Marin’s population is growing older, and as realtors we are assisting more clients 65 year and older to find the best living situation. Here are some interesting census numbers for Marin, from ABAG, the Association of Bay Area Governments.

Median Age of Marin Residents

This is almost a 50% increase in the medain age. In the same time span, from 1970 to 2008, the percentage of Marinites who are 65 years and over doubled, from 7.4% to 15.5%.

The Good News

All of us at Madeline Schaider Real Estate—Madeline, Beat, and Alan—have had consistently successful and gratifying experiences helping clients move out of houses that no longer fit their life styles and into appropriate houses or better living situations. In some cases, we help them stay comfortably and safely in their own homes. We have the experience and the patience.

Everyone Wins

We get to be part of their lives and appreciate their rich experience and knowledge. The beauty of Marin has attracted many interesting people over the years, and they remain interesting. Our clients benefit by living better lives.

Success Stories With Seniors

One day in the Corte Madera Post Office, Madeline met Don, a retired and disabled Novato resident. He said, “Would you sell my house? I have been trying to get out of there for 11 years!” Madeline and Beat helped make the house presentable in a few weeks, and quickly received several offers from buyers. Don was finally free, with about 20% more than he expected to get for his house.

Blanche came into our office one day asking for help with a repair to her house. Madeline and Alan looked out for Blanche till her 95^th year, helping her stay comfortable in her home. She had been a child genius, traveled the world, acquired two PhD degrees, became the family genealogist, and was a great storyteller. We did not sell her house, but what we received in her friendship was worth more than a commission.

Great Resources for Seniors

A friend and real estate agent in Marin for more than 50 years, Bruce Wrisley, has written the most useful book on housing for seniors. He discusses all of the factors facing seniors and their options, including staying in their home. This is the best book to read if you or anyone you know is facing these challenging decisions concerning where and how to live.

You can order the regular or large print addition “Stay or Move: The Senior’s Housing Dilemma” at Amazon.com or buy a copy locally at the Book Passage in Corte Madera.

Another excellent source of information is the “Specially for Seniors” page at www.livinginmarin.com. Please send you questions to this blog or contact us at Madeline Schaider Real Estate.

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Good Words From Satisfied Clients

We recently sold a house in San Rafael that clients had inherited from their parents. While the sale was fast, the negotiation for the buyers’ financing took a long time and required exceptional skill and patience. Here is a note from the clients.

“Madeline,

We want to thank you so much for hanging with us and the use of your expertise to get us through this difficult sale. So many of the roadblocks we encountered could have killed the deal, and I really appreciate your confidence and upbeat personality to get us to the final sale.

If I were to create a graph of “expectations”, it would look like a Richter scale reading. So many highs, then lows, etc., all out of anyones’ control. I also want to virtually thank the buyers, who apparently REALLY wanted the house. I hope they are happy with their purchase.

I will absolutely recommend you and your team for any real estate needs that may come my way. You were professional, polished, respectful, and have a great knowledge of the Marin real estate community, not to mention all the ancillary functions (house cleaners, stager, gen. contractor, etc.). I hope you have many more successes.

Again, thank you from all of us!”

Brian, Hilary, and Tyler”

Finally, we are thinking about the resources that we are using and the environmental quality of our homes. Green building is the buzzword in Marin and across the country. You can read a concise explanation of green building on Wikipedia. Here is what it means:

• Thoughtful use of resources including water and energy
• Reuse of building materials, like lumber
• Healthy interior environments
• Reducing air and water pollution

What does it do for you?

Green building lets you rest better at night knowing that you are helping the world stay in balance. It assures a healthier environment for you and your family; for example you may use carpeting and paint that do not release chemicals into the air. And, you can save money on your heating, cooling, and water.

Green building does cost perhaps 5% more; however you may recover these costs in a few years through energy and water savings.

