RealVals provides certified residential real estate appraisals in Fairfax. Austin Fernald, a California Certified Residential Appraiser (license AR3002942) based in San Rafael, appraises houses, condos and 2 to 4 unit buildings in Fairfax 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 Fairfax
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 Fairfax
Many Fairfax 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, in San Rafael.
Divorce Appraisal in Fairfax
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 Fairfax
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 Fairfax
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 Fairfax
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 Fairfax appraisal or call or text 415-233-6925.
Fairfax Property Types RealVals Appraises
- Older cottages and cabins
- Wooded hillside homes
- Single-family homes
- Condos and townhomes
- 2 to 4 unit buildings
- Residential land
Who RealVals Works With in Fairfax
Most RealVals clients in Fairfax 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 Fairfax 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 Fairfax 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.
Fairfax Neighborhoods RealVals Serves
Fairfax sits at the west end of the Ross Valley, where the hills get steeper and more wooded. A lot of its homes are older cottages and cabins, some on large lots and some on narrow roads.
Prices in Fairfax differ from San Anselmo and Ross, just down the valley, so Fairfax homes are compared with Fairfax sales first.
RealVals appraises homes in Downtown, Cascade Canyon, Manor, Oak Manor and Deer Park.
Fairfax Appraisal FAQs
Do you appraise older cottages and cabins?
Yes. Small older homes are common in Fairfax, and they compare best with similar homes rather than newer or larger houses down the valley.
Is Fairfax priced like the rest of the Ross Valley?
No. Fairfax, San Anselmo and Ross each sell at their own price level, which is why the comparable sales come from Fairfax first.
Do you cover all of Fairfax?
Yes. RealVals appraises homes in Downtown, Cascade Canyon, Manor, Oak Manor and Deer Park.
How much does an appraisal cost in Fairfax?
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 Fairfax 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 Ross, and across the rest of Marin County.
Get a Fairfax 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.
