ROSS| SAN ANSELMO| SAN RAFAEL| SAUSALITO| TIBURON| WEST MARIN| MARIN COUNTY
| Population: | 48,773 |
| Number of Homes: | 19,497 |
| Number Sold in 2010: | 574 |
| Median Price in 2010: | $495,000 |
| (includes unincorporated areas) | |
Novato Real Estate
The Largest Small Town in Marin
Novato, Marin's latest addition and the northern-most city, sprawls and winds along the Highway 101 corridor. Graceful oak-studded hills separate Novato real estate from the cooler coastal climate of West Marin. To the east, it rolls gently to San Pablo Bay. Summer daytime temperatures are the highest in Marin, but the cool coastal influence penetrates inland late afternoons and evenings.
With over 90 housing subdivisions, Novato real estate is the fastest growing in Marin County and covers over 70 square miles. Despite its large size, Novato has the genuine simplicity of an American town.
Novato real estate provides the best home values in Marin. The tradeoff is a longer commute to San Francisco (about 30 miles). However, Novato is just minutes from the wine country in Sonoma and Napa Counties!
Novato is the only town in Marin that has a significant amount of land available for new homes. The recent conversion of Hamilton Air Force Base into a Bayside community, the construction of the Pointe Marin subdivisions in southern Novato (Ignacio), and Atherton Ranch in northern Novato have added a large number of spacious, contemporary Novato homes.
Summer daytime temperatures are the highest in Marin, but a cool, coastal influence penetrates inland late afternoons and evenings.
Novato is One of the Best Affordable Towns in the US!
The Marin Independent Journal reported in January, 2008:
"The national magazine [BusinessWeek] named Novato one of the best towns in suburbia based on a median home price of $750,000 - reasonable by Marin and Bay Area standards - but also on its high-quality schools, low crime and unemployment rates, reasonable commutes and access to shopping and entertainment."
For the complete IJ article, go to this link: Novato a 'best affordable' town.
Downtown Novato
Downtown Novato provides charming bungalows, California ranch-style homes, and condo developmentss. Streets run in an orderly grid except where they are interrupted by an unexpected hill, valley, or stream.
Old Town Novato along Grant Ave. has become an eclectic shopping area with interesting restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, and boutiques.
Western Novato
To the west are widely separated, older Novato homes in what was once ranch and farm land. You’ll see many horses in this these neighborhoods. Further west are canyon and hilltop homes, some with views all the way to San Francisco.Wild Horse Valley is one of our favorites, with well-built and designed older homes set along wide, winding streets. Further west and south are canyon and hilltop homes, some with views all the way to San Francisco. Homes on Indian Valley Road have a distinctively rural setting, where you can escape from city life, but have all of its conveniences just miles away.
Southern Novato
The Ignacio neighborhood in South Novato includes the Marin Country Club and Golf Course, with substantial older homes on wide streets along the golf course and hillside homes with wide views of the hills, Bay, and mountains. The newer Pointe Marin development along Ignacio Blvd. provides a wide range of well-built homes on level lots.
The Pacheco Valley at the southern edge of Novato has a large complex of condos and impressive single family homes set among oaks and dramatic hills.
There are several, large open space preserves surrounding these neighborhoods, for easy access to springtime wild flower displays and leisurely walks all year.
South Novato Eastern Novato and Bel Marin Keys
To the bayside of the freeway, Atherton Road stretches along bayside marshes and wildlife preserves. Homes here are a mix of older ranch-style and new contemporary, with a some ridge-top, view homes set in an oak forest.
At the end of Atherton Road, along the Petaluma River and San Pablo Bay, are the Green Point, Bahia, and Black Point neighborhoods, with the entire range of Novato homes: elegant estates, town houses, and rural hill-side cottages and ranches. Black Point is the location of the elegant Stone Tree Golf Club. Downtown Sonoma is minutes away along Hwy 37.
in south Novato To the south is the unique Bel Marin Keys community, built into the Bay and providing lagoons or open bay water in front of every house. The homes are mostly smaller ranches. This is the place to have a boat or simply enjoy the sunshine and views across the water. The waterways provide ever-changing light.
Northwestern Novato and Mount Burdell
Northern Novato blends into the rolling oak-covered hills of the Mt. Burdell Preserve. In the San Marin neighborhood extensive tracts of mostly single-family homes built in the ’60 and later line the streets.
The Buck Institute for Age Research on Mt Burdell, though only 10 years old, has gained national prominence as a center for bio-medical research. The institute was founded by the Buck Foundation, which focuses on improving all aspects of life in Marin.
The Leonard and Beryl Buck Foundation (Buck Trust) was created in 1975 after Beryl Buck left $9.1 million to Marin County with the provision that it be used to serve the needs of the county residents. To the east of the freeway, the terrain changes dramatically with fewer homes dotting the hills above the extensive marshes along the bay. This is a quiet area with horses and open space.
Novato Community Information
- City of NovatoNovato City Information
- Novato Advance, the local newspaper
- Novato City Data
- Novato Chamber of Commerce
- Novato Unified School District
- Novato Fire Protection
- Novato Sanitary District
- Novato Mother’s Club
- Novato history
- Novato's Downtown revitalization project
- Novato Golf Courses
Novato Restaurants
Boca Pizzeria in the shopping center on Ignacio Ave serves great pizza, salads and pasta. Recommended.
Cacti Restaurant on Grant St in Old Town serves traditional American food in a fine old building.
Hamilton Cafe Restaurant at the center of Hamilton Field is a friendly, family run restaurant with honest Mediterranean and southern European food. Good outdoor dining. Before or after, stop in next door at the Hamilton art gallery and shop, an innovative gallery and collective of very good local artists.
Taki, a Japanese restaurant in the shopping center on Ignacio Blvd, serves very good sushi at reasonable prices. (415) 883-2423
