marin homes: How to Achieve Highest Recyclable Collection Rate in Marin County - 08/31/08 04:51 AM
As a Novato Resident, surrounded by Open Space, Natural Parks, Bay front; we are proud to be the city with the highest recyclable collection and lowest solid waste rate in Marin county. The distinction can not be achieved solely by residents with good intention without the service provided by Novato Disposal Service
The Novato Disposal Service provides weekly pick ups of Green (Yard) Recyclables and Blue Recyclables (plastic containers, newspaper, bottles, jars, etc), Bi-Annual (spring, fall) large items, large volume and eWaste free-collections which the neighborhoods overwhelmingly participate and look forward to. 
The service utilizes plants with state of the art equipment to … (19 comments)

marin homes: Novato Real Estate Market Overview, as of August 27, 2008 - 08/30/08 03:24 AM

Changes since July 23rd, 2008 for Novato Real Estate Market - Total inventory dropped by 10 while units for pending sales remains the same at 28%.  The total market at a glance stays at the lower end of being Neutral tilting towards the buyers market (defined as pending sales is less than 25%).
Condos/Townhomes, where we see the biggest drop in prices due to many short sales and foreclosures, edged past neutral market and stays periosly on the sellers market.
Slight drop of 5% in SFDs priced under $500K - some REOs (Real Estate Owned - Bank Owned Properties) or Short Sales are a little rough, requires sweat equity.  As higher … (2 comments)

marin homes: Is Your (Marin County) Home Wildfire Ready? - 08/09/08 12:13 PM
During the high Fire season, it is nice to see the article from S.F. Chronicle highlighing what builders in he Oakland Hills did while rebuilding homes after the 1991 Oakland Fire.  The Oakland Fire "ultimately killed 25 people and injured 150 others. The 1,520 acres (6.2 km²) destroyed included 2,843 single-family dwellings and 437 apartment and condominium units. The economic loss has been estimated at $1.5 billion."
Along with the article, S.F. Chronicle included a partial list of checklist developed by (of all the places) Travis County, Texas about what how to prepare for a fire: 
I am following suit and quoting below:
Wildfire … (4 comments)

marin homes: Marin Real Estate Home Sales 2008 Mid Year Report - 07/30/08 06:01 AM
My clients or many Realtors on the National Forum have been asking me about how the market is in general and in Marin county.
My answer is always - Real Estate is LOCAL 
No matter how much the media dramatizes the market condition, Marin County House Prices still hold steady.  This is especially true for great houses in desirable locations in Southern Marin (such as Belvedere, Corte Madera, Greenbrae, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Ross, San Anselmo, Sausalito and Tiburon), or for that matter, all of Marin.
One of the recent news (will follow up with another blog) is the fact that Marin Land … (0 comments)

marin homes: 200 San Marin Drive, Novato, CA Medical Building PreConstruction Meeting - 07/22/08 06:44 PM
As a San Marin Improvement Association's member, I went to the preconstruction meeting for 200 San Marin Drive Project today. 
200 San Marin Drive is now a the vacant lot situated at the south east corner of San Marin Drive and San Andreas Drive.  Designated as a gas station, it will now be a single story, 6,700sf. medical building planned for four medical or dental offices serving local community.
Others present were two San Andreas HOA members, Chip Fuller, Vice President of Catlin Properties, owner of 200 San Marin Drive and Aton Seikowitz of Selkowitz & CO., Inc. General Contractors.  
The plan is to start construction as soon as possible, either the week of July 28th … (2 comments)

marin homes: Marin County Real Estate Two Month Closed Home Sales Report - May/June 07'/08' - 07/18/08 05:11 PM
Statistics from BAREIS MLS® February 8, 2008. Information herein believed reliable but not guaranteed. Copyright @ 2008 by Bay Area Real Estate Information Services, Inc. All rights reserved.Adjusted average does not include the high and low sale data.

Considering Moving to Marin, Sonoma (S.F. North Bay) ?    ~   Do you want to Buy or Sell a home?   
  Do you have clients with needs in Marin, Sonoma?   
Search Marin, Sonoma (S.F. North Bay) Area Properties 
 Visit my website at http://www.SylviaSellsMarin.com 

… (1 comments)

marin homes: Novato Real Estate, Marin County Market Overview - June 25th - 06/28/08 04:25 AM
                                                                  
Novato Real Estate Market Trend, June 25, 2008
As can see from the list below, the entry level Novato homes are enjoying a high percentage of pending sale than two weeks.  With the starting home price drops in Novato, and the avaiability of Short Sales and Bank Owned (REO) properties on the market, the first time homeowners and investors are out looking and actually buying. 
Several nicely priced mid range and higher end homes ($800K and up) are quickly claimed by ready buyers at the beginning of the summer housing season; a great time to shop and move. 
One reason of seeing increasing … (0 comments)