Marin County real estate: 2010 in review

In January I reviewed the Marin County Multiple Sales Reports in Southern Marin for the year 2010. The comparison to 2009 gives some information but is not really a true picture of the market as one very high or very low sale can distort the average price. Wanting to know more, I studied the history of each property. Is an investment in real estate still a good investment? What happens if you bought at the peak? What is the price range buyers concentrate on? As too many sold for a complete analysis in every town, I limited my research in some cases to a specific price range, the one I am the most knowledgeable in, in that specific town. Real estate is still a safe investment, especially as it is a shelter as well, and we are living in a time when interest rates are extremely attractive and prices are depressed; however the basic rule applies now more than ever: in most cases it is not a commodity one flips over; it is a long term investment.

As the exercise is time consuming, I am going to do the “unveiling” town after town.

Each blog will cover one town.