I moved to Marin City when I was 8 years old. I'm white and yes, I got a harassed for about a year or so when I first moved in. After that growing up in Marin City was great. I think it is a great place to live. I was not happy with the new buildings they installed and the Best Buy, Longs Drugs, Ross. I thought they should have kept the flee market. The area behind Marin City is very lush and in most cases untouched. Most black people don't like the woods and most white people don't want to park their cars in a black hood to go to the woods. So hence, untouched woods. Perfect playground for kids growing up. If I could change anything in my life growing up it would not be Marin City. I wish I still lived there but my family got kicked out for selling Marijuana

Marin City has several distinct neighborhoods. One of rather upscale condos, up the hill, the other much more working class and pretty much flat. The racial perspectives are absolutely personal so figure...

Several condos, currently active, on Donahue St. have excellent views of Richardson Bay, boats and houseboats - very colorful. However they also have loud road noise if you go outside. I recommend that you use the trailing website, mine, to view all current listings. Use maps.google.com to obtain a map of the area, especially the terrain map, so that you can begin to understand the differences between these two areas with Marin City. Consider houseboats, you may find them an interesting alternative.

Prices are lower that nearby areas, both going in and coming out. Appreciation will depend on initial quality and specific location.

RSVP if I can help identify and characterize neighborhood options in South or Central Marin.

Sorry to say, but you can sum it up in one word. G-h-e-t-t-o.

Everybody on this board is dancing around the real issue and avoiding the 400-pound gorilla in the room. The straight-up answer is: it depends what color you are... Sadly, there is a lot of racism in this area. Whites are looked down upon with resentment by the majority black population in Marin City. I think that pretty much sums it up.

I've been a renter here in Marin City for alittle over two years and my suggestion of buying a condo here in this area would probably be, don't do it. There's a sense of real poverty and despair here in Marin City, although there is an atmosphere within some residents and local government to change the infrastructure and help this small community, that would make property values rocket upwards significantly. I would make effort to be on the ground floor of this if I saw it coming to fruition in the near fututre, and there is very good potential here, but the mentality and opposition to growth here is daunting. Sorry for being so lengthy, Mike

Marin City is a great little secret in Marin. You are so close to the Bridge and never hit traffic during rush hour. Traffic doesn't start to back up until you hit Mill Valley and Corte Madera. My family and I love the location and love being so close to the city and LOVE the affordable condo we just purchased for $630k.
P.S. My unit is NOT a co-op and my HOAs are much less than $450 a month.

I live in San Rafael and work in Sausalito. I've know people that have moved away from Marin City because it has higher crime - hence why prices are so cheap. That is where are the public housing is.

Hi K,
In order to best answer that question, I have a few questions...Why are you moving to the Bay Area? Where would you be working? Is it just you or do you have kids? What are you looking for in terms of a community? Prices in Marin City, as with any areas of the Bay Area reflect desirability. I live in Marin, and have lived in the Bay area for nearly 40 years. I would be happy to answer your many questions. Please email or call me if you like. Good luck to you...
-Greg

Marin City is one of the most affordable areas in Marin County and the northern part of Sausalito. Separated by the 101 Freeway some people consider Marin City as a town of its own, however it is Sausalito.

The housing stock is for the most part condos and townhouses. The area is divided into two main areas; the highlands where the prices tend to be higher and the flats located near the local Mall.

As for the basic history of Marin City, it started out as WWll housing for many of the people who came from the south to work in the Sausalito ship building yards. The govt. established work place housing and for decades little had changed until builders started in the 70's constructing apartments in the hills over looking Richardson bay and Mt. Tam. The views from the heights were and are spectacular, however the stigma of the wartime housing area has persisted in keeping prices relatively low compared to the rest of Southern and Central Marin. Value and convenience is the name of the game for Marin City - 5-10 minutes outside of San Francisco. Great for ivestment rentals as well especially as prices keep softening in the market but that will stop pretty soon too.

If you would like some stats on the area including $/sqft I would be happy to provide you with the info you need to make a informed decision. Please follow the links to my website and drop me an email.

All the best in your home search!

Hi K;

The couple of lower priced condos that are in Marin City are both Co-Ops wiht high monthly HOA ($450, $495 respectively

http://norcalmls.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Bar…

Both units are CO-Op which is a bit of different ownership than owning a regular house or town home -
http://www.coophousing.org/buying_in.shtml
http://www.coophousing.org/living_in.shtml

Co-Op in general has pretty strict rules and can be more difficult in obtaining financing and there are just a few lenders that will do co-ops because you don't get a regular mortgage, you get a shar loan to purchase a share (unit) of a co-op), Sometimes Co-Ops are development to provide affordable housing and some of Marin City's Co-Op are no exception.

Sylvia