Marin County Real Estate Blog

#1 Reason to List Your House for Sale, NOW!

If you are debating listing your house for sale this year, here is the #1 reason not to wait!

Buyer Demand Continues to Outpace the Supply of Homes for Sale

The National Association of REALTORS’ (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun recently commented on the inventory:

Last month’s dip in closings was somewhat expected given that there was such a strong sales increase in March at 4.2 percent, and new and existing inventory is not keeping up with the fast pace homes are coming off the market.

Demand is easily outstripping supply in most of the country and it’s stymieing many prospective buyers from finding a home to purchase”.

The latest Existing Home Sales Report shows that there is currently a 4.2-month supply of homes for sale. This remains lower than the 6-month supply necessary for a normal market, and 4.6% lower than a year ago.

The chart below details the year-over-year inventory shortages experienced over the last 12 months:

Anything less than a six-month supply is considered a “seller’s market.”

Bottom Line

Let's get together and discuss the supply conditions in your neighborhood to be able to assist you in gaining access to the buyers who are ready, willing and able to buy now!

Contact us for experienced...

Home Buying: How to Win a Bidding War

Buying a House Caught in a Bidding WarIn a lot of regions that do not have a cold real estate market, a bidding war may be a common problem. For the best properties, there are many potential buyers. If you can afford a bit more than the minimum and you really want a particular home, these tips will help you get ahead on a bidding war.

Be Sure of the Property

The rush of getting into the game can make it hard to keep control of your head. This means that you really have to be ready to buy the property before you make a bid. Getting into a bidding war means that you will have to do a little more work than you would for a home that has only occasional interest. The seller has many buyers to choose from, but you should remember that there are still plenty of homes in the area. Make sure the home meets your list of needs and at least some of your wants before you proceed.

Be an Ideal Candidate

Sometimes, the lower bid from a more attractive candidate wins. You may not be able to give the sellers everything they are looking for, but you can and should come as close as possible. If you cannot offer to pay in cash, at least show your mortgage pre-approval letter so that they know you have financing secured. Limit the number of contingencies you plan to set, especially if they involve factors (such as minor repairs) that you could probably manage easily on your own. Offer the seller as much flexibility as possible to hopefully earn their favor....

Terra Linda 3/2 Eichler not on MLS Until 5.31.17

Coming Soon at $900,000, this is a wonderful home for your family or excellent investment opportunity. 3 Bed 2 Bath Terra Linda Eichler with Family Room and Two-Car Garage . Great light. Original mahogany paneling. Two-car garage. Close to Scotty's Market, Terra Linda Community Center and Pool; Great for kids! In good, mostly original condition with some upgrades over the years. Move right in, or remodel to your own specifications! Tenant-occupied. Please do not disturb tenants. Please contact Fred Anlyan at Marin Modern for details and information 415-847-0602 or email fred@marinmodern.com

More photos can be seen at http://www.752pennyroyal.com

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Four Tips for Effectively Making an Offer

So, you’ve been searching for that perfect house to call a ‘home,’ and you finally found one! The price is right, and in such a competitive market, you want to make sure that you make a good offer so that you can guarantee that your dream of making this house yours comes true!

Freddie Mac covered “4 Tips for Making an Offer” in their latest Executive Perspective. Here are the 4 tips they covered along with some additional information for your consideration:

1. Understand How Much You Can Afford

“While it's not nearly as fun as house hunting, fully understanding your finances is critical in making an offer.”

This ‘tip’ or ‘step’ should really take place before you start your home search process.

As we’ve mentioned before, getting pre-approved is one of many steps that will show home sellers that you are serious about buying, and will allow you to make your offer with the confidence of knowing that you have already been approved for a mortgage for that amount. You will also need to know if you are prepared to make any repairs that may need to be made to the house (ex: new roof, new furnace).

2. Act Fast

“Even though there are fewer investors, the inventory of homes for sale is also low and competition for housing continues to heat up in many parts of the country.”

According to the latest Existing Home Sales Report...

DIY Bathroom Upgrades Before Selling Your Home

Bathroom Upgrades to Make Before the Home SaleMost bathrooms may be small, but they're an important part of the home. Upgrading the bathroom before selling can make a property more attractive to buyers. Some bathroom improvements can even help boost property values and may lead to a bigger sale price.   

Pick A Fresh New Decorating Scheme

 Mismatched towels, rugs and curtains can detract from the attractiveness of bathroom. Picking a fresh new color scheme and redecorating the bathroom to match that scheme can help unify the space and make it pop. 

  • Choose a theme. Picking a theme for your bathroom can give you a starting point when it's time to decorate. 
  • Paint the walls. Painting the walls can make the bathroom look fresh and clean. When choosing a color for your bathroom, select one that goes with the theme or pick a neutral like beige or gray. 
  • Buy matching towels and curtains. Matching towels and curtains can help pull the decorating scheme of the bathroom together.  

Install Attractive Storage

Clutter can make a bathroom appear small and claustrophobic. To get rid of the clutter in your bathroom, install attractive storage. A small cabinet, open shelving lined with attractive baskets and a new towel bin...

What You Need to Know About Qualifying for a Mortgage [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights:

  • Many buyers are purchasing a home with a down payment as little as 3%.
  • You may already qualify for a loan, even if you don't have perfect credit.
  • Take advantage of the knowledge of your local professionals who are there to help you determine how much you can afford.

Contact Marin Modern Real Estate, experienced Marin County Realtors, for help purchasing or selling a home in Marin County.

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Divorcing? What to Know Before Putting the Home Up for Sale

How to Sell a Home During a DivorceWhen couples fall in love, marry, and purchase a home together, divorce is the farthest thing from their minds. But research shows that many people will eventually have to deal with divorce. In fact, current projections suggest that as many as 40-50 percent of the United States population is likely to experience divorce at some point in their lifetime. Divorcing couples who own a home together will need to determine what to do with the home they owned together while married, and for many, selling will be the most practical solution.

*Please note: The division of marital property has legal ramifications and each case is unique. This is why it is important for divorcing spouses to seek the counsel of a competent attorney to assist them with any questions regarding the distribution or sale of any marital property.

What is a Quit Claim Deed?

If either spouse wants to keep the family home and can afford to reimburse the other spouse for their share or can work out some other arrangement that is satisfactory to both parties, ownership of the home can usually be transferred via quit claim deed. This type of deed transfer is often used in divorce situations to transfer ownership rights to a home or other real estate. Once the quit claim...

Selling vs. Renting – Choices When Moving to a New Home

Real Estate DecisionsIt’s nearly impossible to know what the future holds, and buying a home now might mean that in the next several years, a move might be in store. If that’s the case, there are a few options if leaving the area is a must. Homeowners can of course choose to sell their home and hopefully make some money while doing it, or they can opt for keeping the home and renting it out.

Either option can be a good one, depending on one’s financial situation and both short-term and long-term goals. Renting or selling both have the potential to bring positive outcomes, yet the type of income as well as the work involved do vary quite a bit.

When Renting Can Work

Deciding to keep your property and rent it out works well from a long-term investment perspective. Perhaps home values haven’t gone up that dramatically, or it just might be nice to have property to pass down. Whatever the case may be, keeping a home to rent it out is a job all its own.

Before allowing a tenant to move in, it’s a good guess that some work will need to be done. Whether it’s just cleaning the carpet and repainting or more serious remodeling, the home must be prepared for others to live in it.

Once a tenant has moved in, it’s critical that you protect yourself as a landlord. It might help to gain advice from a real estate agent and property management company in this case, as certain documents and contracts must be...

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