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Well, as expected, the Federal Reserve just raised rates again, by a quarter point.  Yet, in the face of this, mortgage rates dropped!  What? you say?  'How can this be?' Well, it's all quite simple--especially when you understand how the different rate markets work.  The fact is that mortgage rates DON'T tie directly to Fed Funds rates and their moves.  Read on. The Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) two-day meeting concluded on June 14, with another 25 basis-point increase, from 1.00 percent to 1.25 percent. This was the third increase in six months, with the anticipation that future hikes will come at a slower pace. While the Fed’s decision was anticipated and already accounted for...

Well, as many of you may already be aware, prices here in Marin continue to rise.  Why the constant increases in value? Well, there are a number of reasons.  Read on. It always, more than anything else, comes down to inventory.  You know, the old adage on supply and demand.  Similar to April, inventory conditions in Pacific Union’s Bay Area regions in May were almost uniformly down year over year.  The lack of homes for sale pushed prices higher from one year earlier in nine of 10 regions.Single-family homes in Marin County sold for a median price of $1,365,000 in May, a one-year high. For the second time in the past year, homes traded at slightly higher than original prices, an average of...

Well, in case you've lost track or have been out of town, home prices have continued to rise.  In fact, in some cases, new highs have been reached.  Marin, for example, equaled its all-time high median price.  That figure is $1.2 Million.  For more info, read on! BAY AREA, THREE LOCAL COUNTIES SEE ALL-TIME HOME PRICE HIGHS IN APRIL The Bay Area’s exceptionally tight supply of homes for sale caused sales to plummet in April and drove prices up to a new record high. Citing data from CoreLogic, The Mercury News reports that the median sales price for an existing single-family home in the Bay Area rose to $800,000 in April, surpassing the previous high of $752,000 set in June of last year....

You've probably heard a number of people in recent months talk about increased Chinese interest in the Bay Area.  Obviously, this interest extends beyond just business activities and investment to real estate.  Such involvement in real estate bodes well for a present owner/seller, as well as anyone considering investing in real property in our area. Got your attention?  Read on! Bay Area real estate has long been a popular investment choice for Chinese nationals, but the landscape is quickly changing. To assess the current state of affairs, law firm Nixon Peabody hosted the San Francisco Business Times’ “Golden Bridge From China” event on Tuesday, May 2 in San Francisco, with Pacific Union...

The number of Americans age 65 and older is projected to more than double by 2060 – from 46 million to more than 98 million. And with an increasingly aging population comes the need to modify homes to suit that demographic. Check out these tips for making a home more amenable to older adults. A recent study also shows that more young adults than ever are living with their parents. In fact, 40 percent of young adults lived with their parents, stepparents, grandparents, and relatives in 2015, the highest number in 75 years. These younger adults should keep in mind that they may need to modify their homes to accommodate the needs of their older relatives. The following is a list of some...

One question we frequently receive is where are prices/home values likely to go?  Well, it's NOT an exact science, but perhaps the following encouraging info will help. Although the majority of Americans think that home prices will keep increasing in the coming months, most also still think it’s a good time to buy a home. A Gallup poll conducted earlier this month found that 61 percent of those surveyed believe that home prices will rise over the next 12 months, up from 55 percent one year ago. That’s the highest level since 2005, when 70 percent of Americans projected continued home price appreciation. In 2009, during the recession, only 22 percent of respondents expressed confidence in...

OK, I admit it.  Those of you who regularly follow our blog don't usually expect to get lawn care tips, but that subject is just as important as many others you may find here.  Why?  It's simple! The condition of your lawn contributes to the real estate version of first impressions, and, as we all know, you don't get a second chance to make a first impression!  Read on! Lawn-care experts will tell you that all landscaping mistakes by homeowners ultimately come down to two errors: not paying enough attention to your home’s outdoor space, and paying too much attention to it. For every neglected, overgrown yard is another one down the block that’s been left brown and barren by an overzealous...

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As always, there are many different things that affect the strength or weakness of the housing market.  These can include the economy, Fed policy, interest rates and general enthusiasm about the market.  Right now, there is strong enthusiasm about the housing market.  Obviously, this bodes well for sellers, but it is also helpful to buyers.  For more on its effects, read on. The first quarter of 2017 officially wraps up tomorrow, and consumers are feeling good about the state of the economy and the housing market, even as more mortgage-rate hikes loom. The National Association of Realtors’ first-quarter Housing Opportunities and Market Experience (HOME) Survey found that 62 percent of...