Elk, gray whales, elephant seals, bobcat, deer. No, we’re not describing wildlife from the latest issue of National Geographic. These fantastic specimens can be found in the best “back yard” anyone could ask for: Point Reyes.

Elk near McClures Beach	A Pt. Reyes Icon

This spectacular area in the northwest corner of Marin offers such an amazing variety of activities and adventures – some of which we’ve mentioned in previous posts. In addition to viewing precious wildlife in its natural habitat, we’re also able to hike, bike or ride horseback on miles of stunning trails, camp on a secluded beach, or paddle a kayak or canoe on enchanting Tomales Bay.

We can go from exploring a light house above the crashing waves to pretending we’re part of a Coast Miwok tribe going about our day in the recreation of a Miwok village; and just a short walk from the village we can experience an earthquake trail and get an up-close view of the notorious San Andreas fault.

Add to the list privileged peeks at local artists’ studios and scenic dairy farms, charming blink-of-an-eye towns, and the possibility to discover a Fungus Fair.

The Pine Cone Diner in Pt. Reyes Station	Limantour Beach

We’re willing to bet that there are few places in the world that can match a day of adventure in Point Reyes.

(All photos credit: Vicens Vila)

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Photo by Jeff Archer

The Point Bonita and Point Reyes Lighthouses are fascinating icons on our North Bay coast. The combination of their rich history, the intrigue of what daily life entailed for the light keepers, and the rugged natural beauty of the sites make them local treasures worthy of exploration.

The Point Bonita Lighthouse, completed in 1855, was the third lighthouse on the West Coast. Located in the Marin Headlands, it is still an active lighthouse. The National Park Service provides access to visitors, though currently the light house itself is not accessible due to the temporary closure of the suspension bridge. If you’ve crossed that bridge in the last couple years, you’ll understand why: the trip across the narrow structure with the extreme drop to the water below made it more of a thrill seeker’s trek than just a way of gaining entrance to the lighthouse. However, the tunnel that leads to the suspension bridge/lighthouse is open and the view is worth the hike.

Photo by Jen Maiser

A bit farther up the coast is the Point Reyes Lighthouse, which was built in 1870 and retired from service in 1975. Point Reyes is known as the windiest place on the Pacific Coast and is the second foggiest place on the North American continent. For more than a hundred years, the historic Point Reyes Lighthouse warned mariners of danger. Now functioning with an automated light, the lighthouse is a museum owned by the National Park Service. Historic photographs allow you to learn about the light keepers’ lives and the shipwrecks that took place just off the coast. You can also get up close to the craftsmanship and beauty of the lighthouse. The tours of the lantern room and the evening lighting programs that are held certain times of year are especially cool.

The Point Reyes Light first shone on December 1, 1870. Can you name a movie that was filmed there during its 140 year history?

Living along the North Bay coast has so many wonderful benefits. Getting a peek into the world of our lighthouses is one of them.

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For Reason #50, we talked about how the North Bay is a model for sustainable farming and how easily accessible organic food options are. One local, organic food that we love is fresh-shucked oysters. These delicious sea-sweet treats are made abundant along the Pt. Reyes National Seashore in Drakes Bay and Tomales Bay. The extreme tides and cool, brackish waters create an oyster’s paradise; also nutrient-rich, the water produces what are recognized as some of the world’s finest oysters, unique in their mild and creamy flavor.

Drakes Bay Family Farms, Hog Island Oyster Farm (in Marshall, with oyster bars in Napa and San Francisco) and Tomales Bay Oyster Company are three options for satisfying your oyster cravings. These farms offer picnic spaces and shucking tools. All you need to do is pack a side dish or two and your favorite beverage, and you and your loved ones will be ready to enjoy a fresh, local feast.

A visit to one of the local farms, or nearby restaurants, also affords a scenic drive along some of the North Bay’s most picturesque roads, adding to the appeal of the outing. For the scenic route, cruise up Mt. Tam from Mill Valley towards Bolinas and then follow Route 1 to Olema and on to Pt. Reyes; or catch Sir Francis Drake in Greenbrae to head through Fairfax, Woodacre and Lagunitas. On either route, you’ll encounter rolling hills, clear blue waters and happily grazing cows.

