Marin County Real Estate Agent Seeks Buyer’s Agent (Employment / Job Opportunity For Licensed Professional)

Marin County real estate agent (and Community Sales Director for The Landing at Hamilton) is looking for a buyer’s assistant. Most importantly — you must have a great attitude and motivation to succeed. You will have access to literally dozens of potential buyer and seller clients monthly as you will be benefit from working at one of Marin County’s only New Home developments. We have homes ready to sell right now and construction will continue (as will your opportunities to meet great people looking to buy and/or sell homes).

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Highly motivated, quick learner
• reliable & focused
• Positive attitude and friendly
• Sales experience
• Agent License required

JOB RESPONSIBILITES:

• Host open houses (must be available to work from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays or Sundays every weekend – on an alternating basis)
• Marketing: help with print marketing content and design, bulk mailers, website updates, E-marketing through email and online ads and social marketing through Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• Listing & buyer presentation materials
• Follow Up and lead management (send reports, make calls, show homes, etc.)

COMPENSATION & SCHEDULE:

• Commission based pay; Possible mentoring relationship if desired and mutually agreed upon
• Buyer and seller assistance as needed (Alternating Saturday and Sunday open homes (3 hours a day) — and possible Friday afternoons (3 hours))

Please email me, [email protected], if you are interested. Thanks! Kyle Frazier, Broker Associate, Pacific Union International Realtors

219 West Street, Sausalito (Luxury View Home)

Nestled under Oak trees in the hills of this historic section of Sausalito by the Bay, craftsman meets contemporary in this beautifully designed four bedroom, two and one half bath home. This home was rebuilt from the studs and finished in 2003. Everything is done with impeccable taste, from the distressed walnut floors throughout, mosaic tile work in the entryway and kitchen, to the large picture windows overlooking the Bay.

Brick steps take you up to the picturesque brown shingled home. As you enter through the glass door, you first notice the mosaic flower tile work on the floor. The delightful half-bath just off the hall has a rose-colored marble sink and crystal light fixture. Windows abound as you walk into the combination living/dining room. The large picture windows catch your eye as you watch ships move past on the Bay. A colorful Italian Murano crystal chandelier hangs over the dining room table. French doors lead out to the slate balcony, overlooking the water. A Rumford wood-burning fireplace, modeled after Jefferson’s fireplace in Monticello, complements the living area. Custom-built cabinets with glass doors frame the wall between the living/dining room and the kitchen.

The chef’s kitchen is designed exquisitely with an abundance of custom cabinetry, a pistachio quartzite stone counter, Subzero refrigerator, Thermador double oven and gas range with grill, Bosch dishwasher and Kitchen Aid trash compacter. Italian Calcutta tile graces a wall in a floral mosaic. Aside the kitchen is a more casual dining area with windows out to the garden. Off of this dining area is a den with a flat screen television and stereo system. While music can be heard and volume controlled throughout the home, the den has surround sound. Built-in bookshelves frame the flat screen television. Off the kitchen is a colorful garden with flowering ground cover with purple, pink and red flowers as well as tropical fern and a fountain.

At the top of the stairs is a child’s play area, painted muted yellow, which could also double as an office. Custom-designed closets abound throughout the upstairs and the rest of the home. The Master bedroom is olive green and filled with windows that have hill and bay views, and there is a large walk-in closet. A full bath is located across from the master and is meticulously designed with a soaking tub, walk-in marble shower with a rain showerhead, and a toilet and pedestal sink separated by a pocket door. The floor is marble with an intricate basket weave design.

A child’s room in light blue mirrors the blue of the water seen from its windows looking directly out on the Bay. Two long closets on either side of the room with double doors allow for plenty of storage. One of the long closets has a mural painted inside and could be a perfect playhouse for an imaginative child.

