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Peter Nielsen

3BR/2BA with Garage For Rent in Richmond, CA

Need an affordable rental? Attractive newer building, 3BR/2BA with attached garage. The kitchen has tile floor and granite counters; there is laminate flooring in living areas, and carpet in bedrooms. The gas oven and a refrigerator are included, with washer/dryer hook-ups in the garage. It has dual pane windows and is well insulated. There is a security alarm paid by the owner and a security gate across the driveway. $1450/mo. For pictures, see www.MarinRealtyExperts.com/rentals/118-2nd-St. To see, call me at 415-472-6243.

Rents are increasing in Marin County

A report released this morning by the Independent Broker Network shows that rental prices in most towns and for most types of housing in Marin County are increasing.

The average rent for a 3 bedroom single family home in 2011 in various towns is as follows:

Novato $2,663

San Rafael 2,900

San Anselmo/Fairfax 3,706

Corte Madera/Mill Valley/Greenbrae/Larkspur 4,125

Sausalito 4,161

Belvedere/Tiburon 5,170

Kentfield/Ross 5,383

The average rent for a 2 bedroom condo is:

San Rafael/Novato $1,940

Corte Madera/Mill Valley/Tiburon/Larkspur/Sausalito 2,787

If you are interested in knowing the average rents for 2 or 4 bedroom single family homes, or for 3 or 4 bedroom condos, contact me at 415-472-6243.

Peter@MarinRealtyExperts.com

Marin Real Estate Update - Q3 2011

At the end of Q3 (July-Sept) the supply of homes for sale in Marin County was down by 24% from the same quarter a year ago, reducing the inventory from 6 months to 4 months. This drop in supply should result in an increase in prices, but that is not yet the case, with prices for single family homes down 2% from a year ago and the price of condos down 13%. When compared with the previous quarter, though, it appears that prices may be stabilizing with single family homes down just 1% and condos unchanged. The median price of a single family home in Marin in Q3 was $773,500. The median price for a condo was $303,500.

The time it takes to sell a home has increased from 52 days in Q2 to 65 days in Q3, There are 178 distressed properties for sale in the county – bank-owned, short sales or in some stage of foreclosure – representing 19% of all listed, down by 1% from Q2.

Ø It remains a Sellers Market for homes priced less than $500,000, with 50% of the for-sale homes in escrow.

Ø It remains a Balanced Market for homes priced between $500,000 - $1,000,000 (35% are in escrow).

Ø And it remains a Buyers Market for homes priced more than $1,000,000 (only 16% are in escrow).

For the complete report and to see the price levels and trends for Belvedere/Tiburon, Corte Madera/Greenbrae/Larkspur, Fairfax/San Geronimo Valley, Kentfield/Ross, Mill Valley, Novato, San Anselmo, San Rafael and Sausalito, click here.

Interior Designer offers services in exchange for reduced rent

I know of an interior designer who has had her work accepted and featured in the Marin Showcase Home who is looking for an arangement where she and her husband, who has experience in construction and renovation, could work together to renovate a home in Marin County in exchange for reduced rent. If you know of anyone that might be interested in such an arrangement, please let me know.

Peter Nielsen, 415-472-6243

Prospective Buyer has seen over 1000 listings

I just sent an email to a potential buyer who has been on my automated MLS search now for 3 years. He has been sent over 1000 listings and continues to look at them, but has not once asked to see any of them in the flesh! Maybe he is being shrewd and has been watching prices drop these 3 years, but there have to have been some homes among those 1000 that met his criteria that would have been worth buying to stop paying rent.