DRE #02250755“I help Bay Area buyers and sellers make confident moves with the latest market data, real local expertise, and the patience to find what's actually right for you, not the fastest close.”
DRE #02250755“I help Bay Area buyers and sellers make confident moves with the latest market data, real local expertise, and the patience to find what's actually right for you, not the fastest close.”
Data through Aug 2026
San Rafael is a balanced market, but competition has been picking up. Here's where things stand:
Based on 158 homes sold in the 3 months ending August 2026. Includes all residential types (SFH, condo, townhouse, multi-family, and others). Updated weekly.
Data through August 2026
See how prices, monthly costs, and mortgage rates have moved in San Rafael.
Includes principal, interest, estimated CA property tax (~1.25%), and estimated insurance (~$2,200/yr). HOA fees not included.
The median sale price in San Rafael is $1.30M — down 2% from $1.33M in October 2021. Over that stretch, the median peaked at $1.47M in June 2022 and bottomed at $1.00M in February 2025. That's right in line with the area's 5-year average of $1.27M. Each point is the median of a rolling 3-month window of closings, so the curve runs smoother than any single month; the multi-year direction is the signal.
What buyers actually pay has moved more than the sticker price suggests: a typical monthly payment (20% down, principal & interest) is about $6,692 today, up 46% from $4,575 in October 2021. Most of that increase comes from mortgage rates (3.1% then vs. 6.7% now), not prices — at October 2021 rates, today's median would run about $4,469/mo.
Seasonally, the three months ending in June have been the busiest stretch for closings in San Rafael over the past 5 years (about 157 sales in that window on average, vs. 88 for the stretch ending in February), while competition has run hottest in the stretch ending in May (50% of homes selling over asking on average). That's an average across just 5 observations per month, so treat it as a tendency, not a rule.
San Rafael is balanced but competition is picking up. It remains a reasonable environment for buyers, though acting decisively on well-priced homes is becoming more important.
At $1.30M, San Rafael's median sits about 27% below the Bay Area average of $1.78M. That average is skewed high by ultra-premium peninsula enclaves like Atherton and Woodside, so a more useful frame is that San Rafael is one of the more accessible corners of the Bay Area.
By home type:
Prices in San Rafael depend heavily on home type and specific neighborhood. Median sale prices by type:
Individual listings vary widely based on location, size, and condition. The best calibration is to narrow to a few specific neighborhoods you are considering and look at recent sales there.
San Rafael is a balanced market where neither side dominates:
Buyer strategy: contingencies are more accepted, and there is time to tour and negotiate without extreme pressure.
At $1.30M with 20% down at 7.28%, your estimated total monthly cost is approximately $8,664:
HOA fees are extra. Condo buyers typically budget an additional $300 to $700 per month for HOA, and townhome HOAs run $200 to $500.
→“Mel did an amazing job helping us buy our first home. When we first met her, we had done literally zero of the steps needed to buy a house, and 28 days later we closed.”
“I work in commercial real estate with many different agents and I can proudly say that Mel is above the rest.”
“Working with Mel was the best decision I made in my home-buying journey. She was incredibly patient, taking the time to explain every detail of the process to me.”
“Mel did an incredible job helping me find and purchase my first home! She was very responsive, professional, and knowledgeable.”
“Working with Mel was a fantastic experience from start to finish. We were immediately impressed by her active listening and her ability to translate our needs.”
I read every message and usually reply the same day.
