homes: Madrigal Feast, Novato, Marin - Come and Celebrate the Holidays! - 11/21/08 11:00 AM
There are so much talent in Novato, the north most part of Marin County, San Francisco North Bay area.  Drama, Music, Theater, Band, Choral, Dance, Visual Arts, Creative Writing, and much, much more..
One of the driving force in fostering the interest and young talent is the years-in years-out devotion of the teachers at San Marin High School Music Department; especially the dedicated Mrs. Emily Gates, who was the long term music director at San Marin High, and has recently cut down on her service, but is still the major force, beloved teacher and guidance at the music department.
One of the events Mrs Gates started and has become an … (0 comments)

homes: Five Cars Garage, RV Parking, I am Here To Serve You!!! - 10/26/08 03:48 AM
So, I have been holding Open Houses here in Marin County week in and week out for who knows how many months now - It has become my favorite pass time - One of the best ways to meet clients, neighbors, friends or just passer-bys.  Fortunate for me, due to the ads I place, online or in print; I always have a lot of visitors, never a dull moment and I have met so many wonderful people doing that!     One thing I have noticed is that being in a buyers market, I am getting a lot of very specific requirements and reasons for why one property … (10 comments)

homes: Novato Real Estate, Marin Market Overview - May 28, 2008 - 06/22/08 10:45 AM

Interesting Market Trend since April 30, 2008
As there are more Short Sales and Bank Owned (REO) properties on the market, the trend is driving prices for short sales and REO properties downwards; attracting bargain hunters while higher end properties move slower and more cautiously.   
Coupled with the new programs since the announcement of the new Jumbo Loan limits, the consumers are out shopping again and will not wait when the right property comes along.  Instead of two loan threasholds, conforming (up to $417,000) and Jumbo (over $417,000); there are now three brackets - Conforming (up to $417,000), Super Conforming (between $417,000 and $729,250) and Jumbo ($729,250 and … (0 comments)

homes: WHERE TO BUY US GAS? - 05/10/08 07:25 PM
WHERE TO BUY US GAS?   THIS IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW:   Following up wiith the previous Gas Saving Hints, here is some information I found about where to buy Gas that produced in the U.S., ............
Gas rationing in the 80's worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even be good for us! The Saudis are boycotting American goods. We should return the favor. An interesting thought is to boycott their GAS. Every time you fill up the car, you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia.
Just buy from gas companies that don't import their oil … (9 comments)

homes: Pumping Gas - How to Get The Most Out of Your Money - 05/06/08 05:42 PM
With Gas price skyrocketing ($4.00+ per gallon in Marin County, CA), I really appreciate getting the follwing tips on how to effectively pump gas and save the precious commodities - money and Gas.  And yes, I have been doing everything wrong until now, and probably still will ...
1) Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold.
Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground, the more dense the gasoline. When it gets warmer, gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the … (21 comments)

homes: Marin County Population Marks Growth in 2007 - 05/04/08 06:03 PM
According to Marin Independent Journal (Marin IJ), the populaton in Marin Country grew by 2,326 in 2007, almost a 1%  growth, the largest jump in 4 years.
Marin population grew from 255,080 to 257,406; a 0.9% growth from 01/01/2007 to 12/31/2007; which is in line with those of the state of California, which measures growth from 07/01/2006 thrun 06/30/2007.
Mill Valley had the largest growth percent wise at 1.1%, or 154 residents; San Rafael, on the contrary, saw the smallest growth of 0.7% or 392 residents. 
Property type wise, Novato has the most single-family detached homes, at 12, 196; and the … (1 comments)

homes: Novato Real Estate, Marin County Market Overview, Week of April 30, 2008 - 04/30/08 07:07 PM

Novato Real Estate Market Review as of April 30, 2008
Novato Real Estate Market changes since March 19, 2008.  Available units changed from 376 to 436 (16% increase), in escrow changed from 82 to90 (10% increase), so we have a loss of 5% in percent in escrow. 
The biggest gain in In-Escrow is in the your bread and butter single family home price ranged from $600K to $800K and not surprisingly, the $1M to $1.25M range where the rich but not super rich are looking for homes.  The fixers and very small homes (1,000 sf or slightly more) see a drop in houses under … (0 comments)

homes: The Two Coolest Robots Ever! Penguin Empire and for Jerry the Dog! - 04/10/08 11:38 AM
I am fortunately enough to be one of San Marin High School (Novato, Marin County, CA) Robotics Club, Penguin Empire team's mentors. 
This rookie team won the 2nd place in the First Robotics Compeitition (FRC) Davis Regional event in March, 2008; an exciting event - Check out the Video.

The chief mentor, Dave, in search of inspriring Robotics videos for the students and mentors alike, came upon a video of this robot.  Thought you'd all love it.
The Coolest Robot Ever! is the title of the email from Dave; and I would have to agree with him :-)   Duke would want … (2 comments)

homes: Trulia Real Estate Unleashed Integration with Google Street View - 04/09/08 04:05 PM
Being one of the regular Trulia (a real estate website dedicated to providing buyers and sellers with advise and providing tools for realtors and consumers alike) contributors, it is of great interest to watch Trulia grow by leaps and bounds through the year (I think this is Trulia's second year ?).
The latest innovation unveiled is the Integration of Trulia and Google Street View.
This allows you to take a closer look of the house /areas you are interested in and from different angles.  Some may argue that this is not a difficult thing to do; however, the thought of Trulia taking the step to … (16 comments)

