It's relatively rare to find new home construction here in Marin because of the county's strict anti-growth policy (no Bay Area county has more protected open space). So, when pockets of newly built homes come onto the market, they tend to get a lot of interest from prospective buyers.  The latest infill subdivision with brand new homes is in Novato, just 25 minutes north of San Francisco, and the first batch of homes just came on the market! It's a 25-home development called Canyon Green. It's all single-family, detached homes with both one- and two-story models available. There are 3-, 4- and 5-bedroom models. Canyon Green is located in central Novato, just 4 blocks from Old Town Novato, the city's historic downtown. It's an easy commute location -- Highway 101 is just 1.1 miles away!... 10/23/2013

Novato homes continue to sell at a relatively fast pace. There is only 2 months of housing inventory, which means demand far exceeds supply (6 months of inventory is considered a neutral or balanced market). During the government shutdown, we noticed a dip in buyer activity. This could be coincidental, or it could be that  uncertainty spooked buyers a bit.   In the chart below, you can see how each price range is faring right now in Novato. Most are seeing between 2 and 4 months of inventory.       Who's in charge of the Novato real estate market: buyers or sellers? As of October 15, 47% of all Novato single-family homes were in escrow. That indicates a market favoring sellers. But if you look at the data by price point, there are somevariations. For example, there was less buyer activi... 10/21/2013

RENTED! Huge 5bd/4.5ba view home in East Novato. $7000/month 10/09/2013

Advice for Sellers ~ Before and After Photos of a Staged Dining Room The Dining Room is an important room in any house.  It's a place where families will have meals together, hold birthday parties and Holiday dinners.  Potential buyers will be looking for that space or room when they walk into a home to place their table and chairs.  If a house is vacant many times a buyers will question what a rooms purpose is.  Why not make it easy for buyers to location that room...  by staging it. We recently staged a vacant house and below are the before and after photos of the Dining Room.  This house was on the market (vacant) for a little over three months before we where called in to stage it...  soon after we were notified that it went into contract.  Staging your home gives it buyer appeal...... 09/16/2013

Can Professional Home Staging make a diference to the sale of a Home? I believe it can...  "With Divine Style" was called in to stage a home that had been on the market for a little over three months.  Always curious why a house lingers on the market I decided to look at the online photos on the MLS.  The house was furnished when I looked online but when I arrived to preview the home much of the furnishing were gone.  Below are the photos from online, vacant and the after home staging final results.  You be the judge...  does Home Staging make a difference to the presentation of a home? Online Photo ~ Bedroom Before Home Staging Vacant Photo ~ Bedroom Before Home Staging   Staged Photo ~ Bedroom After Home Staging   Vacant Photo ~ Bedroom Before Home Staging   Staged Photo ~ Bedroom Aft... 09/14/2013

Just how much can professional Home Staging make to online photos? One of the homes that we staged was on the market a little over three months before "With Divine Style" was called in.  I made an appointment to preview the home and then went online to check out the presentation of the home and how it was presented to potential buyers.  Below were the two online photos of this bedroom. Online Photos ~ Before "With Divine Style" Home Staging                                                                                    Online Photos ~ Before "With Divine Style" Home Staging     When I arrived at the house I was told that the owner had moved and taken almost all of the furniture that I saw on the online photos.  Here is the the same bedroom the day I previewed the home. Before "With D... 09/13/2013

Pleasant Spanish style 4bd home in Pleasant Valley School district, Novato just leased @$2950. 06/21/2013

Updated Novato 3bd/2.5ba single family home. Rented at $3,150 in May 2013 by Broker Barrow at Foundation Rentals! 06/21/2013

Pacific Union International | Novato Real Estate Market Update (June 2013 Novato Home Sales Report). A reporter from a large national newspaper asked me to characterize Novato, California’s real estate market last week and I told him that the sales figures in May were simply unbelievable and that is was by far the best month in the best year we have seen since 2005. Indeed, while a whisper of doubt may have permeated past market reports, none remains now — real estate is back.  Ongoing suppressed inventory continues to drive prices seemingly straight up. That, coupled with still low interest rates and intense buyer demand are propelling sales prices not seen for 5 years. “Ready, able, and willing” buyers act quickly. To give an idea of just how strong the market is, consider this: last ... 06/18/2013

"Success!  My very first referral here on ActiveRain!!!" It's like receiving a bouquet of Roses or winning a trip on a fabulous vacation...  ONLY BETTER!  Did I say BETTER ...   you bet I did!  So much BETTER! A local Real Estate Agent in my area Sylvia Barry gave me a call to stage one of her listings.  How exciting...  thanks Sylvia and thank you ActiveRain!  Sylvia is a wonderful agent to work with and I am so thankful to have received this referral.  She had told me that she had watched how well I've done here on AR.  So this is my first referral from ActiveRain...  not my last I hope.  I will post pictures soon of the beautiful house that I staged. If it hasn't happened to you yet...  a referral I mean...  don't give up it can happen to you too!   Thank you ActiveRain and Thank you... 04/30/2013