The downstairs has two more bedrooms, perfect for guests or an au pair. The full bath down has another shower with a rain showerhead and more marble throughout. There is a tiled wine cellar with two concrete walls, keeping the room naturally cool for the storage of favorite wines. There is a laundry room with a Maytag washer and dryer. Beyond this area is a family or media room with another Rumford fireplace and French doors that go out to a front garden with white roses. (The family room is currently being used as an office.) Although this home is totally integrated, it is classified as a two-unit residence and the area with the family room, bedroom and bath can also serve as a separate unit if so desired.

There is radiant heating throughout. Custom window treatments of linen and of cotton complement most of the double-paned windows throughout the home. The home has HD DirecTV and future-proof wiring as well as recessed lighting throughout. There is a spacious two-car garage. The garage, which was completed in 2008, contains a workbench, storage cabinets and a Stor-all wall system. Just a few blocks down the hill are the charming shops and restaurants of Sausalito. This home allows for plenty of privacy up on the hill yet is close to town.

For more information, visit www.219WestStreet.com. Or, call Kyle at (415) 350-9440.

The Landing at Hamilton | New Homes | Hamilton Field, Novato

The Landing at Hamilton

Introducing The Landing at Hamilton (Hamilton Field, Novato)  — a secluded enclave of luxurious homes reflecting timeless style and contemporary conveniences. This fantastic community is located approximately 20 minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge and the Wine Country.

 

These thoughtfully designed homes focus on sophistication, beauty, and community. Residents will enjoy spacious and refined interior spaces, along with the peace of mind associated with living in such a charming neighborhood adjacent to a rich wildlife sanctuary. An unrivaled passion for excellence and detail is exhibited in each home. The Landing at Hamilton benefits from easy access to recreation, dining, shopping, schools, transportation, and the myridad benefits of living at Hamilton Field in Novato. It must also be noted that this community is the final large-scale residential development for the foreseeable future in Novato, and possibly in Marin County.

Luxury Is Our Standard

Hamilton Field, Novato’s final residential development, is a secluded enclave of luxurious homes reflecting timeless style and contemporary conveniences. These thoughtfully designed homes focus on sophistication, beauty, and community. Residents will enjoy spacious and refined interior spaces, along with the peace of mind associated with living in such a charming neighborhood adjacent to a rich wildlife sanctuary.

An unrivaled passion for excellence and detail is exhibited in each home. The Landing at Hamilton benefits from easy access to recreation, dining, shopping, schools, transportation, and the myriad benefits of living at Hamilton Field in Novato. Pricing begins at approximately $840,000 for the smallest homes and ranges up to approximately $900,000 for the larger homes. There will be four models in up to three elevations, ranging from ~2,432 square feet to ~3,000 square feet.

Kitchen Highlights:

• Sumptuous granite slab countertops with backsplash
• top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, including 5-burner gas range, double ovens, dishwasher, and built-in microwave
• Chef’s island
• Designer cabinetry featuring tasteful hinges and hardware
• Illuminated under-cabinet lighting in Kitchen
• Large sinks
• Powerful disposal
• Pull-out recycling and trash center
• Handsome stainless exhaust hood

Master Bedroom Indulgences:

• Master baths with dual sinks and designer accents
• Built-in dressing table (per plans)
• Expansive walk-in closets
• Soothing oversized soaking tub
• Large decorative framed mirrors (if applicable)
• Contemporary clear glass shower enclosure
• Quality hardware and faucets
• Granite slab countertops

Luxurious Features and Attention to Detail:

• 10-foot ceilings
• Durable and beautiful ceramic flooring
• Dual-glazed Milgard windows
• Dual-glazed sliders
• Gas fireplace in Family Room with pre-cast surrounds
• Functionally superior laundry rooms (with sink, granite countertops and backsplashes, and loads of storage space)
• Energy-saving lighting systems incorporating fluorescent bulbs, motion detectors, and dimmer switches in various locations
• Efficient forced-air heating and cooling system with dual-zone capabilities
• Finished garage including texturizing and paint
• Tasteful stairways and handrails
• Large capacity hot water heater
• Elegant crown moldings in main rooms
• High baseboards throughout home
• Extra wide door casings
• Smooth interior doors
• Striking oversized entryway door
• Professionally engineered post-tension slab foundations
• Reinforced concrete driveways
• Complete home wiring system including convenient plug and play locations, phone jacks, CAT5 wiring
• fire suppression sprinkler system

Note: all finishes, amenities, features and options subject to change without notice.

