The Homes I sold in Marin……

2020 was a year to remember, or most likely to forget, but thankfully I was able to help some people find happiness in a new home.  But there were a lot of sleepless nights to get there.

So when the shut down happened in March 2020 Real Estate shut down too.  I had a family in escrow to sell their home and 2 weeks away from closing. They had just bought a new home and they had a bridge loan in place to help them transition.  I was concerned the county would not be able to process their deed and delay their close which would cause additional fees on their bridge loan. Oh no!  So I was able to negotiate a quicker close with the buyers and do an electronic close.  PHEW!

I had a repeat investor client purchase again, several first time home buyers relocating from the city, Marin residents looking for a larger home, and a Dad with his 2 teenagers move from their townhome to a single-family home so they can have their own backyard! But out of all the homes sold in 2020, one of my favorites is a young couple moving from the city and we had made several offers only to be outbid each time.  I searched off-market properties and found them their dream home and they moved in days before their first baby was born.  Again PHEW!

“Home” became the most important place in 2020. Preview how my clients bought and sold to find their perfect one! As a luxury Marin County Realtor, I can answer your questions about selling or buying Marin real estate to find your perfect home in 2021.

Useful Links

Search active listings: https://hollyinmarin.com

To connect with a trusted lender that can help your buying dreams come true:  https://crosscountrymortgage.com/Larkspur-CA-4078/Marney-Solle/

Watch my video on how to prep your home to sell:  https://hollyinmarin.com/uncategorized/4-tips-to-prep-your-house-for-the-market/

Click this link to read my Marin Real Estate Market Tracker for Oct. 2020 and see how it is still a seller’s market, for example, days on market are low, inventory remains low and prices are high.  It is a great time to sell your home in Marin. Contact me if you have questions about Marin County Real Estate.

http://www.inkswitch.com/viewItem.php?itemID=356326&rev=7714

What does a Seller’s Market Mean?  

It is a simple supply and demand example.  When there are more buyers than sellers (or houses on the market) then the sellers have more control over price and terms thus having more control.  Marin has been in a seller’s market for almost 10 years.

Going North for the Winter
Marin continues to enjoy the migration of city dwellers across the Golden Gate. San Francisco and Peninsula transplants are seeking out larger homes and easier access to open spaces. Prospective homeowners who were considering the move to a warmer climate and improved school district have been catalyzed by the pandemic.

These newcomers translate into major growth in sales figures. The median sales price (MSP) for single-family homes is up 6% since October 2019, and that of condos is up 13% since 2019. The number of homes going into contract in October tells the same story. We saw 210 October sales of single-family homes in 2019, and 319 October sales in 2020. That’s a 51% increase! Condos went from 53 October sales in 2019 to 77 in 2020—a 45% increase.

Understanding Buyers
In order to understand the buyer pool relative to the selection of property being sold, we look at the percent of the list price received. In 2019, the percent of list price received was 97%. In 2020, we reached an even 100% for October. This means that buyers are feeling more competitive and placing higher bids.

Useful Link

Find out more about Marin schools: https://hollyinmarin.com/marin-county-public-schools/

Carve your pumpkin and post it on Instagram with #HollyCarvingContest2020.  Also, tag me @HollyinMarin.

The top 3 liked posts will win $25 to World Wrapps.

Ends Oct 31, 2020, at 3 pm.

Start carving!

Real Estate Market Update in a Minute

Real Estate has been fast-paced in Marin lately and it is a strong seller’s market.

What does that mean? It means there are more buyers than sellers so sellers have more control over price and terms, especially in multiple offers.

Where are the buyers coming from?  Typically San Francisco supplies the most buyers for Marin and this migration pattern has exploded since COVID started.

Why do some many people want to move? Buyers are looking for similar things – more interior space, resort-type backyards including pools, more rooms inside to accommodate zoom rooms and home offices, quicker access to the Marin outdoor lifestyle, and warmer weather.

Where are the sellers moving to?  Marin sellers are upgrading to a larger home in Marin or it seems they are moving out of state.  Popular choices seem to be Idaho, Florida, Oregon, Utah, Texas, and Arizona.  These are all less expensive real estate markets and an easy transition financially.

Here is an interesting article about some of the hottest real estate markets in 2020 https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewdepietro/2020/10/26/the-hottest-housing-markets-right-now-in-2020/?sh=13bafbb8347c

In Marin, Oct 2020 vs 2019, home prices have increased 13% and days on market have decreased.  If you are a seller, it means you are selling your house for top dollar quickly.  If you are a buyer, it means you should expect competition when you are submitting offers and will have to be aggressive on price and terms to be considered.

To be successful in this hot market you need to prep your home properly and price it well to attract the savvy buyers of today.  Opposite of popular belief, city buyers won’t just buy anything.  And if you want to prevail against all the other buyers you need a knowledgeable and local agent to guide you.  Local expertise is essential in getting offers accepted!

Learn more on my seller services: https://hollyinmarin.com/seller-services/ or my buyer services:  https://hollyinmarin.com/buyer-services/

Tour a Home during COVID 19 – 4 Things to Know

4 Things Before You Can Tour a Home during COVID 19

1.  Connect with a local real estate agent to guide you safely through this process.  They will help you access all the virtual media before you visit the property to minimize uninterested traffic in homes.  These may include websites, photos, videos, 3D Matterport, and floorplan drawings.  I also recommend you drive by the location if possible to see if it fits your needs.  If after reviewing all of this first, you are still interested then an agent can make an appt for you to tour the home in person.
2. You need the required PPE gear which includes a mask, gloves, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and shoe covers.  As a courtesy to my clients, I provided those items for each showing.  And at times they were hard to find!
3. You need to sign a waiver (both seller and buyer) before you can access the home.  It is known as the PEAD form and can be signed via DocuSign.  Contact me if you would like a copy.
4. Sometimes the sellers require buyers to show proof of funds or a pre-approval letter from a lender to ensure only qualified buyers are entering.  Here is just one of a few trusted lenders I recommend if you need to be pre-approved.   https://www.flagstar.com/mortgage/ashley-card-home-loan-mortgage-lender-san-francisco-california-291630.html

It is so interesting to me how people responded to the quarantine by deciding to change their living situation.  No matter what their current housing was everyone seemed to crave a change!

If you are interested in buying or selling during COVID, it can be done safely!  Contact me if you would like to hear more about the COVID guidelines and because they are changing often it may be different by the time you call.

You can search active properties on this link https://hollyinmarin.com

Other lenders I recommend:

https://crosscountrymortgage.com/Larkspur-CA-4078/Marney-Solle/

https://dominicpomilia.supremelendinglo.com/

https://www.wfhm.com/loans/douglas-barta/about.page

Mortgage Calculator Link:

https://www.bankrate.com/calculators/mortgages/mortgage-calculator.aspx

Valentine’s Day Coloring Contest

Click the link below to print and creatively color the heart.  Then drop it off at my office for a prize.  All ages welcome!

Zephyr Real Estate

350 Bon Air Center #100

in Greenbrae

Holly’s Valentine’s Day Coloring Contest Heart