Making a move from San Francisco to Marin can be daunting, especially if you have children or are planning to have them in the near future. There is a lot to consider. First steps…
Blog by the bay
Marin County, people, places, culture and real-estate
Marin County Parenting Resources for Moms & Dads
I just stumbled across a blog that I find very interesting and informative. It is a great resource for Marin moms & dads looking for parenting tips, places to go and sort of everything mom. It features areas for both moms and dads. Check it out- MarinMommies.com!
Marin Neighborhoods- San Anselmo Part 1
San Anselmo is one of my favorite Marin towns. The pretty town sits in the Ross Valley and is bordered by undeveloped ridges and hillsides. The town center is on San Anselmo Avenue, off Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
San Anselmo still feels like a small town. People know their neighbors, children are welcome everywhere. The downtown area was virtually destroyed on December 31, 2005 when raging floods put the entire downtown under water. You can still seem some visual damage from the flood, but the town bounced back rapidly due to tremendous support from both residents and businesses of the town. The strength of the community in San Anselmo was evident after the floods.
Marin County Best Education Value in Country
A Forbes magazine study has rated Marin County, California the best education value in the United States. The Forbes “Best and Worst School Districts for the Buck,” measured per-pupil spending, college entrance exam scores, entrance exam participation rate and graduation rate to determine which counties provide the best value for the money. Marin County was ranked #1.
So while our schools aren’t spending much the education are kids are getting is excellent. 96.8 graduate and more than 60%. Why?
San Anselmo- Hilda’s Coffee Shop
One of my local favorites for a great breakfast is Hilda’s Coffee Shop in San Anselmo. The quintessential greasy spoon it is! Unpretentious, comfortable and quiet- this restaurant has been around forever. The 12/31/05 flood destroyed the restaurant. Thankfully it came back and looks better than before with new tables and fresh paint. Prior to the flood- they were needed!
The waitresses are genuine and always remember the regulars…and those of us who are semi-regulars. Although my pocketbook would permit more frequent visits, my waistline would not. The german pancakes are a must- plate sized and covered with powdered sugar, they are great to share. The bacon is amazing- crispy but not dripping in oil. I have not actually been there for lunch, but I can imagine that it would be pretty good. Lighter options are available (egg white omelettes, etc) and they will accommodate most requests.
My only complaint are the napkins. The napkins are the kind you pull out of a silver container, but they are tiny (tiny, tiny, tiny!). Please Hildas, get some full size napkins. Bacon, eggs, syrup and a tiny napkin? I don’t think so! Bring your own napkin, but it worth a trip. Hilda’s Coffee Shop is located at 639 San Anselmo Avenue in dowtown San San Anselmo. (415) 457-9266.
Marin County Considers Kentfield Housing Proposal
The County Planning Commission will be holding hearings in the next few weeks to adopt a new countywide plan that proposes up to 270 new units of housing in Kentfield, at the site of Marin General Hospital and College of Marin.
The goal of the plan is to increase low income housing in Marin- something desperately needed. Unfortunately, the current proposal has some serious drawbacks that need to be addressed.
4th of July and a quiet week for Marin Real Estate
The Marin County Fair is well underway, and people are vacationing. My open house in Larkspur on Sunday had 23 groups through, but mostly neighbors. I didn’t get the sense that anyone was really seriously looking this week. With the 4th of July in the middle of the week, many people are taking off the entire week and through next weekend. The home buyers who are out looking right now are serious but cautious. They don’t want to compete and they don’t want to overpay. All my active buyers are on vacation or spending time with family. I can’t say mind this week- I am off to make a blueberry pie and plan to spend the afternoon at the beach.
24% of Marin County Homes Listed for Sale in Contract
School is out and summer is here. The sound of children’s laughter and the smell of summer barbecues fill the air. Many people have started their summer vacations. So what is this doing to the real estate market? Last week’s broker tour seemed very quiet. Many “hot” properties were empty when I walked through at tour time, although I did hear a couple of agents say they had more than 70 agents through their tour. Slower Broker Tours means more agents (and their clients) on vacation. It will be interesting to see the number of clients through open homes this weekend.
The big picture Marin real estate market has defnitely slowed down. 24% of single family homes in Marin County are in contract. This generally indicates a buyers market. If we look at specific cities, Greenbrae has 46% of listings in contract, Fairfax 42%, and Corte Madera 39%. These percentages would generally indicate a sellers market. The slowest areas based on percentage in contract are Ross (10%), Belvedere (14%), Sausalito (14%), San Rafael (20%), Tiburon (22%) and Novato (22%). Kentfield (26%), San Anselmo (31%), Larkspur (33%), and Mill Valley (35%) are more balanced.
March was Marin’s strongest real estate month this year, with a gradual downtrend in number of listings in contract over the last couple of months.
The Greenbrae Brick Kiln- today the Melting Pot
Location, Location, Location. On Saturday, I had dinner at the Melting Pot in Larkspur. The cocktails were fabulous, as was the chocolate fondue, but the location is what this restaurant is all about.
The Melting Pot is housed in a California Historical Landmark #917- the Greenbrae Brick Kiln. According to the California Environmental Resource Agency, the brick kiln is the only surviving structure of the Remillard Brick Company, once the largest brick manufacturer on the Pacific Coast. During its 103 years of operation, its bricks were used to rebuild Ghirardelli Square, the Palace Hotel, and other San Francisco structures after the 1906 earthquake.
The atmosphere is dark, the ceilings are low, and cell phones don’t work in this brick, fortress style building. Dinners include way more food than any normal person can or needs to eat, but it is worth a stop just for the atmosphere. The dining areas are narrow and dim. One “wing” of the restaurant is nicknamed Lovers Lane for its cozy two person tables. They are very private- you can’t see any other diners. The food is good (if you like lots of cheese and chocolate), but the service was questionable. Our salads came after our entree-a pretty big service faux pas. When I asked the person (ok boy!) who brought our wine if he was the sommelier for the evening, he said sommel-what? Hmmm. Fabulous location- well worth a stop, but next time, I think I will just stick with the drinks at the bar.
Coffee in Mill Valley? La Boulange it is..
So, I have to admit that lattes are one of my guiltiest pleasures. I try to go with plain coffee or tea most days, but I really love my lattes. One of my favorite things to do is meet a friend for coffee. I love the companionship, but I also love any excuse to get a latte. My latest favorite spot is La Boulange in Strawberry Village. First of all, the large lattes come in a bowl. Yes- a bowl! Enough caffeine to keep me going for at least a week. My friends tell me the food is very good, although I don’t really need anything else. The atmosphere is inviting inside and there are great tables with shade umbrellas outside (for use only on warm days!)
I think I might need to stop in tomorrow, just to take a picture of my favorite latte bowl!!