With so many reasons to love the North Bay, it’s hard to imagine ever wanting to get away. That said, one of the things that is so appealing about where we live is that when you do want to head out of town for a long weekend, it’s as easy as hopping in the car and in a matter of hours reaching some of the country’s top destinations. The obvious choices (and rightfully so, as they offer world-class appeal and amenities) are Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and Monterey. But with an area as rich in history and natural beauty as ours, there are dozens of equally fun and enjoyable alternatives for every taste and mood.

Lake Tahoe

Watersports – Have a boat or jet ski that’s gathering dust in the garage as you wait for the weather to heat up? Head to the Sacramento River Delta, Lake Berryessa or Lake Sonoma where
you’re almost guaranteed to find sun and warmer temperatures. For even more of an adventure, try river rafting on the American River for some true whitewater excitement.

The Mountains – Again, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite are ideal destinations, but don’t forget about majestic Mt. Shasta and its surroundings where you’ll find stunning places for hiking, biking and swimming. Of Mt. Shasta, President Roosevelt said: “I consider the evening twilight on Mt. Shasta one of the grandest sights I have ever witnessed.”

Fun in the Sun – Still looking to spend time on the beach? Watch how the surf pros get it done at Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, or cruise down to Santa Cruz and visit the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Additional southern attractions include the Mystery Spot and Big Basin Redwoods State Park. If you’ve got the luxury of time on your hands, head farther south to Santa Barbara and enjoy white sandy beaches, warm weather and some 50 public parks.

Virginia City Photo taken by Reno Tahoe

A Bit of History – To step back in time to theold Wild West, you can visit Old Sacramento located along the scenic Sacramento river (check out the Heritage Celebration Labor Day Weekend), Placerville or Truckee. There is also the Old West boomtown Virginia City where you can brave a shot of whiskey at the Bucket of Blood saloon, tour the Ponderosa Mine, go on a stagecoach ride or hop on the Virginia/Truckee Railroad. If it’s fortune you seek, there’s panning for gold at Sutter’s Mill in Gold Rush Country. Hearst Castle, a national historic monument located in San Simeon, also makes for a fascinating trip. Kids in the group might want to explore the spooky Winchester Mystery House in San Jose.

Northern Coast – Hug the coast and stop by the hamlets of Sea Ranch, Gualala, Eureka, Fort Bragg (ever ridden the Skunk Train?) and Mendocino. Check into a quaint Bed and Breakfast and explore these classic small towns.

Hearst Castle Photo taken by Peter Nijenhuis

These are just a few of the amazing attractions located in close proximity to our North Bay home. We recommend visitcalifornia.com and AAA for additional resources for your trip planning.

Do you have a favorite place you like to escape to for the weekend?

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Last week you (hopefully) read here that during the prior week there were 62 new Marin County single family listings brought on the market through MLS. That week, 30 homes closed escrow and 81 were reduced.

This week, the MLS listing numbers are … 63 new listings, 35 closed escrow and 101 homes reduced in price. Aye, activity has increased … or has it? Some wonderful homes are sitting.  I’m showing a client a home tomorrow that knocks my socks off … and showing 122 Alder, again.  The former has sat on the market, being reduced and reduced and reduced … hmmmm … and 122 Alder in San Anselmo’s Yolanda Park is amazing everyone as it has been on the market for over a week and only had ‘I may be writing an offer’ rumblings. Darn!

Let’s look at Marin County price reductions … first, the stunning home at 30 Toussin, Kentfield. This four bedroom beauty, listed by Ann Boucher of Decker Bullock, Sotheby’s International has been for sale for a looong time. (In 2004 it was listed at $9,975,000). Now available at $5,750,000, this home has had offers but you still have a chance … and since May the price has dropped by $1M! 

Of the 101 homes that have been reduced in the past week, five were in San Anselmo, two in Stinson Beach, six in Tiburon, twenty-one in San Rafael and one each in Woodacre and Corte Madera. Oh, about 208 Summit, Corte Madera … it sold for $760,000 in ’07 and has been on the market for over two years … starting at $699,000 this two bedroom contractor’s special is now being offered at $399,000. Oh, find me a contractor with money! 

Belvedere has seen three price reductions in the past week. 16 Eucalyptus, a three bedroom home listed by Max Applegarth, Decker Bullock … this home has been on the market for over a year and is now down by $200,000; 10 Lagoon, a three bedroom home … yes, on the lagoon, has been on the market for 83 days with Patricia Navone, Pacific Union – Morgan Lane (in ’09 it was offered at $2,395,000 but is now $2,019,000, after being reduced this week by $78,000); and 207 Beach, amazing 1900s classic five bedroom home offered by Janet Williamson, Frank Howard Allen, has just slipped under $3M … in ’08 it was offered at $1M more.

So that’s a bit of the numeric description of the activity we’ve seen in the past week, the week before the week before Labor Day.  More to follow … but in the interim, if you’re simply thinking of buying, hey, there’ve been some bargains that’ve slipped away … 20 Marin View, Mill Valley … went to auction. And perhaps one of the great homes that isn’t an extreme bargain might render your life marvelous … so, , go to my website www.tomverkozen.com or call (415) 637-7974 and let’s have some fun while we shop.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

After a long tour of homes for sale in Mill Valley I returned to Ross, exhausted. My clients are looking for a ‘deal,’ so my job is to eliminate homes that simply won’t work. If you know of some good deals … (20 Marin View was too much work but an amazing opportunity) … let me know.

The BIG questions are: When is the best time to sell a home in Mill Valley? When is the best time to buy? 

Before I get you to the answers, think back … You may remember early last week, with temperatures hitting 105 in San Rafael … so in the evening it was time to head south from Ross into the fog. Not. Mill Valley was hot, too!

My buddy Michael Whyte, one of the last independent book store owners still alive in the post-Amazon era, with Whyte Booksmith at 615 San Anselmo Avenue, joined me for a Mark Pitta Tuesday night comedy adventure at 142 Throckmorton in Mill Valley.

After a café dinner outside at Small Shed Flatbread, a quaint organic café around the corner from 142 Throckmorton… we shared a wonderful flat bread with figs, prosciutto, caramelized onions and blue cheese and I had an IPA, Michael had a pinot … yummy … the night began … and what a night it was … the 20th anniversary of a young, pranksterish Mark Pitta having been on the Johnny Carson Show …. an evening kicked off by Jackie Kashian, achingly funny female comic … followed by Steven White, intellectually stimulating, thigh slapping ADHD (attention deficit in HD) comic with a bit of history to relate … along with a long list of lusty women on his mind …and then … with the theme song from Mork and Mindy … the night got raunchy with Robin Williams … joined by Mark Pitta … they used a fan to blow the audience … I’ve skipped half of the cast of characters … and even clicked a shot with my cell phone but got busted and promised to delete the photo … so all that’s left is for you is to check out www.markpitta.com … which will guide you to the Throckmorton website. Best show in town. A $20 bargain! Get your tickets and have a blast.

And now the answer on when to buy/sell, a partial answer at any rate (click graphs to enlarge):

With the exception of June, sales of single family homes in Mill Valley average around 20, plus or minus, month in and month out. If you’re selling, hey, do you want to compete with 150 homes or half that many? Timing is the key. And if you’re buying, how does August stack up when compared to December? Pretty obvious.

The graphs are a partial answer because in August of ’09 in San Anselmo, there were 87 homes on the market … and 45 days later (in September) six closed escrow … which differs from what you’d think if you simply look at the graph.

Clearly I want you to call me so that I can straighten out the statistical picture, help you make sense of it and then list your home. As always, www.tomverkozen.com or (415) 257-2039 … and know that I do straight forward sales, short sales and foreclosures as well as auctions (the 20 Marin View was a bank-owned, auction sale house with great potential).

Long and short, you need a guide and I’m thrilled you need me to make sense of this amazing market … a market filled with potential good deals and some great homes for sale. Come on, call!

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

The North Bay is known for being a food lover’s heaven – with world-class dining options in Marin and Sonoma counties including Michelin star recipients French Laundry in Yountville (the only three-star), Cyrus in Healdsburg, The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena, and Murray Circle in Sausalito, just to name a few of the crème-de-la-crème. The North Bay also offers some of the most amazing scenery in the world – golden rolling hills and mountains, the sparkling bay and priceless San Francisco cityscapes. So it’s no surprise that there are also several dining options that bridge delicious cuisine with one-of-a-kind views. Whether celebrating an anniversary, birthday or milestone, it’s not difficult to find a place that will satisfy all your senses.

Once the site of US army barracks, Cavallo Point at Fort Baker is now a complete resort facility located at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge, offering captivating views of the Bridge, the bay and the San Francisco skyline. The restaurant at Cavallo Point, Murray Circle, also just happens to be one of Northern California’s top dining destinations – and the proud recipient of a Michelin-star rating. The dining room is elegant and inviting with large, paned windows looking out over the water. Outside, there’s porch seating for a more intimate view of the Golden Gate. You can also visit Farley’s Bar at Cavallo Point if you prefer to enjoy just a glass of wine or a cocktail while you drink in the view.

The town of Sausalito has several other restaurants which boast views, just head to Bridgeway for a sampling. Our other Sausalito favorite, however, is Le Garage, which is tucked off the main drag. Serving fabulous French bistro-style fare, Le Garage opens to an outdoor patio which overlooks the harbor. Who knew eating in a garage could be such an appealing experience?

Like Sausalito, Tiburon’s waterfront location serves up stunning vistas. Strolling along Main Street in downtown Tiburon you can choose from Guaymas, Caprice, Servino, and Sam’s Anchor Café, a local institution. Each of these restaurants overlooks Raccoon Straits and beyond to Angel Island and San Francisco.

For a more secluded, rustic feel, visit the Mountain Home Inn atop Mt. Tamalpais. This mountain lodge is described as a “bird’s nest” and boasts a large view deck where you can sit amongst the Redwoods. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offering full bar service, you can pop in before or after a hike or make a dinner reservation for a quiet romantic evening.

For more fine dining options in the North Bay, check out the San Francisco Chronicle’s annual list of Top 100 Restaurants.

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live 

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Bon Tempe Lake

Bon Tempe Lake Close Up

Alpine Lake

Phoenix Lake

Living in Marin means one can easily enjoy the benefits of the stunning Pacific Coast to the west and the vast San Francisco bay to the east. But did you know that Marin is also home to at least 21 lakes?

Many of us know about the big ones. Bon Tempe Lake, located near Fairfax, is for some the most beautiful, with its royal blue water and golden hillsides dotted with lush green trees. Fishing, and hiking and biking around Bon Tempe are very popular. Just adjacent to Bon Tempe is Lake Lagunitas, favored by many for picnics, and its shady, more level grade. Alpine Lake is also a popular destination in the Fairfax area. Phoenix Lake, in the hills above Ross, is another favorite, as is sunny Stafford Lake in Novato.

Further exploration of the county, however, reveals many more scenic lakes. For example, in the area called Double Point just north of Bolinas, you’ll find Bass Lake, Pelican Lake and Crystal Lake. Bass Lake is the only lake in Marin (that we know of) that allows swimming – it even has a rope swing. Two other lakes in this area are Ocean Lake and Wildcat Lake.

Farther out, towards Point Reyes you’ll find the Soulajule Reservoir and the Nicasio Reservoir.

Though often requiring a hike of some sort, the sapphire and emerald lakes of Marin County offer a peaceful alternative to the beach and the bay and are well worth the effort.

Have you been to some of these lesser known lakes? Please share your opinion of them.

Marin County Lakes: 

Hagmaier Pond South (Bolinas area)
Abbotts Lagoon (Drakes Bay area)  
Kent Lake (Bolinas area) 
Bass Lake (Double Point area, just north of Bolinas)
Crystal Lake (Double Point area)
Mill Pond (Double Point area)
Ocean Lake (Double Point area)
Pelican Lake (Double Point area)
Wildcat Lake (Double Point area)
Alpine Lake (Fairfax area)
Bon Tempe Lake (Fairfax area)
Lake Lagunitas (Fairfax area)
Nicasio Reservoir (Inverness area)
Scottsdale Pond (Novato area)
Stafford Lake (Novato area)
Big Lagoon (Point Bonita area)
Rodeo Lagoon (Point Bonita area)
Soulajule Reservoir (Point Reyes NE area)
Arroyo Sausal Reservoir (Point Reyes NE area)

Credit for all photos: Vicens Vilà 

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Here’s a place where we can help each other: California’s legislature has recently passed SB 1178 (Corbett) to extend anti-deficiency protection to homeowners who have refinanced.   

California’s anti-deficiency protection says that if a homeowner defaults on a mortgage used to purchase his or her home, the homeowner’s liability on the mortgage is limited to the property itself … but the law doesn’t apply to loans used to refinance the original purchase loan.

