Thorne Home Blog | Marin County, CA

We are seeing a vital Spring market with lots of new inventory and an increasing median sales price. On average, homes are selling for over the asking price, a 102.1% sales price/list price ratio in May, indicating buyer competition in the market.  At Thorne Home Team, we have experienced some multiple offer situations in the past couple of months, but also some price reductions as well. Interest rates continue to limit purchasing power for buyers and creates a "pickier" environment with higher monthly mortgage payments. And the usual message applies for sellers - make sure to do the up-front market prep and staging for your home and you'll have your best shot at receiving multiple offers. Vacant and staged homes will get the most foot traffic. Reach out with questions! We are happy to help! Search properties here: thornehometeam.com naomi@thornehometeam.com katherine@thornehometeam.com

  In Q1 in Marin County, the number of sales is up 22% compared to 2024. 314 properties were sold and the average days on market was 50. Average sale price ranged from $1.278 million in Fairfax all the way up to $6.817 million in Belvedere. In the highest and lowest price points in Belvedere and Fairfax, properties stayed on the market longest at an average of 71 and 66 days. Lowest average days on market were 9 days in Kentfield and 10 days in Larkspur.  If you're searching for a home in Marin or if you want to know what your home is worth, reach out directly. We would love to help! 415.559.5280 naomi@thornehometeam.com katherine@thornehometeam.com thornehometeam.com

124 Surrey Ln, San Rafael CA The very first question we get when we meet with a homeowner who wants to sell their home - what do I need to fix or remodel for resale? As real estate agents, we like to meet with sellers at their home to walk through the property and discuss specifically which repairs to prioritize. But it also helps to have a more general idea of what's going to give you the most bang for your buck. You might be surprised which items are at the top of the list! A recent report by the National Association of Realtors® shows which projects offered the highest returns. The Remodeling Impact Report estimates the following cost recovery at resale: 1. New Steel Front Door: 100% 2. Closet Renovation: 83% 3. New Fiberglass Front Door: 80% 4. New Vinyl Windows: 74% 5. New Wood Windows: 71% 6. Basement Conversion to Living Space: 71% 7. Attic Converstion to Living Space: 67% 8. Full Kitchen Renovation: 60% 9. Minor Kitchen Updates: 60% 10. Bathroom Addition: 56% 11. New Primar...

This is proof you can sell your first home and buy your dream home at the same time, even in a tough market like Marin County in the Bay Area. Here's a 2024 case study: Family of 4 (two young children) Living in a 2100 sq ft townhome, hoping to sell for around $950,000 Desire a single family home in a kid-friendly neighborhood, max budget of $1,300,000 Using the proceeds from the sale for the down payment on their new home This is their story from their POV... Our First Home - Prepped and Staged! Our New Forever Home! Search  thornehometeam.com Last year, our family of four decided to take the leap and move from our first home to our forever home. We lived in a townhome in southern Novato and honestly, we did love it! The complex was located in a gorgeous natural setting amidst mature trees and hiking trails. The unit itself was actually large with three bedrooms and two living rooms, but we have two young kids and we were feeling the need to enjoy some more yard space and...

Are you thinking about buying a home in Marin County, CA? Of course you are! Marin is not only one of the most beautiful places in the world, but the people are friendly, community-oriented, and open-minded. What could be better? Once you've decided to make the move, here are a few things to keep in mind. 1. Affordability : Marin is expensive, so it's important to know which area . If you've heard about Bay Area real estate, you've probably heard about the housing shortage, multiple-offers, and buyers paying enormous amounts of $$$ over the asking price of the home. These are the realities of our market, and as a buyer, it's best to have this information up front so that sticker shock doesn't send you barreling elsewhere. The prices are high, but also keep in mind that people are willing to pay these prices not only because it's worth the daily benefits of living in Marin, but also because the appreciation is high. It is not uncommon for us to hea...

You're wondering if it's time to break up with your house and get back out there. You still love your house, but it might be time to assess whether you're still IN love with your house. You have a couple major compatibility issues, and if you've been considering a break-up, there may be something to it in your heart. Consider the qualities of your home. What are its best qualities? What are its worst qualities? Make a simple pros and cons list and be thorough. The best way to see the big picture is to write it all down in plain sight. Are the negative qualities fixable? Are they fixable, but too expensive? Maybe you love your home enough to invest the money. Let's look at an example:   In this case, there is a lot to love about this home! That said, the cons involve location, and feelings of being isolated. So while these homeowners may love their house, it may be worth breaking up for a home in a more community-friendly location with better schools for th...

You’ve been house-hunting for a couple months, browsing photos from all of your listing alerts, and open-house-hopping on the weekends. Nothing has really given you that Marie Kondo spark of joy. Maybe you’re being too picky or maybe you’re emotionally closed off to the idea of packing all those boxes and then unpacking all those same boxes on the other side? Probably not! Trust your gut. If you haven’t felt that spark, then you probably haven’t found the one yet. This is your HOME we’re talking about. It’s a huge decision and it should be made not only by logically checking all the boxes, but by feeling the joy and contentment in your heart. When Naomi and I bought our first condo in Los Angeles and we found out our offer was accepted, we were absolutely over the moon. We couldn’t believe we could own something so beautiful and out of reach. The brick exterior with charming balconies, the open concept layout, the updated granite counters, large bedrooms, and walk-in master closet....