing letters to 100 people who were trying to sell homes in Marin. If the grand prize winner does opt for the cash, the owner of the house will be paid for holding the house out of the market for six months, Theller said. She declined to say how much. 
   Theller said she thought it would be difficult finding a homeowner willing to take their house off the market for so long, but half of the people contacted expressed interest. The owner of the San Rafael house had priced the home at $2 million, and will be paid that amount if the prize winner chooses the house. 

   People who buy the raffle tickets will know that they’re giving to a worthy cause, Martin said.    ”It’s not a mystery – unlike the state lottery where the funds from the state lottery are going to end up being budgeted in the next fiscal year,” Martin said. 
   Nevertheless, raffle winners will get no special treatment from the Internal Revenue Service. Like any raffle or lottery, prizes over $5,000 are subject to a 25 percent government tax, Martin said.
(Some of the information for this post was taken from an article by Richard Halstead, and was posted on the Marin Independent Journals web site: 9/6/2007)
For the most recent article by the Marin IJ click:   Marin IJ Article – Round Two for Dream Home Raffle
And, if you have a moment, check out my blog with the Marin Independent Journal at: Marin History

COMMUNITY ACTION MARIN’S ‘DREAM HOME’ RAFFLE ADDRESS: 204 Southern Heights Blvd., San Rafael
SIZE: 4,400 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms; quarter-acre lot
DESCRIPTION: Bay views, chef’s kitchen, lush landscaping, library suite, all-new appliances, infinity pool, gated entry
COST OF RAFFLE TICKET: $150
HOW TO ENTER: By phone, 800-431-5166; by mail, CAM Dream House Raffle, 29 Mary St., San Rafael, CA 91949; or by fax at 415-738-7664.  For More information click:    Marin County Dream House Raffle

 

Marin County Schools

   For a lot of people, when considering moving to or within Marin County, the three most important things in real estate are schools, schools, schools.  A lot of home buyers factor in the school where they are moving when they consider making a puchase.  And, for those buyers without children, it is also an important factor when looking down the line for resale purposes.  As the most significant investment people will make in their lifetime, when purchasing a home, schools are a very important consideraton.
                                                                                                                        
     Recently, the Marin Independent Journal ran an article about how the Marin County schools excelled in the 2007 to 2008 school year as measured by the federal No Child Left Behind Act with 81 percent of all students meeting requirements for academic progress.

     “But seven Marin schools – nearly twice as many as last year  failed to meet their mandates, according to a report by the California Department of Education.  Educators say the increase is largely due to higher state and federal standards for English language learners.”
                                                                               
For the whole article, and a chart with the Academic Performances Index Test Scores for Marin Public Schools, click on:  Marin Independent Journal Article September 4, 2008 Marin Schools

And, check out my web site with the Marin Independent Journal at: Marin History

Tiburon and Belvedere Real Estate

A couple of days ago I received a phone call from the San Francisco Chronicle. The Chronicle is preparing an article that will come out on September 5th regarding some of the high end neighborhoods in the Bay Area, and how those neighborhoods have been affected by the current real estate market.  The Chronicle also wanted to know why people move to Tiburon and Belvedere?
     I shared that I believed that there are certain mico-communities in the Bay Area that have actually appeciated during the downturn in today’s real estate market. And, Tiburon and Belvedere are just such markets.
     Homes here in Tiburon and Belvedere continue to appreciate because of macro economic factors unique to this area such as high desirability, natural geographical beauty, climate, lifestyle, lack of available land for new building, proximity to San Francisco and Silicon Valley (that are experiencing strong job markets), a stellar school system supported by the tax base, and being one of the most gorgeous waterfront communities in the world! 

Belvedere	Year	Average Sales Price	Tiburon	Year	Average Sales Price006
	2004	$1.669,561		2004	$2,702,455
	2005	$1.990,514		2005	$2,806,076
	2006	$1,976,550		2006	$3,082,290
	2007	$2,207,819		2007	$3,880,903

Marin Real Estate July 15,2008 Through July 22, 2008

Check out the numbers … July 15^th thru July 22^nd …recovering from its post-holiday hangover, the Marin County real estate market did just fine…thank you. There were 63 new listings of Single Family Residences (SFR) but inventory actually went down. 62 listings went under contract, 36 sold, 34 withdrawn, and 83 price reductions.

Condominiums had an good week too. Continuing their recent popularity, 19 units sold during this period, while only 18 were listed. 40 listings went under contract.. Market inventory was reduced from 401 to 391 units.

 

The price of gas began to drop, the weather warmed up, and suddenly people felt a bit better, while the stock market struggled to get back into profitable territory, showing renewed signs of life in spite of many challenges and continued adverse economic news. DataQuick, the La Jolla based source of real estate statistics continued its string of pessimistic reports while allowing that San Francisco and Marin Counties were better off than most other Bay Area markets.

So, what’s happening in Marin County Real Estate? Lots of activity here with buyers getting tremendous value, especially in Novato and San Rafael, and particularly in Condominiums which languished for too long and are now enjoying renewed popularity courtesy of their relative affordability— a great opportunity for first-time buyers or downsizing sellers. Let’s see what happens next! Our market typically enjoys increased activity in the fall. Buyers who have been waiting may recognize the opportunity they have been waiting for is here now. Experienced local real estate professionals can help mine the gold in this market – they know values, and are an important resource for buyers and sellers alike.

Recently, George W. Bush was caught off camera commenting on the economy and that, “Wall Street had gotten drunk, and the question is, when are they going to sober up?”  Sounds like someone forgot to tell the President he was the bartender…oh well. (This Video was aired on the Evening News, and can be found on YouTube)

Home Prices Dip in Northern Marin

Click Here To Read Article

And, if you have a moment ,check out my Marin History Web Site with the Marin Independent Journal by clicking on the link below:

Marin Independent Journal’s Marin History Web Site

Mortgage Giants Receive Help

     On July 14, 2008 Jeannine Aversa/Associated Press reported that the Federal Reserve and the Treasury will take steps to shore up mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, whose shares have plunged as loses from their mortgage holdings threaten their financial survival.
     The steps are also being taken to send a signal to nervous investors worldwide that the government is prepared to take whatever necessary steps to prevent the credit market crisis troubles that started last year from engulfing financial markets and further weakening the economy and housing markets.
     The Feds said that, “this should help companies ability to promote the availability of home mortgage credit during periods of stress in financial markets.”

Countrywide’s CEO Angelo Mozilo

 Quick quiz?  Which mortgage company CEO took 140 million home in compensation while the company he founded lost 704 million dollars?  For Marcie Geffners article from Inman News click on the following link:
Countrywide’s CEO Angelo Mozilo

Frannie Mae and Freddie Mac

      Last post I ran a headline that said, “Ignore the Headlines!”  Well, that might have been a little premature. Last Monday Indymac Bank, in an attempt to reassure depositors that the company is not near collapse, issued a response to letters to Federal Bank regulators from Senator Charles Schumer that “Indymac Bank’s financial deterioration posed a significant risk to both taxpayers and borrowers.”
     On Friday and Saturday depositers withdrew about 100 million dollars.
     The Center for Responsible Lending issued a report Monday claiming that interviews with former employees and lawsuits in 10 states showed Indymac pushed through loans based on bogus appraisals, worked closely with mortgage brokers who mislead borrowers about their rates and fees, and often treated elderly and minority consumers unfairly.
     While Schumer claimed Indymac Bank used brokered deposits to “finance rapid and irresponsible growth,” Indymac said those deposits,”lowered the risk for Indymac Bank and improved our safety and soundness during this turbulent period.”

     Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reiterated Friday that the companies are adequately capitalized and that a government bailout is not imminent, but stockholders in the government chartered, publicly traded companies were not entirely reassured.
     Continuing a monthlong slide that intesified last Monday, Fannie Mae’s shares fell 22 percent on Friday and Freddie Mac was off more than 3 percent.  Investors are worried loses at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could force those companies to issue more common stock to raise additional capital.  And, if the companies are unable to raise capital, and the government steps in to place the companies in a conservatorship, their shares would be worthless.

Ignore The Headlines

     When prices are falling few people have the discipline to buy stocks, a house, gold, art or any other asset.  But, for those who do “pull the trigger” excel in the long run.  As John D. Rockefeller famously said,”The way to make money is to buy when blood is running in the streets.”
     In Marin County there are some areas where the streets are stained crimson (Novato). Consider this, the stock market is being pummeled, oil per barrel prices are going through the roof, and there’s panic that we’re in a recession.  The Fed rate cuts will lift the economy eventually, and the stock market wil typically starts responding just as the headlines get their gloomiest.  Sure, the market could fall again before recovering, but the “Recession” may be half over already – or we may avoid one all together. You just never know.
    But, let’s say you’re emotionally ready to be a homeowner.  You have good credit, plan to stay put for the next five years and have been waiting for the perfect entry point. Well, it may be time to get serious – before an inevitable rise in interest rates wipes out your advantage.  “The thing that will make home prices stop falling is the same thing that will push mortgage rates higher,” says Lending Trees chief economist Jim Syinth.  So,anything you gain by a further drop in prices might be offset by rising financial costs.
    It’s more complicated if you must sell before you can buy.  But, that logjam won’t persist forever – and if it appears you’ll be trapped for a few years, try to refinance at today’s lower rates.  Risk always seem most acute when the headlines give you ulcers.  But that’s exactly when you should think long term – and get off your thumbs.
    Ignore the headlines!

Independence Day in Marin County,California

 Independence Day is a heartbeat away and one of the beauties of life in the North Bay is the variety of fun events that our charming communities organize at this time of year. Read on to learn of the many unique ways to observe this all-American holiday. Happy Fourth!
 
Corte Madera-Larkspur
43rd Annual Corte Madera/Larkspur Chambers of Commerce 4th of July Parade – Elaborate floats, precision drill teams, classic cars and the Corte Madera Town Band.
Parade Time: 10:30 am
Route: From Redwood High in Larkspur, it moves down Magnolia into Corte Madera and continues down Tamalpais Ave to the Town Center.
Post-parade: Check out the festivities at Corte Madera’s Town Park: arts and crafts, food and drink, carnival games, children’s activities and live entertainment.
Info: (415) 924-0441.

Novato
16th Annual 4th of July Parade – Come see over 100 parade entries ranging from classic cars and vehicles from a military museum to Irish bagpipers and a Chinese drum and bell corps.
Parade Time: 10 am
Route: Downtown Novato, starting at the corner of Grant and Railroad Avenues 
Along the parade route, you will also find food and refreshment booths, and souvenir t-shirts.
Info: (415) 899-8900.

The 55th Annual Buckaroo Breakfast
Location: Redwood Credit Union parking lot: 1010 Grant Ave, downtown Novato
Time: Breakfast served from 7-10 am
Organizer: The event is presented by the Presbyterian Church of Novato.
Fee: There is a suggested donation of $5 for adults, $3 for kids. Proceeds will be donated to the Marin Community mission project.

First Annual Novato 4th of July Race
Tamalpa, a Marin running club, presents a “4 on the 4th” four-mile road race and a “Mayor’s Mile” one-mile family walk/jog.
Starting time/place: 7:20 am at 7th and Grant, downtown Novato
Entry fee: $15, which includes a race mug and post-race goodies
To register, go to the Tamalpa website.
 
Ross
Annual Ross Commons Picnic – Pack your own lunch, or you can order from Eddie’s. The picnic begins at noon and will take place at the Grove area of the Common.
Info: (415) 453-1453, ext. 176
 
San Rafael
Marin County Fair and Fireworks
The Marin County Fair (at Marin County Fairgrounds, Civic Center Drive) offers Marin County’s official fireworks display. The July 4th concert features the Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans.
Fair admission: $12 to $14, and includes free carnival rides, exhibits, and music
Fireworks begin at 9:30 pm
Info: (415) 499-6400 or  www.marinfair.org
  
Sausalito
4th of July Parade and Fireworks – This year’s parade will include the Cal Alumni Marching Band, floats of all shapes and sizes, and the Sausalito Fire Department.
Parade Time: 10 am
Route: Starting at South Bridgeway, it will move through downtown Sausalito to Caledonia St and into Dunphy Park.
Post Parade: A town picnic in the park with food, entertainment, raffles, tug-of-war, and an egg toss. Fireworks: 9:15 pm
For a complete schedule of the day’s events, go to www.ci.sausalito.ca.us
 
 
Tiburon
Fireworks Cruise – One of the best ways to see the San Francisco fireworks display is from the Bay! The Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry Co. will offer a 4th of July fireworks cruise.
Boarding Time: 7:30 pm and departs at 8 pm
Place: The Tiburon ferry dock off Main Street
Fee: $40 for adults; $20 for children
Info:  (415) 435-2131.

Woodacre
4th of July Parade and Pancake Breakfast
Breakfast Time & Place: 8-11 am at the Woodacre Fire Station, 33 Castle Rock Rd.
Cost: $7 for adults; $3 for children
Parade Time: Noon
Route: Starting at the Woodacre Improvement Club (1 Garden Way), it follows Railroad Ave to the Dickson Ranch.
Post-Parade: A good old-fashioned celebration at Dickson Ranch – A family affair with games, face painting for the kids, competitions (including the men’s ugly leg contest), horse rides, plenty of music, barbecue, bingo, and everyone’s favorite, the flea market.

Marin County Real Estate Market Trends

   Realty educator Corina Rollins of Greenbrae says that if Marin’s real estate market hasn’t bottomed out yet, it’s very close. “You are starting to see people move into the market, attracted by the low prices,” said Rollins, senior real estate instructor at the College of Marin for more than 20 years. “We are as close to a buyer’s market as we are likely to be,” she said. Marin home sales remain lower than last year, though sales are picking up a bit after several months of record lows.

      The median price of a single-family home in Marin last month was $935,000, down from $1,010,000 a year earlier, and just 165 single-family homes were sold – down from 254 in April 2007, DataQuick Information Systems of La Jolla reported Tuesday. In March, the median single-family home price in Marin was $862,500, and 110 single-family homes were sold. April statistics included total sales of 216 single-family homes and condominiums, down from 313 in April 2007 – but up from 148 sales in March.

     DataQuick analyst John Karevoll said Marin remains a “unique market that doesn’t seem to be too concerned with the ups and downs of mainstream meat and potatoes real estate in the state of California.” “The issues that seem to concern Marin homeowners are not the issues that concern 97 percent of homeowners,” he said. Describing last month’s median price for a resale home in Marin as “stratospheric,” Karevoll noted Marin was the first county in the state to exceed a million-dollar median price one year ago. “And Marin is going to be the first to re-cross it,” he said.

