GREEN REALTOR NEWS | Vol. 41
Market Update | Coming Soon | MGHT - Behind the Scenes | Photo Contest
Tracy Mazza was the winner of our July photo contest! Many of you correctly identified Alan Ginsberg in the image and thought the photo location was in North Beach, but Tracy knew immediately that it was the sidewalk at the corner of Castro and 18th Street, part of the Rainbow Honor Walk. The walk features bronze sidewalk plaques that honor LGBTQ+ individuals who have made a significant impact in global history. 44 plaques span the area between 19th and Market, and Noe and Collingwood Streets with another 24 on the way. Check it out when you are in the neighborhood and visit the website to learn about the honorees.
Scroll to the bottom to see if you can guess the location of the August photo. The first person to email me with a correct answer wins a $25 gift certificate to local green business Sports Basement!
Market Update
We’ve seen an interesting divergence between the San Francisco and Marin markets this August. In San Francisco the number of home sales jumped 32.5% over the previous year. The median price for single family homes was up 10.3%. Not only are homes selling for more, they are selling faster. The median days on market decreased to just 13, while 3 out of 4 homes sold for over their list price at an average of 111.2% of asking. This trend highlights strong buyer demand. With interest rates dropping, we can imagine that this will only grow as we head into our typically busy fall season. By contrast, the market in Marin has slightly softened, with average prices down about 1.8% year over year. More price reductions were seen in the past month than any time in the last 2 years, indicating that sellers are adjusting to market shifts. Still, 40% of homes sold for over their asking prices, with an average of 100.6% over asking.
What does this mean? It could be an excellent time to sell your home in San Francisco and move across the bridge to sunny Marin! Thinking about it? Give me a call! Click the buttons below for the full market reports.
Coming Soon
138 Belvedere Drive, Mill Valley
This month is all about sneak peeks and this is a good one! Coming on the market right after Labor Day, this cute little house in the Strawberry neighborhood of Mill Valley is just down the street from Strawberry Point School and the Strawberry Recreation District. Bright and sunny, the home features two bedrooms and one bath plus a bonus room with outdoor access. Large decks at the front and back allow for seamless indoor/outdoor living. Freshened up with a brand new roof, new paint inside and out and updated kitchen and bathroom, it’s ready and waiting for new owners to move right in and start enjoying the Mill Valley lifestyle.
Listed for $1,295,000. Open Saturday and Sunday, September 7 & 8. Reach out to me for more details.
Marin Green Home Tour - Behind the Scenes
The Marin Green Home Tour is happening October 24th from 6 - 8 PM, and the 100th Birthday Project is one of the featured properties! The event features pre-recorded video tours followed by a live Q&A with the homeowners. This week the crew came to film the tour. The 100th Birthday Project grew out of a passion for protecting the earth from climate change and a belief that small changes add up to make a big difference. I earned my GREEN designation from the National Association of Realtors just a few months before finding this little San Rafael bungalow, so the timing was ideal to launch a project. The goal of bringing an almost 100 year old house to meet nationally recognized green certification standards did not present a clear path forward, particularly for busy people on a budget. Using a five year timeline allowed time to research options, pace the projects, find the rebates, interview vendors and get multiple bids for everything - all with the goal of becoming an expert in residential sustainability. It was a lucky coincidence that the timeline coincided with the home’s 100th Birthday! Check out these behind the scenes shots for a sneak peek of the tour.
Click the button to visit the Marin Green Home Tour website and reserve your free tickets for October 24.
San Rafael PorchFest
Sunday, September 15 from 12 - 5 PM
One of the biggest events on the San Rafael social calendar is just 16 days away! This free community music event is celebrating its fifth anniversary in the beloved neighborhood of Gerstle Park in San Rafael. This year 62 bands will play on select porches within a multi-block area, including youth bands at Gerstle Park and Short Elementary School. Featuring food trucks, dancing and general merriment, this popular event is always a great time. Click the image for more information including a porch map and band schedule.
Photo Contest
All of the beautiful photos in our contest are provided by Green Realtor News’ Artist-in-Residence, Esther Vermeer. Esther is a Mill Valley resident with a background in branding and graphic design. Originally from the Netherlands, she moved with her family to Montreal, Canada for a while and came to the Bay Area 14 years ago, where she has since established herself in the world of interior design. She loves to journey around California and discover the lush natural beauty the state has to offer. You can reach her at esther@prevalentprojects.com.
If you know the location email me at lucinda@lucindaotto.com. The first person with a correct guess wins a $25 gift card to Sports Basement.
I hope you enjoyed the Green Realtor News! If you know anyone buying or selling, or if you are curious to hear more about the market, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to help you or your friends make moves. As one of my happy clients loves to say:
Everyone Needs A Lucinda!
