The Marin Real Estate Perspective

Days on Market is one of the most referenced statistics in real estate. It is also one of the most misunderstood.

In Marin County, that number rarely tells the full story. A home that sells in 9 days and one that sells in 28 days may appear to perform very differently. Yet the underlying dynamics - pricing strategy, preparation level, buyer depth, and negotiation structure - often matter far more than the raw timeline itself.

What Days on Market Actually Reflects

The number itself is simple. The meaning behind it is not.

Days on Market is often influenced by:
- Initial pricing precision
- Level of preparation before launch
- Depth of the active buyer pool
- Neighborhood-specific demand
- Overall inventory conditions

Without context, the number alone can be misleading.

Speed Does Not Always Equal Strength

A quick sale can signal strong alignment between pricing and buyer expectations. It can also suggest that the market may have supported a higher number.

Conversely, a slightly longer timeline does not automatically indicate weakness. In higher price points especially, Marin buyers tend to move deliberately. They evaluate micro-location, long-term value, privacy, and lot usability - not just finishes.

Speed alone does not define success. Alignment does.

The First 10 Days Often Set the Tone

In today's Marin environment, buyer attention tends to peak early. The first two weekends often determine the trajectory of a listing.

When pricing, presentation, and positioning are aligned from the beginning, momentum builds naturally.

If alignment is off - even slightly - adjustments become more visible and often more difficult.

Preparation before launch reduces friction after launch.

Marin Is Not One Market

Scott Valley behaves differently than Tam Valley.
Belvedere is not Mill Valley.
Sebastopol acreage operates on a different rhythm than southern Marin properties.

Days on Market must always be interpreted within:
- Neighborhood
- Price band
- Property type
- Current inventory levels

Blanket statistics rarely reflect the nuance serious homeowners need to understand.

The Goal Is Not Speed - It Is Clarity

Selling does not need to feel rushed. It needs to feel intentional.

When preparation, pricing precision, and buyer psychology align, the timeline feels natural rather than pressured.

Beat Bossart
Broker Associate, Vanguard Properties
Mill Valley, California
DRE #01242892
Direct: 415-279-4334
beat.bossart@vanguardproperties.com

In real estate, true elegance is seamless execution