Novato


WELCOME TO NOVATO
Population: 54,194 (approx)

Novato’s recently restored Grant Avenue, “Old Town”, has made downtown Novato a welcoming place for visitors and residents to shop and dine. The Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, anchored by Costco and Target, includes more than 50 retail stores and restaurants. Well-known high technology companies have made their home in Novato, including the non-profit Buck Institute for Aging, a prominent complex on Mt. Burdell designed by famed architect I. M. Pei. The city is also home to Fireman's Fund Insurance, the county's largest private employer with about 2,500 workers.
With 3,600 acres of open space, Novato is a haven for hiking and mountain biking. The views from the 1,558 foot high Mt. Burdell are spectacular. Novato has two public golf courses and a network of 27 oak-studded parks, including a 16,000 square foot skate park for young skateboarders. Stafford Lake Park, a 139-acre expanse is a major attraction for visitors and residents who enjoy fishing, hiking, biking or day camping. Bird watchers and wildlife observers are drawn to Scottsdale Marsh, Deer Island Preserve and Pacheco Pond Wildlife Area.
At the Pacheco Ranch Winery, the oldest land grant property in California, visitors can observe how grapes are grown and enjoy fine California wine tasting. A lovely drive to the West, out Novato Blvd take you to the Marin French Cheese Company, where visitors can sample award winning cheeses and enjoy a picnic with views of the tranquil, surrounding meadow and pond.
Novato is largely a bedroom community — more than 7,600 students are enrolled in the Novato Unified School District — but the city also has made its mark in business and industry. Shopping in Novato ranges from the traditional stores and boutiques on Grant Avenue ("Old Town") to the large Vintage Oaks Shopping Center.
Hamilton Air Force base, decommissioned in 1974, has been transformed into a beautiful community with a mixture of high-end homes and affordable housing, as well as parks, office buildings and retail space. Many businesses have recently relocated here from other parts of the U.S. as the old hangers have been turned into beautiful office space.
San Marin Rolling Hills
Housing in Novato...
Housing in Novato is still affordable. One can still purchase a single family home for between $550,000 to $600,000, well below the Marin County average and slightly below the National average. Many town homes/ condo developments start in the low $300,000.
THE HISTORY OF NOVATO…
The history of Novato, Marin County’s northern-most city, dates back to 1300 when Miwok Native Americans lived in villages at the base of Mount Burdell. The history of this early culture is celebrated in two fascinating sites in Novato, the Marin Museum of the American Indian and Olompali State Park.
In addition to its dynamic exhibits, the nationally-recognized museum sponsors a variety of community lectures and events, including the late summer Trade Feast showcasing native art, music and dance. Olompali State Park, named for a key Miwok settlement, is the site of the first Spanish colonial house, believed to have been built in Marin County. It contains a re-created Miwok village, as well as the remains of an adobe hut dating from 1837.
The only battle of the Bear Flag Rebellion, which led to California's statehood, was fought at Olompali in 1846, and the Burdell family later established the first formal garden in Marin there in the 1870's.

Marin Country Club
Hamilton Field, on the southeast side of the city, served as an Army airfield from 1935 to 1947 and continued military operations to 1975. After years of wrangling, Hamilton opened in 1999 as a community of new homes.
Historical buildings dot downtown Novato, including the Novato History Museum (1850), City Hall (a former Presbyterian church built in 1896) and Druid’s Hall (1899). Novato’s Old Town contains a variety of quaint shops and restaurants.
The city hall, community center, chamber of commerce and history museum are among the oldest buildings in the complex of historic buildings known as Old Town, which also contains a variety of quaint shops and restaurants.
Having grown up here and working with many buyers and sellers in all price ranges in Novato, Shana Rohde-Lynch is a true “neighborhood expert”.
WHERE TO STAY...
Best Western Novato Oaks Inn 215 Alameda del Prado Novato, CA 94949 800-625-7466 or 415-883-4400 415-883-4400 www.novatooaksinn.com |
Courtyard Novato Marin/Sonoma 1400 North Hamilton Parkway Novato, CA 94949 800-321-2211 or 415-883-8950 www.marriott.com/sfonv |
Days Inn 8141 Redwood Blvd. Novato, CA 94945 415-897-7111 www.daysinn.com |
Econolodge Inn & Suites 275 Alameda del Prado Novato, CA 94949 877-883-2406 innnovato.com |
Inn Marin 250 Entrada Drive Novato, CA 94949 800-652-6565 or 415-883-5952 www.innmarin.com |
Novato Travelodge 7600 Redwood Blvd. Novato, CA 94945 800-578-7878 or 415-892-7500 www.travelodge.com |
WHERE TO EAT
Featured Properties in Novato
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SPECTACULAR PACHECO VALLE ESTATE!
70 Pacheco Creek, Novato
LIST PRICE: $2,225,000
www.70PachecoCreek.com -
SOLD
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Spectacular property on 2+ Acres!
2519 Laguna Vista, Novato
$1,210,000
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197 Caribe Isle, Novato
$760,000
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7 Trumbull Court, Novato
$575,000
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752 Plaza Amapola , Novato
LIST PRICE: $609,000
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661 Olive Ave, Novato
$389,000
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Beautiful Town-home in Novato!
78 Arnold Drive, Novato
$387,000
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1308 Chase Street, Novato
$320,000
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Open and Airy Townhome!
170 Sandpiper Court, Novato
$350,000
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GATED SINGLE STORY HOME WITH VINEYARD!
550 Atherton Avenue, Novato
$1,095,000
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MARIN COUNTRY CLUB
55 Saint Andrews Drive, Novato
$1,599.000
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SINGLE STORY REMODELED HOME!
1 Tara Lane, Novato
$849,000
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MEDITERRANEAN GATED ESTATE!
566 Trumbull Avenue, Novato
$1,535,000
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SPECTACULAR BREAKERS HOME!
14 Creekview Court, Novato
$1,199,000
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122 Oliva Court #A, Novato
$355,000
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Private and Peaceful Setting!
4 Eagle Gap, Novato
$610,000
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HAMILTON PARK!
54 Arnold Drive, Novato
$479,000
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Pacheco Valle Gem!
9 Oak Forest, Novato
$989,000
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Charming Hamilton Home!
30 Laconheath Ave, Novato
LIST PRICE: $765,000
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Charming Residence!
1152 Lea Drive , Novato
LIST PRICE: $599,000
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Pleasant Valley Gem!
71 Blanca Drive, Novato
LIST PRICE: $839,000
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SOLD
REPRESENTED BUYER
75 Crescent Lane, Novato
LIST PRICE: $759,000
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SOLD
REPRESENTED BUYER
101 Paper Mill Creek Court, Novato
LIST PRICE: $739,000
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SOLD
WATERFRONT LIVING
180 Montego Key, Novato
LIST PRICE: $939,000
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BEL MARIN KEYS GEM
105 Montego Key, Novato
LIST PRICE: $750,000
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312 Becky Court , Novato
LIST PRICE: $1,058,000