Blog by the Bay » San Rafael

BATS Improv Class Comes to San Rafael

George Crowe — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:26:25 +0000

Whether you’re an experienced performer, a household ham, or just want to break out of your routine and try something new for the new year, Bay Area Theatersports will be offering their foundation level improv class in Marin starting January 11th. Sounds like a fun thing to do and they say it can help build confidence that’ll apply in your everyday life, even for those with no experience or interest in performing on stage. It’s happening Wednesday evenings at the San Rafael Community Center. More class info and signup here.

A nonprofit based at Fort Mason in San Francisco, BATS is the largest and longest-running improv theatre and school in Northern California. The organization supports the community by giving free performances and workshops to Bay Area high school students and free workshops for people with life-threatening illnesses.

A cute new listing in San Rafael…for just $279,000?

Stephen Pringle — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:06:29 +0000

Yes! We just brought on a 2 bedroom house in Santa Venetia, with charm, a nice yard, and a 2-car garage, with an asking price of $279K. It’s a smaller house–950 square feet by the tax records–and it’s a short sale so the lender will have to approve any offer, but a nice opportunity for someone who wants to buy in Marin at a price point that’s rare for a nice house in the area. More info here.

Marinwood gets its own high-end market

Stephen Pringle — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 01:13:41 +0000

It’s been a great year for neighborhood markets in Marin. We stopped in the new Marinwood Market this week and were impressed to find a stylish grocery store with a nice deli, produce section, and meat department in the old Bell Market space…a much needed service for the neighborhood. They’re having their grand opening this weekend, complete with a bounce house for the kids, so we were told. Stop by if you’re in the area!

And who doesn’t like owls?

George Crowe — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 22:41:45 +0000

Interesting item in SFGate. Sounds like a great way to control rat problems. Do they sell these boxes at Home Depot?

Tasty new bakery in San Rafael

Stephen Pringle — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:56:03 +0000

Stopped by Ponsford’s Place on Shaver Street in San Rafael for their Wednesday pizza night this week, where they had live music and super tasty and healthy pizza. They also make yummy breads and treats. The menu changes daily and they have cooking classes as well. More info at www.ponsfordsplace.com.

Our favorite spot in Marin for a kid’s birthday party

Stephen Pringle — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 23:28:08 +0000

Trying to find the perfect place for a kid’s birthday party can be a challenge if you want to avoid the crowds or the cost of an indoor space. Our favorite outdoor spot is at Marinwood Park in San Rafael. It has a large open lawn area to throw a football or frisbee around and there’s a small grassy hill that the kids love to roll down. Talk about instant entertainment! The play structure area is nice and has a separate section for smaller kids, and there’s a concrete path that surrounds the park which makes a perfect loop for little ones to ride their bikes around.

You can reserve a spot near the play structure area for a private party, but we like to be out in the grassy area, which has picnic tables and BBQs. Bring your hot dogs and burgers (or tofu dogs), start up the grill and make it an adult party too. In the summer they have a great community pool which you can also make part of the party for a fee. The best part is the secret path along the side of the play structure area that leads to a year round creek. Kids love playing in it, especially when the weather’s hot. One important tip: get there around 9:00 am to claim your table with a cooler and table cloth so when the party starts later in the day you will have a primo spot.

Sun Valley Market Now Open!

George Crowe — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:15:19 +0000

It took a while but it was worth the wait. We stopped by the new Andy’s Sun Valley Market the other day to check it out and it’s a really nice addition to the neighborhood. It’s been given a complete makeover, with a great looking deli and a nice wine selection, and tables outside. They’re having a grand opening block party BBQ on Labor Day. It’s at 2202 5th Ave at California in San Rafael.

A great time to visit Marin waterfalls

Stephen Pringle — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:39:28 +0000

With all the rain we’re having it’s a perfect time to check out Marin County’s waterfalls, and Fairfax is a good place to start. One of our favorites is easy to get to and just a 10 minute walk from the road. Park at the top of Sir Francis Drake on the right as you hit the summit out of Fairfax and before descending into Woodacre. It’s a big waterfall and a nice hike for the kids or dog.

