Looking Forward: We expect to see more homes coming on the market in April and continuing through the summer months. Multiple offers will remain the norm throughout the second quarter, although a greater supply of homes will bring more balance to the market.

Defining Marin County: Our real estate markets in Marin County include the cities of Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito, and Tiburon. Contact Kyle Frazier for sales data relating to these communities.

Sellers, Start Your Engines!

After record-breaking results in 2012 for units and volume of residential real estate, activity in the first quarter suggests 2013 will once again reach new highs. Local trends drive the dynamics of our markets, but overall we expect 15 to 17 percent increases in units sold in the Bay Area and price appreciation of 4 to 9 percent.The single most important dynamic driving this growth is our healthy regional job market. Economist Stephen Levy noted that the Bay Area led California job growth in January, with San Francisco at the forefront and the Oakland, Napa, Santa Rosa, and Vallejo metro areas all posting gains far above the state and national average.These are high-quality, high-paying jobs in the technology and professional services sectors. We believe confidence in jobs and business in general is driving consumer confidence and the intense pent-up demand for residential real estate. 2013 may be the last year of this cycle that money (mortgage interest rates) remains on sale as real estate prices lift from the bottom and consistent appreciation returns for a sustainable period of time.Intense demand is occurring even as the supply of available homes remains constrained, and coupled with modest price appreciation is driving the return of equity into homes. This may allow more sellers to realize gains, sell existing homes, and trade up to new dream homes or neighborhoods.These dynamics are occurring in nearly every one of the markets Pacific Union serves, and we expect it to entice move-up buyers to act – making them a likely source for new, mid-tier inventory.

The Sellers’ Market Heats Up

It has been a bitterly cold few years for would-be sellers in the Bay Area, but spring is bringing welcome warmth for both home values and buyer activity.Home prices have been rising for a year across all of Pacific Union’s eight regions in the Bay Area and Tahoe/Truckee. In San Francisco the median sales price of homes rose nearly 30 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, and double-digit increases were recorded in all other regions as well.In a recent Wall Street Journal survey economists agreed that home prices will continue rising at least through 2017, and the Bay Area’s strong economy suggests price increases here will outpace those in most of the rest of the nation.Those rising values translate to greater equity, and many homeowners who believe they are “underwater” – owing more on their mortgages than their homes are worth – may be surprised to learn that they’ve regained equity based on recent sale prices for comparable homes in their neighborhood.Why the lift? In part it’s because a persistent shortage of homes for sale has created a veritable army of aggressive and highly motivated buyers who are willing to outspend the competition. For example, in our East Bay offices, 90 percent of transactions in the first quarter involved multiple offers; on average, homes sold for 13 percent over asking price.Homes in the Bay Area sold within weeks of coming on the market, frequently in all-cash deals, and multiple bids pushed sales prices above asking prices in all regions, much to the delight of sellers.

Click to view larger chart.

Overall, the increased velocity of real estate activity in the first quarter of 2013 was nothing short of remarkable.This means that sellers looking to trade up to a higher-priced home may now make significant gains in the current market. For example, consider a homeowner whose property was valued at $300,000 in 2006 but dropped 20 percent in value to $240,000, for a loss of $60,000. That same 20 percent drop in value for a higher-priced home – say, a $450,000 home now valued at $360,000 – gives a trade-up buyer savings of $90,000, or a net gain of $30,000 on the new home.Today’s low mortgage rates also offer serious savings to trade-up buyers. In 2002, when the interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage stood at 6.5 percent, the monthly payment on a $500,000 loan was $3,160. At current rates, which hover around 3.6 percent, approximately the same loan payment would buy a home with a $700,000 mortgage – a net gain of $200,000.The benefit won’t last forever, so prospective sellers should move quickly: A report from the Mortgage Bankers Association predicts that rates will average 4.4 percent by the end of 2013. That 0.8 point rise will add $230 to the monthly payment on a $500,000 mortgage.So if you’re thinking about selling in this blazing market, don’t get burned by waiting too long. And count on the expertise of a real estate professional who knows the local market to help assess your home’s current value and prospects. Looks like it’s shaping up to be a hot season for sellers!If you have any questions or would like a custom market analysis of your home’s current likely sales price, please call me. My name is Kyle Frazier. I am a Broker, Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), and Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) with Christie’s Great Estates | Pacific Union International Realtors.

