It's in the top 10% of views. Tour it before it's gone!
Today:
About this home
Exquisite and storied, this magazine-worthy 1929 Tudor home was designed by San Francisco architect Wm. Winner as an exact replica of the honeymoon cottage that captured the hearts of original owners the D.F. Hanlons. Privately set on the flats of San Rafael's coveted Forbes neighborhood, the home sits close to Marin Academy, downtown San Anselmo & San Rafael, and miles of hiking & biking trails, with easy access to SF. A steeply pitched gable roof with numerous gables and bays, hip dormers, and stucco chimneys with brick detailing - anchored by a massive side chimney - give the home its unmistakable storybook silhouette. Beyond the front door, timeless craftsmanship unfolds throughout. Beautifully ornamented ceilings carry into the long entry hall, while a hand-carved travertine marble mantelpiece anchors one of the home's gracious gathering spaces. Soaring ceilings, architectural depth, and abundant natural light elevate every corner, the beautifully scaled rooms are layered with warmth, casual elegance, and old-world charm. The leaded glass dining room windows faithfully reproduce the character of the original Tudor home's own windows, down to their charmingly imperfect repaired panes, and original hardware found throughout the home offers a charming, authentic connection to its 1929 roots. The home has undergone a substantial recent remodel, thoughtfully executed - including a beautifully updated kitchen, four bathrooms comprising two brand-new baths, one fully remodeled bath, and one tastefully refreshed bath, an expanded and gorgeous bedroom wing, a newly built casita, all-new HVAC, and electrical updates throughout, among many other improvements. The result is a seamless blend of modern comfort and infrastructure with the home's timeless old-world character. Outside, beautiful brick hardscaping and professionally landscaped grounds create an inviting extension of the home's old-world charm, complemented by a detached two-car garage.The main home offers 6BR and 3BA, including a main-level primary suite, along with multiple additional rooms and an oversized basement - ideal for a home gym with abundant storage and a second laundry room. A detached casita with a full bath adds exceptional flexibility for guests or a private studio. An architectural treasure with a true love story behind it, 87 Forbes is a rare expression of old-world romance, thoughtful craftsmanship, and one of Marin County's most architecturally cherished neighborhoods.
Single-familyProperty Type
1929Year Built
10,062 sq ftLot Size
$982Price/Sq.Ft.
2 garage spacesParking
Listed by Evoke Group Nead & Ott•DRE #01988110• Coldwell Banker Realty
Fairhills, located between Dominican and Terra Linda, is a residential and hillside San Rafael neighborhood with curving streets and mid-century ranch homes. The neighborhood’s character concentrates around the Los Ranchitos Road and Las Gallinas Avenue corridor, where morning coffee runs and errands cluster near small local storefronts. Architectural lines lean low-slung and landscaped, with pockets of bay and ridgeline views. Open-space edges and trailheads shape a walk-and-bike rhythm. Community pillars nearby include Dominican University of California’s Angelico Concert Hall, Marin Country Mart, and the Marin Center. The setting feels tucked into green slopes while staying connected to central San Rafael.
Provided by Walk Score and Local Logic
Property details
Interior
Exterior
Finance
Kitchen
Bathroom
Bedroom
Living
Dining
Interior features
Formal entry
Open beam ceiling
Wet bar
One fireplace (living room, wood burning)
Formal dining area
Deck attached to family room
Studio, office, storage spaces
Bedrooms
6 bedrooms total
Primary suite with balcony, walk-in closet and outside access
Bathrooms
4 full bathrooms
Primary bath with double sinks, shower stall and tub
Kitchen
Built-in refrigerator
Built-in freezer
Dishwasher
Disposal
Free-standing gas oven and gas range
Range hood
Laundry & utility
Laundry room located inside
Heating & cooling
Central cooling
Central heating plus fireplaces
Exterior features
Uncovered patio
Full fencing
Corner lot with landscaped front and back
Home design
Single-family residence
Updated / remodeled condition
Two-story home (levels noted as three or more with main and upper living areas)
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU / 2nd unit) present
Composition roof
Parking
Detached garage
2-car garage (4 parking spaces total)
Construction
Composition roof
Utilities
Public sewer
HOA & community
No homeowners association
Not a senior community
Electricity and solar
View estimated energy costs and solar savings for this home
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
Mar 23, 2025 • Final
Building
Relocate the existing garage forward on the property.
Addition
Aug 17, 2023 • Final
Building
Add a new bathroom and bedroom to the existing upper floor of a residential building.
Addition
Bathroom
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
1/10 Flood Factor
Minimal risk of a flood reaching the building in the next 30 years
3/10 Fire Factor
0.31% chance of being 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
80/ 100
Very good sunlight
Sunscore
There appears to be minimal shading by surrounding buildings, terrain, and vegetation.
9.4 hrs
5.3 hrs
JuneDecember
Provided by Shadowmap
Redfin Estimate for 87 Forbes Ave
$3,887,551
$7,449 under list price of $3.90M
Nearby comparable homes
The Redfin Estimate uses 6 recent nearby sales, priced between $1.8M to $3.6M.