Also in Fairfax, Cataract Falls is one of the most popular in Marin and a good hike as well. There are a couple of ways to access it, and you’ll find good directions here.

Also, check out the waterfall at the end of Mountain View Dr. in San Rafael’s Dominican neighborhood. It’s handy as you don’t really have to hike to get there.

And at the north end of the county there’s the Arroyo de San Jose Waterfall on the trail at the end of Fairway Dr. in Novato. It’s also a nice hike and fun for the kids.

And if you’re really into exploring all the waterfalls Marin County has to offer you might want to check out Waterfallswest.com. It’s now a pay site but looks to be the most comprehensive resource.

Marin County Summer Camp Fair

Ginger Wilcox — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:00:31 +0000

It’s still February, we saw snow on Mt. Tam in the last week and yes, it is also summer camp registration time! The choices for summer camps for kids in Marin can be overwhelming and some great programs fill up very early. We registered for a coveted horseback riding camp in early January after being declined two years in a row!

Last year I wrote this post on Marin County Summer Camps and the individuals who commented have given some great information. Feel free to add your thoughts here or on that post.

Thanks to one of the commenters for letting me know about the upcoming Marin Camp Fair where over 50 day camps in Marin and other resident summer camps throughout California will be present to answer questions about the camps.

The summer camp fair takes place on Thursday, March 31, 2011 at Dominican University in San Rafael. Don’t worry about finding a babysitter, the fair is kid friendly and will feature free pizza, a jumpy house and more.

What: Marin County Summer Camp Fair
When: Thursday, March 31, 4:30-7:30pm
Where: Conlan Gym, Dominican University (map)
More Details

This sounds like a great event to help evaluate your choices- I’ll see you there!

Moving to Marin? What can you afford to buy?

Ginger Wilcox — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:57:05 +0000

If you are considering moving to Marin County, trying to get a feel for what you can afford to buy in the different neighborhoods can be daunting, especially with some of Marin’s steep price tags. Fortunately, not every home in Marin is a multi-million dollar luxury home.

So what can you buy in Marin?

Mill Valley

Many first time home buyers moving from San Francisco start their home search in Mill Valley. It’s charming, close to the bridge, and has a lively downtown area. Its proximity to the city also comes with a much steeper price tag then some of its counterparts. The median list price in Mill Valley is $1,140,346.

90-day stats for Single Family properties in MILL VALLEY, CA as of October 7, 2011
Median List Price:	$1,039,192	Average List Price:	$1,403,263
Total Inventory:	121	Price per Square Foot:	$510
Average Home Size:	2,259	Median Lot Size:	9,136
Average # Beds:	3.44	Average # Baths:	2.75
Homes Absorbed:	8	Newly Listed:	7
Days on Market:	122	Average Age:	51

Fortunately, not every Mill Valley home is over a million dollars. Here are a few Mill Valley homes listed for sale under one million:

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 34. See more city of Mill Valley real estate.
(all data current as of 2/9/2012)

$999,000 : MLS # 21201090 in Mill Valley

3 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,732 sq ft

Lot size: 4,008 sq ft

Listing provided by Fran Donlan, Bradley Real Estate-San Rafael
$999,000 : 226 Amicita Ave, Mill Valley

3 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,232 sq ft

Lot size: 5,271 sq ft

Listing provided by Chelsea Ialeggio, Frank Howard Allen-Tiburon
$998,000 : 386 East Blithedale Ave, Mill Valley

3 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 1,778 sq ft

Lot size: 6,250 sq ft

Listing provided by Linda Saint Amant, LSA Realty
$995,000 : 155 Hazel Ave, Mill Valley

4 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 2,587 sq ft

Lot size: 12,502 sq ft

Listing provided by Bruce Berlinger, Bradley Real Estate Mill Valley
$995,000 : 1005 Erica Rd, Mill Valley

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,316 sq ft

Lot size: 11,543 sq ft

Listing provided by Robert Craig, Decker Bullock Sothebys International Realty

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

View all Mill Valley Homes for Sale

San Anselmo

The town of San Anselmo is also known for it’s charming downtown area, proliferation of antique shops, and its proximity to hiking, biking and all of Marin’s fantastic scenery. The commute times in San Anselmo are longer, but your house money will go a lot further as evidenced by the chart below.

