The Ultimate Marin PoS

I just had to make one last post to this blog as it is now clear to me which sad-excuse-for-a-must-have-Marin-abode is the ultimate Marin PoS. It is The Boat Garage (Inverness, CA 94937; MLS# 20834427) which has graced the pages of this and my main blog many times in the past.


The following snippet of the current write-up is priceless, classic realtor/agent rubbish:

This is an extremely rare opportunity to own PRIME BAY FRONT REAL ESTATE!! Priced for a quick sale!!!

"Extremely rare"? "Priced for a quick sale"? You don't say? Then riddle me this: why has the price for this PoS been essentially unchanged for roughly three years and it has effectively been on the market (it's DOM) for four years? Hmmm?

Goin' to Hell in a Bucket

Former grateful dead retreat! (in the early 1970's). This is a very unique and private estate type lot on just over 1 acre of land (1.13 acres)in novato heights. Perfect opportunity to complete a major remodel and build your dream house. 2 story home currently undergoing major renovation. Already stripped and demo'd to the studs. Views, pool site, privacy, oaks, very unique.

So in other words, someone who "drank the koolaid", who fell hook, line, and sinker for all this pro-housing bunk, basically got caught with their pants down and are now trying to dump this loser POS on the next Greater Fool before they were able to even complete the desperately needed major renovation work. No doubt these sellers are singing to themselves “Every silver linings got a touch of grey...I will get by, I will get by, I will get by, I will survive.” But it seems to me, to paraphrase The Dead: "you're goin' to Hell in a bucket so enjoy the ride".

Thanks to the reader who found this one.

Testing the Greater Fool Theory in Mill Valley

2 br 1 ba, built 1929 in Mill Valley along noisy E. Blithedale. $749,000. But don't worry because the listing agent assures us that it is quiet inside -- they never lie and they always have your best interest in mind. And if you don't buy it, some Greater Fool will so you better rush before prices drop any further.

How Stupid is the Average Marin Buyer?

You must see the inside to truly appreciate this cozy home!

That's because this place is a pit.

2 br 1 ba, 819 sq ft, built 1962 in San Rafael. Leave your brain in the dog dish, bring your $559,000, and this dump is all yours. Not sure? Just ask any Marin realtor; they'll tell you about how special we are, why this is really such an incredible place to raise the kids, and anything else you want to hear. That's the thing about Marin realtors, they kiss up so well. I predict that after they've been disintermediated they will all become therapists.

Paying More for Less in Mill Valley

...Adding to the ambience inside are many of the original finishes...

Yes, in other words not much has been done to this Mill Valley POS. It comes in at 2 br 1 ba, 971 sq ft, built in 1925. The "wishing price" of $899,000 puts this one well into POS territory as that works out to about $926/sq ft.

Is it just me or does it seem that in Marin the smaller the house, the greater the $$$/sq ft statistic? If so, why are people willing to pay a premium for smaller? I mean, this is America! Supersize me for chrissakes!

Thanks to the reader who found this one.

Ickler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unbelievable but true!!!!!!! Reduction to $880,000-fantastic for buyers in upper lucas valley- have not seen a price this low in years--will not last!!!

"Unbelievable but true!!!!!!!"...Is that why it has been on the market for 167 days and it still hasn't sold? Because of the unbelievable price reduction? Puhleeeze. It hasn't sold because it is an overpriced Eichler. Now I admit I am being a bit unfair here. I mean, we don't hold it against pugs for being ugly because they didn't choose to be pugs after all. Same goes for Eichlers.

Price Reduced: 08/02/06 -- $949,000 to $924,900
Price Reduced: 09/13/06 -- $924,900 to $912,000
Price Reduced: 09/20/06 -- $912,000 to $899,000
Price Reduced: 10/19/06 -- $899,000 to $880,000

Anyway, this 'unbelievable deal' in San Rafael comes in at 4 br 2 ba, 1756 sq ft, built 1962...hey, wait a minute. Those are some pretty good stats on this house. So what gives? Oh, right...it's an Eichler.

And I think someone should inform the listing agent of the danger of over using exclamation points.

Slacker Shack

Slacker you say? How about this Marin gem:

If you think that picture is funny, just wait until you hear how the listing agent pimps this one:

Waterfront living with private boat dock. Gorgeous views of marsh and mt. Tam. Unique community along corte madera creek. Adjacent to wildlife area. Easy distance to ferry for commuters

"Waterfront living with private boat dock"... is that what that box precariously perched at the end of this property is called?

"Gorgeous views of marsh"...ok, that I believe. There's just nothing quite like breathing in marsh gas and the smell of decaying sea life in that black mud. Mmmmmm.

"Unique community along corte madera creek"...uh, that's one way to put it I suppose.

"Adjacent to wildlife area"...I would have to say you are more than just adjacent to a wildlife area... you are sort of in it.

This one comes in with 1 br 1 ba, 861 sq ft, built in 1984 (I guess the previous house sank or was swept away in a storm). Asking $549,950.

Novato "House Has No Value"

House has no value, but if you can clear the land, build your dream home in a beautiful novato location. Major work, not a weekend project!

Hmmm... "clear the land" + "build your dream home" = "not a weekend project". I am so glad that I can rely on the acumen and clarity of thought of Marin real estate agents to let me know that building a home is not a weekend project. Otherwise, I might have hurt myself.

"House has no value". Finally, the truth. And that must be why there is no photo for this one. This house-of-no-value comes in with 3 br 1 ba (each of which has no value), 1280 sq ft of no value, built in 1926. Since there is no value you would think it would be asking something close to $0 but you would be wrong; it's asking just $499,000. Thank goodness they are not asking for a half mill because then it would be overpriced.

"a beautiful novato location". I admit I am not all that familiar with Novato but judging by this Google Map image it does not seem to be located in such a beautiful location...smack dab in the middle of the Novato flats:


Update: So I did the blogger thing and drove out there and took this pic of the house:

The New Chic in Fairfax

Come to Marin and live the Mac & Cheese lifestyle. All you need is a tiny cottage with all the lifestyle clichés and you're set. Like this one. Marin cottages are the new chic, the new in-thing. Thanks to the housing bubble in Marin we find that living below one's means is the New Cool. Never mind that's it's more requirement than option. Ignore those troublesome psychologists and what they say about rationalization and cognitive dissonance.

This Fairfax POS is perfect for those of you who want to pretend that you cannot afford a real house. It comes in with 2 br 1 ba, 858 sq ft, built in 1920. It's got french doors, hardwood floors, yadda yadda, even a gated entry (for all of that 4487 sq feet of lot). But in order to give the appearance of living below your means while not really doing so you have to expect a steep price and that's why this one comes in at $795,000 ($927/sq ft).

POSs Like This Make Me Mad

This 1 br 1 ba, 700 sq ft POS is in San Rafael. They are asking $559,000 which works out to about $800/sq ft. I don't know about you but that seems like a lot to pay for a yellow box with an old roof and with a tiny-arsed garage with one of its walls falling down. But hey, that's just me. What do I know? It's Marin after all and everyone wants to live here, right? Marin is the only place on Earth that is not an "armpit" or so they say. That means you just have to forget about how much stuff like this costs...you know, bring your bucket of money and box of stupid, shut the F up and suck it up like recent Marinites before you. And I'm sure the real estate agent who is peddling this thing off to the "lumpinvestorate" has a whole laundry list of reasons why this is the perfect Marin starter home for that young family.