TOP 3: What You Need to Know Before Buying a Home in Marin

Are you thinking about buying a home in Marin County, CA? Of course you are! Marin is not only one of the most beautiful places in the world, but the people are friendly, community-oriented, and open-minded. What could be better? Once you've decided to make the move, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Affordability: Marin is expensive, so it's important to know which area . If you've heard about Bay Area real estate, you've probably heard about the housing shortage, multiple-offers, and buyers paying enormous amounts of $$$ over the asking price of the home. These are the realities of our market, and as a buyer, it's best to have this information up front so that sticker shock doesn't send you barreling elsewhere.

The prices are high, but also keep in mind that people are willing to pay these prices not only because it's worth the daily benefits of living in Marin, but also because the appreciation is high. It is not uncommon for us to hear that a client who purchased their home for around $100,000 in the 90's has seen it appreciate to over $1 million. This is an excellent investment!

Also understand there are different towns and cities in Marin and each of these places is unique and homes have a different price-tag in each. Here is a chart of average price/sq ft in some of the major cities in Marin as of May, 2020.

Marin Avg. Price/Sq Ft - May, 2020

2. Specific Areas: Maybe you like a town square, or maybe you just like a cute main street, maybe you want close neighbors or maybe you want some distance between you and everyone else. Each town offers something different and there is something for everyone!

Marin is broken down between Southern, Central, Northern, and West Marin. Here is an overview of what you can expect from each place.

Southern Marin: This includes the towns of Sausalito, Tiburon, Belvedere and Mill Valley. Southern Marin features some of Marin's highest prices. Homes in these towns are varied, some with gorgeous hillside views, some are in "the flats", some need updating, some are beautifully remodeled, and a smaller percentage are newer construction. Sausalito, Tiburon, and Mill Valley all have their own unique downtowns, school districts, and overall feel. Sausalito, Tiburon, and Belvedere are a stone's throw from the Richardson Bay and can be a bit foggier, and Mill Valley is generally woodsy with tons of tall Redwood trees. Southern Marin is an excellent commute location for those who work in San Francisco - just hop on the 101 and cross the Golden Gate Bridge.

Central Marin: This area includes Corte Madera, Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Ross, San Anselmo, Fairfax, and San Rafael. These areas have tons of mature trees, cute downtown areas, and the Corte Madera creek runs through it. Fairfax is known for its unique hippy vibe and funky layout, great entertainment and restaurants. Downtown San Rafael is the most urban of all of Marin, but also extends north into Terra Linda and Lucas Valley. These two parts of northern San Rafael are famous for their mid-century modern appeal but less walkability. The Eichler and Alliance homes are prevalent and you either love them or they aren't for you!

Thorne Home Team - Pinterest - Eichler Homes

Northern Marin: This part of Marin is called Novato, which extends from South Novato to North Novato. Southern Novato is a bit more expensive, and there are parts with larger, new construction homes. Northern Novato on the other hand, is closer to downtown Novato and features homes with more acreage and even horse ranches. Keep in mind that Novato tends to be hotter in the Summer and colder in the Winter, so considering air conditioning may be important to you.

West Marin: This is a more remote part of Marin, consisting of Stinson Beach, Muir Beach, Woodacre, Forest Knolls, Inverness, Pt. Reyes Station, Dillon Beach, Marshall, Bolinas, Nicasio, and Olema. If you want to be further from traffic and density, this is the place for you. It is beautiful, close-to-nature, and has a small-town feeling.

3. Marin Culture: Each town is unique, so we recommend spending some time in your top 3 areas, hanging out downtown and talking to the locals. See how you feel! In general, Marin is liberal, and has a strong sense of community and emphasis on supporting your neighbors.

The birthplace of mountain-biking, Marin has tons of outdoor activities. Mt. Tam features tons of hiking trails and you can spend hot days at the beach. It doesn't snow in Marin, but you can drive a few hours to Lake Tahoe if you're a winter sports lover. If the suburban life is feeling slow, you can also drive less than an hour for all San Francisco has to offer.

If you're thinking about moving, let us know and we'll answer all your questions about Marin!

Thorne Home Team
Naomi Thorne & Katherine Thorne
Coldwell Banker Realty
511 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Greenbrae, CA 94904
415.559.5280
naomi.thorne@cbnorcal.com
katherine.thorne@cbnorcal.com
hometeammarin.com