     Levi Swift, president of the Marin Association of Realtors, said the statistics indicate “Marin County and San Francisco County are the ones holding up the best. É Realtors on the ground are seeing lots of traffic and if a house is properly priced, it sells and it sells pretty quickly.” Across the Bay Area, 6,310 homes and condos sold. That was up 29 percent from 4,898 in March but down 15 percent from 7,447 in April 2007. The month-to-month jump was the strongest for any March-to-April in DataQuick’s statistics, which go back to 1988. From last September through March, each month was the slowest on record.

     The median price for a Bay Area home was $518,000 last month, down 3.4 percent from $536,000 in March, and down 21.4 percent from $659,000 in April last year. Rollins said the combination of low prices and affordable rates may lead condo dwellers and those living in small homes to consider bigger homes. “But I don’t think it’s going to happen rapidly,” said Rollins, a residential appraiser in addition to her teaching duties.

     The Marin market – especially among condos where the median price jumped to $508,000 in April from $477,500 in March – should benefit from a federal move to increase the conforming loan rate to as much as $729,750. The move cuts interest premiums.      Foreclosure property resales accounted for 26 percent of last month’s Bay Area market. Foreclosure properties accounted for 9 percent of Marin’s market. Appraising a home in foreclosure in a Petaluma subdivision, Rollins found 8 of the 9 homes for sale in the area were in some stage of foreclosure.

This article appeared in the May 20th, 2008 issue of the Marin Independent Journal.
For the full article and statistical graphs from DataQuick CLICK HERE
And, if you’d like to see my online journal with the Marin Independent Journal click -> Marin History

174 Avenida Miraflores Video

Not on MLS. Available to investors. Currently leased at $7995 a month. For more information please call: 415-789-7777 or email to: 94920RealEstate@gmail.com

How to cut your Property Taxes!

     The slump in Marin County home sales has resulted in an increase of homeowners requesting the County Tax Assessor to reduce their property taxes.  Joan Thayer, the County Assessor-Recorder, reported that her office has already received 150 requests this year up from 90 requests in 2006.  Thayer says, “the increase in request is a reflection of a sharp drop in local real estate sales and a leveling of Marin home prices. And, the County is required to reduce the tax value of property when it finds instances where declines have occurred.”
     Thayer also said, “likely candidates would be those homes purchased in the past year or two.”  For most Marin homeowners, the tax value of their home is far less than the market value.
     For property owners that want a review of the tax value of their current property tax bill may contact the Marin County’s Assessor-Recorder’s office by calling : 415-499-7215
     In California, property taxes are based on the assessed value of a home.  The assessed value is usually limited to the purchase price,  plus an inflation factor not to exceed 2% per year, plus the cost of room additions or other new construction.  This is also know as “base-year value.”
     Proposition 13: limits property taxes to 1% of assessed value.  Some communities have approved additional taxes for schools or other projects.
     Proposition  8: Passed in 1978 allows for a temporary reduction in assessed value when a property’s market value on January 1st is below the base-year value. (Proposition 8 reductions are temporary)
     Informal Review: Homeowners who think the value of their home on January 1st is below the assessed value can ask their county assessor for an informal review.  The assessor, using sales data as of January 1st for comparable homes in the neighborhood, will determine whether or not a temporary reduction is warranted. The homeowner may submit their own comps.
     Appealing an assessment: If the homeowner and assessor cannot agree on a value the homeowner can file a formal appeal with the county’s assessment appeals board.
    

Belvedere Tiburon Landmarks Society Event March 30, 2008 1-4PM

Belvedere Tiburon Landmarks Web Site

Marin Independent Journal’s online Marin History Web Site

Tiburon Film Festival

The Tiburon International Film Festival comes to the Tiburon Playhouse and Corinthian Yacht Club from March 13, 2008 through March 21, 2008. 
For more information please go to:  Tiburon Film Festival 
Or call: 415-381-4123

Understanding the World through Film!

Just the facts!

    Welcome to Tiburon and Belvedere Real Estate!  This site’s focus will be on the Tiburon, and Belvedere communities. You’ll find all kinds of helpful information here, and you will also find helpful statistics, articles, opinion pieces from various local contributors, and much more! 
    Please feel free to click on “comments” and share your thoughts!             
       Mark Danforth Lomas  
               Want to know what’s going on in Marin County Real Estate? 
               Grab a step ladder, or click on: Marin County Sales Statistics    
              
                            Click Here to Search Marin County MLS

                              
Marin Schools           Marin County Directory      Marin County Demographics

                                 The Facts of Marin Real Estate   
                                                           
Tiburon and Belvedere Real Estate * Transparent Real Estate* Consumer Advocate

                   

174 Avenida Miraflores in Tiburon, California

174  AVENIDA MIRAFLORES IN TIBURON, CALIFORNIA

What’s “HOT” this week in Tiburon Real Estate? Check out this elegant Tiburon property with truly breathtaking views from every room!  This exceptional home offers four bedrooms including Master suite and three and one half baths. Off the kitchen/family room step outside into your own private oasis.  An aquatic paradise awaits you.  A lushly landscaped patio area surrounds the pool,spa, and covered dining area. Other features include a gated driveway, two car attached garage, and the highly sought after Reed School District.  Offered at: $2,995,000  email: MarinRealEstate@gmail.com for more information. Open this Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. Possibly the best value in Tiburon real estate for sale!  For those in the know, it’s 94920!

Window of Opportunity

  The Government just announced that it will temporarily increase limits on conforming loans from $417,000 to as high as $729,000. Marin County and thirteen other counties in California qualified. This will affect only those loans originated between July 1, 2007 and December 31, 2008.  The Government is expected to be working out new underwriting standards and plans to offer these new loans soon.
     This is part of the Governments economic stimulus package approved earlier this year calling for temporary increases on loan limits to allow troubled borrowers to refinance out of sub-prime loans and make it easier for many new buyers to qualify for mortgages in high cost areas, particularly in Marin County where home prices remain among the highest in the nation. 
      This may also prove to be a window of opportunity for many buyers as the new home season begins. If your thinking of buying and selling, now may be the best time to take advantage of an opportunity that will not be available after December 31, 2008.

Who is really the Number One Real Estate Company in Marin?

     Frank Howard Allen is the North Bay market share leader once again, according to both dollar volume and units sold for 2007. Frank Howard Allen Realtors led the local market with 17.4% of the total dollar volume and 16.1% of total units sold in Marin and Sonoma Counties combined. For Marin County, Frank Howard Allen is also on top with 21.6% of total dollar volume and 23.3% of total units sold.  

     “I have to say, it’s no surprise to me that our agents performed so well despite the very challenging market they faced last year. I know every agent has worked hard to stay on top and maintain a positive outlook. Clearly it’s what makes the difference,” says Noreen Smith of Frank Howard Allen administration.
     In another key accomplishment, FHAllen has again ranked as one of the North Bay’s Top 500 Businesses. At position 94, we are the only real estate company in the top 100 and the only privately-owned real estate company in the top 300.  
     “The energy and spirit of Frank Howard Allen is truly unique. As we approach our 100th anniversary, the amazing record of our company is one we can be proud of.” says Becky Gould the GM for Frank Howard Allen.
THE NUMBER ONE REAL ESTATE COMPANY IN MARIN COUNTY!
 

Is the Marin Association of Realtors in Crisis?

  Is the Marin Association of Realtors in a state of crisis?   Many members believe so, what do you think?
      About 10 years ago the Marin County Association of Realtors maintained the Multiple Listing Service (MLS/property information) database for Realtors in Marin County.  This was prior to the internet becoming such an intricate part of our lives and businesses.  At that time the Marin Association of Realtors was worried that Microsoft might attempt to make inroads into our profession, and we relinquished the data we owned and controlled to third parties (which is now Bay Area Real Estate Information Services/BARIES.)  I was on the Board of Directors at that time, and protested this action. I felt we were allowing our fears to define us.
      When the Marin Association of Realtors (MAR) controlled the MLS the “Code of Ethics” and “Professional Standards” were respected.  Why? Because if you conducted your business in an unethical or in a non professional manner you could have your MLS privileges suspended.  Now that the MLS is operated by a third party, it appears that there are no mechanisms in place to enforce unethical conduct and unprofessional behavior.
       Over the last 10 years we’ve seen realtors, real estate companies, and VOWs (virtual office websites aka virtual offices without walls) marketing other realtor’s listings as if they were the listing broker.  Misleading?  Confusing? That’s just the tip of the iceberg! 
       In the last ten years we’ve begun seeing what Steven Colbert on The Colbert Report calls “truthiness” being practiced in Marin County Real Estate advertising.  It’s not the truth, but some variation that has nothing to do with the truth. You think at first that it might be true, but when you examine it, it has nothing to do with the truth.
      How can there be two number one real estate companies in Marin County? How can there be multiple agents claiming to have been the number one agent in Marin.  How can  local newspapers, and other local publications print conflicting ads depicting two different companies claiming the mantel of being number one, oftentimes in the same publication? Not only is this a disservice to the company that truly is number one, but what kind of disservice is this to the public? You might think that the Real Estate profession would have established clear criteria and standards in this regard…wouldn’t you?! 
       What happened to the Code of Ethics? 
       If there is a real estate agent, broker, or company in Marin County that is disingenuous, devious, deceptive, and dishonest in their advertising, does it matter?  Does this kind of behavior affect other real estate professional’s ability to practice real estate fairly in the same environment ? Has “truthiness” become the new professional standard? 
       Is the Marin Association of Realtors in crisis?  As long as these kinds of concerns plague the membership many members believe there’s a cancer eating away at the integrity of MAR.  It appears  that the organization has become ineffective and powerless.  The Marin Association of Realtors Board of Directors needs to take a long look at where it’s been and where it want’s to go. Or continue doing what they’re doing and run the risk of becoming an unnecessary entity.

       This post was originally emailed to the current President of MAR, last year’s President and now a member of the Board of Directors at MAR, and Ed Segal Cheif Operating Officer of MAR on 2/26/2008.  On 2/21/2008 the Board of Directors had a meeting. Afterwords, Ed Segal, said the Board would be taking actions to enforce the Code of Ethics and Professional Standards.

       The Tiburon Film Festival’s program for 2008’s back cover has an Ad from a new real estate office in Tiburon claiming to be the Number One Listing Office in Tiburon.  The problem is they don’t have any listings in Tiburon?  Not one listing?  I’ve asked agents in that office if they could explain this to me.  They said they could not.  One agent said they did have a listing but it’s been withdrawn so the owner could refinance?   She was visibly upset when I asked her if she could explain the ad. 

Can anyone explain how a company can advertise that they are the Number One Listing Office in Tiburon, when they don’t have any Tiburon listings?  Is this more ”truthiness?”

 *As of February 28th, 2008 this company did not have one listing in Tiburon according to the MLS, and the agents in this office
    

Del Mar Middle School Gets a Distinct Honor

     The Del Mar Middle School has made its way onto a rather exclusive honors list.  Representatives from Apple Computer recognized Del Mar as one of only 18 schools in the nation to receive designation as an Apple Distinguished School.  Apple singled out Del Mar for implementing the district’s Millennial Classroom program, in which each student receives a laptop computer for use throughout the school year.

The full story for this article,by Judity Wilson, appeared in the February 20, 2008 issue of the Ark Newspaper

What Real Estate Slump?

      The Bay Area’s rich are still snapping up high-end properties for record sums. On Friday, a mystery shopper agreed to buy the unfinished penthouse at the Millennium Tower for $11 million. That’s $2,288.81 for each of the San Francisco property’s 4,800 square feet, a range rarely exceeded even when the space is built out – that is to say, when it actually includes walls and finishes.The buyer, who wasn’t identified per the building owner’s policy, put down $1 million to begin the escrow process.

     The deal is further evidence that people are willing to pay ever higher prices for luxury Bay Area real estate, particularly downtown San Francisco condominiums, even as thousands of average homeowners are wrestling with plummeting prices and fighting off the specter of foreclosure. High-end homes operate in their own universe because the availability is limited and the very wealthy are largely immune to the main factors dragging down the broader market.
    
     “On the upper end, it has definitely gone up,” said Alan Mark of the Mark Co., a marketing and research firm for the condominium industry. “There’s a deep market for large, high-end condominium residences that have great views.”     New York-based Millennium Partners is developing the $500 million, 60-story glass structure at 301 Mission St., which is scheduled to open in spring 2009. Sales began in November and despite an average price tag of $2.5 million, the company is well ahead of its goals, said Richard Baumert, managing director with Millennium.

    “The momentum has been pretty strong since the day we opened,” he said.

    And not just at the Millennium.

    During the fourth quarter of last year, 40 condos and single-family homes traded hands in San Francisco for more than $3 million – adding up to a total of $213.8 million in real estate sales.    That’s up from 22 sales for $119.4 million a year earlier.

   The trend has continued into the new year:

– A six-bedroom, five-bath home listed for $6.45 million in Ross went into escrow in January.

– A three-bedroom, two-bath property on 113 acres in Calistoga sold for $6 million on Feb. 7.

– An eight-bedroom, 9 1/2-bath house in Hillsborough traded hands for $11 million. It went on the market Jan. 28, sold on Jan. 29 and closed on Feb. 5.

– Units that sold at the St. Regis Hotel and Residences in San Francisco two years ago are trading for 50 percent more today.

     These deals are occurring even as the broader market tumbles, with resale homes in the nine-county Bay Area falling 43.7 percent in January and median prices dropping nearly 9 percent from a year earlier, according to DataQuick Information Systems.

     The high-end market is experiencing the opposite trend primarily because things like tight credit, prices that outpace incomes and subprime mortgages aren’t of particular concern to the wealthy, who can often pay all cash.

     And while there is a glut of inventory in markets hammered by foreclosures, the supply of very high-end homes is extremely tight across the region. A five-year wait for a premium property in a tony San Francisco neighborhood is not uncommon, said Malin Giddings, who specializes in upscale San Francisco real estate for TRI Coldwell Banker.

     “We have so many more buyers who have money than we have inventory,” she said. “I don’t care how much money you have, I cannot make people move.”

     On top of that, more people are becoming wealthy, as the rich are getting richer – creating additional demand that pushes prices higher.

     The top 1 percent of California’s taxpayers saw their income jump 107.7 percent from 1995 to 2005, after adjusting for inflation, according to a California Budget Project report last year. Similarly, Forbes reported late last year that the collective net worth of the individuals on its 400 richest list grew $290 billion from the prior year to $1.54 trillion.

    “The affluence in the U.S. is the greatest it has ever been,” said Richard Welty, president of Welty Capital Management in Lafayette. “They’re taking (money) out of investments and buying that dream house.”

This article appeared on page C – 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle  2/16/2008

Marin Dream House Winners

      I’ve been flooded with emails wondering who won the Dream House raffle in San Rafael, California.  Here is the link to the Marin Independent Journals article listing the winners.  The man from Washington State that won the 2.1 million dollar dream house opted to take cash instead.

