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About this home
A thoughtfully reimagined 1940s bungalow nestled on a private hilltop in central San Rafael, this inviting home blends original character with beautiful, high-quality updates. Refinished hardwood floors, redwood paneling, designer wallpaper, handmade tile, updated windows, and a refreshed kitchen create a warm, considered setting made for everyday living and easy entertaining. The two-bedroom, one-bath layout offers a welcoming living room, bright dining area, laundry room, pantry, and seamless access to the backyard. Gather with friends around the dining table, linger over coffee on the spacious deck, or enjoy relaxed evenings surrounded by mature foliage and sweeping views. Terraced gardens lead to the front entry, while a versatile shed with French doors provides space for a studio, office, playroom, or creative retreat. A detached one-car garage completes the property. With its peaceful, treehouse-like feel, the home offers a private escape while remaining close to everything. Located between Gerstle Park and Bret Harte, it's just minutes from downtown San Rafael's shops and restaurants, down the block from Laurel Dell Elementary, and convenient to freeway access. Warm, welcoming, and designed for optimal enjoyment, this is a special place. Come home to San Rafael.
Single-familyProperty Type
1948Year Built
7,000 sq ftLot Size
$1,075Price/Sq.Ft.
1 garage spacesParking
Listed by Eric Gelman•DRE #01417335• Coldwell Banker Realty
Picnic Valley, located between Dominican University of California and China Camp State Park, is a residential and hillside San Rafael neighborhood with winding lanes and bay-facing ridgelines. The neighborhood’s character concentrates around the 4th Street corridor near Lootens Place, where sidewalk patios, indie boutiques, and espresso counters set a steady daytime hum. Community touchstones include the Rafael Film Center, Marin History Museum, and the Marin Center farmers market. Housing leans to mid-century and ranch-style homes tucked into oak and eucalyptus. Trails and open space shape daily routines, with quick transitions from streets to ridge paths. Downtown’s galleries and dining sit just beyond the valley’s edges.
Provided by Walk Score and Local Logic
Property details
Interior
Exterior
Finance
Kitchen
Bathroom
Bedroom
Living
Dining
Interior features
Wood-burning fireplace (1)
Formal dining area
Living room with view
No basement
Single-story
Bedrooms
2 bedrooms (main level)
Bathrooms
1 full bathroom (main level)
Kitchen
Kitchen on main level
Laundry & utility
Washer and dryer included in an interior laundry room
Flooring
Wood and other flooring
Heating & cooling
Wall furnace heating
No central cooling
Exterior features
Uncovered deck
Landscaped lot
Home design
Single-family residence
Residential property
One story
Parking
Detached garage with interior access, garage faces front
Total parking for 3 vehicles (1 garage space)
Construction
Composition/shingle roof
Utilities
Cable available
Internet available
Public sewer
HOA & community
No homeowners association
Not a senior community
Electricity and solar
View estimated energy costs and solar savings for this home
This adorable bungalow was constructed on a knoll top in 1948 & offers open hillside views & privacy. The original details still set the flavor of the home, now with upgraded kitchen & bathroom. There are 2BR & 1Ba, living room w/fireplace & dining area in the kitchen. Additionally, there is a laundry pantry off the kitchen, a multi-purpose shed in the backyard & a 1-car detached garage. The property offers various garden areas, from the terraced planting beds by the front door, and the large deck in the backyard. The tiered garden by the front gate has a welcoming lushness, including various fruit trees (peach, pomegranate, fig) & blackberry patches spotted throughout the yards. The deck is perfect for entertaining guests & family w/ a wonderful mix of sun & shade from a large tree. The multipurpose shed w/ double French doors, opens up onto the deck, a private and serene environment, making it a perfect place for a yoga studio, art studio, kid's playhouse or home office.
