Marin Real Estate (March 2009)

March 17, 2009

Although February was a short and rainy month, Marin County, CA., still experienced a good number of sales. So far in March 2009. we are seeing increasing inventory similar to “normal” years (I hesitate to call 2009 a “normal” year in light of the current economic situation). Recent gains in the stock market are a welcome change. Interest rates are down to about 5% on conforming loans right now, which is great (that is more than 1 full point lower than this time last year). So, it seems the pump is primed. We’ll see if the real estate market responds.

Obviously, the more stringent underwriting policies of lenders are stifling demand. Although word on the street is that at least one big lender has taken steps to loosen up underwriting practices. It is obvious to everybody who comes into contact with the Marin real estate market that home buyers are continuing to wait for the perceived bottom. This, despite the FACT that interest rates are as low as could be realistically expected and prices in many Marin communities and neighborhoods have receded to 2003 or 2004 price levels.

[Click here for the rest of the report, courtesy of http://www.NorthBayRE.com/blog/2009/03/12/marin-county-ca-real-estate-update-march-2009-homes-for-sale-price-ranges/.]

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Marin Luxury Homes (December 2008)

December 15, 2008

Ponzi schemes, equity markets, banking woes, mounting unemployment, diminished home values and equity, generalized fear, and a palpable spending paralysis continue to weigh down and negatively impact luxury real estate sales in Marin County, California. I struggle to find the appropriate adjective to describe Marin County’s current luxury home market. Torpid? Sluggish? Drowsing? You get the idea. The same holds true nationwide as caution and prudence carry the day.

There are 85 homes on the market between $2 million and $4 million. As predicted in last month’s update, November sales slowed significantly following the mid-September meltdown in the financial sector–there were only 5 sales (down from 19 in October). Each of the following cities or towns had one sale: Mill Valley, San Rafael, Tiburon, Belvedere, and Kentfield. The average days on market for the homes that sold was 80 days and the average sales price was just over $2.58 million (roughly $849 per square foot), with an average of 3,209 square feet. Belvedere and Tiburon have 5 and 3 homes, respectively, currently in escrow.

The inventory level in Marin County’s ultra-luxury market (homes priced in the $4 million and up range) has again dropped precipitously (as is common this time of year). There are now 34 active listings, compared with 49 in November. Belvedere and Tiburon provide a large percentage of our ultra-luxury homes. Other cities / towns with homes in this price band include Kentfield, Sausalito, Mill Valley, Ross, San Rafael, and Novato. Somewhat surprisingly, there were no sales last month (we can usually expect at least 3 sales per month during the slow season). Further underscoring the pervasive caution gripping buyers, we currently have no ultra-luxury homes in escrow.

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Mill Valley Real Estate Market Report (November 2008 Home Sales Update)

November 13, 2008

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 8)

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.

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Marin Luxury Homes (September 2008)

September 14, 2008

The number of homes for sale in the $2 million to $4 million luxury home market in Marin County, California rose over the past month to 109, compared to 106 homes in August 2008. The slight rise in inventory coincided with a respectable month of sales with 16 homes sold in August 2008 (down by 4 from July).  

Mill Valley and Ross experienced the most luxury home sales (with 4 of these homes selling in each). Belvedere, Tiburon and Corte Madera each had 2 homes sold and Kentfield and Sausalito had 1 sale each. The average days on market for homes that sold was a mere 95 days (25 days more than in July) and the average sales price was $2.927 million (roughly $875/per sq. ft.), with an average of 3,503 square feet. Belvedere and Tiburon seem to be hot as they each have 6 homes in escrow.

The inventory level in Marin County’s ultra-luxury market (homes priced in the $4 million and up range) receded a bit. There are 40 active listings

[ ... click here for the complete report courtesy of NorthBayRE.com].

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Marin Luxury Homes (August 2008)

August 15, 2008

The number of homes for sale in the $2 million to $4 million luxury home market in Marin County, California fell over the past to 106, compared to 122 homes in July 2008. This time of year is the typical slow season as sellers recalculate their positions, buyers are out of the County on vacations, etc., and a number of agents doze off, waiting for things to pick back up in the Autumn. Indeed, the lower inventory was accompanied by a respectable month of sales with 20 homes sold in July 2008. 

Mill Valley led the way with the most luxury home sales (4 of these homes sold). Tiburon and Larkspur followed with 3 homes sold and Kentfield and San Rafael had 2 sales each. Ross, San Anselmo, and Corte Madera had 1 sale each. The average days on market for homes that sold was a mere 70 days (14 days more than in June) and the average sales price was $2.576 million (roughly $907/per sq. ft.), with an average of 3,083 square feet.

The inventory level in Marin County’s ultra-luxury market (homes priced in the $4 million and up range) also fell–we now have just 46 active listings, compared with 54 last month

 [ ... click here for the complete report courtesy of NorthBayRE.com].

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Marin Luxury Homes (July 2008)

July 15, 2008

The number of homes for sale in the $2 million to $4 million luxury home market in Marin County, California dipped slightly this month with 121 active listings, compared to 127 homes in June 2008. This reduction in inventory was accompanied by another solid month of sales–26 homes sold (one more than in May 2008). As noted last month, and this bears repeating, while the number of homes sold in the non-luxury market this year compared to last year is down by about 25%-30% (depending on where you look), the luxury market has NOT experienced a similar decline. This is great news for owners of luxury homes in Marin!

Mill Valley and Kentfield led the way with the most luxury home sales (each with 5 homes sold). Belvedere, Larkspur, and San Rafael had 3 sales each. Ross, San Anselmo, and Sausalito had 1 sale. The average days on market for homes that sold was a mere 59 days (8 days less than last month) and the average sales price was just under $2.5 million (roughly $772/per sq. ft.), with an average of 3,353 square feet.

The inventory level in Marin County’s ultra-luxury market (homes priced in the $4 million and up range) rose to 54 active listings, compared with 46 last month. Tiburon, as usual, boasts the largest number of such homes with 19.

[ ... click here for the complete report courtesy of NorthBayRE.com].

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