And if you are a buyer, I am also a member of the Top Agent Network (Top 10% in Marin County) and the Marin Platinum Group (Top 100 agents in Marin County). These are elite agent networks with access to dozens of homes being marketed informally and not on the MLS. It is always my pleasure to be of service. Call me at (415) 350-9440.

Here are two examples of completely different market segments reflecting identical inventory shortages:

1) Tiburon & Belvedere — at the time of my writing the Tiburon & Belvedere Real Estate Report for February 2013, there were 9 homes in the MLS under $2 million. ALL of them were in escrow and there was not a single home priced under $2 million available on the MLS.

2) Novato — at the time I wrote my Novato Real Estate update for February 2013, 74% of homes priced under $500K were in escrow. Three of the five available homes were new to market and are in ecrow today. Essentially, the absorption rate in Novato under $500K is a fraction of a month. There is simply not enough inventory to satisfy demand. Investors and eager buyers are bidding up virtually all properties in this entry level price band.

Marin County Real Estate Market

Incredibly low inventory, historically low interest rates, a growing pool of “ready, able, and willing” buyers, are combining to make for an unprecedented Marin County real estate market. The sales numbers relative to inventory are truly unheard of. My advice to sellers this year is — “Join The Party!”

CALL ME if you are thinking of selling (350-9440). My systems can get you on market quickly with the very best marketing available. And my negotiation skills will net you more money on the sale of your home.

JANUARY – The latest jobs data shows the first signs of economic recovery, with California’s unemployment rate falling to 11.1 percent in December 2011, the second month in a row the number declined. (Quick jump ahead: by November 2012 the unemployment rate had dropped further, to 9.8 percent.). Pacific Union International’s Q4 2011 Real Estate Report is released. In it we declare that 2012 “could be one of the finest times in the past twenty years to be a buyer of real estate,” with low home prices and exceptionally low interest rates. We were right on the money.

FEBRUARY – Sellers are urged to “join the party” as the number of homes under contract jumps significantly. In Marin County, homes under contract were up an astounding 82 percent from the start of the year. A look at the math shows that historically low interest rates give homebuyers an extra $100,000 in purchasing power. (And it still holds true today.)

MARCH – Rental rates are rising precipitously across the Bay Area — up 16 percent in San Francisco — making buying a home an even more attractive option.

APRIL – Pacific Union gets kudos from our peers with the release of a Real Trends survey showing that our real estate professionals are the fifth most productive in the United States and a report from Real Estate Magazine naming us one of the nation’s top “Power Brokers.” Buyer demand in the first quarter drives an increase in the number of homes sold in all seven of Pacific Union’s Bay Area regions. The upcoming America’s Cup yacht races are fueling a boom in San Francisco real estate as buyers jockey for homes with commanding views of San Francisco Bay.

MAY — Homes are more affordable than ever, according to a report from the California Association of Realtors. The percentage of households that could afford to purchase a median-priced, single-family home in the Bay Area rose to 45 percent in the first quarter, a record high. Rising home sales and prices make clear the housing recovery is on solid footing in the Bay Area, according to our own monthly market analysis and a report from the California Association of Realtors. Pacific Union expands in Northern California with the opening of offices in the North Lake Tahoe area.

JUNE – The Bay Area housing market and overall economic scene continue to set the pace for the national recovery, and sometimes that means standing in contrast to gloomy national reports. We’re pleased to report that Pacific Union is expanding again, this time launching Pacific Union International Property Management Inc. Kudos continue: A list of the top 1,000 real estate professionals and teams in the United States includes three from Pacific Union. Reports in the national news media declare that “the housing bust is over,” which comes as no surprise to homebuyers and sellers in the Bay Area.
JULY – Pacific Union’s exclusive interview with economist Stephen Levy makes clear that the economic recovery has reached all corners of the Bay Area and is enduring. Our Q2 Real Estate Report shows home sales are up more than 30 percent across the Bay Area, foretelling a strong year ahead.

