About RealVals: Residential Appraisals in San Francisco and Marin County

RealVals is a residential real estate appraisal practice located in San Rafael, California. Austin Fernald, a California Certified Residential Appraiser (#AR3002942), personally performs every RealVals appraisal in San Francisco and Marin County. RealVals has completed more than 3,000 residential appraisals and holds a 4.9 rating across 27 Google and Yelp reviews.

If you need a number that will hold up in front of an attorney, a CPA, the IRS, a court, or a buyer, this page explains how RealVals works and why clients in San Francisco and Marin choose them.

What You Get From a RealVals Appraisal

• One appraiser, start to finish. Austin Fernald inspects the property, selects the comparable sales, writes the report, and answers your questions afterward. There is no trainee, no associate, and no call center between you and the person who signed the report.
• A report built for its intended use. An appraisal for a divorce settlement, a Form 706, a tax appeal, or a listing decision each needs different documentation. RealVals writes each report for the reader who will scrutinize it, not from a lender template.
• Local comparable sales, not county averages. RealVals selects comparables at the neighborhood and building level: a Noe Valley Victorian against Noe Valley Victorians, a Sausalito hillside home against Sausalito hillside homes, a TIC against TICs.
• Fast, predictable turnaround. RealVals delivers most reports within 4 to 5 business days after inspection and quotes fees and timing within one business day.
• Transparent pricing. Starting fees are published on the pricing page. There are no surprise add-ons after the inspection.

Appraisal Services

RealVals performs residential appraisals in San Francisco and Marin County for:

• Market value and pre-listing decisions
• Divorce and community property division
• Property tax appeals to the San Francisco and Marin County Assessment Appeals Boards
• Date of death and stepped-up basis documentation
• Probate and trust administration
• Gift tax reporting
• Retrospective valuations for capital gains, litigation, and Proposition 19 transfers

RealVals appraises single-family homes, condominiums, townhomes, 2 to 4 unit buildings, residential income property, and residential land. See the full Appraisal Services page.

Where RealVals Works

RealVals is based in San Rafael and serves every San Francisco neighborhood and every Marin County city and town, from the Sunset and the Richmond to Tiburon, Mill Valley, Novato, and West Marin. See the San Francisco and Marin County pages for neighborhood and property-type detail.

What Clients Say

About Austin Fernald

Austin Fernald is the owner and sole appraiser at RealVals. Austin Fernald has appraised residential real estate in California full-time for 14 years and holds California Certified Residential Appraiser license #AR3002942, issued by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers.

Austin grew up in a family involved in residential investment and appraisal work and began in real estate early, which shaped a practical, data-first approach to valuation. He works directly with homeowners, executors, trustees, family law and estate attorneys, and CPAs, and his reports are written to be read by all of them.

How to Order an Appraisal

Send the property address and the purpose of the appraisal through the [free quote form], or contact Austin directly. RealVals returns a fee quote and turnaround time within one business day. Attorneys and CPAs may order on a client’s behalf.

📱 Phone/Text: 415-233-6925
📧 Email: [email protected]