[Home](https://realestateworks.com/) → [Cities](https://realestateworks.com/cities) → San Marino # How do I sell my house in San Marino? Ready to move from San Marino? Begin with a value check against neighboring sales, check whether the home is vacant (San Marino requires vacant homes to be registered), then prepare disclosures and photos. Sidney Manzo, in real estate since 1990, coordinates every piece for local homeowners and estates. Get my free home review. [En español](https://ayudaparavendercasa.vercel.app/cities/san-marino)[Call (626) 296-2900](tel:+16262962900) ## What are the steps to sell a house in San Marino? 1. ### Comparables Pull recent sold listings with similar beds, baths and lot size to set expectations. 2. ### Groundwork Line up vendors, seller forms and a vacancy registration check if the home is empty. 3. ### Agreement Read the written contract for scope, duration and fee before anything is marketed. 4. ### Showings Set open-house and private-tour times that fit your week, then launch the listing. 5. ### Negotiation Weigh each written offer on net proceeds, loan strength, contingency periods and close date. 6. ### Closing The escrow officer tracks contingencies and funds; recording the deed finishes the sale. ## What does listing service cost in San Marino? - 2.5% Essential - 3% Full Service - 3.5% Signature These are seller-side rates. The amount or rate of real estate commissions is not fixed by law. They are set by each broker individually and may be negotiable between the seller and broker. Your written agreement sets the final terms, and a higher tier is not a price promise. ## Which San Marino rules can affect a sale? Summary of public rules as of October 13, 2026. For your own sale, review the linked sources with counsel or a tax adviser. ### Transfer tax On a San Marino sale, the deed carries only the County's documentary transfer tax: $1.10 for each $1,000 of value, per the LA County Registrar-Recorder. Buyer and seller can split it however the contract says. [Source](https://www.lavote.gov/home/recorder/property-document-recording/documentary-transfer-taxes/general-info) ### Design Review Committee The City of San Marino's Design Review Committee, appointed by the City Council, reviews applications under adopted design guidelines so new development fits the site and the neighborhood; it meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM. [Source](https://sanmarinoca.gov/government/boards___commissions_/design_review_committee.php) ### Uninhabited homes The City of San Marino requires owners to register an uninhabited residence with the San Marino Police Department and pay an annual fee while it stays vacant. In real estate since 1990, Sidney Manzo builds these checks into every San Marino listing plan. [Source](https://sanmarinoca.gov/government/departments/police/uninhabited_residential_property_ordinance_and_application.php) ## What is selling in San Marino like? San Marino is a small city. The U.S. Census Bureau puts its land area at 3.77 square miles, its 2020 population at 12,513 and its households at about 3,910. It is almost entirely residential: the City was incorporated in 1913, and its founders wanted single-family homes on large lots with gardens, without manufacturing districts or apartment houses, a standard the City Council has kept with strict zoning regulations. For a seller, that means relatively few homes come up for sale and buyers compare them closely. The city also grew in part from Henry E. Huntington's former ranch land. At the center of town, Lacy Park offers 30 acres of lawns, trees and two walking loops. - Source: [U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: San Marino city (land area, 2020 population, households)](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sanmarinocitycalifornia/PST045224) - Source: [City of San Marino Residential Guide: single-family homes on large lots, strict zoning](https://cms9files.revize.com/cityofsanmarino/Residential%20Guide%20(2021).pdf) - Source: [City of San Marino: History (1913 incorporation, Huntington ranch land)](https://sanmarinoca.gov/government/history_of_san_marino_/index.php) - Source: [City of San Marino: Lacy Park (30 acres, walking loops)](https://sanmarinoca.gov/government/departments/community_services_-_recreation_new/book_facilities.php) ## How should I prepare a San Marino home for sale? Start with paperwork. Gather permits, past inspection reports and repair records so disclosures can be completed early. If the house is older, a pre-listing inspection of the roof, sewer line, electrical panel and foundation can surface items a buyer's inspector would otherwise find in escrow. On a large lot, the yard carries much of the first impression: trim hedges, refresh lawns and planting beds, clean the driveway and check exterior lighting. Inside, declutter, deep clean and fix the small things buyers notice. Then book professional photos on a clear day, including the garden and outdoor living areas. If you plan exterior work before listing, ask the City first whether it needs review. ## How long does a San Marino sale take? After an offer is accepted, escrow length is set by the contract's loan, appraisal and contingency periods. Before that, plan time for preparation, photos and marketing, which varies with the house. No one can promise how long a particular home will take to sell, and the contract you sign sets the dates. ## What if my San Marino sale involves a special situation? - [Selling a San Marino house you inherited Selling a San Marino home you inherited, once it is clear who may convey title.](https://realestateworks.com/cities/san-marino/inherited-property) - [Selling a San Marino house through probate Listing a San Marino home that is part of a probate estate.](https://realestateworks.com/cities/san-marino/probate) - [Selling a San Marino house as-is, without major repairs Selling a San Marino home without making repairs, with disclosures still provided when the law requires them.](https://realestateworks.com/cities/san-marino/sell-as-is) - [Selling a San Marino house while facing foreclosure Listing a San Marino home while a foreclosure is pending; a listing does not stop or postpone it.](https://realestateworks.com/cities/san-marino/foreclosure-help) - [Selling a San Marino house