An email is circulating around Marin County right now that clearly misrepresents that Company's position in Tiburon real estate sales, and listings. This company has skewered the statistic to such a degree it would appear they're the leading real estate company in Tiburon?  This company's advertising practices has landed them before various Grievance Committees at the Marin Association of Realtors in the past.  And,because the Marin Association of Realtors has no means to reign in this kind of bad behavior, it reflects poorly on all us who practice real estate here in Marin. Disengenuous, deceptive, and dishonest Advertising is a Violation of the Code of Ethics. The problem is, without hiring an attorney, there's no way to enforce the Code? It truly is a sad state of affairs, and hence, has rendered the Marin Association of Realtors as an ineffective Association.

Here are the real stats for real estate in Tiburon.

        

It looks like Sean Penn and Robin Wright (she dropped the Penn name) are really going to divorce this time, with the recent sale of the Penns’ Marin County home.

The deed was just recorded on Jan. 20 , and the sale price was not revealed. The Penn’s originally listed their home for sale in August 2008 for $15 million. Purchased in 1996 for $2.1 million, the 7,557 sq. ft. home has since been renovated and sits on 2.2 acres. It was built in 1933.

Since announcing their divorce last summer, Robin moved to LA to be near her daughter who is attending college.

        

                       
      This Graph will change Towns every 7 seconds

Mark Danforth Lomas * Marin Luxury Homes and Properties

(415) 789-7777 work v.m. * (415) 385-7404 cell/direct

                      MDLomas@gmail.com

        

In 2009 the Marin Luxury Homes market had 128 homes that Sold over two million dollars compared to 222 in 2008, and 288 in 2007. In the chart below are twenty of Marin’s most expensive home sales for 2009. If you'd like more details on any of these properties, contact me at MDLomas@gmail.com or 415-789-7777

        

        

        

Don't miss this Exclusive Opportunity!  The Belvedere Hawthorne Nursery School Kitchen Tour takes place Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 from 9:30am to 2pm!

Don't miss an excellent opportunity to take an exclusive look at some of the most beautiful kitchens in Tiburon and Belvedere!  Enter the Grand Raffle to win Fabulous prizes! Shop at our Valentine Boutique and enjoy a Waterfront Luncheon at the San Francisco Yacht Club in Belvedere.
Tour tickets are: $40 in advance, $45 at the door. Raffle tickets: $5 each, 6 for $25. Luncheon:$30
For more information: call 415-721-3204 or
 visit their web site at: Belvedere Hawthorne Nursery School Kitchen Tour 

        

Frank Howard Allen Realtors celebrates being the Number One Real Estate Company in Marin (hands down) for 2009, and their 100th Anniversary! 1910 - 2010!   As the leading Residential Brokerage in Marin Frank Howard Allen continues to provide the highest level of service among their competitors. If you're thinking of buying or selling in today's real estate market give yourself the "edge", and go with the best.  For more information about Frank Howard Allen's real estate services contact me at 415-789-7777 or 415-385-7404 cell/direct.

        

This rarely available 2 story, 3 bedroom, 3 bath Point Tiburon residence is available for sale at $1,995,000.  For more information about this wonderful property contact Mark Lomas at 415-385-7404 direct/cell or 415-789-7777 wk.v.m.

        

RELOCATION.COM names San Francisco Bay Area's Best Real Estate Agent Web Sites!

Press Release

New York, PRNewswire: Relocation.com , the leading online consumer resource for moving services, today announced its listing of the best "Real Estate Agents Blogs" in San Francisco.

"Access to listings is still a crucial part of a real estate web site, but the content of the blog is also very helpful for people who are moving or considering moving to a particular city or neighborhood," said Ron Asher, the founder and chairman of Relocation.com. "The Blogs we selected excel in providing relevant market data about the community, as well as an insight into what might be like to live there."

The Top Real Estate Web Sites in the San Francisco Bay Area:

* Marin County Real Estate        The Real Estate Scene in Marin   from Mark Lomas

* The Front Steps                         The Front Steps     from Alex Clark

* Absolutely Foster City Blog     Absolutely Foster City Blog   from Jim Minkey

* San Mateo Real Estate Blog    San Mateo Real Estate Blog    from Vicki Moore

* The White Oaks Blog                White Oaks Blog

* Living Well in San Mateo          Living Well in San Mateo   from Stoklosa,Williamson,&Williamson

How Relocation.com chose these web sites:

A Local Touch:  The best real estate agent web sites offer a unique voice that can not be found on a media web site or general web site, providing an "insight"  that helps people learn more about that community.

The successful agent web site/blogs blend vivid pictures, interesting vignettes about local community life, and a discussion of the issues that affect the community, like local elections or school board meetings.  "People who are moving to a new community like to see a personal touch in the real estate web site/blog," said Asher.

Market Data: House hunters love market data.  Whether they're comparing the costs of one neighborhood to the next, or keeping an eye on prices in their target neighborhood, this neighborhood specific data can be a challenge to find on the web.  The best real estate agent web sites provide that information, as well as top notched analysis around it, giving would be homebuyers crucial data to help make their decision when moving.

Real Esate Knowledge:  People with varying degrees of real estate knowlege visit these web sites, so these sites provide a mix of information that target a variety of knowledge levels. " These sites demonstrate the agent's real estate knowledge and their ability to convey information in a way that people can understand," says Asher.  These sites target people who are looking to purchase homes in those areas.

If you're thinking of selling your home, and you'd like an edge up in today's unique real estate marketplace, these agents clearly have excellent internet marketing skills.  If that's the difference you're looking for, call one of them today!

        

        

        

        

Nothing was more frustrating in 2009 than working with the large banks that took tarp money from the American taxpayers.   When trying to work with these banks, the complicated Mortgage Maze one now has to navigate has made homebuying more difficult then ever before. So, how does this help the taxpayers that bailed out the banks?  As things stand now, the only real benefactor of the tarp money are the large banks.  Could there be a solution?

This video encourages you to consider moving your money out of these banks into local community banks. Local community banks create jobs and lend money to small businesses where you live.  Now might be the time to seriously reconsider doing buisness with those banks that are hesitant to loan the tarp monies. 

And, if you put your money in a Community Bank  (like at the large banks) you are insured by the FDIC.   It's a great video!

