Novato, CA

The Homes at Olive Court

Open Friday, August 7 from 1-4 p.m.

Also open Saturday and Sunday 1-4 p.m.

3, 19 and 27 Olive Ct. in Novato

Rare new construction in "no-growth" Marin County. Elegant NEW Craftsman-style homes with lots of architectural flair. Olive Court is a cul-da-sac community featuring 9 luxury homes in East Novato, less than a mile from downtown. Three homes have been completed and the developer is full-steam ahead on the remaining six. I was out there today and they were pouring foundations.

Olive Court features state-of-the-art GREEN building technology to help reduce the impact on the environment and improve the quality of life for the buyers and the surrounding community.

Each home has many designer custom touches and "intelligently" designed floor plans to meet the needs of today's buyers. Homes are level-in (so no hauling groceries up a flight of stairs) with the main living areas on the first floor. The spacious kitchen-family room combinations open to a level, landscaped yards. Most homes have no rear neighbors!

3 Olive Ct $899,000 - 3bd+/2.5 ba single level, 2840sf

19 Olive Ct $999,000 -5bd/4ba 2-story, 3444sf

27 Olive Ct $999,000 -5bd/4ba 2-story, 3444sf

Other features:

• One bedroom and at least one full bath downstairs
• Tall ceilings
• Wide-plank hardwood floors
• Oversized kitchen islands
• Kitchen with granite counters, stainless appliances (refigerator is included!)
• Crown molding
• Stacked stone fireplaces
• Built-in bookcases and entertainment centers
• 2- and 3-car garages

Close to Trader Joe's, the upcoming Whole Foods, 101 corridor and Highway 37. For a private tour, contact me at (415) 725-1911.

Listings Courtesy Kevin McGinnis and Mike Cohen, Frank Howard Allen Realtors.

If you are looking to buy newer construction in Marin County, Pointe Marin is an excellent place to consider. It's located in southern Novato in the Ignacio area on the west side if Highway 101.

Pointe Marin is made up of about 250 single-family homes, all built within the last seven years (since 2003). Pointe Marin's newer construction makes it a rare subdivision in Marin County, where there's a zero-growth policy.

Pointe Marin also has condos for people age 55 and over, along Entrada Drive.

The Pointe Marin neighborhood used to look a lot different, and it had a different name, too. Formerly called Rafael Village, these 100 acres along Ignacio Blvd. were the site of surplus military family housing for Hamilton Air Force Base (which was primarily located across the freeway at what is now a newer housing subdivision called Hamilton). The base was decommissioned in 1974, but some military personnel continued to use the housing until 1996.

Today, Pointe Marin is characterized by wide streets, mature trees, and beautiful homes - some of which sit on quarter-acre and larger lots. Points of interest nearby include the Marin Country Club, with its newly refurbished 18-hole golf course, and Pacheco Plaza, a shopping center undergoing a total transformation. Across the freeway, there is the newly-opened Hamilton Marketplace, which has the largest Safeway market in Marin County, plus popular restaurants Toast and Sonoma Latina Grill.

Single-family homes in Pointe Marin range from about 1,800 square feet to more than 4,400 square feet, with prices today (2009) ranging between about $685,000 and $1,100,000. Recently (first half of 2009), there have been several foreclosures and short sales in Pointe Marin that have brought down prices. So, if you were priced out of Pointe Marin in the past, it is a good time to take another look.

Are there drawbacks to living in Pointe Marin? Perhaps. A trade-off for newer construction is often smaller lot sizes. Some of the homes do have that "neighbor looking in the window" feel, with a 2-story home on three sides. However, some homes back to open space and have more privacy.

I'm Kevin McGinnis and I'm an expert in Marin County real estate and Pointe Marin homes. You can reach me at (415) 725-1911 or kmcginnis@fhallen.com

Search the MLS on www.BestHomesMarin.com

Bel Marin Keys (Novato, California) Real Estate and Homes for Sale

Novato’s Bel Marin Keys provides a carefree and luxurious waterfont lifestyle in Southern Novato, just 30 minutes from San Francisco.

Few places are as magical as Bel Marin Keys. This unique community of approximately 700 homes consists of a series of channels and lagoons flanked by homes and surrounded by open spaces. Not only can you enjoy the lagoon, but if that proves too confining, you also have nautical access to the San Francisco Bay (Giants game anyone?).

Homes in Bel Marin Keys range in size from about 1,750 sq. ft. to about 2,250 sq. ft. and are priced generally from about $600,000 to $1.5 million, depending on size, upgrades, and location. Click HERE for details relating to one of my listings. There are playgrounds, parks, boat launches, trails, and tennis courts all right in Bel Marin Keys. Just a couple of minutes outside of the neighborhood is the Bel Marin Keys business district (an easy bike ride to work) and the Hamilton Marketplace shopping center (featuring a Safeway, Jamba Juice, Starbucks, Peets, banking, and more).

