Communities
Sonoma
The city of Sonoma and its historic plaza anchor the Sonoma Valley region. Sonoma Valley communities are famous for the world-class wines they produce, and the area has played a significant role in the history of California wine.
Sonoma Valley is a popular destination with both primary and second-home buyers, as well as retirees looking for a relaxed, beautiful place to enjoy themselves. Homes in the region range from smaller, historic bungalows within walking distance of Sonoma Plaza to expansive, gated estates -- some with vineyards -- that offer panoramic views of the stunning Wine Country scenery.
Glen Ellen
Just off state Route 12 in Sonoma County's Valley of the Moon is the hamlet of Glen Ellen. In the surrounding countryside, old barns, fragrant eucalyptus, and ancient trees are prevalent.
Hacienda-style estates and Italian villas, tucked behind gated drives flank anded with vineyards, overlook the slopes of Sonoma's Valley of the Moon. Olive groves and fields of lavender reflect the area’s Mediterranean climate.
Kenwood
Kenwood is an exclusive, quiet area in the northern part of Sonoma Valley surrounded by premium vineyards, rich history and warm beautiful weather.
It is a delightful mix of woodsy rustic and sophisticated chic with a great school district and lots of outdoor trails that make Kenwood a great location for a quiet country home.
Santa Rosa
The largest city in Sonoma County, as well as the county seat, Santa Rosa offers all the amenities of urban life but is not far removed from the spectacular natural scenery that the Wine Country is famous for.
Old Courthouse Square is the center of downtown Santa Rosa and is surrounded by numerous historic neighborhoods, including Railroad Square, West End, and Cherry Street District, which give Santa Rosa its quintessential small-town feel. Old mansions and Victorians can still be found near downtown on tree-lined McDonald Avenue, perhaps the most beautiful street in Santa Rosa.
Healdsburg
Years ago, the city of Healdsburg was a dusty, agricultural community devoted to grape growing and winemaking. But as they say about houses, Healdsburg had good bones, and today homes in the city are highly sought-after. Healdsburg's town square, a block of green space featuring a central gazebo that hosts summertime concerts, serves as the community's central gathering place.
Today, that town square is ringed by blocks of upscale hotels, boutiques, and eateries that draw foodies from around the world. Visitors come for the farm-sourced food, the wine, and the shopping. Homes in Healdsburg range from Victorians in the central district to one-of-a-kind architectural masterpieces set into the rolling hills that surround the town.
Sebastopol
A farming community known for its Gravenstein apple orchards and grapevines, Sebastopol is a small, family-oriented city of orderly, older homes. Horses graze just a few blocks from Main Street, and cars brake for chickens brazenly crossing the road. The city’s natural beauty and its proximity to the rugged Sonoma coastline and Russian River redwood corridor are just some of the reasons Sebastopol is popular with Sonoma County homebuyers.
Close to the Sebastopol business district, 100-year-old Craftsman bungalows predominate. In the countryside, buyers can find custom homes on properties with vineyards, apple orchards, redwoods, and streams. To promote the sustainable farming and locavore movement, Sonoma County Farm Trails, an agri-tourism and farm-marketing group, offers tours of farms, ranches, and vineyards around Sebastopol.
Petaluma
Old-timers will remember Petaluma as the egg basket of Sonoma County, when thousands of chicken farms operated on the outskirts of the city. Today, Petaluma retains its rural feel, but those chicken farms have given way to vineyards, and increasingly, housing developments for residents who appreciate the access to relatively affordable homes and the direct commute to San Francisco 35 miles south on Highway 101.
The older part of the city has retained many of its old Victorian homes, the former mansions of the chicken barons. Petaluma's commercial core is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the central shopping district, which consists of mainly two-story stone buildings, has recently undergone a revitalization that includes an emphasis on downtown living. Dozens of antique shops operate in the old-town district.
