Located in San Rafael's highly desirable Bret Harte neighborhood, this updated single-level ranch home offers an ideal blend of Marin County lifestyle, flexible living space, and income potential. The property features a stylish 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath main residence with hardwood floors throughout, dual-pane windows, recessed lighting, granite countertops with a center island. A standout feature is the attached legal 1-bedroom, 1-bath ADU with a private entrance, full kitchen, and dedicated parking, offering an excellent opportunity for rental income, a home office set up, or visiting guests. The sun-filled property includes a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant yard with mature fruit trees, expansive outdoor entertaining spaces, and a detached structure with potential for a private workspace, gym, or creative studio. Enjoy the convenience of a peaceful residential setting just minutes from downtown San Rafael's vibrant restaurants, cafes, and shops, with quick access to Highway 101 for an easy commute to San Francisco. Combining modern functionality, outdoor living, and investment flexibility, this Bret Harte property delivers the lifestyle many buyers are seeking in Marin.
Single-familyProperty Type
1947Year Built
5,998 sq ftLot Size
$625Price/Sq.Ft.
3 spacesParking
Listed by John Zeiter•DRE #01325942• Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty
•415-720-1515 (agent)
•j.zeiter@ggsir.com (agent)
Listed by Chad Dagit•DRE #02047956• 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 electric range
Free standing refrigerator
Hood over range
Gas water heater
Brick living room fireplace with wood stove insert
Simulated wood flooring
Tile flooring
Carbon monoxide detector
Smoke detector
Converted garage
Dining room
In-law apartment
Kitchen
Living room
Great room
Bedrooms
3 bedrooms
Master bedroom on the ground floor with closet
Bathrooms
3 bathrooms total (2 full, 1 partial)
Low-flow shower(s)
Low-flow toilet(s)
Shower stall(s)
Tile finishes
Tub
Kitchen
Breakfast area
Kitchen island
Stone counters
Dishwasher
Free standing electric range
Free standing refrigerator
Hood over range
Laundry & utility
Washer included
Dryer included
Flooring
Simulated wood
Tile
Heating & cooling
Wall furnace
Fireplace insert
No central cooling
Exterior features
Uncovered deck
Back yard fencing (wood fence, fenced)
Curb(s)/gutter(s)
Low-maintenance landscaping
Shed(s)
Home design
Single family residence
Residential property
One story
Property faces east
Accessory dwelling unit (2nd unit) present
Street entrance
Parking
No garage
Paved driveway
Security
Carbon monoxide detector
Smoke detector
Construction
Composition roof
Utilities
Natural gas connected
Public sewer
HOA & community
No association
Not a senior community
Other
Unit 2 has a private entry
Electricity and solar
View estimated energy costs and solar savings for this home
Located in San Rafael's highly desirable Bret Harte neighborhood, this updated single-level ranch home offers an ideal blend of Marin County lifestyle, flexible living space, and income potential. The property features a stylish 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath main residence with hardwood floors throughout, dual-pane windows, recessed lighting, granite countertops with a center island. A standout feature is the attached legal 1-bedroom, 1-bath legal unit with a private entrance, full kitchen, and dedicated parking, offering an excellent opportunity for rental income, a home office set up, or visiting guests. The sun-filled property includes a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant yard with mature fruit trees, expansive outdoor entertaining spaces, and a detached structure with potential for a private workspace, gym, or creative studio. Enjoy the convenience of a peaceful residential setting just minutes from downtown San Rafael's vibrant restaurants, cafes, and shops, with quick access to Highway 101 for an easy commute to San Francisco. Combining modern functionality, outdoor living, and investment flexibility, this Bret Harte property delivers the lifestyle many buyers are seeking in Marin.
BAREIS #326052239
Jun 17, 2026
Listed
$1,175,000
$625/sq ft
BAREIS #323005743
Jun 16, 2023
Price Changed
*
Feb 2, 2023
Listed
*
bridgeMLS, Bay East AOR, or Contra Costa AOR #41003726
Aug 18, 2022
Listing Removed
—
Jul 30, 2022
Listed
*
CRMLS #DW21239128
Dec 31, 2021
Listing Removed
—
Oct 31, 2021
Listed
$1,150,000
$611/sq ft
CRMLS #PI21144021
Jul 21, 2021
Listing Removed
—
Jul 1, 2021
Listed
$1,200,000
$638/sq ft
BAREIS #22014011
Aug 15, 2020
Delisted
—
BAREIS #21821679
Oct 17, 2018
Delisted
—
Sep 12, 2018
Listed
*
BAREIS #21810917
Jun 12, 2018
Delisted
—
May 1, 2018
Listed
*
Year
Property tax
Land + Additions
Assessment*
2025
$4,433 (+10.1%)
$39,263 + $88,900
$128,163
2024
$4,027 (+6.0%)
$38,493 + $87,157
$125,650
2023
$3,798 (−11.0%)
$37,738 + $85,448
$123,186
2022
$4,267 (+1.4%)
$36,998 + $83,773
$120,771
2021
$4,210 (+3.8%)
$36,264 + $82,117
$118,381
2020
$4,054 (+4.5%)
$35,553 + $80,507
$116,060
2019
$3,881 (+13.9%)
$35,188 + $79,682
$114,870
2018
$3,406 (+1.8%)
$34,499 + $78,120
$112,619
2017
$3,346 (+4.5%)
$33,159 + $75,087
$108,246
2016
$3,203 (+4.3%)
$33,159 + $75,087
$108,246
2015
$3,072 (+5.5%)
$32,509 + $73,615
$106,124
2014
$2,912 (+3.2%)
$31,393 + $71,089
$102,482
2013
$2,821 (+5.7%)
$31,393 + $71,089
$102,482
2012
$2,668 (+0.7%)
$31,252 + $70,768
$102,020
2011
$2,648 (+0.7%)
$30,639 + $69,380
$100,019
2010
$2,630 (−1.1%)
$30,038 + $68,020
$98,058
2009
$2,659 (+6.5%)
$29,814 + $67,512
$97,326
2008
$2,498
$29,885 + $67,673
$97,558
Public record
Public record
Zoning
Permits
Beds
3
Baths
3
Stories
—
Lot width
—
Lot depth
—
Lot size
6,000 Sq. Ft.
Year renovated
1947
Finished Sq. Ft.
1,881
Unfinished Sq. Ft.
—
Total Sq. Ft.
1,881
Year built
1947
Style
Single Family Residential
County
Marin County
APN
013-152-07
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
Jul 31, 2023 • Final
Reroof
Perform a partial reroofing of the building.
Roofing
Jan 6, 2022 • Final
Building
Install a washer and dryer on a rear porch.
Plumbing
Remodel
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
This home receives average direct sun exposure in the zip code. There appears to be minimal shading by surrounding buildings, terrain, and vegetation.
9.7 hrs
4.8 hrs
JuneDecember
Provided by Shadowmap
Redfin Estimate for 79 Billou St
We cannot show automated home-value estimates for this home.
Nearby homes have recently sold between $995,000 and $2,025,000.
Nearby comparable homes
The Redfin Estimate uses 6 recent nearby sales, priced between $995K to $2.0M.