Recently low interest rates have induced hundreds of thousands of refinanced mortgages … yet by refinancing to obtain a lower rate, homeowners forfeited the protections and became personally liable on the new note …. SB 1178 will correct this by extending anti-deficiency protections to those who have refinanced their loans. 

Please take action and contact Governor Schwarzenegger to urge him to sign SB 1178 as it will extend existing anti-deficiency protections to those homeowners who have refinanced their home mortgage (many of us). When most of us were refinancing our homes, usually to get a better interest rate, few of us were told that if we lost our home to foreclosure, the lender can not only take the home, but can also pursue us.

I would be willing to bet that very few owners were aware that they lost their anti-deficiency protection when they refinanced.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

As Steve Dickason, manager of Alain Pinel Realtors, did a powerful power point market update for a group of us agents at a marketing session we all nodded and figured we now understood the market just a little bit better.

I’m still not sure I fully ‘got’ it. This is a confusing market, so I’ll try to give you a bit of the picture as I see it, thanks to Steve. Oh, by the way, I was at the meeting to present photos and information on 122 Alder, San Anselmo … and got a great response after the meeting with showings … in fact, I returned to my office and Jen Pennington, one of my fav agents, who is now once more with Coldwell Banker, called to check before showing. A real great home with potential in Yolanda Park. Why hasn’t it sold after seven days?

End digression: Steve broke the market into segments. Here’s part of the view, collapsed and changed as I did my own formatting …

In the price range of up to $1M there are 629 single family homes on the market … in the last six months there have been 683 sales … so we pretty much have a six month supply of homes. Of the homes on the market 59 are simply awaiting a moving van. Average market time, 87 days. (One of my favorite homes is the short sale at 37 Palm in San Rafael’s Dominican … $1,250,000 and it went pending after 28 days! … amazing work on a short sale. Good Show, Ted C Strodder from Frank Howard Allen’s Greenbrae office … and congratulations to the buyer for recognizing a great value amid multiple offers).

Small woopsie among multiple offers … Susan Swan, Bradley Real Estate, corrected me on her listing at 355 Redwood, Woodacre …. seven offers (got that right), all but one over asking (the woopsie) and four all cash.

Back to homes … between $1M and $2M the average market time was 112 days … a much greater time frame than in the lower price ranges … and then, for contrast, there’s 40 Murray in Larkspur, listed by Jennifer Peck (Frank Howard Allen) for 507 days before selling … versus Stephanie Witt’s 17 Baywood Terrace, San Rafael, a bank-owned luxury home that sold for $1,320,000 in ’06 … did not sell for $1,569,000 in ’08 but came on the market and sold … quickly … good show, buyers … when she listed it for $1,175,000.

The meeting went on … Craig Burnett mentioned a listing he has coming in San Anselmo … ideal for one of my soon-to-be buyers, a blog reader … Hi Duncan … that he’s bringing on in a week or two. Sherrie Faber, First California Realty, talked about a new listing she has … an estate for $3.3M in Sausalito near her current listing at 678 Sausalito Blvd, which is listed at $2.485 … ah, the information that flows!

And there is a bottom line … there are some great buys out there for the intrepid. Calling all intrepid buyers! www.tomverkozen.com or 637-7974. C U at the title company.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

The spectacular natural beauty of the North Bay offers artists endless opportunities for inspiration. It’s no wonder, then, that we are home to so many wonderful art festivals, and this time of year brings about three of our favorites: the Tiburon Art Festival, the Sausalito Art Festival and the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival. These three southern Marin events are close in proximity, but each offers its own unique take on the art festival scene.

The Tiburon Art Festival occurs first in the lineup and takes place this weekend, August 28 and 29. Located right in downtown Tiburon on Historic Ark Row, it features jury-selected artists in categories from painting, sculpture and glass to photography and mixed media. In fact, our own Tom Benoit from the San Rafael office is a past exhibitor and is featured in the 2010 event. Downtown Tiburon’s charm, classic wooden buildings and straight-on San Francisco and Bay views add to the appeal. View images from the 2009 Festival here.

In Marin County, Labor Day is synonymous with Sausalito thanks to the Sausalito Art Festival, a perennial event for 58 years. Now the event attracts fine artists from all over the US and abroad and features over 20,000 museum-quality original works. But there’s no need to tiptoe around this museum: in fact, the festival is as much about the art as it is the entertainment, and a large pavilion hosts acts from longstanding favorites. The 2010 performers include Jefferson Starship, the Bangles and Modern English. Read why fellow blogger Rick Smith prefers to stay in town for this Labor Day weekend event.

Like the Sausalito Art Festival, the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, September 25 and 26, has been around for over 50 years and finishes off a spectacular festival season in Marin. A very family-friendly event, the Fall Arts Festival takes place in Historic Old Mill Park under the shade of the Redwood Trees and also includes entertainment by Bay Area performers and even an area for craft activities.

These three festivals, with their unique flavors, are such wonderful ways to experience and appreciate the rich, vibrant artistic community that has long made its home in the North Bay.

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

I love living in Marin and taking advantage of the warm Ross Valley sun and enjoying all the festivals that summer brings to our beautiful county.

I enjoy each and every festival, as each offers a different special venue and flavor to the county, but my favorite remains Labor Day weekend’s Sausalito Art Festival, as it combines the best and widest art offerings with live music, marking the near end of the summer.

Photo taken by Lloyd Doppler

The Sausalito Art Festival runs Labor Day weekend, Saturday, September 4, through Monday, September 6, from10am – 6:00pm (5:00pm on Monday). General admission is $20.00 a day, or $30.00 for all three days of the venue. There are discounted tickets for Seniors and Juniors available as well, and children under 6 are free. Music plays almost all day on three different stages and the seats at the “main stage” fill up early for the big name artists. If you want to see the most popular bands, you may want to do the art walk early in the day and then claim your favorite spot for the balance of the day.

Last year there were over 1,200 artists from around the country competing in 270 exibition spots, in all types of categories. You will see booths for watercolors, oil, sculptures, jewelry, metalwork, stained glass, oils and just about anything else you can dream of. Prices of the art range from just a few dollars to thousands of dollars for paintings from top artists. The variety and the talent are amazing!

The Music Venue on the Stella Artois Main Stage:

Saturday

12:15 – 1:45 pm Modern English kicks off the lineup. You may remember one of their top singles I Melt With You “(Let’s stop the world) I’ll stop the world and melt with you.”

2:30 – 3:45 pm The Fixx. A couple of my favorites are One Thing Leads to Another and Saved by Zero.

4:30 – 6:00 pm The Bangles wind up the afternoon with two of my favorites, Manic Monday and Walk like an Egyptian.

Sunday

Noon – 1:30 pm Pablo Cruise. A favorite San Francisco based band with the hit Whatcha Gonna Do – “Whatcha gonna do when she says goodbye?”

2:15 – 3:45 pm The Tubes. Playing their hits including, Talk to You Later.

4:40 – 6:00 pm Dave Mason. The legendary guitarist and vocalist who has appeared with such greats such as Traffic, Jimi Hendrix, and the Rolling Stones.

Monday

Noon – 1:00pm Sons of Champlin

1:45 – 3:15 pm Mavis Staples

3:45 – 5:00pm The Jefferson Starship

Who else to wind up such a terrific festival than the legendary Jefferson Starship, whose roots go back with Paul Kanter and Grace Slick of the Jefferson Airplane.

If that’s not enough, there is also the “Artist Stage,” which will be offering non stop live local bands and entertainment as well.

What’s great is if you are visiting from San Francisco, you can use the Blue and Gold ferry from Fisherman’s wharf directly to the Art Festival.

The food pavilion, although County Fair style food, has a menu for everyone. And if you want fine dining, you can always walk through Sausalito to find a multitude of awesome restaurants and wine. Bikes get free valet parking at the Festival, but parking for cars ranges from $20 on site to $10 if you want to take one of the air-conditioned shuttle buses from downtown Sausalito. Of course you can always enjoy one of the great hotels in Sausalito and enjoy all three days!

So why go out of town and hassle with all the heavy holiday traffic when the best place to be is in your own back yard – Marin County!

Posted by:  Rick Smith

Today it was reported that nationally real estate sales dropped 27% from June to July … and with that news the stock market is struggling … the Dow dropping another 134 points today (but it is still over 10,000) … so, about my listing in Yolanda Park (I’ll try not to overdo it and bore you with this one … it is getting lots of showings … but we’ve been on the market since Thursday and no offers, yet ) …

here’s the view from the front porch … note the absence of telephone poles … yes, this street has sky (I know how much I enjoyed walking around the court at night, in the middle of the street, with neighbors …) 

so, you ask, how is San Anselmo doing in today’s heat wave (we asked for sun, didn’t we?) …

There’s a new listing that competes with the Yolanda Park listing at 122 Alder … in an earlier blog I mentioned Abby Tanem having a home coming soon … it arrived .. 65 San Rafael Avenue, a three bedroom, two bath, 1462 square foot home right in the downtown area for $775,000 … and I’m also off to help price a couple of new listings this afternoon … so we know homes are coming on the market. How about sales, you ask?

There are 94 homes on the market in San Anselmo … 25 of those in escrow (hey, that’s a healthy percentage) … seven simply awaiting moving vans (assuming the banks cooperate and fund loans they said they’d fund) … average market time … 102 days, which says things are slowing (as we expect in the dog days of summer).

On top of that, I just received my Zillow analysis … values are up 1.4% compared to June. Hmmmm.

The least expensive real estate in San Anselmo are condos, one on Ross Avenue for 209,000 and another one bedroom for 299, this one at Madrone and Center. 

Small comparison … the neighboring town of Ross has 25 homes on the market … two of the four in escrow sold in three weeks … two awaiting moving vans … average days on market a whopping 148. One of the homes that bends the statistics is 2 De Witt Drive, directly off of Lagunitas … offered by Sairan Stanley of Coldwell Banker for $22,750,000, this six bedroom ‘luxurious Italian palazzo’ is on nearly two acres …. and a lot of other WOW! features … who do you know? …. I’d love to show it …. is offered at $2966 per square foot … quality counts! (the average price per square foot of homes that’ve sold in Ross is less than 1/3 of that amount … in fact, I just helped price a home in Ross at closer to 1/6 of the De Witt price … a 1400 square foot fixer … so we’re not talking apples and apples …. even as the Gray’s old home gets its renovations).

Another Ross real estate bit: 33 Winship, which many of us saw years ago when it was listed for $2.2M sold recently … and will close, it looks like, for something under $1M.

What does this activity mean? Look at the two charts ….

In June, in San Anselmo, one home in three closed escrow. In July the figure was around one in seven. Since we sold 82 San Anselmo homes in the last six months we have something around a seven month supply of homes … compare that to the sales in Ross, the second chart or, better yet, to complete the circle … the national average which is over a year’s worth of inventory. Yes, we’re better off than much of the nation. Not, selling is a totally non-joyous situation … even if we’re only 4 or 5 days into the marketing … so neither my sellers nor I will smile much until I call and say, “We’ve got an offer!” May it be soon …. how about you?

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

As agents flowed through the brokers open house at 122 Alder Avenue in San Anselmo, a marvelous home listed on MLS at $745,000 we talked about the market. Several of the agents work a lot in the San Geronimo Valley towns of Woodacre, Lagunitas and San Geronimo … and here’s the story …

A bit slow, they say, but there are 21 homes currently listed on the Marin multiple listing service (MLS) and six of those (30%) are in escrow …. doesn’t sound all that slow … and then look at some of the dozen sales in the last six months … 355 Redwood, listed by Susan Swan of Bradley Real Estate had seven offers and sold for 7% over asking … three of the offers were all cash (the highest offer was not take as it required a loan) … four of the seven offers were for over asking price … and Tamara Goldman, my Ross neighbor with Pacific Union International, sold it.

There was another smallish sale (the least expensive in the valley recently) of a fixer home on ½ acre listed by Bill Johnson of Frank Howard Allen and sold by Mike Cusick of Frank Howard Allen … for $125,000. Cash.

The largest sale of the dozen sold in the last six months was 295 Arroyo, another Susan Swan listing sold in 42 days for $1,180,000 at $786 per square foot … on 4.4 beautiful acres. Nice show.

In the past six months the average per square foot for sales was $391 … the days on market 76. The 21 homes currently on the market average 170 days and $382 per square foot .. so I’d say yes, the market has slowed AND good deals are there for the taking. So if you’re interested in a little land, a little garden and a bit of fresh air, let’s go …. call or email or tap me via my website and let’s go shopping.