90-day stats for Single Family properties in SAN ANSELMO, CA as of October 7, 2011
Median List Price:	$814,835	Average List Price:	$1,059,208
Total Inventory:	59	Price per Square Foot:	$466
Average Home Size:	2,027	Median Lot Size:	10,161
Average # Beds:	3.35	Average # Baths:	2.42
Homes Absorbed:	4	Newly Listed:	4
Days on Market:	111	Average Age:	57

Here are a few San Anselmo homes listed for sale under one million:

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 25. See more city of San Anselmo real estate.
(all data current as of 2/9/2012)

$995,000 : MLS # 21108819 in San Anselmo

4 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 2,663 sq ft

Lot size: 15,812 sq ft

Listing provided by Saeed Shahabi, Coldwell Banker-Mill Valley
$849,000 : 408 Oakcrest Rd, San Anselmo

3 beds, 1 full bath

Home size: 1,400 sq ft

Lot size: 3.19 ac

Listing provided by John Ball, Coldwell Banker Greenbrae
$849,000 : MLS # 21200725 in San Anselmo

4 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 2,141 sq ft

Lot size: 5,000 sq ft

Listing provided by Connie Irwin, Pacific Union International
$829,000 : 129 Madrone Ave, San Anselmo

2 beds, 1 full bath

Home size: 1,050 sq ft

Lot size: 7,800 sq ft

Listing provided by Bill Johnson, Frank Howard Allen - Greenbrae
$829,000 : 800 Fawn Dr, San Anselmo

3 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,102 sq ft

Lot size: 28,314 sq ft

Listing provided by Karin Narodny, Frank Howard Allen - Greenbrae

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

View all San Anselmo Homes for Sale

San Rafael

Moving on to San Rafael, the county seat of Marin, we also see more affordable homes with a median list price of $702,045.

90-day stats for Single Family properties in SAN RAFAEL, CA as of October 7, 2011
Median List Price:	$726,377	Average List Price:	$941,244
Total Inventory:	177	Price per Square Foot:	$389
Average Home Size:	2,145	Median Lot Size:	8,390
Average # Beds:	3.66	Average # Baths:	2.60
Homes Absorbed:	12	Newly Listed:	12
Days on Market:	112	Average Age:	50

Here are a few San Rafael homes listed for sale under one million:

Showing properties 1 - 4 of 95. See more city of San Rafael real estate.
(all data current as of 2/9/2012)

$999,000 : 12 Ninestone Ct, San Rafael

4 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 2,785 sq ft

Lot size: 1.38 ac

Listing provided by Catherine Munson, LVPMARIN
$989,000 : 27 San Marino Dr, San Rafael

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,983 sq ft

Lot size: 9,375 sq ft

Listing provided by Stephen Pringle, Alain Pinel Realtors
$925,000 : 227 Spring Grove Ave, San Rafael

5 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 2,695 sq ft

Lot size: 16,204 sq ft

Listing provided by Deborah Solvason, Bradley Real Estate-San Rafael
$919,000 : 31 Santiago Way, San Rafael

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,556 sq ft

Lot size: 15,682 sq ft

Listing provided by Sherry Ramzi, Decker Bullock Sothebys International Realty

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

View all San Rafael Homes for Sale

Learn More

These are just three of Marin’s cities. If you are interested in moving to Marin, please contact us to get a more in-depth look at where you can afford to buy.

If you are interested in learning more about Marin County price trends, supply and demand and leading indicators, check out our weekly Marin Market Trends Report By City.