        

        

Click here for:     Sunday Marin County Online Open Houses 

        

     On June 15, 2009 Phillip Bruce Raful, 21 year resident of Marin and state-certified appraiser, wrote in the Marin Independent Journal:   Tip O'Neill, the late House speaker, once famously said," All politics is local."  The same is true for real estate.
     To understand Marin's real estate values, you need to understand that there is no such thing as a national real estate market.  I'm a long-time real estate appraiser in Marin County, so it surprises me when people ask how much the value of their home has fallen, as oftentimes, the answer is zero, because it depends on the market segment that their home is in.
     The value of your home depends on what it is, where it is, what it's condition is, and what the amenities are compared to other homes in your market segment.  
     For most of Marin, the market is steady and stable.
Click here to read the whole article: Marin Real Estate - Myth vs. Realty

        

Today the Marin Independent Journal came out with the headlines: Top Story: Drop in Home Prices Bucks Regional Trend. And once more we're back to interpreting misleading headlines:

John Rusting, a real estate instructor at College of Marin and certified appraiser in the East Bay, said it's hard to put much stock in such statistics given Marin's variety of micro markets and generally higher prices. Rusting said, "I sincerely doubt that  home values in Ross are dropping, when you look at things countywide, for every 15 sales in Novato and one good sale in Ross or Kentfield, you average this out and it can be deceiving. Novato remains the hotbed for activity in Marin Real Estate. Rusting also said, "It's holding overall numbers back as opposed to the East Bay where  the median price is starting to creep up."

For the whole article click on: Marin Independent Journal Article December 18, 2009



Seal Sculpture off Bridgeway in Sausalito, California

        

     What does today's buyer of real estate look like? Here are some statistics from the National Association of Realtors that you'll find very insightful, especially if your thinking of selling.

        

According to the National Association of Realtors, only 1 percent of Realtors are using video to market their listings, yet 73 percent of all sellers would list with an agent who uses video to market their property. Translation? Using video to market your listings give you a 99 percent edge over the competition.  

        

What's Been Happening in Marin Real Estate?   You can't tell a player without a program, so here's the program. Marin Real Estate legends Jeff Sterley and Barry Crotty have both returned to Frank Howard Allen Realtors. Jeff will be managing the Novato office, and Barry is taking over the Tiburon office.  Brent Thompson has left Frank Howard Allen, and is now the Manager for Pacific Union. Morgan Lane's Mark McLaughlin recently has merged Marin newcomer Morgan Lane with Pacific Union,and we wish  them all the very best! 

 Earlier this year Pacific Union suffered a massive exodus of agents to Alain Pinel, almost their entire Greenbrae office left. Steve Dickason, Alain Pinel's new Marin general manager (previously Pacfic Union's Greenbrae manager) recently reported at a Realtors networking group meeting at the Acqua Hotel in Mill Valley that the hardest hit markets in Marin right now are Ross, Belvedere, Kentfield, Tiburon, and Greenbrae.  

There's a lot of curiousity as to what the new Pacific Union will look like? Morgan Lane focused on the high end of the market here in Marin that's now turned "soft." Not the easiest time to launch a new company, so we wish them all the best!   A lot of agents in Marin are wondering if Pacific Union's rebranding will be similar to Coke Cola's attempts to rebrand Coca Cola when they rolled out their "New" Coke campaign. Time will tell, sit back and wait and see what an existing company looks like with a new attitude, and new advertising. I imagine that Pacific Union will roll out a very aggressive ad campaign in 2010.  At the same time, Frank Howard Allen Realtors will be celebrating their 100th Anniversary of helping buyers and sellers throughout Marin County.

Realtor of the Year  

With great pleasure I'm am very happy to announce that Kevin Patsel has been named "Realtor of the Year!" Kevin manages the Coldwell Banker office in Greenbrae and is one of the best in the business.  Katie Beacock, the Marin Association of Realtors President said, "It's unusual for us to give it to an office manager, but Kevin has worked above and beyond!"  Earlier this year another company attacked Kevin in an email recruiting letter that sent angry ripples throughout Marin County's real estate community as the email foundd it's way into everyone's inbox.  Talk about payback, and Happy Endings!  Congratulations Kevin!

Also, Bill McKeon, of Greenbrae and a realtor with Alain Pinel has just been installed as the new President of the Marin Association of Realtors for 2010!  All the best Bill!

Buisness Week Magazine: " If You Don't Buy A House Now, You're Either Stupid or Broke"

Business Week Magazine Article December 2009

        

Agassi  You Tube Home To Be Demolished?
Once the Roundhill Estate, then Andre Agassi's and Steffi Graf's home later purchased by Stuart Peterson of YouTube fame for 20 million in 2006, now has a Gilmartin Drive adddress and plans to demolish the 12,400 square foot mansion, and put up a 15, 250 square foot mansion.
Agassi Mansion Faces Demolition in Tiburon

        

Bloomberg News "Wealthy Investors PlanTo Buy More Real Estate"

Mercury News: President of Alain Pinel Realtors Resigns



Agassi Estate To Be Demolished & Enlarged
     One of Tiburon's most famous estate homes is going from Big to Bigger!  YouTube investor Stuart Peterson and his wife, Gina, who bought the Agassi estate on Gilmartin Drive in 2006, plan to tear down the mansion and all the accessory buildings and build an evan grander complex. For the whole story click on the link below:

Agassi Estate To Be Demolished & Enlarged

        

Click here for: Sunday Marin County Online Open Houses  by the Marin Independent Journal



Here's another version for Marin County Sunday Open Houses by the Marin Association of Realtors

Marin Online Open Houses

        

S&P/Case Shiller Home Prices Indices

        

Marin Independent Journal Article November 19, 2009

Bloomberg News Bay Area Sales Are On The Rise

        

Listing agents are starting to set offer dates again for attractively-priced homes, especially REO's (bank-owned real estate). Many of these are attracting multiple offers which often go over asking price but not necessarily by a large margin. One listing agent in Novato recently had multiple offers on a property, had the deal fall through twice. The property had multiple offers each of three times it was on the market. It closed escrow on the third try, over asking price. Especially in Novato, cash is king. Investors offering all cash deals or large cash down payments, quick closes, sometimes as short as 7 days. Buyers well-advised to write good solid offers but not to feel pressed into situations they are not comfortable with.

 
(People that live in glass houses.....)

City-by-City report out this week shows 11 of 13 covered cities and towns increased percentage in contract.  Greenbrae and Novato bucking the trend with decreases but probably not tremendously significant. Greenbrae most likely the result of small sample size and Novato decreasing 4 percentage points but still leading the County with 50% of all listings in contract as of November 1.

 

Marin County SFR and Condo reports showing all price points with an increase in percentage in contract as of November 3. Condo's under $1million, led by the Novato REO market, particularly strong at 46% in contract.  SFR's under $1million at 42% in contract. See City-by-City Report for variation by city/town.

 

Current average Days on Market (DOM) for SFR's is 106 vs. 86 at this time last year.

For Condo's it is 116 DOM vs. 104  in Oct. '08.  SFR YTD units sold at 1312 on Nov 3 vs 1393 same time last year, or -5.8%---- compares favorably with -10% at last report.

Condo YTD units sold at 407 vs 426 in Nov., 2008 or -4.5%-- a slight improvement over last report's -4.8%. Average sold prices still down with SFR's at $996,458 vs. $1,298,170 last year and Condo's at $372,301 vs. '08's $495,281. Remember, this is partially  a function of market-mix (meaning that lower-end homes were a higher percentage of sold homes) and not all price decline.

