San Rafael Real Estate Market Report (December 2008 Home Sales Update)

The San Rafael real estate market has been the model of consistency this year–up until last month. Although 29% of homes are currently in escrow in the low end (under $800,000), the rest of the market is at a standstill. In the $800,000 to $1 million range, we have 14% of homes in escrow. And when it comes to the higher end of the spectrum, the market is virtually flat-lining with just one home in escrow over $1 million. Nobody can recall a time where the market has exhibited such an utter lack of vitality. 

There are currently 20 houses on the market under $600,000, and another 25 under $750,000. As reported the past few months, it is apparent to me that buyers seem unimpressed with our San Rafael housing inventory and that these buyers are exploring Novato. Click HERE for my this month’s market report provided by www.Novato101.com. Perhaps this is in part due to the fact our San Rafael inventory is very low–just 141 units are currently on the market. I do expect a large uptick in listings come the new year as sellers who decided to sit out this past year begin testing the market early and buyers begin to take advantage of the ever-lower interest rates, which some predict may go down as far as 4%.  

Of the 19 homes that sold in November 2008 (26 sold in October), the average days on market was 123 days. These homes averaged about 2,159 square feet and sold for an average price of about $954,000–roughly $434 per sq. ft. San Rafael’s strongest micro-climate markets in November 2008 included Terra Linda, Peacock Gap, and Lucas Valley. For those of you who missed it last month, check out the October 2008 edition of Architectural Digest for some sublime examples of modern architecture, including an amazing prefab green home built by Marmol Radziner in the Utah desert.

If you have any questions regarding the current real estate market in San Rafael, California, please contact Kyle Frazier, Marin Realtor & CRS, Frank Howard Allen Realtors Marin: (415) 350-9440.