Marin County Real Estate Market Report: September 2026
Last updated September 2026 · By Melissa DiVita, REALTOR®, Compass · DRE #01387955 · Marin native, in real estate since 2003
Newer numbers: see my October 2026 market report.
Here’s my read on the Marin market as of September 2026, with the latest numbers and what they mean if you’re buying or selling this fall.
The big picture
| Marin County (3 months to Aug 2026) | Value | vs. last year |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $1,509,947 | +8.6% |
| Homes sold | 227 | +34.9% |
| Median days on market | 36 | down from 40 |
| Sale-to-list ratio | 101.2% | |
| Sold above list | 40.7% | +3.8 points |
More homes are selling than a year ago, and they’re selling a little faster and for more. That’s a healthy market. It’s not the frenzy of 2021, but well-prepared homes are getting strong results.
Town by town
| Town | Median sale price | Change | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belvedere | $6.0M | +45.3% | 3-mo, Jun 2026 (14 sales) |
| Tiburon | $3.46M | +11.6% | 3-mo, Jul 2026 |
| Ross | $3.4M | −4.9% | 3-mo, Jul 2026 |
| Kentfield | $3.2M | +3.7% | 3-mo, Jul 2026 |
| Corte Madera (94925) | $2.0M | +25.5% | 3-mo, Aug 2026 |
| Larkspur | $1.9M | +4.9% | 3-mo, Sep 2026 |
| Mill Valley (city) | $1.9M | −16.9% | Aug 2026 |
| San Anselmo | $1.59M | −9.5% | Jul 2026 |
| Sausalito | $1.54M | −19.1% | Aug 2026 |
| San Rafael | $1.3M | +17.3% | Aug 2026 |
| Novato | $1.1M | +4.9% | Aug 2026 |
Source: Redfin. Small towns can swing sharply on a handful of sales. A 45% jump in Belvedere says more about which homes sold than about values rising that much.
What it means for sellers
Buyers are active, but they’re discerning. The homes getting multiple offers are the ones that show beautifully on day one. If you’re thinking about listing in spring, fall and winter are the right time to plan any prep work. Here’s how I approach it.
What it means for buyers
With 41% of homes selling over asking, you need to be ready: pre-approved, with your insurance homework started and a clear sense of value. Homes that sit past 30 days can offer room to negotiate.
Financing in Marin. Many Marin homes need jumbo financing: the 2026 conforming limit here is $1,249,125, so with 20% down, homes above about $1.56 million usually mean a jumbo loan. My husband Michael DiVita is a mortgage broker and owner of DiVita Home Finance, with access to 40+ wholesale lenders, and he’s a great resource for jumbo and bank-statement loans. Learn more at mycahomeloan.com.
Disclosure: Michael DiVita is my husband. You are free to choose any lender; using DiVita Home Finance is never required, and I receive no referral fee.
A few more numbers worth knowing
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Marin County median price per square foot (Aug 2026) | $748, about flat from a year ago | Redfin |
| Marin homes with a price drop (Aug 2026) | 15.9% | Redfin |
| 30-year fixed mortgage rate (week of Sep 24, 2026) | 7.03%, up from 6.30% a year ago | Freddie Mac |
| 15-year fixed mortgage rate (week of Sep 24, 2026) | 6.42%, up from 5.49% a year ago | Freddie Mac |
| 2026 conforming loan limit, Marin County (1 unit) | $1,249,125 | FHFA |
Here’s what stands out to me. Mortgage rates are higher than a year ago, yet Marin sales were up almost 35%. The median price rose about 8.6%, while price per square foot stayed roughly flat. In other words, more larger and higher-end homes are selling, not that every home got 8.6% more valuable. That is exactly why I never price a house off a county median.
Why sales are up even with 7% rates
A big part of the answer is on the other side of the bridge. San Francisco has been in a bidding frenzy driven by AI wealth, and some of those buyers are looking north for more space at a better value. I wrote about it in how the AI boom is reaching Marin. Because so many Marin purchases need a jumbo loan anyway, many of these buyers are less sensitive to rates than first-time buyers elsewhere.
What I’m watching this fall
- Rates. The 30-year average moved from 6.95% to 7.03% in a single week in September. Small moves change what monthly payment a buyer can carry.
- City buyers. Whether the San Francisco spillover keeps coming through the holidays.
- Insurance. Coverage for homes near open space and the Bay can affect which houses sell quickly and which sit.
- Preparation. The homes selling fastest are the ones that show beautifully on day one. Fall and winter are the right time to plan prep work for a spring sale. Here is one Tiburon example of what that looks like.
Frequently asked questions
Are home prices going up in Marin County?
Yes, modestly. Marin County’s median sale price was about $1.51 million for the three months through August 2026, up about 8.6% from a year earlier (Redfin). Price per square foot was roughly flat, so part of that increase reflects more higher-end homes selling.
Is Marin a buyer’s or seller’s market right now?
It leans toward sellers, but it is not a frenzy. In August 2026, homes sold at about 101% of list price on average, about 41% sold over asking, and the median home went under contract in about 36 days (Redfin). Well-prepared homes draw multiple offers, and homes that sit for a month or more can leave room to negotiate.
What are mortgage rates in September 2026?
Freddie Mac’s average 30-year fixed rate was 7.03% the week of September 24, 2026, up from 6.30% a year earlier. The 15-year fixed averaged 6.42%. Most Marin purchases use jumbo loans, which are priced separately, so compare quotes from more than one lender.
Sources
- Redfin: Marin County housing market
- Redfin: Tiburon
- Redfin: Belvedere
- Redfin: Mill Valley
- Redfin: San Rafael
- Redfin: Novato
- Freddie Mac: Primary Mortgage Market Survey
- FHFA: Conforming loan limit values
Want numbers for your street? Send me a note through my contact form and I’ll pull recent sales near you.