P.S. Full Circle is still available … 5 acres, lots of house (9 bedrooms) and expandable. I’ve had the calls from the blog but haven’t yet sold it. Come on, folk, let’s … that’s a great opportunity.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

This weekend, at a CYO camp in the woods near the base of the Russian River, Hospice By The Bay held a deep, introspective and meaningful retreat for 53 children who’ve experienced a major loss. All of us, staff and volunteers alike, were delighted to have been there for the young ones, boys and girls aged 7 to 17, as they shared their feelings, lit candles, pinned up photos, read in bed with flashlights and in any number of ways celebrated life … amid activities like hiking, archery (a huge favorite), water ballooning, swimming, campfires…

Joe Smith and I, cabin buddies for seven 9 and 10 year old boys, had our hands full … and yet had time to talk, read, sleep and relax (sort of) while being there for children who … while having been dealt tremendous losses early in life …. were, while being vulnerable, learning to develop new friendships, talk about lost loved ones and honoring themselves while talking, listening and digesting. What an amazing experience.

Does anyone know how we might find those big inflatable ‘michelin tire’ suits that allow children to bounce into each other and laugh? If you do … please let us know!

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

With 95 homes on the market, the best of all San Anselmo homes – location, location, location – is this freshly on the market Yolanda Park home …

As I popped this beauty on the market … most local agents knew it was coming two months ago when I did a PowerPoint presentation at Bill McKeon’s buy/sell meeting (we got delayed with a tenant moving, taking time for the market to spruce up) … within 24 hours we had had just short of 200 hits, any number of email and phone queries.

First the phone rang with …

Mary Edwards of the San Anselmo Frank Howard Allen office wanting pricing help as she’s getting ready to list a wonderful three bedroom contemporary home in the Barber Trac of San Anselmo …. which I’ll go see today … then…

Sue Ecke, in my Frank Howard Allen office, who has been telling us for some time that she’s listing a wonderful three bedroom home with style AND an income unit, Well, called to say that she just brought it on, not San Anselmo, but nearly … 70 Manor, Fairfax slightly over 1500 square feet at $509 per square foot, listed at $769,000 … great style, income, solid location.

And Abby Tanem has a home coming as well. Oh well … mirror mirror on the wall, this is the fairest of them all …. 122 Alder … location, charm, style, location, quality, location … over 1400 square feet on a 5500 square foot lot on a street not lined with telephone lines … it’ll go quickly (which is what all agents always think, right?) … in the first 12 hours, there were 128 hits on the website. Go, Alder, Go.

About the San Anselmo real estate market … of the 95 homes, 22 are in escrow, seven of those simply awaiting a moving van … and of those seven, four are between $1M and $1.5M. With that thinking I looked at sold homes close to the property at 122 Alder … in the last six months four had sold on Nokomis, Austin and Agatha … average market time, 19 days! (This as compared to the average marketing time of 99 days on homes sold in the last six months). Average price per square foot, $623 (Alder is listed at $515 per square foot, thank you!).

The ‘why hasn’t someone snapped up this home?’ question goes to Greg Browman of Marchant Chapman Realtors with his 1906 (modernized) three-bedroom listing at 77 Melville … two months and this marvelous, well located home has been reduced from $1,599,000 to a stunning $1,250,000 ($701 per square foot).

Want a home? Want to see what’s available? Click me or call and let’s go shopping.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

Comparing two price ranges of homes on multiple listing service (MLS) generates some interesting observations about pricing and time on market. Just for fun look at homes priced between $400,000 to $500,000 and between $1,000,000 to $2,000,000. 

In the lower price range ($400 – $500,000) there are currently 26 homes on the market, ten of which (roughly 40%) are in escrow. This category of homes has an average listing time of 114 days (the homes that have sold in the last six months averaged 90 days on the market). So we are seeing an expected (summer, no tax credits) slowing of the market. Maybe you have other thoughts? Would love to hear them.

Of the ten homes in escrow, two are awaiting moving vans with fully completed contracts. The square footage cost on the listings is $360 vs $341 for the homes that have sold. Pretty tight pricing, eg., not a lot of give in selling prices.

In the price range of $1M to $2M there are 46 homes in escrow, of which five are in escrow (10%), one simply awaiting a moving van. There have been 35 sales in the past six months, average price per square foot $100 more than the lower priced homes at $445. Interestingly, the homes that sold also did so quicker than the homes now on the market …. average listing time of 77 days. Trend? Explanation? Ideas? You have a home to sell, let’s talk this out.

My favorite amongst the sales was 27 Chappel Cove, a four bedroom, one story home (sold at $421 per square foot) after five months by Shana Rhode-Lynch of Frank Howard Allen in Greenbrae. This home sold for $1.6 in January ’05.

Of the homes on the market in this price range I favor Tom Benoit’s six bedroom, one level listing at 310 Pt San Pedro Road, a bank owned home that was listed in ’08 for just under $3M and is now offered at just under $2M … after extensive work was done (new kitchen cabinets, paint, etc.) This home has no buyer, yet. Interested in a deep water boat dock? Check 310 Pt San Pedro Road out by switching to the home search button at www.tomverkozen.com. I would love to hear from you how useful this blog information is for you.

What would be most helpful to you? What part of the real estate world would you like to know more about? Fixer uppers? Bank owned? Short Sales? Tiburon? Novato? West Marin? I’m game to go there … family compounds? Loan modifications?

And thank you to Lori for the catch … a typo that got changed, quickly.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

Natural beauty, open space, charming small towns, seemingly endless possibilities for outdoor adventures – just a few of the reasons why we love where we live. For parents, however, what starts the list is the number of quality public schools.

In Marin, six elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools have been recognized as California Distinguished schools. (For Distinguished School honors, schools “must meet a variety of eligibility criteria including designated federal and state accountability measures based on No Child Left Behind, Adequate Yearly Progress, and the Academic Performance Index requirements.” *)

Title or not, Marin public schools offer a body of caring, qualified, seasoned teachers and resource specialists, cheerful, renovated classrooms with low student-teacher ratios, modern facilities, and access to high-tech learning experiences. What’s also significant is the amount of parent involvement and community support that helps fill the gaps that state budget cuts bring: it’s not uncommon for school foundations to raise $500,000 or more each year to help maintain classes in art, music and PE.

Marin is also home to a variety of excellent private schools of all grade levels and educational philosophies, such as Montessori and Waldorf schools; we even have one of the few French Lycee campuses in the Bay Area.

The North Bay offers much to nourish the soul. The quality of our public schools assures that our young minds are nourished as well.

Resources:

Marin County Office of Education

Sonoma County Office of Education

Neighborhood Navigator: Research public, private, and catholic schools and districts 

* Source: 2010 Distinguished Elementary Schools – California School Recognition Program

Follow along as the full list unfolds 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

In response to two readers who made comments and wanted to know more about the Academy of Intuition Medicine® … it is a Sausalito based energy school mentioned in this blog last week… let me begin with three pieces …

One, AIM offers a marvelous program of classes (I received my masters in intuition medicine in 2001), starting with a few introductory classes, moving into a masters program and then from that point on there are graduate classes …

Two, check it out! they have a great web site … www.intuitionmedicine.com …

Finally, three, there’s also a doctoral program … new and growing … with classes by some of the foremost intuition/medical people on the planet

So, how to begin? … after directing you to the website …

I’d suggest that you read one of Francesca McCartney’s two books Body of Health: The New Science of Intuition Medicine for Energy and Balance or her first, ground-breaking book, published in 2001 … Intuition Medicine: The Science of Energy.

Even I wonder why I am waffling and not saying more … when I wrote my first major paper in the masters program the paper was all about grounding energy … the world is swirling with all sorts of energy and if you’re a sensitive person that affects you … I’m also waffling because I really believe that the website will give you the clarity you’re seeking.

That said, the reason I whole-heartedly recommend the Academy is that Francesca has created a very clear, step by step process for understanding energy … how you can see, feel and understand your personal energy … and how, with that knowledge you can move forward with ‘ease and grace’ … oh, how many times I’ve heard those three words and how important they are.

May you find your personal ‘ease and grace’ …

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

Photo taken by Andrei Taranchenko

Whether commuting for work or traveling for pleasure, San Francisco is easily accessible from Marin via the convenient Ferry system. With ports in Tiburon, Larkspur and Sausalito, getting to and from the city is quite simple, making many area attractions just a boat ride away.

As part of Reason #31, we talked about enjoying a ferry sunset cruise on the Bay. Now here are some daytime activities, including Angel Island, Alcatraz and downtown San Francisco – in fact, you can even take a ferry to a San Francisco Giants game. And when a little someone known as Paul McCartney played AT&T Park earlier this summer, special ferry service was added. How’s that for public transportation?

Alcatraz: Known for once harboring some of the world’s most notorious criminals, Alcatraz is now a national park and one of San Francisco’s finest tourist attractions. A trip to Alcatraz can give you a wonderful history lesson, as well as an unbeatable view of San Francisco. On a nice day, be sure to plan enough time for your trip to walk the grounds, which are exquisite when the flowers are in bloom. You can even take the Hornblower Hybrid, the nation’s first hybrid ferry.

Angel Island: Angel Island State Park is a wonderful natural resource rich with history. There are several ways to enjoy the island, including tram tours, beachcombing, listening to live music at the oyster bar and picnicking. If you’re looking for a more active adventure, you can navigate one of the islands many trails all the way to the top of Mt. Livermore (the highest peak). From there you’ll be presented with 360 degree views of the Bay, where on most days, you can count all five Bay Area bridges.

Downtown San Francisco: San Francisco is a world-class city, so there’s no end to things to do – restaurants, museums, shopping and attractions. If you’re looking for delicious food, you don’t need to venture any further into the City than the Ferry Building Marketplace. Here you can find everything from artisan cheese to fresh local fish to homemade chocolates. There are food stands as well as restaurants, so whether your appetite is large or small, you’ll leave satisfied.

San Francisco Giants Game / AT&T Park: Between bridge fare, parking and traffic, getting from Marin to 24 Willie Mays Plaza (the home of the San Francisco Giants) can be a hassle. However, with the ferry it’s a little bit easier because the Larkspur Ferry goes straight to the ballpark and direct service is available for all games except weekday day games. Now, can you smell the garlic fries? 

Follow along as the full list unfolds 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live 

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Please excuse the rush … in two hours I’ll be out of phone range in Occidental staffing Camp Erin, the hospice bereavement children’s camp. Back Monday so this gives you the weekend to think …

Who do you know who is ready to begin a new adventure in life?

Think of that by helping me find a buyer for an incredible property in the heart of west Marin…

A few years ago 5855 State Route 1, just outside of the town of Bolinas, was Full Circle School … it is being sold because a relationship ended for the owner who bought it in 2007 … and he’s in financial trouble … time is of the essence … the property has a notice of default on it.

There’s a full commercial kitchen, nearly five acres and water for an amazing garden … and more. I just learned that there is one very interested party …. They want to use it for organic gardening, but haven’t yet made an offer!

Possible uses: a great B&B … a French cooking school … a great family compound …

Go to my website www.tomverkozen.com and hit …. property search … fill in the listing number (1/2 way down the page) 21002047 —- voila! It’ll show up…

Then think. Dream. And leave me a message (637-7974) saying, ‘my but you’re intuitive! Have I got the buyer for you …’ and we’ll talk Monday.

Blessings,

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

Golf is a sport that both the skilled and the novice can enjoy, as so much is about having a way to relax, unwind, socialize and relieve stress – all while enjoying nature in a beautiful environment. Which is why golf courses cover some of the most exquisite landscapes in the world, and Marin is no exception. With eight courses within our county lines, there are plenty of places to sneak away for a round of golf and a break from our busy schedules.   

Much like our cities, Marin County golf courses are varied and all have a unique character. McInnis Park Golf Center in San Rafael is perfect for beginners and those looking to work on their short game. Tucked away in San Rafael and abutting a marsh on San Pablo Bay, it’s not uncommon to encounter pelicans, geese and red-tail hawks along the course. In Mill Valley, the Mill Valley Golf Course is a local institution, having been in place since 1919. Unlike the marsh setting of McGinnis, this course is characterized by majestic redwoods, which make for a more difficult game. However, Mill Valley provides a gorgeous backdrop and you’ll be rewarded with scenic views from atop the second and fourth tees, as well as a view of Mt. Tam from the fourth green. Out in West Marin along Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Geronimo Golf Course is a local favorite. The ridge location offers two faces to the course: the front nine is a sprawling terrain made up of straight, flat holes, while the back nine is hilly and wooded. Accolades for this course include acknowledgement as “Best Places to Play” by Golf Digest, “#1 Golf Course in Marin County” by both the Pacific Sun and the San Francisco Chronicle and “Best Golf Course in the North Bay” by the North Bay Bohemian. 

