FEB 2007 VS. FEB 2008

I just looked at some every interesting statistics comparing sale bewteen February 2007 and February 2008. The upshot is homes are staying on the market longer but are still holding their prices fairly well. Take a look for yourself:

MARIN COUNTY SALE COMPARISON

SOLD PROPERTIES - FEB. 2007 VERSUS 2008

FEBURARY 2007

TOTAL PROPERTIES SOLD: 185

AVERAGE: List Price: $1,154,785 SalesPrice: $1,119,652 Days on Market: 84

MEDIAN: List Price: $ 869,000 Sales Price: $ 850,000 Days on Market: 57

HIGH: List Price: $9,980,000 Sales Price: $9,000,000 Days on Market: 471

LOW: List Price: $ 200,000 Sales Price: $ 180,000 Days on Market: 0

ADJ. AVG: List Price: $1,111,777 Sales Price: $1,081,725 Days on Market: 102

FEBRUARY 2008

Total properties sold: 121

AVERAGE: List Price: $1,231,724 Sales Price: $1,169,327 Days on Market: 100

MEDIAN: List Price: $ 810,000 Sales Price: $ 824,000 Days on Market: 91

HIGH: List Price: $10,000,000 Sales Price: $8,500,000 Days on Market: 401

LOW: List Price: $ 175,000 Sales Price: $ 138,000 Days on Market: 0

ADJ. AVG: List Price: $1,166,921 Sales Price: $1,116,391 Days on Market: 102

SEE WHAT I MEAN?!

Off topic...but on point

Today I went to the memorial service of a truly great lady. I say lady and she was, even though that title is usually reserved for much older people, which she wasn't. She was far too young to have left us. Susan was a client, but she was also someone I considered more than that. I came to love her and her family and I am deeply saddened.

Real Estate is ultimately about people's lives and the communities in which they live. Susan enriched her community, and was starting a career that surely would have enriched us all. She was on track at UCSF to become a nurse. In her name there has been a fund established to provide scholarship money to a deserving nursing student at UCSF. It is a highly worthwhile cause, in the name of someone who touched many lives. If you can send a donation to;

The Susan L. Shulman Foundation

c/o The Horton Family
14 Lower Drive
Mill Valley, CA 94941

I wrote something because I kept seeing this vision of Susan, after I heard about her passing. Some people are so vibrant that when they leave they leave traces of color and light in your mind you can't stop seeing. Anyway...

Today I pictured Susan, standing in a field of shimmering sunflowers. The sky was as blue as her eyes. Her cheeks were flushed from having finished a long run. There was a twinkle in her eye and a smile that floated across her face. She spoke softly in a whisper and said not to cry. "The day is long, the sun is warm and there are adventures to be had."

I watched as she twirled in a circle and threw back her head to laugh. She strode away with a flower in her hand, and seemed to disappear in a swirl of blue and gold.

What happens in Vegas, gets talked about!

She's back!
As some of you know I just got back from a convention in Vegas. The GMAC company (Pacific Union's parent company) put on this annual event entitled "Experience 2008". Well, since I hadn't been in Vegas since 1977, the trip definately was an experience. Back then I gambled all night on $25 (now the cost of a margarita!) Back then the show I went to see was Steve and Eydie, This time it was "Le Reve " Quite a difference!




But enough about the distractions, let me tell you about what I learned. I learned that Pacific Union is the horse, and the rest of the country is the cart. Alot of the technology that was discussed is OLD technology to us, but to the rest of the country it is emerging. I learned that some of the OLD ideas are very important to remember. I listened to two truly wonderful speakers. One emphasized relationships with your clients (I believe in that). The other reminded me that we choose our limitations. We choose to be victims or victors.

