Our new listing there, 5 Madrono Avenue, is an example of Hidden Valley at its best. The home faces south, and is bathed in sunlight all day. Nearly every room of the home was built facing south, and nearly every room enjoys large sliding glass doors to access the beautiful, wraparound deck (new four years ago) or yard space at street level. The home has 2,312 sq feet of living space and is located on a nearly one-third acre lot. Three large bedrooms, three full baths, a large living room (with vaulted ceilings), and wide, low traffic streets make this a great house for families who want terrific schools, a wonderful community, and easy access to Corte Madera’s Town Center and Village Shopping Center. Priced at $1,179,000.

Watch the video here.

Call me for a private showing at 415-378-1414, or come to our Open House on Sunday, Mar. 20, from 2-4 pm.

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Want to see more? Watch the video, with great shots of the neighborhood, here.

Contact me for private showing, or we are open Sunday, Mar. 20, from 2-4 pm.

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What’s a first time home buyer to do? Well, 60 Heather Way is a great house - and the least expensive single family home in Larkspur. If you want a real walk to town location in Larkspur, this is it. And it meets the criteria for the $8,000 first time home buyers tax credit as it is less than $800,000 - current asking price is $759,000!

It is two bedrooms, one bath, and 956 sq feet of charm, according to an appraisal (not the charm part!). With vaulted ceilings, an expanded and remodeled kitchen, great floor plan with an excellent flow to the large, sunny deck, this south-facing home gets tons of sun and is in one of the best walk to everything neighborhoods in Marin.

Not much to do on this one unless you want to expand (and we have plans drawn by an architect that show how to easily convert to a 4bd/2ba), as the current owners replaced the deck with a trex deck, installed a new furnace, air conditioning, and had custom cabinets built for both sides of the fireplace.

Open Sunday 2-4 pm. Oh, the $18,000 - in escrow by April 30, and if you are a first time home buyer you qualify for the credit. Add in $10,000 for California tax credits - be in escrow by May 1 - and you’ve got tax credits to pay for all kinds of upgrades, not that you need them. See your CPA as individual situations will affect applicability. Call 415-925-3261 for an appointment to see this house, and get ready to walk to school, Rulli’s, the Left Bank, and more!

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This is a romantic hideaway in the highly desirable Christmas Tree Hill neighborhood. It’s not too far up the hill either - in fact the lot starts at Redwood, but finishes on a short path that goes to Corte Madera Avenue, so you can walk down the hill and into the old Corte Madera Town Square.

The house is not perfect.We have reports that show it needs some pest work, and at some point in the future, some foundation work. There are also some steps down to the house.

On the other hand, it is incredibly quiet and peaceful, with beautiful views, gets a ton of sun, and is one of the cheapest single family homes in Southern or Central Marin. And the Larkspur Schools, as well as Redwood High School, are some of the best in the state.

Let us know if you would like to arrange a private showing.

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What you can’t see here: this sits on .88 acres (according to tax records) of flat land on one of the best corners in Larkspur. This isn’t walk to town - it is in town. And here’s what you can’t see from the street:

Learn more here, at our website.

We have the listing, and we’re marketing it as both residential and commercial property, and the land is zoned commercial. Five restaurants that have received national attention - Picco, Lark Creek Inn, Picco Pizzeria, Rulli, are within two blocks. An inn? A restaurant? Multi family? All allowable under current zoning; check with City of Larkspur for more information, or contact me, bravasio@fhallen.com, for a disclosure packet and brochure.

Of course, it would make an outstanding estate property as well.

The price is $4.7MM. Not cheap, but then again, when was the last time nearly an acre of land was available in one of Southern Marin County’s downtowns?

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The differences can be startling, and the effects expensive. This is one that hits particularly close to home for me. My sister bought a house in a Chicago suburb last year, and told me two weeks ago that water was leaking in through the basement walls. She brought in someone to try and unclog the sewer, which they thought was the problem. This is an excerpt from an email she sent me the other day:

we had the front yard dug up (Including breaking open the cement sidewalk) and had 12 feet of pipe replaced.  We also had to have our sump pump re-routed because the previous homeowners had it set up to drain into the sewer line  - which is totally against code.  This entailed digging about a 12-foot trench in the back yard to accommodate the sump pump so it would drain into the backyard.  Now – we’re dealing with a ton of water in the backyard from where the sump pump drains.  We can’t win!!!!!

Ouch. She’s now into this for thousands of dollars, with more to come. Would a competent home inspection have caught this? If it’s an illegal hookup, my answer is yes.

Take the time, and the money, to get a good inspection.

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