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In previous posts, we talked about our wonderful local harvest (Reason #33) and delicious California wines (Reason #48) as reasons why we love living in the North Bay. We truly are spoiled here with the variety, quantity, and quality of the food available to us.

The North Bay is a foodie’s heaven - thanks in great deal to the amazing organic and agricultural communities that have their roots here. The picturesque North Bay landscape is home to over 50 certified organic operations, with many located in the bucolic communities of West Marin such as Pt. Reyes, Marshall and Inverness. Many models for sustainable farming, these innovative local purveyors produce everything from exquisite ice creams to award-winning cheeses to robust olive oils to delicious sea-sweet oysters.

A foodie’s heaven – and a Mecca for those into the organic food movement. In fact, Marin has been called the “hub of the organic movement” and became internationally known as a leader in organic farming when Britain’s Prince Charles visited Pt. Reyes and Bolinas in 2005 to learn about sustainable agriculture. The royal visit was organized by Marin Organic, an association of organic producers that work collaboratively to support agriculture in Marin with the goal of preserving county farmland and creating the first all-organic county in the nation. They have also taken on the battle of how to provide healthy and nutritious lunches to school-aged children by organizing a school lunch program that feeds organic, locally-grown foods to 10,000 students from more than half of Marin’s schools. (For a fascinating, eye-opening piece on eating green, the food movement and Marin Organic, click here.)

Looking for even healthier organic options? Marin offers dozens of ways to satisfy that need, including farmers’ markets, organic food box deliveries, organic grocery stores (Good Earth), and the many restaurants/bakeries/cafes and eateries (Fairfax Scoop – yum!).

For many, organic is not just a label, but a way of life – one that is valued here in the North Bay and enriches our health, lifestyle and economy.

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Labor Day is just a memory … the kids are settling back in school … the Giants’ season is at the make or break point and … the Niners have their season opener Sunday. Amid all that, real estate marches on.

Before we get to west Marin and the market analysis there, a peek at central Marin: Today there were 157 homes on the brokers tour in central Marin (yesterday was the Novato and southern Marin tour, unusually heavily loaded as well) …. one of the tour homes I went to see (because it is ‘competition’ for 122 Alder and because Michaela Lang emailed me after reading last week’s blog) was 16 Madrone in San Anselmo … a two bedroom, one-and-one-half bath home listed by Michaela Lang at $699,000 … a pretty home, well staged sited near town between Sir Frances Drake and Center Road.

In all of Marin there were 129 new listings since the 1st of the month … 97 reduced in price and 42 sold. Our inventory is loaded with reductions as all of us, sellers and agents alike, very unhappily, are chasing the market.

We discussed price reductions at our Frank Howard Allen office meeting … here are a few: 136 Peacock, San Rafael, which was purchased for $1,565,000 in ’05, was reduced and is now listed by Scott Cherry of Frank Howard Allen at $995,000, Scott who also has 60 Oakcrest, purchased for $750,000 in ’06, is now listed for $449,000. A great newish craftsman cottage at 10 Lucia Lane, Lagunitas, was just reduced from $812,000 to $725,000 … 245 Upper Toyon, listed by Steven Pringle and Helen Luttemo of Alain Pinel, was reduced $500,000 (from $2,395,000 to $1,895,000) … 43 Shady Lane, Ross, a three building, potential family compound on .4 acres in the heart of town, listed by Betsy Young of Coldwell Banker, was reduced from $4,225,000 to $3,950,000 … 25 Hunter Creek, Fairfax, reduced $210,000 … and on and on.