“The best green building is a remodel”

Our building consultant, Robert Ross, believes that the best way to save resources is to remodel according to green principles. An older house does not wind up in the dump (another environmental problem) but serves as the foundation of your green home.

If you would like to ask Robert questions about his approach to green building, send your questions to this Blog, for a quick response. Or, email Madeline and she will put you in touch with Robert. This is a service that Madeline Schaider Real Estate provides FREE to our clients.

The rains have come to Marin the way we are used to them. We normally have intermittent rains December through March, with sunny days between.  

Rain is good; it provides our drinking water. Marin has unusually good drinking water, 75 % coming from five lakes on Mount Tamalpais and two large reservoirs in north-western Marin. The lakes on Mount Tamalpais are Phoenix, Lagunitas, Alpine, Kent, and Bon Tempe. Take the time this year on a sunny or misty day to visit Alpine, Bon Tempe and Kent lakes on the south west side of Fairfax; they are spectacular.  The northern reservoirs are Nicasio and Soulajoule. The rest of our water (25%) comes from Lake Mendocino via the Russian River.

So far, the rain is doing well to fill our lakes and reservoirs. The Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) reported on January 24 that water storage this year is at 82% of capacity. The average to date is 79%. The rainfall at Lake Lagunitas, high on Mount Tamalapais, has been 28 inches this rainy season, twice as much as last year. The average rainfall at Lake Lagunitas since 1879 was 52 inches. We still have time to catch up.

Waterfall Walks

One of the delightful aspects of the rain in Marin—besides the lush vegetation—is the waterfalls that cascade down Mount Tamalapis to the bay and ocean. My favorite is Little Carson Creek Falls out the Fairfax-Bolinas Road.  It is a little tricky to find the trail, but on a sunny, warm day in early springtime, it is a delightful place to sit by the water. Here is a list of the top seven waterfall hikes, courtesy of Don and Kay Martin. For a few fine photos of the waterfalls, see this “Scrapbook” blog.

Marin Water Quality

Marin water quality is very good, but not as good as I remember when I moved here in the 1970’s. While I was in graduate schools, I hiked the remote country in the High Sierra for a week or two each summer. The drinking water from the streams and ponds was unforgettable. It seems to me that Marin water used to taste like that. At some point it became not quite as good. Someone told me that State law required Marin to add more chemicals to assure water safety, and that this decreased the water quality. If you can add to or correct my recollections, please let me know.

Marin Mini-News

Pelican Sculpture in Novato

 Novato is the name used by the original, native Miwok people for the pelican. A few years ago, the City of Novato commissioned a sculpture of a pelican to be installed in a marsh-side park, at Scottsdale Lake. Tim Omarzu related the story in the Novato Advance on January 20, 2010.

Marin Independent Journal Newspaper Involved in Bankruptc

The parent company of the Marin IJ may soon file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The fate of our fine, conventional, local newspaper, which I read every morning, is at stake. Sam Chapman presented a detailed analysis in the Pacific Sun on January 22, 2010.

Harbor Seals in Drakes Bay

20% of California’s harbor seals live in the Point Reyes area. The Marine Mammal Commission is about to release its report on “seal disturbances” in the area. It should also tell us the effects of these disturbances. Andrew De Fao reports in the Point Reyes Light on January 21, 2010.

Rustic Bakery of Larkspur Opens in Novato

The Rustic Bakery at the north end of Magnolia Ave in Larkspur is opening a second store on Grant Ave. in Novato. You might not think this is big news unless you have tried their bread, pastries, muffins, salads, and more. We are lucky to have them! Tim Omarzu tells more in the Twin City Times on January 20, 2010.

Marin Home Prices at Glance: 1965-2009

Every year in January we present the past years years of home prices for each city in Marin, starting in 1965. You’ll see that the rapid rise in prices in 1998-99, the peak of the market in 2006-07, the price levels for 2009.  Please go to this page at livinginmarin.com. if you have any questions about your specific neighborhood or a specific house, send a note to madeline@livinginmarin.com.

