To avoid sounding like a Pollyanna, this month’s Mill Valley market report is brief and restrained; necessarily so–sales numbers are down in the wake of the September meltdown in the equity markets. Clearly, the Mill Valley real estate market favors buyers. The “undercover buyers” (e.g., financially stable people waiting for the “right time” to buy) are not writing offers despite the delicious variety of choices. Continuing a trend first noted in my September 2008 market report, the percentage of entry level homes in escrow is down to 15% (it was 53% in July 2008). Supply has dwindled to just 79 homes for sale in Mill Valley and just 8 “bread and butter” homes (those priced between $1 million to $2 million) are in escrow. Meanwhile, the luxury market in Mill Valley (homes from $2 million and up) continues hibernating–zero luxury homes are in escrow. Perhaps this is an excellent environment for portfolio buyers? Yet, the approaching holidays bring hope. And the New Year brings more hope.
Mill Valley homes that sold during November 2008 (there were 14) averaged 104 days on the market and sold for an average price of about $1.3 million. They averaged about 2,080 sq. ft. (or about $661 per sq. ft).
Homes in Boyle Park, Middle Ridge, Sycamore Park continue to be in low supply and high demand. If you would like more information about neighborhoods, sales, or local references, just give me a call at (415) 350-9440 or e-mail me at Kyle@MillValley101.com. It is always my pleasure to be of service.
Like many of us, Mill Valley buyers are doing all they can to busy themselves in an effort to avoid being confronted with the dismal stock market results over the past few weeks. On the bright side, from a real estate perspective, the massive retrenchment taking place on the The Street is resulting in many folks liquidating those assets and looking to place them into an attractive alternative. And as luck would have it, Marin real estate provides a good outlet for these investment dollars. Yet, the market in Mill Valley does not yet reflect the expected uptick in sales numbers at the low end. I would expect that at least 50% of homes under $800,000 in Mill Valley would be in escrow, but that is not the case.
Overall, Mill Valley’s real estate market is cruising through the Autumn with little momentum. The market remains one favoring flexible buyers intent on making sacrifices in order to obtain value. Customarily for this time of year, sellers who don’t need to sell will now wait for the promise of the new year. Yet, I expect this Winter we will see many of the so-called “undercover buyers” (e.g., financially stable people waiting for the “right time” to buy) writing strong offers in an effort to take advantage of the confluence of two factors: (1) the apparent nadir of the market in general; and (2) the Wintertime’s seasonal leverage which favors buyers. I am talking with lots people who fit this profile. Although prices have not receded in Mill Valley quite like those of Novato (
click HERE for Novato101.com’s market analysis for November 2008), these “undercover buyers” are eagerly investigating their options.
Continuing a trend first noted in my September 2008, we are actually seeing a reduction in the percentage of entry level homes in escrow across the board. Interestingly, even the entry level is down to just 15% of homes in escrow (down from 53% in July 2008 and 20% in September 2008). Overall, the number of homes for sale in Mill Valley is down to 101. The vast majority of homes are priced between $1 million to $2 million and just 9 of those homes are currently in escrow. Meanwhile, the luxury market in Mill Valley (homes from $2 million and up) has clearly entered into an early hibernation this year as buyers are stepping back from major purchases during these unsettled economic times. Zero luxury homes are in escrow at the time of this writing–a great environment for portfolio buyers.
Mill Valley homes that sold during the past month averaged 98 days on the market and sold for an average price of about $1.443 million and including about 2,185 sq. ft. (about $652 per sq. ft).
|
Price Range
|
Total Active Homes
|
Pending Listings
|
|
Up to $800K
|
11 (down 1)
|
15%
|
|
$800K - $1 mil.
|
15 (up 3)
|
12%
|
|
$1 mil. - 1.5 mil.
|
34 (down 
|
11%
|
|
$1.5 mil. - $2 mil.
|
16 (down 12)
|
20%
|
|
$2 mil. - $4 mil.
|
22 (up 4)
|
0%
|
|
$4 mil. & Up
|
4 (up 2)
|
0%
|
Homes in Boyle Park, Middle Ridge, Almonte, and Cascade Canyon continue to be in low supply and high demand. If you would like more information, just give me a call at (415) 350-9440 or e-mail me at Kyle@MillValley101.com. It is always my pleasure to be of service.
