Issue #13 | April 2, 2025
Greetings | Buzzworthy Sales | Good Eats | International Spotlight By The Numbers | Frankie Factoids
Hi Friends,
As we feel Spring approaching, I thought it would be fitting to focus on some good news to carry us through April showers and into May's flowers.
These two recent Bay Area accolades might provide some solace for you during moments of introspection on the price we pay to live in this paradise. The halo effect is real and Marin's proximity to the City will certainly shine on all our communities.
AARP Livability Index San Francisco has been named the #1 city for older adults in this year's AARP's Livability Index. The index evaluates neighborhoods based on key factors, and the City earned high marks in health (84/100) and transportation (75/100). This reflects the City's strong infrastructure for senior well-being, including excellent access to medical care, numerous opportunities for physical activity, a walkable environment, and a robust public transportation system. The report also identified areas for growth, specifically in opportunity and housing affordability.
Culinary Capital This small business lending arm dove into the details on their search for the best eats, surveying about 1000 Americans on dining preferences. With an impressive score of 91.47 out of 100, the City's vibrant and diverse food scene, coupled with its constant innovation, has cemented its place at the very top. SF also boasts the highest ratio of beloved mom-and-pop restaurants to chain establishments, proving local gems are the backbone of our unique culinary identity. California knows good food: seven cities were in the top 10, including Oakland and San Jose.
PS: For all you thrifters, our Community Corner featured Mt. Carmel Thrift Store is currently offering 50% off everything in store, through Saturday, April 5!
Cheers, Suzanne
BUZZWORTHY HOME SALES March
Winship Park | Ross
List Price | $1,500,000
Sales Price | $2,300,000
Price Per Sq Ft | $1289
Days on Market | 11
8 Offers (Cash)
2 Bed 2 Bath
Courtesy of: Deborah Solvason | MLS: 325020017
Middle Ridge | Mill Valley
List Price | $6,250,000
Sales Price | $6,757,000
Price Per Sq Ft | $2268
Days on Market | 2
2 Offers (Cash)
5 Bed 3 Bath
Courtesy of: Chris Glave | MLS: 325020471
Kite Hill | Mill Valley
List Price | $6,250,000
Sales Price | $6,250,000
Price Per Sq Ft | $1405
Days on Market | 11
2 Offers (Cash)
5 Bed 3 1/2 Bath
Courtesy of Chris DeNike | MLS: 325017468
Heather Gardens | Larkspur
List Price | $1,975,000
Sales Price | $2,400,000
Price Per Sq Ft | $1349
Days on Market | 9
4 Offers (Offers)
4 Bed 3 Bath
Courtesy of: Kathleen Clifford | MLS: 325007091
GOOD EATS | FOOD SCENE | ZONDA FINE MEATS, CORTE MADERA
Ever since we moved from Berkeley, I have wondered why Marin didn't subscribe to the Berkeley ethos of individualized, stand-alone culinary merchant shopping: the butcher, the baker, the fishmonger, the cheesemonger, etc.
At last my dreams have been answered! Marin County has a bonafide butcher at last: welcome Zonda Meats. Tucked away in a newly renovated space in Corte Madera, this butcher shop isn't just another place to pick up your weekly protein; it's a celebration and taste of Argentinian passion.
Behind Zonda Meats is Alberto, a Marin resident, whose journey to opening his own shop is as rich as the cuts he now offers. Born and raised in Argentina, Alberto's background is in the wine industry which he soon parlayed into imported Argentinian beef.
What started with a single pallet gradually expanded to supplying Marin and San Francisco restaurants and retailers with the delicious beef. Eventually, Alberto set his sights on a brick-and-mortar shop and landed at the Montecito Ave. location, including a rich history of its own: once an old barn, then a video store, and most recently a tech company. Behind every cut - literally - is Jason, the skilled butcher, who brings expertise and passion to every cut.
Zonda Meats’ specialty is undoubtedly its imported Argentinian beef. Grass-fed and finished on grain for 120 days, this beef boasts a depth of flavor that sets it apart. I sampled the Flank cut and when pan-fried with a simple Harris Ranch seasoning, it was sublime. In addition to Argentinian beef, Alberto sources and sells: pork from Idaho, CA's Mary’s chicken, domestic beef from the Greater Omaha packer, local beef from California's Brandt Beef, French sausages, Iberia hams, and a selection of frozen fish.
Alberto has more plans for Zonda's and expects to procure a wine and beer license later this month.
Bonus Tip: They carry delicious handmade empanadas (chicken, beef, or vegetarian), delivered fresh by a father-son team.
INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT | COSTA BRAVA, SPAIN
L’Escala | $1.3 million (€1.2 million)
1,894 sq ft | $686/sq ft
Designed by the Barcelona-based firm Bellafillarquitectes, this 3 bed, 2 bath home is in the Els Emperadors neighborhood of L’Escala, a town on the southern end of the Gulf of Roses. The one-story house was built in 2019 on a quarter-acre plot in the midst of a pine tree plot, yet in an urban setting and close to the beach.
L’Escala is known for its annual anchovy festival, a nod to its history as a fishing center. Numerous historic castles and landmarks surround the city, as do beaches and nature preserves. The Illes Medes, a protected grouping of craggy islets popular for scuba diving, is 13 miles away.
The bedrooms face south and align on one side of a common hallway leading from the living room, with the two full bathrooms on the other side. Each bedroom offers access to an enclosed courtyard outside. The living and dining areas share an open floor plan; the galley kitchen, with its sleek, warmed-toned wood cabinets, is separate. Tile, polished stone, saw-cut pine planks and concrete provide a natural, textured look to surfaces throughout the home.
Photo Credit: Lucas Fox, New York Times
MARIN REAL ESTATE REPORT
Weekly Stats Ending March 24
FRANKIE FACTOID | PROP 19
Before the creation of California's Proposition 19 in 2020, you could pass your house down to your kids (or other heirs) and they'd keep your (maybe) super low property taxes. That's changed. Now, when the property is transferred, it gets reassessed, and the property taxes your heirs pay can increase significantly. There is a workaround though: if they live in the inherited home, they can try to exclude up to $1 million of its value from being reassessed. But they have to move in within a year AND remember to actually apply for the exemption. Consult your tax accountant for more details and be sure your heirs know the law.