Rent to own Homes in San Rafael, CA
A healthy housing market with excellent properties for sale! Home value has increased over 13% since last year. You can't go wrong with a pad in San Rafael's Terra Linda and Loch Lomond areas. Rent to own houses remain an optimum way to start out in many of San Rafael's preferred neighborhoods.
San Rafael, CA is a great place for affordable rent-to-own homes! With a median household income of over $97,009 and a median rent of $2,037, the San Rafael, CA rent-to-own market is more affordable than the traditional housing market which has shown tremendous growth across the U.S. and with it, aggressive competition for home purchases. With the current housing shortage trend it can make it harder to become a homeowner, including in San Rafael, CA. This means higher than average down payments for homes and higher qualification standards for conventional home loans. With a rent-to-own property, tenants are also buyers. You can live in the house for a set amount of time before you purchase it, meaning that you get to know the house, your neighbors, and your community before making the final purchase. This enables you and your family to make the right choice based on both information and experience. Rent-to-own is also a great alternative way to get into a home if you have bad credit or don't have enough saved for a down payment.
More San Rafael, CA Property Resources
Rent to own Homes in Cities Near San Rafael, CA
- Albany
- Ashland
- Baywood Park
- Belvedere
- Belvedere Tiburon
- Berkeley
- Black Point-Green Point
- Bolinas
- Brisbane
- Broadmoor
- Burlingame
- Colma
- Crockett
- Daly City
- East Richmond Heights
- Emeryville
- Fairfax
- Greenbrae
- Hayward
- Hercules
- Hillsborough
- Lafayette
- Lagunitas-Forest Knolls
- Larkspur
- Lucas Valley-Marinwood
- Marin City
- Mill Valley
- Moraga
- Oakland
- Orinda
- Pacifica
- Piedmont
- Pinole
- Reliez Valley
- Richmond
- Rollingwood
- Ross
- San Bruno
- San Carlos
- San Geronimo
- San Lorenzo
- San Rafael
- Santa Venetia
- Sausalito
- Sleepy Hollow
- Stinson Beach
- Strawberry
- Tiburon
- Vallejo
- Woodacre
Neighborhoods in San Rafael, CA
Rafael Meadows - Los Ranchitos rent to own homes Picnic Valley rent to own homes Bayside Acres rent to own homes Loch Lomond rent to own homes Downtown San Rafael rent to own homes Mont Marin - San Rafael Park rent to own homes Canal rent to own homes Canal Waterfront rent to own homes Montecito - Happy Valley rent to own homes Civic Center rent to own homesPopular Zip Codes in San Rafael, CA
94915 rent to own homes 94912 rent to own homes 94913 rent to own homes 94903 rent to own homes 94901 rent to own homesBuying a Home in San Rafael, CA
San Rafael, CA is seeing rapid growth and San Rafael, CA's' housing market remains not optimal with an average home price that is 349% above the 2024 national average. San Rafael, CA is part of Marin county and taxes are an important factor to consider when purchasing a home whether through rent to own or a traditional purchase. The average tax rate as of 2024 for county Marin is 0.63% which is below the national average, which is 0.99%.
Median Home Price in San Rafael, CA
Median Rent in San Rafael, CA
14 Great Reasons to Live in San Rafael
Take your pick! San Rafael has more than 20 neighborhoods to choose from, and a vacancy rate of 5.3% ensures you can find a place in any section of the city. Peacock Gap and Bayside Acres overlook San Rafael Bay and often have openings. Securing a rent to own property in an excellent community with jaw-dropping views is very possible!
Have a picnic in the park! San Rafael boasts 12 parks. Sun Valley Park requires a reservation for some facilities. It has a picnic area, basketball court, and volleyball court. Pickleweed Park, Santa Margarita Park, and Terra Linda Park are other popular local green spaces.
Choices for renters! Over 48% of the housing units in San Rafael are occupied by renters, which is higher than California's average. There are a fair amount of rental homes in scenic areas like Smith Ranch and Gerstle Park. Additionally, it only takes about 30 minutes to get to the San Francisco Bay Area, which means you can play in the big city when the mood strikes.
Rent to own great condos and houses! The average number of days on the market in communities like West End and Picnic Valley is 64, which is quite short, but still a bit longer than in San Francisco's demanding market. Options for rent to own homes in such areas take away the pressure of having to make a decision to purchase a pad so quickly. It also gives you a chance to explore and test out your neighborhood. The value of the average housing unit in San Rafael is now over $760,000, so the choice to purchase a unit should not be taken lightly.
Tour San Rafael's unique architecture! The Marin County Civic Center was the last commission taken by Frank Lloyd Wright and is a federal and state historic landmark. It was also nominated for UNESCO protected status. Another unique attraction is the Art Works Downtown, which features a 40,000 square foot historic structure in the heart of the city, three galleries, and 35 studios.
All sorts of house and apartment sizes! Floor plans range from just over 1,000 square feet to 4,000 square feet. Studios, for example, account for nearly 4% of the homes. Four-bedroom pads account for nearly 15% of homes. You can pretty much find anything you need. Amenities are close to many neighborhoods as well, like Lincoln at the center of San Rafael, which is adjacent to Downtown. Gallinas, which is near San Pablo Bay, has more space.
Pick your choice of cuisine! San Rafael features a myriad of cuisines. Notable establishments like Yet Wah Restaurant, Il Davide, and Sol Food are all worth a try.
Join the party! San Rafael has its share of places to let loose. San Rafael Joe's has been open since 1947 and features fine dining and live music. The Mayflower Pub, Trevor's Pub, and BJ's Restaurant and Brewery are other local favorites.
Sample some fresh fruits and vegetables! San Rafael's Certified Farmers' Market Festival has been named one of the top ten farmers' markets in the country. The festival occurs every Thursday beginning in April and ending after September. The other one to visit is the Marin Farmers' Market, which is open Sunday and Thursday year round.
Head to a festival! The Mill Valley Film Festival features 11 days of national and international films in October, and the Marin Shakespeare Festival takes place at Forest Meadows Amphitheater.
Dig a little deeper into the local history! There are five museums in San Rafael, and each one adds more insight into the exciting history of San Rafael. Two well-known museums are the Falkirk Cultural Center and the Marin History Museum.
Go golfing! Courses like Peacock Gap Golf Club and McInnis Park Golf Club allow you to test your skills any day of the year, and take a mulligan or two if you need.
Dust off the bicycle! Mountain biking has a long history in Marin County and the San Rafael area. Two of the more famous trails are the Mount Tamalpais trails and the bluffs of China Camp State Park.