RealVals provides certified residential real estate appraisals throughout Marin County.
RealVals is located in San Rafael, and Austin Fernald, a California Certified Residential Appraiser, personally inspects and appraises homes in every Marin County city and town.
Homeowners, estate attorneys, family law attorneys, CPAs, and trustees rely on RealVals for appraisals that hold up under IRS, court, and lender review.
Request a Free Marin County Appraisal Quote
Send the property address and the purpose of the appraisal. RealVals provides a fee quote and turnaround time within one business day.
Marin County Appraisal Services
RealVals performs market value, pre-listing, divorce, property tax appeal, date of death, probate and trust, gift tax, and retrospective appraisals in Marin County.
Market Value Appraisal. A market value appraisal establishes what a Marin County property is worth today. Owners, buyers, and co-owners use market value appraisals for private sales, buyouts, refinancing outside a lender, and financial planning.
Pre-Listing Appraisal. A pre-listing appraisal gives a Marin County seller an independent opinion of value before the property goes on the market. In a county where most homes sell off-market or after a single weekend of showings, a pre-listing appraisal tells the seller what the comparable sales actually support.
Divorce Appraisal. A divorce appraisal establishes the fair market value of real property for the division of community property. Family law attorneys and divorcing spouses use RealVals reports for settlement negotiations and Marin County Superior Court proceedings, as of the date of separation, the date of trial, or both.
Property Tax Appeal Appraisal. A tax appeal appraisal establishes market value as of the January 1 lien date for an appeal to the Marin County Assessment Appeals Board. Owners who purchased near a market peak, or whose property has lost value from wildfire, flood, or hillside conditions, are the most common tax appeal clients in Marin.
Date of Death Appraisal. A date of death appraisal establishes the fair market value of a Marin County property as of the day the owner died, and documents the stepped-up basis under IRC §1014. Most Marin estates pass through a living trust rather than probate, and a successor trustee still needs the appraisal to administer the trust and support any estate tax filing. [Link to /date-of-death-appraisals/]
Probate and Trust Appraisal. A probate or trust appraisal establishes value for estate administration and trust accounting. Trustees, executors, and probate attorneys use these reports for Marin County Superior Court filings and for distribution to beneficiaries.
Gift Tax Appraisal. A gift tax appraisal documents the fair market value of a Marin County property transferred during the owner’s lifetime. The IRS requires a qualified appraisal to support the value reported on Form 709.
Retrospective Appraisal. A retrospective appraisal establishes value as of a prior date. Marin County owners use retrospective appraisals for capital gains calculations, litigation, estate planning, and Proposition 19 parent-to-child transfers.
Cities and Towns RealVals Serves in Marin County
RealVals appraises residential property in
- San Rafael
- Mill Valley
- Tiburon
- Belvedere
- Sausalito
- Larkspur
- Corte Madera
- Kentfield
- Greenbrae
- Ross
- San Anselmo
- Fairfax
- Novato
- Stinson Beach
- Bolinas
- Point Reyes Station
What Makes Marin County Properties Difficult to Appraise
Marin County housing is older, hillier, and less standardized than most Bay Area markets. RealVals accounts for the factors that move value in Marin:
- Hillside lots with slope, retaining walls, and limited street access in Mill Valley, San Anselmo, and Fairfax
- Unpermitted additions and unwarranted ADUs in pre-1960 housing stock
- View premiums for bay, Mount Tamalpais, and Richardson Bay exposure
- Flood zone and sea level rise disclosures in Marin City, Corte Madera, and lower Mill Valley
- Wildfire risk designations and insurance availability in Fairfax, San Anselmo, and Novato hillsides
- Eichler and mid-century tract homes in Terra Linda, Lucas Valley, and Marinwood, which trade in their own segment
- Septic, well, and coastal zone constraints in West Marin
Austin Fernald has appraised property in every one of these sub-markets and selects comparable sales at the neighborhood level, not the county level.
How the Marin County Appraisal Process Works
1. Request a quote
Provide the property address, the purpose of the appraisal, and the effective date if it is not today.
2. Confirm the scope
RealVals reviews the assignment and returns a fee quote and turnaround time.
3. Inspection & research
Austin Fernald inspects the property and researches the relevant Marin County comparable sales, including MLS data, public records, and neighborhood-specific market conditions.
4. Receive the report
RealVals delivers a USPAP-compliant report written for the appraisal’s intended use, whether that is an attorney, a CPA, the IRS, or a court.
Property Types RealVals Appraises in Marin County
- Single-family homes
- Condominiums and townhomes
- 2 to 4 unit residential buildings
- Residential income properties
- Residential land
- Rural and coastal properties in West Marin
Work directly with a California Certified Residential Appraiser.
Austin Fernald holds license #AR3002942 and has completed more than 3,000 residential appraisals.
Request a Free Marin County Appraisal Quote
Send the property address and the purpose of the appraisal. RealVals provides a fee quote and turnaround time within one business day.
Marin County Appraisal FAQs
A single-family appraisal in Marin County from RealVals costs $500+. Multi-unit, luxury, hillside, and West Marin properties cost more. See our pricing.
RealVals delivers most Marin County appraisal reports within 4 to 5 business days after inspection.
No. The Marin County Assessor sets property taxes under Proposition 13. A private appraisal does not change the assessed value. The ownership change caused by a death can trigger reassessment, subject to Proposition 19 exclusions.
Yes. RealVals appraises property in Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Point Reyes Station, and Inverness, including properties with septic systems, wells, and coastal zone restrictions.
No. Courts, the IRS, attorneys, and lenders require an appraisal from a state-licensed appraiser.
Yes. Retrospective appraisals for date of death, date of separation, or a prior tax year are a core part of RealVals’ work in Marin County.
