Home appraisals in Marin County, by tomorrow

Every city and town in Marin County, same fee, same 24 hours, written and signed by me.

Marin County homes climb the hillsides under Mount Tamalpais, fill the flats and tracts of San Rafael and Novato, and spread along the ranch roads and beach towns of West Marin. I value them after a parent dies, during a divorce and for Prop 19 transfers, often when an heir has to decide quickly whether to move into the family house or sell it.

Seat: San Rafael20 ZIP codesToday or any past dateWithin 24 hours

What I look at in Marin County

  1. 1

    On steep Mill Valley and Sausalito lots, I note the climb from the street, whether parking is on the lot, and how much land is usable, since buyers here pay for each.

  2. 2

    Eichlers in Terra Linda, Lucas Valley and Marinwood have their own following, so I compare them with other Eichlers and note how much of the original design survives.

  3. 3

    In West Marin and on the ridges I check septic and well records and fire-hazard maps, and near Stinson Beach or Santa Venetia I check flood exposure.

Across Marin County

Marin County splits into distinct pieces: Southern Marin's hills, the Ross Valley towns, the San Rafael and Novato flats, and rural West Marin. I keep comparables inside your piece, since a few miles here can change the market.

County seatSan Rafael
2026 tax appeal deadlineNovember 30 (filing opened July 2)
Probate casesSuperior Court of California, County of Marin
Marin County
Marin County

What to photograph

Photograph the stairs or driveway up from the street, the deck and what you see from it, and the hillside behind the house, including the cleared defensible space if you back up to open space.

Front and backKitchen and bathsEvery main roomUpgrades and problems

Upload photos after you order, or attach them to an email. Phone photos are fine.

Homes typical of Marin County

Marin County questions

If I move into my parents' Marin house, how does Prop 19 change our property taxes?
In general, if you make it your primary home you keep part of your parents' tax break, but market value beyond a set limit is added to the assessment. So the value on the transfer date matters, and that's the number I provide. Your tax advisor applies the rules.
Can you appraise Dad's Novato house as of the day he died last year?
Yes. A date-of-death appraisal uses Novato sales that closed around that date, not today's market. If you've already cleared out or repainted, older listing photos or family snapshots help me see the house as it was.
When would I get the report for a Marin County home?
Within 24 hours of the moment I have both your payment and your photos, weekends and holidays included. If you're not in a rush, the regular schedule is 5–10 business days at $299 or $449.

“I've prepared desktop appraisals for every purpose on this list. Some situations still call for an in-person appraisal, though, so check with your attorney or tax advisor first to make sure a desktop report is right for yours.”

Brian Ward
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