Discover Marin

Marin County. Wow! Where to start? Breathtaking topography – rolling hills, rugged coastal mountains, thousands of acres of open space, Pacific Ocean sunsets, amazing views of San Francisco skyline, towering redwood forests, lonely windswept headlands and of course, the iconic Mt. Tam (our namesake!). Incredible weather – sunshine, sunshine, sunshine with occasional fog & light winds. Varied style & architectural elements – sophisticated, rustic, elegant, modern & bohemian. And, always socially aware. Great shopping, tasty food, friendly & laid back people, music/art & a hip cultural scene, funky lifestyles, influx of wealth, liberal attitudes and top notch education; this, too, is Marin.

Marin is home to musicians and rabble-rousers, artists and actors, writers, aging hippies and hip young professionals. We are a study in contrasts. Eighteen of the zip codes in Marin County are included in Forbes’ 2006 most expensive places to live in the United States, yet there are still numerous 3-4 bedroom single-family homes in Marin that are within minutes of the city that can be purchased for about the same price as a nice 1 – 2 bedroom loft in San Francisco.

Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, South Marin has a trendy edge to it, and includes the affluent communities of Sausalito, Belvedere, Tiburon, and Mill Valley. Mill Valley is a charming town surrounded by redwoods, while Sausalito, Belvedere, and Tiburon are sleek bayside communities, many with waterfront properties. Luxurious homes with spectacular views, high end shopping, and an urbane attitude come with the territory.

Central Marin is considered a bit more down to earth, despite the fact some of Marin’s most upscale homes can be found in the area. Corte Madera, Greenbrae, and San Rafael are working & good commute cities, while Larkspur, Kentfield, Ross, Fairfax and San Anselmo have a more suburban, small town residential feel. The community of Ross is especially exclusive, and is listed as being the 5th most expensive zip code on Forbes’ 2006 list. The towns are as different as the neighborhoods in San Francisco. The nuances are felt in a visit or a lunch in town and it is our job to help guide you through the ins and outs of each area.

Just past Fairfax (known for it’s local flavor and bohemian edge) you leave the suburbs and enter the peaceful San Geronimo Valley. Rolling hills, ranchlands, and majestic stands of redwood trees mark the way into West Marin. As the way passes through Woodacre, San Geronimo, Nicasio, Forest Knolls, and Lagunitas, life becomes rural, with a definite peaceful, earthiness to it. Eventually the Pacific Ocean comes into view and you will find the coastal communities of Inverness, Point Reyes Station, Marshall, and Tomales. A bit further south are the beach towns of Bolinas, Stinson Beach, and Muir Beach. West Marin has long been a popular vacation spot, and has become a desirable location for year round residents as well.

Novato is North Marin. It is also the fastest growing city in Marin County with extensive new construction and a very active real estate market. Seven open space preserves and 27 parks help give Novato a definite rural feel. North Marin is a developing economic powerhouse. Home to the largest private employer in Marin County, Novato is also corporate headquarters to several nationally recognized businesses, including Birkenstock, Smith and Hawken, The Buck Institute for Age Research, TravelSmith, and The Republic of Tea – one of the largest tea distributors in the country.

Whether you are moving to Marin for work, more living space where you can enjoy the best of the outdoors yet still be within close proximity to the city, the excellent Marin Schools and family-friendly environment, or Marin’s coveted and inspiring modern and mid-century modern residential architecture, we would welcome the opportunity to work with you and dig deep into every nook and cranny in Marin.