We're heading into the last few months of the year and the real estate market is holding steady. The numbers have dipped slightly but some of that has to do with the time of year. There are approximately 1270 homes  on the market of which 316 are in escrow. That 27% in  escrow is the same as it was in our last report in June. Inventory is down and so is the number of sales, and the general public keeps getting inundated with the media reports on the volatile stock market, the stagnant employment  picture and the gruesome state of the California economy. So how does all this affect you as a homeowner? Here are the two most frequent questions we get asked:

 According to C.A.R. starting January 1, 2011, a seller's first trust deed lender cannot obtain a deficiency judgment against the seller after a short sale. This only pertains to the purchase money loan for the property. The Governor just vetoed the bill that would have extended California's anti-deficiency protection laws to cover re-finance loans. What this means is that if you have refinanced your home and are considering a short sale or going through one, and the amount collected on the short sale is less than the amount of the re-financed loan, you could be subject to a deficiency judgments for the balance. However, since every persons situation is different, and every  lender may have different  requirements, be sure you check with your financial…

123 Crescent Ave., Sausalito

$1,375,000

Living in Sausalito implies, water views, exciting architecture and living just a little on the edge. It implies a certain stylish sophistication but with a warmth and a novelty that makes for an exciting lifestyle. This home has all these qualities. With exotic curb appeal, this home delights the senses with dramatic vistas of the City and the bay from most rooms. There are two bedrooms, one and half baths on the main level and a separate bedrsuite/office with full kitchen on the lower level.

Vaulted redwood ceilings and grandiose vistas from the many windows and skylights create exceptional light in this stunning contemporary home. The eyes wander over an interior that feels more like a sculpture than a home.…