Marin County CA Real Estate Update – Q4 and 2010 Review

December 16, 2010

Filed under: 1. Marin Update,Marin Living — dwdupont @ 2:15 pm

Southern Marin County Update Q4 2010

Sales in Southern Marin surged in weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.

Four segments of the Southern Marin SFR market:

  • Entry level (below $1.2m): activity in this segment has been very brisk for 15 months.
  •  Middle Market ($1.2m-$3m): Momentum in the entry level moved into the middle market about 6 months ago and the data has clearly improved.
  • High End (above $3m): Buyer activity reached the high end about 4 months ago.
  • Ultra-High End (above $7m): Improving but still very slow

The primary active buyer demographic now continues to be families looking for good public school options, finished homes with lawns (not remodels), preferably with views, 4 beds+ and 3.5+ baths.

Buyers continue make purchase decisions primarily because of perceived value. The sales cycle for homes that are priced correctly is generally short and sweet. Sellers who price their homes above the market hoping to “find the right buyer” are setting themselves up for a long disappointing sales cycle in market full of value hunters; and the wealthier a buyer is (to a point) the more focused they are on value.

The market data pretty clearly shows that a bottom was placed in most market segments in the various towns of Southern Marin during the third quarter of 2009. We are reluctant to call it “The Bottom” due to various sticky macro financial issues, but the direction of economic data appears headed in the right direction and this coming Spring is likely to be the best Spring selling season we have had in 3 years.

High End Update: Marin County does not bear high end pricing (>$10m) like other premium real estate markets around the world. Records show 7 closed deals above $10m in Marin since 2005 versus 25 in San Francisco, and many others closed off market (privately) in SF. There are currently 13 homes above $10m available for purchase in Marin and none are in contract. While many of these homes are truly remarkable: showcasing the latest and greatest in luxury living, many others are simply mispriced.

Belvedere is statistically the worst Mill valley and Sausalito have corrected more than Tiburon. Mill Valley and Sausalito are improving. Tiburon homes are still in correction mode except for Tiburon condos which really bounced in 2010.

Please see the individual town pages.


Belvedere CA Real Estate – Q4 & 2010 Market Data

December 15, 2010

Filed under: 2. Southern Marin,Belvedere — dwdupont @ 4:07 pm

Belvedere Q4 Update & Yearly Real Estate Review

Its been a difficult year for most properties priced above $1.5m. Recently there has been tremendous improvement in most market segments except the high end Belvedere CA Real Estate. In fact, the most notable story in S. Marin real estate is the continuing price slide in Belvedere—currently tied with Novato for the biggest price drop from the peak. Belvedere average prices are down ~29% from the 2007 high.

In thinly traded towns like Belvedere Homes, which averages just 29 sales each year, missing even several high end sales can mean the difference between a flat year and a statistically poor year– which is exactly what is happening this year.

There are 31 homes currently for sale in Belevedere; the average listing price is $6,775,097 or $1,427/sqft– the implied average lot value of these listings is above $5.3m. The average lot value in Belvedere is actually closer to $1.54m which means the lot / land component of value (as opposed to the actual structure / house value) of the average listing in Belvedere is 350% over priced.

Please call for more information and visit our property website at www.thedupontgroup.net .

Last, we spend a great deal of time researching these statistics. It is our competitive edge in the marketplace for your benefit– as we very often use this data to support our price negotiations. We work harder than other agents on this data primarily because want to earn your business. Please call or email us us today. 415-867-6611 Dave@thedupontgroup.net .

Happy Holidays & New Year!


Sausalito CA Real Estate – Q4 & 2010 Review

Filed under: 2. Southern Marin,Sausalito — dwdupont @ 3:37 pm

Sausalito Q4 & 2010 Year End Review

The biggest story in Southern Marin is a spike recovery in Sausalito real estate, as the charts below indicate. On the facing page notice Q4 2010 is the best ever by $/sqft, and the second best by price. This is a huge improvement and currently show Sausalito leading Southern Marin away from a bottom in Q1’10.

Pent-up demand for higher-end Sausalito homes flooded the market in the 6 weeks proceeding Thanksgiving. A number of homes closed that had been on the market for years, and currently 26% of the homes listed are in contract—indicative of a balanced market.

A number of $3m+ homes have traded and several more are poised to close including 9 Cloudview Trail $5m which rumour has it is goingto be bought by a certain Philly second baseman.

The average SFR home price in Sausalito is $1,489,127, or $616$/sqft. Average lot value is $550k.

Last, we spend a great deal of time researching these statistics. It is our competitive edge in the marketplace for your benefit– as we very often use this data to support our price negotiations. We work harder than other agents on this data primarily because want to earn your business. Please call or email us us today. 415-867-6611 Dave@thedupontgroup.net .