AUGUST – The Bay Area continues to lead California’s economic recovery, and that’s good news for the region’s housing market. In a sign of how tight the housing market has become, the Oakland metro area is No. 1 in the nation for the greatest reduction of homes for sale. It’s also No. 1 for the shortest number of days on the market.
SEPTEMBER – Foreclosure activity drops sharply across the Bay Area, led by San Francisco, where notices of default — the first step in the foreclosure process — fall 71 percent from a year ago. The Bay Area’s red-hot real estate market continues to set records, with August home sales at a six-year high. Home ownership can bring big savings when compared with the cost of renting in San Francisco and Oakland, according to a report from the online real estate search service Trulia.
OCTOBER – The East Bay housing market has trailed San Francisco in its recovery from the recession, but recent reports suggest the region’s economy is poised for substantial growth in the coming year. Our Q3 Real Estate Report has plenty of good news in it: Home values are rising, foreclosures are dropping, and housing starts are increasing across the Bay Area. We’re on track to see the best year in housing since 2005 in many regions.
NOVEMBER – The monthly Case-Shiller home prices report confirms that home prices continue to rise at a steady pace across the Bay Area as well as nationwide, but a close look at the numbers also reveals much more: the extent of the housing market collapse five years ago and the strength of the recovery now under way.
DECEMBER —  The supply of homes for sale in the Bay Area remains severely constrained, but that hasn’t held back buyers. They’re snapping up properties at a pace we haven’t seen in at least six years. Tech companies like Pinterest and Square are increasingly choosing San Francisco over Silicon Valley for office space, and that’s having a direct effect on residential real estate in the city. The Bay Area continues to drive California’s economic recovery, with the state’s unemployment rate dropping below 10 percent for the first time in nearly four years. That’s a good sign for real estate markets.

Source: PacUnion.com

Kyle Frazier, J.D. & Broker, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Realtor with Pacific Union | Christie’s International Real Estate. Call Kyle Frazier at 415/350-9440 for more luxury home market information in Marin County, California (the San Francisco Bay Area’s “North Bay”).

Home values are rising, foreclosures are dropping, and housing starts are increasing. In addition, the Federal Reserve’s plan to purchase mortgage-backed securities to the tune of $40 billion a month should contribute to the climb by pushing down mortgage rates and boosting home prices.

Sounds like great news, and it is. But to those of us in the Bay Area, it’s a bit of old news. In January, we predicted we’d see the best year in housing since 2006. So far we have – and there are strong indicators that will continue.

Our belief relies on sustained job growth, low interest rates, and aggressive buyer demand. Time will tell if our hunch is correct.

If there’s a downside to all this, it’s that buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines hoping to pounce on a foreclosure or distressed property have likely missed their opportunity. The records being set for number of homes sold in the Bay Area are being accomplished with limited inventory, and this will contribute to price appreciation.

The combination of buyer demand and a continuing constrained supply of available homes is leading to a return of one of the hallmarks of the heyday of Bay Area real estate: the bidding war.
Multiple offers on well-priced properties are becoming the norm in many areas, and for every one buyer who lands the home, there are several frustrated suitors even more determined to find a new abode … thus fueling more multiple offers. We predict housing will be 3 to 6 percent more expensive by this time next year.

Here in the Bay Area, we experienced an over-30 percent increase in homes sold, year over year. Many of Pacific Union International’s regions continue to show robust and dynamic growth in homes sold, putting them on track to post their best years since 2005.

And we are even more excited about what lies ahead with Bay Area real estate. We’ve seen numerous positive indicators in our regional data, including firm pricing, multiple offers, and fewer days on the market – all of which support the belief that the current Bay Area housing demand is indeed sustainable.
Meanwhile, sellers are slowly coming off the sidelines, and we are finally seeing an improvement in the number of available homes for sale. This suggests that people are more confident of getting the sales prices they want.

On a larger scale, the real and marked improvement in our Bay Area economic engines, particularly with job growth and the successful technology sector, indicates that the bottom of the real estate market is finally behind us and we are at long last in a new market.

The second-quarter real estate market in Marin County mirrored the first quarter: extremely strong sales but a limited supply of inventory. We saw multiple offers on most desirable properties, with buyers outnumbering sellers across the county.

Home prices climbed higher in the last quarter but are still below levels at the height of the market. People who bought homes in 2005 and 2006 are choosing not to sell for a reduced price, which helps explain the dearth of homes on the market.

In another continuing trend, first-time buyers had a difficult time competing against investors able to pay cash for properties. The investment market remains strong, with buyers having no trouble finding renters for their properties.

Looking Forward: There’s no sign of a sales slowdown in the third or fourth quarters, putting us on track to post our best year since 2005. And home prices are rising, which should encourage more sellers to join the market and relieve the inventory shortfall.