Charlie Plumb, was a fighter pilot in Vietnam. He was shot down over North Vietnam 5 days before his tour of duty was complete. He spent the next 6 years in a cell - the cell was 8x5. Charlie reminded us that we can create our own limitations (limitations of the mind). How do you react to your circumstances, are you the victim or the victor? Read more about Charlie at http://www.charlieplumb.com/







Jeffrey Gitomer wrote the best selling book, "The Little Red Book of Selling" His presentation spoke of relations that you build and the importance, especially now to build that on common ground. Humor is not to be discounted as a tool for life. And as I was so happy to hear reinterated, "Everything being equal, people want to do business with their friends. Everything being unequal, people still want to do business with their friends." And... the goal should be not statisfied customers, but loyal ones. Satisfaction can lead to loyalty, but for this business, its loyaty you are aiming for. (Here he made reference to a statisfied or loyal spouse, and which you would prefer to have.)

Our office took home the prize as the #4 office in Gross Commission revenue in the GMAC network. I as an individual was 62th on the list. I am proud to be part of such a successful team!

Now it's back to work. Our CEO John Bearden reminded us this is a year of challenges, but it is also a year of opportunity. I wholeheartedly agree. I believe for home buyers this is an EXCELLENT time to buy. I also believe there is no where better to buy than the Bay Area and in particular Marin. For sellers, realistic expectations will lead to unqualified success. Here's to a great year ahead. I am energized and ready for the future. (okay I did lose a little $ in the casinos, so a sold house or two would be very much appreciated!)

Gifts, given and received

I am in a helping profession. Maybe some people think Real Estate agents' goals are to protect their own interests, but I disagree. The vast majority of people who came to this business joined it because they wanted to help other people reach their goals. There are a lot of pleasers (read: incredibly giving people) in Real Estate. Honestly, all you have to do is look at how these people respond when they see a true need. There have been many times when I have seen the community step up to the plate to help a colleague in need. If you did a survey of Realtors to see how many support very vital causes, both financially and personally, I am certain most people would be amazed. This is truly one under-rated profession.

This profession saw a boom in the numbers of new agents in the past 7 years. It seems everyone wanted to be a Realtor. Many people who joined in search of quick cash will find out soon, this business is misunderstood. In my opinion we will begin to see the number of Realtor dwindle as reality sets in. A true professional puts their clients interests above their own, and as the market tightens that will be difficult for some people to do. Those who hang in there will seek solutions to the problems the market presents, they will assist any way they can. And as they do this, they can overcome obstacles for their client, they can help them achieve their Real Estate goals. It is through this truly special kind of relationship that I have come to love this job. It is because of these relationships that I have found some lasting friendships.

Often we over look the help that is right in front of us. I certainly could name one or two people in my personal life who find it hard to accept help. But what we discover is when we do accept the help thats offered, you are in fact giving the other person your own gift. When a gift is accepted and appreciated, fulfillment follows.

We're not in Kansas

CLICK ON THE MAGIC SLIPPERS

FOR THE LATEST MARIN STATISTICS!

Well here they are! The latest Marin statistics. If you take a moment and click on the magic slippers, you will be able to see for yourself how Marin REALLY is doing. Too often the news in the papers leaves one feeling as if we are in a whirling house in the middle of a tornado. Just like Dorothy we are flying through the air without any control. When you finally are on the ground, you feel as if you aren't in Kansas anymore.

Not in Kansas, well, I should say not. Marin is its own place. Although we have seen a slowing in the past month, we are still holding our own. Fewer homes sell, but when they do, they are selling at fair prices. With mortgages at historic low rates, Buyers are in a unique position to get the home of their dreams, perhaps at the price the home would have sold for in the beginning of last year, in some cases lower. If you have seen in Marin as long as I have then you know, that opportunity will not last forever. Prices will rise. They always do.

Are you one of those people who wish that had bought a bigger home, a newer home or even just any home years ago. You know then that they only person who has regrets in regards to Real Estate in Marin would be the one who never bought any. (Ok, there are some people who had risky mortgages, and bought at the height of the market, perhaps overbidding on a property - but those are the minority here in Marin)

If you have been putting off buying a home. Don't make the mistake of waiting too long. Once this opportune time passes don't live in the land of "should have,. would have, could have."

Buy the house this year and then say, just like Dorothy and so many Marinites have said,

"There's no place like home."

Very Interesting.....

