As with everything it is imperative that you do your homework! Make sure you consult with a professional who is familiar with San Rafael and knows what is going on there. It is important to study the prices of comparable homes that have sold in the area to make sure that the asking price is realistic. Try to find out how long the property has been on the market and why it is being sold. Next consider your situation. How much do you like the home? Are you planing to stay there for a while? Would you be devastated if someone else got it instead of you? How serious of a buyer are you? Are you also being realistic? If you visit several homes for sale in the same area you will get a good feel for tthe accuracy of the price. After this research if you plan to write an offer you might want to offer the asking price or slightly below and begin the conversation with the seller. If they are not happy with your offer they might counter or reject your offer. A rejected offer doesn't mean you can't come back again in the near future.
Looking for a single family home versus a condo is a bit different. When looking for a home you can visit the home and the surrounding neighborhood, look at the disclosures provided by the seller regarding the condition of the home. There is a little more freedom and flexibility. When buying a condo or a Single Family Home in a Planned Unit Development (PUD) it is very important to READ all the CC&R's and HOA documents to make sure that you can abide by the laws governing the property. All the best, Laura Mogannam, in San Rafael

Sun May 4 2008, 22:17

Working with a REALTOR who gives good real estate ADVICE is the best plan. Check Days on the market (make sure that is the total DOM, sometimes a property will be withdrawn then re-listed with a fresh set of DOM), check to see if there have been any previous price reductions, know your area comps. A REALTOR is the bestsource of info as they will have this information readily at hand and will recognize whether a property is under or over priced for that particular area.

Tue Oct 23 2007, 15:56

Offering more or less than the listing price in either San Rafael or anywhere else really depends on how realistic the listing price is, the supply and demand of like properties at the time and how much you want the property. In addition, the outlook of the local real estate market and economic trend as a whole will also need to be taken account. Your real estate agent should be able to provide you with answers to the above informaton as well as explain them to you so you can make a sound decision. The above works for all types of properties. Give me a call so we can discuss further if you'd like. Thanks. Sylvia Barry - http:// www.SylviaSellsMarin.com -

Sat May 12 2007, 08:36

You should work with the REALTOR who can run comps on previously sold properties, as well as rely on their knowledge of the area. You should never offer more in a neutral market (the number of houses in contract vs. actives on the market) unless you get wind from the listing agent that other people are submitting offers too. Yes, there is a difference between condos and single family houses. The spread for condos can be in the high $400's to the high $700's. Houses can be found in the low $700's to several million. Location and condition of property are two main factors driving prices.

Mon Apr 23 2007, 15:51

Even with prices falling in other parts of the country, prices in San Rafael and Marin County are edging up. As for offering an amount, comparables of recent SOLDS and ACTIVES will tell you if the home is priced aggressively. A call to the listing agent will also tell you if any other offers are coming in. Finally, the number of Days on Market will tell you if the seller might be willing to accept a lower price. As for type of home, the market in condos is a little soft and more likely to work with a lower offer.

Mon Apr 23 2007, 15:51