Public Records
Jul 20, 2007
Sold
$627,000
$677/sq ft
Public Records
May 6, 2003
Sold
$535,000
$578/sq ft
Public Records
Sep 16, 1980
Sold
$101,000
$109/sq ft
Year
Property tax
Land + Additions
Assessment*
2025
$14,749 (+3.2%)
$583,660 + $477,540
$1,061,200
2024
$14,293 (+1.7%)
$572,220 + $468,180
$1,040,400
2023
$14,052 (+29.9%)
$561,000 + $459,000
$1,020,000
2022
$10,815 (+1.6%)
$550,000 + $450,000
$1,000,000
2021
$10,643 (+1.1%)
$495,076 + $280,955
$776,031
2020
$10,526 (+2.9%)
$485,372 + $275,448
$760,820
2019
$10,225 (+1.0%)
$480,396 + $272,624
$753,020
2018
$10,122 (+3.9%)
$470,980 + $267,281
$738,261
2017
$9,741 (+9.5%)
$452,696 + $256,904
$709,600
2016
$8,893 (+10.2%)
$452,696 + $256,904
$709,600
2015
$8,072 (+8.6%)
$445,694 + $204,777
$650,471
2014
$7,430 (+8.2%)
$385,683 + $177,205
$562,888
2013
$6,867 (+6.5%)
$385,683 + $177,205
$562,888
2012
$6,447 (−4.1%)
$350,621 + $161,096
$511,717
2011
$6,724 (−0.6%)
$333,925 + $153,425
$487,350
2010
$6,767 (−2.5%)
$351,500 + $161,500
$513,000
2009
$6,944 (−9.9%)
$351,500 + $161,500
$513,000
2008
$7,711
$372,000 + $211,110
$583,110
Public record
Public record
Zoning
Permits
Beds
2
Baths
1
Stories
1
Lot width
—
Lot depth
—
Lot size
7,000 Sq. Ft.
Year renovated
1948
Finished Sq. Ft.
912
Unfinished Sq. Ft.
—
Total Sq. Ft.
912
Year built
1948
Style
Single Family Residential
County
Marin County
APN
013-126-12
Parking Spaces
—
Basement
—
Accessible
—
HOA Dues
—
Garage
—
Features
—
Last updated by owner on Jul 13, 2026.
DR
Duplex Residential District
The duplex residential district provides opportunities for single-family and duplex residential development. As a transitional area between single-family and multifamily districts, an intent of the district is to maintain the design character of single-family districts.; The duplex residential district is included in the medium-density residential land use category with a density of 2,500 sq ft per dwelling unit.
Permitted uses
Include but are not limited to:
Garden center
Housing-Single unit
Housing-Multiple units
Housing-Senior
Educational/school
Recreation
Park & open space
Dec 24, 2024 • Final
Encroachment online
Perform vegetation maintenance and implement a road closure.
Electrical
Aug 9, 2022 • Final
Encroachment online
Perform vegetation maintenance requiring a road closure.
Electrical
Permit history is from public records and may be incomplete or inaccurate. Redfin and its agents make no representations about the property condition or permit status. Buyers should independently verify all information.
Climate risks
1/10 Flood Factor
Minimal risk of a flood reaching the building in the next 30 years
1/10 Fire Factor
Unlikely to be in a wildfire in next 30 years
3/10 Heat Factor
7 days above 86° expected this year, 16 days in 30 years
1/10 Wind Factor
Minimal risk of severe winds over next 30 years
8/10 Air Factor
15 unhealthy days expected this year, 15 days in 30 years
Provided by First Street
Historical weather
San Rafael, CA • 94901
Average low and high temperatures (°F)
59
42
61
45
69
48
67
47
72
50
75
52
76
55
80
55
78
55
74
52
62
47
55
44
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sun exposure
In this area, properties receive around 10.6 hours in
June and 5 hours in December, placing it above the
U.S. average for solar exposure.
10.6 hrs
5 hrs
JuneDecember
Provided by Shadowmap
Redfin Estimate for 293 Bungalow Ave
$997,977
$2,977 over list price of $995K
Nearby comparable homes
The Redfin Estimate uses 6 recent nearby sales, priced between $901K to $1.8M.