Corte Madera, CA Real Estate & Homes for Sale
By Matthew Martinez, Founder, CEO & Managing Broker, Diamond Real Estate Group. California DRE #01869679.
Corte Madera is an incorporated town of about 9,900 people in central Marin County, California, on the San Francisco Bay shoreline between Larkspur and Mill Valley, with Highway 101 running through it. Redfin put its median sale price at $2,023,661 for the three months to August 2026. Homes range from houses on the low bayside flats, where flood risk is the main question, to houses on the hillsides farther from the bay. The Larkspur ferry and the SMART train are just over the town line.
- County
- Marin County
- Government
- Incorporated town (Town of Corte Madera)
- ZIP code
- 94925
- Population
- 9,929 (2025 Census estimate)
- Median sale price
- $2,023,661 (3 months to Aug 2026, Redfin)
- Elementary district
- Larkspur-Corte Madera School District
- Sewer
- Sanitary District No. 2 of Marin County
Corte Madera homes for sale
Current MLS listings in Corte Madera appear below. To widen the search to Larkspur, Greenbrae or Mill Valley, or to filter by price, bedrooms and lot size, use our property search.
What do homes in Corte Madera sell for?
$2,023,661
Three months to August 2026, Redfin
105.1%
August 2026, Redfin
21
August 2026, Redfin
Corte Madera homes sell quickly and usually above asking. Redfin’s median sale price was $2,023,661 for the three months to August 2026, up 25.5% from a year earlier, and homes sold for 105.1% of their asking price on average, with 59.3% going over list. The Marin County single-family median for September 2026 was $1,678,750 (California Association of REALTORS).
Read the 25.5% jump with care. Only 28 homes sold in August, and Redfin labels the same median as a one-month figure on its chart and a three-month figure in its text, so a handful of larger homes closing together can lift it sharply. The Census Bureau’s survey-based median value of owner-occupied homes, $1,755,200 for 2020 to 2024, is a steadier cross-check because it comes from a survey of owner-occupied homes, not just the ones that sold.
| Measure | Figure | Period and source |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $2,023,661 (up 25.5% year over year) | Three months to August 2026, Redfin (its calculation from MLS and public records) |
| Homes sold | 28 (32 a year earlier) | August 2026, Redfin |
| Median days on market | 21 (31 a year earlier) | August 2026, Redfin |
| Median price per square foot | $921 (up 9.6%) | Three months to August 2026, Redfin |
| Sale-to-list ratio | 105.1%; 59.3% sold above list | August 2026, Redfin |
| Median value, owner-occupied homes | $1,755,200 | 2020–2024, U.S. Census Bureau (ACS) |
| Owner-occupied share of homes | 68.8% | 2020–2024, U.S. Census Bureau (ACS) |
| Marin County median, for comparison | $1,678,750 (single-family) | September 2026, C.A.R. |
When most homes sell over asking, the list price is closer to an opening bid than a valuation. We price offers here from recent closed sales on the same side of Highway 101 and at similar elevation, because a flood-zone home and a hillside home a mile apart rarely trade on the same terms.
Flood risk: what Corte Madera buyers should check first
Flooding is the first due-diligence question for much of Corte Madera. Parts of the town were built on bay mud, and a NASA analysis cited by the Marin Independent Journal in March 2025 found those areas are sinking, mainly because the mud is compacting. The town operates storm drain pump stations that have to keep working through storms, and a flood-protection berm shields homes and businesses in the Marina Village neighborhood.
What the town is doing
- Climate adaptation: the town completed a climate adaptation assessment in 2021. In 2024 it launched an online Corte Madera shoreline flood explorer, built with USGS storm-surge and high-tide modeling, and mailed about 1,000 surveys to residents and owners inside FEMA’s 100-year floodplain asking about options such as raising the Marina Village berm, flood barriers for the Mariner Cove area, raising houses, storm drain upgrades and marsh restoration (Marin IJ via GovTech, July 2024).
- The Marina Village berm: in March 2025 the town was seeking a $900,000 grant from FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance program to plan strengthening and raising the berm (Marin IJ editorial, March 2025).
- Pump stations: in February 2026 the town filed a notice for Phase 1 short-term repairs to its storm drain pump stations, replacing sensors, controllers, panels and wiring to cut the risk of equipment failure in storms (State Clearinghouse, project 25-303).
