Population: 12,400

Size: 2.7 square miles

Annual budget: $10 million

Number of dwellings: 5,398

Median home price, October 2007: $950,000

Town Council: Mayor Barbara Thornton, Vice Mayor Wayne Cooper and councilmembers Peter Breen, Ian Roth and Ted Freeman. Meetings are the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the Ross Valley School District Board Room, 110 Shaw Drive, San Anselmo.

Town Hall: Town Administrator Debra Stutsman, 258-4652; Public Works/Parks Director Rabi Elias, 258-4616; Recreation Director Doug Long, 258-4661; Planning Director Lisa Wight, 258-4616. Town Hall is located at 525 San Anselmo Ave. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Town Hall is closed on Fridays.

Police: Police Chief Charles Maynard oversees a department of 17 officers and 6 civilian staffers. Temporary headquarters: 400 Red Hill Avenue, 258-4610.

Fire: Acting Chief Roger Meagor oversees 25 firefighters and 15 volunteers who provide service to Fairfax and San Anselmo. The department also provides paramedic service. Temporary headquarters are at 777 San Anselmo Ave. in San Anselmo, 258-4686, but the department has stations at 150 Butterfield Road in San Anselmo and 10 Park Road in Fairfax.

Library: San Anselmo Public Library, 258-4656, is located at 110 Tunstead Ave. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,Tuesdays and and Wednesdays; 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. Closed Thursday, Friday and Sundays.

Chamber of Commerce: President Connie Rodgers, 454-2510.

Schools:

• The Ross Valley School District,110 Shaw Drive, San Anselmo, 454-2162.
• The Tamalpais Union High School District, 395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, 945-3720, includes Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo.

Garbage service: Marin Sanitary Service, 1050 Andersen Drive, San Rafael, 456-2601.

Population: 2,349

Size: 1.6 square miles

Annual Budget: $3.8 million

Number of households: 761

Median home price, October 2007: $2,880,445

TOWN COUNCIL: Mayor Hunter, Mayor Pro Temore William Cahill and council members Michael Skall, Richard Strauss and Diane Durst. Treasurer G. Kelley Reid. The Town Council meets at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of the month in Town Hall at 31 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.

Town Hall: Town Manager and Planning Director Gary Broad 453-1453, ext. 107; Public Works Director Mel Jarjoura 453-1453, ext. 119. The Town Council acts as the Planning Commission. The town manager’s office is open from 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, as are the building and planning departments.

Police and fire: Director of Public Safety Barry Heying oversees a department of eight police officers and six firefighters. Police and fire headquarters are at 33 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., 453-1453.

Schools: Superintendent Tammy Murphy heads the K-8 Ross School, 457-2705. Head of School Thomas “Woody” Price oversees The Branson School, a private high school, 454-3612.

Garbage service: Marin Sanitary Service, 1050 Andersen Drive, San Rafael, 456-2601.

Population: 13,600

Size: 4.75 square miles

Annual budget: $23 million

Number of dwellings: 6, 259

Median home price, October 2007: $1,285,000

City Council: Mayor Christopher Raker, Vice Mayor Dick Swanson and council members Anne Solem, Andrew Berman and Shawn Marshall. The council meets the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 26 Corte Madera Ave.

City Hall:City Manager Anne Montgomery, Planning Director Rory Anne Walsh, Public Works Director Wayne Bush, City Clerk Mary Herr and Assistant to City Manager Linn Walsh can be reached at 388-4033. Parks and Recreation Director Christine Sansom, 383-1370. The community center, 180 Camino Alto, can be reached at 383-1370. City Hall is at 26 Corte Madera Ave. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. It is closed alternate Fridays.

Police and fire: Director of Police and Fire Robert Ritter, 389-4100. There are 22 sworn officers and six civilian employees in the police department. There are 24 uniformed staffers and 4 volunteers in the fire department, which also provides paramedic services, 389-4130. Police and fire headquarters: 1 Hamilton Drive.

Library: Anji Brenner is the city librarian. The library is at 375 Throckmorton Ave., 389-4292. It is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce: Chief Executive Officer Kathy Severson, 388-9700, 85 Throckmorton Ave.

Schools: Superintendent Ken Benny, 389-7700, 411 Sycamore Ave.

Garbage service: Mill Valley Refuse Service, 112 Front St., San Rafael, 457-9760.