     Here’s the link: Winners Marin County Dream House
     And, even thought this home is located in Santa Cruz, here is the link for another
 Dream House Raffle: 1.4 Million Dollar Santa Cruz Dream House  

Thanks to one and all for your inquires and support of this web site.  Truly, thank you!

To Buy or Not to Buy?

      Now that we’ve seen the real estate market shift by varying degrees in different neighborhoods throughout the Bay Area, is it still hip to flip…real estate?  Or, to buy or not to buy?     “Flipping” a home in the conventional sense means to purchase an undervalued property, and then refurbish and resell it to turn a profit.  Obviously there are certain parts of our country where those real estate markets have been devastated by the downturn of their local markets along with the mortgage industry’s “melt-down.” With the degree of risks involved, you’d think this would dissuade most rational people from attempting to purchase a property in a down market.  Or, should it?      Each situation, property, and market is unique unto itself.  For the first time in a while buyers are starting to see opportunities that didn’t exist before.  If you’re a buyer with good credit, the ability to put down a down payment, and have some reserves (savings, investments, ect.), you might just find yourself in the driver’s seat in today’s real estate market.  Inventory is up, sales are down, and some buyers are now realizing the advantages and opportunities.     Now more than ever, buyers and sellers need to understand their marketplace  Hopefully, they’ve associated  themselves with a reputable realtor that understands that changes are taking place almost daily.  Working with an experienced realtor that will tell you what you need to hear, not what you’d like to hear, is critical.      The last two times the real estate market fell off in the Bay Area was after the 1989 Loma Preita Earthquake and after the horrific event on September 11th in New York City.  Understandably people were very concerned ,and very cautious, about buying and selling at that time.  Curiously though, quite a few homes sold after those events in the Bay Area, and a year or two later, proved to be some of the best buys in the last 20 years.       Is this the time to be buying real estate?  Historically, even when the market has dropped off, there are some neighborhoods within the Bay Area that seem immune to market conditions.  Occasionally a home might come up in one of these neighborhoods that just sits on the market before someone even attempts to make an offer.  And, after it sells, the neighbors are sometimes shocked when they find out what it sold for.  What I’m trying to say here is that you never know what you can do until you try.  Yes, sometimes it takes time, knowledge of the marketplace, persistence, patience, an experienced professional to guide you through the maze, and sometimes a little luck.  But, you might find out in a year or two (or more?) when market dynamics revert back to more of a seller’s market, it was a good time to buy!

Matchmaking, finding that perfect person or property online!

* Stop reading now if you are even remotely humor impaired or comedically challenged!           Yesterday’s man or woman used to think, “if I need to find someone this way, I’m already lost!” But today, someone might say, ” I don’t have enough time to drive around and look at all the open houses/a potential homebuyer’s version of “speed dating”, so maybe I can use this service!”        We’ve all seen those ads for E-Harmony -  where this scary looking guy comes out and tells us how great his dating service is,  and then tries to convince us that it’s all scientific, and that people are matched on 92 points of compatibility! Yeah, right …       E-Harmony people are just regular folks like yourself,  not circus freaks, drooling sexual perverts, or couch humping Scientologists.  (Perish the thought) The product of your union wil be an “Everlasting Love!”, not some head revolving, vomit spewing, bed wetting, priest cursing, ungrateful devil child, that you’ll have to support till you’re 18. (okay, maybe I have some issues) But … if you’re still a hopeless romantic, a word of advice … look beyond the curb appeal!        Speaking of which … matchmaking and the promise of finding that perfect property is also here today!        No doubt every prospective buyer, seller, and real estate agent has heard of the Multiple Listing Service. The real estate agent’s “on the make” equivalent of a dating service.  Real estate agents even have their own codes to help inform potential suitors.  Possibly E-Harmony might want to implement this kind of methodology, as you’ll soon see, into their 92 reasons to run for the hills! (The following is gender specific … feel free to substitute whatever gender makes this PC for you … or not!)*New: A new listing!  The competition will be lining up for the first dance!  A new listing has that “special glow!” … for now.*Active: Active listing.  This gals has been danced around, but so far, no one wants to marry her.*DOM: Days on the Market.  Everyone watches this number,  like the date on a milk carton. It is an indication of freshness.  The longer she sits on the shelf, the less desirable she becomes.*CC: Contingent, but continue to show.  She says she’s engaged, but there’s no ring on her finger - the “due diligence period.”   The wedding may still be called off,  especially if the finances don’t measure up!*BOM: Back on the market.  ewww…something could be wrong here.  Definitely not a first choice.  But if it’s 2a.m., and you’re drunk out of your skull and getting desperate, she might look pretty good.  Of course, you may have to overlook that little hump, the lazy eye, and her spooky resemblence to Karl Malden.*TW: Temporarily withdrawn.   She’s not pretty, and she knows it.  She realizes that if she wants more interest, she’s gonna have to get a face lift, fix herself up, start going to the gym, and maybe buy a wonder bra.*EXPIRED: Listed, but never sells.  She thinks she’s Paris Hilton, but she looks more like Yoda after a night of heavy drinking.*PENDING: Okay, she’s bought the dress, had the rehearsal dinner, picked out the china pattern, and the wedding march has started.  Potentially the groom can still back out and run screaming up the aisle.  (Of course, such things usually only happen in the movies … still, there’s always the chance.)*SOLD:  They’re married!  Happily?  Who cares!?  It’s re-harmony! (Cue music) ” This will be an everlasting love …”That is, till he discovers that she has a raging case of dry rot in her basement, terminal fung sway, and a sagging back porch.  Oh well …

Sausalito Tugboats with the Sleeping Maiden’s full figure in the backdrop(Mount Tamalpais)

Tiburon and Belvedere Real Estate   *   2008

What’s Hot and What’s Not in 2008!

  Pockets?  If you’re a buyer in today’s Bay Area Real Estate market then you know exactly what pockets are. While most of the country is experiencing a declining Real Estate market, some neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area are defying that trend.  There are certain ”pockets”  that are still ”en fuego”, and in some instances homes for sale in these neighborhoods/pockets are receiving “multiple offers!”
      Nationally, experts like Robert Shiller of the Case-Shiller Home Price Index Case-Shiller Home Price Index  continue to issue predictions that 2008 will be another year of grim reaping.  One would think this kind of information would elate would be home buyers.  Unfortunately, this spectre of the real estate boom’s death isn’t helping anyone focused on certain neighborhoods/pockets in San Francisco and Marin County, where interest is still running high.
     Recently, a new not too pricey home in San Francisco came on the market, and before most buyers could even preview the home, the owners had received nine offers.  At the same time there are homes on the market in northern Marin County that appear to be priced competitively, yet they continue to sit on the market?  
     What does this mean to buyers and sellers in today’s market?  For buyers and sellers they need to align with a reputable professional realtor that knows what areas are hot, and which are not.  Most buyers that have been out looking already know where the hot pockets are.   And, for Sellers that are serious about selling their homes and want to get the highest price possible with the best terms and conditions, this information is critical.

Greetings From Marin County!

By Pat Ryan…Artista Extrodinaire!

For Sale By Owner vs. Real Estate Agents

  TEN REASONS WHY YOU NEED A REALTOR TO SELL YOUR HOUSE1. The 2 most important considerations when selling a home is Price and Exposure. If your home has been on the market and has not sold it’s one of 2 things. It wasn’t priced right, or didn’t receive the right kind of exposure/marketing.

    For a house that has already been on the market, in a relatively strong real estate market (the Marin Real Estate market peaked in July and August of 2005 and is still strong in some areas of Southern Marin) to bring it back on in a declining market as a For Sale By Owner, for many is seen as an act of desperation.

    These sellers, even with a price reduction don’t seem to understand why they seem to only attract bottom feeders and predatory buyers looking for a steal … or realtors, that only chase listings that have expired and For Sale By Owners that they hope they can convert into a client.

2. If your house is not listed that means there is no assurances to the professional realtor that if they show your property, that their buyer might go around them and try and cut a deal with you. And, why not? It happens all the time. Some buyers, if they think they can save some money, will try anything.

    Without a listing agreement, there’s no guarantee that the buyer’s agent will be compensated. Even if the FSBO offers to pay the buyer’s side of the commission, most agents won’t want to go through a transaction with a self-represented seller across the table.

    This means the pool of potential buyers for FSBO homes is limited primarily to unrepresented and probably unqualified prospects.

3. For Sale By Owners is an attractive concept in a Seller’s market. However, when the market starts to turn cold history has shown that people tend to use Realtors.

4. In fact, a 2002 study on Home Sellers reports that the median sales price of an agent assisted home was 27% higher than ones sold By Owner.

5. For Sale By Owners are also locked out of many home search engines and Web sites including Realtor.com the number one site for buyers looking for homes for sale.

6. Buyers will feel intimidated. Potential buyers will spend less time in a FSBO home especially if the homeowner is present during the showing, and they’ll be shy about discussing it’s pluses and minuses with their own agent if the owner is within earshot.

7. Buyers will also be less inclined to make an offer if they know that they’ll be negotiating directly with the seller.

8. Having an agent on each side of the transaction creates an effective emotional buffer between the seller and buyer.

9. These are unusual times, the stock market and economic markets around the world are in a tailspin. Mortgage options are limited from what they had been, and the super jumbo loan rates have gone up significantly. This is not a good time to “test” the market.

10. And lastly, Buyers are worried about potential legal problems with For Sale By Owner sellers. As we all know real estate transactions are fraught with potential liability, particularly in California where there are extensive disclosure requirements. A For Sale By Owner who overlooks even one required form or legally mandated disclosure could face a protracted and expensive buyer lawsuit after the transaction closes.

Huge Storm Hits Marin County

 A huge storm hit Marin County today with hurricane winds up to 83 miles an hour.  In Tiburon, around 9:30am, a Sausalito man was in critical condition after being rescued in choppy waters off of Belvedere and the Tiburon Bike Path.  Attempting to secure a 60 foot tug boat one of the rescuers fell into the freezing waters with waves up to eight feet on the bay.  Ed Lynch, from the Tiburon Fire Department, said it took rescuers about 45 minutes to locate the victim among 6 to 8 foot waves (whipped up by 60-70 mph winds).  The 25  person rescue  effort included rescue swimmers, an inflatable vessel, a US Coast Guard Helipcopter, and a County deployed rescue team.
The Marin Independent Journal Storm Coverage

U.S.Coast Guard Helicopter begins rescue  (9:25am 1/4/2008)

Tiburon Police Car on Bike Path (this picture was taken 9:35am January 4, 2008)
Four Tiburon Police cars and two Belvedere Police cars help rescue teams from
shore locate man who fell into bay.

40 Foot Boat breaks loose from Sausalito and lands on Tiburon shores

Happy New Year!

All the best in 2008!   Mark Lomas   415-789-7777     MDLomas@gmail.com

Median Price Malarky

        The top headline in the November 16, 2007 Marin Independent Journal “Median Leaps to $978,000″ is not only misleading, but it borders on irresponsisble jounalism.  The problem lies in the statistics, and how they are misinterpreted by the media and public.  According to the Marin County Assessor, there are 61,500 detached single family homes and 13, 259 condo/townhouses in Marin.   This is the “population” used for the statistics.  These residences range from one bedroom condos to large estates.      The statistical problem with this population is that it is highly non-homogeneous.  Each month, only a very small percentage of these homes sell (200 to 300) and they are the only ones included in the statistics. More important, each month it is a different sub-set of homes that sell, so to compare the median price from one month to another month is absolutely meaningless, the IJ is comparing apples to oranges.     The median price statistic is rising because more high priced homes are selling and fewer lower priced homes are selling.  The president of the Marin Association of Realtors pointed this out in the article?   Because of this change in the mix, it is  incorrect to conclude that home prices in general are rising or are even flat.  Unfortunately, most of your readers will misinterpret the statistics…especially with headlines like ” Marin Real Estate Prices Climb Again!”     If you look at individual neighborhoods throughout Central and Northern Marin, you will see a mostly downward trend in selling prices with many sellers offering incentives to attract the few serious buyers.  Lender foreclosure sales are also starting to have an impact.  Lenders are starting to “dump” foreclosed properties to get them off thier books.     The fact that the number of sales is dropping (down 30 percent) is another indicator that supply and demand are out of balance and exposes the meaninglessness of the median price statistic.   How can prices be rising if demand is declining?   This is basic Economics 101….supply and demand.   With the exception of some prime Southern Marin properties, buyers can pick and choose, but mostly they are not buying at all.     If the IJ is going to report the median price home statistic, it would at least be helpful to include a disclaimer in the article that the statistic is completely meaningless for determining price trends.This editorial was reprinted with permission from it’s author, Keith Marsh, who is a certified appraiser in San Anselmo.  Keith’s phone number at work is: 415-456-9836 and his web site is: Keith Marsh

Mortgage Market Trends

     The following information has been gathered from fairly reliable sources over the last twelve days.  The opinions are those of the individual, and may not reflect this web sites point of view.  The information provided here, I believe, contributes to an “open forum” or “atmosphere” for ideas that might benefit the general public, and real estate professionals.     This post begins with a link to an article published a week ago in the Marin Independent Journal newspaper:Marin Independent Journal’s Foreclosure Article followed by a response from Fred Morfit of Elite Lending Services:“I’ve had enough! This is what I sent to the IJ after reading yesterday’s front page.  Your article of Sunday rightly points out that the effect on Marin of the upswing in home foreclosures is relatively modest.  Too bad that wasn’t what the headline said.  “Not Immune” and the lead pragraph about the fellow in Mill Valley who lost his home is hardly representative of the rest of the market or the rest of your article.  As sad as Mr.Minto’s story is, it is the logical result for someone who has lost a job and fallen behind on their mortgage payments.  You don’t need a “credit crunch”, a “foreclosure spike”, or a “mortgage meltdown” for that to happen.  If you don’t make your car payments someone from the bank will repo it.  If you don’t pay your light bill you’ll find yourself sitting in the dark.  If you don’t make your mortgage payment you’ll be sitting in the street.

By way of factual correction: 2nd mortgages aren’t “sold” in the course of refinancing as Mr.Minto claimed.  They are simply paid off.  As for the matter of him not being able to refinance: good.  Any lender who would have financed Mr.Minto’s home knowing he had no income source (therefore ability to make the payments) would have been making a truly sub-prime loan.  Isn’t that what got us into this mess in the first place?