Other courses in Marin include Peacock Gap Golf and Country Club, Indian Valley Golf Club, StoneTree Golf Club and the private clubs Marin Country Club and Meadow Club.

For young golfers looking to get started in the sport – or hone their skills – there are plenty of youth programs and activities throughout Marin. For kids aged 5-17, there’s the Mill Valley Junior Golf Club, with many benefits including discounted green fees, an introductory golf education and etiquette course, tournaments and free clinics. During the summer months there are several camp programs for kids starting as young as pre-K. If the whole family wants to get involved, San Geronimo has year-round family events like Sunday Family Supper. And for those who just want to play around, you can always visit the family fun center at McGinnis, an elaborate 18-hole miniature golf course, complete with water hazards, gardens and artist designed obstacles, all of which blend naturally into the hillside.

Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Here’s an interesting …. picture is worth a thousand words … set of graphs based on Marin County multiple listing sales of ‘regular’ homes and ‘luxury and estate’ homes.

Remember, when you get the picture, I’d love to hear from you. Note the regularity of the per square foot prices over the year and the fact that larger and more expensive homes, for a variety of reason, have a much higher … yet consistent … price per square foot than do the smaller less expensive homes.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

Sometimes I pretend that there’s an audience out there listening. And sometimes you are. Today let’s begin off center. A couple from Marin County arrives at the Pearly Gates. St Peter bows them in with a flourish. First step over the threshold they stop, look at each other and say, in unison, ‘I prefer Ross.”

Marin is special and so is Larry Brackett … here’s a thank you to you, Larry, for your thank you in response to my thank you for the lovely Pinot you and Brennie gave me to mark my 28th year with Frank Howard Allen (ah, it was well-paired for a grand little feast).

Another thank you … Thank you to our ever fast-talking, multi-tasking, multi-texting master techie/Facebook queen, Jennifer ‘amitalkingtoofastforyou?’ Masterson … who guided me to have Styleagent do my website, then folks at Leading Edge with the challenge. “There are people who’ve been blogging for four and five years … you’ll never pass them,” then, two weeks ago, congratulated me with, “4th on the 2nd page …. That’s great.” Then Noreen Smith said, “Your blog is the most read.” Wow!

Blogs work. You’re reading one … but there’s more ….

But first, another thank you … to Google … for listing Frank Howard Allen’s guidemehome2marin as its first unpaid listing on the first page of not one but a pair of Google real estate searches … and, oh, ummm, thank you to You, reader, whoever you are (.2% of the listening audience actually calls in … Ronn Owens, I think).

Strength of the internet: After a few months blogging I’ve closed one ‘blog’ sale: 21 Calle Del Pinos, Stinson Beach …. and am working with three motivated people who have responded to my blogs.

… Every now and again I check out the Google rating of other real estate companies … and I’m always pleased to see dear old/new, century-old independent, now techie Frank Howard Allen way at the top … as it should be with a 26% market share … outpacing you-know-who with 12%.

Title contest … come on now, help me … I recently completed a character, theme and dialogue-driven 55,000 word novel with the working title, A Lucky Man. Here’s a short synopsis:

A Lucky Man is set in a café in a wealthy town in northern California as the barista is beginning a novel about men in the café scene. When personal, political and economic challenges jerk the men up short their interactions evolve from prickly banter and fisticuffs to friendship. 

Now I need a title. Ideas? Then an agent. Ideas?

All this blogging on a day when my sister Suzette flew back to New York after a two week visit … when the Giants had an opportunity to win in the bottom of the 10th against Mateo (Cubs), but Ishikawa got nailed at home plate … after which Burrell hit a deep sac fly … and the Giants won it in the 11th … a day when Subtlady invited me out for yoga and a movie …. and Willie Brown boldly stated that preferential seating is good policy …. point of view: everyone loves being in the company of interesting people.

What better segue: Want to go home shopping? Or, when you have the ultimate compliment to give …. a friend in need of a real estate referral … I’d love to hear from you. But you knew that, didn’t you?

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

When asked for advice on loan modifications, the best response is ‘be patient’ … and take a proactive stance …. I just spoke to a client who wrote to Diane Feinstein’s office and got a ‘you’re now on the fast track’ response … excellent … and to another homeowner who is going to the Chase loan modification workshop in Oakland at the end of this week (blogged about earlier) to move things along.

I’m hoping that your reading of this may be a life-changing moment … a time to stop, as Michael McCartney, graduate seminar teacher at the Academy of Intuition Medicine^® (a Sausalito based school) would call it, treading water. If you’re planning on getting somewhere, it’s far more productive to swim than to tread water … yet there are a lot of people out in the cruel, hard world simply treading water, their lives on hold.

A little about energy medicine …. Michael’s wife, Francesca McCartney, has written two books on this work … as a graduate with a master’s in Intuitive Medicine one part of what they teach is how we as individuals can keep our energy for our own use and not get ‘stuck’ in the mire of the swirling energy of other people/loan modifications/daily life. As a UCLA trained engineer, I see their energy medicine teaching as beginning with learning to ‘ground’ oneself. This grounding can be done with meditation, yoga, tai chi and any of a number of formats.

After the grounding there’s the ‘clearing of space’ which is similar to clearing the brush from a building site or, to use the language of the Foundation for Spiritual Development (FSD), another energy medicine school (this one in San Rafael and led by Dana Duryea and Jenai Lane)’clearing the pictures’. Whatever you do, you’ve gotta do … don’t let a short sale prospect or loan modification put your life on hold … and remember, everything in the loan modification process is variable … I’ve heard of modifications taking two years with some lenders (unnamed)… and days with another (Wachovia) … the difference being the level of proactivity of the the homeowner, the representative of lender (sometimes it’s good to hang up on a loan modification person and call back to get a more cooperative one and yes, I’ve heard of Wachovia taking much longer), the investor approval process, etc.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

Based on reported sales in multiple listing, the MLS, in the past twelve months there have been a total of 149 homes and condos sold in San Anselmo. Of these homes two dozen were short sales and twelve were either in foreclosure or bank owned properties (REOs) … which isn’t too bad, compared to say, Novato, Fresno or Merced. The market is holding its own here.

There are currently 70 homes and condos fully available (average price per square foot $495, days on market, 83). The least expensive is a 476 square foot, one bedroom condo … 1533 Sir Francis Drake … offered at $167,999 … the most expensive is the six bedroom beauty at 545 Oak (which has been discussed in prior blogs) … reduced nearly $2.5M from $6,488,000 to $3,999,000 (282 days on the market, $775 per square foot).

In escrow there are 21 homes (average $462 per square foot), including the listing of John Ball of Coldwell Banker … 123 Saunders, back in escrow a second time with buyers who need to sell to buy … and of these 21, four are simply awaiting moving vans … eg, no contingency contracts.

As stated earlier, in the past year there have been 149 sales in San Anselmo … an eight month supply of homes …. average price per square foot, $445 … average price, $850,166 and 90 days on the market … With 90 homes on MLS, 20 pending sales represents better than 20% … which is a solid mid-summer market.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

The ‘pull’ of the expensive homes is returning to Marin. This is definitely good news!

Take a gander at a ‘last six months’ multiple listing service comparison of sales … from February 7 to August 7, 2008 there were 31 Marin County homes over $3M that sold … during the same period in ’09 the number dropped to slightly under half, 25 … and this year half of the drop has been recouped as 38 have sold.

Quick view … in ’08 vs ’10 … Belvedere 5 to 3; Corte Madera 3 in ’08, none this year; Kentfield 9 to 7; Mill Valley 8 to 5; Ross 6 to 3; San Rafael 1 to 0 (the ’08 sale was 305 Highland, which is now on the market … great multi-level, view home that sold for $3,850,000and is now available for less … want to know more? contact me and I’ll tell you); Stinson Beach 1 to 2 (the ’08 sale was 148 Seadrift … marvelous waterfront home); Sausalito 0 to 1 (that sale was 77 Harrison … a home that did not sell in ’09 but listed by Steven Mavromihalis of Pacific Union International for $8,750,000 and sold for $6,834,000 by Leslie de Bretteville of McGuire; sales in Tiburon climbed from 13 to 15; and then there was a ranch … 400 acres in Marshall handled by Fred Rodini of Coastal Marin Real Estate. Hi Fred, long time to talk, hope you’re doing well.

In the last month there were eight $3M+ sales … my personal favorite being the five bedroom contemporary home at 4639 Paradise Drive listed by Bill Bullock, Decker Bullock Sotheby’s International in Tiburon that sold, all cash, for $7M … congrats to Susan Kolb, Pacific Union-Morgan Lane on the sale. Linda Gridley of my office last sold that marvel in ’06 for $2.5 …

The best of the good news is that upper end sales tend to pull the market … and this market, currently slowed a bit for the summer, can always use the extra tug as it recovers. However, if you believe that it has slowed, check in on this: right now there are nearly 1600 single family homes and condos on the market … 1226 are active, 385 in escrow (roughly 25%) and of those 94 are ‘awaiting the moving van’. More good news … summer doldrums? ha! … in the last 30 days 201 properties have closed escrow.

Time to go shopping? Yes! Go to www.tomverkozen.com and you can search the MLS, figure out what to do this coming weekend (I’ll be at Camp Erin, the Hospice By The Bay bereavement camp for kids, back Monday and ready to shop!). Make plans to go to the Sausalito Art Festival (yes, time for the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Trash Committee). Have great week … play hard, think real estate!

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

First, a little good news: Starting this month, according a New York Times article FNMA (Fannie Mae) will be easing policies for those with ‘unique hardships’ … don’t we love the language? … thus a few homeowners facing difficulties and trying for modifications may (may) find more flexibility … for the full article go here.

Hardly a day goes by without some hardship story floating my way … that’s a fact of life for a real estate agent … heck, on Thursday’s tour there were half a dozen short sales … and congratulations to Warren Carreiro, Frank Howard Allen, for the sale of 319 G Street, San Rafael for $960,000 (remember the blog when it was $1,250,000?) …. Anyway, for those who know me, I’m primarily an upbeat person and I do try to keep my energy up, but I’m still puzzling as to how a homeowner in trouble gets a new fresh start. Of course there are the cheerless options: loan modifications, short sales, foreclosures, jingle mail, rentals … which hardly work … they’re a little like a lawsuit, rarely any clear winners …. And there’s downsizing, … of course if you come to me for a short sale I’ll be the first to tell you that a real estate agent is not the one to advise you … you’ll need to explore those options with a CPA or attorney … but call me anyway and let’s look at the options. www.tomverkozen.com

More good news: From August 12 thru August 16, while I’m helping put on Camp Erin, the Hospice By The Bay bereavement camp for children, Chase’s Homeowner Assistance Department is running a 5 day event at the Marriott City Center in Oakland. They will have a full dog and pony show and accept paperwork … so if you’re with Chase (or were with WaMu), these are your talk to guys. Maybe. For information, 1-888-708-7105.

Two stories from the modification wars ….

First, A Mill Valley couple were referred to me … they had been in the midst of a loan modification, thinking that the foreclosure process had stopped when, out of the blue, their NOD turned into a notice of sale. With 18 days remaining (they did not find out straight away) the wife had a heart attack (a real one) and the husband a pay cut. Yes, they lost their home of ten years. With help from an angel they may yet get that fresh start.

Next story … a single woman googled me after she had had a ‘professional’ modification company work for her in trying to get a loan modification. After a bit of time the company (unnamed here) offered to a) return her money, b) have her pay more money, or c) have them to a short sale for her. All this after she filed bankruptcy, while she was ill, on disability, dealing with family matters, having her job pay cut … then she received a NOD and began her own loan modification efforts. Told by her lender that the loan modification process stops the foreclosure process … twice (but not in writing) … she was looking for guidance from me. We used email to contact a department of here lender to ask whether the process was stopped and got a nebulous answer … including a statement that it has happened that people romp quickly into the foreclosure process when their modification is declined and they aren’t told and do not find out until it is too late. Off to an attorney … and yet … this left me still pondering …

how do you get a fresh start? Obviously the bankruptcy may have helped with credit cards, taxes, etc. but even successful loan modifications fail fairly often … or so I’m told … from my point of view, as teaching faculty at the Academy of Intuitive Medicine… I intuit that the emotional cost of going through the lengthy, uncertain, intrusive process of a potential loan modification …. Knowing that so far very few are working out … is a waste of physical, emotional and psychic energy.

Enough for now … life’s too short to spend two years trying for a modification … but one last thought … any shame you feel, let it go, there should be no shame involved during this world wide economic melt down.

Blessings to you

.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

The North Bay is a foodie’s heaven. Outstanding restaurants, high-quality grocers, great local growers…and when you are ready to whip up that gourmet, organic, and, of course, yummy meal of your own, where better to go than one of our fabulous farmers markets? Fresh from the oven baked goods, organic fruits and vegetables, delicious cheeses, handmade tamales, fragrant flowers – you name it and you can probably find it at one of our local markets.