Hamilton Field is a vibrant community with a richly varied assortment of things to do and see. The communities are cohesive and inviting. The Landing at Hamilton’s location at the rear of Hamilton Field is fantastic and within easy walking distance of many of the amenities noted below, including the pool, South Hamilton Park, the baseball field, open grass fields, and the Bay Trail. Come and experience it for yourself.

Hamilton Field Amenities

• Several Parks, Baseball Field, Tot Lots, Amphitheater, Pool, YMCA, Public Library, Art Museum, Hamilton Café, dozens of businesses located in the Hangars, Little League, Soccer Fields, Racquetball Courts, Tennis Courts, Basketball Courts, Gymnasium, Trails, Public Transportation, Airport Shuttle, and more.

Nearby Amenities

• Hamilton Marketplace (Safeway with Starbucks and Jamba Juice, Petfood Express, Peet’s Coffee, Toast, La Boulange, Moto Pasta, Yogenfruz, Massage, Verizon Store, and gas station, among others), Marriot Courtyard, and numerous resaurants (California cuisine, steakhouse, sushi, pizza, assorted fast food), Paradise Foods, banking, cleaners, and more.

Other Shopping

• The ever-popular Vintage Oaks Shopping Center is in close proximity. Here, you can find just about anything you need or want.  There are 55 stores and restaurants: Costco, Sports Authority, Target, BevMo, GNC, Old Navy, Sephora, Ross, Marshalls, Macy’s Home Store, Pasta Pomodoro, Sushiholic, Chevy’s, IHOP, and more.

A Few Thoughts From Current Hamilton Field Residents

From the moment we first heard about Hamilton, we knew it was the perfect community for us.  Life here is idyllic – the climate, the green space, the wetlands restoration project, the countless amenities, the history of the airfield, the proximity of San Francisco and Wine Country, the unequaled elementary school and the warm, loving neighbors who have become our dear friends – make this a community unlike any other.  We can’t imagine living anywhere else.

The Winnett Family

When I was relocated to a job in San Francisco, we did a lot of research and took our time finding the right place to raise our family. Eventually, we focused on South Gate in Hamilton Field and were fortunate enough to find the right home for us there. The peace and quiet, new pool, parks, fields, and trails are an easy 1 or 2 minute walk from our front door, and only a few of the reasons why we love it here.  The people in our neighborhood are great and there is a real sense of community — everyone looks out for everyone else. It is remarkable in that respect and reminds me of the old neighborhoods where we grew up as children.

Since we moved into Hamilton Field, getting to work each morning has improved in a meaningful way (they completed a new lane on HWY 101 in each direction in 2009). I drive about 20 minutes and get on the Ferry in Larkspur, which takes me to the Financial District. Not only is it quick and easy, but it is a relatively stress-free commute. The other major change to our community has been the addition of Hamilton Marketplace, which has virtually everything we need, including a very upscale Safeway, great restaurants, and a Peet’s Coffee (Paradise Foods also just opened close by). And, of course, Costco, Target, and a host of other stores are within minutes. Simply put, when Kyle asked if we would be willing to write about why we love Hamilton Field, we had no hesitation. It turned out to be a wonderful place to live and raise our family next to great neighbors.

The Van Balen Family

We chose Hamilton as a place to reside based upon its close proximity to SF and the Napa Valley. The general architecture of the homes within the community and its family oriented atmosphere also appealed to us. We have found our neighbors to be warm and friendly. The setting, the former Hamilton Field Air base, along with the open parks, also add to its charm.

