My Marin Blog

 Monday, April 07, 2008 11:38:23 PM

Historically, California Real Estate Has Been a

Strong, Long-Term Investment

Okay, so the word is out: It’s not a great time for flipping houses. While just two years ago it made great TV and even better headlines as many homeowners realized a lot of money on the sale of their property, the market has certainly changed and people looking to make a fast, quick buck in real estate may have to look harder, longer and closer at their choices. But for people who view real estate as the foundation for a long range financial plan, there may be no time like the present to buy.

Just the Facts

While year-to-year fluctuations are normal, historically real estate has remained one of the best performing and consistent long-term investments. Real estate, like all investments, is cyclical in nature; markets go up and markets fall. But if you look at real estate – especially in California – as a long-term investment, you should consider the following:

National Figures

• According to the National Association of Realtors, median existing U.S. home sales prices have increased on average 6.5% each year from 1972 through 2005 and 88.5% over the last 10 years.

California

• Looking at the last 37 years of real estate in California, we have seen very few times in which real estate values have dropped.

• According to the California Association of Realtors, since 1970, the real estate market in California has only dropped seven times, six times under 3.7% and only once at 4.5%

• In 1970, the median cost of a single family home in California was $26,000

• Today, 37 years later, California homes have seen a 2,165% increase as the median cost of a home is now $588,970.

Locally

• According to the California Association of Realtors, in 1990 the median price of a single family home in Marin County was $346,153

• Today, just 17 years later, that same single family home is selling for $1,064,285 – a 207% increase.

The current housing market offers a unique window of opportunity for confident buyers. The exciting news is that for the first time in quite a while, the stars are in alignment for consumers: mortgage rates remain low (certainly by historical standards) and there is a large selection of homes to choose from. There may be no time like the present to buy.

I am providing you with this information so that you can make an informed decision about the current market. In the last 15 years we’ve seen very few opportunities in which buyers can prevail and now truly is the time. If you’d like to discuss your opportunities in relation to the current real estate market, please contact me today.

Victoria Wells

Broker, EcoBroker, SRES, e-Pro

M. Properties Global Network, Inc.

Larkspur, CA 94939

415-710-4090

vawells@comcast.net

Http://www.MarinBestHomes.com

www.MPGNI.com

Bringing the World to your door.

“Connecting People with local, national and global real estate opportunities.”

The colorful histories of Marin cities and towns

Larkspur was supposedly having been named Lupine.  Gergiana Wright, the wife of the city's first developer, Charles W. Wright, made a mistake thinking that blue flowers covering the hills were larkspur, the flowers she remembered from her homeland in England.  Actually the flowers were native lupine. Population: 12,014. Size: 3.05 Sq Miles. Median home price: $ 1,250,000. 6/07. Http://www.ci.larkspur.ca.us/ Happy 100 Anniversary, LARKSPUR!

Sausalito, dates to 1778, when Spanish explorer Manuel de Ayala mapped San Francisco Bay and named the area after the Spanish term for a glove of willows. Sausalito is often compared to a Mediterranean village. With the bay views, hillside homes, outdoor cafes, and art and boating history is a tourist mecca. Population: 7,411. Size: 2.2 SQ miles. Median home price: $1,611,000.

Corte Madera, which in Spanish , means "cut wood" or "a place where wood is cut" is first mentioned in 1816 as "el corte de Madera" a place where Spanish soldiers would travel for lumber. Population: 9,465. Size: 4.47SQ Miles. Median home Price: $1,125,000. 6/07. Http://www.ci.corte-madera.ca.us/

Other towns in Marin got their names when rail stations were built in the late 1800.

Ross was named for James Ross, who paid $ 50,000 in gold for 8,877 acres from Point San Quentin to Fairfax. in 1857.  With its sleepy downtown and quiet residential streets, Ross might not seem like much of a tourist destination. He donated 1.4 acres for the North Pacific Coast Railroad station with a stipulation that it bears his family's name. Population: about 2,350. Size: 1.6 Sq. Mile. Median Home Price: $3,840,225.00. 6/07.

Http://www.townofross.org/

Fairfax is named after Charles Fairfax, a member of the British royalty who ventured to California to hunt for gold.  He settled in what he called Bird's Nest Glen, a tract that later became popular country club destination to wealthy San Franciscans.  People used to say they are going to "Fairfaxes" and the name stuck. Population: 7,375. Size: 2.2SQ Miles. Median home price: $ 767,000 6/07. Http://www.townoffairfax.org/

Kentfield almost became Tamalpais, the name of the neighborhood train stop, but the name confused rides.  With the train station set amid the nursery fields of local landowners Albert E. and Adaline Kent, the name Kentfield was a natural fit.

The Kent family also played a role in naming of Muir Woods. William Kent, a son of Albert and Adaline, was a noted conservationist and a congressman who bought the magnificent redwood grove, saving it from reservoir development. Http://www.nps.gov/muwo

Tiburon, once named Punta de Tiburon, or shark point, by Spanish adventurers, Tiburon was incorporated in 1964, making it Marin's newest city. Historically, Tiburon launched an era of growth in 1884 when Col. Peter Donahue expanded his SF and North Pacific line from San Rafael, linking the trains with ferries to SF. The old  depot, located at 1920 Paradise Dr., is now a museum.  Population: 8,808. Size 14.5 Sq Miles. Median home price $1,650,000. 6/07. Http://www.ci.tiburon.ca.us/

March, 2008.  To be cont.

Victoria Wells/ Broker Associate

M. Properties Global Network, Inc.

415-710-4090 mobile vawells@comcast.net

Http://www.marinbesthomes.com