This whole week October 19th, through October 23rd, 2009 I am re-taking my Accreditited Staging Professional MASTER Class for continuing ed.  It has been the best week so far.  New and more updated information since my last ASP MASTER's class. It is being held in Atlanta, GA. I am so thankful to be here with the class and of course with Barb our trainer, founder and CEO of Stagedhomes.com.  I have met some of the most amazing women here in the class.  They are so talented and I know they will be awesome ASP MASTER'S.  They will bring honor to the name and to Stagedhomes.com. I hope to continue to stay in touch with each one of them. I am excited to get back to California and share all the new information with everyone.  I will continue to write more as learn more.   STAGE WITH DIVINE ST... 10/22/2009

“Give Yourself a Raise. Move to Novato.”   Entering into the dormancy season for Marin County real estate, it appears that certain “hotspots” remain — Novato is one of them. In September 2009, 35 Novato homes sold, compared with 38 sales in August 2009. The Novato real estate market derives its strength from entry level home sales. The number of homes actively listed in Novato remains very low compared with the rest of Marin (and the percentage of homes in escrow is much higher than the rest of Marin) because of exceptional demand based on affordability and the ongoing fantastically low interest rates. While the average sales price of Novato homes rose in August to a remarkable $713,440 (based in large part to the makeup of sales), that number fell back to Earth in September — $646,389... 10/15/2009

Southern Novato will soon benefit from another grocery store — the highly anticipated Paradise Foods is scheduled to open next week, according to the Marin IJ. I drive by the site regularly and sure enough it is looking good. The entire shopping center (on Ignacio, just west of HWY 101), which lost its anchor tenant Safeway last year (Safeway opened its mega-store across HWY 101 at Hamilton Center — it is the best Safeway in Marin, by all accounts), is looking great. Below is the article from the IJ — note the shameless self promotion near the bottom of the article …. Paradise Foods, Novato 10/12/2009

As of October 9, 2009 an impressive 52% of available listings in Novato are in escrow. For the month of September 2009 57 homes sold in Novato for an average final selling price of $514,896. The average original asking price of these homes was $543,678. The range of final selling prices was from a low of $103,500 to a high of $1,225,000. Of the 57 homes that sold (28 of which were distress sales) 4 sold at the original asking price and 17 sold for over the original asking price.  All others sold for less. It took these homes an average of 120 days to sell. To see everything that is currently for available for sale on our MLS, click here. For more information about this area visit my website or feel free to contact me directly. 10/09/2009

Novato Open House 10-11-09 Price Reduced on Luxury Horse Property   This Stunning Property has been reduced and is open this Sunday from 1 to 4 PM.  Gourmet Kitchen, Pool, Decks, Hot Tub, Room for Horses, Expansive Lawns, Prk Like Setting, Creek Runs Through Property. There is more here than I can tell you about in this exciting Novato Home with first rate schools.  Come by 2424 Vineyard Road in Novato this Sunday from 1 to 4 PM. Or you can call 800-950-6159 ext 1002 for Recorded Information and to arrange a Private Showing. See the Web Site at www.2424Vineyard.com See My Post on this Home.     10/05/2009

Wow, it's a neighborhood! Check out the new homes at Olive Court and learn about a special opportunity for the homeowners' association... www.OliveCourtHomes.com Kevin McGinnis Frank Howard Allen Realtors (415) 725-1911 09/30/2009

Pre-sales are underway!  This is the last week to take advantage of the low introductory prices (starting at $799,000) on the last 6 homes being built - the ones you can customize now! Nowhere else in Marin can you buy a brand new home, semi-customized, for less than $900,000. Check out these new pictures of the construction progress! Olive Court is a brand new community of nine eco-friendly homes in Novato, just 25 miles north of San Francisco in lovely Marin County. Most back to open space! http://OliveCourtHomes.com   Select your own finishes on these homes:7 Olive Ct: Now $899,000 (5 bedrooms/4 baths, 3,163 sf, Lot: 12,559 sf) 3 fireplaces!10 Olive Ct: Now $899,000 (5 bedrooms/4 baths, 3,163 sf, Lot: 9,240 sf)11 Olive Ct: Now $899,000 (5 bedrooms/4 baths, 3,444 sf, Lot: 9,742 sf )15... 09/29/2009

