Sylvia Barry, Marin Realtor, MAS, ePRO

Novato public schools are back in session, and Duke, our beloved Laborator / Pointer mix is very happy that he gets to go to Dogbone Meadows Dog Park to see his best friend, Hunter, again. Since Dogbone Dog Park is in the opposite direction of my house in Partridge Knolls, San Marin Area, to my work, Frank Howard Allen Realtors, Duke only gets to go there after I drop my younger son off at the local school which is just a block away from the park. This means Duke has not been there for quite sometime :-(

The park is very popular, lots of dogs and their humen go there to hang out with their buddies. The place can get overwhelming for Duke and I late afternoons after work. I love going there in the mornings where things are calm, and there are only a few familiar dogs and very responsible dog owners. We enjoy seeing each other and catching up. And Duke! He is in heaven! You can not find a happier dog (o.k. maybe the other dogs at Dogbone Dog Park).

See the following for info about the very premier Dogbone Dog Park, Duke and his best friend, Hunter! I still need to take some pictures later in the day when the sky is blue and bright.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dogbone Meadows Dog Park in Novato, Marin County, located en route to Stafford Lake and West Marin, dogs often bring their people when they are on the way to the beaches. The dog park is right accross from Novato Chase luxury homes, is probably the best dog park in Marin County, or maybe even California. Due to the great location and the natural surroundings, there are talks of starting the first community garden in Novato next to the dog park.

Built by dog loving volunteers (or shall we say, slaves of dogs), the property is around 1 acre, with tracks for dogs and human alike, toys and exercise stations (the hoops, loops, bridges, jumps, tubs, etc) for dogs only. The volunteers planted trees for shade, put down benches and , water fountains, , porchesThe backdrop is Open Space, part ofO'Hare Park, great hiking, horseback riding trails.

This is a morning with unusual heavy fog from West Marin, a beautiful background for the dog park.

Duke (black with white spots, rescued from 2nd Chance Rescue) and Hunter (Golden, dapper with his red bandana - he has a whole collection of those) love to come here in the morning - Duke, after dropping his brother off at local high school, and Hunter, after dragging his mom for his daily 2 hour walk and play (can't say Hunter does not have a GREAT life, even Duke is envious of him!) - Hunter will chase the tennis ball and Duke will run along Hunter.

Makes Happy Dogs and Happy people when their dogs are tired the rest of, the day!

It's a foggy morning, but I thought it's interesting, so I snapped the pictures.

Duke and Hunter waiting for Hunter's mom to throw the ball.

Time to chase the ball!

Duke's best friend, Hunter, whose only passion is chasing the tennis ball!

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

SERVING MARIN, SONOMA, S.F. BAY AREA - FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS Beveldere, Corte Madera, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Larkspur, Marinwood, Mill Valley, Novato, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito, Tiburon; Cotati, Penngrove, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa.

I hesitate to jump on the bandwagon to sing praises to the improved 101 traffic in Marin County since they opened the lanes on a stretch of San Rafael in first quarter, 2009.

It amazes me to see people who hardly drive on 101 filming the traffice at 6:00AM while reporting how great the traffic is ;-)

As a Realtor, commuting during traffic hours is not the norm as I have the priviledge to schedule appointments away from traffic hours and that is what I normally do.

I feel that for reliability, I have to wait until I actually have the chance to drive during traffic hours regularly before reporting with confidence about the improvement, if any.

Well, my younger son signed up for classes at Cal. The classes start at 8:10am / 9:10am; and I have the priviledge of driving him to UC during traffice hours every morning for the last two weeks.

So far, I am very impressed by how much traffic has improved.

During the height of construction period, it took me up to 1 hour to inch from North Novato to just befroe Central San Rafael. This includes finding all local detours (which many don't know) to avoid the heavies 101 traffic depending on how each stretch of traffic is moving at the time.

And now, I can be on the Richmond bridge in just over 20 minutes and be in the middle of Cal campus (which includes driving through the famously painful Unversity Avenue) in abuot 35 minutes.