Population: 12,000

Size: 3.05 square miles

Annual operating budget: $13.2 million

Number of housing units: 6,413

Median home price, October 2007: $1,289,000

City Council: Mayor Larry Chu and council members Dan Hillmer, Ron Arlas, Joan Lundstrom and Kathy Hartzell. The council meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at City Hall at 400 Magnolia Ave.

City Hall: City Manager Jean Bonander, 927-5110; City Clerk Cynthia Huisman, 927-5002; Planning Director Nancy Kaufman, 927-5025; Public Works Director Hamid Shamsapour, 927-5017; City Attorney Sky Woodruff, 927-5110; Recreation Director Dave Wilkinson, 927-6746. City Hall, at 400 Magnolia Ave., is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. The main number is 927-5110.

Police: Twin Cities Police Chief Phil Green oversees a 44-member department that also serves Corte Madera. The police headquarters, at 250 Doherty Drive in Larkspur, can be reached at 927-5150. Fire: Fire Chief Robert Sinnott, who is the deputy city manager, oversees a 19-member department with two fire stations. The headquarters, at 420 Magnolia Ave., can be reached at 927-5007.

Library: The library, which is in City Hall at 400 Magnolia Ave., can be reached at 927-5005. Its hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce: P.O. Box 315, Larkspur, 94977. Phone, 838-0038.

Schools: The Larkspur School District includes Hall Middle School and Neil Cummins Elementary School. The district headquarters is at 230 Doherty Drive. The phone number is 927-6960. Redwood High School, part of the Tamalpais Union High School District, is at 395 Doherty Drive.

Garbage: Marin Sanitary Service, 1050 Andersen Drive, San Rafael. 456-2601.

Population: 57,146

Size: 16.5 square miles

Annual operating budget: $73 million

Number of dwellings: 19,000

Median home price, June 2005: $987,500

CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Al Boro and council members Cyr Miller, Barbara Heller, Paul Cohen and Gary Phillips. The council meets at 8 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month at City Hall.

City Hall: City Manager Ken Nordhoff, 485-3070; Community Development Director Bob Brown, 485-3090; Public Works Director Andrew Preston, 485-3355; Community Services Director Carlene McCart, 485-3340; City Clerk Jeanne Leoncini, 485-3065; Special Events Coordinator Brian Auger 485-3465; City Attorney Gary Ragghianti, 485-3080. City Hall is at 1400 Fifth Ave.

Police: Police Chief, 485-3009, oversees a 125-member police department. Headquarters: City Hall, 1400 Fifth Ave.

Fire: Fire Chief John Montenero, 485-3304, oversees a 89-member firefighting force that also provides paramedic services. Headquarters: 1039 C St.

Library: The library, 485-3323, is at 1100 E St. It is open Monday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Sundays.

Chamber of Commerce: CEO Tallia Hart, 454-4163. Headquarters: 817 Mission Ave.

Schools: San Rafael high school and elementary schools Superintendent Laura Alvarenga, 492-3233. Headquarters: 310 Nova Albion Way. Also: Dixie School District Superintendent Thomas Lohwasser, 380 Nova Albion Way, 492-3700.

Garbage service: Marin Sanitary Service, 1050 Andersen Drive, San Rafael, 456-2601.

Population: 9,100

Size: 4 square miles, plus tidelands

Annual budget: $21.6 million

Number of households: 3,776

Median home price, June 2005: $1,155,000

Town Hall: Town Manager Jay Tashiro, 927-5050; Town Clerk Christine Green, 927-5086; David Bracken, director of Public Works and Town Engineer, 927-5057; Director of Parks and Recreation Jacqueline Branch, 927-5072; Town Attorney Jeffrey Walter, 927-5050; George Warman Jr., finance director, town treasurer and director of Administrative Services, 927-5055; Bob Pendoley, Director of Planning, 927-5050.

Police: Twin Cities Police Chief Phil Green oversees a 44-member department that also serves Larkspur. The police headquarters, at 250 Doherty Drive in Larkspur, can be reached at 927-5150.

Fire: Director of Emergency Services Robert Fox oversees a 20-member fire department based at 342 Tamalpais Drive. Phone: 927-5082.

Library: The library, at 707 Meadowsweet Drive, can be reached at 924-3515 for circulation, 924-6444 for reference and 924-6382 for children’s services. The hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. The library is closed Friday.

