The largest city in Marin County is also the oldest
Surrounded by the beauty of the Marin Hills, San Rafael is a culturally diverse city with dozens of parks, a historic downtown and respected schools. This affluent coastal suburb of San Francisco has views of the San Rafael, San Pablo and San Francisco Bays. The oldest city in Marin County, San Rafael has several sites on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Boyd Gate House from 1879, which houses the Marin History Museum. “There is definitely a historic center to San Rafael. We have a California mission here, and we want to preserve a good number of historical sites. Downtown changed from a true wild west place to a city very quickly when the trains came, so we’re in the hub of a historic zone,” says Jennifer McGeorge-Rising, Manager of the Boyd House. “The weather here is bucolic, so a lot of wealthy San Francisco families in the late 1800s built houses to ‘summer’ here. When the 1906 earthquake hit, many of those people moved here permanently. The city focuses on preserving those houses.”
Mission San Rafael Arcángel is a Spanish mission in downtown San Rafael.
Tennis courts converted to Pickleball courts are filled with players regularly at McInnis Park.
A lady calls her dog over so she can get started on her hike through Sorich Park.
San Pedro Road runs along the harbor, connecting Country Club to the surrounding area.
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Varied architectural styles in San Rafael’s stable housing market
San Rafael has over 30 neighborhoods. Some of the most sought-after are downtown for its walkability and Dominican for its Victorian-era homes and proximity to the university. Peacock Gap is an affluent area on the waterfront with custom-built houses, while Forbes has an assortment of architectural styles near downtown. Terra Linda was the first housing development, with around 900 midcentury modern homes. They were built from 1955 to 1965 and remain popular with buyers. Over 83% of the city’s single-family residences, townhouses, condos and manufactured housing were constructed between 1940 and 1999, although new construction is happening throughout San Rafael. Homes sell for a median price of $1.3 million.
Red tile roofs, a California staple, are also found throughout Dominican.
The clean, simple lines of Eichler Homes are key features to contemporary modern style.
Tri-level homes with a 2-car garage are common in the Downtown San Rafael neighborhood.
Condominiums are built atop the hillside with gorgeous views of Smith Ranch below.
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Community gardens, state parks and Mission San Rafael Arcangel
Located between three bays and the Marin Hills, San Rafael has numerous recreational opportunities at over 20 community and state parks. There are approximately 55 miles of multi-use trails, community gardens, playgrounds, and athletic fields and courts. Three community centers offer activities for all ages. Terra Linda Park is home to a swimming pool, and Victor Jones Park has shuffleboard courts. China Camp State Park has 15 miles of multi-use trails, non-motorized boat launches and a beach for swimming or paddleboarding.
There are an array of worship centers within 4 miles of downtown San Rafael. Buddhist temples, Jewish synagogues, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints centers and Catholic churches mix around Mission San Rafael Arcangel and Church of Saint Raphael. Founded as a hospital in 1817, the San Rafael Arcangel Mission was rebuilt as a modern church in 1919. Today, the church and a replica of the original mission are located near the city center.
Boyd Memorial Park is a phenomenal park in San Rafael.
China Camp near Peacock Gap is a mecca for mountain biking.
Families enjoy the sun at China Camp State Park.
Childhood laughter echoes through the Marinwood Playground next to Lucas Valley.
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San Rafael City Schools and Dominican University of California
San Rafael City Schools is split into two districts: the San Rafael Elementary School District and the San Rafael High School District. Together, they enroll 7,200 students across 12 campuses. The elementary district earned a B-ranking from Niche, while the high school district received a B-plus. It operates a dual language program where native English and Spanish speakers learn in the same classroom. Dominican University of California is a private college that has served the community since 1890. It offers a variety of degrees across over 60 areas of study.
Industries, employers and the City of San Rafael
Kaiser Foundation Hospital–San Rafael and the San Rafael Medical Center are the city’s primary healthcare providers. The two also help make healthcare one of the city’s leading industries, along with professional services, retail and education. Kaiser Permanente, San Rafael School District, BioMarin Pharmaceutical and the City of San Rafael are the area’s largest employers. The state’s oldest prison, San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, is immediately southeast of San Rafael and employs almost 4,000 people.
Kaiser Permanente San Rafael provides quality healthcare for the community.
