12781 Sir Francis Drake Blvd

The Bellwether Building is the heart of the town of Inverness. The property is unlike other Marin County commercial income properties thanks to its irreplaceable location, history, and uses. Inverness acts as the gateway to the Point Reyes National Seashore, which hosts more than 2.4 million visitors per year, but has very limited commercial zoning. This property is unique in that it has a large residential unit, a fully equipped restaurant with a Use Permit and the stability of income from the U.S. Post Office and Inverness Public Utility District leases.
Inverness Properties LLC (IP LLC) acquired the historic Bellwether Building in September 2001. The original building was built in 1900 and received major upgrades and new additions in 1985. The U.S. Post Office is where locals chat while gathering their mail. The thriving Saltwater Oyster Depot is popular with both locals and visitors, thanks to its fine food and stellar reviews. Despite its local nature, the complex is on the busy road to the Point Reyes National Seashore beaches and the Point Reyes lighthouse. IP LLC has made a wide variety of improvements to the Bellwether Building since buying the property. The building was re-roofed in 2006. This work included plywood underlayment and new roof drain systems. The septic system has been upgraded with a new sand filter disposal field (in addition to the existing leach field), a 1500-gallon grease trap and new pump station. Other upgrades have been the replacement of the second-floor deck and various windows, interior and exterior paint, sidewalk, decks and more. In 2017, the second- floor apartment was completely remodeled. In 2018, IP LLC installed a new foundation with an engineered steel seismic structure in the front of the building. The post office had a new roof installed in 2022. There have been no extended vacancies during IP LLC’s 22-year ownership. The Post Office occupies approximately 2,689 square feet and has been located in the Bellwether Building for 117 years. The Post Office lease was recently renewed to 2026 with an option to extend to 2031. The U. S. Postal Service also reimburses the building owner for 36.5% of the total property tax bill. Saltwater Oyster Depot leases the restaurant and café space and is currently month-to-month while negotiating a new lease. The upstairs two-bedroom apartment is on a month-to-month tenancy and can be used for residential, commercial or vacation rental.