Mr.Minto was a poor example used to make the wrong point.  The right point is that despite the problems there is good news in the Marin Real Estate market.  Values are, for the most part, holding.  THe investors are returning to the secondary market so interest rates on jumbo loans are coming down.  If there is a problem it’s that the buyers are inundated with the “Sky is Falling!” tales from all the media outlets which is making them as skittish as feral cats.  It’s time to stop preaching doom and gloom unless you have some vested interest in self-fulfilliing prophesies.  Say it often enough and eventually you will be right!”Fred Morfit: 415-383-8836 / fred@fredloanguy.comWasserman – Boston GlobeFred Anlyan’s “Anlyan Report”MBA and Broker Associate11/4/2007: “This is a healthy market where buyers and sellers who are prepared to negotiate in good faith are having great success every day.  For those who’ve been waiting to see what the market will do, the upcoming holiday lull may present just the opportunity you’re looking for.  My guess is the spring market will be a very active one.  Experienced real estate professionals know the market, they know the neighborhoods, and they know values. 11/8/2007: “Regarding the Condominium market in Marin County only two units have sold in the past week, but enough condo’s went Pending to push the percentage in contract over 15% making this area very much a “buyers market.” Condo’s in Marin continue to be a great opportunity for buyers.Facts about the Marin County Real Estate market:1. The number of single family homes over $1 million available for sale today is 15.7% greater than 2005 and 8.2% less than in 2006.2. The number of single family homes under $1 million for sale today is 71% greater than in 2005, but 3% less than in 20063. The number of condominiums under $1 million available for sale today is 124.8% greater than in 2005, and 1.6% less than in 2006.  

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Bubble Bloggers, Virtual Doom and Gloomers with an occassional hint of humor

  This is not an endorsement of some profoundly virtual negative types. But, in the hope of creating (and maintaining) an open forum for ideas (whether you agree with these bloggers or not) here’s a little piece from the dark side of real estate blogs.  If you can look past the underlying bitterness that’s laced throughout these blogs, you’ll find that there are occassionally some creative insights, and great ideas.  Also, and this is the best part, the sarcasm and humor here is often pretty funny. Don’t take any of this too seriously , and enjoy.

Bubble Blogger links:

Reality Parser

The Housing Bubble Blog

Bubble Meter

Piggington

Paper Money

Housing Bubble Bust

Housing Panic

Housing Doom

Dr. Housing Bubble

House Bubble

Bubble Blogger’s Glossary:(the humor)Homedebtor (recent homebuyer): Perpetual debtor who will probably never own the house outright, thanks to cyclical refinancing (used to fund conspicuous consumption) and property taxes.Serial Refinancer: A homedebtor who is addicted to mortgage refinancing as a street addict is to crack. This type typically refinances several times a year for the purpose of “liberating” more equity to purchase such essentials as exotic vacations, plasma TVs, massive humvess, and anything bling!Loanowner: Another synonym for homedebtor, that more accurately describes what one really owns.Jealous Bitter Renter aka JBR: Someone who pays a homedebtor for the right to live in his home at a huge discount. (No downside risk of falling property prices, rising property taxes, or maintenence nightmares)Sheeple: Derogatory term for the vast herds of Homedebtors unaware of the bubble’s existenceAlligator: Investment property that eats more income than it generates, such as a neg-am Florida condo purchased in the last two years.McAlbatross: Play on McMansion. Homedebtor that cannot sell home. Described as living “under house arrest”Accidental Landlord: Cannot sell house and finds oneself in the position of becoming an unintentional landllord. This type is easy to spot.  Usually has simultaneous “for rent” and “for sale” listings on Craigslist.  Careful if you rent from an Accidental Landlord, if they sell house, the new owner may not honor the prior rental agreement.Buyer-User: Industry term for someone who buys a home to actually live in it.  An increasingly rare and endangered species.     Obviously, if you’ve found yourself caught between a rock and a hard spot none of this is too funny, and you have my deepest sympathies.  Markets run in cycles.  It is my belief that the market peaked in July and August of 2005.  As long as there are no acts of God (Earthquakes, Hurricanes, ect.) or terrorist attacks, this current market should turn around in the next couple of years.  Some areas of the country may take longer than others.   So, be careful, cautious, and talk to a reputable Realtor as to what your best options are.  All the best!

Congress and the Mortgage Industry

      Top economic minds have been clamoring for federal action to help out the estimated 2 million people who are in danger of losing their homes.  It may take more dire circumstances to push Congress ,and President Bush to do something.  Why aren’t the candidates running for the Presidency in 2008 making more of an issue out of this?     President Bush has suggested that borrowers could refinance their mortgages with fixed rate loans under a cautious remedy proposed by Bush.  This will only apply to the 80,000 who have 3% equity in their home and can prove their original loan was being repaid until it was reset.     Congress is divided on measures that would ease mortgage problems. Proposals include federally chartered mortgage companies to help refinance delinquent mortgages held by the kind of people that Bush’s plan won’t cover.     Later this month the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates, which would lower monthly payments for those struggling to pay their adjustable rate mortgages.  The Fed has issued guidelines urging loan service companies to work with borrowers who are in danger of default.     Banks could renegotiate loans.  The problem with that is that banks often sell their home loans to investors, so the original lender no longer has a stake in the credit.     The bottom line is that if the Fed doesn’t lower interest rates, more needs to be done.*  The mortgage industry can’t rely on the President and Congress to come to any kind of agreement. And, if that ever happened , how long before that could be implemented?     The American economy, since 1995, has been driven by the housing market.  Now, more than ever, we need some leadership from within the Mortgage Industy and Congress.  Stay tuned, this story seems to rewrite itself every day.*Yesterday discussions began regarding Fannie Mae and Freddie Back freezing some forthcoming rate increases for some adjustable loans that are set to reset.  This was seen as a positive beginning but right now we’re only in the theorhetical stages, so stayed tuned to see what happens.

Win $2,100,000 “Dream Home” in Marin County, California!

                                                      

if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById(‘articleViewerGroup’).style.width = requestedWidth + “px”; document.getElementById(‘articleViewerGroup’).style.margin = “0px 0px 10px 10px”; }  A San Rafael-based nonprofit is hoping to fund its programs for the poor by offering raffle ticket buyers the chance to win a San Rafael “dream home” priced at $2.1 million.    Community Action Marin – which operates 15 programs that focus on mental health services, early childhood development, HIV/AIDS, food programs, the homeless and more – will sponsor three drawings over the next five months. In addition to the house, which is the grand prize, Community Action Marin will give away 349 smaller cash prices, ranging from $300 to $25,000.    ”The fact that the local anti-poverty agency is raffling off a $2.1 million house is a little ironic,” said Gail Theller, the agency’s exective director.    But recent cuts in funding by the Marin Community Foundation, the federal government and the state government left Community Action Marin with little choice, Theller said.    The nonprofit lost about $200,000 a year in funding from the Marin Community Foundation recently when the foundation’s trustees decided to take money away from ongoing programs so they could finance new initiatives. In addition, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger eliminated funding for a homeless program that served the mentally ill when he sliced $703 million in health spending from the new budget. That move cut $500,000 a year from Community Action Marin’s budget, Theller said.    Stacy Swor, a Mill Valley lawyer who has been on the agency’s board for 18 years, said, “The truth of the matter is we’re being bled to death. Believe me, we’ve tried everything. Bake sales and car washes just don’t do it these days.    ”People are willing to support a charity if they can see something for their money,” Swor said. “What we’re faced with is ongoing operational expenses, and those are expenses that are just about to get contributions for.”   Although this is the first time that a nonprofit in Northern California has used such a raffle to generate revenue, the practice has gained popularity in Southern California, where it has been used by St. Jude Medical Center, school districts and cultural organizations, Theller said. A law passed by the California Legislature in 2001 made it legal for nonprofits to conduct such raffles.    Still, the agency took no chances, Theller said. It checked with the state attorney general’s office and the Marin County district attorney before proceeding with the raffle.    Community Action Marin has hired Neal Martin, a former high school school teacher who oversaw a similar raffle for a college prepatory school in Watsonville, to manage the raffle. Mount Madonna School sold 19,000 raffle tickets costing $150 each and raised about $1 million for the school while paying out a grand prize of about $1 million, Martin said. Community Action Marin expects to do better than that.    ”We are convinced we are going to net $2.2 million,” Theller said.   Because Community Action Marin is also charging $150 per raffle ticket, it needs to sell 35,000 tickets to meet that goal. The prizes will be paid for with proceeds from ticket sales. If fewer tickets are sold than expected, Community Action Marin has reserved the right to reduce the size of the grand prize – to an even split of the raffle’s total profits. The grand prize winner also has the option of a $1.7 million cash prize in lieu of the “dream house.”    Theller said she found the house at 204 Southern Heights Blvd. in San Rafael by mailing letters to 100 people who were trying to sell homes in Marin. If the grand prize winner does opt for the cash, the owner of the house will be paid for holding the house out of the market for six months, Theller said. She declined to say how much.    Theller said she thought it would be difficult finding a homeowner willing to take their house off the market for so long, but half of the people contacted expressed interest. The owner of the San Rafael house had priced the home at $2.1 million, and will be paid that amount if the prize winner chooses the house.    People who buy the raffle tickets will know that they’re giving to a worthy cause, Martin said.    ”It’s not a mystery – unlike the state lottery where the funds from the state lottery are going to end up being budgeted in the next fiscal year,” Martin said.    Nevertheless, raffle winners will get no special treatment from the Internal Revenue Service. Like any raffle or lottery, prizes over $5,000 are subject to a 25 percent government tax, Martin said.(This article was written by Richard Halstead and was posted on the Marin Independent Journals web site: 9/6/2007)COMMUNITY ACTION MARIN’S ‘DREAM HOME’ RAFFLE ADDRESS: 204 Southern Heights Blvd., San RafaelSIZE: 4,400 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms; quarter-acre lotDESCRIPTION: Bay views, chef’s kitchen, lush landscaping, library suite, all-new appliances, infinity pool, gated entryCOST OF RAFFLE TICKET: $150HOW TO ENTER: By phone, 800-431-5166; by mail, CAM Dream House Raffle, 29 Mary St., San Rafael, CA 91949; or by fax at 415-738-7664.                                                    GRAND-PRIZE DRAWING: Feb. 9, 2008

 

Mortgage Trends in Marin County

     As simply as possible…     Due to the price of real estate in Marin County the “Jumbo Loan” is the primary loan that is used. The guidelines offered here are in a state of flux due to the changing mortgage environment.  Due to the mortgage liquidity crisis, and the record number of defaults, the requirements or guidelines have become more stringent during the last couple of months.     A “Jumbo Loan” is any loan amount in excess of $417,000 and is also refered to as a “non-conforming loan.”   Conforming loans are any loan up to $417,000.  There are rumors that Fannie Mae will soon be increasing those limits in California     First time buyers will need at least 10% to put down, and have a minimum FICO score of 680.  There are other programs for buyers that are available.  Here’s a quick overview:Loan: $750,000       5% down      FICO Minimum: 660      3 months of reservesLoan: $1,000,000   10%down      FICO Minimum: 660      3 months of reservesLoan: $2,000,000   20%down      FICO Minimum: 700      3 months of reservesLoan: $3,000,000   20%down      FICO Minimum: 680     12months of reservesLoan: $5,000,000   30%down      FICO Minimum: 700     18months of reserves     As mentioned above, these guidelines are in a state of flux, and could change at any time.     Now, more than ever, a buyer needs a loan agent/mortgage broker that is experienced and knowledgeable. I recommend working with a local professional to assist you.  I’ve heard stories from various mortgage professionals about multiple offers (yes, they still happen) in Marin County and San Francisco, where the buyer made an offer with a Pre-Approval letter from an online lender, and those offers weren’t even considered in the process.     When you make an offer in today’s market, and the listing agent for the seller cannot directly call that lender if they have any questions (whatever time it may be/day or night), you are at a distinct disadvantage.      Any questions?Some of the information for this post was provided by:Dominic Pomilia      Manager, First Security Loan in Mill Valley      415-381-7015Anthony Dailley      Indy Mac Bank, Retail Lending Division          415-706-1495

Buying in Today’s Real Estate Market

 In today’s real estate market, with all the recent changes in the Mortgage Industry, prospective buyers should:1. Get prequalified by a Mortgage Brokers or Lender.  If you did this prior to August 2007, you’ll need to get prequalified again.  Take the time to talk to a Mortgage Broker or Lender.  Their specific questions in regard to income, debt, ect. will help you determine the price range you can afford.  It is a very important step on the path to home ownership.2. Have the home your considering purchasing inspected by reputable home inspector.  Qualified home inspectors will detect issues that many buyers can overlook.  There are many different kinds of inspections you will want to consider.  Some of the basic inspections people typically order are: 1.Contractors Inspection 2.Pest Control Inspection 3.Engineer Inspection and 4.Roof Inspection. If possible, attending these inspection can prove to be a very valuable experience.3. Be careful not to limit your search for properties to open houses, ads, or the internet.  Oftentime, homes that you’ll find in a real estate magazine or on the internet (if they are priced properly) have already been sold.  Your best course of action is to contact a reputable realtor that can work in tandem with your parameters for finding a home.  As a Realtor, I have up to date information that isn’t always available to the general public including pocket listings that myself or other associates might have or be aware of.  “Pocket Listings” are homes that are not on the Multiple Listing Service.   Sellers that do not want to formely list their home for sale, but are willing to sell their home, will use this methodology sometimes.4. Choose a Realtor that is commited to forming a strong business relationship with you.  Making a connection with the right Realtor is crucial.  Choose a professional who is dedicated to serving your needs – before, during, and after the sale!5. Buying a home is a process of elimination, not selection.  New properties come on the market every day so be open to all possibilities.  When you think you’ve found the home you want have your Realtor prepare a comparative market analysis for you.  This compares similar homes that have recently sold, or are still for sale.6. Consider your long term needs.  It’s important to think ahead.  Will the home your considering buying fit your needs in 3 to 5 years?7. Purchase adequate Homeowner’s Insurance.  Advice from an insurance agent can provide you with answers to any concerns you may have.8. Purchase a Home Protection Plan.  This is not related to your homeowner’s insurance but is essentially a mini insurance policy that usually last one year from close of escrow.  It usually covers basic repairs you may encounter and can be purchased for a nominal fee.  Talk to your Realtor to help you find the Home Protection Plan you need.9. Know the total costs involved!  Early in the buying process you should talk to your lender (and Title Company officer/representative as soon as you open Escrow)  for an estimate of closing costs.  Title Company and any attorney fees should be considered.  Prepaying through the Escrow process Homeowner’s Association Fees and Home Insurance must be taken into account. Also, remember to examine your closing or settlement statement prior to closing.10. Due Diligence: Buyers should make a list of any concerns they have relating to issues such as crime rates, schools, power lines, neighbors, environmental conditions ect.  Ask the questions before making an offer on a home.  Be diligent, so that you can have confidence in your purchase.