Here’s my view of the West Marin real estate market … a market that goes soft faster than the ‘inner markets’ of towns like Mill Valley or the core of the Bay Area, San Francisco: In West Marin there are bargains to be had! Best buys and bargains among the 98 homes that are listed…

Half of the West Marin homes in Dillon Beach (3 of 6) are in contract and ready for the moving van…. in Nicasio 13 of the 15 homes are available, in Woodacre, 2 of 6 are in escrow … there are a dozen homes available in Bolinas (some good buys I’d say … and remember, fixer-upper homes are tougher sales in rugged markets and tougher sales equal better buys) …. at Stinson Beach this blog’s favorite, 27 Calle Del Pradero, a one bedroom home near the beach, was listed at $364,900 and went into escrow amid a flurry of offers … well, it fell out of escrow but immediately sold to one of the several back up offers …

So perhaps reading this might point you in the right direction and render your life marvelous … if so, email me, go to my website, www.tomverkozen.com, or call (415) 637-7974 and let’s have some fun while we shop. There are some great finds out there!

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

Dinosaurs, whales, dolphins, a sunbathing “sandman,” Cinderella’s coach. It’s not often one encounters all these in one place, unless you’ve found yourself at the Drakes Beach Sand Sculpture Contest. Held annually the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, the contest is one of the most popular family-friendly events in the North Bay.

The activity starts at 9:00, with people of all ages – some solo, some in groups of two or three families – setting up camp and staking out the best spot for their canvas. In the good years, the sun is already shining and the water of Drakes Bay shimmers a turquoise blue. The tall white cliffs of the beach provide welcome shelter from the north winds and keep the temperature pleasant for the artists and early spectators.

		Photo Credit: Vicens Vilà

At mid-day, picnics are released from their baskets and crowds start to gather at the more elaborate endeavors – the Bay Bridge, the head of Ganesh (we are in the Bay Area, don’t forget), an enormous dragon. Some folks venture into the ocean to body surf, ride body boards or just enjoy an invigorating dip. If the day did start with fog, the sun has usually burned its way through at this point and the rolling green hills of Point Reyes make their grand appearance.

At 3:00, with the last shells, rocks and bits of seaweed and drift wood in place, the sculptures are completed and the judges make their rounds. The spectators follow, as if part of a parade, and discuss their own favorites. Artists stand by, eager for questions and admiration. The whole beach is bustling.

The day winds down with foot showers, a snack at Drake’s Beach Café, and well-earned naps on the scenic ride home.

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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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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

Please humor us: with the Tour de France now taking place and the local cycling events coming up, we couldn’t pass up this second post on cycling. As we mentioned, cycling is a large part of the culture in Marin County and the North Bay. West Marin, in particular, offers cyclists unlimited trails and routes to enjoy. Whether a leisurely ride or something more ambitious, there’s a trail for everyone. One of our favorite routes is to take off from Fairfax and head to Pt. Reyes via Nicasio. You’ll get to take in rolling hills, fresh air and a variety of wildlife along the way. And if you need more of an incentive, go early and hit Bovine Bakery in time for their freshly baked morning buns, a deliciously decadent sticky bun. Their chocolate croissants are also to die for. A favorite hangout amongst cyclists, you’ll have to arrive early to enjoy your treat. And if you’d like a longer ride back to work off your sweets, from Pt. Reyes Station head out along Tomales Bay towards Marshall Wall before circling back home.

What’s your favorite spot for a mid- or post-ride treat? And do you have a favorite route or trail?

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Surfer: Rocky Vannucci, manager Frank Howard Allen San Rafael

Marin County is a wave wonderland with miles of coastline to explore from the Golden Gate Bridge to Pt. Reyes. Accessing Marin’s surf spots varies from drive up parking lots to hiking for miles to secluded spots for peace and solitude. The fun and adventure is in the discovery, and there are still a few secrets out there.

If you’ve never surfed before and are looking for lessons, you can check out Bolinas Surf Lessons. If you need to suit up, visit Proof Lab in Mill Valley, Fat Kat in Fairfax or Live Water Surf Shop in Stinson Beach.