as a short sale, with lender approval Listing a San Marino home for less than the loan balance, subject to lender approval, which is required and not assured.](https://realestateworks.com/cities/san-marino/short-sale-help) ## Around San Marino - Huntington Drive a commercial corridor named in San Marino's Housing Element[Source](https://cms9files.revize.com/cityofsanmarino/planning/San%20Marino%20Housing%20Element_Adopted%20Nov%202024.pdf) - Mission Street a commercial area named in San Marino's Housing Element[Source](https://cms9files.revize.com/cityofsanmarino/planning/San%20Marino%20Housing%20Element_Adopted%20Nov%202024.pdf) - Lacy Park area the area around the park, named in San Marino's Housing Element[Source](https://cms9files.revize.com/cityofsanmarino/planning/San%20Marino%20Housing%20Element_Adopted%20Nov%202024.pdf) ## Who reviews San Marino homes here? - In real estate since 1990. - 155+ closed sales. - English & Spanish: fluent. Sidney Manzo, Agent, CA DRE #01108914. - In real estate since 1990 - 155+ closed sales - RE/MAX Hall of Fame - Member, Pasadena Association of REALTORS® and C.A.R. [About Sidney](https://realestateworks.com/about) RE/MAX Dream Properties (ASLG Inc), CA DRE #02142193 Last reviewed October 13, 2026 by Sidney Manzo. ## What do San Marino sellers ask most? **What is my San Marino home worth?** Recent sales on nearby streets, plus condition, lot size and updates, set a realistic San Marino price. Because relatively few homes trade in a small city, each comparable sale carries more weight, so the review looks closely at the lot, the street and recent work on the house. Sidney Manzo, in real estate since 1990, builds that review for you; it is an opinion, not an appraisal. **Is it a good time to sell in San Marino?** That depends more on your plans than on timing the market. No one can promise what a buyer will pay. A more useful question is what your home could fetch against recent nearby sales and what your next move will cost; a property-specific review answers both. **What do San Marino buyers look for?** Lots usually come first, since the City was founded around single-family homes on large lots with gardens and keeps strict zoning regulations. Architecture and condition follow. Because the Design Review Committee reviews exterior changes, buyers planning work like to see permits and approved plans, so have them ready. Source: [City of San Marino Residential Guide: single-family homes on large lots, strict zoning](https://cms9files.revize.com/cityofsanmarino/Residential%20Guide%20(2021).pdf) Source: [City of San Marino: Design Review Committee](https://sanmarinoca.gov/government/boards___commissions_/design_review_committee.php) **Will a San Marino buyer face design review?** Often, for new building work. The City of San Marino's Design Review Committee evaluates applications against Council-adopted design guidelines and meets the first and third Wednesday of each month. Buyers planning a rebuild, a second story or visible exterior changes should budget time for that review, and sellers can help by sharing any past approvals and permits for work already done on the house. Source: [City of San Marino: Design Review Committee](https://sanmarinoca.gov/government/boards___commissions_/design_review_committee.php) **Do I need a real estate agent to sell my home in San Marino?** California does not require one, and owners may sell on their own. If you hire an agent, a signed written listing agreement defines the representation, the services, the term and the fee. Asking for a property-specific review, calling or booking a consultation does not create a listing agreement or any obligation to list. **How does Prop 19 affect inheriting a home in California?** Since February 16, 2021, Proposition 19 lets a parent-to-child (or grandparent-to-grandchild) transfer of a family home keep its assessed value only if the child makes it their primary residence. The exclusion has a cap. If the home's market value is more than its taxable value plus $1,044,586 (the BOE figure for transfers from February 16, 2025 through February 15, 2027), the difference is added to the assessed value. The claim form is BOE-19-P. For your situation, check with the county assessor or a tax advisor. Sidney helps with the property side. Source: [California State Board of Equalization: Proposition 19](https://www.boe.ca.gov/prop19/) ## Where can I read more about selling in San Marino? - [U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: San Marino city](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sanmarinocitycalifornia/PST045224) - [City of San Marino: History of San Marino](https://sanmarinoca.gov/government/history_of_san_marino_/index.php) - [City of San Marino: Lacy Park](https://sanmarinoca.gov/government/departments/community_services_-_recreation_new/book_facilities.php) - [How do I sell my house? A step-by-step Pasadena example (Journal)](https://realestateworks.com/journal/how-do-i-sell-my-house-in-pasadena) - [Estate home sales in San Marino](https://realestateworks.com/cities/san-marino/probate) - [Inherited a San Marino home](https://realestateworks.com/cities/san-marino/inherited-property) - [Get my free home review](https://realestateworks.com/valuation?city=san-marino) ### Sources - [LA County Registrar-Recorder: Documentary Transfer Tax](https://www.lavote.gov/home/recorder/property-document-recording/documentary-transfer-taxes/general-info) (accessed October 13, 2026) - [City of San Marino: Design Review Committee](https://sanmarinoca.gov/government/boards___commissions_/design_review_committee.php) (accessed October 13, 2026) - [City of San Marino: Uninhabited Residential Property Ordinance](https://sanmarinoca.gov/government/departments/police/uninhabited_residential_property_ordinance_and_application.php) (accessed October 13, 2026) ## Request a San Marino home-value review A property-specific review of your San Marino address. Not an appraisal and not a promised price. A request does not create a listing agreement. Equal Housing Opportunity. We serve every client in compliance with federal and California fair housing laws. --- Sidney Manzo, CA DRE #01108914 · RE/MAX Dream Properties (ASLG Inc), CA DRE #02142193 · (626) 296-2900 Source page: https://realestateworks.com/cities/san-marino