The most well-known farmers markets in Marin are the Downtown San Rafael Farmers Market Festival and the Sunday Marin Farmers Market, which is the third largest farmers market in California.

On Thursday night, with five stages, live music, great food, fun vendors and a small town feel in a big town place, the San Rafael Downtown Farmers Market makes for an event you can’t miss. On Sundays, bring the kids down to the Sunday Marin Farmers Market. Grab a cup of coffee while the kids enjoy the clown who makes balloon animals or the bounce house, enjoy a scrumptious crepe and pick up everything you need for dinner – and if you’re still there at lunch time, have a sausage sandwich. All in one convenient spot with the historic and architectural wonder that is Civic Center in the background. You can even check them out on Facebook.

Up north, Sonoma County has a multitude of markets, which should come as no surprise, including a wonderful twice-weekly market in Petaluma and the Santa Rosa Downtown Market.

A round-up of local farmers markets in Marin County:

Tuesdays: Tuesday afternoons are a pleasure with the Novato Farmers Market on tree-lined Grant Avenue adjacent to the renovated City of Novato building. Coming from Southern Marin? Head over to the Tam Valley Farmers Market 

Wednesdays: Visit the Corte Madera Town Center or Fairfax markets.

Thursdays: Head on over to the Ross Valley Farmers market at the blooming Marin Art and Garden Center or one of two San Rafael options: from 8 AM-1 PM, check out the Farmers Market at the Civic Center.Thursday night, looking for some night life? Head to downtown San Rafael for the 21 year old Farmers Market Festival

Fridays: Try out the Mill Valley and Sausalito Farmers Markets

Saturdays: Visit the Marin City Farmers Market at the Gateway Shopping Center or take a scenic drive to Point Reyes and have lunch at the market while listening to the live music – and don’t forget to check out the guest chef of the week.

Sundays: The Civic Center in San Rafael is the place to be.

Farmers markets are quite popular and we are fortunate to have such a bounty of local harvest grown in our area and made so readily available.

Photos taken by Brooke Gray

Follow along as the full list unfolds 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live 

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

First, here’s a blog comment from Lois Scheinberg: “Great! Thanks Tom and what a terrific site you have with an amazing amount of useful information.”

Lois continues with a wine country/great moveable feast connection –

“FYI, I see you talk about wine country – I was up in Healdsburg last week for a couple of days and went to a moveable restaurant that I found on this website. You don’t know where they’ll be serving dinner until you make a reservation and it can be in a vineyard, barn, warehouse, etc. This particular night it was at The Gardener (a large nursery) on Dry Creek Road and the family style tables were lined up between large trees. The food was terrific and it’s a very friendly atmosphere. It’s different, but it works! Check out the site, perhaps you can use it!”

BG Bates, former editor of the Pt Reyes Light and the only Frank Howard Allen agent who lives in Bolinas, is a member of our San Rafael office team. She regaled us with the full story (not the FULL full story, but a good part of it) about a Sunset Magazine (I think) award-winning property in Dogtown that’s ideal for multi-family or extended family use as a compound. On a beautiful, sunny 13 acre parcel (a three acre parcel plus with a one bedroom home and a ten acre parcel with a three bedroom home … ten acres that may be a good candidate for a lot split and another home) this property, offered at $2,290,000, features a marvelous lily pond with lilies, cattails, frogs and fish … this entire property, a ridge property above Olema Valley, borders on the national parklands of Pt Reyes National Seashore. Ideal for a big family, horses … and your family. Bed and Breakfast? Family compound? For pictures do a property search … 5959 and 5963 Route One, Dogtown … listed under Bolinas (Dogtown has 50 people, according to BG … I thought 42 but who knows?)… or, as always, call me (415)637-7974 or email me or just hit the contact button on my website www.tomverkozen.com.

I’ll be out that way this weekend and always happy to connect you with your destiny!

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

It’s never easy trying to figure out how much you should offer when buying a new home. Although the housing market appears to be stabilizing, you never know whether or not prices will slip more, or begin to rise.

The one thing to remember today is, don’t buy for the short term or future appreciation. Buy a home that will work for you for years to come, at the best price you can negotiate, and for the interest rate and financing you can afford. Make sure you ask your agent, whether it’s me or anyone else, to give you a summary of what properties in the area you are interested in have sold for (including the list price, the final sale price, and how long it took to sell the home). It’s also great to have information on the average sale price over the last year. Overall, have prices declined or are they increasing?

During your home hunting education of the market, make sure you continue to get reports about market changes. If a home you have been looking at that was priced too high gets a reduction, and is now in your price range, make a point of looking at it as soon as possible. A new price, most always, attracts other buyer’s interests as well, so you will need to be ready to react quickly. If this truly is the home of your dreams, don’t let someone else steal it before you have time to react! A well-priced listing is likely to sell quickly. Be prepared for more than one buyer making an offer on the same property, and you may need to make an aggressive offer at near or over asking price, to secure the offer. Becoming knowledgeable about the Marin market enables you to know when to make a strong offer on a brand new listing, even though you may hear the overall market is not up to its peak.

However, it’s a different story when you find a home that has been listed on the market for months. It’s highly possible to offer much less than the asking price and then negotiate aggressively. But, if this one doesn’t work for you, be prepared to walk away and look for the next one. Buyers making offers that are contingent on the sale of their own home are many times disadvantaged, and usually have to pay more for a home than an all cash buyer who can close quickly. If you are in escrow, you will be in a much better position to bargain on the next one. The best bet though, is to have your current house sold and closed, as it removes any questions in the sellers mind and makes them more receptive to a lower offer.

So do your homework: go to as many open houses as possible, learn what is well priced and what is over priced, so that when the time comes, you, the educated buyer, are ready to make the right offer!

Posted by:  Rick Smith

The short (there were 90 homes open) real estate broker’s tour of 8/4/10 in Mill Valley was edifying to say the least … first there were two wonderful De Silva Island Drive properties … the two story, 3 bedroom end unit (great light) at 47 De Silva offered by Lotte Moore and Sarah Kowalczyk of McGuire Real Estate for $1,550,000 (on the market last year for $175,000 more) and the one story, two bedroom + den unit at 72 De Silva … listed by Lois Scheinberg with its price slashed by $245,000 … to the same price as 47 De Silva AND its selling commission raised (to 3.5%) … with a private elevator this custom unit shines!

Next to pop up was Pacific Union International agent Matthew Pouliot’s four bedroom + office gated estate on over ½ acre at 332 Panoramic … a stunning home with grand views near four corners, a $100,000 price reduction and a selling commission of 3% … motivated.

Oh, the competition … the wonderful view home in Scott Valley, 14 Albert Lane, a five bedroom home listed by Bruce Berlinger of Bradley Real Estate has been reduced by $200,000 or if it counts, by $300,000 from its last year’s listing (now $544 per square foot) … and Warren Mullen, Pacific Union-Morgan Lane’s three bedroom new home (18’ ceilings) with an office/guest house, on the market for just 2 ½ months, has dropped in price by $300,000 … now priced at $712 per square foot for a great, new home … amazing value … real value … worth seeing.

Then there were two homes three blocks from downtown Mill Valley on Bigelow that Andy Gellepis of Frank Howard Allen’s Mill Valley office suggested I see (thank you, Andy) … the three bedroom home at 21 Bigelow, listed by Tracy McCulloch of Pacific Union-Morgan Lane for $1,760,000 (reduced by $115,000) and now at $657 per square foot … and 25 Bigelow, a 1908 Victorian listed by Debbie Wright for $2,749,000 … a marvelous home that was owned by Andrew Lund, the custodian of Muir Woods … three bedrooms in the main house, an in-law unit plus a beautiful cottage … all together at a per square foot price of $808.

Here we have the best of Mill Valley, motivated sellers (selling is an intrusive process so you gotta imagine that all sellers are motivated or else why would they allow all of us to enter their homes and their lives … ) … many of these homes reduced in price and with higher than the norm commissions … motivating to us real estate agents. If you want more information or want to see one or more of these beautiful homes … or any other homes or if you have a home to sell … you know you can easily reach me at www.tomverkozen.com or (415) 257-2039.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

Photo taken by Matt Biddulph

The North Bay’s idyllic location on the Pacific Coast surrounded by water, means we are treated to some truly spectacular sunsets. There are many ways to enjoy the colorful sky – a drive to the top of Mt. Tam, a perch in the Marin Headlands, or a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge all provide amazing vantage points.

But one of our favorite ways to experience a California sunset is the Angel Island Tiburon Ferry Sunset Cruise – which Marin Magazine touted as Marin’s best-kept secret in their 2010 Editors’ Choice issue.

Get a group of family and friends together, or just a special someone, grab a blanket, picnic dinner, and take in the amazing sights as you glide past Tiburon, Belvedere, and Angel Island with stunning views of Sausalito, San Francisco and the Golden Gate. The cruises run Friday and Saturday nights through October so there’s still time to book a trip for a memorable evening on the Bay.

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Though few people actually utter the “TGIF!” exclamation so popular in the 80s, it doesn’t mean we don’t all think it. Fridays always bring the welcome wind down of the work week and the eager anticipation of weekend activities and relaxation. Par for the course, Marin and Sonoma offer wonderful ways to let the celebration begin. Here are a few of our favorites.

Friday Nights on Main – Tiburon

This is a lively community block party on charming Main Street in Old Town Tiburon. You’ll find live music, dancing, delicious options for dinner and can even get in some shopping.

Dates: Friday nights through August 14. Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Jazz & Blues by the Bay – Sausalito

Free jazz concerts are held in downtown Sausalito at Gabrielson Park (Anchor Street and Bridgeway), with Angel Island, San Francisco and the Bay glowing in the light of sunset. Mark Rushford from our Mill Valley office describes it best. Check out his post.

Dates: Friday nights through August 27. Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Pacheco Plaza Summer Music Series – Novato

If the fog rolls in on your plan to show off your tan, head to the recently remodeled Pacheco Plaza in Novato. No need for your fleece here; and they’ve got a great music line-up, with even some headliners for the kids.

Dates: Through September 3. Time: 6:30pm

Friday Night Fusion Concert Series – The Village in Corte Madera 

Free music and the chance to try some new wines: Sonoma County Vintners will present a special wine tasting each week for $15 per person which includes a local artisan cheese plate from Preferred Sonoma Caterers. And perhaps the best part, a portion of all proceeds from the concert series will be donated to Image for Success, a local non-profit.

Date: August 6 – October 22. Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm

And in Santa Rosa …

Summer Nights | Railroad Square

This popular event adds art and wine tasting to the live music and al fresco dining in Historic Railroad Square. A free event; tickets and age restriction are for wine tasting only.

Date: The first Friday of the month through Sept 3. Time: 6:00pm – 9:00 pm

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

The Thursday brokers’ open house tour of Kentfield, Ross, San Anselmo, Fairfax and San Rafael with Frank Howard Allen’s Michelle Barton driving was marvelous indeed. We real estate agents are so fortunate in the people we work with and our command of our time … hey, we only had two ‘ops, we passed the street, turn around’ s… one of those being as we climbed way up into the hills of Fairfax to see Bobbi Glasser’s 57 Bosque … a rustic, private two bedroom cabin type home on 1.7 acres by the Meadow Club WAY UP in the hills (reduced in price to $697,000). Ahhh, privacy. And gated property next to the old Barry and Diane Mineah estate at 75 Bosque which overlooks the golf course. A project, but a good one.

At 135 Meernaa, also in Fairfax, we heard a wonderful Barry Oldham joke as we saw a transformed home – a home mentioned in a recent blog, now reworked and refreshed with much of the ‘old’ taken out and staged. Barry’s joke was about horticulture …. Very funny indeed.

Favorite home of the tour … 9 Mann Drive in Kentfield … offered by Tammy Wilks Kornfeld of Decker Bullock Sotheby’s International for $2,275,000 this is a home with windows, lights and great flow … a happy home … within minutes of Bacich School, San Rafael, Art and Garden Center … fantastic weather, great schools, dramatic and yet peaceful. You saw it here …. now come, let’s go. www.tomverkozen.com let’s return together and you’ll see …

There were two other wonderful homes right there on Laurel Grove …. Thea Miller’s four bedroom at 205 Laurel Grove ($2,975,000) and Susan Bowman’s listing, a gated five bedroom at 230 Laurel Grove list ($2,815,000). Hey, three Del Mesa homes of great quality … seeing is believing!

Next up a rare very affordable beauty …. Jim Maloney’s new listing at 152 C Street … a well cared for, updated charmer with a workshop on a quiet street for $765,000.

