$2,460,611Average Value$248Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
A Larkspur neighborhood between Mount Tamalpais and a historic village
South Magnolia, in the foothills of Mount Tamalpais, offers both mountainside solitude and community connections. In fact, it was once home to a famous rockstar who wanted more peace and quiet. A rugged landscape borders one side of the neighborhood, while civilization is on the other in the form of a lively downtown, top-ranked schools, and plenty of community activities. “It isn’t crowded here and doesn’t grow much because of the mountains,” says Patti Cohn, a Realtor with Compass who lives in Larkspur and has been a top producer for decades. “There’s a strong community with good schools. People move here to have kids, and they are thriving with the schools, the Little League and all the activities. There are older people, too, who thought they would move when they had raised their kids but ended up staying. It’s just a beautiful place to live.”
The South Magnolia neighborhood sits between the towns of Corte Madera and Larkspur winding up roads toward Mount Tamalpais.
South Magnolia youth jog past the Blue Rock building where many locals enjoy a meal at the Left Bank.
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Recreation from rugged trails to Little League at Joe Wagner Field
Several trails start in South Magnolia and climb into the Baltimore Canyon Preserve, including the Piedmont, Blithedale Loop and Dawn Falls Trails. The trails wind through redwoods, maples and madrone evergreens, which have stark, vibrant red-orange bark that turns gray with age. A 30-foot waterfall, Dawn Falls, is a common destination for hikers. The Blithedale Loop Trail offers views of the San Francisco Bay at higher elevations. On the town side of South Magnolia is Dolliver Park, which is nicknamed the Dark Park for the shade the redwoods provide during the day and the spooky blackness at night when they block out any moonlight.
Sunnier activities take place at Joe Wagner Field in the northeast corner of the neighborhood, where Little League teams square off in a facility that is complete with skyboxes, dugouts and a professional scoreboard. A mile north of the neighborhood, Piper Park provides playgrounds, sports facilities and a dog park. Larkspur’s inaugural Battle of the Dad Bands event will take place here in June 2025. It will have music, a beer garden, food trucks and a kid's zone. Near the park is access to the wide, recreational Corte Madera Creek.
South Magnolia trail hiking can be found at the end of most roads including the Blithedale Loop Trail.
Centennial Park in Larkspur offers tennis courts for you to practice or play a match with friends and Joe Wagner Field where youth play baseball.
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Redwood forests tower over hillside homes in South Magnolia
South Magnolia is entirely residential, with about 200 homes built into the hills, up steep driveways and under cover of towering redwoods. As the hills become too steep to be buildable, the residential roads give way to rugged trails that continue up Mount Tamalpais. Janis Joplin famously lived at the end of one of those roads, hosting jam sessions with Kris Kristofferson and members of the Grateful Dead. Her home was a wood-shingled, multi-level dwelling common in the neighborhood — cabin-like with fireplaces and plenty of windows.
Most homes in South Magnolia were built around 1952, with some built as early as 1940. Each home is unique; some have swimming pools and terraced outdoor living spaces. Most have multiple decks, and some have a break in the tree line that affords expansive views of the canyon. Homes here are rarely available; those that do come onto the market sell in an average of 30 days, compared to the 45-day national average. The average sale price increased 22% last year over the previous year. Prices range from $1.5 million to $5.5 million, with the most expensive having around 4,000 square feet of living space.
Find your perfect home in the shadow of Mount Tamalpais in the South Magnolia neighborhood.
South Magnolia offers homes nestled in a redwood forest along narrow streets ending in trails up the mountain.
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Shop, dine, take in a show in Old Downtown Larkspur
South Magnolia is close to Larkspur and all that the city has to offer. The Lark Theater, a community film and event center in an Art Deco building, anchors one end of Larkspur’s downtown district on Magnolia Avenue. The Larkspur Library has been there since 1913 and hosts book clubs for fans of various genres. A variety of shops, businesses and eateries in Victorian storefronts open to wide sidewalks along the strip. “The downtown is very unique,” says Cohn. “Like a lot of Marin County towns, chains are not generally allowed downtown, so you have a lot of exquisite, beautiful restaurants.” Two standouts are DJ Chinese, set up in a converted house, and Perry’s, which has outdoor seating under massive redwoods. Popular but less unique stores and eateries are two miles away in Corte Madera. They include a Safeway grocery store, brand-name boutiques, department stores like Nordstrom and Macy’s and a range of casual and fine dining restaurants.
The Larkspur library is a great resource to the South Magnolia neighborhood.
South Magnolia restaurant options include Perry's along the creek and walking distance from the neighborhood.
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School rankings are top-of-the-line, Redwood High has an environmental focus
The assigned schools for South Magnolia are all very highly ranked. Neil Cummins Elementary School and Hall Middle School are both rated A by Niche. Redwood High School is rated A-plus. Redwood High School has received numerous academic awards and has a focus on environmental sustainability in its academic and extracurricular programs.
Neil Cummins Elementary School believes all children are capable of learning.
Redwood High School is a California distinguished school located in Larkspur.
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Highway 101 is a regional corridor, Larkspur Ferry is an option
South Magnolia is 1 mile from Highway 101, which connects to San Francisco, 16 miles south over the Golden Gate Bridge. The San Francisco International Airport is 29 miles south. The Larkspur Ferry provides an alternate route to San Francisco, and the trip takes 35 minutes. Interstate 580 is five miles north of South Magnolia, and it connects to Richmond. MarinHealth Medical Center is 2 miles north.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Deborah Solvason,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Dolliver Park
Larkspur Centennial Park
Dawn Falls Trailhead
Transit
Airport
San Francisco International
48 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
South Magnolia
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
3
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
South Magnolia Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in South Magnolia, Larkspur sell after 3 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in South Magnolia, Larkspur over the last 12 months is $307,100, down 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Once upon a time in Larkspur, Frank Pixley, one of California's early influencers, chose this enchanting site to build his country estate. He named it Owls Wood. Tucked away on a quiet cul-de-sac just minutes to town, this historic property dates back to the late 1800s. Affectionately known as The Honeymoon Cottage, this is the last remaining structure of the Pixley estate. Time has taken it's
Magical Mid-Century hillside retreat with peeks at the Bay through a lush Redwood grove. Much loved for 50+/-years by current owner who picnicked by the creek at the bottom of the peaceful property. Yet just .7 miles to inviting downtown Larkspur for fine dining, movies, shopping and Rulli Pastries. Sought-after schools. Close to popular hiking trails. Easy Commute location. So much to love about
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Deborah Solvason,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
504
Median Age
49
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
22.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24.2%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$245,000
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$241,175
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
100%
College Graduates
86.4%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
52.1%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
66.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
42°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
39/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
57/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
