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Happy almost summer 2026! The spring selling season has been a “wild ride” in Marin County. In fact, I skipped my spring newsletter as things were changing so quickly that I was not quite sure how to encapsulate the market. We just had a very, very successful run of sales here in my Larkspur office. This year, the macro economy took a turn for the far better relative to a year earlier, when volume dropped dramatically due to the fallout over tariffs. Despite the war, buyers had a renewed sense of confidence, even in the high end. My year started with a full-price offer on an outstanding $15m listing in Belvedere after just two showings. That told me, almost immediately, that the sense of confidence in the high end had taken a pendulum swing. Our recent closing at 2 Bellagio Road in Ross for $20m is the highest sale in the history of the Laurel Grove side of Ross. Again, telling about confidence in the investment of high-end homes right now.
The interesting thing to note about all of these sales is that many/most had multiple offers, with one offer reaching far over the competing offers to essentially “win” the home for homes perceived to be rarer opportunities. I have not seen a fissure like that or “gap in pricing” before. It was very interesting to watch. I suspect this “run” will continue for another two years, given likely reduction of rates in the future with a new Fed Chair and impending AI IPO’s that will surely continue to put pressure on Marin County prices.
I also noted that due to the continued very high cost of both labor and building materials, as well as the “hassle factor” involved in protracted entitlements, that homes that need updating and vacant land are far more challenging to sell, even in a very strong economy like we are experiencing. We are seeing far fewer developers make offers in both Aspen and Marin. I am afraid I don’t see that changing.
The message here is that Marin County is always cheap in the rearview mirror. It continues to be one of the very best investment markets in the country. If you have questions about the market or need assistance with an analysis on your home, feel free to reach out to me.
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