Chamber of Commerce: 129 Corte Madera Town Center, 924-0441.

Schools: The Larkspur School District includes Hall Middle School in Larkspur and Neil Cummins Elementary School in Corte Madera. Superintendent Bob Cone has announced his retirement. A replacement has yet to be named. District offices are located at 230 Doherty Drive and can be contacted by calling, 927-6960. Redwood High School, part of the Tamalpais-Union School District, is at 395 Doherty Drive in Larkspur. Principal Nancy Neu can be reached at 924-6200.

Garbage: Mill Valley Refuse, 112 Front St., San Rafael. Phone: 457-9760.

Population: 2,125

Size: 1 square mile

Annual budget: $6.2 million

Number of dwellings: 1,059

Median home price, June 2006: $2,531,256

City Council: Mayor John Telischak, Vice Mayor Jerry Butler and Councilmembers James Berg, Barbara Morrison and Dr. Thomas Cromwell. The council meets the first Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 450 San Rafael Ave. City Hotlines

City Hall:City Manager George Rodericks, Planning Manager Pierce MacDonald, Public Works Director and City Engineer Bob Branz, and City Attorney Rob Epstein can all be reached at 435-3838. Belvedere-Tiburon Recreation Department Director Bruce Mulder, 435-4355. City Hall is at 450 San Rafael Ave. It is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30p.m. Closed Friday.

Police: Chief Mark Campbell, 435-3266 or 435-2611, oversees a seven-member police department. Headquarters: 450 San Rafael Ave.

Fire: Chief Richard Pearce heads the Tiburon Fire Protection District, 435-7200, and oversees 19 firefighters and 20 volunteers. The district also provides paramedic services. Headquarters: 1679 Tiburon Blvd.

Library: The library, 789-2665, is at 1501 Tiburon Blvd. It is open Monday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce: Executive Manager Georgia Kirchmaier, 435-5633. Headquarters: 96-B Main St.

Schools: Superintendent Christine Carter, 381-1112. Headquarters: 277-A Karen Way.

Garbage service: Mill Valley Refuse Service, 457-9760.

The sun was shining in Marin today and the temperature was a balmy 72 degrees. The state of the real estate market is not balmy or hot, but should have many looking at the numbers and thinking whether they should sit on the side lines for a few more months. As I have said many times Marin is made up of many micro real estate climates so it is important to look at each community to the signs of the strength or weakness of that particular market. Here are some of the highlights of the Marin Real Estate market for the week.

There are 884 single family homes actively being marketed by real estate brokerage companies, which do not include a small percentage being marketed privately and those for sale by owners. Of these homes 178 are in contract with buyers which represent 20 % of the total. As an index for Marin overall anything 20% or less is a balanced market leaning towards a buyer’s market. The other number to look at is the Average Days on Market (ADOM). This tells you how long it has taken a home on the average to go “Hard” with the buyer. Going hard meaning that the buyer has released all of their due diligence contingencies and is awaiting closing. The ADOM for those active lisitngs was 85.

The ADOM for homes in the following price points are as follows:

Up to $1,000,000                       79

$1,000,000 to $1,500,000          78

$1,501,000 to $2,500,000          84

$2,501,000 to $3.000, 000         99

$3,001,000 and above              122

The ADOM for homes sold from January 1, 2007 to October 31, 2007 is 70. My estimation is that days on market that are shown on the MLS are 30% less than actual, as once a home is listed and then removed from the MLS for at least 30 days the days on market resets to zero./p>

You should expect to allocate 90 to 120 days, or more depending on the location of the home, to close escrow once you put your home on the market assuming you are realistic about the price and that the house shows well. If you would like more information about specific areas of Marin please email or call me at 415-297-9000.

In recent years the City has seen an escalation in violence and vandalism on Halloween night. Determined to reestablish a safe and secure environment for all, City officials worked with residents, parents and merchants to determine the best way to ensure the evening is fun for all, particularly the small children who enjoy trick or treat activities and the neighborhoods where much of the Halloween activity takes place.

Students, parents, and neighbors are advised that a “ZERO TOLERANCE” policy will be in effect on Halloween night. Violations will not be tolerated and rules will be firmly enforced. Success will depend on everyone working together. Click here to learn more about how to prepare for a safe Halloween.

