Archive for the ‘Mill Valley’ Category
I thought this was really cool- one of my favorite Mill Valley stores made it on the cover of Better Homes & Gardens! Maison Reve in a chic home store in downtown Mill Valley with an “urban farmhouse” flair. The owner, Yasmin has incredible style, great taste, and is absolutely charming. The Mill Valley store offers interior design services as well.
The Better Homes & Garden article was shot at Yasmin’s own Marin County home last year. The article is about hosting gatherings at your home and should be on sale mid-August (September edition of the magazine).
For more information about Maison Reve, visit their website- www.maisonreve.com. The store is currently located at 11 Throckmorton in downtown Mill Valley, a few doors down from the Sequoia Theatre. According to Maison Reve’s newsletter, they will be moving to a new location at 108 Throckmorton in Mill Valley in October.
Fast Facts About Mill Valley
- Mill Valley Population= 13,600*
- In 2006, there were approximately 6,147 housing units
- Mill Valley covers a land area of just under 4.7 square miles.
- Mill Valley Zip Code = 94941, 94942
*per 2000 U.S.Census
More Mill Valley Resources:
Where to Stay in Mill Valley
Single Family homes under contract in Marin County
April 2008 vs. April 2007
| Belvedere | +200% |
| Corte Madera | +8% |
| Fairfax | -38% |
| Greenbrae | +25% |
| Kentfield | +40% |
| Larkspur | -75% |
| Mill Valley | -36% |
| Novato | -20% |
| Ross | -50% |
| San Anselmo | -12% |
| San Rafael | +7% |
| Sausalito | +17% |
| Tiburon | +85% |
Countywide, the number of Marin homes for sale was up almost 16% from last April. The number of homes under contract was down about 13% while the number of units sold is down about 31%.
While the number of homes sold in April 2008 vs April 2007 is dismal, the glimmer of hope is in the units under contract. We have gradually seen this number get closer to 2007 numbers for many Marin cities, indicating next month’s sold number may be even better.
The median home sale price in Mill Valley was $1,063,500 in February 2008, down from $1,255,000 in January, and down from $1,125,000 one year ago in February 2007. The number of homes on the market dropped 20% from one year ago, while the number of Mill Valley homes under contract dropped over 45%.
The number of closed Mill Valley home sales was down almost 68% from one year ago. The average days on the market in Mill Valley was 58 in February.
| Mill Valley Homes |
Feb 2007 | Feb 2008 | ∆ | % ∆ |
| For Sale | 103 | 82 | -21 | -20.39 |
| Under Contract | 22 | 12 | -10 | -45.45 |
| Sold | 25 | 8 | -17 | -68.00 |
Many cities and towns in Marin County require mandatory re-sale inspections before a seller transfers home ownership to a buyer.
Marin Cities that require resale inspections
- Belvedere
- Corte Madera
- Fairfax
- Larkspur
- Mill Valley
- Novato
- San Anselmo
- San Rafael
- Tiburon
Fees range widely from about $100 to close to $300 in Novato. Ouch! In addition, what is inspected during these inspections vary widely. Most check to make sure permits for any property improvements have been pulled. The cities also note issues that may not be compliant with current building codes, check on zoning, property usage, etc. Re-sale inspections in Marin county do not cover property condition, quality of construction, general defects with the property, termites, etc. Look for a general home inspection and a termite inspection to cover these items.
Marin sellers are strongly encouraged to perform the city/town re-sale inspections prior to going on their market. Your Marin real estate agent should help you arrange this. Some Marin cities and towns take an extended period of time to schedule inspections and also to return the inspection report. If you do not get the report in time, you could end up delaying close of escrow.
If you have not pulled permits, you may be fined, asked to pull those permits retroactively and in some instances, sellers have been asked to remove unpermitted improvements.
I have seen many deals fall apart after the reports are returned on a city/town resale inspection. Buyers don’t like surprises at the last minute. It is much better to know any issues relating to the city inspection before you find a buyer!
