Marin County Schools — Superior Rankings & Test Scores Abound
June 9, 2008
Marin County is blessed. Great weather. Low crime. Close to San Francisco. No bridge traffic. A couple hours from Tahoe. A short flight to Hawaii or Mexico. Hiking, biking, jogging, fishing, swimming and surfing. Virtually unlimited group sports, unbelievable parks, and dedicated open space at every turn. Hippies and yuppies living in harmony.
But, it’s the schools that make Marin County the destination of choice when it comes to San Francisco professionals seeking a place to land when the wonderment and joy of City living begin to fade. Moreover, even lifelong San Franciscans seeking the sun after retirement often choose to move a bit north into Marin. But, this article is about the schools.
Again, Marin out-paced nearly all counties in California on the State’s annual performance exams. Of the county’s 61 schools, 72% achieved a score above 800 (schools above 800 are considered “excellent”), including 3 high schools—Redwood, Tamalpais, and Sir Francis Drake (Novato High came in just under 800). Eighteen schools scored 900 or greater, including every school in Mill Valley (Edna Maguire 938, Old Mill 928, Park 916, Tam Valley 934, Strawberry Point 922, and Mill Valley Middle School 905). Novato’s Rancho Elementary and Tiburon’s Bel Aire Elementary tied for the highest score in the County at 951.
Other top-scoring schools included Ross Elementary, Brookside Elementary, Wade Thomas Elementary, Dixie Elementary, Vallecito, Bacich Elementary, Lu Sutton, Olive Elementary, Reed Elementary, and Glenwood to name a few. Twenty-five schools achieved the highest rank possible (a “10”).
Click here to access ALL TEST SCORES.
Novato, Ross, & Sausalito Schools Claim California “Distinguished School” Awards
April 9, 2008
Novato’s Lu Sutton Elementary and Rancho Elementary, Ross School in Ross, 
and Bayside Elementary in Sausalito were selected as 2008 California “distinguished schools” by the state Department of Education. The award recognizes test scores and improvements. Marin schools account for 77 distinguished school awards over the past 12 years. Rancho, Ross, and Bayside received the award in 1989 (Ross also was recognized in 1993). This is the first distinguished school award for Novato’s Lu Sutton Elementary.
Click HERE for a breakdown of Marin County Schools’ API test scores, as reported by the California Department of Education.
43 Brookline Drive, Newport at Hamilton Field (5 Beds/3 Baths)
March 6, 2008
Exceptional value in a 5 Bedroom, 3 Bath home with a large and serene grassy back yard in Newport at Hamilton Field in Novato. Sweet floorplan with Great Room, Media Room, Dining Room, and huge Master Suite with lots of closet space and a luxurious bath. Other unique features include a patio with hand-laid Chinese granite bricks and outside bar illuminated by an Old World gas lamp. Click HERE for more information about Hamilton Field.
- Property Address: 43 Brookline Drive, Novato, CA 94949
- Listing Price: $785,000
If you would like to learn more about this amazingly priced Newport home or set up an appointment to see it, please call Kyle Frazier, the listing agent, at (415) 350-9440.
Kyle Frazier, CRS
Frank Howard Allen Realtors
Email: [email protected]
Serene Bel Marin Keys Waterfront Home
March 3, 2008
Amazing one-level, waterfront home in Bel Marin Keys, Novato. Boat dock with easy access to the Bay and beyond. Vaulted ceilings, large windows and multiple sliding doors with wide open views to Bel Marin Keys? highly desirable south lagoon. Open floor plan with spacious Master Suite (opens to lagoon), formal dining room, outdoor breakfast nook, Great Room styled open Kitchen/Family Room, Living Room, formal entryway with double doors, large and private back yard. Lots of recent improvements.
- Property Address: 1116 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato, CA 94949
- Listing Price: $849,000
If you would like to learn more about this lovely waterfront home or set up an appointment to see it, please call Kyle Frazier, the listing agent, at (415) 350-9440.
