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.
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.
Estate Tax Appraiser Marin
RealVals is a Marin County estate tax appraiser. An estate tax appraisal, also known as a date of death appraisal, establishes the fair market value of a property on the day the owner died. Family members, executors, estate attorneys, and trustees use the appraisal to document the stepped-up basis for estate tax filings. RealVals has completed hundreds of estate tax appraisals in Marin County.
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. Background on population, income and housing in each part of the county is in the Marin County FAQ.
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. See how to choose an appraiser in Marin County.
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.
What Clients Say
Rated 4.9 out of 5 across 29 reviews. Read them on Google and Yelp.
When my father passed away, I found myself needing a date of death appraisal, a process that was completely new to me. Austin made what felt overwhelming much more manageable. He was responsive and thorough in all of his communications, answered my questions with patience, and was flexible on timing. As someone who lives in a different county, with the house in Marin, it was reassuring to have someone local who was easy to reach and very responsive.
Look no further, Austin is great! I needed his help with a date of death appraisal in Mill Valley. He responded quickly to my email request. We spoke by phone and the appraisal was set up that week. He arrived on time and performed a thorough inspection. He gave me the date the appraisal would be ready, only three business days. The appraisal arrived that morning. It was a thorough report with comps, pictures, and great explanations. I researched other appraisers, glad I went with Austin at Realvals.
Austin completed appraisals for our portfolio of over a dozen properties spanning the North Bay and East Bay. The properties include single family homes, condo's and multi-units. Very professional, great communication, and very prompt. Highly recommended.
Austin at Realvals did a great job appraising our property. He responded quickly to a Yelp inquiry and provided a cost estimate right away, a price that was well below that of competitors. He's licensed and professional, and the final report was comprehensive and exactly what we were looking for.
Additionally, he's a really nice and considerate guy. We don't wear shoes in the house (read: Asian), and he removed his shoes before entering. I wasn't even going to ask, but he did it anyway. This may seem like a small thing to others, but this level of consideration and respect for a household says a lot about his character.
We got an appointment quickly and the turnaround time was fast. Really couldn't have imagined this happening in a better way. Thank you, Austin!
Prompt communications, flexible scheduling even going on site on a saturday. Thorough report provided in a matter of days. Highly recommended!
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.
Get a Marin County 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.