Short-Term Rental Property Sourcing in Marin County, CA
High-yield STR market analysis and purchase representation.
So you buy a property that actually cash flows — and won't get shut down by the next ordinance. Every address is screened against the rules, then underwritten on real numbers, before you ever write an offer.
Prefer to talk it through first? Call Michael at (415) 483-6009
What Marin clients say about working with Michael
Verified five-star reviews pulled straight from Google, Yelp, and Zillow — not a single word reworded.
Michael Jackson is a great Realtor. He is responsive and communicative, while giving his clients a clear roadmap for the real estate transaction. I recommend him for your next sale or purchase.
We were referred to Michael by my attorney due to our complicated real estate predicament. Michael knew all the steps to take and was very thorough in explaining everything. He answered any questions we had no matter what time of the day.
The minute we said we wanted to use our VA loan, doors closed on our offers. Michael was able to persuade the seller that the VA loan is just as good as the others. Once in contract, he put all his skill and knowledge into making the deal successful for everyone involved.
Great realtor, family man who made the home buying process seamless. Answered all questions, constantly stayed in communication and never pressured me into anything. I will definitely buy or sell with him again.
I told Michael I was looking for a house in Black Point and he was very knowledgeable of the area. When I brought him a few houses to look at, he started scheduling showings immediately. I fell in love with the second home and he got us an accepted offer for less than asking; same day. First class!!
Michael made buying a home and selling a home a breeze. He not only had everything so organized, he answered all 1k questions I had in a timely manner! One year later he is still checking in on me and the family. I couldn't have asked for a better realtor.
The numbers looked amazing on the spreadsheet. Then reality showed up.
Most buyers chasing short-term rental income in Marin research national averages and glossy projections — and discover the hard truths only after they've signed.
You buy first, learn the rules later
Marin doesn't play by national rules. A countywide license cap, one-STR-per-operator limits, and licenses that don't transfer when a property sells can quietly erase the entire investment thesis.
You overpay for "projected" income
A listing agent's revenue estimate is a marketing number. Without real, address-level occupancy and nightly-rate data, you're paying today for income that may never materialize.
The HOA — or the county — shuts you down
An HOA can vote in an STR ban after you close. Insurers can exclude coverage. A new ordinance can cap your zone. Suddenly your "rental" is a very expensive second home.
In Marin, a single zoning line can be the difference between a property that prints cash and one that bleeds it. The regret is almost never about investing — it's about investing without doing the homework first.
Meet Michael Wayne Jackson
They call him "Action Jackson" — and in the STR game, action means doing the unglamorous homework before you commit a dime. Michael has spent 19+ years reading the Marin market street by street, ordinance by ordinance.
A former pro baseball player drafted by the Texas Rangers, Michael brings a B.A. in Psychology from Sonoma State and a competitor's discipline to every deal. As a licensed California broker and Realtor®, his job on an STR purchase isn't to sell you a house — it's to find the few properties where the income, the rules, and the price actually line up, and to walk you away from the ones that don't.
- Licensed CA Broker since 2005
- Realtor® · NAR Member
- SRES — Seniors Real Estate Specialist
- CNE — Certified Negotiation Expert
- CDPE — Distressed Property Expert
- Marin Association of Realtors — Board
Or call Michael directly — (415) 483-6009
What you get that a typical buyer's agent won't give you
Sourcing a short-term rental that performs is a research problem before it's a real-estate transaction. Here's where Michael earns his keep.
Every property is checked against current county and town ordinances before it earns a second look. Better to kill a deal in week one than watch a license get capped in year two.
Projections are built from comparable, address-level performance and conservative assumptions — the same way a lender or a serious operator would model it.
Michael is paid to find the right property, not to close any property. If the numbers don't survive the stress test, he'll tell you — even when it costs him a commission.
Lending, licensing, insurance, cleaning, and management — Michael connects you to the Marin operators who keep an STR full and compliant, so you're not assembling a team from scratch.
A data-first path from "interested" to "income-producing"
No guesswork, no pressure. Every step is designed to either prove a property out — or save you from a costly mistake.
Strategy SessionDefine your yield target & risk tolerance
We start with a free planning session: your budget, your target cash-on-cash return, and how hands-on you want to be. This becomes the filter every property gets measured against.
Market & Regulatory ScreenMap the zones that actually allow STRs
Marin's rules differ town by town and zone by zone. We screen for license availability, community-specific caps, HOA posture, and Coastal Zone status — so you only look at properties that can legally do what you want.
Address-Level Yield AnalysisUnderwrite real income, not averages
For each candidate, we model occupancy, average daily rate, seasonality, transient occupancy tax, cleaning, management, and reserves — then stress-test it against a downside scenario before you ever write an offer.
Offer & NegotiationWin the right property at the right price
As a Certified Negotiation Expert, Michael structures the offer around the numbers — contingencies, license verification, and terms that protect your downside, not the seller's narrative.
Close & LaunchHand off to a turnkey operation
We help you line up licensing, TOT registration, insurance that covers STR use, and vetted local management — so the property is earning, not sitting, the week after closing.
