Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Peter Schardt Marin & Sonoma County

Market report

The North Bay market, in plain numbers

This report covers the two towns I work most, Novato and Petaluma, plus the county-level context around them: Marin County and Sonoma County. It pulls from public market sources and is updated by me, a local, not by an algorithm that has never driven the 101.

Updated October 27, 2026 · Sales Associate · 01702383 · California

Marin County

Novato

$1,204,375

median single-family closed price, BAREIS MLS via ImagineMarin, three months ending Sept 30, 2026

  • Median closed price essentially flat year over year, down 0.1%, across 110 open-market sales
  • The most affordable citywide median in Marin County
  • Fastest-selling ZIP was 94949 at a median 14 days on market
  • ZIP 94947 had the tightest supply at 1.4 months of inventory
  • Redfin's all-home-types median sale price near $1.1M, with homes selling in about 31 days

Source: BAREIS MLS (via ImagineMarin); Redfin September-October 2026 market data. View source

Sonoma County

Petaluma

$914,000

median sale price over the last three months, Redfin snapshot covering the period ending August 2026

  • Median sale price up 1.6% year over year, with homes selling in about 28 days
  • Redfin rates the market 'very competitive' at 87 out of 100, with roughly one offer per home
  • Zillow's average home value about $899,000, up 0.4% year over year, homes going pending in about 13 days
  • Movoto's June 2026 median sold price near $998K, a higher-priced read than Redfin's
  • ZIP 94952 average value near $1.06M, up 2.5% year over year

Source: Redfin; Zillow; Movoto 2026 market data. View source

All of Marin

Marin County

$1,700,000

median single-family closed price, BAREIS MLS via ImagineMarin, Q3 2026 (July 1 through Sept 30, 2026)

  • Median closed price up 5.9% year over year, from $1,605,000, across 477 open-market sales
  • Median 19 days on market, down from 29 in Q3 2025
  • 431 homes for sale as of September 2026, down 11.3% year over year
  • Months of supply at 2.3, down 25.7% year over year: a supply-constrained seller's market
  • Novato remains the county's most affordable citywide median

Source: BAREIS MLS (via ImagineMarin), Q3 2026. View source

All of Sonoma

Sonoma County

$772,000

median sale price over the last three months, Redfin snapshot covering the period ending August 2026

  • Median sale price down 3.4% year over year, with median price per square foot near $499
  • Homes averaging about 42 days on market, down from 48 a year earlier
  • Roughly 1,700 homes listed for sale county-wide in Redfin's count
  • Petaluma runs well above the county median, near $914,000, as one of Sonoma's pricier towns
  • A more patient market than Marin: more inventory and more room to negotiate

Source: Redfin market data covering the three months ending August 2026. View source

Figures are drawn from the cited public sources and may be revised by the sources themselves. Markets move week to week. For the current picture in your exact price range and neighborhood, call me: (415) 328-2637.

What it means for you

Three honest takeaways

Marin up, Sonoma softer

Marin County's Q3 median rose about 5.9% year over year to $1.7M, while Sonoma County's ran about 3.4% below last year. Novato and Petaluma sit between those trends, essentially flat.

Competitive but balanced

Redfin rates both towns competitive, with homes drawing about one offer and selling in roughly a month. Honest pricing still wins the day.

Supply is the story

Tight inventory keeps good homes competitive: Marin sits near 2.3 months of supply and parts of Novato under 1.5 months. Pre-approved buyers have the edge.

Aerial view of San Pablo Bay marshlands between Novato and Petaluma at dusk

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