Marin Real Estate Blog

According to Kentfield Architect, Sarah Robinson, an Alumni of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture;  that Being Green is not just to tear down and build from scratch but it's about "Seeing the untapped potential that already exists." She said:"For us, sustainability is not just about making green consumer choices, but is a lifestyle of resourcefulness that honors inherent value and respects the natural world."

Sarah Robinson, was thrilled, when her house, nestled in the native redwood and oak woodlands of Mount Tamalpais in Kenfield, Marin County, California, earned the 'Most Sustainable Renovation' Award from the prestigious Metropolitan Home Magazine. www.Methome.com 

Robinson's 1963 fixed-upper home incorporated the following winning features:

1) Retain and Expand upon the original mid-century contemporaries design. Robinson's usage of rich wood, glass, American clay plaster and copper echoed the 'sensual surfaces' from the outdoors.  She also retained the original custom mahogany paneling and cabinetry.

2) Resourcefulness- Adding 1200sf space (office, family room, extra bedroom) blow the building allows Robins the retain the original footprint of the building.  Large dormer captures light and provides views of outdoors

3) Usage of Reflective Surfaces Such as stainless steel, high gloss woods, glass cabinets, white ceilings makes the most of the natural light that streams into the space.

4) Reused 80% of the original building material and incorporated with recycled materials from other sources - including reuse of the redwood framing from the attic for additional trim, exterior siding and new kitchen dormer.  She also bought the seconds from a local tile manufacturer (Heath Ceramics in Sausalito). 

5) Incorporated the outside environment to be the primary decorative feature for the home by using 'floor-to-ceiling glass', adding skylights and creating a large dormer to bring the outside in.  

6) Usage of Energy-Efficient Mechanical Systems Suchas soy-based form insulation, Eco-friendly American clay plaster, no-VOC paint and double-paned windows. 

Footnote - I was contemplating about what to write for the RED HOT contest and my presentation to my Rotary Club about LEED and Local Green Buildings, when the Marin IJ Article about Local Architect, Sarah Robinson's winning design caught my eyes.  This is an excellent, timely example of how to creat a "RED HOT" Eco-Friendly, Sustainable Home while thinking Creatively Outside of the Box.    

The idea of not having to build an eCO-friendly building from scratch, using recycled, reused, local materials to avoid the commonly expensive GREEN features, which is the main concern in a heathy economy and a huge hinderance in the current dismal economy while creating stunning buildings in the process makes this RED HOT for me!   

* The post incorporated information from Met Home and Marin Independent Journal.   - a news article caught my eyes and just in time for the RED HOT entry!

A comparison of Novato Real Estate Market between March 4, 2009 and November, 2008.  A lot has happened since November, 08, and the market reflects some of that. 

Novato Real Estate Market statistics stays pretty flat with a few big gain in percent pending - under $500K starter single family homes had a gain of 10% to a strong sellers market at 51% pending; the midrange, properties between $700K and $800k enjoyed an 8% increase in pending.  The total now reach 27%, moving towards the right direction. 

The Biggest gais are the over $1,25M market - One thing to keep in mind is that due to the very small volume of the homes avaialbe, a house or two sale makes a huge difference percentage wise. 

The ratio is held steady by dwindling inventory - overall inventory dropped by another 20%, from 370 to 305. This can be attributed to several reasons -

* The normal beginning of the year brings slower new inventories

*  The bail out plan gives many home owners hope and they decided to refinance or negotiate for a 'loan modification'  Whether they will get their loans modified is irrelevant for this moment.  The reality is it brings down the available homes market. 

* Sellers are holidng onto their properties for the right moment - either the prices go up or when they HAVE to sell.  This also limits the inventory.

This is a great time to buy, with bargains abound, whether it's in Novato, San Rafael or Southern Marin.  Bank owned homes or sellers with plenty of equity are pricing homes low to attract multiple offers. 

Make Sure You do not spend TOO MUCH time waiting for the right price and when you finally buy, you already missed the bottom of the market.

Just Remember, The Bottom of the Hill is all hindsight - You don't know it's here and when you discover it's the bottom, you have already missed it!

Give me a call at (415) 717-0293 or email me at sylvia@SylviaSellsMarin.com for inventories on the market, whether REO, Trust Sale, start home, luxury homes.. I will be very happy to find the best house / investment property for you! 

It will be a pleasure to serve you!  

• Buyer's Market  < 25%
• Neutral                25% - 40%
• Seller's Market   > 40%

Property value in Marin County have suffered from the current housing crisis; homeowners who bought their homes during the past few years have seen their share of property value decline. 

Depending on the location and types of the homes, the price drop might result in current market value to be much lower than their homes' taxable (assessed) value.  Marn Homeowners whose property value is lower than the current market value should ask for a reassessment from Marin County Tax Assessors. 

If successful, the property tax bases for these homes will be lower resulting in lowered property tax payment for their Marin Homes.   

Proposition 13 allows homeowners to keep their property tax to no more than 2% annual increase during the time when property values are going up until the property changes hand. 

On the other hand, Proposition 8 protects homeowners when the property value drops below the current market value.  Proposition 8 allows homeowners to request for reassessment of their properties when the market value of their home is less than the assessed value of the home.  This results in a lower property tax which is in sync with the current lower market value.

To request a reassessment of your property value, you will need to provide Marin County Tax Assessor's office with the value of three current comparable properties that are sold around 01/2009 (no later than 03/2009). 

Fill out the 'Request for Informal Review of January 1, 2009 Reassessment' and follow the very simple direction.  Your request has to be in before 12/31/09. 

If you need help with comparable values of homes, please feel free to contact Sylvia (415) 717-0293 and I will be very happy to help.

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Sylvia Barry, Realtor, ePRO
Marin Realtor for Marin Real Estate
Marin, San Francisco North Bay
Frankk Howard Allen Realtors
website: www.SylviaSellsMarin.com
Blog: www.AllAboutMarinHomes.com

 MARIN, SONOMA, S.F. BAY AREA REAL ESTATE - Beveldere, Corte Madera, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Larkspur, Marinwood, Mill Valley, Novato, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito, Tiburon; Cotati, Penngrove, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa. Starter Home to Luxury Property. REO (Bank Owned), Short Sale, View Homes, Architecural Distictive Homes. Investment, 1031 Exchange. Chinese Realtor.

Make Dreams Real - Rotary Club of Novato Sunrise Youth Services