Kyle Frazier, CRS
Frank Howard Allen Realtors
Email: [email protected]
Hamilton Field, Novato — Evolving Into A Business & Lifestyle Destination
March 2, 2008
Over the past several years, numerous businesses have moved into the renovated hangar space located in Hamilton Field, Novato (called Hamilton Landing). These hangars, built by the military decades ago (and used by the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard), are now home to a wide variety of business and non-profit enterprises. Along with the recently announced plans of ImageMovers Digital, Disney (which plans to move into its renovated 3-D computer animation complex in December 2008), the current and prospective faces of business in Novato’s rapidly emerging chic business locale includes: Smith & Hawken, Oracle, Cytograft Tissue Engineering, Halcyon Investment Partners, Clair Mail, Toys for Bob, Marin Community Foundation, Nihilistic Software, Birkenstock Distribution, Sony ImageWorks, a library, the YMCA, Visual Concepts Entertainment, and there are plans for a large office building at Hangar 8. This is an impressive and varied list of firms, ranging from non-profits to bio-tech and software companies. The existing hangars (on just over 20 acres) provide over 450,000 square feet of office space and employ about 850 people.
Picture Courtesy of http://www.barkerpacific.com/pages/projects.php?project=hamiltonlanding
Of course, Hamilton Field is also home to nearly 1,000 housing units. Many employees of Hamilton companies are finding the perfect work-life balance by living close enough to their jobs to bicycle home for lunch. Home prices in Hamilton Field range roughly from about $650,000 to $1,000,000, depending on the size of home and neighborhood (click HERE for a sampling of homes). Hamilton also features about 70 acres of parks and open space, a library, a YMCA, sports fields, a cozy cafe, and a skate park. Also underway is the largest wetlands restoration project on the West Coast.
Newport at Hamilton Field Home For Sale (Novato, California)
February 24, 2008
Exceptional value in a 4 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath home (includes separate studio with full bath) home in Hamilton Field. Popular floorplan with great flow, a Kitchen/Great Room configuration, and large Master Suite with lots of closet space. Other unique features include a Rotunda entry and large study area upstairs. Great location. This home is turnkey and ready to move into!
- Property Address: 12 Marblehead Drive, Novato, CA 94949
- Listing Price: $799,000
If you would like to learn more about this Hamilton Field home or set up an appointment to see it, please call Kyle Frazier, the listing agent, at (415) 350-9440.
Kyle Frazier, CRS
Frank Howard Allen Realtors
Email: [email protected]
Novato Named “Best Affordable” Town by Business News Magazine
January 23, 2008
As reported in the Marin Independent Journal, Novato, Marin County (California)
was named by Business News magazine as one the nation?s ?Best Affordable? towns near a major and expensive metropolis?in this case, the San Francisco Bay Area. Numerous factors went into the analysis including housing prices (averaging a relatively affordable $750,000 in Novato in November 2007), crime rates, schools, unemployment rates, commute times, shopping, and entertainment. Indeed, with lots of newer homes at prices far lower than the home prices in towns located just 10 miles south (e.g., 10 miles closer to San Francisco), Novato has long represented a major value. Recent years have brought many former residents of Southern Marin to Novato as retirees downsize and transfer their tax base under Proposition 60 and young families looking for more homes that can accommodate growing numbers. Novato also has abundant horse properties, waterfront living with access to the Bay, and a robust luxury and ultra-luxury housing market (something for everybody). Novato?s schools are also top-notch. It is home to the highest scoring school in Marin County?Rancho Elementary. The offices at Hamilton Field include numerous businesses and is the future home to a Disney production venture. Downtown Novato (Grant Avenue) has evolved into a robust shopping location with something for everybody, including some very good dining options. Below are some facts as noted in the Marin IJ online.
NOVATO AT A GLANCE:
- Population: 51,518
- Size: 28 square miles, including 3,600 acres of open space
- Median home cost for 2006: $816,000
- Median annual household income: $75,445
- School district: Serves more than 7,600 students, kindergarten through high school with nine elementary, three middle and three high schools. College of Marin’s Indian Valley campus serves some 1,000 students.