Happy Holidays & New Year!

The first town after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge is Sausalito-and above all it is a sailors’ town! Everywhere you look you’ll see maritime folks favorite playthings from kayaks to 200+ foot yachts. The town takes its name from one of the earliest Mexican Land Grants North of San Francisco– Rancho Saucelito to Nicolas Galindo in 1835– and was one of the busiest commercial areas in Marin during that time.

Sausalito’s year-round warm days and cool nights, artsy locals, and fantastic waterfront commerce and restaurants draw people from around the world and make Sausalito one of the greatest towns of Marin.

Sausalito is increasingly being considered by families due to its GREAT public school Willow Creek.

Sausalito was originally built as a summer getaway for wealthy San Franciscans, as the summer weather is significantly warmer and less foggy than San Francisco proper.

•October is the average warmest month.

•The highest recorded temperature was 99°F in 1961.

•On average, the coolest month is January.

•The lowest recorded temperature was 26°F in 1990.

•January is the average wettest month. (Compliments of the Sausalito COC website)

The Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937 linking San Francisco to Marin county and with it’s completion, Sausalito, and Marin Country in general, have evolved into ideal suburbs for the ideal City: great weather, interesting community, close proximity to downtown San Francisco, situated equidistant between two international airports (Oakland and SF), loads of public open space for team sports, hiking, biking, kayaking fishing, sailing, surfing and windsurfing.

Sausalito fronts the San Francisco Bay on its west-north-west flank. The San Francisco Bay is well known as a mecca for sailing and windsurfing and supports a diverse eco-system. The San Francisco Bay is the size of the state of Rhode Island and is the largest estuarine system on the west coasts of both North and South America. Learn more about the following San Francisco Bay.

When looking for houses in Sausalito, be sure to work with a realtor who knows about the different weather zones in Sausalito. Several hundred yards in one direction or the other can mean a difference of 10-15 degrees on an average Summer afternoon .

There are several great options for commuting to San Francisco including ferry and bus service. There are more than a few Sausalito residents who commute by bike to San Francisco and swear by it. Driving time to the financial district ranges 15-25 minutes depending on the time of day and commuters are very infrequently subject to ‘stop-and-go’ traffic.

Demographics:

•Population (2005): 9,100

•Median resident age: 51

•Average household income (2005): $96,800

•Average home price (2005): $1,398,000


Tiburon CA Real Estate – Q4 & 2010 Review

Filed under: 2. Southern Marin,Tiburon — dwdupont @ 12:29 pm

Tiburon Q4 & 2010 Review:

Tiburon weathered the recession with the least price volatility, but is flat for the year. A Tiburon RESI (Condo + SFR) was placed in Q4 2008, but SFR homes are still dropping as the data below shows -5% for the year.

The biggest news in Tiburon is the surge in CONDO prices up 47% in ’10, a disastrous fall in prices during ’08 & ’09 (51% price drop from peak, & 70%  decline in units sold)

The average Tiburon RESI (CONDO +  SFR) home price is $1.95m and average incomes show Tiburon can support average home prices up to $2.04m.

The primary buyer demographic continues to be families with children seeking good public school options, flat lawns, 4+ bed 3.5+ bath ready to hit the ground running– remodel or renovation projects are very out of favor for this group.

Last, we spend a great deal of time researching these statistics. It is our competitive edge in the marketplace for your benefit– as we very often use this data to support our price negotiations. We work harder than other agents on this data primarily because want to earn your business. Please call or email us us today. 415-867-6611 Dave@thedupontgroup.net .

Happy Holidays & New Year!


Mill Valley CA Real Estate – Q4 & 2010 Review

Filed under: 2. Southern Marin,Mill Valley — dwdupont @ 11:26 am

Mill Valley CA Real Estate 2010 Review:

 The entry level of the market ($1.25m and below), like most areas in Marin, is brisk with 43% of the inventory in contract! Well priced Mill Valley homes are selling quickly. The big news is the middle market ($1.25-$1.85) has improved. There are 30 homes on the market, and approx. 38% in contract. This is a big change for the Mill Valley CA Resl Estate middle market. The high end is relatively slow but as the sales on the facing page show: 6 sales over $3m and one over $5.5m!

 Average SFR Mill Valley Homes are selling just under $550/sqft. The average Mill Valley SFR selling price is approximately $1.25m, average lot values are ~ $450k.

It took about 85 days to sell Mill Valley CA homes in 2010. The average size home to sell in Mill Valley is 2,272sqft. Indexed 1999 incomes support prices in the ~$1.37m range. CONDO data: Price -5%, unit sales -13%, $/sqft = $448, -5%. See data below

Last, we spend a great deal of time researching these statistics. It is our competitive edge in the marketplace for your benefit– as we very often use this data to support our price negotiations. We work harder than other agents on this data primarily because want to earn your business. Please call or email us us today. 415-867-6611 Dave@thedupontgroup.net .