 With our first major winter storm, it is a good day to talk about flooding. This is not a problem limited to Marin, but is a possibility wherever people live near water. Where I grew up, in Trenton, New Jersey, the major streams had been buried and diverted since the 18^th century. When the rain was heavy and the Delaware River filled, buildings flooded.

In Marin, heavy rains and runoff into our creeks can cause flooding in nearby neighborhoods. If the bay tides are high, the streams drain slower and flooding can be more severe. There have been only a few years of flooding in Marin. The Marin Sheriff’s Department has a short history. 1982 was probably the worst year, with 2005-06 next in severity.

I lived on the Arroyo Holon Creek (Baltimore Canyon) in Larkspur in 1982 when we had much rain and high tides. The house was on a beautiful sunny lot with redwoods and oaks and a bridge across the creek. Close to midnight, the water came up to my front doorstep, flooding the garden and basement. My electrical sump pump in the crawl space could not keep up, and then the power went out. Winds that often accompany winter rains had taken out a power line. The furnace was under the house. One cold night!

The next day the FEMA office gave me a check to replace the furnace. Two days later, I had a new furnace. FEMA also loaned me money to clean the massive debris out of the garden and creek and replace the broken bridge across the creek.

The severe flooding in the Baltimore Canyon creek happened primarily because of the accumulated debris in the creek Water pushed the tree trunks and random lumber up against the culvert that takes the creek under Magnolia Ave, causing the water to back up. Since that event, the creek is kept clean.

Areas that are prone to flooding in Marin are low-lying areas along creeks and marshy areas or filled marshes along the bay.

Is Your House in a Flood Zone?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published new “flood maps” (FIRMS or Flood Insurance rate Maps) for Marin on May 4, 2009. These show the flood risks, if any, of every property in Marin.

FEMA has defined the flood hazard zones by the likely hood of flooding in the next  30, 100, 500 years, and so on.

• B, C, and X zones have low chances of flooding, and do not require flood insurance.
• A and V zones have a high risk of flooding in the next 30 years. Flood insurance is required for properties in these zones.

Much of the flood zone determination has to do with the number of feet a house is above a base flood plane (or elevation). Each community determines this elevation. It may be, for example, 9 feet. This sometimes results in a peculiar situation where part of a property is in the flood plane and part is above. However, if the house is above the base elevation, no flood insurance is required.

If you would like the official flood information on your house or another property, let me know. I’ll send you a mini flood map of the property.

What Can You Do to Prevent Flooding?

If you live in a flood hazard zone (A or V, contact me to find out), you have options to prevent flooding:

• Install a sump pump under your house. Also, consider a natural gas powered generator in case the power goes out. We have a great generator expert for you, Hazelton Electric, at www.hazeltonelectric.com. Many of our clients and friends have used their services to install back-up generators.
• Have sandbags ready to block the water at critical locations.
• Raise your house above the flood plane. Some cites now require this if you do a major remodel or if you build a new house. It is a small investment relative to your construction costs, and well worthwhile.

What is Marin Doing to Prevent Flooding?

There are many solutions completed and many underway. A few years ago, Novato completed a large flood control project on the Novato Creek that  protected neighborhoods from flooding.

Corte Madera Creek Watershed, courtesy of the Friends of Corte Madera Creek

Towns along the Corte Madera creek, from Fairfax through Corte Madera to the bay, are ensuring unimpeded flow of the creek through developed areas. Creeks that drain easily are less likely to overflow. You can keep up to date with plans and ongoing programs at the Ross Valley Watershed website and the Friends of the Corte Madera Creek website.

Marin Mini-News

Community Garden in Marin City

The San Rafael-based Milagro Foundation, founded by rock star Carlo Santana, is sponsoring a community garden at the Martin Luther King Academy in Marin City. In cooperation with the Kellogg Foundation, this garden project will provide $65,000 a year for three years. Jessica Mullins reported on this program and the benefits to Marin City residents in the San Rafael News Pointer on January 13, 2010.

