Marin County, California, is located in the San Francisco Bay Area and begins at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge on Highway 101. This thoroughfare runs right through Marin and essentially divides the county into thirteen towns and cities located on its west and east sides. Each of these towns and cities is unique in its own way and provides a melting pot of art, music, food and culture consistent with many coastal areas of California.  On the east side of Highway 101, the communities of Sausalito, Tiburon, Belvedere and Corte Madera all border San Francisco Bay and offer spectacular views and vistas of the bay and the city. On the west side, the communities of Mill Valley, Larkspur, Kentfield, Ross, San Anselmo and Fairfax all lie at the base of Mt. Tamalpais State Park.  This beloved landmark rises majestically from the heart of Marin County and offers trails for hiking and biking, wildlife watching, picnicking and camping, as well as stunning vistas as far away as the Farallon Islands.  On the west side of Mt. Tamalpais, the communities of Stinson beach, Bolinas and the majestic Muir Woods reconnect one to the Pacific Ocean.

Marin is a mecca for folks who crave the outdoor lifestyle.  The mountain bike was invented in Marin County and Fairfax’s Mountain Bike Hall of Fame honors the pioneers of the industry that swept the world. Marin is home to the two oldest yacht clubs on the west coast; sailboat races, fishing and recreational boating are enjoyed by many residents and visitors.

Since the 1950s, residents of Marin and conservation groups have fought mass-scale development. Today, Marin County is deemed to be 66% open space consisting of state and federal park lands as well as numerous local open-space districts tied together in a land trust for the benefit of all residents and visitors.  With the restricted land use, most of Marin offers very little new development and most new construction of housing comes from infill and the tearing down and replacement of existing housing.  For this reason, home values remain very solid in any economy, and prices continue to rise year after year.  Average per-square-foot costs range from $750 in the northern cities of San Rafael and Novato to $2000 in the southern towns of Mill Valley, Belvedere and Tiburon. In general, the closer a home is located to San Francisco, the higher its value will be.

I have to say that Marin County is one of the most unique areas on the planet. With the wine country just one hour drive north and Lake Tahoe only three to four hours away, combined with the close proximity to San Francisco and the option of just staying home and enjoying the beauty of Marin, it is no wonder that there are a lot more people trying to get in instead of getting out.