SALE SALE SALE Returning to the office there were two messages …. 545 Oak, San Anselmo … a big beautiful six bedroom Mediterranean home with THREE fireplaces situated on the border with Ross … has just been reduced again … this time by $1,000,000. Originally at $6.488 the price is now a mere shadow of it’s former self … $3,999,000 … Very cool home/estate and a bargain awaiting your offer, right?

The second message … and I’d like your help here to find out more … was in regards to a beautiful, recently built five en suite bedroom home high in the San Rafael hills, BIG panoramic views of the bay and all three bridges. With over 6,000 sq. ft and all the bells and whistles … a home theatre and wine cellar plus a large yard and pool site in an enclave of three homes 305 Highland sold quickly in ’08 when brought to the market by Jimmy Marin … 305 Highland is a commanding home that was listed at a smidgen over $4M and sold, in 29 days, for $3,850,000 … and ‘rumored’ to be coming on the market for less, much less … any insights most welcome as I track down information. Buyers welcome too!

Oh, back to the heart of Ross Valley … a little insight into San Anselmo where sales remain brisk … over 20% of the 91 homes on the market … 20 … are in escrow, three simply awaiting moving vans… in the last six months 83 homes have sold so the 71 homes available represent less than six months of inventory, which is a solid market for buyers and sellers. Days on market are running 71 … on the average … and the price per square foot is at $406.

Note: Averages can be very deceptive … to be taken as data, not information … the area, the quality of the home, the price range and any of a dozen other factors influence ‘average sales price per square foot.’ In Belvedere the average price per square foot on homes sold in the last six months was $907 …. If the price was over $3M the average price per square foot went up nearly 25% … and in Stinson Beach the price per square foot was $1387 but over $3M it went up to $1940 … a big difference. Nonetheless, like days on the market, averages do give us a sense of things.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

Commuting to San Francisco, chauffeuring the kids to games and practice sessions, trying to prepare daily organic meals from scratch, staying up to date on the latest in social media and technology…between real jobs and day jobs, families and social lives, folks in Marin are busy. Schedules and appointments fill iPhone and Blackberry calendars. Fortunately, when it’s time to unwind or just unplug, there are many options here in the North Bay.

For the ultimate in mindful living, there’s Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre. Tucked away on 400-acres in San Geronimo Valley, Spirit Rock is dedicated to the Buddha’s teachings in the vipassana tradition and programs range from individual classes to weeklong retreats. Renowned for its courses and programs, Spirit Rock has drawn the likes of the Dalai Lama, Alice Walker and Vietnamese leader Thich Nhat Hahn who have all taught or spoken there over the years. You may even run into Giants pitching ace Tim Lincecum.

Spirit Rock Meditation Center Photo by everydaybalance	Spirit Rock Meditation Hall Photo by everydaybalance

 If you’re interested in the Japanese Soto Zen tradition of Buddhism, there’s Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, located near Muir Beach. Green Gulch inhabits over one-hundred acres and offers meditation retreats and zen studies, as well as tea gatherings and classes on the Way of Tea in the Green Gulch tea house, built in the traditional Japanese style, and hands-on work experience and instruction in organic farming and gardening.

If you don’t have a full day or week to dedicate but still want to sneak away for an hour or so of inner-peace, Marin has several yoga studios. Some of our favorites include Yoga Toes in Pt. Reyes Station, Yoga Works in Larkspur and Mill Valley, The Yoga Garden in San Anselmo, and Yoga Center of Marin in Corte Madera.

After releasing toxins through yoga, you can further cleanse your body with tea. As taught at Green Gulch, tea offers many benefits in healing and spirituality; even the ceremony of preparing, serving and enjoying tea can have benefits. In addition to the many tea and coffee shops, we are actually home to local purveyors Mighty Leaf and Republic of Tea, as well as Tea Fountain in Mill Valley. Our picks: Mighty Leaf Vanilla Bean, Republic of Tea Mango Ceylon and Tea Fountain Coconut Cream. 

Green Gulch Farm Zen Center Photo by Günter Waibel

Not surprisingly, because this is Marin and we’re early adopters of social media, almost all of these tea and yoga businesses can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

If you prefer less structure and no fees, remember where you live: just head out the door and enjoy a secluded hike on Mt. Tam amongst the Redwoods, find a viewpoint on a bluff overlooking the ocean, relish the bay views from any bench in Tiburon or Sausalito, or simply let the sand massage your feet as you stroll on the beach. Breathe in the fresh air and relax.

Namasté.

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Ahhh, Fairfax, the most lively evening town in all of Marin County … with 19 Broadway and the Sleeping Lady for entertainment plus, plus … Scoop for beautiful calories and more Fairfax is THE place to kick one’s heels and enjoy life … hey, there’re biking and hiking trails and easy access to all of west Marin. You can walk to SF or Pt Reyes with nary a sighting of a home right out of Deer Park!

Yesterday in Fairfax there were 46 homes and available … or rather 44 homes and two condos … and today there’s another home, listed by Jean Mastagni of Coldwell Banker in Mill Valley … a dazzling five bedroom home basking in the sun on slightly less than an acre … a home that was purchased in ’04, renovated and brought to the market in ’07 for $2,195,000 and now back … priced at $392 per square foot ($1,499,000) 40 Stevens Court is a winner.

About the Fairfax market … a dozen of the 47 properties are in escrow, three awaiting the moving van and nine with contingencies. The average market time is 57 days. The average price per square foot is $405. The average buyer is quite happy.

Of special interest are not the two least expensive homes (more like lots) but two of the more expensive homes … each listed at $1,895,000 …. first, 21 Ellsworth, listed by Carol Scott of Bradley Real Estate, with nearly 5000 sq ft this home sits on over five acres and has commanding views. No takers yet after over a year, maybe it’s time to make a deal! The other big home is a craftsman that has 1.45 acres and 3861 square feet … 25 Hunter Creek is listed by Frank Howard Allen’s Anastasia Sheldon and Karin Narodny … a little over two months on the market.

About sales … a smidgen over seven homes per month have sold in Fairfax over the last six months (45 to be exact) … average sales price $648,036 … price per square foot $436 … and my favorite, 135 Cascade, was listed by Bret Baughman of Coldwell Banker and sold by Alva Falla of my office after five months for $1,510,000. Lucky buyers! Relieved sellers. Quality commands a price … $511 per square foot, 20% above the average for a great home.

I’d be remiss not to mention Sue Ecke’s relist of 135 Meernaa a beautiful four bedroom home with classic style … first on the market at $1,098,000 it is now available at $899,000, a mere $357 per square foot!

There are some great values in Fairfax … so, Come, let’s go … now is a great time to be buying value so, as always, contact me www.tomverkozen.com or call 257-2039 and let’s go shopping.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

High-end boutiques, al fresco dining, yoga classes – just another typical day for many a pup in the North Bay. Hard to believe, but it’s true: the Bay Area has an amazing variety of offerings for our four-legged friends.

Here in Marin, Fifi can find a pet wash, top-quality accessories, toys, and supplies at Woodlands Pet Food and Treats located in Mill Valley and Greenbrae. Family-owned and operated, Woodlands also offers classes in first aid and CPR for your pet.

Marin is also home to a new policy that allows Fifi to join her owner at restaurants with outdoor dining areas – as long as the area can be accessed from the outside. (No showing off her newest crystal collar while trotting through the dining room.)

For a change of pace from the routine run at the local dog park, Fifi can try a doggie yoga class, where, no surprise, one of the key movements is downward dog.

To keep her mind challenged, Fifi can attend any number of classes offered by the Marin and Sonoma Humane Societies. Classes such as: Woofs & Whinnies, Agility Distance Handling, and a Flyball Class. They even have a disaster preparedness class for dogs.

And at the end of the day, when she just wants to unwind with friends, Fifi can log on to Dogbook.

Fancy boutiques, fine dining, doggie day cares, dog walkers, dog parks, dog classes – it seems there’s no end to the services the North Bay offers our four-legged friends.

Other resources:

Dogfriendly.com North Bay guide that lists accommodations, attractions, beaches, restaurants, etc. that are dog friendly.

Pet bereavement workshops

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Steve Dickason, VP and Marin manager of Alain Pinel Realtors did a state of the market presentation at the ‘Let’s Make A Deal’ county-wide monthly marketing presentation hosted by Bill McKeon. Steve noted that with interest rates as low as they’ve ever been in his 80-something years in real estate (my how time flies) … the advantage goes to move up buyers because the lower range homes (under $1M) are selling well and the upper range priced homes are still in a ‘buyers’ market situation. There are deals to be created. Now is a great time to buy some extra space, amenities and joyous living.

Curiosity knocks … so I popped up the handy-dandy MLS and using the multiple listing statistics explored sales in the $1M to $2M and $2M to $3M price ranges, comparing the past six months of 2009 with the same period in 2010.

First, the $1M to $2M price range: Of the 363 homes on the market in Marin County, 301 are active and available and 62 are in escrow. Of those in escrow 17 are ‘awaiting the moving van, pending, do not show.’ Over the past six months 221 similar homes have sold (37 per month!) at an average per square foot price of $523. Compared to the same six months in 2009, sales are up nearly 50% (156 sales, $550 per square foot).

Next, the $2M to $3M price range: Of the 115 homes available, 101 are active and available and 14 are in escrow … with four simply awaiting the moving van. In the past six months there have been 62 sales (including eight in Belvedere), which is more than twice the number of sales in the similar six months of 2009. Incidentally, the average price per square foot in this price range is much higher (higher quality finishes cost money) by nearly 50% … last year the average was $700 per square foot, this year $725.

A bit of perspective: Adding to the list of homes that did not sell last year but just sold, 4 Snowden Lane, a beautiful four bedroom home on two acres in Fairfax was sold by Kathleen Clifford of Pacific Union-Morgan Lane and Rick Stern of First Marin … last sold in 2002 for $1,195,000 it closed escrow at $1,250,000 ($398 per square foot!).

And a bargain: 180 Avenida Miraflores, Tiburon was previously on the market but did not sell at $3.5M. It came back, listed by Emy Cosio-Barron of Frank Howard Allen and just recently closed escrow at … can you believe it? … $2.4M (buyers represented by M&M Team, Margaret Monaco and Tina McArthur). At $639 per square foot this five bedroom home was a great buy.

Sales in the upper end are increasing as buyers are recognizing value and taking advantage of the move up opportunities. So think, then act … you’ll appreciate the quality you will add to your life with a little more space and a few bells and whistles.

I love good stories, so continue let me know of your success and homes that you see as great buys … then let’s go get new owners.

Remember, when it’s time to buy, let’s put the real in REAL estate … contact me at www.tomverkozen.com or dial me up and let’s work together to enjoy the opportunities.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

Saturday, as a real estate transaction thank you, estate planning attorney Jim Hastings presented me with two tickets to the Robert Mondavi Winery’s ‘Festival del Sole’ … oh my … what a treat! A quick zip in my little convertible brought us to Great food, a nearly full moon (I went with a good friend as my sweetie was in the Sierra foothills) and … the WOW!! … an evening with Chris Botti and his sweet jazzy trumpet.

The moon was plump (full moon the 26th) and rose during the second set as Botti wailed “Emmanuel”, did tributes to Miles Davis with “Kind of Blue” and “When I Fall in Love” and did an encore of “Italia” … but it was not just the man and his trumpet (Botti would have been enough alone) but two time Grammy winner Billy Childs was the pianist, violinist Lucia Micarelli melted our hearts and Lisa Fischer (Stones) was extraordinary (in a duet she ‘did’ the trumpet … and what that means will be left to your imagination).

Favorite food, braised lamb shoulder with olive jus, favorite cheese, Italian cow’s milk Fontina, extra well loved calories, basil whipped cream on a peach and berry clafouti … all with wine pairings so yummy … my pallet, my taste buds jumped and twitched when touched by the mellow 1998 Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve …

And now, Sunday morning, real estate finds me on the road again heading off for a second showing of Sandra Park’s listing in Stinson … followed by a showing of Suzanne Shelhart’s recommendation, the great buy featured here at her insistence … the Lansburgh Chevalier Estate … originally listed at $6,450,000 then $4,945,000 … now a mere $3,885,000. Every $2.5M reduction counts!

Got a great buy you want to turn me on to? Do it! Want a great buy? Let’s talk … they are there, amid the magic of real estate in Marin, Sonoma and Napa, Ross, Belvedere, San Anselmo and Fairfax … beauty is in the eye of the beholder … or the pallet … have a great life …. and remember www.tomverkozen.com for all your real estate fulfillment!

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

And quite a month the last one has been 6/24 – 7/24 … in those glorious days 212 Marin County homes and condos have closed escrow … right now there are 1250 such on the market for you to choose from … 296 are conditionally in escrow and another 123 are ‘awaiting the moving van’ ready-to-close. So let’s go shopping! To arrange your trip … contact me now www.tomverkozen.com .