Conservation of Wetlands at Dillon Beach

The federal government has pledged $1M, to be matched by state funds, for conservation of hundreds of acres belonging to a campground at the mouth of Tomales Bay. Tim Henry provided an outline in the Point Reyes Light on January 7, 2010.

Marin Energy Authority Receives Support from San Anselmo

The controversy about establishing a Marin Energy Authority to provide a green alternative to PG&E continues in the county. The San Anselmo Town council affirmed its commitment on Jan. 6. Kelly Dunleavy reported the details in the Ross Valley Reporter on January 13, 2010.

Families move to Marin for the fine schools, and neighborhoods with the best schools appear to maintain higher home values. Marin County schools remain among the best in the Bay area and the state based on several criteria:

• Amount spent per pupil: “Marin residents … spend more per pupil on education than the Bay Area or the state,” according to the Marin Economic Commission report of 2007.
• Academic Performance Index (API)
• Standardized Achievement Test (SAT) score used for college entrance.

Kent Elementary School, Kentfield, CA

What Makes Marin Schools the Best?

It appears that community commitment makes for outstanding schools. Parents take an interest in education, and they make sure the schools are well funded.

Parcel Taxes

Residents of many school districts approve special parcel taxes, added to their property tax bills, to fund the schools. Even with the restricted economic conditions in 2009, Marin citizens voted in favor of parcel taxes in the Lagunitas, Larkspur-Corte Madera, and Novato school districts. In addition voters approved school bond measures for the Mill Valley schools.

School Foundations

Several school districts, including Dixie (northern San Rafael), Kentfield, Lagunitas, Larkspur-Corte Madera, Mill Valley, Nicasio, Novato, Tamalpais High, Tiburon (Reed), Ross, and Ross Valley have foundations that raise significant amounts each year to support school activities. Many businesses in each community contribute generously to these foundations.

Grants

To improve education in the school districts that that have lower achievement levels, the Marin Community Foundation committed $35M in 2009 to be spent over the next five years. This effort addresses the educational needs of students of color and those from low income families.

Coleman Elementary School, San Rafael, CA

The Best Schools in Marin

Most schools in Marin are excellent. A few schools in West Marin, San Rafael, and Sausalito rank lower in API scores.

Sausalito presents an interesting example. This hill town with world-class views and proximity to San Francisco is historically not oriented to families with children and has not been strong on public education. In addition, the Marin City portion of Sausalito is home to lower income families. To improve the educational opportunities in Sausalito, The Sausalito School District established a charter school, the Willow Creek Academy (K through 8), in 2001. As you can see from the following API scores, the students are now matching those in the best elementary schools in Marin.

API Scores	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Willow Creek Academy	674	709	738	829	826	856

The Novato School District is a good example of the strength of community commitment. Though the expenditure per student is the lowest in the Marin, API scores indicate an excellent level of education.

For information about specific schools or school districts, please send your questions to this blog or visit the Schools pages at Livinginmarin.com.

Tamalpais High School, Mill Valley, CA

Marin Mini News

Bay Model Receives American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Grant

A Sausalito tourist destination, a massive model of the San Francisco Bay that shows water movements, will receive a $13M overhaul. Mark Prado presented background on this project in The Marin Independent Journal on January 3, 2010.

Better Sound Walls along Hwy 101 in San Rafael

Highway 101 divides San Rafael into east and west and contributes significant road noise to the neighborhoods directly adjacent. CalTrans is completing the improvement of the sound walls that divide the freeway from the neighborhoods. Jim Wood presented an interesting history of this roadway in Marin Extraordinary Living Magazine, May 2009.  Mark Prado discussed this improvement in The Marin Independent Journal on January 1, 2010.

