Why are sellers so unwilling to face the reality of the current real estate market? It’s so discouraging to talk with prospective sellers, give them the best advice regarding the sale of their home and their particular situation only to have them get a second opinion. Usually they listen to the agent who tells that what they want to hear in order to obtain the listing of the property. Man oh man, is that bad news. In a real estate market like the one we’re in there is one, and only one, thing to understand. It’s all about pricing. We are actually seeing multiple offers in this market. I’m aware of a few in the last month. Why? Effective pricing. Today’s buyers are extremely sophisticated and know home values better than any group of home buyers that have come before them.

If you’re thinking of selling and still believe your home is worth what is was a year ago then be willing to listen to the facts. If you don’t like what you hear then DON”T put your home on the market. This market needs only motivated sellers not additional overpriced inventory.

No one thought there was a real estate bubble in marin county. Always buffeted from the economy’s harsher cycles marin’s real estate seemed above the mundane. Things change. since the middle of 2008 we’ve watched housing prices plummet as much as 30% and more. An example is a condominium currently for sale at $90,000. this same condo sold 1 1/2 years ago for $275,000 (overbid, of course). $90K is the “asking price”. Who knows what it will sell for. Even at asking price that’s a 67% drop in “value”. If there’s another wave of foreclosures, especially in areas like San Rafael and Novato, prices in those towns will continue into even deeper declines the we witnessed in 2008.

In spite of the frost through much of Marin this week, the first signs of Spring can already be seen as the camellias begin to bloom and the signs for Little League registration appear!  Check with www.marin.org for locally specific information on sign-ups.

 

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Coastal dwellers watch for especially high tides January 8^th through 12^th as a new moon coincides with perigee (the moon at its closest point to the earth).  See below for high tides this week:

 

DAY                            TIME               HEIGHT*

 

Thursday Jan. 8            7:15 AM          6.2 feet

Friday Jan. 9                9:04 AM          7.1 feet

Saturday Jan. 10           9:58 AM          7.2 feet

Sunday Jan. 11             10:51 AM        7.2 feet

Monday Jan. 12           11:43 AM        6.9 feet

Tuesday Jan. 13           12:35 PM         6.4 feet

 

*  Measured from National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s Mean Lower Low Water mark (MLLW).  Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) is 5.8 feet.

 

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The Marin Symphony Chorus has started work on the Dona Nobis Pacem of Ralph Vaughan-Williams.  This gorgeous work of about 40 minutes duration was composed during the lead-up to World War I with Biblical verses and devastating texts by Walt Whitman dating from the Civil War.  The act of learning to sing this piece with 120 other singers from Marin County, most of whom are volunteering their time, is humbling and thrilling.  Watch for more information about this work in concert with the Marin Symphony at www.marinsymphony.com. 

 

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Did you know a new law this year requires that, if you are using your windshield wipers, your headlights be on?  I just discovered this myself…

 

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See you next time…