What to check on a specific home
- FEMA zone: look the parcel up on FEMA’s flood map. Homes in a special flood hazard area need flood insurance for a federally backed or federally regulated mortgage.
- Elevation and history: ask the seller for any FEMA elevation certificate, past flood claims and drainage repairs, and read the Natural Hazard Disclosure report closely.
- Foundation and settlement: on bay-mud lots, have the inspector look for settlement cracks, uneven floors and patio or driveway separation, and bring in a structural engineer if they find any.
- Insurance quote: price flood and homeowners insurance as soon as your offer is accepted, so the number is known before contingencies expire.
On a low-lying Corte Madera home, get the FEMA flood zone and an insurance quote before you remove your inspection contingency, not after.
Where new homes are being planned
The Town Council adopted its 2023–2031 Housing Element, together with an updated Safety Element, on June 20, 2023, after amending the General Plan’s Land Use Element and the zoning ordinance in January 2023 (State Clearinghouse). The Housing Element is the plan for meeting the town’s state-assigned housing numbers, and the Safety Element is where the town’s flood and sea-level-rise policies sit.
One approved project shows what this looks like on the ground: 240 Tamal Vista Boulevard, at Fifer Avenue near Highway 101 and the SMART line. In May 2025 the town recorded its approval of design review for a building of about 226,500 square feet with 99 units, all deed-restricted as affordable to lower-income households (State Clearinghouse). If you’re buying near Tamal Vista Boulevard or the town’s commercial corridors, ask the planning department what else is proposed on the surrounding parcels and when construction is expected to start.
Town rules: short-term rentals, taxes and rent law
Corte Madera is an incorporated town, so its own zoning, permits and code enforcement apply inside the town limits. Rules to check before you buy:
- Short-term rentals: a May 2023 survey of Marin cities by the Town of Ross lists Corte Madera as prohibiting short-term rentals. Plan any rental income on leases of 30 days or more, and confirm the current rule with the town’s planning department.
- Transfer tax: Corte Madera has no city transfer tax. A sale pays Marin County’s documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 (Marin County Assessor-Recorder).
- Rent rules: Corte Madera has no local just-cause or rent ordinance on Legal Aid of Marin’s list. State law (AB 1482) applies to covered rentals.
- Sewer: Sanitary District No. 2 of Marin County provides sewer service; in February 2025 Marin LAFCo approved annexing three more properties on Paradise Drive and Ranch Road to it (Resolution 25-09). Ask whether the district requires a sewer lateral inspection or certificate at sale.
Our Marin County real estate guide covers property tax, closing costs and county-wide rules.
Getting around: Highway 101, the Larkspur ferry and SMART
Highway 101 runs through Corte Madera, and the town’s ferry and rail connections are just across the town line in Larkspur:
- Golden Gate Ferry: the Larkspur–San Francisco route leaves from the Larkspur Ferry Terminal; Golden Gate’s current ferry schedules took effect April 13, 2026 (Golden Gate Ferry).
- SMART train: SMART’s southern end is Larkspur station, at 600 Larkspur Landing Circle, with trains north through San Rafael and Novato into Sonoma County. The Connect Larkspur shuttle links the station to the ferry terminal (SMART).
Shopping, open space, fire and schools
What to know about services and daily life:
- Town Center and The Village: the town has two outdoor shopping centers, the Town Center and The Village at Corte Madera (Visit Marin). The Village is at 1618 Redwood Highway, with Nordstrom, Apple and RH Marin among its tenants (The Village at Corte Madera). If you’re considering a home near either one, drive the route at a busy hour before you buy.
- Marshes: Shorebird Marsh, a 31-acre wildlife habitat just north of The Village, and the Corte Madera Ecological Reserve are both on the bay side of town, which is also where the flood questions above apply.
- Ring Mountain Preserve: 385 acres of county open space reached from Paradise Drive, with a 1.76-mile loop trail, views across the bay and the Tiburon mariposa lily, a plant found nowhere else (Marin County Parks).
- Fire protection: the Central Marin Fire Department, formed in 2018 to serve Corte Madera and Larkspur, runs four stations, including two in Corte Madera. It requires defensible space in the town’s wildland-urban interface areas, offers defensible-space and home-hardening evaluations, publishes its 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps and lists resale inspections among its services, so ask early whether a hillside home needs one. If the home is in a High or Very High zone, the seller owes the buyer a recent defensible-space inspection report under AB 38, or the two agree that the buyer will get one within a year.
