GREEN REALTOR NEWS | Vol. 30
Market Update | Coming Soon | Marin Green Homes Tour | Photo Contest
Several of you correctly guessed the location of our August photo, but the lucky winner was Julie Doherty! The palatial pachyderm pictured to the left resides in Viña del Mar Park in Sausalito. Originally designed for the Court of the Universe at the 1915 Panama Pacific Fair and Exposition in San Francisco, the elephants were made out of a papier-mache-like plaster intended to last for just a few months. After the fair, the elephants were deemed too beautiful for the wrecking ball. The exhibit’s designer, William Faville, was a Sausalito resident and arranged to have two elephants and the fountain ferried over to his hometown. They were re-cast in concrete in the 1930s and are still going strong. Visit the Sausalito Historical Society to learn more. Scroll to the bottom to see if you can identify the location of our September photo. The first person to email me the correct location of the photo (hint: it’s always in either San Francisco or Marin) wins a $25 gift card to local green business Sports Basement!
Market Update
The persistent decline in the number of homeowners listing their properties for sale continues to exert its influence on the delicate balance between supply and demand, putting upward pressure on pricing. The Wall Street Journal recently released an article titled, “The Fall in Home Prices May Already Be Over,” reporting “The surprisingly quick recovery [of the housing market] suggests that the residential real-estate downturn is turning out to be shorter and shallower than many housing economists expected after mortgage rates soared last year… There still aren’t enough homes for sale to meet demand.” Following Labor Day, there is typically a notable increase in inventory and heightened market activity through fall. Subsequently, a large majority of properties tend to be taken off the market after Thanksgiving to await the spring selling season. Properties that remain listed during the holiday period often present excellent opportunities for savvy buyers, as the owners are often motivated to sell quickly. Click the buttons below for more information.
Coming Soon
Our September issue was delayed a bit due to an all-hands-on-deck effort to get a very special new listing on the market. Keep an eye out for a special edition of the Green Realtor News later this week.
Save the Date
Marin Green Home Tour - Thursday, October 26 - Free!
How are Marin neighbors adapting their homes to combat climate change, improve air quality, generate clean energy, and move towards a safer, healthier, greener, more resilient future? This year's free, virtual Marin Home Tour features video tours of 6 Marin homes, followed by live Q&As with the homeowners. Experts will be lingering in the Zoom chat, ready to answer all your questions. This year’s all-new lineup of homes will show features like solar, storage batteries, heat pumps, induction stoves and cooktops, passive solar, an electric fireplace, greywater systems, rainwater harvesting, water monitors, native and edible gardening, and even sheep as lawnmowers! Learn the most up-to-date information about local, state, and federal funding sources and resources to help you get started greening your own home.This event is a project of Sustainable Marin and sponsored in part by yours truly, the Green Realtor! Learn more and register at MarinGreenHomeTour.org.
Photo Contest
All of the gorgeous local photos in our photo contest are provided by the Green Realtor News Artist-in-Residence, Esther Vermeer. Esther is a Mill Valley resident with a background in branding and graphic design. Originally from the Netherlands, she moved with her family to Montreal, Canada for a while, and came to the Bay Area 14 years ago, where she has since established herself in the world of interior design. She loves to journey around California and discover the lush natural beauty the state has to offer. You can reach her at esther@prevalentprojects.com.
If you know the location email me at lucinda@lucindaotto.com. The first person to to send me a correct guess wins a $25 gift card to a local green business - plus a special bonus gift if you can identify the artist. This fall our green business will be Sports Basement!
I hope you enjoyed the Green Realtor News! If you know anyone buying or selling, or if you are curious to hear more about the market, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to help you or your friends make moves. As one of my happy clients loves to say:
Everyone Needs A Lucinda!
