Issue #26 | August 2026
Greetings | Marin Transactions | Hohm Pantry | Roller Disco! | Mexico City (CDMX) | San Rafael's Latino Markets | By The Numbers
Hi Friends, it's that time of year when I savor the last few days of summer and my favorite ingredients come together in harmony: carefree moments and wonderstruck awe. This pic was taken during a recent after-dinner walk with Frankie; we happened upon this glorious scene, along with a few other neighbors (You can just make out their silhouettes by looking for the sunset in their ipad & phone). These simple magical moments fill me with such joy and gratitude — a reminder of what living amongst nature does for the human spirit.
On to some real estate news of note:
Get out the vote...this November! Recently, the San Rafael City Council unanimously approved a resolution that actually hurts homebuyers and sellers at a time when housing is already unaffordable for the vast majority of people. They voted to put a measure to the people that would increase the City's Real Property Transfer Tax from 0.2% to 1%. This may sound inconsequential but it is an outrageous money grab. Check out the infographic below to see how this would affect transaction closing costs for a $1 million home (courtesy of Marin Assoc. of Realtors).
To date, San Rafael is THE ONLY town or city in all of Marin that charges a city transfer tax upon resale. Customarily, the seller pays this tax. This is in addition to the County Real Property Transfer Tax that sellers customarily pay across Marin.
I encourage you to inform all your friends, neighbors and family residing in San Rafael about this draconian tax that will affect anyone buying or selling in San Rafael; they can call the Mayor or City Councilmembers to express their concern, and I'll be sure to remind you about this in the November issue.
Larkspur City Council is busy reviewing potential strategies for dealing with those long-term vacant properties that just gnaw away at some of us every time we lay eyes on them...One option is the 'Vacancy Property Registration Program,' which could apply to residential and/or commercial buildings. Owners of vacant properties would be required to register with the City, pay an annual registration fee, and meet certain maintenance requirements; furthermore, properties that go unregistered could be subject to fines. Stay tuned!
Cheers, Suzanne
BUZZWORTHY HOME SALES | JULY
Rose Lane | Larkspur
Sales Price | $3,950,000
List Price | $4,350,000
Price Per Sq. Ft. | $752
Days on Market | 119
3 Offers
5 Bed 6 Bath
Courtesy of: Link & Nan Allen | MLS: 326019190
Sycamore Park | Mill Valley
Sales Price | $1,600,000
List Price | $1,400,000
Price Per Sq. Ft. | $2156
Off Market
3 Offers
2 Bed 1 Bath
Courtesy of: Kathleen Clifford | MLS: 326062565
GOOD TIMES | SUBLIME EVENTS Through August 16 | Roller Disco Daze, San Rafael
Michael and I were so excited when we started seeing bus billboards boasting about this event all over Marin. Roller skating in our county? For free?! It was just too much, so we ventured on down last week and spent some time chatting it up with the legendary Godfather of Skate himself - Church of 8 Wheels founder - David Miles, Jr. (aka "D").
The family affair includes David's son who keep the vibes rolling every themed weekend, under the disco ball. The rink is also open Wednesdays and Thursdays, sans DJ. D's other kids run the onsite skate rental - only $5/pair - along with safety gear and quick tips for first-timers. Personal 8 wheel or inline skates welcome as are all skill levels and ages.
If skating's not your thing, there's plenty more to enjoy: oversized lawn games, unique art installations by local artists including a teeny house made of spoons, Manny's Tacos, and plenty of free parking.
Brought to you by Marin Center, the weeks-long party takes place on Lagoon Island at the Marin County Fairgrounds.
COMMUNITY CORNER HOHM PANTRY
Hohm Pantry is the type of place you didn’t realize was missing from your life until you make your first visit. If you're like me, you've been patiently waiting for specialty stores like this to set down roots in Marin, taking a cue from places like Berkeley that overflow with small business niche shops.
That’s because its owner, Cara Edwards, is so much more than a retail store merchant. Hohm is a lifestyle, a community, and gathering space for all the things you dream of doing, living under one roof; what some would call Mindful or Intentional Living. I call it Common Sense!
Open seven days a week (10am-7pm) since mid-March, you’ll likely see Cara or one of her two part-time employees minding the space.