"Getting Healthy the right way!"   In an effort to live a better life I am always looking for foods that work for you and not against you.  We have so many choices when I comes to food and yet I have always leaned toward convenience rather then total heath.  I tried something new this month that I have never tried before...  it may seem odd that I haven't tried this before but I really just never had.  It's "Quinoa" and it's really good!  I tried "Quinoa" at my daughters house and I quickly asked for the recipe...  and have since made it.  I want to share it with you...  if you have already tried "Quinoa" you might like it made this way...  and if you haven't tried it I highly recommend it.   "Zesty Quinoa Salad" Prep time: 20 minutes    Cook time: 10 minutes     Ready in: 30 minutes   ... 04/28/2013

"There's nothing like Fresh!" There is nothing like fresh fruits and veggies from the garden.  This year we decided to grow Lima Beans... they have always been a favorite of mine.  I've never had them fresh from the garden before so it was a treat to pick them myself and cook them up. Lima Beans are great anyway you fix them...   in Salads, Soups, Casseroles or just as a side dish. After I removed the Lima Beans from the pods I rinsed them and put them on to cook.  I took the empty pods and put them into our compost pile so their was no waste. I decided that I didn't want to wait while they soaked over night so I put them into a pot and brought them to a boil, then I covered them and turned off the heat and let them soak for an hour and then drained the Lima Beans.  At this point they w... 04/28/2013

Rented at $3,800!  In Novato's Bel Marin Keys, a waterfront 3bd on the market for less than a month.  Thanks to the owner for trusting our team the first time you ever rented your house!  Leased by Nancy Lowry in April 2013. 04/15/2013

RENTED! Charming 2bd/1ba condo in downtown Novato. $1395/month by Michael Kass March 2013. 04/15/2013

 RENTED!  At $3700 per month, this fully furnished Bel Marin Keys home rented by Nancy Lowry at Foundation Rentals in March 2013.  Thanks everyone! 04/15/2013

RENTED!!!! Re-rented this beutiful 4+bd/3ba Pointe Marin home in Novato at $3995 March 2013. 0 days on Market!  Rented by Micahel Kass and Christopher Barrow. 03/12/2013

I Can't Believe This Happened To Me! When I received this email saying: "Linda, Congratulations!  You're one of the top 5% most connected LinkedIn Members worldwide" I was shocked!  I feel very honored but I can't believe it happened to me.   Just recently hitting the 300K mark here on ActiveRain I was pleased as punch at that achievement...   now this and I feel on top of the moon! LOL! This might seem small to others but it's really huge to me.  So far this year my business has been booming.  I've been in business for 7 years now and the month of January is usually a very slow month for me but this January I had an unusual amount of business.  I am very thankful and appreciate all that I have been given. If you have recently achieved one or more business or personal goals, achievement... 02/12/2013

"Recently I hit a Big Milestone here on ActiveRain!" I know it might not be big to some but to me it was huge!  I just crossed over to the 3K mark here on AR.  Although I had planned on making it there a lot sooner than I did I am still proud of myself and what I have accomplished.  I realize that all this would not be possible if this wasn't one of the best communities to be active in.  I have met some of the most wonderful people from all over the United States and Canada that I would not have had the opportunity to meet if it wasn't for ActiveRain. My life has changed a lot since I joined but I am always drawn back to a place that I have found good friends and super SEO as an added bonus!                                  A Big Thank You ActiveRain!                                    ... 02/10/2013

"Winding Down The Holiday Weekend" As the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend comes to a close I reflect on what has happened the past four days.  I always look forward to being with my family...  spending time catching up with what everyone is doing.  I also look forward to setting down and having a meal together...  it doesn't happen often enough throughout the year.  We always seem to talk about when we last got together...  someones birthday usually.  We then set aside some time to talk about what we are thankful for this past year.  Some of us might have had some bumpy roads since last Thanksgiving...  but we always seem to realize that we have it better than so many and it could always be worse.  All in all this past weekend has been pretty wonderful...  and I almost forgot I sure enjoye... 11/25/2012

"Thankful for my Family on Thanksgiving" We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Celebration this year.  Lots of good food and fabulous company.  This years dinner was at my daughters house.  Her house was decorated so beautifully and she made a delicious meal for us all. We all have so much to be thankful for...  and we were especially thankful that we could all spend this Holiday together! Thanksgiving 2012     "Happy Holidays"   You never get a second chance...   to make a Great First Impression!   Linda D. Pufford, ASPM With Divine Style Real Estate/Home Staging ~ Interior Redesign ~ Professional Color Consulting 707.217.0817 lpufford@withdivinestyle.com www.withdivinestyle.com Serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area     11/24/2012