Sausalito

Romantic Views of San Francisco and the Bay

Owning Sausalito real estate is like living on the French Riviera. Only minutes to the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito residents enjoy the charm of this seaside town and close proximity to the sophistication of San Francisco. Sausalito has striking vistas of San Francisco to the south and San Francisco Bay and Mt Tamalpais to the east and north.

Sausalito was settled by Portuguese and Italian fishermen and wealthy Europeans who appreciated the unique setting. William Randolph Hearst once owned a large property at the south end of town, where he started to build an estate (designed in 1890 by Julia Morgan), but abandoned this project to build his San Simeon estate on the central California coast. This area of Sausalito is now home to multi-million dollar properties with spectacular views.

Before the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito was a stopping place for sailing ships to buy wood from the hillsides and fresh water from its mountain springs. From the beginning it has been a mixture of a good-time town, working village, a major transit point to San Francisco (first by ferry boat), and a private retreat.

Today, Sausalito real estate provides a mix of houses, from restored Victorians to cozy condos. And there is a unique community of about 600 houseboats on Richardson Bay that range from funky to spacious and elegant.

Sausalito is a tourist town, but tourists concentrate at the south end and rarely go into the adjacent neighborhoods. Most of Sausalito is quiet and residential. Adding variety and charm to the city, there is a Bohemian element descendant from the 60’s and 70’s, when Sausalito was a center of the Beat and music scene. All the approximately 7,100 residents of Sausalito (who live in 4,100 households) seem to appreciate that they are living in a rare location and are proud of their town.

Property Values

See our market report for the price of homes sold in Sausalito over the last month and last two years.

New Listings

Least Expensive Homes

Most Expensive Homes

Community Information

City Information
MarinScope, Sausalito newspaper
Chamber of Commerce
Golden Gate Ferry. Downtown Sausalito has a ferry terminal for efficient commuting to the Financial District in San Francisco. Traveling by boat is a great way to meet your neighbors.
Sausalito/Marin City School District and Tamalpais High School.

Favorite Places in Sausalito

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is at the south end of Sausalito. You have beaches and breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. If you like a moderate walk and spectacular views, visit Kirby Cove.
Cavallo Point Lodge, at the southernmost point in Marin, is the site of a former military installation, Fort Baker. The buildings were saved, rejuvenated, and now houses restored, historic hotel rooms along with newer, modern rooms, many with spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Cavallo Point Lodge includes a fine restaurant and bar, diverse meeting rooms, and a great spa.
The houseboat community is at the north end of Sausalito. You can start at Gate 5 Road and walk down the boardwalks between the boats. The boardwalks are lush gardens most of the year, the houseboats are richly imaginative, and the residents are very friendly.
Bridgeway Street, at the south end of Sausalito, provides memorable walks with wonderful views of the bay and San Francisco, art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants.
Caledonia Street. This is a shopping area oriented to locals, with great walking, restaurants and a movie theater, and an organic grocery store.
The Bay Model is an impressive three-dimensional model of the entire San Francisco Bay, with water simulating tidal flows. Admission is free.