My name is Kyle Frazier and I am an expert on Bel Marin Keys real estate and have sold many homes here. I am a broker and certified residential specialist with Morgan Lane Marin Real Estate, the most respected real estate firm in Marin County.

Please e-mail me at Kyle@Novato101.com or call me at (415) 350-9440 if you would like to discuss Bel Marin Keys or Novato, in general. It is always my pleasure to be of service.

www.Novato101.com

Pointe Marin, Novato, California (Homes & Real Estate)

Pointe Marin is a newer housing development in desirable Southern Novato, Marin County (which is about 20 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge and the varied offerings of San Francisco, California). It is favored by families and retireess alike and is undoubtedly one of Novato’s most sought-after neighborhoods.

This Novato neighborhood is quiet and relaxed, with wide streets and lots of cul-de-sacs. Many of Pointe Marin’s homes back up to open space and all are within close proximity to shopping, transportation, HWY 10, hiking trails, water, sports field, parks, and schools.

Pointe Marin is also close to prestigeous Marin Country Club, Stonetree Golf Course, the Indian Valley Campus of Marin Community College, and several other sporting and recreation highlights. In addition, the recent completion of the Hamilton Marketplace with an upscale Safeway, Peets, Jamba Juice, Starbucks, two restaurants, a gas station, banking, and more, brings lots of vitality and convenience. Trader Joes, Whole Foods (scheduled for completion in 2009), Boca, and downtown Novato are all just minutes away.

Commute times to San Francisco vary, but generally it takes about 35 to 45 minutes during peak traffic hours (work is currently being finalized, expanding HWY 101–when completed in December 2008, it is estimated that commute times will be reduced by 15-18 minutes).

Many Pointe Marin residents work at Hamilton Landing or in the Bel Marin Keys business park. In addition, Southern Marin residents have embraced Pointe Marin as an excellent option when it comes time to sell their larger and more expensive Southern Marin homes and downsize (thereby allowing them to carryover their tax base under Prop. 60).

My name is Kyle Frazier and I am an expert on Pointe Marin and have sold many homes here since it was built–indeed, I know of no other agent more active in Pointe Marin. I am a broker and certified residential specialist with Morgan Lane Marin Real Estate, the most respected real estate firm in Marin County. Please CLICK HERE or call me at (415) 350-9440 if you would like to discuss Pointe Marin or Novato, in general. It is always my pleasure to be of service.

Hamilton Field, Novato CA Real Estate and Homes

Hamilton Field in Novato (Marin County), California, is a model community filled with a vitality and energy all its own. Since its inception as a planned community about ten years ago, Hamilton Field has seen vast improvements and is now a magnet community for folks of all different ages and backgrounds.

Hamilton Field is a jewel. The former military base, which was used by the Army and Air Force from the 1930’s to the 1970’s, is now a delightful community of over 1,000 homes. It is, to my mind, one of the very best communities in Marin as it has everything you need within easy walking distance (including shopping, dining, and all kinds of outdoor activities from swimming to skateboarding and biking to birdwatching).

The 408-acre Hamilton Field site in southern Novato sits east of HWY 101 at the Hamilton exit in desirable Southern Novato. The property is punctuated by old military buildings, most of which have been renovated and are used for community purposes, such as a theater, museum, and more.

The most impressive remnants of the military base are undoubtedly the old airplane hangers. The original hangers have been renovated and are now called Hamilton Landing. They are home to dozens of businesses, including Birkenstock, Disney’s ImageMovers, and many others.

Hamilton also features over 70 acres of parks and open space and 50 acres of community facilities, including: a library, art center, theater, soccer fields, baseball field, many open fields for picnics and romping, trails, open space, an ampitheater, pool, YMCA, and a skate park.

Hamilton Field’s housing units are situated in several neighborhoods: Bayside, Hamilton Meadows, Hamilton Park, Southgate, Traditions, Inspirations, Sunny Cove and Newport. Each neighborhood has a different feel. Hamilton Field is considered desirable by many because all the homes are relatively new, with the earliest being built in 1999 and the most recent being finished in the past couple of years. Newer homes simply have fewer problems. My many clients in Hamilton Field simply love where they live. Driving through Hamilton Field always brings a smile to my face because of all the people out and about enjoying the sunshine.

If you have any questions about Hamilton Field or if you would like a tour of the different neighborhoods, please let me know. Click Here for more information about Novato and Hamilton Field. My name is Kyle Frazier. I am a broker and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Morgan Lane Marin Real Estate. And it is always my pleasure to be of service. I can be reached at (415) 350-9440.