Acting as the northern most section of beautiful Marin County, the aptly named North Marin region is mostly occupied by Novato, with a small section of Petaluma also part of the geography as well. For some area home buyers, fully escaping the robust streets of cities and towns closer to the waterfront and the Golden Gate Bridge is a top priority during a home search, and living somewhere in North Marin certainly satisfies this particular demand perfectly. But because Highway 101 runs almost directly through the middle of North Marin County, a commute into San Francisco still only takes around 30-40 minutes, while a drive down any of Marin County’s other larger cities like, San Rafael for example, is just a quick 10 to 15 minute trip on most days.
Most would describe the North Marin area as having a pleasant countryside setting that’s perfect for enjoying the quintessential Northern California way-of-life. The landscape is scenic, the attitude is laid-back, and the sense of community all throughout North Marin is as strong as anywhere else you’ll find in the country. And like so many other parts of this incredible NoCal location, outdoor recreation all throughout North Marin is abundant, not only making it a great place to call home but also the perfect spot to live a happy, healthy, and active lifestyle once finding the ideal house or condo that fits all your individual needs and wants.
As alluded to above, the city of Novato is really what defines the North Marin region, although some local residents might also categorize a few San Rafael neighborhoods as part of North Marin as well, including Lucas Valley, Marinwood, Terra Linda, Smith Ranch, and Contempo Marin. But regardless of whether you live in northern San Rafael or somewhere in the the city of Novato, housing in the area is still pretty typical for the Marin County real estate market, largely consisting of single-family homes that range from your typical California bungalow to a variety of mid-century modern style houses with one or sometimes even two stories. The attached condo or townhouse options you’ll find on the North Marin County real estate market can start for as little as $275,000 and go all the way up to $700,000, but look for most detached homes in North Marin to jump up considerably and price anywhere from $600,000 to well over $1 million.