Selling in Today’s Real Estate Market

 When I represent Sellers my goal is not to simply sell their house, but to help them realize the best possible price obtainable for their property, with the best terms and conditions, in the shortest period of time.  To help achieve this goal I provide proven marketing techniques on how to prepare your home for sale.  These suggestions require a minimum amount of time and expense to complete and are designed to make your house stand out from the competition.     Did you know that within 15 seconds a buyer has developed an opinion of your property? This is why establishing the right first impression is critical to achieving a successful sale.  The following is an outline of those elements which will create the overall first impressions, including suggestions on how to make sure the buyer reacts as favorably as possible.                                                                                              The best way to make a buyer “feel at home” is to create an enviroment similar to that found in a model home.  Obviously, you cannot recreate the feeling of a perfect display home without starting from scratch, but there are some valuable techniques that can be learned.  When you walk into a model home you will notice several key points:   * The environment is neutral.   * The colors and interior decorating accent the home’s features.   * The smell is new and clean   * The sound is either quiet or enhanced by subtle background music.   * All details are looked after, from manicuring the lawn to a floral arrangement in the entry.      This is the first in a series of Tips for Sellers.  In my next posts I will be offering suggestions to help enhance your homes exterior, interior, and other areas of your property. PART ONE

Tips For Sellers Part Two

INTERIORS: 
  
     Appeal to the senses: There are many ways to create a more exciting and saleable interior, at surprisingly little cost.  I’ll briefly discuss the sensory selling tools that can have an enormous impact, then provide you with some suggestions:
LIGHT:   It is proven that people react more favorably to property shown under bright light than dark.  The following steps should help you keep your room as bright as possible.  Keep windows clean.  Use adequate wattage in light bulbs. Consider replacing old florescent lamps.  Use mirrors to magnify the feeling of light and space.  Use light wall colors.  Open drapes and blinds and turn on lights prior to showing.
COLOR: A fundemental rule when selling your house is to keep colors neutral and light.   Avoid highly patterened wallpaper whenever possible.  Limit bright colors to accents like flowers, towels,area rugs, and shower curtains.
SOUND: The sounds of peace and quiet are some of the best sounds to have when your home is being shown to a prospective buyer.  Other consideratons are: Avoid barking dogs and noisy children, if possible. Avoid sounds like vacumns,dishwashers,and lawn mowers.  Light classical or instrumental music can be effective to creating a pleasing atmosphere.
SMELL: Smell has more impact than you might expect.  The smell of newness is positive. Also, the smell of cleanliness is important to the selling enviroment of your home.  Fresh flowers can be very effective. Smells to avoid are: pet odors,tobacco,cooking,and oil or gas.

PREPARING THE INTERIOR:
ENTRY: The entry is where the first impression of the interior is created.  Here you have the opportunity to make a big statement in a small area.  If need be: Repaint the entry using light, neutral colorss. Tile or linoleum flooring should shine.  Replace plastic switch plate covers with brass or porcelain.  A new hall light fixture can make a big impression.  Make sure area is well lit.

KITCHEN: The kitchen is perhaps the most important room in the house.  Make sure the kitchen is virtually spotless and smells fresh.  Consider replacing outdated light fixtures with new track lighting.  If your appliances are dated by colors like harvest gold or avocado, consider having them professionally refinished in a new color like almond or white.  This will make the appliances look new at a fraction of the cost to replace them.  Spruce up cabinets by installing new knobs or hardware.  Organize cabinets to demonstrate how much room you have.  Remove small kitchen appliances from countertops to create an uncluttered look.  Chipped or damaged countertops should be replaced or repaired.

BATHROOMS:  The bathroom has become an important selling feature in today’s home.  It is a room that has moved from the utilitarian to the exciting.  There are many ways you can improve deficiencies and create interest by: Placing a vase of fresh flowers on the vanity. Install a wall telephone for a high tech look. Replace old toilet seat with a new one. Replace old light fixture with a new style light strip or make up light. Refinish an old porcelain tub using a porcelain finishing service.  Place all personal care articles out of sight.  Freshen air with lemon scented products.  Replace old towel racks with new ones.  Add color and richness with new towels and shower curtain.

LIVING ROOM: Use mirrors whenever possible to enhance the perception of size. Show fireplace off to its best advantage.  Sweep clean and make sure screen is in good condition.  Remember buyers look for “impressive living rooms!”

BEDROOMS: The bedrooms can do as much to sell your house as they can to turn off a buyer. Make sure the bedrooms are spotless.  Organize closets to increase their perceived size.  Bedrooms should be well lit.

THE END RESULT:  By showing attention to detail and understanding the buyer’s need to visualize your house against a neutral backdrop, you can dramatically increase the saleability of your property.   And, I will be very happy to assist you with recommendations to help your house sell for the highest price, with the best terms and conditions, in the shortest time possible.

Tips For Sellers Part Three

INTERIORS: 
  
     Appeal to the senses: There are many ways to create a more exciting and saleable interior, at surprisingly little cost.  I’ll briefly discuss the sensory selling tools that can have an enormous impact, then provide you with some suggestions:
LIGHT:   It is proven that people react more favorably to property shown under bright light than dark.  The following steps should help you keep your room as bright as possible.  Keep windows clean.  Use adequate wattage in light bulbs. Consider replacing old florescent lamps.  Use mirrors to magnify the feeling of light and space.  Use light wall colors.  Open drapes and blinds and turn on lights prior to showing.
COLOR: A fundemental rule when selling your house is to keep colors neutral and light.   Avoid highly patterened wallpaper whenever possible.  Limit bright colors to accents like flowers, towels,area rugs, and shower curtains.
SOUND: The sounds of peace and quiet are some of the best sounds to have when your home is being shown to a prospective buyer.  Other consideratons are: Avoid barking dogs and noisy children, if possible. Avoid sounds like vacumns,dishwashers,and lawn mowers.  Light classical or instrumental music can be effective to creating a pleasing atmosphere.
SMELL: Smell has more impact than you might expect.  The smell of newness is positive. Also, the smell of cleanliness is important to the selling enviroment of your home.  Fresh flowers can be very effective. Smells to avoid are: pet odors,tobacco,cooking,and oil or gas.

PREPARING THE INTERIOR:
ENTRY: The entry is where the first impression of the interior is created.  Here you have the opportunity to make a big statement in a small area.  If need be: Repaint the entry using light, neutral colorss. Tile or linoleum flooring should shine.  Replace plastic switch plate covers with brass or porcelain.  A new hall light fixture can make a big impression.  Make sure area is well lit.

KITCHEN: The kitchen is perhaps the most important room in the house.  Make sure the kitchen is virtually spotless and smells fresh.  Consider replacing outdated light fixtures with new track lighting.  If your appliances are dated by colors like harvest gold or avocado, consider having them professionally refinished in a new color like almond or white.  This will make the appliances look new at a fraction of the cost to replace them.  Spruce up cabinets by installing new knobs or hardware.  Organize cabinets to demonstrate how much room you have.  Remove small kitchen appliances from countertops to create an uncluttered look.  Chipped or damaged countertops should be replaced or repaired.

BATHROOMS:  The bathroom has become an important selling feature in today’s home.  It is a room that has moved from the utilitarian to the exciting.  There are many ways you can improve deficiencies and create interest by: Placing a vase of fresh flowers on the vanity. Install a wall telephone for a high tech look. Replace old toilet seat with a new one. Replace old light fixture with a new style light strip or make up light. Refinish an old porcelain tub using a porcelain finishing service.  Place all personal care articles out of sight.  Freshen air with lemon scented products.  Replace old towel racks with new ones.  Add color and richness with new towels and shower curtain.

LIVING ROOM: Use mirrors whenever possible to enhance the perception of size. Show fireplace off to its best advantage.  Sweep clean and make sure screen is in good condition.  Remember buyers look for “impressive living rooms!”

BEDROOMS: The bedrooms can do as much to sell your house as they can to turn off a buyer. Make sure the bedrooms are spotless.  Organize closets to increase their perceived size.  Bedrooms should be well lit.

THE END RESULT:  By showing attention to detail and understanding the buyer’s need to visualize your house against a neutral backdrop, you can dramatically increase the saleability of your property.   And, I will be very happy to assist you with recommendations to help your house sell for the highest price, with the best terms and conditions, in the shortest time possible.

Changes in the Mortgage Industry

     Your probably aware that there are problems in the mortgage industry in the sub prime and Alt-A lending arena.  The problems occured because underwriting standards became too lax.  This has resulted in higher incidences of mortgage defaults and foreclosures.
WHAT DO THESE CHANGES MEAN FOR THE LENDING INDUSTRY?
      * Some loan programs are being eliminated and underwriting guidelines are becoming more conservative.
      * The difference in interest rates between Conforming loans (less then $417,000) and Jumbo loans are 
      widening significantly, in some cases as much as 1.0% to 1.5%.
      * Fully documented loans are becoming the norm.  Stated income and asset loans will be requiring at least
      10% down and available only to well qualified buyers.
      * Mortgage insurance is coming back to help structure loans with less then 20% down.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO REALTORS?
      * Stated income buyers will need high credit scores (720+) and a minimum of 10% down
      * Agents should “re-approve” their buyers
      * Always carefully review pre-approval letters
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO SELLERS?
      * Work with a trusted realtor (like myself) and lender (I can help direct you here)
      * The market for seconds has momentarily dried up…some exceptions
 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO BUYERS?
      * If your currently in contract to purchase talk to your lender and make sure that there are not any issues
      with your loan due to recent industry changes.
      * If you were pre-approved before 8/1/2007 you need to have your lender re-verify your terms in writing.

Mortgage Industry Meltdown

What’s Happening?
     In recent weeks, lending criteria for home mortgages have tightened considerably, making it more difficult and expensive to borrow when purchasing or refinancing a house.
What Happened?
     First, housing prices, after enjoying a huge run up over several years began cooling. Then, many borrowers who had taken out mortgages with low teaser rates could not make payments when those variable rates reset.  Mortgage delinquencies and defaults, especially in the sub prime market, began rising.
     As a result the secondary market on Wall Street for sub prime and other risky home loans dried up. Most home loans are repackaged and sold to investors.  Now, faced with nowhere to sell those loans and get fresh capital, scores of lenders all over the United States have closed, went bankrupt, or stopped making certain kinds of loans.
How will this affect Real Estate Sales?
      In the short run the impact of this Mortgage “Crunch” may be profound.  Already in Marin County we’ve seen real estate transactions fall apart as lenders become more restrictive with their lending parameters. Right now, fewer of the remaining lenders are offering second mortgages, 100% financing, loans to people with poor credit, and “no doc” loans that require little evidence of income or assets.
      Even though there are some lenders that say they are still funding loans to those with good incomes, large down payments, and strong credit scores…consumers will pay higher loan fees to compensate for the fact that the market for repackaged loans is skittish and many lenders must keep these loans in their own portfolios.
      Stay tuned.  The immediate impact appears to be significant.  The Mortgage Brokers I’ve spoken to in Marin County believe this is temporary.  But truthfully, only time will tell.

If you need help check out:
www.bankrate.com  Free, online source for personal finance information. Has an entire section on mortgages and local rate comparisons.
Or, contact a reputable local mortgage broker!
 
     

     
    

What Realtors Do To Earn Their Commissions

What do Real Estate agents do to earn their commission ? Ever heard that question? Here’s a comprehensive and humorous take on that very question from a Home Inspector who’s worked closely with Real Estate practitioners.
   ”They don’t do @*!?&% thing! Why they just stick a sign in the yard and make easy money.  I could do their job any day of the week.”
   Well, maybe you could do their job.  But it just won’t be any day of the week.  And if you intend to be successful at it (which means satisfying a bunch of clients, mortgage lenders, appraisers, and countless other associates), it will probably be EVERY DAY of the week as well as most nights, weekends, holidays, anniversaries, special occasions, sick days, snow days, and unpaid vacation days.
   Understood, there are Real Estate agents, and then there are good Real Estate agents.  Just like Doctors, Lawyers, and Indian Chiefs.  This article is about the good ones.  The ones who go to work before,during, and after the times mentioned above.
   To serve their clients and stay competitive in their profession, today’s Real Estate agent are expected, assumed, requested, required, and or demanded to perform, be knowledgeable of or have access to the following: Information Brokerage Services, Multiple Listing Services, tax rate adviser, appraiser, mortgage lender,financial planner, legal expert, credit counselor, city planner (fortune teller),building inspector, chauffeur, shuttle service, travel agent, tour guide, delivery boy, order taker, public relations expert, therapist,marriage counselor, family doctor, nurse, baby sitter, advertising executive, general contractor, construction estimator and superintendent, and multi-talented subcontractor (not excluding locksmith, yard man, maintenance man, garbage man, plumber, electrician, decoder scientist for alarm systems and programmable thermostats).
   They’re often perceived as the bad guy when interest rates go up and the bad guy when your house doesn’t sell by 10am the next day.
   It’s helpful if their talents include being a diplomat, a negotiator, a referee (similar to those used in Roller Derby and Monday Night Wrestling) and, in general, a walking bureau of information for everything about anything – including whose check is good and whose wife or husband isn’t.
   They must know about schools, churches, governments, public utilities, crime rates, world affairs, this weeks jail term for this weeks Environmental Protection Agency violations, future developments that no one has ever dreamed up yet, transportation, shopping, day care, soccer, T-ball,how many termites it takes to eat a house, every homeowners association formed since 12 BC and what kind of fences they don’t allow, should you water and fertilize the Bermuda grass before, during, or after mowing, the best place in town to buy pizza, if you can buy beer on Sundays, and at least two dozen other skills and talents that I don’t have room to mention.
   So, be nice to your broker/agent.  Next time you start thinking. “They have it so easy”, go spend a day with them.  You’ll soon realize that, like most of us, they work hard for their money, and your satisfaction really is important to them.

Mark Lomas              Marin Real Estate Blog                    MarinCountyRealEstate@gmail.com

Marin County Leads State in Health, Education, and Financial Stability

 

if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById(‘articleViewerGroup’).style.width = requestedWidth + “px”; document.getElementById(‘articleViewerGroup’).style.margin = “0px 0px 10px 10px”; } A new study says Marin children and families are tops in the state in terms of health, educational success and financial stability, but experts caution the results do not include everyone.The 2007 California County Data Book, published by the Oakland-based nonpartisan group Children Now, ranked Marin County first among the state’s 58 counties in eight of 10 major indicators of children and family prosperity. They include economic well-being, mothers who receive early prenatal care, preschool enrollment and English and math proficiency across all grades.

Marin scored better than the state and Bay Area averages in 24 of 26 sub-categories that examined how many children are in good physical condition, pass state high school exit exams and meet entry requirements for both state university programs.