Heading into the High Fire Season in Marin County, this seems to be a good time to reintroduce the guideline on how to mow the grass in Marin County, especially the properties that are next to Open Space.  The guideline was established by the the Marin County Department of Parks and Open Space. This letter is especially critical at this time of year when fire risk is increasing; especially since Marin county is agian, facing a very dry summer season. The information below can be found on Marin County website Wildfire Safety Information as well. Excerpt from Marin County Open Space District: GUIDELINES FOR MOWING GRASS ON MARIN COUNTY OPEN SPACE DISTRICT LAND ADJACENT TO YOUR HOME It is extremely important that your clearance work does not start a fire and that you follow the guidelines ... 09/29/2009

Novato Foreclosures List - Single Family Homes For Sale "Your complete source for Marin foreclosure listings."   September 21, 2009 Please click this link to view ALL bank-owned (REO) properties currently on the MLS. These are "active" status and listed as available for purchase. NOVATO FORECLOSURES: SINGLE FAMILY HOMES  (5 total) TO SEE any of these properties, or for more information, please contact Kevin by phone or email: kmcginnis@fhallen.com or (415) 725-1911  Search the entire MLS... go to BestHomesMarin.com     09/21/2009

Novato Short Sale List - Single Family Homes For Sale "Your complete source for Marin short sale listings."   September 21, 2009 What is a short sale? It's where the sellers owe more on their mortgage than the house is now worth, so they must ask the bank to accept less when they sell. These are often "pre-foreclosure" properties. The major banks are starting to see the light, favoring and encouraging short sales versus foreclosures. That's good news for everyone, including buyers because it should shorten the buying process. Now, a typical short sale can take 2-4 months to close. Short sales can present a great opportunity for home buyers because the seller's emotion is taken out of the equation, and the price becomes all about market value based on recent sales (and not what the selle... 09/21/2009

I have written in past months about the high level of competition in Novato, California’s entry level real estate market. This trend continues into Q3 2009. In August 2009, 38 Novato homes sold. This is down from 47 sales in July and the same as in June. Many of these sold properties were bargain basement homes that were in some of distress. But, the inventory continues its rapid absorption as pent up demand, historically low interest rates, the First Time Homebuyer Credit, and increased affordability carry the day. Continuing on a trend noted last month, the average sales price of Novato homes rose. In August 2009, the average price for a Novato home was $ 713,440. That is up from $632,078 in July  and from $622,000 in June. While this large bump may be anomolous, the fact it follows ... 09/17/2009

As of September 11, 2009 an encouraging 49% of available listings are in escrow. For the month of August 2009 60 homes sold in Novato, for an average final selling price of $571,464. The average original asking price of these homes was $607,933. The range of final selling prices was from a low of $108,500 to a high of $2,100,000. Of the 60 homes that sold (with a whopping 34 of them being distress sales) 6 sold at their original asking price and 13 sold over their original asking price.  All others sold for less. It took these homes an average of 107 days to sell. To see everything that is currently available on our MLS click here. To learn more about this area visit my website or contact me directly. 09/12/2009

A semi uneventful but very busy week for the office, with one wonder property on the market - a deliberally priced low REO single family home next to Novato High School, lots of unfinished, unpermitted work.  The property commanded 23 offers in a few short days with several over asking, all cash offers.  Novato realtors are buzzing about this kind of trend for REO offers (other than one extremely low priced short sale home on Leland Drive a while back, none generated as much activity as this house).   An experienced and knowledgable local Realtor is ultra important in guiding you through this new real estate maze - Check with your Realtor on how to spot, evaluate and make strategic offers in the current market!  As you can see from the statistics below, percentage wise, there is not a ... 09/07/2009