- Schools: the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District and the Tamalpais Union High School District. Confirm the assigned schools for an address with each district.
Corte Madera compared with nearby areas
| Area | Government | One verified difference |
|---|---|---|
| Corte Madera | Incorporated town | Median $2,023,661 (three months to August 2026, Redfin); short-term rentals prohibited |
| Larkspur | Incorporated city | Median $1,901,548 (July 2026, Redfin); the SMART station and Larkspur Ferry Terminal are inside the city; short-term rental fines of $1,500 to $5,000 (2023 survey) |
| Greenbrae | Partly unincorporated; confirm by parcel | Shares ZIP 94904 with Kentfield, where the median was $2,559,432 for the three months to July 2026 (Redfin) |
| Mill Valley | Incorporated city | Median $1,898,743 (August 2026, Redfin); short-term rentals allowed with a city registration |
| Tiburon | Incorporated town | Median $3,047,983 (August 2026, Redfin); its own Golden Gate Ferry route to San Francisco |
How Diamond Real Estate Group helps Corte Madera buyers
In Corte Madera the same price can buy two very different risk profiles: a flat lot on bay mud near the shoreline or a hillside lot with slope and drainage questions. Before you commit, we look up the FEMA flood zone and the Natural Hazard Disclosure report with you, ask for elevation certificates and past claims, line up a structural or geotechnical inspection where settlement or slope is a concern, and get flood and homeowners insurance quotes inside the contingency period. Because most homes here sell over asking, we also help you set an offer from closed sales rather than list prices.
- Agents who serve Corte Madera: a disclosed list with each DRE license linked.
- Selling in Corte Madera and a private home valuation for current owners.
- Investment property: long-term rental math in a town without short-term rentals.
See also how we work with buyers.
Selling a home in Corte Madera
Corte Madera sellers deal with three local agencies: the town for records, Sanitary District No. 2 for the sewer lateral and Central Marin Fire for wildfire inspections. Near the Larkspur and Mill Valley lines, check the parcel record for jurisdiction.
Sewer lateral: required before title transfers
The district’s ordinance, which is part of the town code, says that when a property with sewer improvements is to be sold, the seller must have the private lateral inspected before transfer of title. It also covers transfers through a trust or within a family. The report must come from a licensed plumber, include a televised video and carry a sworn declaration. Any required repair is due within 180 days of the close of sale, and the code leaves the cost as a matter between buyer and seller. If the seller skips the inspection, the district requires the new owner to do it.
A full lateral replacement within three years before listing, or a remedial inspection and permitted repair within three years, avoids a new inspection.
Fire resale inspection
- Central Marin Fire inspects single-family homes listed for sale in the town’s wildland-urban interface; individual condos and townhouses are exempt.
- The 2026 fee is $211. The inspection is exterior only, done within 7 to 10 business days with no appointment.
- The home must pass within six months before a sales contract, and violations must be corrected within 30 days. For AB 38, the town’s own WUI designation governs.
Town report and transfer tax
Under town code Chapter 15.30, the owner or agent must get a town report on authorized use, occupancy and zoning before selling, and deliver it, with any required fire report, before closing. Escrow must obtain the buyer’s written acknowledgment. The council sets the fee; a title company’s 2026 list shows $130. Transfers without valuable consideration and between co-owners are exempt. There is no town transfer tax. Marin County’s $1.10 per $1,000 applies, customarily paid by the seller in Diamond’s North Bay markets but negotiable (see our transfer tax guide).
What buyers ask to see
On the bayside flats, buyers ask for the flood zone, any elevation certificate, past claims and foundation repair records. Compare towns on our Marin County selling requirements page, and see our seller services for how we prepare a Corte Madera listing.
Sources for this section: Corte Madera Municipal Code Chapter 15.30, Reports of residential building records (GoCodebook, unofficial copy); Corte Madera Municipal Code Chapter 21.22, Sanitary District No. 2 (GoCodebook, unofficial copy); WFG National Title: Presale inspection reports 2026; Central Marin Fire: Resale inspections; Marin County Assessor-Recorder: Fees (documentary transfer tax).
Corte Madera real estate FAQs
What is the median home price in Corte Madera, CA?
Redfin put it at $2,023,661 for the three months to August 2026, up 25.5% from a year earlier. Only 28 homes sold in August, so that jump partly reflects which homes happened to close. The Census Bureau’s survey median for owner-occupied homes, $1,755,200 (2020–2024), is a steadier benchmark.
