Marin County Real Estate Market Report
November 2019
35 West Seaview Avenue in San Rafael – Just Listed!
Welcome to my November 2019 real estate market report! With the electricity restored things are getting back to normal here in Marin, but the real estate market continues to be interesting to watch. This is the first month in a while that we have seen inventories begin to flatten versus the same time last year and pricing begin to move in an upward direction. Homes on the market are taking longer to sell than last year, with average days on market up 43%.
The number of homes for sale in October 2019 was down just 0.4% versus October 2018, while the median sold price reversed its downward trend and was actually up 4.2% versus last year. Regular readers of this column know that just about all year we have seen inventories up and pricing down versus 2018.
My business has remained very busy with two homes closing just this week. My listing in the Sea Cliff neighborhood of San Francisco at 257 29th Avenue sold in 4 days for $95,000 over asking. While the market there has cooled a bit, properties that are priced and presented well are still moving quickly. My listing at 11 Underhill Road in Mill Valley’s hot Scott Valley neighborhood just sold for $1,770,000 and I am very excited for the new family who will enjoy that home.
New Census Figures Provide Further Insight Into the Bay Area’s Housing Boom
Recently released data by the Census Bureau reveals how the rising affluence of Bay Area households has underpinned the demand for Bay Area homes throughout this expansion, and supported price growth in the region. Fewer than 8% of households nationally earned $200,000 or more in 2018, yet nearly one in four Bay Area households earned an income equal to or greater than that threshold, up from approximately 10% in 2010. Since 2010, the number of Bay Area households earning at or above this threshold has increased by nearly 400,000, with a near 80,000 increase in 2018 alone. In San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin and San Francisco counties, nearly one in three households earned at least $200,000 in 2018. Please click here to continue reading the article in the GGSIR blog.
It’s Never Too Early to Talk About Spring
I am already actively working with clients on preparing their homes for launch next year. I also have buyers that are targeting 2020 as the year to move, and they are already looking at listing alerts to educate themselves on the market and decide what they like. If you are considering a move next year, let’s talk soon about the best strategy.
Let’s Talk!
These monthly Marin County real estate market reports are a great place to start to learn more about the market. Let’s continue the conversation — I am always happy to discuss the market, and the best way to approach it whether you are a buyer or a seller.
To those who read this report each month, thank you for all your support of my business. I couldn’t do it without you. Call or text me at 415-847-5584 anytime.
Wishing you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving!
Marin Real Estate Market Stats: Third Quarter 2019
Marin County Real Estate Market Report
September 2019 Dashboards
Marin County Real Estate Dashboard:
Home Prices vs. Same Month Last Year
For sale prices increased by 15.2%
Average sold prices increased by 4.6%
The median sold price increased by 4.2%
The average price per square foot sold decreased by 2.9%
All information courtesy of and copyright by BAREIS MLS and TrendGraphix.
Dashboard compiled by Thomas Henthorne, all rights reserved.
Marin County Real Estate Dashboard:
Inventory Compared to Same Month Last Year
Number of homes for sale decreased by 0.4%
Number of homes sold decreased by 3.5%
Months of inventory increased by 5.2%
The average days on market increased by 43.2%
All information courtesy of and copyright by BAREIS MLS and TrendGraphix.
Dashboard compiled by Thomas Henthorne, all rights reserved.
Marin County Real Estate Market Report Charts
(click any slide to enlarge & launch slideshow)
“For Sale” vs. Sold Home Prices vs. Median Home Prices
Marin Home Prices List Price vs. Sold
Marin County Months of Inventory Based on Closed Sales
Average Price Per Square Foot
Marin County Number of Homes on the Market
What This Update Means For You
SELLERS: The sellers’ market of years past is quickly fading away, being replaced by a market that is much more balanced. Buyers are well-educated and the majority in Marin County are working with very experienced and savvy agents who know values and comparative sales (“comps”). Overpricing in a flattening to declining market can be a fatal mistake, causing your property to become stale and languish on the market. Now, more than ever, an experienced agent armed with the latest market facts and trends is critical. REMEMBER THE THREE P’S: PRICE, PRESENTATION, AND PRICE.
BUYERS: For home buyers, the market is improving as more inventory comes online. However, an increasing percentage of homes never appear on MLS as they are sold “off-market” as pocket listings or top agent referrals. Work with a well-connected agent and be prepared to move quickly. Chances are you are looking for the same things most other buyers are also seeking (see my list below.) Set up property alerts on my website so you can immediately see new homes on the market, and make sure you are pre-qualified so you present a compelling offer. (You may wish to read my article Buying a Home in Marin County for more tips and advice.) One other tip: Ask your agent to run aged inventory reports in and above your price range. Sometimes there are some real gems that the market has overlooked due to pricing or other factors. Sellers may not have caught up with the changing dynamics of the market now — and it may take more negotiation than in the past to strike a deal.
If you are a buyer looking only at online portals such as Redfin or Zillow, and not working with a well-connected agent, you’re not seeing all of the homes available in Marin County.
What Are Buyers Looking For Right Now?
In speaking with buyers, they want it all right now, with the following at the top of their lists:
- Great schools
- Single-level
- Easy commute
- Walk to restaurants and shops
- Views
- Quiet streets
- Remodeled homes in move-in condition
Smart buyers, which is almost all of them, realize they cannot have all of those attributes and buying a home in a market like Marin County is a series of tradeoffs. For example, they may choose to give up walking to restaurants to be in the hills with a view of the bay. In any event, we are seeing buyers that are more tech-savvy than ever and who have done their homework, reading market reports such as this one and spending a lot of time online looking at homes.
I hope you have found my Marin County Real Estate Market Report informative. Please feel free to add your comments, questions or suggestions in the comments section below. If I may be of any assistance in helping you attain your real estate goals, please call or text me at 415-847-5584 and I will be in touch right away.
Wondering If You Should Buy or Rent?
This handy calculator is a great place to start. Then give me a call at 415-847-5584 and let’s discuss.
Would you like to see this data for your town only?
I am also excited to announce that my website now has new real estate market reports by town with more coming soon. Please check these out:
Belvedere Real Estate Market Report
Corte Madera Real Estate Market Report
Fairfax Real Estate Market Report
Kentfield Real Estate Market Report
Larkspur Real Estate Market Report
Mill Valley Real Estate Market Report
Novato Real Estate Market Report
San Anselmo Real Estate Market Report
San Rafael Real Estate Market Report
Tiburon Real Estate Market Report
These are all accessible from the “Market Reports” menu item here on my website at any time.
What do YOU think? What would you like to see in this report going forward? Please leave your comments in the section below.
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