RealVals provides certified residential real estate appraisals in San Rafael. Austin Fernald, a California Certified Residential Appraiser (license AR3002942) based in San Rafael, appraises houses, condos and 2 to 4 unit buildings in San Rafael for estates, trusts, divorces, gifts and sales. He personally does every inspection and writes every report.
Send the address and the purpose of the appraisal, and RealVals returns a fee quote within one business day. Most reports are delivered 4 to 5 business days after the inspection. Call or text 415-233-6925 or use the free quote form.
- Based in San Rafael, working across Marin County and San Francisco
- More than 3,000 appraisal reports since 2012
- Rated 4.9 out of 5 across 28 Google and Yelp reviews
- Fees start at $500 for a house or condo (see pricing)
Date of Death Appraisal in San Rafael
A date of death appraisal sets the value of a home on the day the owner died. Heirs use it to document their stepped-up tax basis, and trustees and executors use it to divide or sell the property. Read more about date of death appraisals.
Estate, Trust and Probate Appraisals in San Rafael
Many San Rafael homes pass to the next generation through a living trust, so there’s no probate and no court-appointed referee. The successor trustee hires the appraiser directly. When an estate does go through probate, it’s handled at the Marin County Superior Court in the Hall of Justice at the Civic Center, here in San Rafael.
Divorce Appraisal in San Rafael
When a couple splits community property, the house is often the biggest asset to divide. RealVals can value it as of the date of separation, a current date, or both, in a report written for both sides and their attorneys. See divorce appraisals.
Gift Tax Appraisal in San Rafael
If you give a property, or a share of one, to a family member, an appraisal documents its fair market value for the Form 709 gift tax return. See gift tax appraisals.
Pre-Listing and Market Value Appraisals in San Rafael
A pre-listing appraisal gives you an independent value before you pick a list price. A market value appraisal covers everything else: buyouts between co-owners, private sales and financial planning.
Property Tax Appeal Appraisal in San Rafael
If you think your assessed value is too high, you can appeal to the Marin County Assessment Appeals Board. Regular appeals are filed between July 2 and November 30. An appraisal as of the January 1 lien date is the evidence the board looks at.
Get a free quote for your San Rafael appraisal or call or text 415-233-6925.
San Rafael Property Types RealVals Appraises
- Victorian and early 1900s houses
- Eichlers in Terra Linda and Lucas Valley
- Bay-side homes in Peacock Gap and Loch Lomond
- Single-family homes
- Condos and townhomes
- 2 to 4 unit buildings
- Residential land
Who RealVals Works With in San Rafael
Most RealVals clients in San Rafael are executors and successor trustees, estate planning and probate attorneys, family law attorneys and divorcing spouses, CPAs, and homeowners getting ready to sell. RealVals reports are written for the IRS, the Marin County Superior Court and the Assessment Appeals Board, as well as for the families and advisors who rely on them.
How a San Rafael Appraisal Works
- Send the address, what the appraisal is for, and the effective date if it isn’t today (for example, the date of death or date of separation).
- RealVals sends a fee quote and delivery date within one business day.
- Austin Fernald inspects the property and researches San Rafael sales from the right time period.
- You get a written report, usually 4 to 5 business days after the inspection, ready for your attorney, CPA, trustee or the court.
Austin Fernald is licensed as a Certified Residential Appraiser by the California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers. You can check his license on the BREA license lookup.
Reviews From Appraisal Clients
Rated 4.9 out of 5 across 29 reviews. Read them on Google and Yelp.
San Rafael Neighborhoods RealVals Serves
San Rafael’s homes range from Victorian and early 1900s houses in Gerstle Park and the Dominican area to the mid-century Eichlers of Terra Linda and Lucas Valley, and on to the bay-side homes of Peacock Gap and Loch Lomond. A house in one neighborhood can sell for a very different price than a similar-looking one a mile away, so the comparable sales come from the same part of town.
Central San Rafael
Downtown, Gerstle Park, Dominican, Bret Harte, Sun Valley, Fairhills and Country Club. Many of the city’s oldest homes, close to downtown.
East San Rafael
Glenwood, Peacock Gap, Loch Lomond and Santa Venetia. Bay-side neighborhoods, some with water views.
North San Rafael
Terra Linda, Lucas Valley and Marinwood. Mostly mid-century homes, including many Eichlers.
For recent sale prices, see San Rafael home values.
San Rafael Appraisal FAQs
Do you appraise Eichler homes in Terra Linda?
Yes. Eichlers tend to draw their own group of buyers, so the best comparable sales are usually other Eichlers in Terra Linda, Lucas Valley and Marinwood.
Where is the probate court for San Rafael estates?
Marin County Superior Court, in the Hall of Justice at the Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael. Probate cases for all of Marin County are heard there.
Do you cover Lucas Valley and Marinwood?
Yes. Both are outside the city limits but use San Rafael addresses, and both have their own price levels.
Do you cover all of San Rafael?
Yes. RealVals appraises homes in Downtown, Gerstle Park, Dominican, Sun Valley, Glenwood, Bret Harte, Country Club, Fairhills, Santa Venetia, Peacock Gap, Loch Lomond, Terra Linda, Lucas Valley and Marinwood.
How much does an appraisal cost in San Rafael?
Fees start at $500 for a single-family house, condo or land and $700 for a 2 to 4 unit building. Date of death and other past-date appraisals often cost more because they need research into older sales. RealVals quotes each job within one business day.
How long does a San Rafael appraisal take?
You get a fee quote within one business day. After that, most reports are delivered 4 to 5 business days after the inspection.
Other Marin Towns RealVals Serves
RealVals also appraises homes in nearby San Anselmo and Novato, and across the rest of Marin County.
Get a San Rafael Appraisal Quote
Call or text 415-233-6925, email [email protected], or send the address through the free quote form. RealVals replies with a fee and a delivery date within one business day.
