How do I sell my house in San Marino?

Sell a house in San Marino: what is it worth?

Pricing starts with recorded sales of comparable homes close to yours, adjusted for lot, condition and permitted square footage. I give that to you as an opinion of value, not an appraisal; a lender's appraiser does its own review after you accept an offer. The method is laid out in How much is my San Marino home worth?

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San Marino Residential Compliance Certificate

This is the City step most sellers don't expect. Under San Marino Municipal Code article 24.02, a residential building vacated to be reoccupied can't be sold until the owner files an application and has the house inspected by an inspector on the City's list (City of San Marino, Residential Compliance application and code text). The code says the inspection does not have to happen before the property is offered for sale, so you can list first. The application says the inspection report is due within 30 days of the inspection, with drawings, and that a "required notification form" signed by the selling agent and the buyer is due within 45 more days. The City lists it as a required submittal before the sale of any home (City of San Marino, permits and forms).

What the San Marino inspection looks at

The application limits the inspection to items like garage conversions, more kitchens or bedrooms than permitted, and visible code violations. If violations are found, the owner corrects them within six months of the City's notice; if the house sells first, the seller and the seller's agent give the buyer a copy of the notice, and the new owner takes on the corrections. A certificate is valid for two years or until the property sells, whichever comes first. When a violation affects the contract, your attorney handles this part, and I work alongside them.

Prepare a San Marino house to sell

Before you start exterior work, know that San Marino's Design Review Committee, appointed by the City Council, reviews projects for fit with the site and the neighborhood's visual character and meets on the first and third Wednesday (City of San Marino, Design Review Committee). If a project needs that review, it rarely fits a short pre-listing window, so many owners favor cleaning, paint touch-ups and small permitted repairs.

List a San Marino house

With the application filed, photos, the MLS listing and showings follow. The listing should match the permitted record, because the compliance inspection checks the same rooms a buyer will ask about.

Offers and disclosures for a San Marino house

Compare price, loan type, contingency periods and close date across offers. California disclosure rules are in Civil Code sections 1102, 1102.2 and 1103 (Civil Code §1102): the Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS) and the Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD), with the Seller Property Questionnaire (SPQ) commonly added. The NHD reports any fire hazard severity zone for your parcel.

Escrow and closing costs for a San Marino house

The Los Angeles County documentary transfer tax is $0.55 per $500, or $1.10 per $1,000 (LA County Registrar-Recorder). Ask your escrow officer to confirm whether any city tax applies to your deed. To see what you keep after commission, payoff and escrow fees, read How much will I net if I sell my San Marino house?

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How long does it take to sell a San Marino house?

I won't promise a timeline. The inspection booking, the 30-day report and 45-day form windows, any corrections, market response and the buyer's loan all move the date.

More San Marino seller notes

Who should I hire to sell an inherited house in San Marino? · How do I choose a probate REALTOR® in San Marino? · Should I sell my San Marino house before I buy another one? · What is the median home price in San Marino? · Request a home value review

General information checked against the sources above on Nov 4, 2026. Not legal or tax advice. Opinion of value, not an appraisal.