Holly Friend, Realtor

Holly Friend, Realtor I help hardworking people grow their wealth through real estate using my Redwood Method. Lic. 02111955

Quick stop at May Madness in San Rafael. Things get going at noon 🚗 Great plans for today if you don’t have any yet!Or e...
05/09/2026

Quick stop at May Madness in San Rafael. Things get going at noon 🚗

Great plans for today if you don’t have any yet!

Or even if you do 😉

Cheapest places to fill your tank in Marin County… for now anyway 😉 Did I miss one? Help me out and drop it in the comme...
05/07/2026

Cheapest places to fill your tank in Marin County… for now anyway 😉

Did I miss one? Help me out and drop it in the comments.

My client thought his house was "just okay". But looking at the floor plan and the views, I knew we were sitting on a Ma...
04/30/2026

My client thought his house was "just okay". But looking at the floor plan and the views, I knew we were sitting on a Marin unicorn. 🦄

The property had the kind of fundamentals that are notoriously hard to find in a single package in Marin:

💚 A 3/2 single-level layout with a two-car garage.
💚 A flat, totally usable lot.
💚 Walking distance to downtown Fairfax.
💚 A breathtaking view of Mt. Tam.
💚 No flood zone.

Despite an older roof and a shared driveway, the house was exceptional. We didn't settle for "good enough". We encouraged the owner to push through the final 25% of prep work, focusing on high-impact, tactical updates:

💎 Refinishing the floors to maximize natural light.
💎 Swapping hardware for a modern feel.
💎 Full-scale staging to define the lifestyle.

We priced accurately based on comps and deferred maintenance. We didn’t manufacture a bidding war; we priced for the reality of the property.

The market responded with absolute clarity:
14 offers.
$616,000 over list price.

Most people leave money on the table because they stop short on home prep. They see an old roof and decide not to bother with the floors thinking they’re just putting lipstick on a pig.

They couldn't be more wrong.

My job is to see the special that an owner can no longer see. When you commit to the strategy, the results speak for themselves.

Thinking about listing? There are 13 people still looking for a home in this neighborhood. Let's talk.

I had a client ask if installing artificial turf would boost their home's resale value. My answer? You’re paying a premi...
04/25/2026

I had a client ask if installing artificial turf would boost their home's resale value. My answer? You’re paying a premium to lose money.

In the Marin and Sonoma markets, low maintenance and drought tolerant is a massive selling point.

But I’ve learned first hand that "low maintenance" doesn't always equal "high value."

I recently ran a poll to see if my observations at open houses matched the general consensus.

The result? 100% of respondents voted for natural grass over artificial turf.

Not 70%. Not 90%. Total consensus.

Here is why the ROI on turf is struggling in our neck of the woods:

1. When buyers walk through a North Bay listing with artificial turf, they don't see a "finished" yard they see a future project. I hear it at every open house: the heat retention, the "plastic" look, and the lack of natural drainage. In a region that prizes organic aesthetics, turf feels like a disconnect.

2. Artificial turf is significantly more expensive to install than natural sod. When you spend $10k on an upgrade that a buyer might actually pay to remove, you’ve created a negative ROI.

3. If you have severe allergies, high-traffic pets, or you’re just done with the lawnmower, turf is a great lifestyle choice. But it should be a choice you make for yourself, not for the next owner.

If you want low-maintenance curb appeal that actually scales your home’s value, look toward native, drought-tolerant landscaping.

It fits the local ecosystem, saves water....

and doesn't get the side eye at open houses.

Are you surprised by that 100% poll result, or do you have an artificial lawn story of your own?

03/11/2026

Working remotely from the Sausalito Public Library today and this one surprised me!

Super tall ceilings.
Lots of natural light.
And a slightly Twin Peaks kind of vibe.

Which I love.

This might be one of the better spots in Marin if you need to power through admin or jump on calls because there’s even a private call box for Zoom meetings.

Hot take: more libraries should have these. This is the only one (so far) on my journey that I’ve seen.

Would you take a Zoom meeting from a library if there was a call booth like this?

Library 3/16 of Marin ✔️
On to the next.

03/07/2026

San Rafael is full of opportunity if you know how to look for it.

Our listing at 226 Bayview St is one of these opportunities.

🗣️A large flat lot
🗣️ Charming Neighborhood
🗣️ Flexible Zoning
🗣️ Recent price drop

This property is waiting to be a gem in someone’s portfolio.

Act now to make sure it’s yours.

03/03/2026

Working remote from the Larkspur Library before it closes this Friday.

There’s something different about working in a space that’s about to change 💛

This one feels cozy. Familiar. Lived in.

And yes, it’s closing.
But no ,it’s not going away. 📦

The new Larkspur Library opens March 28, and I’ll be back to test it.

Hot take: sometimes the “older” spots have better focus energy. We will see how the two compare!

If you’ve ever worked, studied, or spent time here — what did you use this library for?

Library 2 of Marin ✅

On to the next.

A small detail can make or break a deal. 🫣I was representing buyers and negotiating a credit for repairs. We secured th...
03/01/2026

A small detail can make or break a deal. 🫣

I was representing buyers and negotiating a credit for repairs. We secured the credit, and their plan was to use it to fund an escrow account for work after closing.

On the surface, that sounded completely reasonable.

But before we finalized anything, I encouraged them to run it by their lender to see how it would affect their loan.

Good thing they did.

It turned out that structuring it that way would’ve left them short on funds to close. 🤬

That’s the kind of issue you don’t want to discover at the eleventh hour.

So we adjusted the strategy. Instead, we applied the credit toward their closing costs, which allowed them to move forward smoothly and confidently.

They were relieved. I was relieved. 😮‍💨

This is what people don’t always see from the outside: a successful transaction isn’t just about negotiating the big wins. It’s about catching the small details before they turn into big problems.

In real estate (and honestly, in any business), strong communication between the client, lender, and agent is everything. ☎️

It’s not glamorous. But it’s what protects you.

02/27/2026

Working remote from the Civic Center Public Library in San Rafael… I’m just going to say it.

This might be the best work spot in Marin!

Yes, it was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, but it’s not just about the architecture. It’s about how a space makes you think.

Here’s the slightly controversial part:

I’d choose a library over most coffee shops. Every time. ☕️ 📕

Better parking, no $8 coffees.

Im often on the road in-between showings and inspections. I’m not able to head back to my office for every meeting and email. 💻

And before someone comments “don’t blow up this spot”…

We are supporting public libraries in 2026! Not gate keeping. 😘

If you work remotely in Marin… is this a yes or a no for you?

Library 1 of 16 ✔️

Unpopular opinion: The "Just Sold" photos are the least interesting thing a realtor can share online.I’d rather talk abo...
02/25/2026

Unpopular opinion: The "Just Sold" photos are the least interesting thing a realtor can share online.

I’d rather talk about the stuff that actually saves you a headache (and $200+) the week you move in.

The New Home Cheat Sheet:

🎉 Lungs: Schedule duct cleaning before the couch arrives. Don't breathe in the previous owner's pet dander.

🎉 Cash: Call the utility company and demand a waived deposit by showing "good standing" from your last place. That’s $200 back in your pocket instantly.

🎉 Taxes: Watch for the "Supplemental Tax Bill" 3–6 months later. It’s a jump-scare for your bank account if you aren't expecting it.

I care about the "after" just as much as the "escrow."

Moving soon? Save this.

Know someone who just closed?
Send this to them. 🥂

Address

100 Drakes Landing Road
Greenbrae, CA
94904

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