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About this home
Rare opportunity to own two homes on one lot in a convenient and versatile setting. The main residence features 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms with comfortable living spaces, while the detached ADU offers its own kitchen and bathroom, ideal for guests, extended family, rental income, or a private home office setup. Whether you're looking for multi-generational living, an investment opportunity, or added flexibility, 38 Bret Avenue offers a unique layout with endless potential. Enjoy the ability to live in one home and rent the other, host long-term guests with ease, or create the perfect work-from-home retreat. A special property with options that are hard to find.
Single-familyProperty Type
1948Year Built
6,499 sq ftLot Size
$445Price/Sq.Ft.
2 spacesParking
Listed by Alexandra Bondanza•DRE #02137227• Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty
•415-446-8292 (agent)
•a.bondanza@ggsir.com (agent)
Listed by Joe Bondanza•DRE #00910574• Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty
Bret Harte, located between Terra Linda and Downtown San Rafael, is a residential and hillside San Rafael neighborhood with curving streets and bay-facing views. The neighborhood’s character concentrates around the Bret Harte Park and Community Center on Mission Avenue, where ballfields, playground energy, and after-school activity set the daily rhythm. Mid-century ranch homes and tidy postwar streetscapes mix with pockets of older cottages on the slopes. The Marinwood Plaza corridor adds a practical, local errand loop without changing the quiet feel. Community pillars include Marinwood Community Center, Marinwood Market, and the Marinwood Community Farmers’ Market. Open-space edges and trailheads link the blocks to the North San Pedro Road ridgeline.
Provided by Walk Score and Local Logic
Property details
Interior
Exterior
Finance
Kitchen
Bathroom
Bedroom
Living
Dining
Interior features
Dishwasher
Free standing gas range
Free standing refrigerator
Range hood
Wood-burning fireplace
One fireplace
Butcher block counters
Kitchen open to family room
Dining room, family room, living room, kitchen, possible guest room
No basement
Single-story home
Bedrooms
3 bedrooms
Master bedroom on ground floor
Bathrooms
3 bathrooms
Master bath has a shower stall
Other baths include shower stalls and tub with shower over
Kitchen
Dishwasher
Free standing gas range
Free standing refrigerator
Range hood
Butcher block counters
Kitchen/family room combo
Laundry & utility
Washer and dryer included
Laundry closet
Laundry located in kitchen
Flooring
Carpet
Laminate
Linoleum
Wood
Heating & cooling
Central heating
Wall furnace
Ceiling fans
No central air
Exterior features
Uncovered deck
Uncovered patio
Lot has other features
Home design
Single-family residence
Residential property
One story
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) / second unit present
Parking
No garage
2 parking spaces
Construction
Tar and gravel roof
Utilities
Natural gas connected
Public sewer
HOA & community
No homeowners association
Not a senior community
Electricity and solar
View estimated energy costs and solar savings for this home
Rare opportunity to own two homes on one lot in a convenient and versatile setting. The main residence features 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms with comfortable living spaces, while the detached ADU offers its own kitchen and bathroom, ideal for guests, extended family, rental income, or a private home office setup. Whether you're looking for multi-generational living, an investment opportunity, or added flexibility, 38 Bret Avenue offers a unique layout with endless potential. Enjoy the ability to live in one home and rent the other, host long-term guests with ease, or create the perfect work-from-home retreat. A special property with options that are hard to find.
