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