Fabulous Mt. Burdell provides a gorgeous backdrop for City of Novato in the magnificant Marin County, San Francisco North Bay, CA. The pictures were taken in the summer, around the very desirable Partridge Knolls neighborhood, overlooking San Marin, showing the 'golden' state. During the raining season, the hills turns fresh and than jade, provides a refreshing look throughout the county. Mt. Burdell, being one of the 'younger' hills in Marin County, has oak trees dotted in various places, provides a lively and beautiful picture of the hills. 08/26/2009

Can't believe summer slips by so quickly!  I last posted Novato Statistics on April 1, 2009 and now is the later part of August.  Students are back in school and we are heading into fall.     During the past four months, with housing prices dropped 20%-30% and certain condos at 50% drop (the ones with problementic HOAs), stimulus plan, attraction of the 'up to $8,000 credit back', interest rate staying low, regular sellers holding onto their properties unless they have to sell; the supply remains low and demand has heightened.  All these contribute a shift in the percentage of houses under contract, moving most price ranges into the 'sellers' market, meaning % of houses under contract is great than 40%.     The only decrease in percent of pendings are the 700-800K range (inbetween star... 08/24/2009

August 21, 2009 -- It's amazing how quickly these homes go up! Olive Court is a new cul-de-sac community in east Novato, in lovely Marin County. Green construction. Visit our brand new website, http://olivecourthomes.com Listings courtesy Kevin McGinnis and Mike Cohen, Frank Howard Allen Realtors(415) 725-1911 08/21/2009

Novato public schools are back in session, and Duke, our beloved Laborator / Pointer mix is very happy that he gets to go to Dogbone Meadows Dog Park to see his best friend, Hunter, again.  Since Dogbone Dog Park is in the opposite direction of my house in Partridge Knolls, San Marin Area, to my work, Frank Howard Allen Realtors, Duke only gets to go there after I drop my younger son off at the local school which is just a block away from the park.  This means Duke has not been there for quite sometime :-(   The park is very popular, lots of dogs and their humen go there to hang out with their buddies.  The place can get overwhelming for Duke and I late afternoons after work.  I love going there in the mornings where things are calm, and there are only a few familiar dogs and very respo... 08/20/2009

August 17, 2009 -- At Olive Court, three homes have been completed, and now foundations are poured and framing is going up for the last six homes! Olive Court is a new cul-de-sac community in east Novato, in lovely Marin County. Visit our brand new website, wwww.OliveCourtHomes.com Listings courtesy Kevin McGinnis and Mike Cohen, Frank Howard Allen Realtors(415) 725-1911 or kmcginnis@fhallen.com 08/17/2009

Last month, for the first time since I began writing Novato monthly updates back in 2006, I stated that it appears that the Novato, CA. market (for single family homes) seems to be improving in two meaningful ways. Certainly, sales have risen from last year and we have several months of increasing sales (as the inventory of short sales and foreclosures is quickly snapped up by motivated buyers). But, perhaps even more importantly from the perspective of home owners, it also appears that prices at the entry level (e.g., properties priced below $500,000) have bottomed out. As evidenced by the chart below,the 90-day rolling average of Novato home prices has been rising since May 2009. Obviously, higher asking prices do not, ipso facto, result in higher sales prices (some local real estate... 08/17/2009

As of August 13, 2009 an impressive 47% of available listings in Novato are in escrow. For the month of July 2009 an encouraging 57 homes sold in Novato for an average final selling price of $572,231. The average original asking price of these homes was $621,450. The range of final selling prices was from a low of $187,000 to a high of $1,512,500. Of the 57 homes that sold, 5 sold at their original asking price and 15 sold over their original asking price.  All others sold for less. It took these homes an average of 107 days to sell. To search our MLS and see everything that is currently available for sale, click here. For more information about this area visit my website or feel free to contact me directly. 08/14/2009