Randy Bryant & Lynelle Takigawa

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Kyle Frazier, CRS (Morgan Lane Real Estate)

Tel./Text: (415) 350-9440

Website: www.TheLandingNovato.com

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The information contained herein, as well as that posted to Facebook, Twitter, and other sites associated with The Landing at Hamilton, has not been verified by listing broker and is not guaranteed. Prices, designs, features, and specifications are subject to change without notice. All square footage is approximate per plans and builder and is subject to change without notice. Buyer is advised to conduct all investigations deemed necessary relating to The Landing at Hamilton Field and Hamilton Field, Novato. Hamilton Feld is located Marin County, California (San Francisco’s "North Bay"), about 19 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Landing at Hamilton Field, a luxurious enclave of twenty-seven homes set for a secord quarter release in 2010, is tucked away at the rear of Hamilton Field, adjacent to the future site of the Bay Trail. Premium levee locations will provide views from the upstairs out across the Bayside open space

Importance of Listing Prices on Sellers’ Net (Mill Valley Example)

Barring special circumstances, there is generally nothing more important to sellers than the net amount of funds they retain when their home is sold. As every real estate professional will attest, pricing correctly for the market at the outset of the listing period is far and away the most important factor in the sales process — as they say, "price conquers all buyer objections."

Each year in the real estate industry, numerous books are written, classes are taught, and sermons are delivered on the topic of pricing. Managers implore their agents to advise their clients about the dangers of over-pricing and agents natter on amongst themselves about the importance of this element of the home sales process.

Nonetheless, homes come on the market that are overpriced based on recent market data. And this injures not just the sellers, who end up netting less on the sale of their home, but it collaterally hurts the listing agent’s reputation, the neighborhood’s reputation, and the morale of buyers and sellers (who are understandably frustrated by incorrect pricing, although for different reasons). 

The image below is a snapshot of just how big a hit sellers take when they price incorrectly in the Mill Valley, California real estate market for homes between $1 million and $2 million (based on sales from January 1, 2009 to October 7, 2009).

For example, if a home sells within the first 30-days, those sellers received an average of ~97% of list price. I think all would agree that is a great result! At the other end of the spectrum, homes sitting on the market for over 120-days, sold for 82% of list price. Those are startling figures.  

 

Let’s do a touchstone example with easy math — we have a house that I estimate should sell for about $1 million. 

• Option 1: The sellers go with my suggested list price of $1 million — because it is priced approprately, it sells after the 1st open house for $997,000 (e.g., 97%).
• Option 2: The sellers decide to list it at $1.1 million (to test the market and/or to allow "wiggle room" in negotiations) and it takes 5 months to sell — eventually, it sells for $902,000 (e.g., 82% of list price).

The takeaway: By pricing correctly at outset, not only do the sellers net $95,000 more for the sale of their home, but they also avoid the massive inconvenience of prolonged marketing (open houses, showings, and general anxiety — and you can’t put a price on that). 

By: Kyle Frazier, CRS (Christie’s Great Estates | Morgan Lane Marin Real Estate). Kyle is a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist and is available for counselling and selling services in Marin County, California. 

 

Coveted Baywood Canyon Estates Home For Sale (Fairfax, CA.)

Situated at the entrance to the coveted Baywood Canyon Estates, this meticulously renovated residence boasts sophisticated, timeless finishes throughout.  Great scale, and large, light filled open spaces are evident throughout the +-3346 square foot home.  Designed to take advantage of the central courtyard, all of the home’s main rooms open to large, level areas for outdoor entertaining.  The completely level +-1.8 acre property offers a sprawling level lawn, large patios and lovely, mature gardens.  Located just steps to the famed equestrian center, hiking trails and community pool, this residence affords the new owner a resort like lifestyle just 15 minutes from highway 101 and 45 minutes from San Francisco.

Marin Kids More Fit

In addition to scoring at the very top in all academic categories (in relation to other areas of California), Marin County parents, children, and school administrators can take pride in also developing some of the healthiest and most physically active kids in California. 