BAREIS #326045515
Sep 3, 2026
Price Changed
$999,000
$445/sq ft
Jul 24, 2026
Price Changed
$1,049,000
$467/sq ft
Jul 9, 2026
Price Changed
$1,099,000
$490/sq ft
Jun 16, 2026
Price Changed
$1,195,000
$533/sq ft
May 26, 2026
Listed
$1,275,000
$568/sq ft
Public Records
May 8, 1991
Sold
$230,000
$102/sq ft
Public Records
Oct 22, 1976
Sold
$54,000
$24/sq ft
Year
Property tax
Land + Additions
Assessment*
2025
$9,115 (+5.5%)
$256,581 + $392,690
$649,271
2024
$8,640 (+2.2%)
$251,551 + $301,657
$553,208
2023
$8,451 (+5.3%)
$246,619 + $295,744
$542,363
2022
$8,024 (+1.6%)
$241,784 + $289,945
$531,729
2021
$7,898 (+1.3%)
$237,044 + $284,261
$521,305
2020
$7,795 (+4.5%)
$232,397 + $278,688
$511,085
2019
$7,460 (+1.0%)
$230,015 + $275,832
$505,847
2018
$7,383 (+3.7%)
$225,505 + $270,424
$495,929
2017
$7,118 (+3.6%)
$216,750 + $259,925
$476,675
2016
$6,871 (+4.6%)
$216,750 + $259,925
$476,675
2015
$6,570 (+4.5%)
$212,501 + $254,829
$467,330
2014
$6,287 (+1.8%)
$205,209 + $246,086
$451,295
2013
$6,177 (+4.0%)
$205,209 + $246,086
$451,295
2012
$5,937 (+1.7%)
$204,283 + $244,975
$449,258
2011
$5,838 (+1.1%)
$200,279 + $240,172
$440,451
2010
$5,772 (+1.9%)
$196,352 + $235,463
$431,815
2009
$5,667 (+4.3%)
$194,885 + $233,704
$428,589
2008
$5,433
$195,348 + $234,260
$429,608
Public record
Public record
Zoning
Permits
Beds
3
Baths
2
Stories
1
Lot width
—
Lot depth
—
Lot size
6,500 Sq. Ft.
Year renovated
1964
Finished Sq. Ft.
1,844
Unfinished Sq. Ft.
—
Total Sq. Ft.
1,844
Year built
1948
Style
Single Family Residential
County
Marin County
APN
013-151-17
Parking Spaces
—
Basement
—
Accessible
—
HOA Dues
—
Garage
—
Features
—
Last updated by owner on Jul 13, 2026.
R5
Single-Family Residential District
The single-family residential districts provide opportunities for low-density, detached single-family residential development. Development densities are based on existing development patterns in the area and environmental site constraints. In hillside areas, development shall conform to the hillside development standards and review procedures established in Chapter 14.12, Hillside Development Overlay District.; Single-family residential districts include hillside resource residential land use categories with minimum densities of 2 or more acres for minimum lot sizes; hillside residential and residential estate categories with densities from 20,000 sq ft to 2 acre lot minimums; and low-density residential land use categories with densities ranging from 5,000 sq ft to 20,000 sq ft lot minimums.
Permitted uses
Include but are not limited to:
Garden center
Housing-Single unit
Housing-Multiple units
Housing-Senior
Educational/school
Recreation
Park & open space
Jan 12, 2026 • Final
Building
Legalize an existing accessory dwelling unit.
ADU
Nov 25, 2012 • Final
Mechanical
Work on a furnace.
HVAC
Permit history is from public records and may be incomplete or inaccurate. Redfin and its agents make no representations about the property condition or permit status. Buyers should independently verify all information.
Climate risks
10/10 Flood Factor
Estimated 80%+ chance of a flood reaching the building in the next 30 years
1/10 Fire Factor
Unlikely to be in a wildfire in next 30 years
3/10 Heat Factor
7 days above 86° expected this year, 16 days in 30 years
1/10 Wind Factor
Minimal risk of severe winds over next 30 years
8/10 Air Factor
15 unhealthy days expected this year, 15 days in 30 years
Provided by First Street
Historical weather
San Rafael, CA • 94901
Average low and high temperatures (°F)
59
42
61
45
69
48
67
47
72
50
75
52
74
54
80
55
78
55
74
52
62
47
55
44
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sun exposure
79/ 100
Good sunlight
Sunscore
There appears to be minimal shading by surrounding buildings, terrain, and vegetation.
9.5 hrs
5.4 hrs
JuneDecember
Provided by Shadowmap
Redfin Estimate for 38 Bret Ave
$971,420
$28K under list price of $999K
Nearby comparable homes
The Redfin Estimate uses 6 recent nearby sales, priced between $801K to $1.3M.