Joe Burns

The Caledonia Street Spring Faire will be held on Sunday, May 30, 2010 in Sausalito, CA. This popular one day event is a combination of the Sausalito Nursery School's SPRING FAIRE and the long time City of Sausalito's Caledonia Street Fair.

The new and improved Caledonia Street Spring Faire is a family event with Live Music, Artist Booths, Fine Food and Beverage, and the dedicated Children's Area, where children of all ages can enjoy jumpy houses, art tents, Little Gym obstacle course, a Strider bike course, Tree Frog Treks, a putting green, cake walk and a rummage boutique. See Tim Cain and The Crunchy Frogs.
11 am - 6pm, Free Bike Valet, Children's Area at Sausalito City Hall.

Please see our Web site for more information, www.caledoniastreetspringfaire.com

Hey, we have a normal real estate market. Final closing numbers for Marin County real estate sales in December and 4^th quarter 2009 show a very stable and consistent market. Volume is where it should be and prices held steady for the most part.

Now, for those who expect an immediate financial return on their personal residence, the Marin market may still seem depressed. There are still too many real estate agents in the market so it may seem that business is slow, but with the highest volume in over 2 yrs and 30% higher than last year, the fourth quarter of 2009 was quite normal.

As you know, I use MLS Average Price and Price Per SF statistics. Yeah, I know, they don't tell the whole story, but for market comparisons I think they are adequate for the time and effort. The total Marin market in December 2009 closed 220 Single Family Residences (SFR)/Condo at $881k average price and $428 average price/sf. This was up slightly from November 2009 and fairly consistent with the past 3 mos average. The Q4'09 total was 663 units at $870k and $422/sf compared to Q4'08 at 456 units, $875k and $434/sf. The difference in volume between 08 and 09 was completely SFR; condo sales for both quarters were similar.

Comparing Q3'09 to Q4'09, single family average pricing in 4^thquarter was up in Sausalito($1.355m), Mill Valley($1.168m), Tiburon/Belvedere($2.664m) and San Rafael($826k); and down in Corte Madera/Larkspur($1.101m), Ross Valley/Fairfax($1.157m) and Novato($641k).

Contact me directly for a more precise breakdown of each community and its pricing history.

Twenty Ten seems to be off to a very slow start of what has been an invigorated market. I believe the next two months will give us a great snap shot of what is in store for this year. After 10 yrs of steep inclines and 2 years of steep declines we have become accustom to volatile pricing. However, I would be perfectly happy with modest volume and -5% to 5% value increase.

Next time you're sitting around the office playing that famous real estate game, "Name The Best Place to Live", consider this incredible San Francisco view property.

Known as Wolfback Ridge in Marin County, this property is uniquely positioned atop a peaked ridge with views of San Francisco, the Pacific Ocean, Angel Island and Golden Gate Bridge. Adjacent to the Golden Gate National Park, the recreational opportunities abound. Sitting at the end of a private road, this property offers quiet serenity yet quick access to Highway 101 and San Francisco.

Here is the front yard during sunrise.

The side yard.

The back yard.

The other side yard.

How many people can say they look out one window and see Angel Island, Mt Diablo and the East Bay, then look out their front window and see the entire City of San Francisco, (including the south bay beyond the peninsula), then the Golden Gate Bridge out another window and finally, the Pacific Ocean and Fort Cronkhite Valley out another window? Let me tell you how many people, well, just one and that one could be you.

This estate property is already plumbed with utilities and has a natural build pad. Wolfback Ridge is an exclusive private community high above Sausalito, CA and offers some of the best views in the Bay Area. All of the above pics come from Lot 4. Additional lots are available as well, prices range from $1,250,000 to $1,950,000. Build your dream home high on the hill that beckons the wonderment from viewers below, "that must be the best spot in Northern California."

Brokers, if you have clients that want/need the very best, tell them about this property. Contact me for any specifics.

Average home prices for all of Marin County were down slightly in October 2009, from the previous month. October average was $883,000 on 225 units and an average price/sf of $417, for all of Marin County, both single family residences and condominiums. The average price was down 5.5% from the $934,000 of October 2008; price/sf down 7% year-over-year.

Sausalito, Mill Valley, Corte Madera and Larkspur pricing was up considerably in October from the prior quarter in single family residence sales. Ross Valley was up just slightly in average sales price, yet down in price/sf, while San Rafael was up in both categories and Novato was relatively flat. Volume across the board was up in October over any month this summer. The overall condo market for Marin County was down slightly from September in average pricing, $376,000 from $386,000.

For a specific breakdown of all Marin County communities, contact me at the information below.

The Tiburon Loop a Dup is my favorite weekend ride that doesn't involve a mountain. You know those mornings when you really don't feel like riding, maybe it is too cold, you're a little hung over, or your favorite socks are in the laundry. On those mornings, Loop a Dup is perfect. At 1 hour, 45 mins, from Sausalito, this road ride has just a wee bit of climb, few lights, incredible Bay Area views, and a great coffee joint on route.

From Sausalito, hop on the Mill Valley Sausalito bike path and take up to E. Blithedale, turn left on E. Blithedale and then your next right at the light which is Camino Alto. A quick and steady couple mile climb to the top, then down the hill, which turns into Corte Madera Ave, to the light. This would be a screaming downhill, but usually a car or two keeps you at 30mph. You're now in downtown Corte Madera. Turn Right at the first light you reach which is Redwood Dr and as it bends to the right it turns into Tamalpais Dr. This road will take you all the way back to Hwy 101, cross over the highway to the dead end, turn right, which we all call Paradise Rd.( It is really San Clemente, and turns into Paradise down the road further).

Continue on Paradise Rd past Paradise Market, past the park, past the school and you will start to see San Quentin Prison across the water. Don't pick up any hitchhikers that are dripping wet. As you climb up a small roller you soon leave Corte Madera and enter Tiburon. The price of dirt underneath you just doubled. Still on Paradise Dr, you will continue on a quiet and rough two lane that picks up some great East Bay and Richmond Bridge views. After a couple miles you will come to a Yield intersection of Paradise and Trestle Glen, keep on Paradise, but nod at Trestle Glen as you will meet again.

A few more miles of roll and rough road you will eventually pass the Romberg Center which is an education compound for San Francisco State. Next up will be some views of Angel Island, then as you drop into Tiburon great views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. As you enter the roundabout you will have a couple decisions: proceed forward, proceed to the left on Main St or proceed to Caffe Acri right at the corner and have a coffee drink while watching the Ferries and incredible view.

As this is a quick ride, I suggest proceeding straight on Tiburon Blvd through a couple stop signs until you can see the #10 bike trail to your left. If you don't pick up the trail there, you can at San Rafael Ave, which is also the exit from the Main St decision you had back at the roundabout. From the bike trail you will see the Tennis Club, great Richardson Bay views back to Sausalito and the entire youth soccer contingent of Mill Valley and Tiburon. Past the largest soccer field the trail splits, take the less-used right which will take you down to the intersection of Tiburon Blvd and Trestle Glen. Cross over and head up a short climb on Trestle Glen to the intersection of Paradise, turn left and follow your popcorn trail home, back through Corte Madera, over the Camino Alto pass into Mill Valley, left at E. Blithedale and right onto the bike trail.

Total ride time 1:45, 30miles, 17-18 ave speed. Great Road Ride.