Foster City · San Mateo County

Marlin Cove

Marlin Cove sits convenient to shopping near the Charter Square shopping center on Shell Boulevard.

Median Sale
$2,247,713
March 2026 · 10 closings

Marlin Cove Real Estate Market Snapshot

Median Sale Price
$2,247,713
+2.2% vs prior-year median
Avg. Days on Market
20
% List Price Received
106%
Months of Inventory
0.8
Homes Sold (March 2026)
10
Median price trend
2025 · $2,200,000 March 2026 · $2,247,713
List-price received
106%
90%100%120%+

As of March 2026 · Source: SAMCAR/MLSListings

Living in Marlin Cove

Marlin Cove sits inside Foster City on the east side of Shell Boulevard, immediately adjacent to the Charter Square shopping center. The pocket is one of several Foster City planned-unit developments built between the late 1960s and early 1980s on engineered fill, and the housing mix is dominated by townhomes and condominiums under mandatory HOA membership rather than detached single-family stock (City of Foster City HOA Prototypes). Lagoon access through the broader Foster City waterway network is available within a short walk via the central city grid.

Daily life here centers on convenience: Charter Square's grocery, pharmacy, and daily-needs retail sit at the front door, while the central Foster City lagoon system, Beach Park Boulevard, and the Bay Trail are reachable within minutes by foot or bicycle. Most Marlin Cove parcels are governed by HOA documents that handle exterior maintenance, common-area landscaping, and shared amenities, so buyers should request the full HOA disclosure package, dues history, and reserve study during due diligence (City of Foster City HOA directory).

Schools

Marlin Cove falls within the San Mateo-Foster City School District (SMFCSD) at the K-8 level, and SMFCSD operates a TK-8 unified system rather than separate elementary and middle districts (San Mateo-Foster City School District). High school students attend the San Mateo Union High School District, with San Mateo High and Aragon High serving most Foster City addresses (San Mateo Union High School District). SMFCSD is open-enrollment within district boundaries, so families may request any in-district school subject to space availability; specific attendance area should be confirmed at the parcel level before writing offers.

Lifestyle

Marlin Cove residents draw on Charter Square retail at the front door, Foster City's 7-mile interconnected lagoon system for paddling and sailing, and the Bay Trail along the eastern bay edge. Leo J. Ryan Park, the largest in the city at roughly 11 acres, anchors the central waterfront and sits a short drive away. Catamaran Park, Beach Park, and Boothbay Park serve neighborhood-scale recreation, and the city's Recreation Department runs year-round sailing, kayaking, and water-safety programs out of the lagoon system.

Commute

Marlin Cove's central Foster City position places Highway 92 (the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge) within roughly five minutes via Shell Boulevard or East Hillsdale, with US-101 reachable in ten minutes. SFO is approximately twelve minutes north on US-101, and the Hillsdale and Hayward Park Caltrain stations in San Mateo sit eight to ten minutes west. Visa's Foster City headquarters is within the city itself, and Oracle and Electronic Arts in Redwood Shores are a ten-minute drive south on US-101.

Market

The Marlin Cove Market Right Now

Marlin Cove transactions fall inside the broader Foster City market, where the March 2026 single-family median sale price reached $2,247,713 across 10 closings at 106% list-price-received and 20 average days on market (SAMCAR/MLSListings San Mateo County data). Calendar-year 2025 closed at 103 single-family sales with a median of $2,200,000 at 105% of list and 17 days on market (SAMCAR/MLSListings). Marlin Cove's stock skews toward townhomes and condominiums rather than detached single-family, so most pocket transactions price in the broader Foster City condo and townhome band of roughly $800,000 to $1.4 million depending on size and lagoon proximity. Buyers focused on this pocket should anticipate competitive offers on turnkey units in walkable proximity to Charter Square.
Transactions