“Every time we look, Marin does extremely well,” said Corey Newhouse, a senior policy associate with Children Now.

Kay Wernert, chairwoman of the Marin County Child Care Commission and director of Marin Head Start, agreed that local children are receiving exceptional health care. But she said there is a big group of children unable to attend services such as preschool because their parents earn more than federal poverty guidelines,

not enough to afford those programs on their own.”They make too much, but they can’t qualify,” she said.

Newhouse said Children Now performs the California County Data Book study every two years. The 2007 study is the fourth.

She said California has cut in half the number of children without insurance during the past 10 years. But she said rural children around the state still lack health insurance and access to preschool programs.

Children who do not have access to those services

(Click to enlarge)

during their early years have more problems later in life, she said.In the category of children with health insurance, Marin came in second place with 98 percent covered. San Francisco topped Marin, but only because officials there provide free health insurance for all children.

Wernert, of the county’s child care commission, credits the Marin County Board of Supervisors for spending on health insurance programs for children who otherwise would not receive it. “There may be only 100 kids in Marin who don’t have health insurance,” she said.

In terms of preschool attendance Marin, at 74 percent, had the highest rate of 3- and 4-year-old children enrolled in the state.

“It should be no surprise to us that Marin County is in a strong position as it relates to the state,” said Mary Jane Burke, superintendent of the Marin County Office of Education.

Burke said there is room for improvement because not all local children have access to proper health care and perform well academically.

“We must not rest on the fact that we’re in a good position,” she said.

Newhouse said a big reason Marin does so well is its per-capita income, which is twice the state average. But she noted that 6 percent of Marin’s children – or 2,996 kids – are considered very low income.

“Even for the counties at the top, there are still a lot of families struggling,” she said.

Ethel Seiderman, executive director of Parent Services Project, said Marin’s affluence doesn’t reflect the pinch many local families feel. She said child care costs more in Marin County than almost anywhere in the state.

In addition, she said there are 800 to 1,000 children who need child care in Marin but whose families are unable to find it or afford it.

“We need to take the rose-colored glasses off,” she said. “There is a needy population here.”

Neighbors from Hell?

     Earlier this year ,Diane Tuman of Zillow.com, posted an article in Zillow’s Real Estate Blog in response to an article/post from Bradley Inman’s Inman Blog about a “Noisy Neighbor from Hell”. The article Diane posted led with the above photo in which a neighbor war in Utah led one neighbor to install a vent on his house in the shape of a middle finger salute.  He would not remove it until his neighbor apologized.  They did and he did.

     How many neighbor from hell stories are there out there?  Your stories are more then welcomed!

     For those Realtors that live in California, you should be aware of an initiative passed by the state, that could forever change your thinking on what  a residential neighborhood is.   The Marin Independent Journal has been reporting on a property owner in San Rafael that has been purchasing homes in a fairly exclusive subdivision of San Rafael.  Each of these homes has been converted into commercial Rehabilitation facilities.  When the neighbors found out what their new neighbor was doing, with these homes he’d just purchased ,they then found out that the State of California  supports this kind of commercial property use in residential areas.  By passing this initiative the State allows the commercial use of a property to supersede existing zoning regulations.  Think the neighbors are happy about this? 

     One party doesn’t have to play by the rules that everyone else does.  And that individual is increasing their property values at the expense of their neighbor’s property values.

     Has a precedent been set here? Can the new property owner that’s operating these rehab facilities
(for alcoholics and drug addicts), then sell the property to someone else who wants to run a similar business
for profit?

     This is only the beginning.  Another similar initiative passed by the State of California allows for large commercial Day Care Centers also to be placed in residentially zoned neighborhoods. And, as in San Rafael, the State super cedes existing zoning regulations.  One such Day Care Center is operating in Tiburon, California. 

     Is their a Rehabilitation Facility, or a large Day Care Center moving into your residentially zoned neighborhood?    Don’t be too sure….   

     Please, if you have any interesting Neighbor’s From Hell stories, I’d love to hear them ! 

Are Your Views Protected in Belvedere and Tiburon California? Not always…

 On June 18, 2007 the Marin Independent Journal reported that Belvedere resident Robert Bernheim is appealing before the Belvedere City Council and Planning Commission, with several neighbors, to protest  the new construction where steel columns and platforms have unexpectedly jutted into their views.  Belvedere City Manager George Rodericks said the issue with the construction project is that ”the neighbors should have been more aware of what that structure was going to be.”
     The IJ also reports that, “the latest view snafu follows other view related discussions in nearby Tiburon over the past few months, including the term “borrowed views” (sight lines that cut across a neighboring vacant lot) in the town’s construction guidelines.  And, as you’ll see below, this also applies to 1 story homes that want to build a second story.
     Would someone from the Town of Tiburon, and the City of Belvedere, clarify publicly that their respective Tree and View ordinances are guidlines, and do not assure a property owner that those guidelines will protect their views.  Having attended many Town of Tiburon Town Council meetings, and after many conversations with Tiburon’s Planning Department, I’ve learned that if you live alongside or above a vacant lot, or a 1 story home, the potential for that property owner to build a two story home is a very real possibility.
     Unless there are pre-existing height restrictions in your neighborhood, subdivision, CC&R’s, or height restrictions in your Deed , every property owner has the right to build up to the maximum height.
     Tiburon and Belvedere could do a better job communicating this.  It’s unfortunate that Robert Bernheim and his neighbors were blindsided by this information.  Even Rodericks acknowledged that, “maybe the City could have done a little more outreach.” You think ?
     Almost 2 years ago a property owner on Palmer Avenue in Tiburon submitted a plan to tear down his one story home to build a huge 2 story house in front of the neighbor’s primary views.  The neighbors appealed the application.  Before the Town of Tiburon approved the second story, councilman Andrew Thompson told the neighbor that, “they’d had a “borrowed view” for 29 years.”
     Not too long ago a home sold on Avenida Miraflores in of Tiburon.  The owner represented that the house below would never be able to build a second story because the the Town of Tiburon protected property views.  Curiously, the owner below, has every intention to build a second story.  Do you think there might be a huge problem beging to brew here?
     Both Tiburon and Belvedere could do a better job making this information more public.  This is an unpoplular subject for affected homeowners, sellers, real estate agents,  and Planning Departments .  Wouldn’t it be in everyone’s best interest to shed some light on ”borrowed views”?  Each individual property has it’s own particular set of issues, and typically view issues are addressed on a case by case basis.  Nonetheless, long time residents and prospective home buyers should be aware of all the possiblities here … you think?

For the whole article click below:
http://www.marinij.com/fastsearchresults/ci_6167323

Marin County Real Estate Blog ………   Mark Danforth Lomas

Realtors, 8 Safety Tips to Protect Yourself

 It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.  Here are 8 tips for Realtors to consider so they can protect themselves. We work in a very unusual work environment, where occassionally we are meeting strangers.  Recently, in a Mill Valley, California Real Estate office, a well dressed couple walked in, and robbed the floor agent.   Another couple with a similar profile has been also robbing houses throughout the Bay Area.    If you feel this information is helpful, please pass it on to someone you know.

      1.  (Tip from Tae Kwon Do)  The elbow is the strongest point on your body.  If your close enough to use it, do!
      2.  From a tourist guide in New Orleans.  If a robber asks for your wallet or purse, Do Not Hand It To Him!  Toss it away from you…chances are he’s more interested in your wallet or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet or purse.  Run like mad in the other direction!
      3.  If you are ever thrown in the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy.  The driver won’t see you, but everybody else will.  This has saved lives.
      4.  Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, ect. and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, ect. Don’t Do This!  The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go.  As soon as you get into your car, lock the doors and leave!
         If someone is in the car with a gun to your head…Do Not Drive Off, repeat Do Not Drive Off! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car.  Your air bag will save you!  If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it.  As soon as the car crashes bail out and run.  It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.
      5.  A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
      A. Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat.
      B. If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door.  Most serial killers attack their 
          victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
      C. Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicled, and the passenger side.  If a male is sitting
          alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard
          or policeman to walk you back out
          It is always better to be safe than sorry  (and better paranoid then dead)
       6.  Always take the elevator instead of the stairs   (stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect
crime spot.  This is especially true at night.     
      7.  If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, Always Run!   The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times: and even then, it most likely will not be a vital organ.   Run, preferably,  in a zig zag pattern!
      8.  Women try to be sympathetic: STOP.  It may get you raped or killed. Ted Bundy the serial killer, was a good looking, well educated man, who always played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women.  He walked with a cane or a limp, and often asked for help into his vehicle or with his vehicle which is when he abducted his victims.
       Not too long ago I was leaving a Broker’s Open House with a friend who’d used his lockbox for us to gain access to the property.  As we were leaving, a very good looking young couple pulled up in a brand new BMW and pretended they were agents also out on the Wednesday’s Broker’s tour for Southern Marin County.  They said they were agents, and could we leave the door open so that they wouldn’t have to use their lock box key.  My friend trusted them and let them in,  and the next day he was called by the listing agent (Marin County lock boxes code who was in the house, and at what time) to find out they had robbed the house.  Fellow realtors, please be careful, and all the best. 

Careful when considering using an Online Lender

         If you’re the kind of person that is more comfortable working with people  virtually, Online Lenders might be a good place to start shopping for a loan. But, if you’re the kind of person that likes to deal directly with the person that will be delving into your personal finances, there definitely are merits to working with a local lending institution or mortgage broker. Now more so then ever with all the recent events that are taking place in the Mortgage Industry.        A few years back Realtors were concerned when they found out that their buyer was working with an Online Lender. Oftentimes mortgages originated online closed late causing all kinds of problems. If your loan isn’t approved within the time frame set forth in the contract, or doesn’t fund on time to close, your out of contract. 

        I was working with a couple that had been Pre-Approved online not too long ago. When it came time to remove our loan contingency they were advised to do so by the Online Lender.  Then, when it came time to close escrow, the Online Lender decided that they would not fund the loan? Two days before closing, we found a local lender that was able to fund a week later, and they went ahead with their purchase. What a roller coaster ride!
       Initially, the only way to communicate with this Online Lender was via email.  When things went south, they were able to get a phone number for a manager that wasn’t always easy to reach?

                  Dian Hymer, an excellent journalist that is featured in the Marin Independent Journals Home and Garden section reported, “Anecdotal evidence suggests that the world of online lending has improved. Recently, well-qualified buyers with a large cash down payment had no trouble closing the purchase of their new home on time using an online lender. However, there were a few hiccups along the way.

                  Fortunately, they were hooked up with a good real estate agent who helped the process along. The buyer’s agent knew that the seller of the property was a stickler for detail and unforgiving by nature. So the agent encouraged her clients to submit a second application to a local mortgage broker. That way, if the online lender failed to perform at the last minute, the buyers could proceed with their second option and close the purchase.

      The appraiser sent by the online lender was from out of the area and knew nothing about the 
local market. The agent provided the appraiser with comparable sales information that was appropriate for the property in question. Armed with this information the appraiser was able to turn out a finished report in two days.”

      Dian also suggest,”You may be able to find a lower interest rate or fees online but there is likely to be a tradeoff in terms of service. Buyers whose loan qualifications are marginal, or buyers who are trying to buy in a competitive market, will probably have better success working with a local mortgage professional.”

Dian Hymer is featured regularly in the San Francisco Chronicle and the Marin Independent Journal.
Marin Real Estate      Mark Lomas    2007

To Zillow or not to Zillow?

            Zillow.com is a web site that does property valuations.  In uniform neighborhoods and new subdivisions, this web site has demonstrated a reasonable degree of accuracy.  In many neighborhoods throughout Marin County though, where the homes and neighborhoods are quite diverse, Zillow.com’s accuracy is questionable.  Take a moment and check out their web site.  At best, it can be helpful in providing information about a property, and sometimes a reasonable estimate as to the property’s value.  Regardless, Zillow can be very entertaining.  
  
          Zillow.com raised $32 million during its pre-launch, which was marked by a huge publicity campaign.  Here’s a company that didn’t unveil its business model or intent until it released a beta version in February and its site stalled on the day of its debut.  Anyone can dip into Zillow.com’s two terabytes of data on U.S. homes and learn Zillow’s estimates, or “Zestimates”, of their home’s current value or some variation thereof.

          Chris Lyman, a partner in a Napa public relations agency, bought a second home in Scottsdale, Arizona for $330,000 in 2003.  He said strong appreciation in the region has roughly doubled the price of the home since then, but Zillow’s estimate put the property in the $500,000s – at least 10 percent below what he believes is the true value.  “At that point, it went from being a tool to a novelty,” Lyman said. “It doesn’t have the strength that  I would rely on those numbers.”  A new home on Palmer Avenue in Tiburon, California is listed by Zillow.com as being worth $1,780,000, and could be listed hundreds of thousands of dollars below its real value in today’s market.

          So, unless you live in an area where all the homes are identical, and typically sell for the same amount as one another, enjoy Zillow.com for what it is, and then talk to a professional.

         If you look to the right of this column you’ll see a list of links or “Blogroll” which includes a link to Zillow.  Also, check out Zillow’s Blog!  It’s excellent, and also offers links to other local real estate blogs.      

www.marinrealestateblog.com

www.technopanorama.com

www.MarinCountyDirectory.com

Marin County Real Estate

    A great philosopher once said  that all movements have three periods.  The first phase is change as perceived as necessary.   The internet became necessary because people had access to limited information.  There was little transparency, and the consumer had no voice.  Oftentimes the consumer was poorly treated.   The second phase perceives change as an improvement.  The third phase, that we’re currently experiencing, is a correction period.
   Real Estate has had the longest robust market in the history of the country, based on the internet.  What will the impact of this be as the market  passes through various adjustments that differ from state to state, and town to town?  With the arrival of Zillow.com, and other similar home valuation web sites , will the public be better served?
   Lloyd Frink, co-founder and President of Zillow.com admits that the margin of error with Zillow.com is 7.2 percent.  In the Bay Area ,where neighborhoods are quite diverse and less uniform, that margin of error is much greater.  And now that Zillow.com has recently added the ability for homeowners to modify the facts of their home, and create their own “Zestimate” it’s anybody’s guess.
   Allen Dalton, the President of Realtor.com says, ” the notion of suggesting to people that they can find out what their home is worth without a Realtor offends me.  Something as critical and vital as your number one asset, and then treat it in a parlor game-type of fashion?  The site Zillow.com says that they’re going to give consumers an idea of what their home is worth.  I’m convinced that home sellers already have an idea, so I don’t think value is being inserted.  Zillow.com wants you to believe that you can predetermine what the asset is worth before a Realor’s value is inserted into the proposition.  We are talking about different business models and different consequences.” 
    My personal experience with Zillow.com’s Zestimates for homes in Marin County is that so far, Zillow has been sometimes so off the mark, that at best it’s entertainment   New subdivions seem to be where Zillow does best in Marin.  Where all the homes were built by the same builder,and the floor plans are simiilar.  I wonder what the Appraisal industry and Banks think about Zillow?   I think we are a long way from where you can walk into a bank with a Zestimate (that you may have modified) and have the Bank give you a loan.  
    What do you think?
   
