Ride Along
(With A Marin Realtor)
by Jason Lewis
My Newest Happy Homeowners -- 9 Years in the Making!
I first met Danielle 9 years ago at an open house in San Rafael. She had recently given a kidney to her son Flynn, a sweet boy with special needs. She said it was her goal to one day buy a home for Flynn. Danielle immediately struck me as a person of enormous grit and determination. She's an inspirational person because no matter what she faces, she never gives up. I vowed to her that no matter how long it takes, I was going to help her find the perfect home.

Fast-foward to the present: Danielle married Michael, a prince of a person, and they recently had a baby. After many years of saving and planning, it was time to act. There were a few heartbreaks along the way as we battled it out in some fiercely competitive situations. But ultimately, we never gave up. I was able to help them lock in the PERFECT home in San Anselmo before almost anyone else (Buyers or Realtors) even had a chance to see it.

Seeing the look of joy on Danielle and Michael's faces when their dream finally became a reality is the best thing about being a Realtor. I'm so happy for this special family!
Beetles, Termites, and Pee, OH MY!
A few months ago a woman living in Washington State was referred to me by a former client. She had just become the Trustee of a 2BD/1BA home in San Rafael and asked me to sell it for her. Upon visiting the home, I was immediately struck by its smell: garbage, urine, and pet feces -- The Works! There's an old saying in Real Estate that "If you can smell it you can't sell it." We ordered a barrage of inspection reports and found the home had almost $100,000 of "deferred maintenance" (aka damage).

Among other things, there was a gaping hole in the kitchen floor through which one could peer and see the crawlspace below. Termites and beetles were living comfortably in the walls. A pipe under a bathroom sink was disconnected and water had been pouring directly into the subarea for who knows how many years. Huge mess.
We cleaned up the interior, ripped out the carpets (exposing a urine soaked hardwood floor beneath), painted the walls, and priced it at $499,000 .

So... why am I telling you about THIS particular house?

Because, this listing was THE lowest priced single family home in all of Marin County the week it hit the market. $499,000! I sent out over 100 disclosure packages, we received 17 offers and it sold for $720,000 -- almost a quarter of a million dollars over asking -- with NO contingencies.

This is the state of Marin Real Estate on the low-end, folks. It is an EXTREME Seller's Market. Inventory is low. Buyers are trying to snap up well-priced homes under $1.2 Million dollars before interest rates rise. So, if you are the owner of a Marin home under $1,200,000, NOW may be the best opportunity you've ever had in the history of the Marin market to capture top dollar.

On the mid-end of the market ($1,250,000 to $2,500,000) it's still a great time to sell although more inventory has been accumulating recently. Sales of homes over $3,000,000 appear to be slowing.

But what if you're a Buyer? Is it wise to purchase a home in a Seller's Market?

Many would still argue "Yes!" If interest rates rise and prices don't fall (or fall far enough for it to be a wash), many buyers could become priced out. Feel free to give me a call at (415) 971-6868 or email me and we can take a closer look at your particular situation and the current state of the market in your price range. -- Jason Lewis
Think you know Apollo? Think again.
My new listing at 29 Apollo Road in Tiburon, listed at $1,695,000 is a TKO (Total Knock Out). Play the VIDEO above for a quick teaser or visit the official website at 29Apollo.com for more info.
Also in the News...
1st Qtr SF Bay Area Market Report
Here are the latest trends in Average Home Sale Prices, Current Housing Market Conditions, etc. for Marin and around the Bay Area.
Median home prices up 23%
The Marin IJ reported on 4/24/18 that " Marin’s median home price reached $1.144 million last month, up 23 percent over the $930,000 median price a year earlier." Click for the full article .
Interest Rates Spike
On April 28 RISMedia reported via Freddie Mac that the average 30-year, fixed mortgage rate spiked this week, to 4.58 percent—a high not hit in four years. Click for the full article .
My Current Listings
328 Sterling Way, San Rafael
Best Deal in Dixie School District
4BD/2BA
$969,000
29 Apollo Road, Tiburon
IN CONTRACT
3BD/2BA
$1,695,000
Recent Client Testimonials
"Jason is incredibly honest and loyal and gave us lots of his time and experience even when we weren't actively 'in the hunt'. He's not pushy whatsoever -- very laid back -- but when the time came to seriously buy a home, he struck out on our behalf with a vengeance. He blew us away with his speed, sheer tenacity, determination, and business acumen. He really knows the ins and outs of Marin's many towns and neighborhoods.

As a first-time home buyer, Jason went above and beyond to explain the contract to us, simplifying the legalese so that we understood it. He took all the fear out of the whole process. All in all, Jason made buying a home (what is considered by many to be a very stressful situation) quite the opposite. We had so much FUN working with him and he helped us overcome major odds to achieve our dream. We wholeheartedly recommend him to everyone we know!"
-- Danielle Mercury Wittenberg
San Anselmo
"Jason Lewis is a very thorough, ethical and professional agent. He walked me through every step of the transaction giving me the “why’s” behind all of his suggestions and teaching me a lot about the intricacies of California real estate. Ours was an inherited home with many issues, Jason strongly suggested I had all inspections done upfront, and compiled a thorough disclosure packet for potential buyers. He was brilliant in the way he set up the timing of the listing and the order of the showings. When the day came to review offers we had 17, and received a price way beyond what we imagined! Thanks to Jason’s due diligence, we closed without a hitch with both buyer and seller happy.

I would highly recommend Jason."
-- Patty K.
Washington State
" From our very first meeting, I felt I was in excellent hands with Jason. He took time to understand my family’s unique needs and showcased professionalism, compassion, perseverance, and patience throughout the process. Highly recommended!

-- Allison B.
Oh, by the way...
If you, your friends, or your family ever have a Marin Real Estate question or need, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'm always happy to help and provide the highest quality service. -- Jason Lewis