Dear Mill Valley Homeowners– breathe easy. While the economic news is not good, your insightful decision to purchase Mill Valley real estate has likely left you in a good position. While prices tumble in other areas, even in the San Francisco Bay Area, you should, and will be, OK as we are not susceptible to the
Fundy Market Phenomenon.
And for buyers with real estate market insight, there are great values out there right now. Indeed, competitively priced Mill Valley homes in desirable neighborhoods are selling quickly. It is a market favoring buyers in all price ranges, but for the entry level.
The number of Mill Valley home sales in September 2008 was down by 2 from August. Yet, while August 2008 experienced a slowdown in the percentage of entry level homes in escrow (e.g., those priced under $800,000), the percentage was back up to 38% in September–in July 2008 that percentage was an astonishing 53%. The $1.5 to $2 million price band is also performing well with 24% of these homes in escrow.
Currently, we have about 166 homes for sale in Mill Valley (up from 142 homes in September). The preponderance of these homes are priced between $1 million to $2 million–9 are currently in escrow. Meanwhile, the luxury market in Mill Valley is slow with just 2 homes in escrow out of 27.
Mill Valley homes selling in September 2008 averaged 100 days on the market and sold for an average price of about $1.611 million (roughly $806/sq. ft.). As mentioned last month, the low end is hanging tough–there are ONLY 2 homes currently on the market under $750,000.
|
Price Range
|
Total Active Homes
|
Pending Listings
|
|
Up to $800K
|
13 (up 1)
|
38%
|
|
$800K - $1 mil.
|
25 (up 13)
|
12%
|
|
$1 mil. - 1.5 mil.
|
49 (up 7)
|
20%
|
|
$1.5 mil. - $2 mil.
|
29 (up 1)
|
24%
|
|
$2 mil. - $4 mil.
|
23 (up 5)
|
9%
|
|
$4 mil. & Up
|
4 (up 2)
|
0%
|
Homes in Boyle Park, Middle Ridge, Homestead Valley, and Sycamore Park continue to be in low supply and high demand. If you would like more information, just give me a call at (415) 350-9440 or e-mail me at Kyle@NorthBayRE.com. It is always my pleasure to be of service.
All year long, it has seemed that buyers and agents alike have lamented the seeming lack of inventory of homes for sale in Mill Valley. Yet, inventory is actually up by over 20%. While many buyers with a strong desire to buy and market insight are finding great value in homes right now, other buyers are paying premiums for special homes in key locations and with unique attributes. Overall, Mill Valley’s real estate market is cruising into the Fall with good bit of momentum (although sales are down from last year). It remains a market that favors buyers who are flexible and willing to make sacrifices in order to obtain value. Meanwhile, many sellers have decided to wait for the real estate market to improve. Interestingly, I am also seeing many folks come through open houses who fit the following profile: they sold their homes a couple of years ago and have been renting with the expectation that home prices would come down (as with the dot-com bust, many saw the current real estate market slowdown on the horizon). Although prices have not dipped in Mill Valley as they have in Northern Marin, these potential buyers are eyeing the current market hungrily and many of them are investigating their options.
Oddly, August 2008 saw a marked slowdown in the percentage of entry level homes in escrow from July 2008 (it dropped from 53% of homes priced under $800,000 to 20%). Mill Valley’s inventory of single family homes for sale is about 142 homes currently on the market (there were 102 in August 2008). The vast majority of homes are priced between $1 million to $2 million and 15 of those homes are currently in escrow, along 6 more in the luxury market between $2 million and $4 million. Historically, September and October bring an uptick in sales.
Mill Valley homes that sold during the past month averaged 88 days on the market and sold for an average price of about $1.358 million (about $689 per square foot). Note here that the low end of the Mill Valley market is hanging tough and that there are ONLY 2 homes currently on the market under $750,000. How’s that for stiff price for entry.
|
Price Range
|
Total Active Homes
|
Pending Listings
|
|
Up to $800K
|
12 (up 6)
|
20%
|
|
$800K - $1 mil.
|
12 (down 5)
|
20%
|
|
$1 mil. - 1.5 mil.
|
42 (up 2)
|
23%
|
|
$1.5 mil. - $2 mil.
|
28 (up 9)
|
7%
|
|
$2 mil. - $4 mil.
|
18 (up 7)
|
25%
|
|
$4 mil. & Up
|
2 (down 1)
|
33%
|
Homes in Boyle Park, Middle Ridge, Blithedale Canyon, and Cascade Canyon continue to be in low supply and high demand. If you would like more information, just give me a call at (415) 350-9440 or e-mail me at Kyle@NorthBayRE.com. It is always my pleasure to be of service.
