Updated on: October 27, 2026
Sausalito, CA (ZIP 94965) is a small Marin County city across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, where homes for sale range from hillside houses with bay views to downtown homes and condos and floating homes on Richardson Bay. For buyers looking at Marin County real estate, Sausalito pairs a coastal setting with a short trip into San Francisco. Flat land is rare here, so relocating to this part of Marin County means weighing water views against steep driveways and tiered lots.
Key takeaway
In Sausalito, the property type sets your budget more than the street does. Hillside houses, downtown homes and condos, and floating homes each carry different prices and different ongoing costs: berth fees, HOA dues, hillside upkeep. Before offering, check the parcel's jurisdiction and hazard disclosures, and budget property tax on your purchase price.
Who this guide is for
Buyers and movers weighing a home purchase in Sausalito, CA 94965, including a floating home.
Related guides: Sell my home in Sausalito, Living in Sausalito.
Sausalito real estate at a glance
- Median sale price: about $1.46 million, three months to May 2026 (Redfin).
- Floating homes: $620,000 to $2,900,000 sold in 2026, plus monthly berth fee.
- Ferry: 30 minutes, $14 fare; bridge toll $10.25 southbound with FasTrak.
- Property tax: 1% of purchase price, plus voter-approved bonds.
- Schools: Sausalito Marin City School District K-8, then Tamalpais High School.
Sausalito home prices: 2026 market snapshot
Sausalito's median sale price was $1,459,567 for the three months ending May 2026 in ZIP code 94965, according to Redfin. That was down 24.6% from a year earlier. Zillow's typical home value for Sausalito was $1,534,907 in August 2026, up about 3% year over year. That index estimates the value of a typical home across all homes in the city, sold or not, so it moves differently from the median of recent sales. Neither figure is a true average, but both put a typical Sausalito home at about $1.5 million.
A vendor-compiled MLS report for May 2026 put the single-family median at $2,050,000 on five sales, condo medians at $1,190,000 to $1,440,000 and one townhome sale at $1,295,000. With so few sales and an unofficial source, treat those figures as indicative.
In the 2026 housing market in Sausalito, homes are selling quickly and above asking. Redfin reports a median of 18 days on market for the three months ending May 2026, down from 28 days a year earlier, and a sale-to-list ratio of 105.9%.
Sausalito property types and where they sit
Redfin tracks two MLS-based market areas in Sausalito. Downtown Sausalito sales skew toward smaller attached condos and flats near the waterfront, with a median sale price of about $2.3 million. New Town sales are mostly detached single-family houses, often three or four bedrooms with 2,000 square feet or more.
Hillside homes with unobstructed views of the bay and the San Francisco skyline command the highest premiums. Expect large decks and mid-century or contemporary designs built for steep terrain. Steep parcels limit usable yard space, so interior layout and deck area drive value along with the view. The engineering needed to build and maintain hillside foundations also adds to the price.
Homes near downtown and along the lower waterfront sit on smaller lots. They are walkable to Bridgeway, the shops on Caledonia Street and the ferry terminal. Inventory at lower elevations stays tight, so well-maintained homes draw strong competition.
Attached condos and townhomes are a lower entry point than detached houses.
For investors, rental income depends on property type and on the city's ban on rentals of 30 days or less. Comparing Sausalito neighborhoods by value works best with sales of the same property type, since one area's median can reflect a mix of condos and houses.
Floating homes and houseboats at Waldo Point Harbor
Waldo Point Harbor, at the north end of town, is home to Sausalito's historic floating home, or houseboat, community. Homes are reached by wooden boardwalks, ride the tidal shifts of Richardson Bay, and vary widely in size, finish and style. The homes are spread across several dock communities rather than one, and ownership terms can differ between them, so confirm which community a listing belongs to.
BAREIS MLS records show that 2026 floating-home sales through early September ranged from $620,000 to $2,900,000. The median was $1,125,000, up 6% from 2025's $1,062,500. Active listings as of September 4, 2026 asked $695,000 to $1,999,000.
Buyers own the floating structure but generally lease the berth from the marina owner. The owner holds the land, docks, utilities and parking, much like a lot lease in a mobile-home park. Some communities, such as Gate 6 Co-op, run as cooperatives instead.
The Floating Homes Association says fees depend on berth size, home size and distance from shore. Most are around $1,000 a month, covering water, garbage, sewage, parking and common-area maintenance. 2026 MLS data showed a median of $1,499 a month on homes sold and up to $2,655 on some active listings. That fee is a continuous carrying cost to build into your monthly housing budget.
Financing requires specialized lenders who understand the distinct legal classification of floating properties, so line one up before you offer. Because condition varies so much from home to home, order a marine or flotation survey of the hull or concrete float and have the utility hookups checked.
Commuting from Sausalito to San Francisco
- Golden Gate Ferry: The crossing from the downtown terminal to the Ferry Building takes about 30 minutes. An adult single ride costs $14.00, or $8.25 with an Adult Clipper Card.
