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