Petaluma is graced with a riverfront -- once the third-busiest in California -- that has been restored, as well as a river walk. The galleries along the river showcase works from some of the best artists in the North Bay. Restaurants along the river provide a perfect place to gaze at sailboats as they pass through the distinctive D Street drawbridge.
Napa
There’s more to the city of Napa, the county seat, than great wine. Old Town Napa features charming cottages, bungalows, Victorians, and Queen Anne homes. Downtown Napa offers phenomenal restaurants, farmers’ markets, boutique shopping, and plenty of wine-tasting rooms. The development of the riverfront, along with a riverbank promenade, signaled the renaissance of Napa's downtown.
Venture a few miles outside of the city and you will be in farm country, surrounded by vineyards and horse stables.
St. Helena
Napa County’s crown jewel just might be St. Helena. Home to grand vineyard estates that sit behind gated drives and rows of olive trees, St. Helena offers the ultimate in Napa Valley lifestyle: tranquility, relaxation, and refined recreation.
A fabulous main street, restaurants, spas, and shops are a magnet for St. Helena tourists. There's a strong local community feel here as well, with many of the city's historic buildings having been preserved and turned into specialty shops, galleries, and restaurants.
Yountville
Yountville is nestled in the heart of Napa Valley and offers a wide-range of real estate. The town is named for George Calvert Yount who is responsible for the the first vineyard in Napa Valley.
Yountville real estate is bordered by the Mayacamas Mountains and the Napa River. With a wide variety of gourmet international cuisine, the community is distinguished as the culinary capital of Napa Valley. It is home to Thomas Keller's French Laundry which is considered one of the best restaurants in the world. Yountville real estate offers a variety of well maintained neighborhood parks which provide outdoor recreational activities such as volleyball, tennis, and basketball. Investing in Yountville real estate means enjoying some of the best weather in the Bay area. The weather is usually sunny and warm, perfect for year-round outdoor activities.
Yountville real estate is a perfect investment for families, seniors, and outdoor living enthusiasts. Beautiful sunny weather, fine dining, abundance of outdoor activities, premium wineries all add value to Yountville real estate.
Calistoga
Calistoga real estate is located in the most northern part of Napa Valley. The area is not only famous for its wine but is also famous for its healing powers as the City is home to many natural hot spring spas. Calistoga real estate is a mix of old Victorian homes and modern estates surrounded by miles and miles of gorgeous countryside. Downtown Calistoga boasts high-end restaurants, unique shops, wineries and world-class spas. Everything in downtown is within walking distance, perfect for all-day shopping trips.
Calistoga real estate is approximately two hours from San Francisco with numerous wineries dotted along the country landscape. Calistoga has been named a Distinctive Destination by the National Trust for Historic Preservation allowing visitors to see wine country first-hand before the invention of freeways and fast-food restaurants adding a distinctive quality to the real estate.
Calistoga is full of ambiance and charm making it a sound real estate investment. Calistoga real estate offers beautiful landscapes and high-end amnesties and is ideal for those who want to live in full-service city with small-town charm.
Novato
The city of Novato, California offers Marin County home buyers suburban living at its finest. Widely considered a top community to live, work, and play, plenty of job opportunities, housing opportunities, and recreational opportunities all combine to make Novato a fabulous place to begin a new home search.
In addition, Novato's top-rated school system also makes it an appealing destination for growing families who also want to live near a number of Marin County's best schools as well, and it's close proximity to San Rafael, or even into San Francisco, also makes a possible commute fairly quick and easy as well.
San Rafael
Welcome to San Rafael—a city that many say is the most established in all of Marin County. A culturally diverse town that has a lot to offer its residents, perhaps the best part of living in San Rafael is its one-of-a-kind downtown that is seemingly one of the most charming places on Earth.
Filled with historic Victorian buildings, a fabulous mixture of ethic restaurants and eateries, plenty of local shops and boutiques, and even a wide range of art galleries and art studios, downtown San Rafael has more than enough things to see and do for both local residents and visitors alike to enjoy each and every day.