O.K. I have to admit that I took advantage of the car pool lane with my younger son in the car. However, I was able to observe the heavier part of traffic when I drove by. There are still stretches where the traffic slows down but the stretch is much shorter - just before St. Pablo and right after that exit. The traffic, although slower, is not that bad. The cars still move along nicely isntead of the agonizing stop and go.

In addition, I also surveyed my clients who commute to the city for work. The reports are a resounding YES! on how much better the traffic is now. A client told me the improvement is anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes driving the 101 stretch in Marin county. I am pleased to hear that.

So, my overall report on the 101 widening project in Central Marin, although slow in coming, is - Yes, A Great Improvement!

MARIN COUNTY BANK OWNED / REO / FORECLOSED HOMES

UPDATED 07/16/09 (last updated 06/06/09)

By Popular Demand ... Thanks for emailing... Here is the updated report as requested!

Due to strong demand from my past and current clients and the interest from the prospective clients, I am providing you with list of current Bank Owned (REO - Real Estate Owned, and Foreclosed) homes. The list will be updated freqeuently depending on relevant activities.

(Word of Wisdom from your Realtor - In addition to REO (Bank Owned) properties, there are GREAT Deals out there if you look hard enough. I will be able to help you to find the best property for you in Marin and Sonoma county, Bank Owned or Not! (O.K. I still have to work on the new Blog 'Tale of a Short Sale', but there are other priorities)

The towns included in this list are Marin County towns South Marin, Central Marin, North Marin and West Marin (yes, we even have a few in South, Central and West Marin). Specifically: Belvedere, Bolinas, Corte Madera, Dillon Beach, Fairfax, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Lagunitas, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Muir Beach, Nicasio, Novato, Marin County, Olema, Point Reyes Station, Ross, San Anselmo, San Geronimo, San Rafael, Sausalito, Stinson Beach, Tiburon, Tomales

Single Family Homes, Farms and Ranches are in one link; and Condos/Townhomes are in another link. Note that the link expires in 30 days (Per MLS rule).

Marin County Bank Owned Single Family Homes Marin County Bank Owned Single Family Homes (Updated 07/16/09)

It has been 1 and 1/2 months since I last (06/06/09) posted Marin REO proeprties - taking care of my clients tends to get in the way of posting online. However, never hestiate to email me if you need current info.

The Marin housing market is heating up again, as evident in the new 'sellers' market. Lack of supply and increasing demand play a big role in that - Economics 101, I am sure. This can be attributed to a few reasons: Continuing interest in first time homebuyers taking advantage of the up to $8,000 tax credit from the government, interest rates stay historicacl low, including the new friendly Jumbo ($729,000 in Marin county), consumer believing the market has hit the bottom (as evident by many multiple offers), the lenders are required to hold of for an additional 90 days before starting the foreclosure process - allowing distressed homeowners the opportunity to work out their loans with the lenders - we have heard quite a few successful loan modifications), short sales are getting easier to approve, less stress for buyers, and much more.

And 1 and 1/2 months later, the famous, but accurate remark of: "The Bottom of the Market is Hindsight" Don't be the one who missed out on the opportunity.

Changes between 06/06/09 and 07/16/09! for Single Family Homes

66 Totals!

• 19 Active - Rumor had it and now Luxury REOs are finally on market. Vacation at home with Bay and Mt. Tam views in Sausalito - speaking of breathtaking views! check out that 178 Santa Rosa Avenue. Belvedere REO? with stunning water view, small but sure

~ Continue watching for outstsanding properties on REO list! ~

• 29 Pending (Contingent, Pending) a gorgeous home in Larkspur - 5 Wittshire Avenue, inescorw just after 3 days; 1190 Cambridge (short sale at $470K, now REO at $372,900) in escrow after 2 days, probably multiple offers too! On the other hand, a major fixer (or tear down) in San Anselmo, first priced at $1,350,000 went into escrow when it was reduced to $1M in May.
• 18 Sold since 06/06/09 - Remember that super hot deal on Sun Lane? Sold for $710K (12.72% over asking) ALL Cash. One of those, no offers, but then suddenly many offers came in. A Shea Home in Pointe Marin closed in 21 days for $855K (last sale in 06 for $1,150,000)

