Marin's Blog: All Categories

Last week I discussed the rather provocative program that American Express has implemented allowing homeowners to put their monthly payments on their AmEx card.  Other credit card companies are coming up with some pretty clever reward schemes as well.  As a realtor affiliated with Keller Williams in Marin, I see many of my clients take on some pretty substantial mortgages and am always interested in ways to help them maximize their mortgage dollars.

One that intrigues me is Citibank’s Home Rebate Platinum Select MasterCard.  With this plan, the consumer can use reward points to pay down a mortgage, regardless of who the lender is. The really interesting thing about this program is that the cardholder can earn some pretty generous rebates ranging from 1%… Read Full Post

I’d like to invite you to keep me company this month as I fly around the world on Alaska Airlines.  Look for me in the October edition of Alaska Airlines Magazine.  This issue has an interesting article, entitled Retro Renaissance - The mid-century modern home is back in style, which provides an overview of modern architecture and discusses the resurgence of enthusiasm for mid-century design.

As a specialist in mid-century homes, particularly Eichler ranch homes, I was interviewed for the article and I’m pleased to see that, in addition to my thoughts on modern homes in Marin County, some of the pictures I provided were included.

The article examines the rediscovery and popularity of modern design and discusses reasons for the movement’s recent… Read Full Post

Have you ever wondered what your mortgage can do for you?  Well, of course, real estate can always be seen as an investment, and there is that tax deduction, but beyond that, a mortgage seems like a big drain on the bank account.  If you are smart about it, however, you just might be able to turn the tables and make your monthly payments get something for you in addition to that dream house that you are making monthly payments on.

Recently American Express unveiled a plan that allows consumers to put their monthly mortgage payment on their American Express card.  At first glance the one-time fee of $395 seems kind of stiff, but for disciplined consumers who pay off their card every month the $395 fee would become a moot point within a year or so, and… Read Full Post

Homebuyers looking for property in Mill Valley recently had an interesting option added to their realm of possibilities.  Pacific Trail Townhomes is a complex of 16 apartments that are being sold as individual units, with ownership being an arrangement called tenancy-in-common.  The bottom line is that this creates housing which is a bit more affordable than a typical arrangement.  The homes range from $298,000 to $340,000, and in a market where condos can’t be found for under $400,000 this sounds like a pretty good deal.

In this case, tenancy-in-common is a scheme by which a buyer has financial interest in an entire property, and owns/lives in one of the individual units.  This is different than condominium ownership in which the buyer owns the space…

I’ve always found home and garden tours to be fascinating.  I suppose that getting a little glimpse into how other people decorate their homes, tend their gardens, and live their lives gives me some sort of vicarious pleasure.  On September 29 Sausalito will host its 23rd Annual Floating Home Tour, which will provide a fascinating look into a unique lifestyle – and I, for one, am looking forward to it with great anticipation.

Sausalito has long been a thriving artist community, so it is little wonder that this creative spirit extends into Sausalito real estate.  While floating homes are not unique to Sausalito, they are an integral part of the city’s ambience.  For the free-spirited bohemians among you, some of Sausalito's floating homes are for sale,… Read Full Post

Would having your name featured in the local newspaper as a real estate professional help your business?  Would you benefit from a national article or television show which positions you as a leading resource in your marketplace?

The good news is that this type of recognition is available for free IF you know how to separate yourself from the herd by offering value and knowledge that goes beyond what other real estate agents can offer.  Do this and you will find writers, publishers, editors and possibly even filmmakers contacting you for an interview, quote or general assistance which will help increase your overall visibility and value in the market place.       

These five tips can stand alone but are best utilized in concert with one-another to… Read Full Post

Architects, green building experts and political leaders will descend on San Francisco for the largest residential green building conference and exposition in the country September 20-22, 2007. 

The West Coast Green Conference will feature keynote presentations, educational sessions, and hands-on workshops by more than 220 progressive architects, industry analysts and leaders in the green construction field on topics including:

• Designing and Constructing an Energy-Efficient Green Home
• Build Better, Not Bigger
• Selling High Performance Homes
• The Evolution of the Prefab Home
• Uniting Function with Form with Green Technology
• Maximizing Energy Efficiency while Minimizing Environmental Impact
• Purpose-Passion-Profit
…

California wine country living just got one-step closer for prospective homebuyers in Napa Valley and Sonoma County!

Whether you are looking for a weekend retreat cottage in Napa, a luxury Mediterranean estate with vineyards in Sonoma, or a hip loft in the ever increasingly popular community of Healdsburg, we can now offer you assistance with your home search.

At the request of our North Bay and San Francisco Bay Area clients, we have just updated our Marin MLS search capabilities to now include listings in Napa County, Sonoma County as well as a handful of other Northern California counties.    

Napa MLS | Napa Valley Homes for Sale

Sonoma MLS | Sonoma County Homes for Sale