As you see in the charts below the average sales price in Marvelous Marin County is about where it was in 2004 - 2005.

While the volume of homes selling has been mostly pathetic this year, we have seen a slight uptick in the past month.  Encouraging, but we're not out of the woods yet.

I think this will continue through next year, with more distres sales coming on the market.  What is fueling the slight uptick in volume is realistic sellers who have learned that REOs are the competition and they must price accordingly.

To learn more about this area visit my website or contact me directly.

If you have questions, just ask!

As you will see in the charts below the average sales price in the beautiful wine country town of Sonoma continues to be driven by the distress sales.

Volume is picking up a little bit, but nothing to be overly optimistic about.

To learn more about this area visit my website or contact me directly.

If you have questions, just ask!

The table below shows the sales activity for Marin County and Southern Sonoma County for the month of October 2009, sorted alphabetically by the name of the City.

For more detailed information about a specific City, click on the corresponding link below.

City	# of homes sold	Average Days on Market	Average ORIGINAL Asking Price	Average FINAL Selling Price	# Sold AT Original Asking Price	# Sold OVER Original Asking Price	% of Available Listings in Escrow
Corte Madera	8	114	$756,613	$702,413	1	-	37
Fairfax	7	80	$760,429	$708,857	1	2	38
Greenbrae	7	88	$779,286	$749,714	-	3	20
Kentfield	4	56	$3,478,500	$3,258,500	-	2	31
Larkspur	4	131	$1,299,750	$1,089,144	-	-	29
Mill Valley	24	122	$1,216,288	$1,080,144	-	3	25
Novato	72	94	$596,785	$560,843	6	15	49
Ross	2	33	$2,745,000	$2,794,200	-	1	30
San Anselmo	9	139	$873,333	$762,872	1	1	30
San Rafael	57	97	$768,712	$728,242	8	10	34
Sausalito	7	70	$1,197,429	$1,190,750	1	1	21
Tiburon	8	88	$2,703,556	$2,408,125	1	1	14
Marin County	221	104	NA	$884,040	NA	NA	30
Petaluma	60	114	$481,687	$439,140	2	18	42
Sonoma	33	134	$523,709	$465,276	1	10	40

Please note that all Original Asking Prices are without any price reductions.

This information is current as of November 6, 2009 and the sources are BAREIS and CleanOffer. 

As of November 6, 2009 30% of available listings in Marin County are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 only 221 homes sold in Marin County, for an average final selling price of $884,000.

Of the 221 homes that sold 53 were distress sales.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $120,000 to a high of $9,200,000.

It took these homes an average of 104 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

As of November 6, 2009 a mere 14% of available listings in Tiburon are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 only 8 homes sold in Tiburon, for an average final selling price of $2,408,125.

The average original asking price of these homes was $2,703,556.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $490,000 to a high of $6,500,000.

Of the 8 homes that sold, 1 sold at the original asking price and 1 sold for more than the original asking price.

It took these homes an average of 88 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

As of November 6, 2009 only 21% of available listings in Sausalito are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 only 7 homes (1 of which was a distress sale) sold in Sausalito, for an average final selling price of $1,190,750.

The average original asking price of these homes was $1,197,429.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $346,500 to a high of $2,925,000.

Of the 7 homes that sold, 1 sold at the original asking price and 1 sold over the original asking price.

It took these homes an average of 70 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

As of November 6, 2009 34% of available listings in San Rafael are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 57 homes (8 of which were distress sales) sold in San Rafael, for an average final selling price of $728,242.

The average original asking price of these homes was $768,712.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $140,000 to a high of $3,100,000.

Of the 57 homes that sold 8 sold at their original asking price and 10 sold for more than their original asking price.

It took these homes an average of 97 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

As of November 6, 2009 30% of available listings in San Anselmo are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 only 9 homes (1 of which was a distress sale) sold in San Anselmo, for an average final selling price of $762,872. 

The average original asking price of these homes was $873,333.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $341,848 to a high of $1,025,000.

Of the 9 homes that sold 1 sold at the original asking price and 1 sold over the original asking price.

It took these homes an average of 139 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

As of November 6, 2009 30% of available listings in Ross are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 only 2 homes sold in Ross, for an average final selling price of $2,794,200 -- which was a bit higher than the average original asking price of $2,745,000.

The two final selling prices were $1,588,400 and $4,000,000.

The $4M home was originally listed at $3,795,000 and closed in 21 days.

It took these two homes an average of 33 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

As of November 6, 2009 an impressive 49% of all available listings in Novato are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 a whopping 72 homes sold in Novato, for an average final selling price of $560,843.  (30 of those 72 homes were distress sales.)

The average original asking price of these homes was $596,785.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $129,500 to a high of $1,755,000.

