Central Novato, a neighborhood in the heart of Novato, is loved for its small-town feel, its access to beautiful Bay Area coastlines and mountains, and its proximity to San Francisco. But unlike many areas close by in the county, Central Novato is affordable.
According to Kevin McGinnis, a realtor with Compass Real Estate and a current Marin County resident, Novato is the most affordable city in Marin County and the homes there are typically more affordable than the average Marin County home. “Many of the homes tend to be modest, built in the 60s and 70s with an easy walk to nearby shops and restaurants,” he says. They consist of compact bungalows and ranch-style houses situated mainly in the center of the neighborhood, near Grant Avenue. To the north and south, the streets wind into rolling pastures of nearby hillsides and feature large, custom contemporary homes boasting mountain views, with higher price tags but still affordable for the Bay Area. Residents make the most of their sometimes-limited front yards, landscaping with vibrant shrubs, flowers and small trees. Some streets have sidewalks, but even for those that don't, the roads are quiet and wide, with plenty of room for a walk or bike ride. Prices range from $675,000 for 680 square feet to $2 million for 3,900 square feet. Condos and townhouses are also available, most concentrated in the neighborhood’s northern and central sections, ranging from $325,000 for 580 square feet to $899,000 for 1,600 square feet.
Kids in Central Novato often start school at Lu Sutton Elementary and then head to Sinaloa Middle School and San Marin High School, all of which are a part of the Novato Unified School District. Lu Sutton Elementary has a C-plus on Niche, Sinaloa Middle has a B and San Marin High has a B-plus. San Marin High serves about 1,100 students and has a student-teacher ratio 21-to-1. It is notable for its two STEM programs, STEM Marin and the Biotechnology Academy. Families considering private education for their kids can choose from several faith-based schools in the area.
One of Central Novato's biggest draws is its proximity to parks and outdoor spaces. Mount Burdell Preserve, among the largest open space preserves in Marin County, is only a few miles north. It has trails for hikers of various abilities and stunning views of the surrounding forests, pastures and hills. For a more challenging climb, locals head to nearby Ignacio to Big Rock Ridge, a 7-mile roundtrip hike that ascends to the top of the second-highest peak in Marin County. Point Reyes National Seashore, about 20 miles west of the neighborhood, is a seaside park with craggy cliffside overlooks and pristine beaches that offer additional views of the Pacific Ocean. The neighborhood has smaller parks, including Hill Recreation Area, which provides a large athletic field, and Arroyo Avichi Park, where kids play on the playground and the baseball field.
Grant Avenue serves as the neighborhood's main shopping and dining corridor. Residents find Masa's Sushi, an upscale Japanese restaurant for omakase dining, and Flour Chylde Bakery, which serves gluten-free pastries, desserts and bread. For groceries, they shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, located on the neighborhood’s northeast side. In nearby Black Point, they shop at the large retail hub along Vintage Way, which offers over a dozen national retailers including Target, Costco and Petco.
Residents take advantage of the city’s many annual events, including live concerts at Novato Civic Green during the summer, the Novato Art, Wine & Music Festival in early June and the annual Bouncy Ball New Year, where area kids celebrate New Year's Eve by donning souvenir hard hats and catching thousands of small bouncy balls as they’re dropped from a ladder truck 40 feet in the air.
Highway 101 runs along the neighborhood’s east side, connecting to Petaluma to the north, about 11 miles, and San Francisco to the south, about 30 miles. Marin Transit offers bus stops along major streets, including Grant Avenue, Redwood Boulevard, and Novato Boulevard, for locals who want to get around the neighborhood without a car.
Tiger Teerlink
Compass
(669) 279-4730
32 Total Sales
1 in Central Novato
$621,000 Price
Ernie Sexton
SEXTON GROUP REAL ESTATE
(925) 528-4343
104 Total Sales
1 in Central Novato
$850,000 Price
Veronica Peter
Compass
(510) 939-7811
44 Total Sales
1 in Central Novato
$928,000 Price
Tish Charles
(510) 880-1682
16 Total Sales
1 in Central Novato
$970,000 Price
Lizbeth Alarcon
eXp Realty of Northern Califor
(707) 615-1824
308 Total Sales
1 in Central Novato
$710,000 Price
Bill Byrd
RE/MAX Gold
(510) 350-3659
67 Total Sales
2 in Central Novato
$760K - $891K Price Range
On average, homes in Central Novato, Novato sell after 44 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Central Novato, Novato over the last 12 months is $930,000, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
$2,100 - $2,550 per month
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A taste of the country that’s close to downtown, with large lots and open spaces
A peaceful Bay Area neighborhood with large homes surrounded by natural preserves.
A life off the beaten path, with horses, ducks and wetlands
A woodsy, hilly neighborhood between Novato and the Petaluma River
Upscale Marin suburb with a small-town feel, great schools and open space for days
An array of homes, commuter convenience and thousands of acres of open space
