Money Train

Another update on the progress of the SMART train. In case you're wondering why we keep reporting on this story, we believe that the SMART train (whether it makes it to the station or not) will have a big impact on North Bay real estate.

Clean Bill of Health

In possibly the least shocking news story of the year, Marin was recently ranked as as California's healthiest county. It's a very nice sustainably harvested feather in our organic hats. Laugh all you want, but these are the things that help real estate values. We plan to celebrate with a Double Double and a side of fries.

Rubber-necking Real Estate

Sometimes it's hard not to look. If you're curious to know more about foreclosures in Marin, check out the IJ's forclosure database. Please note, however, that while this information is public, it's also personal. Let decency prevail. You should also know that many home listed as "in the foreclosure process," will never become bank-owned. These days, most people attempting to do loan modifications are being advised to go into default on their mortgages. This starts the foreclosure process. In many of these cases, the lenders will modify the loan before the house is reposessed and the owners will remain in possession.

What's Your Point?

In today's Chron, various parties weigh in on what will happen to mortgage rates in the coming months. Of course, to borrow from William Goldman, "Nobody knows anything." Nevertheless, speculation that rates could jump as much as a full point should give some pause to anyone with a stake in real estate. Higher rates usually mean falling values. With apologies to Mr. Goldman, one thing we do know is it's going to be a very interesting year in real estate.

Posted by Jess Pearson

Rising Tide?

If a rising tide lifts all ships, then what do rising interest rates do? Unless, like us, you assiduously avoid television news and talk radio, you've already heard about Fed Chairman Bernanke's comments regarding eventual and inevitable increases in interest rates. Here's the article about it in the Times. When rates go up, lots of things will happen; some bad and some good and all depending one your point of view. But they won't all happen at once and they won't all happen right away. One thing we think we can say with relative confidence...if you're thinking about buying and you plan to hold on to your investment for a good long while, this might be the time to act. Conforming loan rates are under 5%. Even if prices fall, higher rates will mean higher cost of ownership over the long haul. Unless you're a cash buyer, you may look back on Q1 of 2010 as that rare moment when prices and interest rates were both low.

Orange You Glad I Didn't Say "Termite?"

Some of you know that we're huge fans of the San Francisco Giants. If you're like us, you love to listen to their games on the radio. And if you listen, then you know that the Giants' flagship station, KNBR, runs a lot of ads for orange oil termite treatment. We've heard mixed reviews about orange oil, so we were happy to see a little Q&A in the Chron this week. We can't promise that this is totally accurate (it is the Chron, after all), but at least now you know more than you did before (or ever wanted to?) about orange oil.

Default Setting

Marin IJ or SF Chron: two sources for the same info. Notices of default were down last quarter, but we're not ready to draw any conclusions yet. There are too many forces at play in the marketplace right now to say whether a trend can sustain.

More on the SMART Train

The IJ had another update on the SMART train. Looks like a modified route is a possiblility. From where we sit, it's hard to get behind any option that doesn't include a connection at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. How do other North Bay residents feel?

Slow Train Coming?

For those who missed it, here's an update on the SMART Train that will connect Marin and Sonoma Counties.

Posted by Jess Pearson