Cara’s background is impressive and spans across multiple industries: Herbalist, Holistic Chef, Yoga Instructor - yet they all share one thing in common: self-love and self-care within a holistic lifestyle. When she found herself ordering obscure products online and driving all across Marin for specialty ingredients, Cara realized the time had come to take the leap into the brick and mortar space. A Novato resident and Yoga instructor for the past 10 years, Cara scoured Marin for a retail space that could merge her three talents in one, and has found that at Hohm Pantry (7400 Redwood Blvd #101, Novato, CA 94945).
The Pantry offerings are diverse and mostly organic; bulk items are displayed in oversized bins and glass jars, meant to be refilled as opposed to single-use packaging, thus, a low-waste refillery. Customers may bring their own refillable carriers or use the provided brown paper bags. Offerings range from Apothecary (Medicinal Herbs) to culinary herbs, oils and vinegars, cleaning, home and body care essentials, custom-made tea blends (even a homemade Electrolyte blend!), coffee beans, and so much more.
If you’ve met with a Clinical Herbalist, Hohm is the place you’ll likely be referred to for purchasing your tinctures. Offerings include Mullein and Mug/Motherwort, myriad functional fungi, White Willow Bark, and Schisandra Berry.
To further the community spirit, Cara sells Novato’s Fire Swamp Provisions bakery products, who she met at the local farmer’s market; a CSA produce delivery from several Sonoma-based farms and, very soon, items from Mill Valley Pasta Shop. Many evenings, the store and outside patio are home to the ‘After Hours’ Series including hands-on workshops like Fire Cider, Gentle Yoga & Tea, Gallery night art shows and vinyl listening events.
Cara’s future plans include offerings from local purveyors of honey, meat and eggs as well as opening more locations across Marin. Let's help ensure her success as beautiful stores such as Hohm certainly contribute to our rising property values, and make Marin's that much more interesting to live and play in for us all!
INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT | CDMX
San Ángel | $1,100,000
3239 sq ft | $340/sq ft
After spending a week in Mexico City a few months ago, I often find myself daydreaming of the home I'd like to purchase if stars were ever to align. The magic of Mexico City is undeniable: beautiful, welcoming, congenial peoples + charming, cobblestone, canopy tree-lined neighborhoods + world-class cuisine, art and architecture, all coalesce to make this bustling walk-friendly mecca so inviting.
This Spanish Colonial-style house captures southern Mexico City's essence for me in every way: 1) cobblestone street, 2) upscale, historic neighborhood, 3) sleepier than neighboring hub Coyoacán, 4) close to Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera's homes, art & studios (now a museum), 5) plenty of restaurants, parks, art galleries and shops with a bustling music and art Bazaar on Saturday's.
The 4 bed/4 bath home, built in 1967, boasts wonderful architectural details from Talavera-tiled surfaces and ornate ironwork, to sturdy masonry walls and substantial wooden doors and beams.
On the ground floor, beyond the high ceilinged living room is a kitchen with breakfast bar and one en-suite bedroom with attached outdoor patio. Upstairs are the remaining bedrooms, all en-suite for optimum privacy.
Annual taxes run about $1670.
Listing & Photo Courtesy of Guadalupe Güemes Menédez | 5a Avenida Real Estate
COMMUNITY CORNER SAN RAFAEL’S LATIN FOOD MARKETS
Bellam Market may have some of the best authentic Panadería offerings in San Rafael (and it's around the corner from Twinkle Lighting HQ), but here are a few of my favorite specialty Latin markets that truly outshine in a sea of dozens throughout Marin.
El Prado covers a lot of geography with tasty treats from Mexico, Guatemala, Fiji, and Brazil. There’s a nice-sized butcher flanking the North side of the shop, surrounding fresh produce, but the showstoppers are the hard-to-find-in-Marin Fijian offerings and the tamale-making section.
La Plaza warms my heart; upon entering you feel like you’re in an abuela’s warm and cozy casa. Exclusively selling Guatemalan and Mexican foods, you’ll also find special handmade crafts throughout the store. A generous produce section, full butcher, and plenty of imported specialty candies. My favorites are the fresh nixtamal (hominy) and small batch, Guatemalan-style handmade tortillas, made with only two ingredients, the way they should be: Corn + Water!
I happened upon the Peru Groceries a few months ago and walked around wonderstruck by all the sights, sounds and food stuffs. They’ve been in business only two years and also carry products from Brazil and Colombia. Must try’s here include: enormous bags of fried plantains, and the addictive Peruvian specialty drink chicha morada (purple corn).
