Kentfield & Greenbrae- Protect your property values!

Posted on January 10, 2008 by Ginger Wilcox

Support Measure A for Kentfield & Greenbrae SchoolsTo Kentfield & Greenbrae Residents: protect your property values and support the local schools- vote YES on Measure A. Why?

  1. Our schools depend on Measure A. Approximately 25% of the funding for Bacich and Kent comes from the existing parcel assessment (about $2.6 Million a year). If Measure A does not pass, Bacich and Kent will be forced to cut approximately 25% of their budgets, including teacher/staff layoffs and reductions in the arts, technology and language programs. Class sizes will dramatically increase.
  2. Measure A is NOT a new assessment. Measure A is a proposal by the Kentfield School District (“KSD”) for a continuation of the existing parcel assessment set to expire next year. Measure A continues the existing parcel assessment formula.
  3. Kentfield Schools are some of the best schools in the state and in the nation. Bacich and Kent are award winning schools, both having been recognized as “California Distinguished Schools” and both scoring in the top 3% in recent statewide testing. KSD continues to attract the best educators that consistently receive multiple teaching awards, grants and even California’s highest teaching honor, the California State Teacher of the Year Award. Forbes Magazine recently recognized Marin County as having the best schools in the nation for the money.
  4. Property values rely on the quality of our schools. Property values have continued to increase rather than suffer the fate of the recent real estate market downturn due in large part to our schools. People move to Marin County, and specifically to Greenbrae and Kentfield because of the quality of our schools. If the quality of the schools goes down, people will move to other neighborhoods in Marin with stronger school systems. This could have a dramatic impact on property values in Greenbrae and Kentfield.
  5. Senior Citizens can be exempted from the assessment. The Kentfield School District has provided for an exemption to Measure A for senior citizens. Exemption forms are available at the Kentfield School District office.

Need more info? Visit the Kentfield-Greenbrae Measure A website.

A microwave, a bridge & Britney Spears

Posted on January 9, 2008 by Ginger Wilcox

Snoopy & Britney SpearsThe most read story today on SFgate.com, the San Francisco Chronicle’s website was: “Man Cuts Off, Microwaves His Own Hand.” Sfgate readers are pretty darn intelligent. How can that possibly be the most read story? Another top story was titled “Police: Father throws four children off bridge.”

Why do people flock to coverage of the train wreck Britney Spears?

Bad new sells. Clearly, good honest journalism doesn’t.

Earlier today, I read a post on Soundbite.blog in which Sparky said, “if one more TV News Starlet, scratching her way to higher ratings, refers to the current housing market as a ‘Holocaust,’ I promise I’m gonna hurl!”

So eloquently put Sparky.

Media reporting about the real estate market is about ratings and clicks, not about truth and honesty. Want to know what is really happening in your neighborhood? Find an honest, reliable real estate advisor to give you the real deal.

As Rich says, “Please, don’t allow the Media’s broad brush strokes to paint an incorrect picture of YOUR market.”

Even within a small community like Marin, we have a widely varied real estate market. Going gangbusters in certain areas or price ranges, and in the tank in others. Broad generalizations of the market don’t benefit anyone.

Belvedere Home Sales- December 2007

Posted on January 8, 2008 by Ginger Wilcox

Belvedere had four home sales in December 2007, as compared to only one Belvedere home in December 2006, and three Belvedere homes in December 2005.

Address Listing Price Sold Date Sales Price
130 Belvedere Ave $3,995,000 12/28/2007 $3,600,000
12 Windward Rd $3,995,000 12/6/2007 $3,850,000
424 Golden Gate $5,495,000 12/13/2007 $5,400,000
57 West Shore Rd $5,600,000 12/28/2007 $5,400,000

Greenbrae Home Sales, Dec 2007

Posted on January 6, 2008 by Ginger Wilcox

There were not a lot of home sales in Greenbrae during the month of December, but the average sales price was good! Below are the homes that sold in December 2007 in Greenbrae.