If the fun is in quick sales, there have been a few: Barr Haney and Whitney Potter of Pacific Union-Morgan Lane teamed up to sell the beautiful four bedroom rebuild at 25 Heather, Larkspur … and it went with multiple offers before the brokers’ open house (listed at $1,450,000) … while Matthew MacPhee, Frank Howard Allen, recently retired assistant manager of my office, teamed up with Kerry Berry to sell 51 Austin, San Anselmo … to buyers represented by Mike Finelli, who’d showed it to the buyers when it was on the market in ’09 … it sold for $2,190,000 … $612 per square foot if you’re mathematically inclined.

Ahh, the statistics continue … my old boss Astrid Trauth always said, “Statistics are like a bikini, what they reveal is interesting, what they hide is critical.” … The average list price for this month in Marin was $973,571 and the average sales price was close enough to that at $939,438. The price per square foot was $444 … and the days on the market averaged 91.

But the glory is in the details … the least expensive sale was the San Rafael condo at 35 Fairfax which sold after 21 days on the market for $110,000. The two highest priced properties to sell were 133 Sugarloaf, Tiburon (blogged about earlier, six days on the market) and 3 Britton, Belvedere which went at $4,580,000 after 80 days.

The loudest WHEW was accomplished by David Shapiro, the Terra Linda expert and my San Rafael Frank Howard Allen office mate, representing the buyers when he sold the four bedroom home at 19 Hollyleaf in Novato’s Pointe Marin (off of Ignacio Blvd) after 695 days on the market … the home started at $1,089,000 in ’08 then was relisted by Marc O’Brien of Bradley Real Estate at $1,020,000 … and finally sold for $725,000. Whew!

The month’s information would continue but I just received a call from someone who made an offer on a Stinson Beach listing a year ago and now wants to go after one of the properties you read about here two weeks ago … and off I go. Wish us both luck! Then simply think REAL ESTATE and call (415) 257-2039, okay?

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

In response to the mention of the potential family compound property in Bolinas that was run as Full Circle for many years, Suzanne Shelhart wrote, “Many thanks, you have done a great job describing the property. We are getting a ton of showings now and he really has to sell. Thanks for spreading the word.”

“Also wondered why you did not mention that fabulous property (3325-3327 Shoreline Hwy), Barbara Chevalier’s amazing estate at Stinson beach on 3.5 acres with a pond, swimming pool, and the renowned architect design? That is really one of my very favorite properties of all time.”

And I could’ve and perhaps should’ve mentioned it because even though the property has less bedrooms (five) it is in a magnificent setting … 4382 square feet on 3.5 acres the Pacific Ocean with views, a cottage and an amazing design by Albert Lansbugh this is an oh my oh my home … if you peek south you can see the Steep Ravine cabins … if you drive a few miles south you can take a tour of Slide Ranch an environmental education teaching ranch (after the Grateful Dead moved out, thousands of children continue to learn about farms, milk goats and make butter at Slide Ranch … I was on the board of directors there for seven years), or go just a mite further and have a pint at the Pelican Inn before visiting Muir Woods. In any event, a grand ocean front property that was on the market in ‘08 for $6.45M and is now, after more than a year on the market, available for $3.885M …. this is one heck of a great buy co-listed by Hugh Macmillian of Decker Bullock Sotheby International and Jeanne Sherfey of Hwy One Properties.

 Of course, there are better photos available … use the website search property button and see … then let’s go and see!

REO (real estate owned) (bank foreclosure complete, they’re selling) … First ‘that little Stinson cottage’ that was on the market last year for $760,000, foreclosed on and offered in the $360’s … 16 offers as of today and bid WAY up … perhaps into the $600’s.

Second REO, amazing four bedroom condo in southern Novato… sold in the mid $400’s two years ago, on the market for $210,000. Talk about a bargain!

Not even remotely an REO … There are two magnificent ocean front Stinson Beach homes on the market worthy of note on Seadrift Road …. a shockingly beautiful home with cathedral ceilings and bells and whistles for $6.2M and another, on a .65 acre lot, which is described as charmingly shabby chic by listing agent Katherine Beacock, owner of Seadrift Realty, Inc. Oh my, oh my … these are the homes one drools to own. Waves crashing, pelicans gliding by just above the surface of the water, seals calling out to you … wonderous homes that change lives!

Since you asked … more about that special 1400 square foot, two bedroom, two bath home in San Anselmo’s Yolanda Park … drive by okay but DO NOT disturb tenant, stop, poke or anything else … tenant is in the process of moving. Price to be determined … mid-$700’s.

As always, you want to see pictures, check in at www.tomverkozen.com and you’ll find pictures (any difficulties, call or email me) but better yet … Want to go shopping? I love the beach so let me know I’d love to go! (415)257-2039.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

The Depot in downtown Mill Valley

Tiburon, Mill Valley, Sausalito, San Anselmo… every town in Marin County has its own distinct “downtown” area offering a unique style and character. But whether it’s funky Fairfax or tony Tiburon, there’s one thing each town shares – if you’re a coffee lover, you won’t go thirsty.

Coffeehouses are a time-honored tradition dating back long before Starbucks made them mainstream. Since the earliest incarnations in 15th century Istanbul, coffeehouses have always been a public gathering place to socialize, share ideas, read, write and entertain or be entertained.

Today, that tradition continues and is embraced fully in Marin as coffeehouses are woven into the characters of our communities. And thanks to the natural beauty and moderate climate we enjoy here, many coffeehouses have outdoor seating. So whether you’re overlooking the bay or sitting in the shadow of Mt. Tam, sit back and enjoy your half-caf, two sugar, extra foam morning cup of joe.

Here are just a few of our favorite local spots. Let us know where you like to go.

Aroma Café (Fourth Street, San Rafael): This café is large and spacious, making it great for getting work done or reading a book. What’s more, they’re open late, and there’s something to be said for that in Marin. Also, check out the walls. They are decorated every two months with new works by local artists.

Depot Bookstore & Café (Downtown Mill Valley): With a great outdoor patio that spills onto Lytton Square, the Depot serves up great people-watching with its coffee. Bring your kids and let them play in the square, enjoy a game of chess, or take a seat in an old gravity car.

Doctor Insomnia’s (Grant Street, Novato): The impressive menu offers everything from blended coffees to smoothies to a variety of loose-leaf teas, but our favorite item on the huge chalkboard is still the freshly baked scuffins (part scone, part muffin, all delicious).

Emporio Rulli (Downtown Larkspur): Rulli is an Italian-style café and bakery with a delicious variety of delectable treats, especially the artisan cookies and Panettone Milanese. An outdoor patio and prime location on Magnolia Avenue make for a great meeting spot.

Fairfax Coffee Roasters (Downtown Fairfax): A great pit stop if you’re heading out for a ride into West Marin. It’s down home, comfy, and you can catch live music here. Also check out the sister shop in San Anselmo.

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

What a week this has been. The opportunities are everywhere … we just found THE home for a cute young couple and I am getting ready to bring a real special two bedroom, two bath charmer on the market in just a few weeks in San Anselmo’s Yolanda Park … agents everywhere have been showing property, pushing offers for clients and waiting with baited breath … a market replete with possibilities, bids, counter offers, activity and sales.

In the past week there were 69 new properties that came on the market in Marin … only two in Belvedere … there were six price increases, 100 reductions, 34 homes went into the ‘moving van coming’ status of pending and 45 closed escrow. The biggest sale was 133 Sugarloaf, Tiburon … $926 per square foot … this, as with 12 Canyon, Ross, is another home that did not sell last year (on the market for a year, pulled off the market in May) came back on with David Gilbert of Tiburon Land Company only to be sold by Kouros Tavakoli of Decker Bullock-Sothebys International (that’s a mouthful), in six days for $6.9M.

A few other interesting factoids … at Stinson Beach, where I reported Frank Howard Allen agent Sandra Parks’ great reduction on a three cottage, got to sell property … from $1,388,000 to $849,000, there are 30 properties on the market, two in escrow. Ah, Summer, second homes, etc. … and then along came 2 Calle Del Pradero, a cute cottage two homes from the surf, which now has at least ten offers rattling around on it … priced at $364,900!

… then there are four short sales that were mentioned here and are now in escrow … 551 Redwood, San Anselmo; 319 G Street, San Rafael; 37 Palm, San Rafael; and 5881 Lucas Valley Road, Nicasio…. when you’re hot, you’re hot, right?

Gotta go … Want to go shopping? Let me know! Vist me at www.tomverkozen.com.

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

One of the questions that come to mind for a home buyer or seller is “How do I prevent problems in closing my escrow?”

The key to making sure your escrow closing goes smoothly is choosing a great Realtor that will anticipate problems before they happen. In order to stay on track, a great real estate agent uses a checklist of tasks that must be completed before the close of escrow, and then follows up to make sure they are all completed prior to the sellers or buyers going to the Title Company to sign closing papers.

Most issues that delay or prevent closings fall into three categories: loans and appraisals, titles, and home inspections.

1) Loans: Financing falls through at the last minute - An agent needs to help buyers understand that a prequalification letter doesn’t necessarily mean they are preapproved. Because of tighter lending standards and heightened concern about mortgage fraud, there is a lot more paperwork required from the buyer today. Making sure that the buyer gets in all of their documentation as quickly as possible to the lender is key, because 9 times out of 10, there is always something else that a lender will need in order to issue closing documents to the Title Company.

2) The appraised value doesn’t come in to support the contract price – FHA loans require comps to be within a three-month time limit, which means it can be hard to find comps in some neighborhoods. The agent should always work with the appraiser if possible to submit comps or reports that show the property’s condition and the neighborhood that the banker has never seen.

3) Title can’t be transferred at closing – Title defects are another issue. Getting a preliminary title report as quickly as possible to surface those issues is extremely important for a buyer or seller, as you then have time to resolve them quickly. Short sales and REOs are particularly prone to issues, as sometimes the owner doesn’t surface them or the owner isn’t around. Perhaps there was work done on the property and if it went unpaid, the sellers might now have a lien on the property, or maybe there are unpaid HOA fees. Make sure the proceeds of the sale will cover any mortgage liens and unpaid fees.

4) A home inspection uncovers serious issues - For the seller, it pays to have their own inspections done and work performed prior to listing their home for sale, as many issues can be resolved before they become problems during the negotiation process with the buyers. However, sometimes sellers can’t afford this, but having a good agent to do a thorough walk-through with the owner helps. Asking the owner about the age of the roof, any repairs that have been made, and looking at the foundation is also helpful, and alerting buyers to possible high-ticket repairs and suggesting they factor those costs in will cut down on the amount of post contract negotiations.

Above all, allow more time for the transaction and closing to happen. A good buyer’s agent can get a realistic estimate of the clients’ closing date by creating a timeline of how long inspections and approvals will take to ensure making the closing day on time.

Posted by:  Rick Smith

Photo taken by Marilyn Maciel

In 1915, the Hub Theatre opened in Mill Valley and served as a cultural center for the growing small town by featuring silent movies and live vaudeville acts. Since then, the building has taken on a few different forms – including Saturday Nite Movies (the precursor to the Mill Valley Film Festival) – before a revitalization in the early 2000s that gave birth to the 142 Throckmorton Theatre. The nonprofit theater that exists today is beautiful and plays homage to its predecessor with the mission of creating a hub in the center of downtown Mill Valley that promotes the arts as well as a sense of community.

A cornerstone of the theatre for the past five years has been Tuesday Night Comedy: Mark Pitta and Friends. Since launching it has become a staple, drawing people into the historic and intimate theatre each week. The show is a true treat because you never know what you’re going to get. A showcase for up-and-coming comedians, as well as established headliners, the set list goes unannounced and the evening’s mixed bag entertainment can take the form of stand-up, Improv or even musical numbers. It’s a well-known fact that locals Robin Williams and Dana Carvey stop by from time to time – as well as other comedic luminaries such as Richard Lewis, Arj Barker, Hal Sparks, and Kevin Nealon. If you’ve never been, this local gem is worth checking out. In fact, you can stop by Tuesday Night Comedy tonight – doors open at 7:00PM – and you just may be greeted by a surprise guest.

Read what fellow GuideMeHome blogger Andy Gellepis had to say in his post Tuesday Night Comedy in Mill Valley

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Ross is amazingly amazing … people are talking about the summer slumber but NO, Ross goes the other direction and here’s THE sale to prove it …. 12 Canyon, a stunning eight bedroom, eight bath five acre property with ALL the bells and whistles just a stone’s throw from the former Penn estate in the downtown heart of Ross.

