Marin County Real Estate Blog

San Anselmo Downtown gets Beautiful Hanging Flower Baskets

Today, Downtown San Anselmo was dressed in its summer best by a group of Downtown merchants, friends, and relatives, all assisting Kacey Gardner (on truck, with flowers!) of Tumbleweed with her inspiring beautification project.

Kacey, her husband Tim, sons Duncan and Quinn, and daughter Sophie, opened the store in 2015 after being inspired by shops they had seen during a year-long sailing trip around the Caribbean (see my original blog post).

Kacey and her family embody the concept of creative energy; it's obvious if you've met them or been to the store. They're full of great ideas and are always thinking of ways to improve their shop, their town, and to help their friends. So when Kacey looked out on the street this spring and thought it could use some more color, she went to work looking for a project that would add some of the more colorful aspects of towns she had enjoyed most in her travels, particularly St. Barth's, Bellagio, Carmel & Nevada City. She remembered their flowers, growing "along pathways, up buildings, down poles, along alleyways", and she thought that flower garden baskets hanging from the vintage Downtown San Anselmo light poles would add a striking look to San Anselmo Avenue. After formulating some plans for the project, she approached the Town, who were quite supportive of the idea, but unable to take it on from a financial point of view. Looking for other ways to fund the effort, Kacey decided to try a broad-based approach that would involve as many local residents and merchants as possible, and she settled on ...

Keep Pests Out Through Good Home Maintenance Practices

Tips to Protect Your Home From PestsPests like insects, mice and small animals are often attracted to homes where maintenance problems go unaddressed, so homeowners who want to protect their house from pests can do so by staying on top of certain home maintenance practices. These tips can help homeowners who wish to manage their home maintenance and avoid pest infestations.

Seal Holes

Pests of all kinds can enter the home through holes in the roof and exterior siding. Sometimes these holes are very small, allowing small animals and insects into the house. Other times the holes are very large, and allow larger animals to gain access to parts of the home like the basement or attic.

Homeowners can avoid these problems by periodically walking the perimeter of their home and looking for cracks and other ways that animals can access the house. Getting regular roof inspections can help, as some animals will create holes by chewing through boards or screens that protect attic vents.

When a hole or crack into the home is discovered, it must be properly covered. Caulking can be used to seal cracks, while hardware cloth can cover larger holes. Hardware cloth is especially helpful in parts of the home where proper ventilation is important.

Fix Leaks

Leaks can attract pests in a variety of ways. Pests seek out leaks because they need water. When leaks are left unrepaired for a long time, the resulting wood rot can create an inviting environment for wood-eating...

Moving Up to Your Dream Home? Don't Wait!

Moving Up to Your Dream Home? Don’t Wait! | MyKCM

Mortgage interest rates have risen by more than half of a point since the beginning of the year, and many assume that if mortgage rates rise, home values will fall. History, however, has shown this not to be true.

Where are home values today compared to the beginning of the year?

While rates have been rising, so have home values. Here are the most recent monthly price increases reported in the Home Price Insights Report from CoreLogic:

  • January: Prices were up 0.5% over the month before.
  • February: Prices were up 1% over the month before.
  • March: Prices were up 1.4% over the month before.

Not only did prices continue to appreciate, the level of appreciation accelerated over the first quarter. CoreLogic believes that home prices will increase by 5.2% over the next twelve months.

How can prices rise while mortgage rates increase?

Freddie Mac explained in a recent Insight Report:

“In the current housing market, the driving force behind the increase in prices is a low supply of both new and existing homes combined with historically low rates....

Guide to Home Security Systems

Home Security Information for HomeownersNot all homeowners choose to install a home security system, but those who do often appreciate the feeling of safety and peace of mind that they get when they leave their home. Home security systems can take different forms, so homeowners who are thinking about getting a security system for the first time must decide what type of security system is right for them and their San Geronimo home.

Who Needs a Security System?

Many homeowners who seek a home security system are those who live in areas with high crime rates. Other homeowners choose to install a home security system because they live alone, feel vulnerable, or simply have a lot of valuable possessions that they would like protect. Some homeowners choose to install a home security system because it will lower their homeowners insurance rates. Every homeowner must decide for themselves whether or not a home security system will be beneficial and meet their needs.

Monitored Versus Non-Monitored

In the world of home security systems, there are generally two types: monitored, and non-monitored. Monitored home security systems are connected to a home security office. The office sends someone to the home in the event that an alarm or sensor is triggered. Homeowners pay a monthly fee for their home security system to be monitored, and often pay a fee every time a security guard is called to the home.

...

Real Estate Tops Best Investment Poll for 5th Year Running

Real Estate Tops Best Investment Poll for 5th Year Running | MyKCM

Every year, Gallup surveys Americans to determine their choice for the best long-term investment. Respondents are given a choice between real estate, stocks/mutual funds, gold, savings accounts/CDs, or bonds.

For the fifth year in a row, real estate has come out on top as the best long-term investment!

This year’s results showed that 34% of Americans chose real estate, followed by stocks at 26%. The full results are shown in the chart below.

Real Estate Tops Best Investment Poll for 5th Year Running | MyKCM

The study makes it a point to draw attention to the contrast in the sentiment over the last five years compared to that of 2011-2012, when gold took the top slot with 34% of the votes. Real estate and stocks took second and third place, respectively, while still in recovery from the Great Recession.

Bottom...

Home Safety Hazards to Watch Out For

How to Make Your Home SafeHousehold safety is important, but oftentimes can be overlooked by busy homeowners. Household hazards can cause illnesses, accidents and even injury. Homeowners who watch out for household hazards can better maintain their property and protect the members of their household. While there are many potential hazards, these are among the most common hazards are found in many homes.

Bad Electrical

Often bad wiring can be difficult to identify because wiring is hidden in the walls. However, some electrical problems produce warning signs homeowners can see. For example, an overloaded circuit may produce heat behind the outlet. An overloaded circuit may also cause the lights to dim when large appliances come on. Since an overloaded circuit can cause a fire, this should be investigated by an electrician.

Mold

Mold is common in homes with high humidity, leaks and condensation. Mold often grows on walls and ceilings, and can sometimes be found growing on carpet or upholstery. It can be green, gray, brown, white or yellow. Mold causes illnesses, respiratory problems and allergy-like symptoms, so remediation must be sought as soon as a problem is identified.

Wobbly Hand Railing

A wobbly hand railing, particularly on a high-up walkway or deck, can be a serious problem. Young members of a household and seniors both are...

From Our Blog

Posts By Category

All Categories About Marin (12) Company News (2) Home Buying (135) Home Finance (16) Home Improvement (10) Just Sold (4) Marin Real Estate News and Statistic (14) New Listing (5) Selling Your Home (79)

Posts By Month

Grab Our RSS Feed
Current Homes for Sale
Southern Marin
City # Price Range
Belvedere 11 $3.3m - $31.5m
Mill Valley 28 $650k - $9.0m
Sausalito 13 $790k - $16.5m
Tiburon 17 $625k - $20.0m
Central & North Marin
City # Price Range
Corte Madera 4 $1.6m - $2.0m
Fairfax 5 $699k - $1.7m
Greenbrae 14 $150k - $4.2m
Kentfield 7 $1.6m - $8.0m
Larkspur 6 $399k - $3.0m
Novato 46 $250k - $3.3m
Ross 4 $2.4m - $19.0m
San Anselmo 13 $935k - $5.8m
San Rafael 71 $75k - $4.0m
New Listing

Email Alerts

Subscribe Today!
Have

Questions?

Contact Us Now!