Hi Friends,

Have you been affected by the roller coaster financial circus of late? If so, now is a great time to take a look at your portfolio and assets diversification. Do you own a home, income property, or nothing? Word on the street is that real estate is still one of the best investments you can make for long-term growth. And the Bay Area is just the place to do that. When Michael and I scraped enough money to purchase our Mill Valley home during Thanksgiving 2015, little did we know then how our equity would more than double over the next ten years! Now is a great time to take that leap whether it's your first home or an investment property - vacation home or income-producing.
If you do decide to jump in the game, this latest news from Redfin is promising: Home sellers gave concessions (credits) to buyers in 44.4 % of U.S. home-sales transactions in the first quarter of 2025. The SF Bay area stats are showing credits for 22% of the transactions. These seller credits reduce the buyer’s total cost of purchasing a home, including money toward repairs, closing costs and/or mortgage-rate buydowns.
Why are they doing this? It's Spring, that time of year when inventory grows and odds tip a bit more in the buyer's favor due to the influx of homes for sale. Coupled with buyer's becoming pickier and increasingly dismayed over chronically fluctuating mortgage interest rates, seller's are learning how to adjust. There will always be those outliers - the most coveted, turnkey home on the block - that will still garner multiple offers and a higher list to sales price. In closing, don't dismay, let me show you the way with your next purchase and remember to stay positive!

Cheers, Suzanne

BUZZWORTHY HOME SALES | APRIL

Winship Park | Ross

Paradise | Tiburon

Old St. Hilary | Tiburon

List Price | $5,395,000
Sales Price | $5,151,000
Price Per Sq Ft | $1457
Days on Market | 29
1 Offer (Cash)
4 Bed 3 Bath

Courtesy of: Scott Woods | MLS: 325015174

Tam Valley | Mill Valley

GOOD TIMES | SUBLIME EVENTS
YOUTH IN ARTS | MAY 17, 2025

Mark your calendars for the Youth in Arts 4th Annual vibrant C Street Celebration – a free community event showcasing the power of the arts in Marin's young lives.

Held in downtown San Rafael (C Street between 3rd & 4th Streets) this day is packed with something for everyone: live music from 'Til Dawn A Cappella; delicious local food and drinks and plenty of engaging children's activities. This celebration supports the vital work of Youth in Arts, which provides in-depth arts programs fostering confidence, compassion, and resilience in local students, while advocating for equitable access to arts education for all.

Get Involved:

Attend: Bring your family & friends for a day of fun! Register (link below) for free and you might win a prize
Volunteer: Lend a hand and help create a memorable experience (link below)!

DETAILS

Rovinj | $1.45 million (€1.29 million)
1,163 sq ft | $1246/sq ft

Who can say 'no' to this stunning view? I've been obsessed with visiting Croatia since my HBO days watching life and death scenes play out week to week during Game of Thrones episodes that were shot throughout Dubrovnik.

Stunning panoramic sea views abound from this charming duplex apartment in the heart of Rovinj's historic old town. Located on the western coast of Croatia's Istrian Peninsula, Rovinj is an enchanting fishing port (13,000 residents) known for its walkable old town filled with dining and shopping. Feel the cultural connection to Venice, just across the Adriatic, with Italian commonly spoken alongside Croatian. Ferry service to Venice is available from the nearby harbor.

The duplex occupies the top two floors of a 200-year-old building with a private entrance opening to stairs leading to the two-bedroom, two-bathroom residence. The main floor features an open living, dining, and kitchen space, highlighted by a wood-burning fireplace, built-in cabinetry, water-view windows, beamed ceilings, and terra-cotta flooring. One level hosts a twin bedroom with a vaulted ceiling and two bathrooms. The upper attic level is dedicated to a spacious bedroom with vaulted, beamed ceilings, offering captivating views over the village and the sea.

The Forest Park Zlatni Rt (aka Golden Cape) is 2 miles away, offering beaches, including traditional nudist spots. The capital, Zagreb, is 150 miles east.

Photo Credit: Engel & Volkers Istria, New York Times

MARIN REAL ESTATE REPORT
Weekly Stats Ending March 24

As we close out this ADU series, let us assume we are coming in on time and budget - hallmarks of a project well done. Little changes and additions should be anticipated depending on the project, and hopefully, won’t affect the bottom line too much. Speaking of the bottom line...

I caught up with an old friend the other night. We had a few laughs and updates on family, and, of course, houses came up. He remembers what I mentioned to him years ago about homes, homebuilding and remodeling: You can have 2 of these 3 items: Job well done, Job priced right, Job completed on time.

Only two! And I often say to prospective clients, I don’t do fast.

Once that’s established, the next part is coming up with the activities list for the project and getting some estimates on pricing for the specific project. Keep in mind that estimates are just that: An estimate. Pricing varies depending on the time of year, the demand, the relationships, etc. Currently we are looking at materials and finishes that don’t have the flexibility of being any less than advertised. Sure, you might be able to pick up that stainless steel sink from an online source, just like the one that was specified for less than advertised; however, some items are just too tricky to purchase from an unreliable source that relies on shipping.

Regardless of a local vendor vs online, the one thing a qualified general contractor has is relationships with subcontractors. Nothing frustrates more than a subcontractor who has put your job off to finish another. A good General will keep the job going and be ready for each phase. A good General will have competent subcontractors, plumbers, and electricians that they use regularly, have qualified the pricing, and have paid them on time so they know that your project is being run smoothly. And consequently show up and get it done.

The graphic above represents a general list of pricing for the contract. Once the project gets fleshed out a bit we can zero in on some of the pricing and leave allowances for others that have yet to be firmed up. For example, the tile which is towards the end of the project might not have been fully detailed or bathroom accessories have yet to be chosen. Just the same, it's nice to have a placeholder of a reasonable amount in the activity it represents. Once pricing comes in we can adjust the allowance accordingly. I try to set it a bit high, so we come in lower. It always helps the relationship with the client to come in lower!

Next up: we'll begin demystifying the differences between a negotiated or bid project, and a design build vs architect route for your residential construction plans.

Issue #14 | April 30, 2025

Issue #13 | April 2, 2025