 
(How to build up in today's market  -  Create from the bottom.....)
Market conditions look hopeful. May be anticipating economic recovery. Home Buyer Tax Credit extension approved by Congress goes to President Obama for signature.  

 
Beautiful Tiburon Rebuild/Remodeled Home in one of the "Hidden" neighborhoods
along the Tiburon Bike Path

        

The operative word here is Rumor. Word is that Halle Berry is in the process of buy

        

On October 16, 2009,the Dow Jones closes at 9995, pulling back slightly from Thursday's 1-year high close of 10,062. Marin IJ pours cold water on the nascent flames with front page headline "Tough month for Marin real estate". The article compares September's real estate sales to those of August. A more appropriate comparison would be to September of 2008. That comparison would show activity up considerably while prices are admittedly down due to sales of bank-owned property and the sluggishness of the upper end of the market. IJ article notes "---Marin bucked an upward trend in home sales elsewhere in the Bay area".  According to an October 15 article by La Jolla, CA-based DataQuick information services, the average sales volume decline in the Bay Area comparing Sept 08 to Sept. 09 is 8.4%, while Marin County declined only 3.5%. The article states that the median price decline for the area was -8.8% while Marin declined only 6.5%. Full text of the article available at:

http://www.dqnews.com/Articles/2009/News/California/Bay-Area/RRBay091015.aspx

 

NRT MarketQuest reveals the following statistics:

Single Family Residences: Accepted offers in Sept '08=143, in August '09, 207, and in Sept '09, 244. Ratio of accepted offers to new listings in Sept '08 at 49% while Sept '09 at 80.8%. Sales down a bit from Sept '09's 149 units to this September's 143 units.

Downtown Tiburon and the Corinthian Yacht Club Harbor

 

Condo's: Accepted offers in Sept '08=58, in August '09, 70, and in Sept '09, 89. Ratio of accepted offers to new listings in Sept '08 at 55.2% while Sept '09 at 106%. Sales down a bit from Sept '09's 55 units to this September's 50 units. Sold median price of condo's at $395K in September of '09 actually up over both August '09 at $375K and Sept '08 at $325K.

 

These facts do not seem to warrant front page doom and gloom. Under- $1million sector of the market at a very robust 41.25% in contract for Single Family Residences and 43.71% in contract for condo's. The big question is when sales in the upper end of the market will re-ignite. This segment is mostly SFR's, as very few condo's in this price range, usually fewer than 20 units at any given time. Answer revolves around availability of "Jumbo" loans which have been scarce since the financial meltdown last year. Major opportunity still exists for all-cash buyers of high-end homes as well as those with large down-payments and exemplary credit/earnings.

Fred Anlyan, Coldwell Banker in Greenbrae

Marin Independent Journal Article

Marin Independent Journal "Default Notices Spike in Marin County"

 

        

        

After 35 years of legal battles and court opinions the Martha Property (110 Acre Parcel) dispute continues in Tiburon.  For an update on what's happening check out these links:

        

Open Sunday October 11, 2009 from 1-4pm  

When thoughts turn to Mill Valley images of giant redwoods, a wonderfully intimate downtown, and a very natural - very comfortable lifestyle comes to mind.  Nestled in the heart of Mill Valley this sophisticated home looks out over a green valley towards views of downtown San Francisco.  Lushly landscaped grounds compliment this amazing 3 bedroom 2 bath home that's located just a short distance from downtown.



A formal entryway leads you into a huge living room with recessed lighting, an integrated entertainment system, and beautiful oak hardwood floors.  The rooms in this home have all been orientated to the outdoors and views which create a fluid indoor outdoor experience complimented by the extensive decking.

Offered at: $1,795,000  By Mark Lomas (415) 789-7777 and Kirsten Wolfe (415) 789-7724

        

DOM: Days on Market

        

Marin Magazine October 2009 article: It's What Your Agent Knows That Counts

        

Chase Bank Incompetent? Or, Deliberately Stalling Housing Recovery?

You’ve seen the massive ad campaign played out on television’s everywhere in California for Chase Bank? "We all shine on" , the John Lennon song plays in the background while a surfer paddle outs to the surf? Not sure who’s suppose to be "shining on", but it sure isn’t Chase Bank.

If you know anything about Chase Bank’s short sales practices then you know that Chase Bank, with all our TARP money (25 Billion), is understaffed and not able to handle the volume of short sales they have.

If you make an offer on one of their short sales properties, your lucky if you hear back from Chase Bank in a couple of months. And, then it can be weeks/ months before you know if your offer is accepted or rejected ?

Everything about Chase’s methodology is counter productive...

Also, Chase doesn’t always accept these offers, that then go to foreclosure and then the bank sells the property for less then if they had sold the property when it was a short sale???

According to a national Title Company(approximately) only about 50% of short sales ever sell. Why would anyone make an offer on a short sale with those odds?

Why doesn’t Chase Bank have the staff to handle their huge inventory of short sales? There are huge numbers of trained professionals (mortgage brokers, financial experts that recently lost their jobs) that could step in quickly and help? Why aren’t they hiring and training? Even if these jobs are temporary, there is a very talented pool of people that could step in and help.

If Chase Bank was more efficient in their handling of short sales, more homes would be selling sooner than later, and the housing market could recover sooner.  Why is the TARP money being spent by the large banks on acquiring smaller banks, and massive ad campaigns when they should be hiring people to take care of the business they don't seem to be able to handle?

Is Chase Bank incompetent? Or, are the banks deliberately stalling the Housing recovery?  Where's the Government oversight?

        

Sausalito Floating Homes Tour
September 26, 2009  *  11am to 4pm
Tickets: $35 Reservations Recommended
For More Information: 415-332-1916
Sausalito Floating Homes Tour

        

On Saturday, September 19, 2009, from 11am to 4pm
Please come out and enjoy the Eichler Homes Tour 
Open Hearts, Open Homes - A benefit for Hospice by the Bay

Tickets are limited * Reserve Now!   415 - 526 - 5500

Eichler Home Tour 2009 



Eichler's of yesteryear.....


Eichler's of today...



Eichler Home Tour 2009 

        

Win this $2,000,000 Marin County Dream House or Choose $1,600,000 in Cash!
For More Information Go To:  Marin Dream Home
Or Call: 1-888-999-4540

   For a third 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 "dream home" priced at $2 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. "The fact that the local anti-poverty agency is raffling off a $2 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. 
   The nonprofit lost about $200,000 a year in funding from the Marin Community Foundation 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.

        

September 1, 2009, "Just the facts"!





DOM: Average "Days on Market"

        

        

Single family homes inventory dropped slightly and the percentage of homes "under contract"  is UP in almost all price ranges.  Single family homes in general are continuing to do well with over 27% of these homes in contract.  Homes under $1 million are very HOT with 38% in contract, an increase of about 1% from the last report published here.  Of course this varies considerably by town and neighborhood.  Particularly notable is a pick up in activity upper end properties.