We recently had a conversation with Stephen Levy, one of the top economists in California, whose observations on these topics further fueled our optimism as we swing into summer. We’re sharing that exclusive interview with you in this quarterly report and are confident you’ll find it as valuable as we did. Please see below.

Exclusive: Pacific Union’s Interview With Stephen Levy
In late June, Pacific Union International spoke exclusively with Stephen Levy, director and senior economist of the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy (CCSCE) in Palo Alto, about the state of the economy and the real estate market in the San Francisco Bay Area. Here are the highlights of our interview.

Pacific Union: Housing markets are on fire, but this seems to be consumer-led rather than job-led. What’s your view of the Bay Area versus the state as a whole?

Stephen Levy: For the San Jose and San Francisco metro area, jobs are on fire. The San Jose metro area is the fastest-growing large metro area in the U.S., measured by jobs, and the San Francisco metro area (San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties) is close behind. We’ve seen 2.8 percent (San Francisco) to 3.5 percent (San Jose) growth from May 2011 to May 2012, which is way ahead of the nation.

It’s also IPO-led. It’s job-related, but also tied to the ability to cash out from the successes of LinkedIn, Google, and Facebook.

Is the Bay Area still in economic recovery, or are we transitioning to growth?

Both. The Santa Clara valley and San Francisco are transitioning to catch this new wave of growth. Most of the state and most of the rest of the Bay Area is still struggling with the lack of construction and lack of government jobs; there hasn’t been really any big pickup in home building. They’re definitely in recovery. The only places you could say are in a new growth mode are San Francisco and San Jose.

How bullish are you on an appreciable drop in the unemployment rate?

Santa Clara is at 8.2 percent, and both San Francisco and San Mateo are below 8 percent already. Those counties will have their own special bonanza. The state is at 10.9 percent unemployment and won’t see 8 percent for three years at an absolute minimum. But the Bay Area will be below 8 percent as a region.

I wouldn’t worry about the unemployment rate quite as much as the rate of job growth. If it stays up, it’s because people are pouring into the workforce.

Are you saying that the job-growth rate is a more meaningful economic indicator than unemployment?

Yes, absolutely. My mother, who made clothes, always said, “You’re only as good as your next season.” Our current “next season” is looking pretty good. It’s not just Facebook and LinkedIn, it’s the big run-up in value of Apple, Google … it’s pretty broad.

What do you see happening in Contra Costa County? Many corporations have moved out there and it seems attractive for business.

I think it’s an incredibly attractive area for the same reason it has been for past 15-20 years: It captures both the labor market within the region as well as the labor market close to it in the Central Valley — Stockton and Tracy, and further out. It’s very well placed for the labor force. They’re not doing what San Jose and San Francisco are doing, but for the long-term future they have a great location.

Housing has been on a tear in Marin lately. Is that due to a jobs uptick?

They have low unemployment, but a lot of those folks work in the city. I don’t know about job growth — unemployment tends to affect you where you live, while job growth is where you work.

Is there any bright news ahead for the East Bay?

I think they’re caught up in the national slowdown. I think they’ll do fine once we get into a strong recovery nationally. They were a home-building center, and have been hurt by that. They’re a very strong region, and historically have had location and price advantages.

In the Wine Country — Sonoma and Napa counties — we’ve noticed increased demand lately, especially for vacation homes. Do you see job growth as an engine there?

That area is not my specialty, but I don’t think the home buying you are seeing is related to local job growth. Foreign investors from affluent areas find California prices cheap — in Napa as well as Palo Alto and Newport Beach. I think Napa and Sonoma are connected to both the overall Bay Area high-end economic growth and to the worldwide tourism/retirement demand.

The Pew Research Center just released a report, “The Rise of Asian Americans” talking about how Asians are now our largest immigrant group. What I see is that the Asian buyer market is on fire, both with new immigrants and because Chinese and other Asian folks are heading into tech companies as employees.

Finally, is there anything you see driving jobs besides tech?