Marin home buyers: Never sign off on your resale inspection unless you have seen the report in your hands. Even if you attend the inspection, the city inspector may add mandatory items that you aren’t expecting. View the actual report. Some Marin cities and towns (such as Tiburon)do a re-inspection of required items (with an additional fee). If you fail to make corrections within your allotted time period, you may get fined per day. At last check, Tiburon fines racked up fines at a cool $103 a day. Now that can add up quickly!
Mill Valley Home SalesJanuary 1, 2008 – February 19, 2008 |
|
| # of Mill Valley Homes Sold since Jan 1 | 15 |
| Lowest Mill Valley Home Sale | $575,000 |
| Highest Mill Valley Home Sale | $3,300,000 |
| Average Mill Valley Home Sales Price | $1,467,810 |
| Median Mill Valley Home Sales Price | $1,255,000 |
Single Family Residential Homes Only.
Statistics as of February 19, 2007 from BAREIS Marin County MLS®.
The median home sale price in Mill Valley was $1,255,000 in January 2008. The number of homes on the market dropped almost 35% from one year ago, while the number of Mill Valley homes under contract dropped even more dramatically- almost 65%! The average days on the market in Mill Valley was 58 down substantially from 77 days in January 2007.
| Mill Valley Homes |
Jan 2007 | Jan 2008 |
∆ |
% ∆ |
| For Sale | 97 | 64 | -33 | -34.02 |
| Under Contract | 22 | 8 | -14 | -63.64 |
| Sold | 14 | 13 | -1 | -7.14 |
Marin has lots of great places for breakfast. Probably one of the most well known is the Dipsea Cafe in Mill Valley. The Dipsea was named after the seven mile Dipsea trail which starts in downtown Mill Valley. The trail is famous for the annual Dipsea Race, the second oldest foot race in they country.Interestingly enough, the Dipsea Cafe is not located on the Dipsea trail. It is located on shoreline just off the 101 freeway in Mill Valley. Parking can be tight at this busy Mill Valley restaurant.
The Dipsea is very casual. The interior is bright and cheery with a blue and yellow interior. The menu is diverse and has daily specials. Whether you like pancakes or huevos rancheros, everything I have tasted is excellent with generous portions. The biscuits are supposed to be amazing, although I have not tried them. My favorite lunch item is the gyro with greek salad. YUM. The Dipsea is a family friendly restaurant with a special menu for kids.
The Dipsea Cafe is located at 200 Shoreline Highway in Mill Valley, California. Phone (415) 381-0298. Reservations are not accepted.
There are many child friendly restaurants in Marin. Here are just a few of my favorites:
350 Harbor Dr, Sausalito – (415) 331-3474
This Sausalito restaurant is pricey, but I love it. Order at the counter and sit inside or out (but bring a coat). The fish tacos are great, the setting is fantastic. The fish is fresh and local!
301 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera (415) 413-9890
P.F. Changs in Corte Madera is a great addition to kid friendly restaurants in Marin. Mine seem to love all the noodle and rice dishes. We dined recently at 5:30 p.m. and ran into many families just like us, trying to dine early before bed time for young kids. P.F. Chang’s is located at Corte Madera Town Center. Check out my review of P.F. Changs when it first opened in Corte Madera.
800 Redwood Hwy, Mill Valley – (415) 383-0600
Pizza Antica is located in Mill Valley’s Strawberry Village, just off the 101 Highway at Tiburon Boulevard. It is noisy and perfect for kids, with a large menu featuring pizza, pasta and salads. Think black and white checkered floors in a big open room. The decibel level goes up at Pizza Antica when it gets crowded, so don’t go for a romantic dinner for two.
15 Main St, Tiburon – (415) 435-3440
Located on Main Street in downtown Tiburon, this charming pizzeria is a great place to take the kids. The atmosphere is very warm and inviting. The menu includes pizza, pasta and some really good salads. If you are going with a larger group, check to see if the back room is available. It is a great place to let the little ones run around while you have an adult conversation.
286 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur – (415) 924-7676
Great food, and kid friendly- hard to imagine! This Larkspur restaurant is part of the Lark Creek Restaurant Group- so the food is simply outstanding. It is located just a short distance from the Lark Cree Inn in an old house. The front has outdoor picnic tables which are great for families. It is open and inviting in the summer months, enclosed and heated in the warm months. Kids love the sandbox on the outdoor patio.