142 Throckmorton Theater Survives Economic Challange

The small theater at 142 Throckmorton, a half block from the Mill Valley town square, is receiving large and small contributions toward the $500,000 that it needs to continue operating. The theater showcases contemporary and classical music and comedy shows. Local celebrities Dana Carvey and Robin Williams often drop in on the Tuesday night comedy session to present extended acts. Paul Liberatore reported the details in The Marin Independent Journal on January 1, 2010

Tiburon Estate May Get Larger

The owners of a 12,000 square foot estate on four acres of prime view hilltop in Tiburon may be tearing down the house to replace it with a 15,000 square foot home. The Tiburon Design Review Board approved the project concept. The property previously belonged to tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graff. Deirdre McCrohan reported on the proposal in The Ark on December 9, 2009.

Keeping Marin’s Air Clean

With certain weather conditions, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District posts restrictions on burning wood. Violation letters and fines are sent to offenders. Samanthe Campos reported on violators in the Pacific Sun on December 30, 2009.

Flood Control Planning for the Ross Valley Watershed

The Corte Madera Creek drains the Ross Valley, from Fairfax through Corte Madera to the Bay. During extreme weather conditions, areas along the creek can flood nearby homes and stores. Debbie Stutsman presented an update on planning in the Ross Valley Reporter on December 30, 2009.  A new website presents a comprehensive review of the Ross Valley Watershed.

For the last 20+ years, new houses and remodels in Marin have developed a modern interpretation of the Arts and Crafts or Craftsman-style home. The Craftsman movement began early in the 20^th Century and is associated with architects like Greene and Greene and furniture makers like Stickley.

In the first half of the 20^th Century, many Craftsman cottages were built in Marin. The style seems to fit the lifestyle here and remains most popular for new homes and for homebuyers.

Craftsman Cottage

San Francisco Arts and Crafts Home

The Craftsman house fits Marin well, with its emphasis on back-to-nature elements. Typically, the exteriors feature low-pitched roofs with deep overhangs and decorative roof brackets, square porch columns, and field-stone elements, like chimneys. Inside, they have open floor plans, many windows, beamed ceilings, wainscoting, and wide wood moldings. Original Craftsman houses used dark wood trim, often redwood or fir, buy modern homeowners prefer trim painted white or a neutral color.

Modern Craftsman Home in Mill Valley

Great Room in Centemporay Craftsman Mill Valley

Kitchen in Contemporaray Craftsman Mill Valley

Marin Mini News

Marin Budgets Must Adjust to the Times

The income for city governments comes primarily from sales taxes and property taxes. Both sources have declined in the last few years, leaving city governments with major cost reductions. Novato, San Rafael, and Corte Madera are facing the largest deficits of $5M, $3.2M, and $2M, respectively. Jennifer Upshaw Swartz discussed the situation in the Marin IJ on December 27, 2009. Paul Jones presented an in-depth analysis for San Rafael in the News Pointer on December 23, 2009.

Mill Valley Landscape

When I first saw Mill Valley, while lost off the freeway, the redwood trees and the town square reminded me of a fairy tale town in the Alps. The town is now planning to renovate the landscaping along one of the two main roads leading into town, Miller Ave., at a cost of about $15. Ryan White discusses the bidding process for a landscape architect in the Mill Valley Herald on December 23, 2009.

Marin’s Buck Research Institute Receives $1.5M Grant

Novato is home to Buck Institute for Age Research, founded and funded by Leonard and Beryl Buck. The Buck Trust was established to serve the needs of Marin County residents. The $1.5 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine is for research in stem cells and aging. The Novato Advance gave details on December 23, 2009.

Roots of Peace Helps to Rehabilitate Afghanistan

Roots of Peace, a San Rafael-based organization founded by Heidi Kuhn is clearing land mines, promoting farming, and supplying food in Afghanistan. Paul Jones chronicled their progress in the San Rafael News Pointer on December 23, 2009.