Marin kids scored higher on all physical categories and in all grades. No small wonder. Marin is known for plentiful parks, virtually unlimited outdoor activities, and is characterized by the active and progressive nature of its inhabitants–some would say Marin is "just a little out there" (side note: yesterday, the Marin Tourism Bureau announced that the phrase "Marin — just a little out there" would be the new branding statement for the County’s tourism platform …). 

About 86% of Bel Aire fifth-graders achieved scores in the state’s "healthy fitness zone" in six categories – aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk extension strength, upper body strength and flexibility. Fifth-graders at the Tiburon school outperformed both the Marin average of 39.1% and the state average of 28.5%.

The state’s "healthy fitness zone" represents a level of fitness thought to provide some protection from potential health risks – such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease – posed by inactivity, and is intended to encourage students to develop lifetime habits of diet and exercise. More than 1.3 million students took the test statewide last spring.

Marin students did better in all three grade levels tested. In body fat composition, 84% of the county’s fifth-graders, 73% of seventh-graders and 80% of high school freshmen scored in the "healthy" zone, as compared with 68 percent of fifth-graders, 68% of seventh-graders and 70% of freshmen statewide.

The Reed Union School District had Marin’s highest percentages of elementary students meeting all six criteria, while the Tamalpais Union High School District had the highest fitness percentage for high school students.

Comprehensive test results are available online at www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/pf/

 *Article derived from Marin IJ, 11/26/08. 

Marin County Comprehensive Statistical Information

For information detailing your specific neighborhood or town of interest, please feel free to call on any of Frank Howard Allen Realtors’ amazing agents. We are supplied with the best tools. Given the best training. And are fortified with the experience and judgment you need. It is always our pleasure to be of service.

For more information about the Bay Area’s North Bay (Marin, Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino Counties), feel free to call or e-mail me (see contact information below). If I can’t help you directly, I can put you in touch with someone who can … and will. 

About Frank Howard Allen Realtors

• Kyle Frazier, CRS & Broker Associate.
• Call anytime: 415/350–9440.
• [email protected]

Marin County, California — “Best Place to Raise Kids,” Says Forbes Magazine

Forbes Magazine’s assessment of Marin County as a place to raise children follows: “If money were no object, Marin would be tops on our list.” 

And the article goes on to state that “[Marin] offers the best education in the country, with a 97% graduation rate and a list-topping SAT score of 1,133.” Of course, with a median home price of $901,900, Marin is also the highest priced County on the list.

Nonetheless, I think that Forbes got it half-right. I say that despite the relatively high homes prices, Marin is hands-down America’s Best Place To Raise A Family!

Lets Review Forbes’ Accolades For Marin During The Past Year

Earlier this year Marin County was also identified as one of America’s Richest Counties by Forbes. In addition, Belvedere and Ross were named by Forbes as Top Suburbs to Live Well (for San Francisco). And while we are talking about Ross, it was also named as one of the Most Expensive Zip Codes by Forbes.

And finally, as readers of my articles will recall, last July Forbes announced that Marin County, California has one of “The Best School Districts For The Buck” in the entire country.

Call Kyle Frazier, CRS / Realtor, Frank Howard Allen (415) 350–9440 for more information.

Marin County (July 4th Celebrations)

Independence Day is a heartbeat away and one of the beauties of life in the North Bay is the variety of fun events that our charming communities organize at this time of year. Read on to learn of the many unique ways to observe this all-American holiday. Happy Fourth!
 
Corte Madera-Larkspur
43rd Annual Corte Madera/Larkspur Chambers of Commerce 4th of July Parade – Elaborate floats, precision drill teams, classic cars and the Corte Madera Town Band.
Parade Time: 10:30 am
Route: From Redwood High in Larkspur, it moves down Magnolia into Corte Madera and continues down Tamalpais Ave to the Town Center.
Post-parade: Check out the festivities at Corte Madera’s Town Park: arts and crafts, food and drink, carnival games, children’s activities and live entertainment.
Info: (415) 924-0441.