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At the current time the banks are not lending on TICs (Tenants-In-Common: A fractional or partial ownership interest in a piece of property, rather than owning the entire piece of property) outside of San Francisco proper. Or so they say. I’m planning to call Renee Rymer, Corte Madera branch manager (and manager of the year) at Bank of Marin tomorrow because Patti Cohn, a superstar agent with FHAllen, has a potential buyer with BIG accounts that may want a loan…. There is a loan on one of the other four units with Circle Bank … I called and they turned down a ‘we’ll put money on deposit with you if you will do another loan on this project.’ Anyway, due to the need for buyers to bring in an all cash offer, the price has been reduced and this is now one heck of a good buy – a beautiful, private, one bedroom, furnished cottage one property from the surf for $399,000?

Last evening I got the following email from Terry Pearce, the owner:

Tom: Since there has been so much discussion about the form of the TIC, thought it might be prudent to synopsize the reasons it is a perfect form for me. I realize that it might not be for everyone, and certainly not for every environment, but for a small recreational property at the beach, it has worked out perfectly for me.

1. I don’t rent the property, so I depend on my partners and neighbors to let me know if anything needs to be handled. Since we all have an interest in one another, there is never a question about notification or competition….we work together.
2. In a TIC, the partners are critical. This group is a wonderful mix of talents and commitments. Three of the owners have been there a long time, so they really know the ropes, they know the neighbors, they know the process and they are truly nice people.
3. The property manager, Bob Walker, was the original owner of my property, so he knows the whole history.
4. On the street, there are two contractors who are full time residents. They are both members of local boards and of advisory boards for the county who deal with the creek and the road.
5. One of the contractors takes care of the maintenance of the road and the access issues. We have no problem with the public parking on our road in the summer.
6. There are two other full-time residents on the street. (other than the contractors) One is the full-time manager of Slide Ranch, the other is retired and is rapidly and impressively upgrading her property. She is also active in local politics.
7. The TIC requires that the partners get together every year. There is a good camaraderie and cooperation to maximize the enjoyment of the property.
8. If you do wish to rent the property, you have four other partners looking out for your interest.

In short, if I had the choice to own this property as a TIC or not, I would definitely choose TIC. It encourages community, protects the property and allows me to have a great deal more security knowing that I have partners with the same interest.

Posted by:Tom Verkozen

For your personal enjoyment today, let’s take a look at the last six months of sales in west Marin. West Marin is composed of 15 townships stretching along the coast from Muir Beach, through Stinson Beach and north to Dillon Beach. It also includes the numerous shires in both the San Geronimo and Nicasio Valleys. The green part of the county is a life-style driven set of communities (I’ve owned several western properties –in Inverness, Tomales and Marshall and it is also an area in which I’ve sold many homes, lots and acreage).

Right now there are 74 active properties on multiple listing. 22 properties closed escrow there in the past six months… which is close to four closed sales per month (not a huge number of sales to share among the agents of the west [and me because I do sell quite a bit out there] but keep in mind that as the economy has slowed membership in the Board of Realtors has dropped from nearly 1600 to less than 1200 so there aren’t quite as many mouths being fed by real estate sales). Significant is that almost as many homes have been on the market and not sold as are currently on the market.

Interestingly, of the western sales there has only been one closed sale of a short sale/bank owned nature (compared to Novato where 44% of the sales last year were distressed, and San Rafael where the percentage was the second highest in the county). Right now there are eight western properties in escrow which, were they all to close this month, would be twice the sales activity that we’ve experienced in the last 6 months. Spring has sprung!

Prices in west Marin are also at variance with the core of Marin: The average sale (thank you Stinson Beach) was just short of $1M at $983,489. As I talk to agents throughout the county, and review the sales, the average sales price, which was $1.3 two years ago, has slipped (due to the impact of the distressed properties which were primarily condos and lower priced homes).

Another notable strength in west Marin is the ‘price hold’ statistic, the ratio of list price to sales price. The price hold is 90.5%. The high average sale price and the ‘price hold’ both are proof positive that living in west Marin is, more so than in the rest of the county, a life-style choice. The low supply combined with the resiliency of the market in the west is a testimony to a strong life-style location. Give me a call and let’s go see!

Posted By: Tom Verkozen