Of the 72 homes that sold 6 sold at their original asking price and 15 sold over their original asking price.  All others sold for less than their original asking price.

It took these homes an average of 94 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

As of November 6, 2009 only 25% of available listings in Mill Valley are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 24 homes sold in Mill Valley, for an average final selling price of $1,080,144.  (7 of these homes were distress sales.)

The average original asking price of these homes was $1,216,288.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $260,000 to a high of $3,680,000.

Of the 24 homes that sold 3 sold over their original asking price and all others sold for less than their original asking price.

It took these homes an average of 122 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

As of November 6, 2009 only 29% of available listings in Larkspur are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 only 4 homes sold in Larkspur, for an average final selling price of $1,089,250.

The average original asking price of these homes was $1,299,750.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $640,000 to a high of $3,680,000.

Of the 4 homes that sold all sold for less than their original asking price.

It took these homes an average of 131 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

As of November 6, 2009 31% of available listings in Kentfield are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 only 4 homes sold in Kentfield, for an average final selling price of $3,258,500.

The average original asking price of these homes was $3,478,500.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $784,000 to a high of $9,200,000.

Of the 4 homes that sold 2 sold for more than their original asking price and the other 2 sold for less.

It took these homes an average of 56 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

As of November 6, 2009 only 20% of available listings in Greenbrae are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 only 7 homes sold in Greenbrae, for an average final selling price of $749,714.  (Only 1 of these homes was a distress sale.)

The average original asking price of these homes was $779,286.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $330,000 to a high of $1,385,000.

Of the 7 homes that sold 3 sold over the original asking price and all others sold for less.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

As of November 6, 2009 an encouraging 38% of available listings in Fairfax are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 only 7 homes sold in Fairfax, for an average final selling price of $708,857.  (Only 1 of these was a distress sale.)

The average original asking price of these homes was $760,429.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $504,000 to a high of $1,100,000.

Of the 7 homes that sold, 1 sold at the original asking price, 2 sold over the original asking price and the other 4 sold for less.

It took these homes an average of 80 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

As of November 6, 2009 an encouraging 37% of available listings in Corte Madera are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 only 8 homes sold in Corte Madera for an average final selling price of $702,413.  Two of these homes were distress sales.

The average original asking price of these homes was $756,613.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $408,000 to a high of $1,250,000.

Of the 8 homes that sold, 1 sold at the original asking price and all others sold for less.

It took these homes an average of 114 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

As of November 6, 2009 an encouraging 40% of available listings in the beautiful wine country town of Sonoma are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 33 homes sold for an average final selling price of $465,276.

The average original asking price of these homes was $523,709.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $176,000 to a high of $1,200,000.

Of the 33 homes that sold 1 sold at the original asking price and 10 sold over their original asking price.  All other sold for less. 

14 of the 33 homes were distress sales.

It took these homes an average of 134 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

As of November 6, 2009 an encouraging 42% of available listings in Petaluma are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 6o homes sold in Petaluma for an average final selling price of $439,140.

The average original asking price of these homes was $481,687.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $165,000 to a high of $935,000.

Of the 60 homes that sold, 2 sold at their original asking price and 18 sold for more than their original asking price.  26 of these 60 homes were distress sales.

It took these homes an average of 114 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

Many of the cities and towns in Marin County have ordinances regarding directional open houses signs--that have just recently begun being enforced.  With budget shortfalls everyone is looking for ways to generate revenue and the police are out in force picking up open house signs so they can collect the fines from agents wanting them back.

So when you're out there looking for a Sunday (or otherwise) open house, do not rely on directional signs to get there as many will only have signs at the property.

The Marin Association of Realtors provides a matrix that shows which cities and towns allow what.  You will see that most, if not all, only allow one.

So, if you are looking for open houses in Marin County you may want to dust off your Thomas Guide and your maps, or spring for a GPS if you don't already have one.  You cannot rely on directional real estate open house signs in Marin County anymore.

A picture really is worth a thousand words.  You can see in the first chart that the peak of the average sales price in Marin County was in September 2007--a bit of conundrum being that also in September 2007 is when the banks turned off the "free money faucet" so there were the fewest sold homes in that same month.

We all know what happened after that.

So while more than 80% of surveyed economists agree that the recession over, they also warn that recovery will be painful as those without jobs will likely remain without jobs for quite a while.

Residents of Marin County used to think that we were somewhat immune to the woes of the rest of the world, we are consistently seeing about 25 - 35% of all sales in Marin County are distress sales of some form.

What all these reports don't show is that many of the purchases are cash purchases.  I even had a buyer who is currently living China, returning home to Marin in a few years, buy their home sight unseen because they felt that this is the bottom and now is the time to buy.

Of course they had me and relatives here with their feet on the ground to help them with photos and videos, but I thought that was pretty remarkable.

I, for one, am optimistic.