Early in my career I was busting into the ultra-competitive Tiburon market. I sold a $2 million off market listing on Tanfield, the street I grew up on. I followed that up with a sold listing on Felipa Ct, just opposite Del Mar School. I even sold a luxury condo listing on Marinero Circle. I was marketing in Tiburon and getting listings until I wasn’t, because that’s how the business often moves, in fits and starts. Then I got frustrated until I started getting listings in Novato. To me, Novato was low hanging fruit where the competition was less intense. The response to my marketing was much better than in Tiburon, where I watched other agents get listings in my farm. It was frustrating to say the least and I went where the business was taking me, into other areas of Marin. Eventually the majority of my business has centered around where I moved in 2007: San Rafael.
Over the course of my 22 year career, I’ve not only sold throughout Marin County, but Sonoma and Napa Counties as well, and even in Solano. As my buddy Rik Liddell told me one time, “You go where the business takes you.” Sometimes that has meant listing homes for rent. To me there’s a lot more work involved in rentals, and the paydays are significantly smaller. But rentals are a good way to build relationships, paving the way for future business and hopefully sales. If not, doing leases is still nothing to scoff at.
I currently have a one bedroom, one bathroom co-op for sale in Terra Linda for $349,000. I know there are agents who wouldn’t want to list a property that is this inexpensive. It’s too much work for a paycheck that will ultimately be too little. The thing is, in the wake of the Great Recession I was selling $50,000 - $70,000 condos in Santa Rosa. One of those checks literally paid the monthly grocery bill, a couple took care of the rent. I was grateful for the business. I still am very grateful for the clients who call me an entrust me with their business, and I always will be.