There has been a resurgence in convention and tourist activity. Hotel and tourist numbers are up. Foreign trade has also been doing pretty well. Tech, trade, and tourism — the three Ts — bring other economic improvement along with them. Retail sales are picking up as the income flow from the tech sector begins to spread into restaurants, car dealerships, and other areas.
]]> http://www.imaginemarin.com/marin-luxury-properties-report/pacific-union-int%e2%80%99l-%e2%80%93-christie%e2%80%99s-great-estates-marin-county-ca-luxury-home-sales-july-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.imaginemarin.com/marin-luxury-properties-report/marin-luxury-properties-report-pacific-union-%e2%80%93-christie%e2%80%99s-international-real-estate-marin-county-ca-luxury-home-sales-may-2012/ http://www.imaginemarin.com/marin-luxury-properties-report/marin-luxury-properties-report-pacific-union-%e2%80%93-christie%e2%80%99s-international-real-estate-marin-county-ca-luxury-home-sales-may-2012/#comments Tue, 29 May 2012 17:20:15 +0000 admin http://www.imaginemarin.com/?p=814 Pacific Union Int’l – Christie’s Great Estates | Marin County, CA Luxury Home Sales (May 2012) — Luxury home sales in Marin County, CA. have maintained a respectable pace in 2012 (in May 2012, Marin County saw 8 sales over $2 million). It remains clear that buyers will act quickly, even in the luxury home realm when they feel a particular home reflects clear value and/or possesses unique and desirable characteristics. Pricing in the marketplace (especially for homes that started off overpriced) remains on the soft side and “value” is evident in virtually every locale and every price segment of the luxury home market in Marin. Sellers who are realistic and motivated are finding buyers — indeed, the average days on market for sold homes in May for homes between $2 million and $4 million was 27 days.

The inventory of luxury homes remains moderately constricted with just 136 properties actively listed over $2 million in Marin. This inventory level is lower than years. Many sellers are holding back due to pricing depreciation which has been substantial in many markets (e.g., such that homes that priced at $2.25 million in 2006 are now priced below $2 million). We find most sellers are waiting for prices to recover rather than trade in today’s market (although the timeline for pricing recovery seems very murky to me).

Marin County cities recording luxury home sales between $2 million and $4 million in May 2012 included: Mill Valley (2); Larkspur (1); Greenbrae (1); Ross (1); and San Anselmo (2). These homes averaged just 27 days on market. Their average sales price was $2.56 million (roughly $846 per square foot), with an average of 3,683 square feet. Marin County’s ultra-luxury market (homes priced in the $4 million and up range) experienced one trade in May 2011 — a $5 million Ross estate.

Note: As a member of the Top Agent Network (top 10% in Marin) and the Marin Platinum Group (Top 100 agents), I have access to a database with several dozen luxury homes not currently on the MLS, but discretely offered for sale off-market. Please contact me regarding your specific desires. In addition, if you are looking for an agent to aggressively and intelligently market your home, please call me. I am a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist.

By: Kyle Frazier, J.D. & Broker, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Realtor with Pacific Union | Christie’s International Real Estate. Call Kyle Frazier at 415/350-9440 for more luxury home market information in Marin County, California (the San Francisco Bay Area’s “North Bay”).

In line with normal seasonal adjustments (we are approaching the end of the slow season), the inventory of luxury homes remains constricted with just 81 properties actively listed over $2 million in Marin. This inventory level is lower than years past as prices have declined substantially in many markets (e.g., such that homes that priced at $2.25 million in 2006 are now priced below $2 million). Moreover, to the extent sellers do not have a compelling reason to sell now, most are waiting for prices to recover rather than trade in today’s market.

Marin County cities recording luxury home sales between $2 million and $4 million in December 2011 included: Tiburon (3), Belvedere (1); Mill Valley 21); and Sausalito (1). These homes averaged 209 days on market. Their average sales price was $2.742 million (roughly $846 per square foot), with an average of 3,683 square feet. Marin County’s ultra-luxury market (homes priced in the $4 million and up range) experienced three trades in December 2011 — Stinson Beach, Mill Valley, and Belvedere each had one sale.

Note: As a member of the Top Agent Network (top 10% in Marin) and the Marin Platinum Group (Top 100 agents), I have access to a database with several dozen luxury homes not currently on the MLS, but discretely offered for sale off-market. Please contact me regarding your specific desires. In addition, if you are looking for an agent to aggressively and intelligently market your home, please call me. I am a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist.

By: Kyle Frazier, J.D. & Broker, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Realtor with Pacific Union | Christie’s International Real Estate. Call Kyle Frazier at            415/350-9440       for more luxury home market information in Marin County, California (the San Francisco Bay Area’s “North Bay”).