Novato
16th Annual 4th of July Parade – Come see over 100 parade entries ranging from classic cars and vehicles from a military museum to Irish bagpipes and a Chinese drum and bell corps.
Parade Time: 10 am
Route: Downtown Novato, starting at the corner of Grant and Railroad Avenues  
Along the parade route, you will also find food and refreshment booths, and souvenir t-shirts.
Info: (415) 899-8900.

The 55th Annual Buckaroo Breakfast
Location: Redwood Credit Union parking lot: 1010 Grant Ave, downtown Novato
Time: Breakfast served from 7-10 am
Organizer: The event is presented by the Presbyterian Church of Novato.
Fee: There is a suggested donation of $5 for adults, $3 for kids. Proceeds will be donated to the Marin Community mission project.

First Annual Novato 4th of July Race
Tamalpa, a Marin running club, presents a “4 on the 4th” four-mile road race and a “Mayor’s Mile” one-mile family walk/jog.
Starting time/place: 7:20 am at 7th and Grant, downtown Novato
Entry fee: $15, which includes a race mug and post-race goodies 

Petaluma
SesquiFest – This year, Petaluma is observing its 150th anniversary, and they’re making a joint celebration to go along with Independence Day. The day starts off with a 10K run at Putnam Park, then the celebration moves over to the Marin-Sonoma Fairgrounds for live music, fun for kids, food and fireworks display.
Location: The Sonoma-Marin (Petaluma) Fairgrounds, entry on E. Washington & Ellis Streets
Fee: $5 admission, free for kids under 13
Time: Gates open at 3pm; fireworks after dark
 

Ross
Annual Ross Commons Picnic – Pack your own lunch, or you can order from Eddie’s. The picnic begins at noon and will take place at the Grove area of the Common.

Info: (415) 453-1453, ext. 176
 
San Rafael
Marin County Fair and Fireworks
The Marin County Fair (at Marin County Fairgrounds, Civic Center Drive) offers Marin County’s official fireworks display. The July 4th concert features the Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans.
Fair admission: $12 to $14, and includes free carnival rides, exhibits, and music
Fireworks begin at 9:30 pm
Info: (415) 499-6400

Santa Rosa
5th Annual Bicycle Santa Rosa - 4th Of July Festival And Bike Ride
The celebration begins with a bike ride with elected officials and candidates. The festival will feature live music and vendors, a bike decorating contest and parade for kids, a slow bike race, a flat tire changing contest, water balloon toss, a jump house, various art activities, drawings for prizes and more. SCBC will provide free valet bike parking.
Bike Ride Time & Place:  9am at Julliard Park, returning around 11 am
Festival: 11 am-3 pm
Info: (707) 545-0153
 
Sausalito
4th of July Parade and Fireworks – This year’s parade will include the Cal Alumni Marching Band, floats of all shapes and sizes, and the Sausalito Fire Department.
Parade Time: 10 am
Route: Starting at South Bridgeway, it will move through downtown Sausalito to Caledonia St and into Dunphy Park.
Post Parade: A town picnic in the park with food, entertainment, raffles, tug-of-war, and an egg toss. Fireworks: 9:15 pm
For a complete schedule of the day’s events, go to www.ci.sausalito.ca.us

Sonoma
4th of July Parade & Old Fashioned Celebration – Complete with booths, food, art show, games, music by the Hometown Band, Crossfire and Carlos Herrera. After dark there are fireworks at the field by General Vallejo’s house (east of the plaza).
Location: Sonoma Plaza
 
Tiburon
Fireworks Cruise – One of the best ways to see the San Francisco fireworks display is from the Bay! The Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry Co. will offer a 4th of July fireworks cruise.
Boarding Time: 7:30 pm and departs at 8 pm
Place: The Tiburon ferry dock off Main Street
Fee: $40 for adults; $20 for children
Info:  (415) 435-2131.Woodacre
4th of July Parade and Pancake Breakfast
Breakfast Time & Place: 8-11 am at the Woodacre Fire Station, 33 Castle Rock Rd.
Cost: $7 for adults; $3 for children
Parade Time: Noon
Route: Starting at the Woodacre Improvement Club (1 Garden Way), it follows Railroad Ave to the Dickson Ranch.
Post-Parade: A good old-fashioned celebration at Dickson Ranch – A family affair with games, face painting for the kids, competitions (including the men’s ugly leg contest), horse rides, plenty of music, barbecue, bingo, and everyone’s favorite, the flea market. 