Marin County Real Estate Blog …. the power of the Internet

Marin County Real Estate enters the Blogosphere

Blogging has hit the real estate industry…and it just may upend a marketplace known for inefficiency and restricted information.

   There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of blogs covering real estate and they shine unfiltered lights on their subjects, reporting market gossip, innuendo, facts, opinion, virutally anything.

   ”Blogs are telling like it is at the street level,” said Bran Inman of Inman News, a large real estate news service, Inman said real estate blogging began in the Bay Area, took hold in New York and has now spread nationally.

   For example, bloggers may expose defects at new developments or buildings such as roof leaks or heating system inadequacies or shoddy workmanship of maintenance.  They may warn buyers away from dishonest or incompetent brokers or overpriced new housing. They can let buyers know that a neighborhood may not be safe, that an area floods every spring, or that jets fly directly overhead when the west wind blows.

   It’s not all negative though. “Comments on our posts often talk about how great a neighborhood is or praise brokers or landlords,” said Jake Dobkin,  a publisher of sites covering 15 cities.

   Blogs also help even the playing field for consumers. Traditionally, only professionals could get full access to comparable prices and property conditions.  “Blogs add information – they level the playing field for consumers” says Dobkin.

   Alexis Palmer operations head for Curbed.com, which covers New York and Los Angeles, says the strength of these sites is that they tell people more about the areas they may be considering moving into. “You can find out about the neighborhood’s character,” she said, “what kinds of restarurants, stores, and clubs are there.”

   The info comes from people like you. “Normally, in real estate, most of the information available comes from those representing the sale of properties,”said Palmer. “They have a different agenda than the consumer.”

   And, even though on many blogs anyone can post and there is little fact checking or test for accuracy, that doesn’t mean the information is too untrustworthy. “You get robust corrections from the community of readers,”said Palmer.

   It’s not just local real estate or neighborhood conditions that the bloggosphere highlights.  Some, like real estate research provider Jonathan Miller, take on different national issues.

   Insiders believe that blog sites empower consumers, enabling them to make better choices, obtain services at a better price, and find better service providers.

www.MarinRealEstateblog.com

www.MarkLomas.com

www.MarinCountyDirectory.com

Marin County Real Estate

Blogging and Real Estate     Finally, a forum/methodology for the Professional Realtor and the General Public to exchange ideas in a healthy virtual enviroment.  This will benefit the real estate industry’s relationship with the public by allowing a Town Hall like atmosphere for the free exchange of ideas while providing information that conventional media formats have been unable or unwilling to provide.     What is a weblog? A weblog, or blog, is a personal journal on the web. Weblogs express as many different subjects and opinions as there are people writing them. Some blogs are highly influential and have enormous readership while others are primarily intended for a close circle of family and friends.      The power of weblogs is that they allow millions of people to easily publish their ideas, and millions more to comment on them. Blogs are a fluid, dynamic medium, more akin to a ‘conversation’ than to a library — which is how the Web has often been described in the past. With an increasing number of people reading, writing, and commenting on blogs, the way we use the Web is shifting in a fundamental way. Instead of being passive consumers of information, more and more Internet users are becoming active participants.     This is why the blogging phenomenon and other forms of unfettered expression on the Web is often called the rise of the participant economy.      A few years ago, Web search was revolutionized by a simple but profound idea — that the relevance of a site can be determined by the number of other sites that link to it, and thus consider it ‘important.’ In the world of blogs, hyperlinks are even more significant, since bloggers frequently link to and comment on other blogs, which creates the sense of timeliness and connectedness one would have in a conversation. So Technorati tracks the number of links, and the perceived relevance of blogs, as well as the real-time nature of blogging. Because Technorati automatically receives notification from weblogs as soon as they are updated, it can track the thousands of updates per hour that occur in the blogosphere, and monitor the communities (who’s linking to whom) underlying these conversations.There are about 75,000 new blogs a day. Bloggers update their weblogs regularly; there are about 1.2 million posts daily, or about 50,000 blog updates an hour.A BRIEF HISTORY OF BLOGS1997            The term “Weblog” was coined by Jorn Barger, editor of the blog Robot Wisdom on December 171999            April/May   Peter Merholz, who blogs at peterme.com is the first to use the verb ‘blog’ by dividing the                     weblog in the words, “we blog”                    August/ a tiny company in San Francisco called Pyra Labs creates Blogger.  It is the first internet of                     based, free, and easy to use blog creation tools that will spark the explosive growth of the                    Blogosphere.                    December/   Rusty Foster debuts Scoop.  This open source “collaborative media application”                     allows the reader of a web site to also produce its content.  Markos Moulitsas Zuniga will later                    use it to transform DailyKos from an individual blog into a mega-community web site.2000            November/ freelance journalist Josh Marshall starts TalkingPointsMemo in the midst of the 2000                     election recount controversy2002            May/ Moulitsas begins blogging at DailyKos.  He is one of the many political bloggers who begin                    self-publishing in response to the 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq.                    November: David Sifry founds Technorati, a real time search engine that tracks what’s going on                    in the Blogosphere.2003            March/ The Oxford English Dictionary includes the word weblog and we-blogger.      2004            January/ Ana Marie Cox launches Wonkette, which dishes D.C. gossip. Wonkette belongs to         Gawker                    Media, an online company founded by Nick Denton and considered to be the most visible and                     successful blog orientated media company.

Marin County Real Estate Market Trends

     The Marin County Real Estate market remains on the same track as last week with minor changes. The most significant change is that the $2-$3 million Single Family Residence segment, though still a buyers’ market, has continued to show strength by rising to 23% in contract, just south of a balanced market. Improvement in the over-$3million SFR market as well.     Big news this week is that mortgage lenders continue to be under duress. American Home Mortgage, the nation’s 10th largest lender announced they are unable to fund their loans, and word has it they are closing their doors. Recent bad news in the mortgage industry has made it more difficult for lenders to package and sell their loans in the money markets and has forced them to sell at lower prices.    This is important to buyers and sellers because it makes it more difficult and more expensive for borrowers to obtain the funds they need to purchase property. Lending and credit standards are tightening. No-doc loans are drying up. Borrowers in many cases are forced to qualify at the fully-amortized rate rather than the introductory “teaser” rate.    Borrowers should take care to find a reliable locally based lender and be sure they are actually pre-approved. This means that the lender or the broker has verified credit and assets, reviewed the loan application, and, often, run it by an underwriter.    Sellers. This is a time when the knowledge and services of an experienced REALTOR are invaluable. The agent can follow up on the buyer’s pre-approval, help the seller set appropriate contractual standards for loan approval and contingency removal,  closely follow and track the process. This helps avoid unpleasant surprises just before closing when a shaky lender shuts its doors, leaving both seller and buyer in the lurch. Marin Real Estate Blog  2007       Mark Danforth Lomas          August 7, 2007 www.marinrealestateblog.comwww.technopanorama.com     www.MarinCountyDirectory.com

Southern Marin County Towns and Cities

SAUSALITO         For many tourist who visit the Bay Area, Sausalito is the only part of Marin County they see or know.  In some respects, that isn’t so bad because the harbor village has always been a place that is beautiful and bodacious.
                           Sausalito’s beauty is easy to catalog.  The tree covered hillsides cascade down to a bayside town that reminds strollers of the French or Italian Riviera.  The views from Sausalito are nothing but breathtaking – from the Bay Bridge, the San Francisco skyline, to the Golden Gate Bridge.
                           Don’t forget Sausalito’s saucy history.  Bootleggers, bordellos, gambling dens, and eccentric houseboats.  All combined to give Sausalito a unique personality.
                           As most Marin residents know, there are two Sausalitos.  There is the tourists’ Sausalito of ferry rides, small bayside shops, and flashy eateries.
                           Then there’s the locals’ Sausalito.  A foggy Sunday morning that starts with getting the newspapers at a newsstand that once was a gas station.  Then it’s down to Northpoint Coffee ( where Zacks use to be… remember the Wednesday Night Turtle Races?) for a Latte’ alongside the Bay (Dogs welcomed on the rear patio alongside the water).
                           Sausalito is also home to the Sausalito Art Festival  (Labor Day Weekend) which features incredible artist from around the world and local home grown talent.
                           Back in the 80s, I had the fortune to cross paths one afternoon with Sterling Hayden on St. Patricks day, and we closed Smitty’s Bar on Caldonia Street later that evening.  Smitty’s is somehow trapped in some time warp and looks just the same today as it did in the 70s.  Some things will never change …. thank goodness!   If you have the opportunity, Sausalito is a not only a great town to visit, but a wonderful community to live in.
                           If you lived or visited Sausalito in the late 1960’s or 1970’s you might remember a restaurant called the Trident.   People traveled from around the world to visit this truly unique establishment.  In retrospect some people have called it a Hooters for Hippies but it was much more elegant than that.  In the day some called it the Playboy Club for Hippies but that misses the point too.  The Rolling Stones had a private party there,  Pink Floyd visited,  Janis Joplin and Bill Graham had their own tables reserved for them when they came in, and that’s just the tip of the iceburg.  If you’d like to travel back to another time click on   www.tridentrestaurant.com
Sausalito Recreation Web Site: http://sausalito.recware.com 
                           Interested in the Houseboat community? Try: www.floatinghomes.org

Sausalito Web Site:  (www.ci.sausalito.ca.us)

Sausalito, California

TIBURON            Tiburon epitomizes the good life around San Franciso Bay.  On the sunny docks, day-trippers, locals, and yachtsmen sip their coffee, while across the bay the city slips beneath the fog.  Outside of town, a wealth of bayside beauty awaits hikers and bikers exploring at leisure.  On a circle tour, you can get a sampling of what the 4 mile long Tiburon peninsula has to offer.
                           Every March ,Tiburon is proud to present the Tiburon International Film Festival (www.TiburonFilmFestival.com), that has become a huge success attracting Filmmakers from around the globe! 
                           Incorporated in 1964, Tiburon is now a beautiful enclave of historical landmarks, world-class resturants, and shopping areas.  Some of the residential architecture is reflected in small cottages, many of them beautifully remodeled, contemporary showplaces located in the hills, and sensational examples of engineering marvels that jut out over the water.  The San Francisco and Corinthian Yacht Clubs provide berths for hundreds of sailboats for local yachtsmen: public and private tennis and swimming facilities are also available to residents.
                           Visitors from around the world come here to enjoy the natural beauty and many activities that this delightful harbor community provides.

Tiburon Web Site:   (http://www.ci.tiburon.ca.us/)

Tiburon Bike Path

BELVEDERE         Belvedere is an island a mile long and less that one half mile wide, connected to Tiburon by a causeway.  Although the two towns have become very much alike, with their premier real estate prices motivated by spectacular views, they grew up differently. There were distict differences between the towns: while Belvedere was home to the rich: Tiburon, in its days as home base for a railroad, was considered the other side of the tracks.
                           Belvedere celebrated its 100th year as a city in 1996.  Marin’s smallest incorporated community is also one of the most exclusive..  There is just enough room for some of the most expensive homes in Marin and the historic San Francisco Yacht Club.
                           Belvedere is a treasure trove of different architectural styles: from the tremendous Queen Anne and Mission Revival homes of the late 1800’s to more modern styles and Mediterranean villas.  The two elementary schools and one middle school are in the Reed School District are rated in the top one percent among schools.
                           Belvedere, which translates in Italian to “beautiful views”, was well and aptly named! 

Belvedere Web Site:  (www.cityofbelvedere.org/)    

Belvedere Island

MILL VALLEY     Nestled at the foot of Mt. Tamalpais, only ten miles from San Francisco, Mill Valley became a favorite vacation spot for wealthy city dwellers.  In 1896 a mountain railway, nicknamed “The Crookedest Railroad in the World”, carried passengers to the mountain’s summit and to Muir Woods.  Although the tracks were removed in 1930, the old Railroad Grade is currently very popular with hikers and mountain bikers!
                           Shortly after the town was incorporated in 1900 two town traditions began.  The Outdoor Art Club was founded in 1902, a group whose purpose was, and still is, to preserve the beauties of Mill Valley.  The Dipsea Race was first run in 1905 and has been held almost every year since.  It is the oldest race in the Country, behind the Boston Marathon.  The race is 7.1 miles long, from Lytton Square in Mill Valley over Mt.Tamalpais to Stinson Beach.
                           Bordered on three sides by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods National Monument, Mount Tamalpais State Park and watershed, Mill Valley offers spectacular recreation opportunities.  But this is only part of its attractions.  The people who have chosen to live here, from Rock Stars, Artist, Movie Stars, Nationally known authors, to Business Executives and Political Radicals: all are part of the eclectic mixture of talented folks who came for the pleasures of normalcy and anonymity to live in this incredibly beautiful and charming town.

Mill Valley web site:       (www.cityofmillvalley.org)

Giant Redwoods in Mill Valley

Aerial View of downtown Tiburon in September of 1955
Photo from Post Card found in Antique Store

Marin Real Estate Blog    2007

Central Marin County Towns and Cities

CORTE MADERA           At the turn of the century Corte Madera had attracted a number of families from San Francisco who came for the summer. Christmas Tree Hill was subdivided in tiny 25′ x 25′ lots for use as tent sites on the weekends. After the 1906 earthquake, many of these tent sites were used to build permanent homes, where some of the tiny cabins remain to this day. Corte Madera became a town in 1917. 
                                    Typifying the relaxed outdoor lifestyle of Marin with its pleasant climate, bordering wetlands, and lush open space, there is a strong community commitment to preserving the area’s wildlife and habitat. This commitment to the environment is exemplified by the Corte Madera Reserve Sanctuary for Migrating Birds, the Shorebird Marsh wildlife habitat, and The Ring Mountain Preserve, located at the southeastern end of town, the preserve borders Corte Madera and the neighboring community of Tiburon. 
                                    Home to three distinctly different malls, the town provides shopping as a favored pastime for guests and locals alike. Fine shops, unique boutiques, and a variety of excellent restaurants can be found at The Corte Madera Town Center, The Village at Corte Madera, and The Marketplace. 
                                    Extending from San Francisco Bay on the east side to Mt. Tam on the west, Corte Madera illustrates the wonderful Marin County blend of nature along with all the amenities of city living.