Condo inventory is up by just a handful of units.  The percentage of condos under contract right now are around 38% and continues to reflect a strong demand by investors, and first time buyers.  Also to note, at this time, Lenders are taking seriously into consideration the ratio of owner occupied units vs. rental units.  This is an important statistic for prospective buyer to check out early in the game.

Fred Anlyan, MBA Broker Ass. , Coldwell Banker Greenbrae

        

San Francisco Chronicle Tiburon "Where We Live" Article August 9, 2009

        

Very "Hot" new listing in Tiburon, California.
 
Open this Sunday August 9, 2009  from 1 to 4pm.

        

Your House As Seen By:

Yourself...



Your Buyer



Your Lender



Your Appraiser



And... Your House as seen by
the Marin County Tax Assessor

        

Marin Foreclosures Down From Last Year

Signs of Life in Bay Area Real Estate * * *  Other Signs of Life

        

        

Hello Everyone, Fred Anlyan, Coldwell Banker Greenbrae

        

Morgan Lane purchases Pacific Union 

SF Gate's Article: Boutique Morgan Lane Buys Pacific Union

SF Business Times Morgan Lane / Pacific Union Article 

     According to the Daily Pundit/ San Francisco Real Estate Blog:  Morgan Lane has purchased Pacific Union.  And, it appears Avram Goldman - Pacific Union's CEO will not be going along for the ride.  Many people feel Avram was responsible for half of the Pacific Union agents exodus to Alain Pinel Realtors.  When that took place earlier this year the Daily Pundit ran a Pacific Union "Death Watch" on their blog.

        

This listing is "en fuego!"...Red Hot! And, will be open this Sunday. For more information about this NEW Sausalito listing call the listing agent, Kirsten Wolfe, at: 415-328-5431  If you're looking for a wonderful home in Southern Marin
prepare to fall in love!  Open this Sunday July 26, 2009 from 1 to 4pm!

        

Mark Lomas  *  TheRealEstateScene.com  * 1st Published September 2007

        

Marin Median Home Price Rises

        

NEW LOAN DISCLOSURES RULES MAY POTENTIALLY AFFECT CLOSE OF ESCROW

      Starting July 30, 2009, if the APR on an initial Good Faith Estimate is no longer accurate (within 0.125% range) at close of Escrow, a lender must provide a residential borrower with a new disclosure and a three day right to rescind before consumating the loan, Realtors and borrowers are forewarned that due to the new three day waiting period, a lender's failure to timely provide corrected disclosures has the potential of delaying funding of the loan at close of escrow. (from the California  Association of Realtors)

OTHER LENDING CONSIDERATIONS

        

        

        

      I just attended a Marin based real estate networking meeting where a local realtor asked, " is this a buyer's or seller's market?  When someone responded that it was a "Lender's Market" ,more than a few local realtors shared some stories that would give anyone pause applying for a mortgage.
      The moral, or point to this post is how important it is to work with a reputable LOCAL lender in today's real estate market. Mortgage Broker's and Lender's are famous for telling you at the front end that they can make it happen. Unfortunately, that's not proving to be the reality. The real estate web site "Active Rain" ran a post recently: "Why Loan Officers Kill Deals, Cost You Time, Cost You Money, and Anger Customers." In this article they list the 3 most common lies among lenders today are: 1.I'm as busy as I've ever been   2.No problem, I can get that done...and,   3.We can close in two weeks.

       Recently I sold a house in Northern Marin.  The day before closing, the lender who was in Southern California decided to do a last second desk review appraisal for the purchase ,and dramatically lowered the value of the house?  From the time of the original appraisal, done by a local appraiser, there were new comparables/comps to suggest the original appraisal had undervalued the property. None the less, the underwriter in Southern California required that the buyer put in another $60,000 towards the purchase, or they would not fund.  The lender had the buyer over a barrel.  The lender knew the buyer's finances, and knew they had the where with all.  The lender also knew the buyer had removed their contingency for loan approval, and was legally obligated to close this purchase, or the buyer would lose the 3% deposit they'd already put into escrow. The buyer was not happy.
       In the beginning I had recommended a local lender to the buyer.  The buyer decided to go with an old friend that was a mortgage broker in Southern California.  If we had gone with my recommendation we could have avoided all kinds of problems. Most importantly, we could have worked with a lender that understood Marin County Real Estate, and Marin Real Estate property values.
       To be redundant, choose a local Mortgage Company, Mortgage Broker, Lender, Bank, or Credit Union.  Expect problems if you choose someone out of Marin, including online lenders with little or no experience here locally.
       Whatever choice you make, I recommend that you include in your loan contingency removal the following language: "Buyer hereby removes the loan contingency subject to the following: Seller and Buyer agree that if, after the removal of the Buyer's Loan Contingency and without fault of the Buyer -  a change in the loan commitment or lowering of appraisal by Buyer's Lender, Buyer may terminate this Agreement and shall be entitled to the return of the Buyer's deposit."
       Navigating the Mortgage Maze has never been more difficult.  If you'd like to be refered to a reputable local lender please feel free to email me, or give me a call.   MDLomas@gmail.com   or 415-789-7777
      
     

More Lender Horror Stories

        

        

Marin Independent Journal Article: Median Home Price Dips

MSNBC: Housing Flashes Signs Recession May Be Ending

MSNBC: Mortgage Rates Fall Back From 7 Month High

        

Luxury Housing Sector in Marin County Looks Up
The real estate slump experienced last year looks like it’s about to take a turn for the better, especially in places like California which bore the brunt of the downturn. Marin County for one is looking up in terms of its luxury home sector, according to a report from real estate service provider Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. According to the report:

• There has been an increase in the sale of luxury apartments and houses over the past six months
• Homes that are more than a million dollars are being taken off the market faster now than in the last two years.
• Homes are now closing faster, in under 100 days rather than in under 150 days a few months ago.
• The perception that the housing market cannot get any lower than this and that prices are only going to rise upwards has brought about this renewed interest in home ownership.
• People are realizing that low interest rates are soon going to be a thing of the past and that the buyer’s market may not last much longer; so they’re using the low prices to snap up good homes.
• More and more people are coming to open houses as serious buyers and more sales are being closed than ever before.
• The housing sector is looking up in all cities of Marin County
• Homes are selling for as much as 90 percent of their asking rates, a significant improvement from the 83 percent that was registered a few months ago.

And if you thought these signs of prosperity were being exhibited only by the rich and famous, the overall housing sector in the area is also showing signs of having reached rock bottom. Prices are set to go up again, and now is the time to buy if you’re a first time homeowner.

