Monrovia

In a hilly, sprawling landscape dotted with golf greens and rich in farmland, Holly Hills is home to the Holly Hills Country Club and luxury developments such as The Manor, Spring Hollow and Fairwinds. It's nestled within Ijamsville, which originated in the late 1780s when Plummer Ijams began growing barley here. Centuries later, you still don’t live in Holly Hills for a quick walk to the grocery store, or to buzz through a thriving commercial corridor, but you do if you’re seeking your dream home near private golfing within acres of forest and fields. This rural-residential terrain maintains a small-town charm with wedding venues, a petting farm and a Historic Landmark church. Designed as a haven away from the hustle, you’ll notice a neighborly ambiance, and home styles to suit a variety of tastes.<br><br>Generational treasures such as the 100-acre Rights of Man Farm still pattern much of Holly Hills, though it's now considered more suburban than it was in its agrarian past. Several communities grew up around the Holly Hills Country Club, offering homes that average $550,000. In the Fairwinds community, you can find large contemporary brick homes on an acre of land for around $725,000, and 4,000-square-foot brick Colonial homes with soaring foyer windows for closer to $800,000. Farther south in the Holly Hills area, you’ll also see historic 1900s homes for under $400,000. In the heart of Holly Hills, Colonial styles with a mix of brick and siding ask around $600,000.<br><br>Angela Kinna, Realtor with Redfin, says, “In Holly Hills, you have Montgomery County to the east and Howard County to the west, which both tend to be more expensive than living here in Frederick. So, if you’re working in Baltimore, you could get more house for your money in Holly Hills. Plus, it’s less populated while being right along a major highway. You’re close to conveniences here, yet it still feels like you’re living out in the country.” It’s the kind of place where children play together in immense yards and neighbors know each other. And surrounding this lush green locale graced with high-end homes, you'll find abundant amenities at several golf courses. Says Kinna, “Residents of Holly Hills can join the private Holly Hills Country Club, or they can play the public Whiskey Ridge Golf Course.” At Holly Hills, paid members enjoy swim lessons, camps, private events and tennis, and golf purists who want to simply enjoy a highly rated golf facility can pay the day rate at Whiskey Ridge. <br><br>Depending on which part of Holly Hills you call home, public-school students may begin their education at either Urbana or Oakdale elementary schools, before heading to either Oakdale or Urbana middle schools. Older students move on to Oakdale High School which earns an A grade from Niche, or Urbana High School which Niche gives an overall A+ grade. Kinna adds, “The school systems here are really strong. If you look at the reports, you’ll see the schools here are earning top marks. They’re known for having high academic standards. Yes, people do move here for the large and beautiful homes, but the schools really do stand out.”<br><br>And although there’s not an all-night restaurant row or major destination mall in the community, says Kinna, “There are a lot of little restaurants and pizza places within a short drive. The Derby in downtown Newmarket is a local favorite.” The Derby is owned by a husband-and-wife team of Culinary Institute of America chefs with decades of experience who focus on crafting meals from regional produce. Daily specials such as Build-Your-Own Derby Burger on Tuesdays or $13 Thursday Pizzas are a hit, as are the live music performances Wednesday through Saturday. For groceries, residents head north to Weis in the Spring Ridge Shopping Center, or make the 5- to 8-mile trek to the Giant near Urbana High School.<br><br>Residents do mostly rely on car transportation, as the closest Maryland Area Regional Commuter train station is about 7 miles away in Frederick. However, you'll enjoy immediate access to Interstate 70 which connects Holly Hills to Frederick and Baltimore. From 70, residents can merge onto Interstate 270 to reach the greater Washington area. A sought-after location offering privacy and luxury, Holly Hills is far removed from commotion or congestion, while still being close to major routes and city amenities.