Water Rates May Increase by 9.8%

Marin Municipal Water District, which supplies water to all of Marin except Novato, proposed raising residential water rates by 9.8%. This is to pay for increased costs and reduced income due to conservation measures. The Ross Valley Reported discussed the issues on December 23, 2009.

 Marin County has 11 cities and 17 unincorporated towns and villages in an area almost three times the size of Manhattan Island. But, we have only about 3% of the population of that great metropolis. We are blessed by having 80-85% of our land as open space, parks, lakes, estuaries, bayside marshes, and seashore.

1937 was a big year for Marin, with the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge linking Marin to San Francisco. Up till then, Marin was a summer haven for San Francisco residents, who came here for summer sunshine and recreation. After that historic opening, San Franciscans built their primary homes in the canyons and on the shores of Marin.

With easy access by car, the housing industry blossomed at end of WWII. Lots of tract homes and developments were added to the summer cabins, Victorian cottages, and Craftsman bungalows that predominated throughout Marin. Of course, there were concentrations of fine housing established in the late 19^th Century by affluent merchants and English expatriates: Sausalito, Belvedere Island, and Ross. These persist today, and are highly prized locations.

What Kind of House Can You Find in Marin?

There are still a good number of summer cabins in Marin, most renovated as suitable full-time homes, and some in original condition. There are neighborhoods of grand and small Victorian houses in San Rafael, Sausalito, Tiburon, Belvedere, and a few in Larkspur. From 1900, for the next 30 years the style was California Craftsman bungalow with low sloping roofs, front porches, built-in cabinets, and interior wood trim.

From the 1950’s through the ‘70’s, builders provided large neighborhoods of ranch-style homes. During this period, Eichler built two communities in of his distinctive California-style modern houses San Rafael. Most of these survive and some have been thoughtfully remodeled or restored. There is also a scattering of California Mission-style homes and modern homes in every city and town.

Craftsman is King

For the last 20 years home builders have developed a modern version of the Craftsman or Arts and Crafts home. This remains the most popular house house style in Marin.

Modern Craftsman Home in Mill Valley

As our blog progresses, we will explore many neighborhoods  and unique houses with you.

Marin Mini News: A Regular Feature of the LivinginMarin Blog

We are fortunate to have several good newspapers in Marin. The Marin Independent Journal (Marin IJ) covers the entire country and presents highlights of national and world news. The MarinScope newspapers specialize weekly coverage of Marin towns from Sausalito through Novato. The Pacific Sun gives an alternative view of Marin news and events. The Point Reyes Light, a 1979 Pulitzer Prize winner, the upstart West Marin Citizen, and the Coastal Post serve the villages of West Marin. In addition, the San Francisco Chronicle presents feature stories on Marin issues. We will give you highlights of local Marin issues as reported in this remarkable collection of newspapers.

Salmon Return to Marin Creeks

For many years, environmental activists in Marin worked hard to make Marin creeks once more an important site for spawning by the endangered Coho salmon. Peter Fimrite of tells of the returning salmon in the San Francisco Chronicle, December 19, 2009.

New Roads for the Marin Headlands

The Marin Headlands, once part of the Presidio military installation, are now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, providing magnificent vistas of the Bay and San Francisco. Mark Prado tells of the $8.7M project to repave the roads in the Marin IJ, December 17, 2009

Bike Path between Mill Valley and Corte Madera

Cycling is a major activity for Marin residents, both for recreation and transportation. An important missing link is a dedicated and safe route from Mill Valley to Corte Madera. Ryan White discusses the options in the Twin Cities Times on December16-22, 2009.

Mountain Play Produces “Guys and Dolls” in 2010

Every springtime, the Mountain Play Association produces a full scale musical in a stone amphitheater on the top of Mount Tamalpais. Wonderful setting! I like to take a bus up and hike down afterward through grand redwoods. On December 16, 2009, The Mill Valley Herald reported the production plans.