- Highway 101 over the Golden Gate Bridge: Drive time swings with bridge traffic. The FasTrak toll for a passenger car is $10.25 as of July 1, 2026, charged only southbound into San Francisco.
- Golden Gate Transit: This regional bus network serves stops throughout Marin County before dropping riders at commercial hubs in San Francisco.
Biking across the bridge is another option, though summer brings heavy tourist foot traffic. Hillside homes usually mean driving or parking before you reach the ferry, so weigh your commute before settling on a neighborhood choice. Ferry schedules, bus routes and peak drive times shift by season and day, so check current timetables against your work hours.
Public schools serving Sausalito addresses
Sausalito addresses are served by the Sausalito Marin City School District, which runs its K-8 program at the Martin Luther King Jr. Academy campus. For grades 9 through 12, Sausalito falls under the Tamalpais Union High School District, which assigns local students to Tamalpais High School in neighboring Mill Valley. Verify exact enrollment boundaries with the district office before making an offer. For school ratings and profiles of each campus, start with the districts' own websites.
Waterfront, marinas and parks near Sausalito homes
The San Francisco Bay Trail runs along the water from the northern marinas to downtown, a paved path for walking and biking. Dunphy Park offers open green space on the shoreline. Gabrielson Park sits beside the ferry terminal and hosts summer music and city events. Marinas and the yacht harbor line the waterfront.
Nearby, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area includes the Marin Headlands, with hiking trails and the Point Bonita Lighthouse. It also includes Fort Baker, home to the Bay Area Discovery Museum. The Marine Mammal Center is also close by.
Downtown and waterfront homes sit on flat ground within walking distance of the trail and parks. The waterfront shops, the yacht harbor and the nearby Headlands make Sausalito a popular day trip from San Francisco. Visit on a weekday and again on a summer weekend to see how that visitor traffic affects downtown streets and parking.
Buying a home in Sausalito: what to know
- Competition: With homes selling fast and above asking, get pre-approved before you tour.
- Hillside homes: Inspect foundations, retaining walls and drainage, and consider a geotechnical review. Try the driveway in your own car. Dedicated off-street parking influences resale potential in these dense residential corridors.
- Hazard disclosures and insurance: The City of Sausalito's General Plan and Housing Element environmental review map landslide, liquefaction and FEMA flood hazards within the city. Slopes underlain by chert, greenstone and sandstone are more prone to debris flows, and intense 1982 storms caused a landslide death in Sausalito. Status is parcel-specific, so read the home's Natural Hazard Disclosure. A parcel in a mapped flood or seismic hazard zone can raise flood or earthquake insurance costs, so get quotes during your contingency period.
- Condos: HOA dues and reserves vary by building, so read the HOA budget and reserve study before removing contingencies.
- Property tax: Under Proposition 13, Marin County's general rate is limited to 1% of assessed value, which is based on your purchase price, plus any voter-approved local bonds. Budget from your purchase price rather than the seller's current bill, and ask for the parcel's list of bonds and special assessments.
- Jurisdiction: A 94965 address can sit in unincorporated Marin County, where the county rather than the city sets permit, zoning and rental rules. Confirm the parcel's jurisdiction before you offer.
Weighing land value against structural square footage is easier with an agent who knows this market. Contact Tracey to tour Sausalito homes for sale.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sausalito more expensive than the rest of Marin County?
Yes, Sausalito is an expensive place to buy: a typical home runs about $1.5 million and sells above asking. To compare with the rest of the county, use Marin County medians from the same source and months, because Redfin, Zillow and MLS reports measure different things.
Is every Sausalito 94965 address inside the City of Sausalito?
No. Sausalito is in Marin County, but Marin City, northwest of downtown, is an unincorporated community that shares the Sausalito 94965 ZIP code.
Can you rent out a Sausalito home as a short-term rental?
No, not for stays of 30 consecutive days or less. Sausalito Municipal Code Chapter 5.16 bans renting any residential dwelling, or part of one, for that length and bans advertising such rentals. Fines run up to $1,500 for a first violation and higher for repeats. Longer rentals remain allowed, including room rentals with no more than two paying occupants at a time.
Which parts of Sausalito are sunnier or foggier?
Fog and wind exposure change with how a lot faces the Golden Gate and how sheltered it is by the hills, so homes a short drive apart can get very different morning sun on their decks. Visit a home you are considering on a summer morning and again in late afternoon to see how much fog and wind reach it.
Sources
Browse properties in the area
$9,995,000
$8,995,000
$5,250,000
$4,250,000
$3,999,000
$3,998,000
$3,895,000
$3,095,000
$2,998,000
There are no properties that match your search results.
Similar neighborhoods
San Rafael
Mill Valley
Larkspur
Work with Tracey
Follow Me on Instagram
Contact details
Tracey Broadman | CA DRE# 01323049
Phone
Email
Address
352 MILLER AVE MILL VALLEY CA 94941
Thanks, please provide more information to help serve you