- Shopping: Vintage Oaks shopping center includes more than 50 stores; downtown Novato includes numerous small specialty stores and boutiques received more than a $10.7 million face lift in 2003 to upgrade Grant Avenue.
- Incorporated: 1960 as Marin’s northernmost city.
Other key facts:
- The Buck Institute for Age Research, one of the world’s foremost nonprofit, independent biomedical research firms, is located in Novato
- The Chosen Family hippie commune lived in the old Burdell mansion at Olompali State Historical Park in Novato until it burned down in 1969. Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead played there.
- Olompali State Historical Park is named for a key Miwok settlement, Olemaloke, that dates back to 1300. The Bear Flag Rebellion, which led to California’s statehood, was fought at Olompali in 1846.
- Mount Burdell at 1,558-foot elevation, is the highest peak in Novato and overlooks the Petaluma River and San Pablo Bay.
- Novato claims its share of rock-star talent, including Metallica’s James Hetfield, Journey’s Jonathan Cain and Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers.
3 Edgewater Road, Belvedere (Waterfront / Lagoon Home in Marin County)
January 11, 2008
Your waterfront lifestyle on the Belvedere Lagoon awaits. The private setting of this single-story home, which faces Westward across the Lagoon, offers an idyllic resort-style way of life. The expansive deck and accompanying dock is perfect for outdoor entertaining and dining. Spend your time biking, kayaking, sailing, swimming, and bird watching as the coveted amenities of Belvedere & Tiburon are all around you ? such as, the bike path, ferries, restaurants, park, and award winning schools.
This lovely home would generously accommodate those considering down-sizing or a growing family (tax records show 2,380 square feet). The Master Bedroom looks out over the Lagoon. The fourth bedroom (and its adjoining bathroom) has a separate entrance and is perfect for home office or au-pair / caregiver use. There is a formal Dining Room with a fireplace off the Kitchen. And another fireplace in the light and open Living Room, which also features floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Lagoon. Throughout the home there is lots of storage space, including a possible wine room. This location provides an easy San Francisco commute, as it is just minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge and the Tiburon Ferry.
Come visit 3Edgewater.com.
3 Edgewater Road, Belvedere (Marin County, CA. 94920).
If you would like to learn more about this Belvedere Lagoon home or set up an appointment to see it, please call Kyle Frazier at (415) 350-9440.
Kyle Frazier, CRS, Frank Howard Allen Realtors, [email protected]
The information provided above, including square footage, is believed to be true, however, the agents, owners, and broker make no guarantees nor warrant its accuracy.
106 Maybeck Street (South Gate at Hamilton Field), Novato
January 10, 2008
This home?s superior upgrades and tasteful elegance are unrivaled. Boasting an open Great Room and Kitchen (with extraordinary light and fantastic flow), soaring vaulted ceilings, designer landscaping, built-in barbecue, outdoor fireplace, and 3-car garage with additional work bench area. All 4 bedrooms are upstairs, including the palatial Master Suite with jetted tub and walk-in closet with built-in storage. This rarely available home, located in the highly sought after neighborhood of South Gate at Hamilton Field, has the coveted Plan 4 layout — it is exquisite.
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History Repeats Itself — Marin County Real Estate Appreciation
December 17, 2007
Everyone knows that, barring unusual circumstances, real estate prices move upwards over time. 
Of course, there are cycles. But, over time prices rise. Nowhere is this phenomenon more apparent than Marin County, California. According to the Marin Association of Realtors, the prices for single family homes and condominiums have gone up every year for forty years (except during the recession of 1990-1992).
- In 1987, the average price of Marin homes was under $200,000.
- In 1997, the average price of Marin homes was over $400,000.
- In 2007, the average price of Marin homes is over $1.2 million.
With these facts in mind, buyers can confidently be assured that although prices have softened in the past year in some parts of Marin (but, certainly not all of Marin), prices will continue to rise over time. In addition, the last time home prices softened in the early 1990’s, interest rates were 18%. Today, interest rates are about 6.25% (for conforming loans). Of course, these historically low interest rates will not last forever. And history tells us that prices will go up. So, the overall market environment for buyers is as good as it will likely get for any meaningful time frame.