How competitive is the Corte Madera real estate market?
Competitive. In August 2026 homes sold for 105.1% of list price on average, 59.3% sold over asking, and the median home sold in 21 days, according to Redfin. Expect to price offers from recent closed sales rather than the asking price.
Is Corte Madera in a flood zone?
Parts of it are. In 2024 the town sent about 1,000 surveys to residents and owners inside FEMA’s 100-year floodplain, which gives a sense of how many properties are mapped there. Check the specific parcel on FEMA’s flood map and ask your lender whether flood insurance will be required.
Is Corte Madera sinking?
Parts of it are settling. A NASA analysis cited by the Marin Independent Journal in March 2025 attributed the sinking mainly to compaction of the bay mud under the town. On a bayside home, have the inspector look for settlement and ask for any foundation or drainage repair records.
What is Corte Madera doing about sea-level rise?
The town finished a climate adaptation assessment in 2021, launched an online shoreline flood explorer in 2024, and has surveyed residents on options such as raising the Marina Village berm and adding flood barriers near Mariner Cove. In 2025 it was seeking a $900,000 FEMA grant to plan raising that berm, and in 2026 it started repairs to its storm drain pump stations.
Can I rent my Corte Madera home short term?
Not as far as the available record shows. The Town of Ross’s May 2023 survey of Marin cities lists Corte Madera as prohibiting short-term rentals, so plan on rentals of 30 days or more, subject to state tenant law, and confirm the current rule with Corte Madera’s planning department.
Does Corte Madera have a city transfer tax?
No. A Corte Madera sale pays only Marin County’s documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 of value.
Which school districts serve Corte Madera?
Corte Madera is in the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District (the elementary district) and the Tamalpais Union High School District for high school. Confirm assignments for a specific address with each district.
How do I commute from Corte Madera to San Francisco without driving?
The Golden Gate Ferry runs from the Larkspur Ferry Terminal, just across the town line in Larkspur, to San Francisco; the current schedules took effect April 13, 2026. The SMART train’s Larkspur station is nearby, and the Connect Larkspur shuttle links it to the ferry.
What ZIP code is Corte Madera?
Corte Madera uses ZIP code 94925. Some homes with a Corte Madera address sit near the boundaries with Larkspur, Mill Valley or unincorporated county land, so confirm the jurisdiction on the parcel record before relying on town rules.
Who provides fire protection, and is there a fire inspection when I buy?
The Central Marin Fire Department, formed in 2018 for Corte Madera and Larkspur, covers the town from four stations, two of them in Corte Madera. It lists resale inspections among its services and requires defensible space in wildland-urban interface areas, so ask early what applies to the home you’re buying. In a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, the state’s AB 38 defensible-space rule also applies at sale.
Is new housing being built in Corte Madera?
Some. In May 2025 the town recorded its approval of design review for a 99-unit multifamily building at 240 Tamal Vista Boulevard, all deed-restricted as affordable to lower-income households (State Clearinghouse).
Sources & notes
- Redfin: Corte Madera housing market (three months to August 2026) and C.A.R.: September 2026 home sales and price report
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Corte Madera town (2025 estimate; ACS 2020–2024)
- Marin Independent Journal via GovTech: online flood risk tool for Corte Madera (July 2024) and Marin IJ editorial on sinking areas of Marin (March 2025)
- State Clearinghouse: storm drain pump station repairs (February 2026), 2023–2031 Housing Element and Safety Element (June 2023) and 240 Tamal Vista Boulevard (May 2025)
- Town of Ross: short-term rentals staff report (May 2023) and Marin County Assessor-Recorder: fees and transfer tax
- Marin LAFCo Resolution 25-09: annexation to Sanitary District No. 2 (February 2025)
- Golden Gate Ferry (schedules effective April 13, 2026) and SMART stations
- Central Marin Fire Department, Larkspur-Corte Madera School District and Tamalpais Union High School District
- The Village at Corte Madera and Marin County Parks: Ring Mountain Preserve
Figures carry their dates where they appear, and we refresh market numbers every quarter. This is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice; confirm flood zones, insurance and rules for a specific property with the agency named. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Plan your next move
Share your preferred location, budget, property requirements and timing. We can help organize a focused search, arrange showings or discuss preparing a property for sale.
Local resource: Marin County planning and township resources. Check official information for the address you are considering; area descriptions do not establish a property’s permitted uses.