What Buyers and Sellers Should Know About Marlin Cove

Marlin Cove sits within Foster City's R-1 Single-Family Residence District framework (Foster City Municipal Code Chapter 17.12), and the Waterfront Setback Policy (PC Policy 92-2001) imposes additional setbacks on lagoon-fronting parcels to protect water views (Foster City Planning Commission Policy 92-2001). Foster City is a general law city and total documentary transfer tax remains $1.10 per $1,000 of consideration, split equally between city and county, after the City Council voted on August 25, 2025 not to pursue a charter-city or transfer-tax ballot measure (San Mateo County Association of REALTORS). Foster City does not have a city-specific point-of-sale private sewer lateral compliance ordinance; the Estero Municipal Improvement District (EMID) operates the public collection system and owners are responsible for the upper lateral (Foster City Public Works). Marlin Cove buyers should expect mandatory HOA documents on most townhome and condominium parcels and should request the full HOA disclosure package, dues history, and any open special assessments during due diligence (City of Foster City HOA Prototypes).
Field Notes

Market Notes by Lisa M. Lum

Recent transactions in Foster City through Q1 2026 have shown overbid intensity strengthening modestly, with the citywide list-price-received ratio moving from 105% in 2025 annual to 106% in March 2026 (SAMCAR/MLSListings). Lisa Lum observes that Marlin Cove buyers tend to weigh HOA dues, reserve health, and walkable proximity to Charter Square alongside lagoon access when evaluating units, and that sellers who resolve any deferred SB 326 balcony inspections and disclose open special assessments before listing generally achieve cleaner contract terms.

Updated 2026-05-06

Frequently Asked Questions about Marlin Cove

Is Marlin Cove governed by a homeowners association?
Most Marlin Cove townhomes and condominiums are governed by mandatory HOAs that handle exterior maintenance, landscaping, and common areas (City of Foster City HOA Prototypes). Buyers should request the full HOA disclosure package, dues history, and reserve study during due diligence.
What types of homes are in Marlin Cove?
Marlin Cove's housing stock is dominated by townhomes and condominiums built as planned-unit developments, with a smaller share of detached single-family homes. Most parcels carry HOA membership and CC&Rs from the original development plan.
How close is Marlin Cove to shopping and the lagoon?
Marlin Cove sits adjacent to the Charter Square shopping center on Shell Boulevard for daily-needs retail, and the central Foster City lagoon system is reachable within a short walk via the city grid, providing access to paddling, sailing, and the Bay Trail.
Does SB 326 affect Marlin Cove condominiums?
Yes. SB 326 requires condominium associations to complete structural inspections of balconies, elevated walkways, and load-bearing components. Marlin Cove buyers should request the HOA's most recent SB 326 inspection report and any related repair scope during due diligence.
What HOA dues should buyers expect in Marlin Cove?
Foster City planned-unit developments commonly run HOA dues of roughly $400 to $900 per month depending on amenities and association size. Confirm the current dues, any open special assessments, and reserve study with the HOA at offer time.
What is the transfer tax in Marlin Cove, San Mateo County?
San Mateo County charges a base transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 of consideration, paid by the seller at close. Some cities add a local supplemental tax. Marlin Cove does not impose an additional municipal transfer tax beyond the county base.
Does Marlin Cove require a sewer lateral inspection at sale?
Several San Mateo County jurisdictions require a private sewer lateral compliance certificate before close of escrow. The requirement varies by city — confirm with your transaction coordinator early in the listing process.
What disclosures are required when selling a home in Marlin Cove?
California requires Transfer Disclosure Statement, Natural Hazard Disclosure, lead-based paint (pre-1978), water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarm certifications. San Mateo County properties may also require sewer lateral compliance and local supplemental disclosures.
What is the difference between median and average home price in Marlin Cove?
Median price is the middle number when all sale prices are sorted — half of homes sold above, half below. It resists distortion from a few very expensive sales. Average price is the arithmetic mean and can be skewed upward by individual high-end transactions. Median is the more reliable indicator of typical Marlin Cove home pricing.

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Last updated 2026-05-06 · By Lisa M. Lum, Realtor® · Coldwell Banker Realty · DRE 02005150