Novato Real Estate Market Update (January 2011 Novato Home Sales Report)

Happy New Year! As I write this real estate report, the stock market is at its highest level since the 2008 meltdown began and up 125 points on the first day of trading in 2011 and the headline on CNN Money is “A Hiring Boom in 2011. Really.” Despite historically low interest rates and overall affordability at its best levels recorded, the overall Marin market was down in terms of sales numbers in 2010. Yet, in December 2010, the Novato, California real estate market continued to show very real strength across all price bands, except for homes priced above $1.5 million. This strength was consistent with the rest of the year’s results.

December 2010 was HOT with 41 home sales. In fact, it was hotter than December 2007 (with 26 sales — Note: click HERE for article dating back to January 2008 “Novato Named “Best Affordable” Town by Business News Magazine”) and December 2008 (35 sales) and about even December 2009 (42 sales). The average sales price of Novato homes in December 2010 was $570,724. These homes averaged 111 days on market, were about 2,078sq. ft., and averaged roughly $283 sq. ft. Novato’s  absorption rate (e.g., number of months’ inventory of homes for sale based on last month’s sales totals) sits at 2.4 months’ worth of available inventory overall (99 single family homes are currently for sale in Novato). This is an extraordinarily low number and will rise as sellers begin putting their homes on the market in coming months.

Below are the percentages of homes in escrow in each of Novato’s major price bands:

• 55% of homes priced under $500,000;
• 54% of homes between $501,000 and $600,000;
• 37% of homes between $601,000 and $750,000;
• 19% of homes between $751,000 and $1 million;
• 27% of homes between $1 million and $1.5 million;
• 11% of homes between $1.5 million and up.

Of the homes that sold in December 2010:

• 25 homes were priced under $600,000;
• 15 homes priced from $601,00 to $1 million; and
• 1 home priced from $1 million and up.

Homes in The Landing at Hamilton Field, Breakers at Pointe Marin, Country Club, Rush Creek, and Bel Marin Keys generated the most calls and showings this past month. My new home listing at 10 Audubon Way (in The Landing at Hamilton) closed escrow at the end of the month for $957K (about 3.5% above asking price). If you would like me to run the exact numbers for your Novato neighborhood or if you have any questions about Novato’s many delightful communities, just give me a call at (415) 350-9440. My name is Kyle Frazier. I am a J.D., Broker, Realtor, Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), and a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), with Christie’s Great Estates | Pacific Union International Real Estate. It is always my pleasure to be of service.

The Landing at Hamilton Field had its first sale last month (the sale was consumated upon completion of the home). We have another 4 homes that should be ready for occupancy by the end of January or early February 2011. Pricing starts in the mid-$800,000’s. Please call me at (415) 350-9440 for more information. Or visit our website at www.TheLandingNovato.com

Marin Luxury Report (August 2009)

Marin County, CA’s luxury real estate market segment continues to take shape in the aftermath of the equities meltdown of Fall 2008. In our New Economy, buyers are placing emphasis on prestige locations, sweeping views, grand appointments, compelling “estate history,” and impressive scale. The luxury market in Marin remains weighted towards homes priced under $4 million, although we did have 3 sales of homes priced over $4 million in July 2009. The number of sales in July 2009 is off by 74% from July 2008. The news is not all negative, however, as we had several significant properties trade last month and another 30 luxury homes are currently in escrow. For a detailed snapshot of current national trends from the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing dated August 2, 2009, click here. Note, if you would like a local report relating to any town or zip code in Marin or San Francisco, call me at (415) 350-9440.

Buyers remain dubious of price stability for good reason (see chart below reflecting year over year median asking prices in Tiburon, Mill Valley, and Kentfield). But, increased conforming loan limits and a pronounced level of increased affordability across the board should help sales moving forward into the Fall as buyers with 25% down will obtain top-shelf financing for purchases of $1.6 million. While not necessarily “Luxury” territory here in Marin (although declining prices are putting some very nice homes into the sub-$2 million price bands), a sizable segment of buyers of luxury homes must sell their current homes first (80% of buyers are sellers). The chart below indicates that across the trend in Marin’s luxury segment is for lower prices — 10-25% lower than last year in Mill Valley, Belvedere, and Kentfield.

The year over year inventory levels in Mill Valley have hovered at around 20% since May 2009 (much improved from a nearly 60% inventory increase in February 2009). Meanwhile, inventory in Kentfield has rocketed nearly 90% higher this year compared with last year. In combination, Tiburon and Belvedere inventory levels are about 70% higher than last year. Prediction: Kentfield and Tiburon / Belvedere prices will continue to recede through Q4 2009. Indeed, we can see that trend has set in dramatically in the above chart which tracks asking prices of homes currently for sale.

[For the rest of this report, courtesy of www.ImagineMarin.com, click HERE.]