Originally sold for nearly $4M in 2003 as a ready-to-build piece of dirt with plans, Canyon was on the market most of last year for $10,750,000. Tracy McLaughlin, Pacific Union-Morgan Lane, brought it back on the market for a touch under $10M ($9,995,000) and went into escrow in 14 days. This fits the, ‘if you’ve got it, spend it and enjoy it’ mode of living. If you’re a more normal person with only half that much disposable to spend and you want to shop, let’s go … www.tomverkozen.com Yes, there are values available as the market slumbers into full summer.

More about Ross … there were nine closed sales in the past six months …. an average closing of one point five sales per month … and these homes were on the market for an average of 48 days …. compared to the 26 homes on the market today (lots of great choices!) which have averaged 132 days on the market (tomorrow the average will be 133 …). Four of the 26 are in escrow, none of them with moving vans en route, yet. The homes that have sold have averaged $634 per square foot, the listings are at $889 per square foot … and 12 Canyon? A Gigantic $1249 per square foot …. quality sells (as does uniqueness, location and acreage).

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

As we mentioned, San Francisco and all the cultural amenities it has to offer are just a quick trip across the bridge. The City offers everything you would expect to find in a leading metropolis. That said, you don’t really have to make the trip across the Bay to celebrate the arts: there are plenty of options right here in the North Bay that even draw folks from SF to our side of the bridge.

One such draw is the Marin Shakespeare Company, a local institution bringing the drama, poetry, tragedy and comedy of Shakespeare to Marin each summer through an enchanting festival under the stars. Three programs are on the schedule this summer. We can’t wait for The Taming of the Shrew which opens July 24 and is set to a Pirates of the Caribbean theme. Check out this sneak peak of the costumes and you’ll see why we’re excited.

The Marin Theatre Company (MTC), (the Bay Area’s “premiere mid-sized theater and the leading professional theater in the North Bay”), is doing something brand new this season: collaborating with Magic Theatre and American Conservatory Theatre for a Bay Area-wide production of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s trilogy, The Brother/Sister Plays. The first installment, In the Red and Brown Water, runs at MTC starting September 14 and opens their 2010-2011 season.

If your interest lies in the performing arts, both the Marin Center and the Marin JCC put on compelling programs featuring performers from all over the world. The upcoming lineup at the Marin Center in San Rafael includes the Peking Acrobats, Pilobolus Dance Company (remember their incredible shape-shifting interpretations of the top-nominated films at the 2007 Academy Awards?), the Russian National Ballet Theatre, and even Bill Cosby who will grace the stage this February. Over at the JCC, also in San Rafael, the performing arts program includes an amazing annual lineup of world-class musicians, actors, humorists, writers and more, with some events held outside under the stars. Performances range from classical and world music to cabaret and even author conversations.

Farther north, the non-profit Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is the Sonoma County destination for world-class performances in music, dance, theater, and comedy, with many shows geared for little ones.

With a variety of high quality performing arts programs and inviting and accessible venues, Marin and Sonoma County provide patrons of the arts an eclectic and thriving cultural scene.

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

More Family Compounds

One of my favorite, historic large, possibly family compound, homes is the 1890s six bedroom Victorian at 43 Brighton in Bolinas. This property, featured a few years ago in Sunset Magazine, is listed by Tom Wredberg of Oceanic Realty. You’ll love the in town location … near everything. Listed on multiple listing service for $1,350,000, sold in 2001 for $819,000. It’s back now and has been on the market less than two months …. this beauty is ready for a new owner!

Next up on my list of amazing great bargains as a family compound is the former Full Circle facility at 5855 State Route 1 in Bolinas. This yummy nine bedroom home on 4.7 acres, is listed by Alain Pinel’s Suzanne Shelhart for $1,349,000 (reduced by $1/4M since it came on the market at the beginning of the year). Large property, commercial kitchen and oh so much more …. You read it here, hear? So check it out on my website and then call me. You’d love to see it, wouldn’t you?

Life in a Bolinas compound would be incomplete without the best of the best, an eleven bedroom ten acre three home passive solar compound … with sauna, media room and great views of Bolinas Lagoon, listed by Blanche Streeter of McGuire for $4.495,000 … Let’s go! 20 Rose has a killer knoll top location (click my website, then do the property search for 20 Rose, Bolinas). This home has been on the market before, listed at $7M …. this time it’s a deal that nobody has yet snapped up (4 months of marketing) and you know it’s been waiting for you.

I love the coast – some of you remember The Poet’s Loft and Kaizen, the stilt home in Marshall and the cottage on the bluff I built in Marshall … well, there’s one more beach compound to visit before we return to the core of Marin County … this a real dream and improve property consisting of three cottages in Stinson Beach, right across from the grocery store … 122 – 126 Calle Del Mar …. three one bedroom cottages on approximately ¾ acres with water views. Sad story with a bank being unhappy caused the price to drop from $1,388,000 to $849,000 …. owner needs to sell and buyer will probably need to bring cash to the table to make it work (in my humble opinion). Sandra Parks of Frank Howard Allen is the listing agent but once more, as always, check my website … then call me, email me, yell at me but contact me and let’s talk … this is a great buy for the right person.

Ah, back to the lovely shire of Ross … around a corner or two from me is a listing with Marilyn Rich of Pacific Union – Morgan Lane … this home should be a family compound. 12 Upper Ames Avenue, Ross at $6.5M is a new-to-the-market five bedroom jewel of a home on 1.375 acres that has a LARGE one bedroom guest house by the pool. You’ll see this as having compound potential when we go together to buy it. Just a hop and a step from the recently (almost finished) renovated Ross School and a short jaunt to Branson School, this is the most urban of the properties I put in the ‘Come from Brazil, China and India and live in style with great schools’ compounds.

And then I return to my quaint cottage, awaiting your call. You will call, won’t you?

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

Trail leading to the Tourist Club, photo taken by Jennifer Yin

Tucked away on Mt. Tam and overlooking Muir Woods is The Tourist Club, a beautiful Bavarian-style lodge and the perfect place to stop and relax during a long hike. Upon arriving at the club your senses are transformed and you can imagine yourself on a mountaintop in the Alps, stopping at the local inn, complete with lounge decks, picnic tables, a bar, board games, and stunning views. Of course, there is also a wonderful selection of Bavarian and Belgian brews to quench your thirst. You can grab a pint and take it out on the deck where you’ll be surrounded by amazing scenery and tranquility.

Several hiking trails lead to the club. Our favorite route is to start in downtown Mill Valley and take the Dipsea Trail to the Sun Trail. It’s about 45 minutes uphill, but you’ll be treated to beautiful vistas along the way and you can’t beat the fresh air. The Sun Trail then meanders along the hillside before arriving at the club.

Overlook Deck at the Tourist Club, photo taken by Jennifer Yin

Now, before you throw on your hiking shoes and run out the door, you should know that the Tourist Club is actually a members-only club and the San Francisco branch of the worldwide Nature Friends organization. Founded in 1912 by German and Austrian immigrants, the Tourist Club was built by the founders themselves in the style of the old country and is the result of their desire to create a retreat outside of the City where they could enjoy and appreciate nature. The club still enjoys a communal culture and current members volunteer to staff it and participate in work days to maintain the facilities.

Though it is private, the club is open to the public during certain weekend hours (check their calendar before venturing out), as well as during three special Fests held in May (Maifest), July (Sommerfest) and October (Kinderfest). These Fests honor the clubs Alpine heritage and feature authentic German music, food, beer and dancing. Space is limited, so be sure to arrive early to get tickets, as they are only sold at the door.

The US doesn’t have a backpacking culture the way other parts of the world do, but if it did, the Tourist Club would personify that culture. It’s also just great fun to have a little piece of Bavaria right here on our own mountaintop.

Fest time at the Tourist Club, photo taken by Matthew Hickey	Tourist Club,  photo taken by Peter Butler

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Tax and Legal Advice for the Seller

Ouch, short sales are complicated. And the ramifications for the sellers are huge! The ultimate advice in a short sale is far beyond the arena of the real estate agent – you need an attorney or CPA.

Here is the good news: There are any number of attorneys and CPAs who are available to advise sellers.

Today Michele Hassid, a CPA with Eckhoff Accountancy Corporation came to our office to talk about the tax treatments. Simply put, she said, short sales and foreclosures can be seen as a form of sale or exchange, with the gain or loss recognized and a taxable event. The term of art is COD, cancellation of debt income. E = MCC o r “The COD income equals the excess (if any) of the loan balance over the property’s fair market value,” whichever comes first.

Oh my god, Michele went into the primary issues that pop up: Is the debt recourse or nonrecourse? Is the foreclosure or short sale related to business or rental activity or personal residence? and … Was the original loan refinanced and how were the proceeds used?

No. No. No. I won’t go farther … this is territory that is complicated and full of pitfalls. Yes. Yes. Yes, there are some great resources.

Talk about a great resource …. Jeff Sterley is now the assistant manager of the Frank Howard Allen San Rafael office and we’re stoked! With Jeff comes his listing at 175 Montecito Road … just reduced by $200,000. Hey, this five bedroom home (with tennis court) is bargain priced at $487 per square foot …. as opposed to the Georgian at 315 Summit, a six bedroom home, priced at $876 per square foot. Want to see, call me!

In the last 18 months there have been ten San Rafael sales in excess of $2M. My favorite was 349 Bay Way at $4.185M … mmmm.

Now I gotta dash out to see a few homes with Patti Cohn …. only Kentfield and Ross, please. Oh well, that’s not too bad, is it?

As always, you can pop up my website www.tomverkozen.com to see what’s on the market, what great events are happening (hit the button: The Marin I Love) visit the San Anselmo Wine and Art festival or join me at the JCC Saturday evening …  

Sambaguru featurning Katia Moraes  

Sat, 7/17 @ 7pm  
as Katia’s beautiful voice leads this high-energy, dynamic 6 piece band rooted in Brazilian rhythms.
Come early for a Samba dance lesson from Tika Morgan.
Come. Live a little. Buy a home, now.

remember … visit  www.tomverkozen.com for all your shopping needs.

  

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

One of the many benefits of living in the North Bay is our close proximity to San Francisco: just a quick car, bike or ferry ride leads us to a world-class cultural center with a multitude of first-rate theatres, performing arts centers, and museums. The museums in particular boast amazing line-ups: you can soak up Impressionist masterpieces on loan from the Musée d’Orsay at the DeYoung, try your hand at Haitian tooled metal sculpture, fly through our solar system, journey via art from India to Japan, navigate through a rain forest, sculpt and film your own clay animation and marvel at the works of Paul Klee.

Not only are our museums diverse, but so are the ways in which to experience them. For example, who has ever heard of a museum willing to host a sleepover? That’s exactly what the California Academy of Sciences does. Or you can turn a normal museum visit into a special date night or outing with friends by taking advantage of NightLife at the Academy of Sciences or Friday Night Soirées at the de Young, complete with DJ booths, live music, specialty drinks and entertainment.

Photo taken by Kevin Krejci

Photo taken by Chris Willis

In addition to special events, many SF museums offer discount pricing, such as half-price admission Thursday evenings, free admission the first Tuesday of each month at SFMOMA, and Free First Sundays at the Asian Art museum. As a special treat, this weekend you can visit six of San Francisco’s best museums for free as part of Target Arts & Wonder Free Family Event, July 16-18. Participating museums include: the de Young, the Asian Art Museum, SFMOMA, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Museum of the Africa Diaspora, Zeum and the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.   

San Francisco’s rich arts and culture scene is one more reason why we love calling this area home.

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Flying back to pristine Marin from Bellingham, Washington my Silicon Valley seat mate updated me on a change that I’d been pondering … the meaning of the upswing of purchases by people from Brazil, India and China … fascinating…

These are, he assured me, multigenerational purchases … future oriented people buying property & thinking ahead …

“I’m seeing families buying with a multi-generational ownership plan … eight or ten family members are coming over, taking advantage of the jobs, the excellent schools and the real estate values … a few of my friends have told me that they’re going to live in the property for a long time, all together, and save and then buy more property.”

Then I thought of my friend Marteli telling me that she has a long time tenant doubling up …. they’ve asked for approval for additional roommates in a medium sized home. Saving half the rent!

Yes, it was disconcerting to think of space usage … I realized that I’m a bit out of touch, living alone in a big small empty nest cottage in Ross … but that is due to change, soonish. Stay tuned.

What is important is that long term thinking brings up the value of short sales … I’ve talked several clients into holding on (and a few about selling) … here’s the logic:

With great schools, proximity to a major urban area loaded with high tech and a limited supply of land, Marin will follow Silicon Valley’s lead and the influx of talented immigrants from one of the several prospering countries mentioned, who see our economic slowdown as being to their advantage, means our real estate will soon be seen as a bargain …. driving prices!

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