Action Jackson vs. the average agent
| On an STR purchase… | Action Jackson | The Average Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Checks the specific address against current STR ordinances | Before showing it | Often not at all |
| Income projection source | Address-level comps, stress-tested | Seller's marketing estimate |
| Verifies license availability & transfer rules | Every candidate | Rarely |
| Flags HOA & insurer STR restrictions | Up front | After closing, if ever |
| Willing to walk you away from a bad deal | Yes — even at a lost commission | Incentivized to close |
| Connects a vetted local management bench | Included | You're on your own |
Marin's short-term rental landscape
STR rules in Marin are hyper-local. This is a simplified orientation — your strategy session covers the exact, current rules for any property you're considering.
West Marin Coast
Highest DemandWhere most licensed STRs sit and where supply is tightest. Caps tied to 2022 counts and Coastal Commission oversight make license scarcity the real constraint.
Stinson & Seadrift
Premium BeachfrontBooks fast in summer and commands top nightly rates — but carries community-specific caps and limits on the share of developed properties that can operate.
Dillon Beach
More AttainableOceanfront on bluffs at a friendlier entry price. A capped share of developed properties means availability must be verified before you offer.
Point Reyes Gateway
Year-Round DrawOlema, Point Reyes Station, and Inverness pull steady park traffic with a B&B character. Strong demand; the limiting factor is license availability.
Sausalito & Tiburon
Bay Views · City-AdjacentIncorporated towns that set their own rules — so the municipal code, not the county ordinance, governs whether and how you can operate.
Mill Valley · San Rafael · Novato
Redwood & Downtown MixTown-by-town ordinances range from workable to restrictive. Each address needs its own check before you commit — which is exactly what we do.
Unincorporated Marin operates under a countywide cap (about 1,200 licenses), a one-STR-per-operator rule, two-year renewals, and licenses that don't transfer on sale. Incorporated cities and towns set their own rules. Always verify current law for a specific address.
Have a property in mind right now?
Call Michael and run the address by him before you do anything else. Five minutes can save you from a six-figure mistake.
Short-term rental sourcing, straight answers
Q.Can I even run a short-term rental in Marin?
In many places, yes — but it depends entirely on the address. Unincorporated Marin caps total licenses and limits coastal communities; incorporated towns each set their own rules. The first thing we do is confirm a property can legally operate as an STR before you fall in love with it.
Q.How do you know a property will actually cash flow?
We underwrite each candidate with comparable, address-level occupancy and nightly-rate data, then subtract realistic costs — taxes, management, cleaning, vacancy, and reserves — and stress-test it against a slow season. If it only works on optimistic assumptions, it doesn't pass.
Q.What if the rules change after I buy?
That's exactly the risk we plan for. We favor properties whose returns hold up even under tighter regulation, verify HOA and insurer positions, and make sure you understand the realistic downside before closing — not after.
Q.Do STR licenses transfer when I buy?
In unincorporated Marin, generally no — licenses don't automatically transfer when a property sells, and a new owner typically must reapply under current rules. We build that reality into every analysis so there are no surprises at the finish line.
Q.What taxes and fees should I expect?
STR operators collect and remit Transient Occupancy Tax and need the proper registrations. Platforms collect some taxes automatically in certain areas, but compliance is still your responsibility. We connect you with the right tax and licensing resources before you launch.
Q.I'm a first-time investor — is this for me?
Absolutely. Much of Michael's value is keeping first-timers out of the traps experienced buyers have already learned to avoid. You'll understand every number and every rule before you commit — no jargon, no pressure.
Q.Can I buy remotely or out of state?
Yes. Many STR buyers live elsewhere. Michael acts as your eyes and ears on the ground — touring, vetting, and verifying — and assembles the local management bench so the property runs without you living next door.
Q.Why use a buyer's broker instead of going direct?
A listing agent represents the seller's price. Michael represents your downside. The regulatory screening, conservative underwriting, and negotiation are exactly the parts that protect your capital — and they cost you nothing extra as the buyer.
Let's find the property that actually pencils out.
Book a free, no-pressure planning session. We'll map your yield target to Marin's real opportunities — and tell you honestly what it takes to win.
Book a Free Planning SessionSources & Citations
The research informing this page. Every link opens in a new tab so you keep your place here.
| # | Source | What It Informs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | County of Marin — STR Ordinance Adopted by Board | Countywide 1,200-license cap; West Marin 2022 limits |
| 2 | County of Marin — STR Licensing Program | License application & program details |
| 3 | San Rafael Patch — New STR Rules | One-per-operator, two-year renewal, ADU & transfer rules |
| 4 | The Real Deal — Marin Caps Coastal STRs | License counts, attrition, non-transfer on sale |
| 5 | Avalara MyLodgeTax — Marin STR Caps & TOT | Transient Occupancy Tax & compliance obligations |
| 6 | Living in Marin — Rules for STRs | Permits, business license, eligible property types |
| 7 | Marin County Visitor — Vacation Homes | Coastal demand zones; STR licensing context |
| 8 | Marin County Visitor — Places to Stay | Sub-market character (Sausalito, West Marin, Stinson) |
| 9 | STR Due Diligence — Regulatory & HOA Risk | Regulatory, HOA, and insurance due-diligence questions |
| 10 | Redfin — Rental Property Investment Guide | Cash-flow vs. appreciation; PITI underwriting |
| 11 | STR Market Analysis — Choosing a Market | Demand, seasonality, regulation, ROI metrics |
| 12 | Airbnb — Host Responsibilities & Licensing | Licensing, insurance, zoning, safety basics |
| 13 | Fox News Real Estate — Know the Rules First | Local-law risk; zoning & licensing cautions |