Marin Energy Authority

Marin County and many of its cities are discussing the pros and cons of creating an independent energy provider that relies heavily on renewable and non-polluting energy sources. Kelly Dunleavy discusses the decisions to be made by the town councils of San Anselmo, Fairfax and Ross in the Ross Valley Reporter, December 16, 2009.

Possible $30M Water Project for Novato

Recycled water may be available for irrigation in Novato if a Federal grant is approved. This plan would also greatly decrease the discharge of treated sewage water into the Bay. Tim Omarzo discussed the plan on December 16 in the Novato Advance.

Four San Rafael Churches to Shelter Homeless

With funding from the Marin Community Foundation and permits from the City of San Rafael, local churches will house homeless people this winter. The churches will rotate a shelter for 40 men and 20 women during the coldest months of the year. Paul Jones reports the complexities of this effort in the News Pointer on December 16, 2009.

730 Acres in Lucas Valley Donated to Marin County

James Hatfield of the band Metallica donated a total of 730 acres above Lucas Valley to open space or agricultural preserve. Reported by Samantha Campos on December 16, 2009 in the Pacific Sun.

“Discovering Historic Ranches in Point Reyes” by Dewey Livingston

In the mid-19^th century, while the Gold Rush was in full swing in the Sierra foothills, ranchers established dairy heards in the beautiful seaside wilderness that is now part of the Point Reyes National Seashore. Lander Burr reviews this book by the Point Reyes historian, Dewey Livingston, in the Point Reyes Light on November 5, 2009

 This is the first of many reports on life and real estate in Marin County California. I have been here since 1974 and can honestly report—as many others quickly learn—that this is paradise.

In fact, someone should have named Marin “Paradise.” Some names come naturally; here is a good example. When we first met our cat about 13 years ago,  she walked over and licked Madeline’s hand. I said “This cat is an Angel,” and we called her Angel. That’s the way it is with Marin; you just know it.

Angel, our Ocicat

In our blog, you will learn about the rich physical beauty of Marin, the delightful benefits of living here, and the homes that are tucked into its tree-lined canyons, gentle hillsides, bayside marshes, and coastal beaches. We hope to inform you and inspire you.

Along the way, you will learn more about Madeline Schaider Real Estate and the people who make it work so well: Madeline, Beat, Robert, and me, Alan.

Why Live in Marin?

Marin is a large county just north of San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge, with very few people and a great deal of open space: 80 to 85% of Marin is preserved as open space. We have beautiful weather, clean air, and clear mountain water from our own lakes. San Francisco is minutes away across the bridge—easy for a visit to world-class museums, opera, symphony, and ballet, plus dinner in interesting restaurants of every type. The Sonoma and Napa Valleys are just minutes away, with the beauty and fine wines of Tuscany and Southern France – right in our own backyard!

San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin Headlands

For families, Marin provides public schools that are among the best in the country. Outdoor recreation is exceptional with miles of coastal wilderness in Point Reyes National Seashore, the endless beauty of Mount Tamalpais, and hiking and biking trails. That is just the start; you will lean more of our experiences here as this blog continues.

Mount Tamalpais is the Center of Marin

When you are here, you always notice Mt.  Tamalpais at the heart of Marin. This 2,700 foot mountain defines the landscape with its peaks and long ridge that stretches northward from the Golden Gate. The hills and valleys define an endlessly changing landscape and many micro-climates. As you turn a corner you will find an unexpected and neighborhood of homes ranging from elegant estates to 1900 Victorian cottages.

Mt Tamalpais and Bayside Corte Madera from Ring Mountain

More to Come

As I get warmed up at the keyboard, you will learn more about living in Marin. At first, you will see a new post every Monday. Then, they will be more frequent. Please let me know what you would like know as this will make the blog more interesting for all of us. I look forward to getting to know you!