 Happy Holidays & New Year!

Mill Valley real estate sets the standard by which all suburb / commuter towns should be measured: it is extremely family friendly, has great weather year-around, a fantastic selection of public and private schools, a plethora of nearby family activities to choose from, great restaurants, is close to a major urban center with a diverse economy and broad selection of corporate and non-corporate jobs; and as one resident aptly noted “it is close to everything I love to do!” Above all, Mill Valley is sophisticated town and a great place to raise a family. Due to the current economic  slump and pull back in real estate prices, You can find Mill Valley property in most price ranges ranging from condos for $400,000 to small homes starting in the high $500,000’s.

Nestled on the slopes of Mount Tamalpias amidst groves of Sequoia Redwood Trees, Mill Valley homes are spread out around a small town center with a rich heritage and colorful community. Like almost all of Marin County, Mill Valley property was originally home to Miwok Indians. In the late 1830′s, a large part of present day Tiburon, Corte Madera and Mill Valley Real Estate was granted to settler John Reed.

Reed was born in Dublin in 1805, and went to sea with a seafaring uncle at 15. He left the ship at Acapulco, where he stayed for six years, learning to speak Spanish fluently, before sailing north to Yerba Buena-later to be named San Francisco. Having befriended many influential people along his journeys, he was eventually issued a land grant from the Mexican government near present day Santa Rosa. Unfortunately the Cotate Indians drove him back to the relative safety of Southern Marin where he married the commandant’s daughter and was awarded another land grant-what is most of modern day Tiburon, Corte Madera and Mill Valley CA.

Reed harvested trees from Corte Madera and Tiburon for use in the Presidio and built a mill in a nearby valley-”Old Mill” in the area later named “Mill Valley”.

To find more about Mill Valley CA real estate, and Mill Valley property, please click search for homes.

Proximity to Everything

Mill Valley property’s proximity to San Francisco homes, neighborhoods & jobs, coastal mountains, beaches, boating in the SF bay, Napa and Sonoma wine country, typically attracts outdoor-oriented people who play as hard or harder than they work.

Mill Valley homes are also centrally located in Marin Real Estate– fairly equidistant from Sausalito, Tiburon, Corte Madera, Larkspur and Kentfield; and approximately equidistant from San Francisco, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael and Fairfax. This characteristic lends itself to evening and weekend sojourns to other nearby towns for movies, dinners, tennis and swim clubbing, and public parks / open space access. Nothing in Marin– or San Francisco for that matter– is really “too far away” from Mill Valley.

Neighborhoods

Mill Valley properties are comprised of many different neighborhoods located both within the “incorporated” town of Mill Valley as well as other parts that are “unincorporated” such as Strawberry, Tam Valley, parts of Homestead Valley etc. When looking for homes in Mill Valley it is important to work with a local realtor that knows the intricacies and characteristics of the neighborhoods-such as the weather and traffic patterns and public school system access.

Non rush hour driving time to downtown San Francisco, ranges from 20 to 25 minutes without traffic.

Family Friendly

If you are looking for a healthy, safe place that is conducive to raising a family-homes in Mill Valley are a great choice!

  • There are a plethora of family-oriented restaurants (the ones that aren’t, still are during the ‘early shift’)
  • Plenty of movie theaters with kids programming,
  • Open spaces for community and school team sports.
  • A great selection of both private and public schools (public school choice differs by neighborhood) see “Mill Valley Schools link”
  • Large number of nearby family activities-see link
  • Local Support organizations for parents

Interesting Statistics

  • Population (2005): 13,000
  • Median resident age: 45
  • Average household income (2005): $156,100

Great Weather

The weather year-round in Mill Valley is fantastic-and if someone has told you that we don’t have seasons-don’t believe them, especially if you spend time in the Sierras / Lake Tahoe area 3 hours away. Spring in Mill Valley is characterized by breezy wider ranging temperatures with typical lows in the high forties and highs in the upper sixties to lower 70′s. Summer is generally characterized by higher low temps-low mid to 50′s and temperamental highs ranging from breezy 60′s to gorgeous 80′s. Fall is generally the best weather of the year and even warmer than summer. Winter runs the gamut from cold, clear nights, sometimes (though not often) reaching below freezing, to strong pacific storms that bring rain (and heavy snowfalls to the Sierras), and beautiful winter days that typically reach into the low 60′s and sometimes higher. Almost every winter you can count on a string beautiful January and/or February days in the 60s. The more outdoor activities one enjoys (think sailing, surfing and snow), the more conscious one is of our wonderful seasons and changing weather patterns.


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