BioMarin in San Rafael, CA, leads in rare disease research and treatment.
A variety of small boutique shops line the street in Sun Valley.
Marin Farmer's Market is one of the largest Farmer's Markets in the bay area.
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Highway 101, a SMART train and San Francisco Airport
Highway 101 leads north 22 miles to Petaluma and south 20 miles to San Francisco. The roadway can be noisy during heavy travel. One of Interstate 580’s endpoints is in San Rafael, and heading east on it takes travelers through Richmond and Albany. There is traffic congestion heading south in the morning and north in the evening. Even so, commuters typically have about a half-hour one-way journey to places like San Francisco, Larkspur and Sausalito. Marin Transit operates bus routes through the city and into Marin County, while Golden Gate Transit offers regional bus services. The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit, or SMART train, runs between San Rafael and Santa Rosa. The area is walkable, particularly around downtown. Cyclists have a trail network through the city, and a new bicycle tunnel takes people to Larkspur Landing. San Francisco Airport is 31 miles south.
Downtown San Rafael Arts District, the Marin History Museum and an emerging dining scene
Historic Downtown San Rafael is made up of preserved buildings, boutiques, cafes and coffee shops along Fourth Street. Many of the city’s restaurants are located here and in Terra Linda’s emerging dining scene. The Downtown San Rafael Summer Farmers Market operates from May through August on Fourth Street, while the Marin Farmers Market is held twice weekly year-round at the Civic Center. Among downtown’s theaters, art galleries and cultural centers, the Marin History Museum occupies the Boyd Gate House. The museum has a collection of hundreds of thousands of objects, a research library and virtual exhibits through its website. “Once a month, a tour of the house tells the story of the family that built it. There’s also a speaker series, and the majority of our visitors go to that,” says McGeorge-Rising. On the eastern side of Highway 101, Montecito Plaza has national and locally owned restaurants, professional services and a handful of retailers.
Falkirk Cultural Center in San Rafael is a beautiful 19th-century eleven-acre country estate.
Art meets coffee at Pink Owl Coffee in San Rafael, CA.
Sol Food is a one of Dominican's residents favorite Puerto Rican restaurant.
Sol Food in Downtown San Rafael offers a lively environment and great Cubano sandwiches.
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Dry summers, natural disaster risks and FBI crime data
San Rafael has mild temperatures, dry summers and rainy winters, with an annual rainfall of around 34 inches. There are over 19 days of unhealthy levels of air pollution when people are advised to wear masks to avoid breathing troubles. The city is also at risk of earthquakes and wildfires. To combat spreading flames, San Rafael has adopted new flammable resistant vegetation. The city ensures buildings follow strict construction codes and conducts periodic earthquake drills to prepare for earthquakes. Portions of San Rafael could flood in heavy sea surges or storms.
According to FBI Crime Data, the violent crime rate in San Rafael is 45% above the national average, while property crime rates are 54% above average. The crime rates in the city are slowly, but steadily, decreasing across violent and property crimes.
On average, homes in San Rafael, CA sell after 44 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in San Rafael, CA over the last 12 months is $1,350,000, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Sometimes it takes a well-traveled person to know the meaning of home. Eddie O’Sullivan, founder, and team leader of Elevation Real Estate is one such person. Eddie was born in Ireland and lived in London, Paris, and Cannes, working in the hotel service industry before moving to San Francisco in the mid-1990s. Now 3 decades later and with 20 years of experience in the Bay Area Real Estate industry Eddie has honed an expert knowledge of the local markets. He heads his team as lead consultant, negotiator, and overseer of all transactional details. His team has closed over half a billion in sales volume.
Eddie’s entrance into real estate came when he figured the smartest way to buy a house was to become an agent and learn the business from the inside. Real-world experiences also taught him creative problem-solving. Case in point: losing his home to a devastating fire provided a valuable lesson in what happens with real estate after a disaster, and remodeling and then selling that home has given Eddie tremendous insight into adding value to real estate. His ongoing involvement in building and development continues to educate him in all aspects of real estate.
Most importantly, Eddie knows the importance of maintaining a work/life balance, so spending quality time with his wife and two children is a priority for him. Add it all up and you have an accomplished San Francisco agent who leverages the best of his professional and life experiences to deliver the most rewarding and successful experience for his clients.
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.