I was pulling together some statistics for a meeting I will be having on Thursday and I did a short evaluation of prices since 2000 in one neighborhood. Marinview is a wonderful enclave of homes ajacent to the National Recreation Area. Built in the early 70's, the homes are growing increasingly unique as improvements are made to many. The close commute and proximity to nature is truly a wonderful blessing. I currently have listed a 1625 sq ft townhome priced at $846,000. Back in 2000 this home would have been priced in the mid $500,000s.

Since 2000 the prices have gone up 65% for a detached single family home and 60% for an attached home. Do the math! Not only is Real Estate a wonderful investment, beating most stocks by yards and yards, but the added benefit is you get to enjoy your investment!

What about the market downturn I heard about on TV. Well, yes there is some evidence of longer times on market in this desirable neighborhood. Homes will now sell at a reasonable price and in a reasonable amount of time. It was getting to be that a listing would sell in 2 weeks time. Now our time on market is more like the average of the past 40 years. The average time on market over this time period is 4.5 months.

This is time for sellers to realistic about price and timing. Sellers need to find the person who will use every tool available to keep the house in people's minds. They need to make the home as available as possible. Patience is something severely lacking in the recent Real Estate boom. Now its time to head back to earth, and be thankful for the incredible gains realized. For those people who bought when the market was hot, and now worry their investment is at risk, take a look at the long picture. There is no better place to own Real Estate than Marin.

October in Real Estate

The following is a recap from Avram Goldman of Pacific Union. Avram takes a look each month at the entire Bay Area. What you will note is the higher priced counteis are fairing better than other counties. This is because the recent tighting of mortgage money has not hit the higher end Buyer like it has the more moderately priced homes. You will find this trend even in Marin, where Novato's sales and prices are off while the prices in other parts of Marin have risen.

"Here is how each county fared for the month of October. The numbers are based on sales of single family homes and condos. As I stated above sales prices for the majority of counties did well. I will give both the median and average sales price percentages. The first number will be median and the second average. San Mateo county lead with +14%/+18.7%, Marin +8.4%/+15%,
Santa Clara +7%/+11% and San Francisco +5.4%/+11%. All these counties have the highest prices in the Bay Area. This shows the strength of the upper end markets. There is a great deal of wealth in the Bay Area due to the tech industry, venture capital and export/import businesses. Alameda county (+8%/+4%) although down on median was up on average again reflecting part of
the influence from the expense markets in No. Alameda county. Three counties were down Napa slightly at -2%/-.5%, Sonoma -8.6%/-10.6%, Contra Costa -10.6%/-2% and the hardest hit county Solano at -18.5%/-23%.

Number of closed sales was off significantly year over year for October; however seven of the nine counties were up month over month. The first number given is year over year for October and the second number is month over month Sept. to October. The leader in being least off from last year is San Francisco -11%/+21.5% followed by San Mateo -33%/-1%, Marin -34%/+21%, San Mateo -38%/+9%, Sonoma -40%/+2%, Napa -44%/+31%, Alameda -46%/+8%, Contra
Costa -48%/-3% and Solano -56%/-13.5%.

Months supply of inventory (MSI) gives us a picture of the type of market each of our counties are in---seller’s, balanced or buyer’s market. Three months and under is a seller’s market, 4-6 months a balanced market, 6-10 months a buyer’s market and over 10 months a strong buyer’s market. MSI is higher in every county this year compared to last year. I will note that San Francisco and Marin counties were only slightly higher than last year’s supplies. All counties were down in MSI Sept. compared to October which is a positive sign. The only county still considered in a seller’s market is San Francisco at with a 3 MSI. Only San Mateo county at 5.2 MSI is in a balanced market. Santa Clara 7.5 and Alameda 8.7 MSI are in a buyer’s market. Sonoma 10.2, Napa 13.4 and Solano 15.1 MSI find themselves in a strong buyer’s market. As a reminder these are county-wide figures. Within each of these markets there can be diversity. Meaning that in a seller’s market county you may have specific markets that have higher inventories and conversely within a buyer’s market you may find specific markets that have smaller inventories. "