As our Summer selling season wears on, Mill Valley’s real estate market has sustained itself nicely. Across the board, this year has simply seen less inventory than the past few years as sellers have decided to wait for the real estate market to improve (although sales in Mill Valley are strong despite the media characterizations).
Home sales are strong because everyone loves Mill Valley. And here are a couple of reasons why: (1) A quick and easy commute to San Francisco, (2) often spectacular views of the Bay and Mt. Tam, (3) excellent schools, (4) pleasant weather, (4) a mellow, laid back ambiance, (5) a town square unlike any other in Marin (you have to go to the town of Sonoma for anything like it), (6) diverse social events (think Mill Valley Film Festival), (7) lots of good restaurants, (8) excellent shopping choices, including non-gentrified, family-owned boutiques and shops of all kinds, and (9) virtually unlimited access to nature.
This is not news to anyone who follows my monthly reports. Mill Valley is simply one of the most desirable communities in Marin and its sales and prices reflect that fact.
Predictably and in line with June 2008, 53% of homes priced under $800,000 and 18% of homes between $1 million and $1.5 million are in escrow. Mill Valley’s inventory of single family homes for sale is about 102 homes currently on the market (there were 107 in July 2008). Mill Valley homes that sold during the past month averaged 56 days on the market and sold for an average price of about $1.726 million (about $724 per square foot), and averaged about 2,348 square feet.
|
Price Range
|
Total Active Homes
|
Pending Listings
|
|
Up to $800K
|
6 (no change)
|
53%
|
|
$800K - $1 mil.
|
17 (up 2)
|
22%
|
|
$1 mil. - 1.5 mil.
|
40 (down 3)
|
18%
|
|
$1.5 mil. - $2 mil.
|
19 (no change)
|
9%
|
|
$2 mil. - $4 mil.
|
17 (down 4)
|
23%
|
|
$4 mil. & Up
|
3 (up 1)
|
0%
|
Homes in Boyle Park, Middle Ridge, Homestead Valley and Cascade Canyon continue to be in low supply and high demand. If you would like me to run the exact numbers on your neighborhood, just give me a call at (415) 350-9440 or e-mail me at
Kyle@NorthBayRE.com.
As Marin experiences its seasonal slowdown this time of year (a.k.a. the Summer selling season), Mill Valley’s sales numbers continue skirting the stratosphere. This is not news to anyone who follows my monthly reports. Mill Valley is simply one of the most desirable communities in Marin and its sales reflect that fact–and for good reason.
Predictably and in line with May 2008, 57% of homes priced under $800,000 and 26% of homes between $1 million and $1.5 million are in escrow. I have noted in past months that Agents were exhibiting ”a sense of purpose” and the numbers reflect that. Mill Valley’s inventory of single family homes for sale is about 107 homes currently on the market (there were 110 in June 2008). Mill Valley homes that sold during the past month averaged 65 days on the market and sold for an average price of about $1.284 million (about $654 per square foot), and averaged about 2,031 square feet.
|
Price Range
|
Total Active Homes
|
Pending Listings
|
|
Up to $800K
|
6 (down 3)
|
57%
|
|
$800K - $1 mil.
|
15 (down 2)
|
26%
|
|
$1 mil. - 1.5 mil.
|
43 (up 12)
|
9%
|
|
$1.5 mil. - $2 mil.
|
19 (down 7)
|
24%
|
|
$2 mil. - $4 mil.
|
21 (down 7)
|
25%
|
|
$4 mil. & Up
|
3 (up 1)
|
0%
|
Homes in Sycamore Park, Sunnyside, Kite Hill, Boyle Park, and Cascade Canyon continue to be in low supply and high demand. If you would like me to run the exact numbers on your neighborhood, just give me a call at (415) 350-9440 or e-mail me at
Kyle@NorthBayRE.com.
« Previous Page