Changes between 06/06/09 and 07/16/09 for Marin County Bank Owned Townhomes / Condos

54 Total Listings -

• 18 Active
• 21 Pendings
• 15 SOLD

Questions about the current market? a specific property? The Incentive? Ready to Buy? Ready to Learn? Call your trusted Realtor to give you personalized updates...

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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.

I have never be 'IN' the Novato July 4th parade before. A few times I was there, I was a bystander, watching for my then young sons marching down Old Town Grant Avenue as part of Novato Summer Music Institute Marching Band. It was fun watching them, but I had never be IN one before.

Yesterday, I got the taste of actually being in the Parade while riding the truck with the Penguin Empire Robotics Team (San Marin High School Robotics Club). I have to say that it was a lot of fun riding with the students, pretending that I was helping (they knew exactul what to do). and waving to the bystanders (now that I am in it, might as well enjoy the parade!)

The parade drew record entries and recrod crowds presumably the difficutl economy kept a lot of people home during the summer; but being in Marin for the summer can not be considered a hardship, I have to say.

There were over 200 entries; including the perennial entry of tleet of antique tanks and military vehicles (a private collection), basset hound parade (yes, hundreds of them and their proud owners), MY personal favorite Pini Hardware Plunger Brigade, this year, with an automatic toilet built by Penguin Empire adviser Mike Sousa (I think Pini Hardware did the garbage can routine one year), many student groups - the Novato Summer Institute, Five Charming Lads from San Marin, San Marin Jazz Choir, Marin Summer Theater, Novato Unified School District, Various Novato schools and Novato School Fuel thanking Novato for passing Measure A+ for Kids campaign, dace clubs, Taken do clubs, anti-tax protesters, archers, musketeers, Coast Guard Strike Team, and much more.

It's also fun to see so many friends and neighbors out there watching and enjoying the parade. Novato, a town of 50K+ population, a lay-back and very friendly town can seem so small and personal where we seem to know and care about everybody!

Oh, not to forget about the Penguin Empire Team - the students did great and the crowd were awed by the awesome robot whenever we stop. The students remotely controlled the robot, drove it down the ramp, performed a couple of routines (unfortunately, due to the crowd, we were not able to show the full potential of the robot) and drove it back up the float. The crowds were quite enthusiastic about the robot and the team :-)

Here are a few picturs to share with you (sorry, I was too busy to be IN the parade, and did not take as many pictures as I would have liked!)

As if planned to celebrate the beginning of the summer vacation and a brand new chapter for our youth in Marin (yes, this is graduation weekend), Marin county is the proud host of two fun, entertaining and educational events.

Both events celebrate the rich heritage and artistical talents of Marin county communities.

Being a community minded real estate company, my company, Frank Howard Allen Realtors is a proud supporter of two wonderful community events happening this weekend, June 13 and 14,

Make sure you click on the link for the entertainment lineups for both events. Many performing groups are homegrown, our local Marin Groups!

Novato Festival of Art, Wine & Music - our Novato Office is a sponsor of the 26th Annual Novato Art, Wine & Music Festival, which will take place in downtown Novato and features live music, a wine garden, arts and crafts booths and more.

Novato Art, Wine and Music Festival

The Italian Street Painting Festival - Join us along Children's Avenue at the Street Painting Festival in downtown San Rafael where we continue the tradition of photographing our youngest artists as they create their very own chalk masterpieces.

Italian Street Painting Festival

My friends. Margaret and Tim Buss have always participated in the Street Painting Fetival. Margaret's speciality is the 'triangle' technique (see painting on the left). This year, their son, Lawrence and his girl friend, Alex will follow the parents' footstep. I look forward to see what the younger generation comes up with tomorrow.