LARKSPUR AND GREENBRAE      The wife of a major developer, Charles Wright, named this beautiful area for the lupine she found there, mistakenly identifying it as Larkspur.
                                   The downtown / Magnolia Avenue area is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as an irreplaceable American “turn of the century home town.”
                                   Larkspur residents have been quite successful in preserving the small-town ambience. A medley of specialty shops, boutiques, Queen Anne Victorians, cafes and first-class restaurants can be enjoyed by taking a relaxing stroll down Magnolia Avenue. Not to be missed are the Escalle Winery, built in the 1890’s by the young Frenchman, Jean Escalle, who planted the northern hillsides of Larkspur with wine grapes; and the exquisite Murphy mansion, constructed in 1888 and now home to the world famous restaurant, the Lark Creek Inn. Larkspur extends north to the unincorporated area of Greenbrae, home to the Bon Air Shopping Center, which offers boutiques, restaurants and gift shops.
                                  Greenbrae is well known for its tastefully landscaped custom homes, many of which have views of the bay, Corte Madera Creek and lowlands, and Mt. Tamalpais. A special effort was made during the development of this area to preserve the hundreds of majestic oak trees that grace the hillsides. Greenbrae residents enjoy a one minute drive to the freeway and two minutes to the Larkspur Landing Ferry Terminal.
Larkspur Web Site:  (www.ci.larkspur.ca.us/) 

Bushes in front of City of Larkspur Town Hall
     
KENTFIELD                 Because the town of Kentfield is unincorporated, it is governed by the Marin County Board of Supervisors, who are known to pay close attention to the wishes of the residents, especially concerning development. An upper middle class to wealthy community, Kentfield is nestled at the base of Mt. Tam, bordered by Larkspur and Ross.
                                 The name “Kentfield” is taken from the family of Albert Kent, a Chicago meat packer who, along with his wife Adaline, settled in the area in 1872. Adaline donated twenty-three acres of land for a community recreation center; which later became the site for the College of Marin, which is part of the California Community College system. Albert and Adaline’s son William, who became a U.S. congressman and an ardent conservationist, donated Muir Woods as a national park.
                                 The homes in this area are generally set well back from the streets which meander among pine, redwood and manzanita. The low-profile roofs of these spacious homes, mostly set on large lots, are designed to blend in with the natural surroundings and offer a wooded, country feeling.

ROSS                        In 1857 a Scotsman from San Francisco, James Ross, bought a large Mexican land grant named Rancho Punta de Quentin, which extended from what is now Corte Madera to Red Hill in San Anselmo. In the town that bears his name, Ross built his home on the property that is now the Marin Art & Garden Center; a beautiful ten-acre site that, in addition to housing several non-profit community groups, also offers many classes and activities.
                                 Shaded roads and lanes enhance this lovely town of grand estates and luxury custom homes. Large properties in park-like settings often have accommodations for horses, as well as tennis courts and swimming pools. Centered around the Ross Common is a small, very quaint commercial area featuring restaurants and shops. One enterprise, the Ross Grocery, has been operated by the same family since WWII.
                                 Residents are universally proud of, and offer support to, the local elementary school. In 1991, Child Magazine named Ross Elementary School as one of the top ten schools in the nation. The academic ranking is in the 99th percentile, the highest any school can achieve.
                                 Ross, often characterized as the suburban ideal, can easily be portrayed as a bastion of gracious living.
Ross Website: (www.townofross.org/)

SAN ANSELMO          San Anselmo is a charming community of older homes amid diverse architectural styles, on shady, tree-lined streets. The downtown area is very “small town” in appearance, but offers a variety of shops and restaurants. In the 1870’s, what is now known as The Hub in San Anselmo was the spot where a spur track to San Rafael was added to the Sausalito-Tomales run of the Pacific Coast Railroad. San Anselmo was incorporated in 1907.
                                 The most visible landmark in town, a beautiful stone castle that overlooks San Anselmo, is actually the San Francisco Theological Seminary, established in 1892 to train Presbyterian clergy. From the ivy covered chapel with its enchanting bell tolling the hours, to the turrets and towers, this beautiful facility has an ethereal, fairy tale look.
                                 San Anselmo Avenue, the town’s main shopping area, is a curving boulevard of awning-shaded shops, cafes, galleries, restaurants, and boutiques. Known as the “Antique Capital of Northern California,” there are, within a half-mile radius of downtown, more than 150 antique dealers who attract collectors from all over the West Coast.
                                 Love of family and a sense of community are common bonds shared by those in the more affluent areas as well as by those in the more modest homes at the west end of town. The Annual Art and Wine Festival, the Antique Dealers Fair, and the Country Fair Day, are all very well attended by local citizens. San Anselmo also boasts one of the County’s most successful community volunteer programs.
                                 San Anselmo is a charming community of older homes amid diverse architectural styles, on shady, tree-lined streets. The downtown area is very “small town” in appearance, but offers a variety of shops and restaurants. In the 1870’s, what is now known as The Hub in San Anselmo was the spot where a spur track to San Rafael was added to the Sausalito-Tomales run of the Pacific Coast Railroad. San Anselmo was incorporated in 1907.
The San Anselmo neighborhood of Sleepy Hollow’s website is: www.shha.org/
As of 7/2/2007 HOA dues are: $160/year and family membership for the pool is:$200/year
And, to play tennis on the San Domenico School courts are: $100/year
San Anselmo Web Site: (www.townofsananselmo.org/)
                               
FAIRFAX                    Fairfax was originally part of a Spanish land grant conferred to Domingo Sais in 1839. Sais gave the area now known as the Marin Town & Country Club to Marin County’s first physician, Alfred Taliaferro of Virginia, who subsequently passed the property along to fellow Virginian Charles Snowden Fairfax. Lord Fairfax, tenth Baron of Cameron, Scotland, moved here with his wife Ada in 1855, lured west by gold fever. 
                                 After the death of Charles Fairfax, the property changed hands, eventually becoming the site of the renowned Pastori’s Restaurant in the 1890’s. Madame Pastori, once a singer at La Scala in Milan, Italy, was visited in Fairfax by many great figures in the opera world. The restaurant, which was rebuilt on a grander scale after a fire in 1911, still stands. 
                                Convenient railroad service early in this century made Fairfax a favorite weekend and summer retreat for city dwellers. Fairfax Park hosted thousands on weekends. Fairfax was the setting for dozens of early Western movies from 1910 to the early 1920’s. Construction of Alpine Dam in 1917 brought a large Italian population to the area, adding to Fairfax’s colorful history. 
                                 Fairfax came of age in February of 1931 when the town was incorporated as a city with a five-member council government. Fairfax today, with a diverse population of 7,000, is a community of fine neighborhoods nestled in the hills and small valleys of the Upper Ross Valley. Located 16 miles north of San Francisco, within easy reach of numerous State and National Recreation Areas, Fairfax offers the best of both work and play while retaining its small-town atmosphere and charm. Two of our Cal Land Title employees live in Fairfax and they absolutely love it!
Unofficial Fairfax Web Site: (www.gordyo.com/Fairfax/Fairfax.html)

Marin County Real Estate Blog * * * 2007

Northern Marin County Towns and Cities

SAN RAFAEL          Marin’s premier city, San Rafael, is the oldest and largest city in the County and it is also the seat of County Government. Marin’s second most popular tourist spot (after Muir Woods), the Frank Lloyd Wright Civic Center, was the last major structure and the only government building designed by the world famous architect. It is now a national historic landmark.                              Other notable places to visit are China Camp State Park, which rims a picture perfect shoreline and is wonderfully secluded, yet only minutes from town; the lovely Dominican College campus, founded in 1888; and the Falkirk Cultural Center, a handsomely preserved, 17-room Victorian mansion that is set on 11 acres of formal grounds is just a block from downtown.                              San Rafael offers a wide assortment of housing; from Peacock Gap’s Golf and Country Club contemporary homes and condominiums overlooking the Bay, to spacious traditional homes in the prestigious Dominican section.                               San Rafael has 14 parks, yacht clubs, outstanding docking and launching facilities, tennis / swim clubs and bicycle trails. It is truly a community where families can enjoy an active lifestyle and partake of a rich historical and cultural heritage.SAN RAFAEL WEB SITE:   http://www.cityofsanrafael.org/City_of_San_Rafael.htmNOVATO               The City of Novato is located 29 miles north of San Francisco, just off Highway 101. Incorporated in 1960 and encompassing 43 square miles with 3,500 acres of open space and parks, Novato is an agreeable mixture of a variety of neighborhoods. Waterfront communities, horse farms, and beautiful mansions are all part of the eclectic collection that is Novato.                              Novato began as Rancho de Novato, a Spanish land grant given in 1839 to Fernando Feliz, but its roots are far deeper.                              Olompali State HIstorical Park, just north of the city, is named for a key Miwok settlement, Olemaloke, that dates to 1300. Scholars debate the significance of an Elizabethan coin found nearby. Did it belong to Sir Francis Drake’s crew that hit the coast in 1579.                              The only battle of the Bear Flag Rebellion, which led to California’s statehood, was fought at Olompali in 1846, and the Burdell family later established the first formal garden in Marin there in the 1870’s.                               The Chosen Family hippie commune — serenaded by Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead — lived in the old Burdell mansion until it burned in 1969.                               Hamilton Field, on the southeast side of the city, served as an Army airfield from 1935 to 1947 and continued miliatry operations to 1975. After years of wrangling, Hamilton opened in 1999 as a community of new homes.                               Novato is largely a bedroom community — more than 7,600 students are enrolled in the Novato Unified School District — but the city also has made its mark in business and industry. Shopping in Novato ranges form the traditional stores and boutiques on Grant Avenue in “Old Town” to the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center.                              The city is home to Fireman’s Fund Insurance, the county’s largest private employer with about 2,500 workers.                               The nonprofit Buck Institute for Research in Aging, located in a striking complex on the slopes of Mount Burdell, is on the leading edge of biomedical research and the science of aging.Novato Web Site:   (www.novato.org/) Marin County Real Estate Blog                                

West Marin County Towns and Cities

WEST MARIN         The West Marin area is, debatably the most spectacular region in a county known for it’s scenic wonders.  A truly rural section of Marin encompassing miles of open ridgetops, wild coast lines, and pastoral farms, this area is home to such diverse wildlife as gray whales, tule elks, elephant seals, bobcats, mountain lions, fox, and hundreds of bird species.  Containing the Point Reyes National Recreation Area, almost all of West Marin is protected.
                                With the exception of Inverness, which is on the Point Reyes Peninsula, the coastal towns, from southernmost Muir Beach, going north through Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Olema, Pt.Reyes Station, Marshall, and Tomales, dot Highway 1 all the way up to the Marin/Sonoma County border.  The small hamlets of Nicassio, Woodacre, Forest Knolls, San Geronimo and Lagunitas are all unique and remarkably beautiful in their various settings that range from redwood forests to open grasslands and rolling hills.
                              Muir Beach is a tiny enclave surrounded by GGNRA parklands.  With the exception of the Pelican Inn, where residents and tourist alike go to dine, drink ale, and play darts, there are no commercial enterprises here (not even a gas station nor a grocery store.)  The residents seem to prefer it this way, holding very dear to their out of the way lifestyle.
Muir Beach Web Site: (www.muirbeach.com/)
                              Stinson Beach, the most often visited of the coastal towns, is home to a lovely three mile long beach which is well kept, clean, and accessible. Swimming, surfing,and sunbathing are the favorite activities here. And, Stinson is also the finish line for the famous Dipsea Race.  Right next to the beach is a wonderful park area with trees, lawns,picnic tables, and barbeques available for day use.
Stinson Beach Web Site: (www.stinsonbeachonline.com/)
                              Bolinas, located just past the Audubon Canyon Ranch north of Stinson Beach, is a small town of about 1,100 residents: some of whom do their best to keep Bolinas a well guarded secret by continually removing the directional road signs to the town.  Bolinas is also home to Smiley’s Schooner Saloon, the oldest, continuously operated saloon (this bar was open even during Prohibition) in California.
Unofficial Bolinas Website: ( http://totalescape.com/destin/all_towns/bolinas.html ) and history about the 2 Mile Sign that put Bolinas on the National News:  ( http://www.2milesurf.com/story.html 
                              Olema, holding the distinction of being the epicenter of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and currently the gateway to Point Reyes National Seashore, was once a roaring pioneering town with seven bars, a racetrack, and a stagecoach that brought visitors from San Rafael on the weekends.  Some of the old buildings still remain, including the Olema Inn, founded in 1876.
Olema Inn Website: (www.theolemainn.com/)
                              Nicasio  is a very small town located between Highway 101 and San Geronimo Valley.  George Lucas, famous producer of “Star Wars,” built Skywalker Ranch nearby as the headquarters for his film operations.  Also to be found in the area a variety of estate homes on many ranches.  The rural beauty of Lucas Valley makes for a pleasant setting for the patrons of the very popular Rancho Nicasio, who come from all over Marin to enjoy country dining and dancing.  Just to give you some idea of the amazing musical groups that have played here,  Van Morrison , who use to live in Marin County, recently played here.
Rancho Nicassio web site: (www.ranchonicasio.com/)
                              Inverness, located on the west shore of Tomales Bay, was once a weekend retreat.  Inverness is now home to many year round residents that include artist, builders, tradespeople, and professionals that commute to the city.  Although a few homes can be seen from the streets, most are tucked back among the trees.  During the peak whale watching months of late fall to early spring, the numerous Beds and Breakfast establishments in and around Inverness are often full.
                              Point Reyes Station had its beginnings as a railroad town when the first train came through on its way to Tomales in 1875.  The railroad disappeared in 1933, and although Point Reyes Station is now the largest town in West Marin, it is still only blocks long and a couple of blocks deep.  Within the quiet little town, coffee houses, galleries, bookstores, antique shops, and resturants lend a cosmopolitan flavor.
Point Reyes Station web site: (www.nps.gov/pore/home.htm) 

Point Reyes Lighthouse

                              Marshall, Tomales, and Dillon Beach are popular tourist stops en route up the coast to Sonoma County.  Marshall, which grew up as a resort for hunters and fishermen, is well known for it’s Oyster companies.  Leaving the coast from Marshall and following the path of the long gone trains, the road winds into Tomales.  With many restored old homes and the steep roofed Lady of Assumption church, built in 1860, the Victorian charm of Tomales beckons.  Driving north on Highway 1, Dillon Beach is the last town before Sonoma County border.  The community was named after Geoge Dillon, arriving in the 1880’s, he was the first settler in the area.  Today Dillon Beach is popular for it’s wonderful beach, sport fishing, crabbing, and clam digging.
Tomales Web Site: (www.pointreyes.org/tomales.html)
Marshall Web Site: (www.pointreyes.org/marshall.html)
Tiburon and Belvedere Real Estate     www.94920RealEstate.com