| Marin County real estate is managing to keep | | | | contains information that is invaluable to |
| its head above water in a sluggish real | | | | prospective buyers, including pricing, |
| estate market, but it is a struggle. Long | | | | photos, amenities, size, and the number of |
| considered a real estate hot spot, the Marin | | | | days the property has been on the market. |
| market has slowed, although a few areas are | | | | The MLS database is updated constantly, it is |
| still in what can be considered a seller's | | | | a dynamic tool. It will even indicate when |
| market. Other communities, including Novato | | | | the price of a property has dropped - |
| and San Rafael have definitively entered the | | | | something useful to know when it comes to |
| buyer's corner. In truth, Marin's housing | | | | making an offer! |
| market is all over the map and the | | | | |
| prospective buyer will need a knowledgeable | | | | Accessing listings in the Marin MLS is easy |
| realtor to help navigate these rocky shoals. | | | | for both real estate agent subscribers as |
| | | | well as consumers. For consumers, access to |
| The interesting thing about listings in Marin | | | | the MLS database that covers Marin County is |
| County is that sales can be difficult to | | | | typically achieved thru use of an online |
| predict and generally need to be taken on a | | | | database search tool called the IDX (internet |
| case-by-case basis. The luxury home market | | | | Data eXchange) that can be found on some |
| remains strong, but more modest homes | | | | Marin real estate agent and broker websites. |
| sometimes languish for a variety of reasons. | | | | Rather than sifting through hundreds of |
| Some are quite simply overpriced. Others | | | | property listings you can enter your search |
| went into escrow and subsequently fell out | | | | criteria - your price range, the number of |
| due to financing issues (Again, might the | | | | bedrooms & bathrooms you require, the |
| sellers be thinking their homes are worth | | | | communities you are interested in, etc. and |
| more than the market will bear?). There have | | | | the database will give you a concise summary |
| also been situations where the buyers and | | | | of what is available within the parameters of |
| sellers locked horns and couldn't come to an | | | | your search. Many of these |
| agreement regarding credits for defects | | | | consumer-friendly MLS search tools also |
| discovered upon home inspections. This | | | | enable homebuyers to sign-up for email |
| shouldn't scare you off if you are looking to | | | | listing alert notifications when new listings |
| buy a home in Marin. Just be cautious and | | | | hit the market that match their unique search |
| wise. | | | | criteria. |
| | | | |
| In the current Marin real estate market, the | | | | With an experienced Marin realtor by your |
| first step is to find a good real estate | | | | side, you can make that perfect home in Marin |
| agent. It would be sheer folly to try to go | | | | County a reality. By working closely with |
| it alone. And remember, not all realtors are | | | | you, a good realtor can help you define what |
| created equal. You need to hook up with a | | | | you need and want in a home, then use a |
| knowledgeable and experienced Marin realtor. | | | | variety of tools, including the Marin MLS |
| An agent who knows the market can guide you | | | | database search tools, to help you to |
| through the intricacies of real estate | | | | identify potential properties. Once you have |
| transaction and help you to make informed | | | | narrowed the search, your realtor's knowledge |
| decisions. | | | | of the Marin market will help you decide what |
| | | | a reasonable offer for the property is, and |
| One very important tool that your realtor | | | | guide you every step of the way as you wind |
| will rely on is the Multiple Listing Service | | | | your way toward owning that home you've |
| (MLS) that services Marin County. The MLS is | | | | always dreamed about. |
| a database, available by subscription, and | | | | |