By-line:

This article is written by Kat Sanders, who regularly post at her blog The Fixer Upper Blog. She welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: katsanders25@gmail.com

        

        

Conforming Loans - Full Doc  (up to $417,000) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 30 Year Fixed Rate 5.25% @ 1 point          Payment per $1,000 = $5.522 Rate 5.75% @ 0 point          Payment per $1,000 = $5.836   5 Year ARM Rate 4.38% @ 1 point          Payment per $1,000 = $4.993 Rate 4.88% @ 0 point          Payment per $1,000 - $5.292

High Balance Conforming ($417,001 to $625,500) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 30 Year Fixed Rate 5.63% @ 1 point          Payment per $1,000 = $5.757 Rate 6.13% @ 0 point          Payment per $1,000 = $6.076   5/1 ARM Rate 4.88% @ 1 point          Payment per $1,000 = $5.292 Rate 5.50% @ 0 point          Payment per $1,000 = $5.678     Temporary High Balance Conforming ($625,501 to $729,750) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 30 Year Fixed Rate 5.88% @ 1 point          Payment per $1,000 = $5.195 Rate 6.50% @ 0 point          Payment per $1,000 = $6.321   5/1 ARM Rate 4.88% @ 1 point          Payment per $1,000 = $5.292 Rate 5.50% @ 0 point          Payment per $1,000 = $5.678

Jumbo (to $5,000,000) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 30 Year Fixed Rate 6.50% @ 1 point          Payment per $1,000 = $6.321   3/1 I.O. ARM Rate 4.75% @ 1 point          Payment per $1,000 = $5.217  Rate 5.25% @ 0 point          Payment per $1,000 = $5.522   5/1 I.O. ARM Rate 4.88% @ 1 point          Payment per $1,000 = $5.292 Rate 5.38% @ 0 point          Payment per $1,000 = $5.600   7/1 I.O. ARM Rate 5.50% @ 1 point          Payment per $1,000 = $5.678 Rate 6.00% @ 0 point          Payment per $1,000 = $6.000   10/1 I.O. ARM Rate 5.50% @ 1 point          Payment per $1,000 = $5.678 Rate 6.00% @ 0 point          Payment per $1,000 = $6.000   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~    Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) rates may adjust to higher rate at the end of their fixed rate period. This is not a loan commitment, nor is it guarantee of any kind. This comparison is based solely on estimated figures and information available at the time of production. Interest rate assumes FICO score of 720 or greater, single family dwelling, owner occupied. California Department of Real Estate - real estate broker license #01111899.

        

        

Link to Article: Marin Home Sales Increase



                                        Search the Marin County MLS
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                 Marin County Sunday Online Open Houses 
                                   Sunday Marin County Online Open Houses 

        

        

     Despite the struggling economy, every month more than 5000 people buy a house in the Bay Area.  What do these people know that others may not?  Are these people investing in a declining market? It appears that despite the economy there are plenty of people who've decided that it is time to buy.  Many of these buyers are bargain hunters that are buying now because they perceive that they're are good deals out there.
     MDA Dataquick analyst Andrew LePage suggest, "that at least two thirds of the market is split between investors and first time buyers.  And, that the balance is mainly people that have to buy because of a new job or other life events."
     Also, many homes here have returned to the realm of reasonable prices, with the median Bay Area home hovering below $300,000.  The Bay Area median price peaked in the spring of 2007 at $720,000.  This reflects a huge shift toward sales in more affordable neighborhoods.
     People who buy homes without planning to live in them remain a steady and increasing force in the market.  While it's difficult to pin down exactly which buyers are investors, one sign is the address to which new property tax bills are sent.  Two years ago, about 10 percent of home buyers had tax bills sent to an address other than the newly purchased house.  By February of this year that was up to 18.7 percent.
     In Marin County, in the last couple of weeks, sales have definitely picked up.  It's taking at least 10 days to get a reputable home inspection company out to a property for inspections where just weeks ago there wasn't any wait.  Is this just a "seasonal" pick  up, or have we stopped bouncing off the bottom?



Sign(s) of the times? A cluster of real estate signs heading onto Belvedere Island Sunday May 17, 2009

(resources for this article are the  S.F.Chronicle and Dataquick Systems)

        

The rumors are that McGuire Real Estate has purchased Vision Real Estate ,and will be making a formal announcement on Wednesday.

        

       Desperation strikes! There's an email circulating around Marin County real estate offices these days from the owners of a local real estate company's owners pointing out the differences between their company and another  real estate company here in Marin.  What appears to be a comparison between the two companies turns out to be an unnecessary hit piece that not only attacks the company, but personally attacks the manager of one of their offices.  One of the owners that's circulating this email is an attorney.  On the face of things one might think the email is just pointing out the differences between the two companies with information that may be factual. How clever. Because, when it's said and done, it's a company trying to build themselves up by putting their competition down, instead of promoting themselves based upon their own merits.

      Has the market ,or this company sunk so low, this company has to resort to these kind of tactics? Why would you even think of promoting yourself by demeaning your competitor? Is this their business model?

      In my 25 years of working as a real estate professional in Marin, I have ever seen this kind of behavior. What are these people thinking?

San Francisco Real Estate Blog Joins the Conversation

        

      For the life of me I cannot figure out why someone would Twitter?  I don't understand the appeal of virtual stalking unless you're a celebrity desperate for attention?  So far, I can't think of anyone other than Hunter S. Thompson that would be interesting enough to be interested in what their doing.  My problem is  Hunter S. Thompson is dead. I'm confused, is Twitter for twits?  
     As professional realtors we're inundated with initiations from social networking sites like Facebook,  LinkedIn,Plaxo,Ning, Twitter,Merchant's Circle and that's just the tip of the iceburg. When is enough, enough?
     To participate on any of these sites takes a lot of time. But, is it time well spent?  These sites have been around for a couple of years now.  Have they lived up to their promises of creating more opportunities for real estate professionals?                    
                                                              

        

Home Loan Financing Returns To Days Of Common Sense (Marin IJ Article)

Rental Rates Drop in Marin County (Marin IJ Article)

The 5 C's in Home Financing have returned.

They are cash flow,capital,character,collateral, and credit score. For more about  how "Common Sense" has returned to real estate financing, check out the link above.

Rates on 30 year mortgages fell slightly last week but remained just ahead of record lows posted this month according to Freddie Mac on Thursday.  Average rates dipped to 4.8 percent from 4.82 the previous week. Last year at this time, the average rate on a 30 year mortgage was 6.03 percent. It has been below 5 percent for 6 straight weeks.

        

   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.



 MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA  * * *  MARK DANFORTH LOMAS * * *
             "Helping Sellers and Buyers in Marin for over 20 years! 
                                  "Transparent Real Estate"
            THE REAL ESTATE SCENE.COM * * * 415-789-7777
                                * * * MDLomas@gmail.com * * *

        

     Recently the local news reported that Realtors in the East Bay had had their real estate lockboxes broken into.  The Realtors they'd interviewed were warning their clients out of concern for their client's protection and safety.  The 800 lb. gorrilla in the real estate industry is slowly coming into focus as the public begins to realize the potential dangers that can occur when listing their homes online.
     Approximately 75% of people who begin their search for properties begin their search online. The most popular of these site at this time is Realtor.com.  What percentage of these people are actually professional criminals?
     Are professional criminals using the Multiple Listing Service to their advantage? The realtor's Multiple Listing Service is  an excellent schematic for robbing houses. All the interior photo shots you could want plus a virtual tour to tell you everything you could want to know about a property.
      So what are Realtors doing to advise their clients to protect themselves, and their properties?  Most real estate companies now use a document to advise people to remove any valuables from their home including drugs.   Is anyone asking why do these real estate companies have you sign off in this regard? Because things happen, and more often then the real estate industry would have you believe. 
     Even Realtors are taking steps to protect themselves at Open Houses, or when they go to meet someone at a property.  For obvious reasons, it would not make sense to explain what these precautions are. 
     For self serving reasons many real estate online services do not want these concerns to rise to the surface which could threaten their very existence.  Yet as the economy continues to suffer, criminal activity seems to be on the rise.  And, what is the National Association of Realtors, the California Association of Realtors, and locally the Marin Association of Realtors doing to help protect the consumer?  
    These associations seem to be at the beck and call of all these large corporate real estate sites that have been exploiting the databases off of Realtor's backs the last 3 to 4 years.   Realtors have been led to believe that the greatest exposure you can create for your client is a good thing. List your home on the local MLS and allow the listing to filter out into every kind of imaginable web site.  And now, the 800 lb. gorrilla enters the room.
    When you go to list your property with a real estate professional ask them what they'll do to market your property.  Ask your professional what are the advantages and disadvantages to listing your property on the internet.  Many will not even know why you've asked this question.  Ask if Zillow's zestimages are always accurate.  Can a disgruntle person post negative comments about your property on Trulia?  How many referal companies that sell leads back to realtors will have your information. Will your real estate  professional put a lock box on your property instead of showing your home themselves whenever a realtor or a realtor with a client wants to see your home.  That's the old business model.  Good for the client, a lot of work for the realtor. Or, just list your property on the MLS and internet, and then what?
     Should real estate professionals fully disclose to their clients the myriad of ways someone with criminal intent can use the various real estate sites on the internet to their advantage, and threaten the well being and safety of their clients? What do you think?

        

APRIL 17, 2009

Low End Drives Marin Market Marin IJ Article April 16, 2009

Mortgage Rates Continue To Fall

Housing Index Post Biggest Jump in 5 Years!

Mortgage Relief Goes To 6 Lenders



ONLINE OPEN HOUSES for APRIL 19, 2009

        

Marin County Real Estate Market Trends

It appears we've been "bouncing off the bottom" for a couple of months now. Investors and first time buyers have realized the opportunities out there.  There appears to be a pick up in property sales in all price ranges the last few weeks. The question is, as we bounce off the bottom, will this market get some lift?  Are the recent sales just seasonal? Or, does this reflect  we've hit the bottom, and are moving forward?

        

        

Frank Howard Allen Ranked Number One by North Bay Business Journal
 
The North Bay Business Journal published its list of top ranking Residential Real Estate Brokerages and once again Frank Howard Allen has ranked number one. The ranking is by sales volume and includes brokerages with offices in Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties.

It's never been more critical when deciding what Real Estate company you should align yourself with.  Times have changed.  Discount brokers are disapearing. Small boutique real estate companies are having trouble keeping their doors open.  A large company here in Marin recently had almost half their agents switch over to a new company here in Marin, that's still trying to figure out how to make inroads into the Marin real estate marketplace.

Frank Howard Allen Realtors is locally owned since 1910, and continues to lead the way in Marin County Real Estate

If you're thinking of buying or selling in today's changing real estate market  please feel free to give me a call. Over 20 years of local experience in this unique marketplace.  Mark Danforth Lomas * 415-789-7777 * MDLomas@gmail.com

        

Marin IJ Article - Protecting the View - Does Not Protect Views

Another misleading article from the Marin Independent Journal that offers false hope by implying that the Town of San Anselmo is considering rules that would help settle homeowners disputes over views. It will not.

If there is a vacant lot or one story home in front of you, chances are, that at no time did  those properties (owners) relinquished their property rights.  And, if the house in front of your view wants to expand their property within their rights, why are newspapers and council people suggesting otherwise? 

Unless you live in a subdivision that clearly spells out  in their CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions) height restrictions, or live in an area where such restrictions clearly exist by law, there is no law protecting your views in California at this time.

As people who live in Southern Marin know these "Tree and View Ordinances" set up by various Towns and Cities in Southern Marin are nothing more than guidelines that allows that particular Town or City to not get caught up in these kinds of neighbor disputes. "You got a problem? Here's our "Tree and View Ordinance. Good luck, and good bye!

And if all else fails, and the guidelines are unable to resolve a dispute, the ordinances recommend that you attempt Mediation with your neighbor. And, if that fails, Arbitration. And, if that fails you will need to Litigate. 

A family in Tiburon protested the construction of a second story proposed by the owner of house directly in front of them. The second story would effectively block their views of the bay, San Francisco, and the Golden Gate Bridge over Sausalito.  They were told they had had a "borrowed view" for 29 years.  The Town of Tiburon approved the second story. 

What's really upsetting here is the number of realtors that don't have a grasp on this information.   If you have any questions in this regard you need to talk to an attorney.

        

Mortgae Rates Fall, Set Yet Another Record

        

        

Protect Yourself From the Conficker Worm

Conficker Worm reaches Go Time, to no effect (MSNBC)

Pending Home Sales on Rise in February

        

Mill Valley Real Estate Broker Arrested for Finance Scams From the Marin IJ

Video March 25, 2009 (MSNBC) Realtor, "It's a great time to buy a home!"

        

     Keep an eye on Inman News, and other advocates for large real estate technology corporations.  If you're not familiar with Inman News visit the Inman News real estate web site.   Bradley Inman, once a real estate journalist for the San Francisco Chronicle ,created Inman News which appears to be a real estate web site that tries to cover almost everything and anything about real estate.  Inman News also supports cutting edge technologies that affect the real estate industry.  It  appears that Inman News is an advocate for large internet corporations like Zillow, Trulia, and others.  Just visit one of their Real Estate Connect conferences, and check out all their sponsors.  Is Inman News an advocate for real estate professionals, consumers, or large internet corporations?  
     Realtors really need to keep an eye on Inman News.  While promoting companies like Zillow (at this time technically, Zillow is not a VOW) and Trulia realtors need to ask if these companies really support their clients best interest?  And, more importantly ,do their clients really want any kind of alliance with these companies?
     Upon closer examination, as many realtors have found out, these companies are really a two edge sword that potentially can harm or help their sellers.  A client here in Tiburon, California was upset when he saw Zillow zestimate his house's value at 1.3 million.  The zestimate also provided some public records information that was wrong.  The public records had the properties square footage off by over 10,000 square feet. Angered and frustrated, my client hired a local licensed appraiser that the lenders here in Marin County rely upon, and his formal appraisal came in $700,000 dollars over Zillows? I called the appraiser who said that he could defend this appraisal in court, and that his valuation was actually conservative.  He felt this particular property (mostly flat,waterfront, 280 degree unobstructed views of the Bay Bridge,San Francisco,the GG Bridge, Sausalito through to Mount Tamalpais) would probably sell well over his valuation.  So, if my client put his house on the market, how does Zillow help?
     Trulia, another internet company exploiting access to the MLS database created by realtors, is also supported by Inman News. A big concern with Trulia is that anyone can leave a comment about a property.  And, many of the comments about property listings are questionable.  Some are damaging. Would you want just about anyone gossiping about your new listing, including some neighbor, or someone else with a grudge? 
     Well, good news is on the way.  Litigation has been settled by the National Association of Realtors, the Department of Justice in regards to Virtual Office Websites such as Zillow and Trulia that have been exploiting the data provided by realtors from their local MLS databases.       If you don't want any internet company publishing possibly significantly inaccurate valuations of your home you can choose to opt out.
    If you don't want any internet company putting any kind of comment about your home on their site you can choose to opt out.  
    In  Marin County the MLS database provided by B.A.R.I.E.S is an independent company not affected by this litigation. But, the listing agreement with B.A.R.I.E.S does allow for the seller to opt out of having their home listed on the internet.  Many people have privacy and safety considerations, and should be aware that if they'd like, they can opt out of having their home listed on the web.
   