In line with normal seasonal adjustments (we are in the middle of the slow season now), the inventory of luxury homes remains constricted with just 99 properties actively listed over $2 million in Marin. This inventory level is lower than years past as prices have declined substantially in many markets (e.g., such that homes that priced at $2.25 million in 2006 are now priced below $2 million). Moreover, to the extent sellers do not have a compelling reason to sell now, most are waiting for prices to recover rather trade in today’s market.

Marin County cities recording luxury home sales between $2 million and $4 million in November 2011 included: Tiburon (3), Belvedere (1); Mill Valley (1); San Anselmo (1); Sausalito (1); Kentfield (2). These homes averaged 80 days on market. Their average sales price was $2.7 million (roughly $735 per square foot), with an average of 3,978 square feet. Marin County’s ultra-luxury market (homes priced in the $4 million and up range) flat-lined in November as we saw no trades.

Note: As a member of the Top Agent Network (top 10% in Marin) and the Marin Platinum Group (Top 100 agents), I have access to a database with several dozen luxury homes not currently on the MLS, but discretely offered for sale off-market. Please contact me regarding your specific desires. In addition, if you are looking for an agent to aggressively and intelligently market your home, please call me. I am a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist.

By: Kyle Frazier, J.D. & Broker, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Realtor with Pacific Union | Christie’s International Real Estate. Call Kyle Frazier at            415/350-9440       for more luxury home market information in Marin County, California (the San Francisco Bay Area’s “North Bay”).

In line with normal seasonal adjustments, the inventory of luxury homes remains constricted with just 122 properties actively listed over $2 million in Marin. This inventory level is lower than years past as prices have declined substantially in many markets (e.g., such that homes that priced at $2.25 million in 2006 are now priced below $2 million). Moreover, to the extent sellers do not have a compelling reason to sell now, most are waiting for prices to recover rather trade in today’s market.

Marin County cities recording luxury home sales between $2 million and $4 million in August 2011 included: Tiburon (1), Belvedere (1); Mill Valley (3); Larkspur (1); Sausalito (1); Ross (1); Kentfield (1). These homes averaged a mere 58 days on market (very low). Their average sales price was $2.59 million (roughly $718 per square foot), with an average of 3,720 square feet. Marin County’s ultra-luxury market (homes priced in the $4 million and up range) accounted for one sale last month — a 2.2 acre estate in the flats of Ross.

Note: As a member of the Top Agent Network (top 10% in Marin) and the Marin Platinum Group (Top 100 agents), I have access to a database with several dozen luxury homes not currently on the MLS, but discretely offered for sale off-market. Please contact me regarding your specific desires.

By: Kyle Frazier, J.D. & Broker, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Realtor with Pacific Union | Christie’s International Real Estate. Call Kyle Frazier at 415/350-9440 for more luxury home market information in Marin County, California (the San Francisco Bay Area’s “North Bay”).

In line with normal seasonal adjustments, the inventory of luxury homes remains on the low side with 151 properties are in the MLS over $2 million in Marin (this is somewhat lower than years past as prices have declined substantially in many markets (such that home that used to be priced above $2 million are now priced below $2 million).

Marin County cities recording luxury home sales between $2 million and $4 million in August 2011 included: Tiburon (3), Belvedere (4); Mill Valley (2); Larkspur (2); Sausalito (2); Ross (1). These homes averaged 112 days on market. Their average sales price was $2.51 million (roughly $756 per square foot), with an average of 3,461 square feet. Marin County’s ultra-luxury market (homes priced in the $4 million and up range) accounted for two sales last month (one in San Rafael — The Rosegarden Estate on 1.4 acres, pool, tennis court, 7,980 square feet of living space, 5 Beds and 8 baths) and the other in Tiburon — immaculate view estate).

Note: As a member of the Top Agent Network (top 10% in Marin) and the Marin Platinum Group (Top 100 agents), I have access to a database with several dozen luxury homes not currently on the MLS, but discretely offered for sale off-market. Please contact me regarding your specific desires.

By: Kyle Frazier, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Broker Associate, Realtor | Christie’s Great Estates — Christie’s Great Estates. Call Kyle Frazier at 415/350-9440 for more luxury home market information in Marin County, California (the San Francisco Bay Area’s “North Bay”).