homes: Green Facts About Your Marin Home - Did You Know This? - 04/01/08 02:58 AM
I came upon this fast facts about your home on the GreenBuilding.com website; thought I'd shar the Green Facts.    Did you know that -
Older toilets use 3.7-7 gallons per flush
Dishwashers use 8-14 gallons per cycle
Top-loading washers use 45 gallons/load
A dripping faucet waste 15-21 gallons per day
US water users withdraw enough water to fill a line of Olympic-size swimming pools reaching around the world EVERY DAY (300 billion gallons)
Although our planet is 71 percent water, humans depend on a mere .65 percent of the water for survival - much of which is polluted.
About a quarter of the nation's largest industrial plants … (4 comments)

homes: Red Skelton "Pledge of Allegiance" - 03/27/08 03:00 PM
A friend at my Rotary Club sent us the link to the meanings of Pledge of Allegiance, beautifully done by Red Skelton; 30 years ago.  A Class Act!
I thought I'd share this with you all at the time of great changes, divide, worries, insecurity; here is something we should all reflect upon.  
This is a great country and let's keep it great for us and for our future generations!   
Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance … (3 comments)

homes: Novato Real Estate Market Overview, Week of March 19, 2008 - 03/21/08 06:10 PM
Novato Real Estate Market Overview, Week of March 19, 2008
It's been almost two months since I last posted the market statistics for the Novato Real Estate Market (part of Marin County).  There is a noticeable improvement on the market - Other than a couple of price ranges, most of the others increased sales pending percentage anywhere form 10% to 20% increase in sales for various price range even as the inventory has grown.  
My office reported an active March, a lot of buyers out there looking for 'bargains' in Marin county, and Novato is where  you will find it!
We are Optimistic!
Want to … (0 comments)

homes: Spring is Almost Upon Us. Marin, Sonoma County Easter Egg Hunts - 03/19/08 06:17 PM
… (0 comments)

homes: A Wonderful Irish Day - 03/17/08 04:10 PM
I had a GREAT day today -
Called somebody who is a victim of the current Foreclosure Scams (yep, and there are many, unfortunately), wondered if they ended up foreclosing on the house.  He told me that his lenders are willing to work with him on his loan and he will be keeping his house after catching up on his missed payments and more.  I was so happy hearing this news!  The first person I know who will be out of this horrible short sale/foreclosure trouble and I thought for sure, he will be foreclosed upon.  I am so happy for him and his … (3 comments)

homes: Top 9 Unique Buildings in The World - In Progress (no, not a Marin County Home) - 03/14/08 08:32 AM
One great about being a Realtor is that I get emails about unique properties in the world and I thought I will share a few of those with all.
This is from my sister, who has been an Independent Broker for the past 30+ years in San Francisco.  I guess we won't see this in the Marin Real Estate Landscape - but here are the top 9 most unique buildings in the world that are being built.  
Author Unknown..
Top 9 Unique Buildings In The World
Top 9 Unique Structures in the World Being Built Now
                                         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  … (3 comments)

homes: Marin County Two Month Close Sales Comparison Report - 12/07 and 01/08 - 02/17/08 03:41 PM
Marin County Association of Realtors released the two months closed sales comparison report for the months of December, 2006/January 2007 vs December 2007/January 2008.
As you can see from the report; the sales price stays slightly ahead of average, but the sales volume dropped substaintially from 2006 to 2007, and again, from 2007 to 2008.
Interesting thing is that the highest price of sold home in 01/08 is over $10M and for 2007 is over $20M.  However, the average sale price in 2008 is higher than that of 2007.  Average Days on Market is actually 10 days lower than that of 2007.
Something for Marin buyers to think … (0 comments)

homes: First Annual Marin Real Estate Reality Check Report Lauchec! - 02/17/08 01:42 PM
The Marin Association of Realtors launched it's first annual Marin Real Estate Reality Check report.
The report is 43 pages long and contains more than 800 facts and figures about the recent pricing history for single family homes and condos in 13 towns, from Sausalito to Novaot.
The statistics for 2005-2007 includes number of sales, average number of days on market, average price per square foot and medium prices.
Just to quote part of what the presiden of the Marin Association of Realtor's comment on the statistical reports MAR jus unveiled.  The comment is important because of the dreay image some of the news medial … (0 comments)

homes: Marin County Real Estate Sales Statistics as of 02/01/2008 - 02/03/08 03:07 PM
A new year, coupled with lower interest rate, buoyed by potential good news of possibly increase the limit on Conforming loans; spring does bring out buyers.    Let's keep a close eye on what the new year will bring and keep you posted.
… (0 comments)

homes: Forbe Magazine Ranks Marin among Nation's Wealthiest Counties - 01/26/08 05:53 PM
It is official now - Marin county is one of the wealthies county in the country - Forbes Magazine ranks Marin the 15th wealthiest county in the U.S.  
However, Marin still does not compare with the nation's capital (Washington D.C) where there are three wealthiest counties in the county - wonder where all that money comes from!   The reankings are based on median household income. 
A few others in the bay area - Santa Clara County, ranked no. 4, and San Jose, ranked 17 respectively. 
Check out the Forbe's America's Most Lucrative Neighborhoods - places S.F.Grove and Webster street neighborhood with a 2006 median … (0 comments)

homes: Novato Market Overview, Week of January 23, 2008 - 01/25/08 04:31 PM
Novato Market Overview, Week of January 23, 2008
At the end of January, 2008; Novato is still in a buyers market.  The good news for the sellers is that the inventory is about 1/4 (90+ units) lestt than that four months ago, in September, 2007.  The % in Pending also increased in almost all categories, even though some are very slightly.
My office reported a healty January, both in # of listings and # of getting into escrow.  A very positive and encouraging sign for all!
Buyer's Market    < 25% Neutral                  25% - 40% Seller's Market    > 40% 
… (0 comments)