    

        

On March 21, 2009 George Lucas presented Haskell Wexler with the Tiburon Film Festival's "Lifetime Achievement Award!" Haskell gave George his first big break in the business and the two have been friends ever since.  This is a wonderful warm and loving exchange between two good friends.  Enjoy!

        

The Tiburon International Film Festival comes to town on March 19, 2009 (Opening Night Gala at the Corinthian Yacht Club - tickets still available: 415-789-8854) through March 27, 2009.  Check out their web site at: Tiburon Film Festival



The hottest ticket for the Festival is Saturday night, March 21st, for the film Medium Cool.  George Lucas will be presenting a tribute and the "Lifetime Achievement Award" to Oscar Wining Cinematographer and Director Haskell Wexler before or after the film.

        

Inman News: Reforming Real Estate
Reforms The Real Estate Industry Should Consider, or Not? 

Brighter Light At End Of Housing Tunnel
By Schwab Chief Investment Strategist Liz Sonders

        

        

Bolinas House That's Seen It All! Once a casino, and home for the Jefferson Airplane

Marin Real Estate Sales Down in January 2009 from January 2008

Why Do I Have To Pay My Neighbor's Mortgage?

Obama Unveils 75 Billion Dollar Housing Relief Plan

Man Loses Job Then Wins Marin "Dream House" 


 
Sunrise, as a ship heads out the Golden Gate

 

        

Real Estate Tales From the Front Line!

D-Day Vet's Tale Parallels Mortgage Crisis

White House Closes In On Housing Plan

JP Morgan and Citigroup Haulting Foreclosures

Homebuilder Sentiment Up From Historic Low



Dock of the Bay -  Strawberry / Mill Valley looking out at San Francisco

        

A local newspaper photographer contacted me on February the 19th to share
that there was a dead body on board. The body had been dead for over a week.
February 25, 2009 UPDATE from The Ark Newspaper
The body found was Stephen Joseph Angel, and his next of kin has been notified.
Toxicology reports are Pending

        

For more information about this home or a private tour
feel free to contact me at 415-789-7777,
or email me at: MDLomas@gmail.com
And, please leave a "Comment" below to share your thoughts about this kind
of marketing strategy.

Beautiful contemporary Del Mar home offered for $3,600,000.  3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms,
 3,291 square feet, and built in 2003. Purchase this home and the seller will throw in
a F430 Spider Ferrari.

SF Gate's Take On This Kind Of Marketing (Blog w/comments)

        

        

Mortgage Trends

Rates on 30 year mortgages edged down last week, but remained above 5  percent, Freddie Mac reported last Thursday.  The average rate on a 30 year fixed mortgage dipped to 5.1 percent last week from 5.12 the previous week.  Last year, at this time, the 30 year fixed rate was 5.68 percent.

Mortgage rates have been declining since the Federal Reserve said in late November it would buy up $500 billion in mortgage backed securities to get banks to loan more money in hopes of bolstering the housing market.

Market Update

Yesterday Jim Staats of the Marin Independent Journal reported that Marin's million dollar home sales took a dive last year.  This reflects the number of sales and does not reflect average or median prices.  The Marin Independent Journal real estate headlines for the past few months have been very dramatic and sometimes misleading.  But, over dramatic headlines sell newspaper so...

Here's Jim Staats article:  Marin's Million Dollar Homes


Also in Marin County Real Estate News!

Martha Property Update
On February 4th, 2009 the Ark Newspaper reported on an Enviromental Impact Report hearing at the Tiburon Town Hall on January 27th, 2009.  This hearing drew a large crowd of local residents opposed to development of the Martha Properties. The "Last Chance Committee"  (the local open space preservzation organization) led of the public comments with Joanna Kemper who lives on a neighboring street near the project who suggested that,"If you can roll back other regulations, such as those for affordable housing, to 1976, what if you rolled back the limits on house sizes to 1976?"

Understandably, the neighbors near the Martha Property are upset with the project where they'll have to endure the traffic and construction impacts effects once construction begins.  During the process this will have a negative impact on anyone in and around this area trying to sell their home. Who would want to live next door to a huge construction project?  Curiously, after the project is completed, it will actually raise their property's values (depending, to some degree, on what market conditions are at that time). 

There is also a rumor in town that some residents that currently live in the unincorporated area of Tiburon and near the Martha Property, might try to annex into the incorporated part of town to thwart the Martha Company's efforts.

For more details, pick up a copy of the Ark Newspaper (February 4, 2009)

Marinwood Considers Annexation in San Rafael.  For the whole story click: Marinwood Annexation into San Rafael

        

     A eucalyptus grove's fate is at stake as a trial opens between two combative neighbors in Larkspur. This case involves a decade old dispute between Dr. Anne Wolffe on Bayview Avenue in the Palm Hill neighborhood of Larkspur and her neighbors.   Michael and Joan Mindel and Catherine and Lawrence Way have filed a suit against Wolffe saying that the trees pose a safety threat to them.
     According to the Marin Independent Journal the Mindals have slept in different parts of their home, and have also left their home over concerns that a tree or large limb might fall on their home.  Wolffe was the first of the three parties to move to the area. Wolfee's attorney pointed out that the neighbors had a chance to inspect the propertys that they had purchased, and see what they were moving next to . Also, that the situation is natural and was not created by Wolffe, and that this case is really about property rights.
     The plaintiffs may be fearful, but that fear alone might not  be a reason to cut down these trees. The area is full of trees and Wolffe's attorney said he didn't see how his client's trees presented any more of a hazard than others.
      I'm not familiar with the details of this case, but I am worried that this might open the floodgates for more litigation against anyone that has an issue with a neighbor's tree or trees. If the plaintiff prevails here it will encourage others to file similar lawsuits.
      If you have issues with trees you should not buy a house near trees. Or, if you buy a house, you should do a thorough investigation during your "due diligence" period that would include investigating any trees on your prospective property, or a neighbor's property that could affect your property.  It would seem that these people should sell their house ,and move back to the City.  
     As many of your already know there are tree disputes between neighbors throughout Marin County.  If you are a property owner in Marin County I highly reccomend a book by Nolo Press called Neighbor Law.  I was so impressed by this book I bought a copy for the local police where I live.  And, they not only were impressed, but use the book as a resource.
     Knowing what the law is can help you avoid these kind of disputes which are emotionally exhausting and expensive.  Neighbor Law (Fences,Trees,Boundaries, and Noise) by attorney Cora Jordan 6h edition was published March 2008. I've seen the book retail  from $17.99 (electronic version) to $46.98 (for the hard copy version).Neighbor Law by Cora Jordan   
    Nationally syndicated columnist Robert Bruss wrote: " This is a well written and complete book that is a fun, and an educational read....4 Stars!  Excellent!"