So that unacceptable behavior would not again occur, a special committee of local residents, appointed by the City, worked for several weeks to develop a public education and outreach program for this year’s Halloween activities. Click here to read the May 2007 report from the Halloween Task Force.

PLAN CHECK NOTICE

The Planning Department will not offer over-the-counter plan checks on Tuesday, October 23rd or Thursday ,October 25th. For the week of October 22nd only, the over-the-counter plan check hours will be Wednesday, October 24, from 2:00-3:30 pm and Friday, October 26, from 10:00-11:30 am.

MILLER AVENUE PRECISE PLAN
Town Hall Meeting

A Town Hall Meeting regarding the Miller Avenue Precise Plan has been scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 15th. The meeting will take place from 7-10 p.m. at the Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church, located at 410 Sycamore Avenue.

Community input and participation is important to the City of Mill Valley. Feedback and comments have been collected throughout the development of the MAPP to ensure that a comprehensive vision for Miller Avenue is based on input from neighbors, local residents, businesses, visitors, environmental groups, state and local agencies, and other interested parties. Public involvement is encouraged and will be incorporated into each stage of the process.

For more information please click here. To be added to the e-mail notification list, e-mail millerave@cityofmillvalley.org. For additional information contact Danielle Staude at 415-388-4033, ext 132.

THE ART COMMISSION PRESENTS…

Click-Off
The 2007 Click-Off - Mill Valley’s popular photography contest! Click here to view the poster and here for an application.

Milley Awards
The Milley Awards Board of Directors and the Mill Valley Art Commission are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2007 Milley Awards for Creative Achievement. They will be honored at a dinner on October 21st at the Mill Valley Community Center. Please click here for more information.

Call for Artists
The Mill Valley Art Commission is now accepting 2D work from artists in the greater Bay Area to be considered for a show in the City Hall Council Chambers or Mill Valley Community Center. Please click here for more information.

MILL VALLEY’S COMMITMENT to the ENVIRONMENT

If you were to take a walk from City Hall to Hauke Park today, you would come across two of the latest examples of the City’s Salvaged Wood Program, founded by Parks Superintendent Rick Misuraca. The program uses felled trees as lumber for city construction projects and as material for local artists. Click here to learn more….

Friday, October 26, 2007

By Alison Rogers
Inman News

I love insiders. Maybe it’s because I’m a New Yorker, but I always want to find the “insider connection” who will get me the “best deal.”

So I was very excited to interview Carolyn Warren, a former mortgage loan officer who wrote a book explaining the ins and outs of her industry. Warren explains: “I had been working in the industry about 10 years; I think the turning point was when I had lunch with a mortgage broker and he told me he had just closed a loan and made $40,000.”

Disgusted by the greed, she wrote a consumer-friendly book, called “Mortgage Rip-offs and Money Savers” (http://www.askcarolynwarren.com) published by John Wiley. There have been other mortgage insider books, she notes, but she is somewhat unique in that she has been a loan officer and also on the other side of the door doing wholesale lending. So here’s some of her expertise that she was kind enough to share with Alison Rogers, Inman’s Real Estate Rookie:

Rookie: I’m an agent, and I have a mortgage broker who I like — he stays on top of paperwork, and he returns my calls. But is he doing a good job for my clients?

Warren: It can go either way — some people who give the best service give the best pricing. Some people who give the best service give the worst pricing. I can tell you that mortgage trainers teach brokers to chase referrals, because “the trust is already there and you can get an extra point.” So even if you make the referral, you should still tell your clients to shop around.

Rookie: OK, as an agent, are there things I shouldn’t do? Things that drive loan officers crazy?

Warren: Loan officers like real estate agents because they bring them business. But you should trust that mortgage professional. It frustrates loan officers when the real estate agent is trying to steer the client into a certain type of loan, when they might not know all the financial facts. We don’t tell you how to sell the house and negotiate the purchase contract! Trust me to do the financing.

Also, if you as a loan person have a client who you’ve preapproved and then you send them to a real estate agent, and the agent says, “Oh, don’t work with that loan officer” … well, if you do that you’ll never get another referral.

Finally, don’t show someone houses above the amount they’re prequalified for — if they can get a $400K loan, and the agent shows them $499K houses, and gets their heart set on one, then you as a loan officer have to put the client in a 40-year loan or some other product that isn’t the right one for them.