Area Address Selling Price
Greenbrae 306 N. Almenar $1,675,000
Greenbrae 40 Corte Ramon $1,725,000
Greenbrae 14 Manor Road $1,777,000

Marin Real Estate Market Still Strong

Posted on December 30, 2007 by Ginger Wilcox

Many Marin County home sellers took their homes off the market over the holidays. This helped overall stats. Despite the holidays, we still saw quite a few homes go into contract. Many areas of Marin are considered seller’s markets including Corte Madera, San Anselmo, Sausalito and Mill Valley. The situation in Novato still looks dismal. Below are the stats by city. These numbers are likely to fluctuate widely after the New Year when sellers put their homes on the market.

Marin Market Update By City

City # for Sale # in Contract % in Contract
Belvedere 18 2 11%
Corte Madera 11 6 55%
Fairfax 19 6 32%
Greenbrae 8 2 25%
Kentfield 14 2 14%
Larkspur 12 3 25%
Mill Valley 51 19 37%
Novato 203 23 11%
Ross 11 2 18%
San Anselmo 35 16 46%
San Rafael 119 29 24%
Sausalito 16 9 56%
Tiburon 40 12 30%
Total 557 131 24%
  • Over 35% in contract is usually indicative of a sellers’ market.
  • Under 25% in contract is usually indicative of a buyers’ market.
  • 25%-35% in contract indicates a balanced market.

*Marin County Real Estate statistics pulled from BAREIS MLS on 12/29/2007.

A bird’s eye view of Marin neighborhoods

Posted on December 28, 2007 by Ginger Wilcox

Want to explore a new neighborhood? Get a street level view with Google Maps. If you haven’t checked it out, you should. Google has literally hired photographers to take pictures of every street and neighborhood across the country. San Francisco is basically done. Marin County is underway. In the snapshot below, you can see one of my favorite parks in a street view from San Rafael Blvd in Belvedere.

Street View Google Maps

It is a pretty cool tool right now- and will get even better as more photography is completed. I wish they had this when I moved to Marin!

Want to learn how to use it? Watch this goofy but helpful video from Google.

Rent vs. Own

Posted on by Ginger Wilcox

A good reason to jump in and buy a home instead of renting…

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, recently pointed out some interesting research from the Federal Reserve. Between 1995 and 2004, the average renter accumulated $4,000 in wealth. In contrast, the average homeowner accumulated $184,400.

Can you imagine what those numbers would be for Marin County and the San Francisco Bay Area?

Mill Valley School Enrollment Going Up & Up

Posted on December 18, 2007 by Ginger Wilcox

Mill Valley schools have also seen an increase in enrollment over the last few years. San Franciscans with school age children continue to move to the district in droves. Mill Valley’s close proximity to San Francisco, excellent school reputation and charming community make it a big draw to families.

The district had 2,288 students last year and is expected to grow to 2,650 over the next five years according to an article in the Marin IJ.

Read the full story here…

$65 Million Marin Home Sale

Posted on December 14, 2007 by Ginger Wilcox

Locksley Hall, Belvedere MansionIf you have been waiting for a price reduction to write an offer on Locksley Hall, the Belvedere Mansion , you are out of luck – it appears another buyer snatched it up for a mere $65 million . The historic home owned by mining magnate Robert Friedland has been on the market for three years. It is 12,000 square feet and sits on an acre of prime Belvedere real estate. According to the Wall Street Journal, the sellers accepted a full price offer. Amazing! The sale is expected to close in January. It if closes, it will be the largest sale in Northern California.

Get the full story here.

Reminder: Property Tax Deadline on Monday, 12/10/07

Posted on December 7, 2007 by Ginger Wilcox

Marin property owners have until Monday, December 10, 2007 to make their first installment toward the 2007 – 2008 property taxes. Payments must be received or postmarked by December 10, 2007 in order to be considered timely paid. If the payment is late, it is subject to a 10% penalty plus interest.

Marin property owners should submit their payments to:

Michael J. Smith, Tax Collector
Civic Center, P.O. Box 4220 Rm. 202
San Rafael, CA 94913-4220

Alternatively, taxes can also be paid online at www.co.marin.ca.us/paytax, or by telephone at 800-985-7277, using a credit card or electronic fund transfer. Credit card charges will also include a “convenience fee” of approximately 2.25% of the total transaction and electronic funds transfers will include a fee of $1.95 per transaction.