Real Estate Hits Slack Tide, Investors Jump Back In

The Earth rotates around the sun, the moon waxes and wanes, tides rise and fall—an intricate, yet simple relationship based on gravity. Real estate, if a less predictable system of variation, is much the same.

While I don’t know why the Bay of Fundy in Canada exhibits such a dramatic tidal range (click here for more on that), or why other places have very slight tidal changes, I do know that the tidal phenomenon is rooted in gravity. Similarly, money and its availability acts as gravity in real estate.  

For example, in some markets (let’s call them “Fundy Markets”), as banks clamped down on money, prices went into a freefall. 35%-50% price reductions exist in many markets across California, Nevada, Florida, and elsewhere. These Fundy Markets were also the beneficiaries of dramatic gains when the market was on its sustained rocket ride (fueled by low cost money) into the stratosphere during the early 2000s—a time of laissez faire lending practices.

On the other hand, some local markets (I refer to these as “Kevlar Markets” because they are largely bulletproof) around the country have felt a minimal effect from the clamp-down on money. Areas such as San Francisco (and surrounding counties like Marin, San Mateo, and Santa Clara) have experienced limited price declines. Banker money just doesn’t impact Kevlar Markets as they do Fundy Markets.

Real Estate Prices Rise and Fall Like the Tide.

Low tide is interesting (and in real estate, often heartbreaking). Things become visible that were hidden before. For most people, the inter-tidal zone is a source of curiosity—many folks are now out looking to buy distressed homes and 30–minute television commercials show how (for a small fee) you can learn the secret to buying homes at auction or via some other semi-exotic method for pennies on the dollar. For these people, it is interesting to watch the drama unfold. Indeed, sometimes after a big storm and at low tide an old sunken ship may pop up out of the sand, something that people haven’t seen for decades. And this is the kind of stuff that happens when money is not available. And of course, unusual things are being observed today in real estate.

But, “slack tide” is also appropriately called the “turning tide.” It is the point at which a low tide stops and begins to turn around. This is important because for some people slack tide is a source of wealth. Within one-hour of San Francisco (because I sell homes in Marin County, part of the San Francisco North Bay region, it is an area I can speak to with authority) there are numerous areas where single family homes, condos, and multi-unit prices have plummeted in a Fundy-like fashion such that with 25% down, the properties are in the black. And, investors are starting to notice.

Even local small-scale investors who belong to investment groups or other real estate advice groups have, within the past month or so, begun making offers and snatching up properties at a fearsome rate. These are the people who have been telling me for 2 years that they think prices will continue to drop. I don’t hear that anymore. The result is that many low-end properties are seeing 5, 10, or even as many as 20 offers—how’s that for a slack tide oddity?

Although reluctantly and after an often excruciating underwriting process, banks are opening up the vaults for more people. More money means more sales, which in turn stabilizes prices, which instills confidence in others to go ahead and write offers. Pretty soon, even the media will recognize this and begin publishing stories with a positive spin on real estate. And then things will truly turn around, in Fundy and Kevlar Markets alike.

After all, long term appreciation in real estate is virtually an immutable natural law. And while there is no table or graph or other source of information that can definitively inform us when we have hit bottom in real estate, investors know that timing is everything and that gravity will pull prices back up if given a little time.

by: Kyle Frazier, CRS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors, Broker Associate) — (415) 350–9440; [email protected]; NorthBayRE.com 

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