So when a client shows up with a $400K preapproval, ask, is the $400K preapproval hard and fast, or is there wiggle room for price?

Rookie: Let’s talk about credit scores for a minute. I check my credit score once a year, but in your book you talk about the importance of pulling all three credit scores.

Warren: If you are three months away from buying a house, then just get a free credit report [some states allow you to get a free report once a year] and make sure that everything is as good as you can make it. But don’t pull your credit yet.

But if you are close, have your mortgage broker pull your tri-merged credit report — which lists all three credit bureaus’ scores.

For one, there are four different kinds of scoring algorithms. A lot of people pull their score online, and then their mortgage broker pulls it a week later, and it looks like their score went down — that’s because there is a difference between the credit card algorithm, which is lenient, and the mortgage algorithm, which is stiffer.

Also, each credit bureau gives you four reasons, in order of importance, why your score is not higher than it is, and that’s very helpful.

Rookie: August was … August was not a good time. It seems like it’s getting better, but can you say anything about jumbos in the present climate?

Warren: As investors become more comfortable, rates will come down. For the consumer getting that type of loan, there are usually zero points up front, because 1 percent of $2 million is so high. So you want to make sure that the yield spread premium [back-end commission] is disclosed on your Good Faith Estimate.

Some of the most expensive loans I’ve seen have come out of New York. I have a friend in the mortgage business there who blames former Wall Streeters who have gone into the mortgage business and are used to having a high income.

Rookie: What is a reasonable yield spread premium?

Warren: Around 1 percent. Well, it depends on your loan amount. Generally, $2,500 to $3,500 is a good fair commission — you can see the commission by adding the yield spread premium plus the origination fee. Maybe double that for a million-dollar loan.

I do offer a money-saver service — people can send me two Good Faith Estimates, and I’ll analyze their offers for them, point out any junk fees, and give them a script to talk to their loan officer. I tell them they save “double my fee or it’s free.”

The fee is $97, or $67 if they bought the book — 1 out of every 7 people, I tell them, “You have an excellent loan,” and I give their money back. But typically I save people anywhere from $300 to $2,000. I saved one person $8,000; that person was in New York.

Rookie: I’m scared to look at the yield spread premium on my mortgage now.

Warren: People just don’t know the right way to shop for a loan; no one from inside the industry has ever told them.

You can’t blame people because the information’s been kept hidden. And then they get bad advice — “shop deep and wide — ask a lot of people 10 questions” — can you imagine? You will end up with pages of scribbled notes; you won’t know what’s what.

And when you ask 10 questions up front, you will go with the smoothest talker, who is likely to be the biggest liar. Loan sharks, the people who overcharge, love to have somebody ask 10 questions; it gives them a chance to fill their ear with sweet talk, and a lot of time to build rapport.

The way to shop is to make three phone calls and ask just one question, one smart question: Can I get a Good Faith Estimate? Tell them please be sure to include the yield spread premium.

Rookie: I have some clients who make me work harder for my money — how can you tell if they’ll be extra work?

Warren: Subprime borrowers are almost always more work — they have issues that you have to clear to up that don’t appear until halfway through, such as a judgment that might not have showed up on the credit report, but it shows up on the title report, which is tied to their Social Security Number. I’ve had that happen multiple times, and then you can’t close the loan till it’s taken care of. Subprimes also don’t tell you they were self-employed for only 19 months; they say “two years” because they rounded up.

Because you are dealing with surprises midstream, it’s fair to make more money, but there’s a balance between what’s fair and financially raping a person.

Rookie: Last question — since real estate agents are self-employed, are there things we need to know about getting loans for ourselves?

Warren: If you’re self-employed, most lenders want a minimum of 24 months of self-employed history; they want that long to know you’re making it. But they don’t like numbers that trend downward. If you had a great year two years ago, and this year, you are making 25 percent less, they don’t average them. If you think that you’re going to have a year trending downward next year, get a house this year before you do.

Also, keep a paper trail. Deposit your whole check into the same bank account. There are lenders that will take 12 months of your bank statements and count the deposits and count that as income, but if you use three banks they won’t put together all three — put all your checks into one bank account. What you do with the money afterwards is up to you.

Alison Rogers is a licensed salesperson and author of “Diary of a Real Estate Rookie.”