Also in Marin County Real Estate News.   

      

For the whole article click:  Has Marin Real Estate Market Hit Bottom?    More misleading headlines?

        

Keep On Smilin' by Wet Willie
and some of the best Political Cartoons
about the Times we're living in.....

        

(Ariel View of the Martha Properties)

More than two years after a Federal Judge ruled that a 1976 judgement giving the Martha Company the right to build 43 homes or more sites on it's 110 acre Tiburon parcel, the company has submitted a new application to the County of Marin.   The Martha Company is seeking the maximum 43 lots for homes that would range in size from 5,500 to 8,750 square feet on lots of one half acre or larger.

The plan proposes extending Ridge Road and Mountain View Road above Old Tiburon to create 33 lots - three of Mountain View and 30 off Ridge Road - and constructing 10 lots adjacent to a new road to be built off Paradise Drive.

The County of Marin announced in 1997 that it would abide by the 1976 ruling.

The Marin County Community Development Department will hold a Public Meeting on January 29, 2009 at 7pm at the Tiburon Town Hall.  This will give the Public an opportunity to comment on the Project.  The property lies outside the Town limits and is within the County's jurisdiction.

Also in Marin County Real Estate News:
On January 22, 2009 the Marin Independent Journal reported that "Home Prices Dive at End of '08."  The headline is misleading and does not reflect that the overall news for Real Estate sales in 2008 in Marin was not that bad.  Yes, in December of 2008 the numbers were off from this same time in December of 2007, but overall - sales in 2008 was more balanced than this article would have you believe.   And, December of any year typically reflects the slowest month of the year for sales. For the whole story here is the link to the article: 

        

This chart shows the activity of Top Brokers in Marin County.
This chart reflects Market Share in $ volume. 
GMAC here is Pacific Union which was recently sold. 
If you view the Pacific Union vs. Alain Pinel post below
you'll see that Pacific Union is in "transition" right now. 

This chart reflects market share in UNITS SOLD


This Data reflects sales from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008

        

Yesterday the Marin Independent Journal's headline reported, "Marin Real Estate Scene Has Jolt!"  In a shakeup of the local real estate scene,  more than 60 agents are leaving Pacific Union (Marin's 4th largerst real estate brokerage) for Alain Pinel.

While Avram Goldman, Pacific Union's chief executive, declined to be interviewed ... Steve Dickason, Greenbrae Pacific Union's outgoing manager, " said that he had clashed with upper management at Pacific Union over proposed budget cuts. There was a definite disagreement on what could be done to reduce expenses and retain the agents.  I didn't believe with what was being asked of me to do that I would be able to retain the operation at all. I thought it was too drastic a cut."

For the complete story click :  Marin Independent Journal Article 

        

      At one time Coldwell Banker owned OpenHouse.com but didn't know what to do with it, so they sold it to the Realogy Service Group.  I met with representatives from the Realogy Service Group at the Inman Real Estate Technology conference in San Francisco earlier this year and discussed their web site with them. As you'll see, the site here still has a lot to be desired, in particular Marin County Open House listings:  OpenHouse.com
      So, what's happening with Online Open Houses? And, in particular in Marin County?  Amazingly, a lot of people including Marin Realtors, are unaware that an excellent Online Open House resource is available through the Marin Independent Journal.  Here's the link:  Marin County Online Open Houses
      Curiously, two groups in Marin County are attempting to create their own Online Open House web sites right now.  One, I've been asked to not discuss at this stage in it's development.  I will be happy to discuss this in the near future because this particular entity I have serious reservations about, and how it is proceeding.  Basically, they're recreating what the Marin Independent Journal offers without the same reach the Marin IJ has.  The other company attempting to create an Online Open House web site is CleanOffer.com.  David Faudman, of CleanOffer, gave a demonstration of what they're creating in Greenbrae a couple of weeks ago.  The trouble David said that Cleanoffer is having is that only about 40-50 percent of Marin Realtors list their listings for Sunday Open Houses on the Marin County MLS?  As such, their Online Open House offering is an incomplete resource in this regard at this time.  
     

        

It's no secret. A huge exodus of agents from Pacific Union Real Estate have moved to incoming Alain Pinel Realtors (who currently are negotiating office spaces here in Marin).  On the San Francisco Real Estate Blog there are some amazing comments on this subject.  Check out: Pacific Union "Death Watch"   

Not my choice of verbage but ....

(scroll down once you get to the site to find all these posts and comments!)

I have many friends at Pacific Union and Alain Pinel, and I wish them all well.

        

Novato, A Century of Gentle Seasons, is a new video about the History of Novato.  If you'd like more information on how to acquire  a copy please contact me at: MarinCountyRealEstate@gmail.com

        

     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.

(This article was written by Tom Reilly)

        

     Rates on 30 year mortgages fell to a record low for the third straight week, and borrowers took advantage of the drop, sending new applications soaring.
     With the Federal Reserve on the verge of pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into the U.S. housing market, mortgage rates have plunged to the lowest level since Freddie Mac started tracking data in 1971.
     Low rates are a great opportunity for borrowers with solid credit.       According to Peter Coy of Business Week, " thank the U.S. Government for trying to jump start the stalled housing market by buying up mortgage backed securities."  Coy also suggested that rates are probably headed lower in 2009 raising the question of whether you should borrow now or wait for a better deal.  The experts are sharply divided over this one.  If you're a gambler, wait. If you can't sleep at night worrying that rates might go up, borrow now.  Also, if you're considering a new loan, get a fixed rate.   And, if you have an ARM (adjustable rate mortgage), keep it for now.  Right now I've heard that Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are looking for a credit score of 720 points although I've heard from local mortgage brokers here in Marin that there are lenders that will consider a lower credit score.  And lastly, the highest hurdle for many buyers has been lender's debt to income standards.   For conforming loans monthly mortgage payments cannot exceed 28 percent of gross income, while all debt payments cannot exceed 36 percent of gross income.