December 2009 
There are 14 blog entries for December 2009.
SOLD! 12 Del Haro Wy, San Rafael - Eichler with Multiple Offers!
Thursday, December 31st, 2009 at 8:08am. 1473 Views, 0 Comments.
It's the last day of 2009 however we're still busy assisting our buyer and seller clients in Marin County! Today our Eichler listing at 12 Del Haro Way in San Rafael will close escrow at a final sale price of $771,000 ($31,000 over the original asking price!).
I was the listing agent on this transaction and represented the sellers of this Eichler home which received multiple offers over asking within just 1 week of hitting the market. My colleague Erika Davito of Marin Modern represented the buyers.
About 12 Del Haro Way, San Rafael, CA 94903
Lovingly cared for 4 Bedroom / 2 Bathroom atrium model Eichler home located in the Terra Linda area of San Rafael. This well maintained and well landscaped Eichler featured a spacious floor plan…
Popcorn Ceilings in Older Homes - Removal Cost in Marin & San Francisco
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 10:43pm. 9405 Views, 0 Comments.
Buying and selling real estate in Marin will pick up as Spring 2010 approaches. Many homes in Marin County zip codes were built before asbestos was banned in the United States. A giveaway can be those popcorn ceilings that you see in older homes. However, the only way to know for sure is to get it tested. Here's why--although asbestos was banned in 1978, builders were allowed to use up their asbestos texture supplies.
Asbestos is most dangerous in the dry powder form, so it should be handled by a professional. Testing your ceiling costs about $40, and is the first step. Of course, poporn ceilings might not be your taste regardless of whether or not asbestos is present. So here are some approximate costs to remove popcorn texturing via a…
SOLD! 45 Gertrude Lane in Novato
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 at 5:49am. 1326 Views, 0 Comments.
I assisted one of my buyer clients in locating and purchasing this charming 4 bedroom / 3 bathroom single-family home located at 45 Gertrude Lane in Novato for $485,500, an extremely competitive price range right now for Novato real estate listings.
The transaction just closed today and I was excited that I was able to move swiftly to secure this home for my client since the property received multipe offers (18 to be exact!) within days of hitting the market.
About 45 Gertrude Ln, Novato, CA 94947
Built in1954, this updated 4 bedroom / 3 bathroom ranch style home is located on a quiet cul de sac with a spacious yard offering views of the surrouding hills. The home features a number of recent updates including a remodeled bathroom with new…
Flip Video Equipped Realtors in Marin & San Francisco California!
Monday, December 28th, 2009 at 10:36pm. 1469 Views, 0 Comments.
In an effort to acknowledge our hard-working real estate agents in Marin & San Francisco, we recently hosted a team holiday luncheon and as a gift we provided each of our Realtors with a Flip Video Camcorder for use in assisting their home buyer and seller clients.
We were proud to offer our agents this token of appreciation since 2009 represented our best year ever as a company and we definitely "bucked the trend" by growing our residential real estate business in both Marin & San Francisco (both in terms of transaction volume & sales volume). This growth was purely organic and wasn't a result of an acquisition, headcount expansion, or even opportunistically riding the foreclosure or short-sale wave. Instead it came thru extremely hard work and…
Marin First Time Home Buyer Seminar 2010
Sunday, December 27th, 2009 at 10:54am. 1542 Views, 0 Comments.
We are kicking off the new year by hosting another one of our most popular events - Marin First Time Home Buyer Seminar on Saturday, January 16th from 10:00am-11:30am. With falling home prices, low interest rates and government incentives, 2010 is an opportune time to buy your first home in Marin. But, before you buy, there are some critical things you must know about the purchase process before you become a homeowner.
Buying your first home is a big deal. Find out how to successfully position yourself to make today's market work for you.
Attendees at this FREE 1.5 hour seminar will learn:
- The benefits and cost savings of buying vs. renting
- Current financing options
- How to improve your credit score
- How to qualify…
The Top Considerations for Buying a Home in Marin in 2010
Saturday, December 26th, 2009 at 10:30am. 1354 Views, 0 Comments.
By all accounts, 2010 is the year to buy a house. Here in Marin, home values have diminished to 2003 levels, fixed mortgage rates are sitting near record lows, and the foreclosure epidemic has created some amazing opportunities for bargain hunters. Adding to this golden window of opportunity are the thousands of dollars in tax credits to nearly all first-time buyers and the bulk of existing home owners who close a purchase by June.
With that said, here are the top considerations (in my opinion) if you are looking to buy a home in Marin in 2010.
1. Home buyers need a stable income stream from employment.
2. Prices to bottom out: After more than three years of falling, real estate values have shown signs of stabilization in recent months and…
Bill Hansell - Marin Architect & Blog Contributor
Saturday, December 26th, 2009 at 7:02am. 3307 Views, 0 Comments.
I'm excited to annouce the addition of Bill Hansell, an architect based in Marin County California, as a guest blogger on the Marin Modern Real Estate website. Bill will serve as a contributing editor to our Marin County real estate blog and will offer expert advice and insight on all things architecture & design related in Marin and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Bill has assisted a number of our clients and we welcome the opportunity to have him share his expertise and knowledge "online" with our clients, colleagues, friends, and website visitors. You'll be able to track his contributions online by visiting various categories on our Marin blog including Marin Architectural Homes, Green Living in Marin County, the Eichler Homes Forum, and more.
We…
67 Leland Drive in Novato - SOLD!
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 7:34pm. 1319 Views, 0 Comments.
Earlier today one of my buyer clients closed escrow on 67 Leland Drive, a spacious 2,174 sq ft single family home located in Novato, California.
I proudly represented the buyers of this home which was purchased for $655,000, a highly competitive price range right now throughout Marin County.
This two story home featured an extensively remodeled kitchen with new appliances, an open and airy floorplan which is ideal for entertaining, and a spacious & private backyard. Located within close proximity to shopping, restaurants and the top-rated Lu Sutton School.
Contact me if I can assist you with your real estate needs in Novato or anywhere else in Marin County or San Francisco. Additionally, you can utilize the Marin Modern website to…
New Fannie Mae Guidelines will Impact Marin Housing Market
Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 11:27pm. 1857 Views, 0 Comments.
As of December 12, 2009, Fannie Mae has introduced its new DU (Desktop Underwriter) Version 8.0, which all lenders are now required to use for conforming and high-balance conforming loan products (to $417,000 and up to $729,750 in high-limit counties such as Marin and San Francisco) that it purchases. The new system imposes more restrictive lender guidelines and is expected to limit the number of borrowers who will qualify for a loan. Since the majority of loans in this price range are sold through either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, even the most qualified borrowers shopping for a home should have their approvals updated to insure that their loan packages are in compliance with current guidelines.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac regularly review and adjust…
128 Golden Hinde - Marin Eichler Home - Just Listed!
Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 11:54am. 1420 Views, 0 Comments.
I just listed this light-filled, 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom Eichler home which is located on a spacious lot (8,804 sq ft per tax records) which backs up to open space.
Offered at $705,000, this is a fabulous opportunity to buy an Eichler home where the most recently sold Eichler homes in this neighborhood sold in just one day for $795,000 & $839,000!
128 Golden Hinde Blvd, San Rafael
This updated and move-in ready Eichler home offers the best of indoor / outdoor living. The kitchen & dining room opens to a wonderfully landscaped front courtyard patio. The living room and master suite open up to a beautifully landscaped and private backyard with views of the preserved space behind it.
Remodeled kitchen with gas range and center island. …