And when my friends and I walk past Pacheco Pond (a nearby wildlife protection and observation area), we’ll see egrets, swans and pelicans.” “There are tons of waterbirds and sometimes we’ve seen river otters and Canadian geese with their babies on the lagoon. “We see so much wildlife on the water here,” she says. Initially, she was reluctant to leave her Corte Madera home 20 years ago but “fell in love with Bel Marin Keys” after attending a party there with her husband. Commodore Shirley Etemadfar oversees the yacht club’s activities, which include dinner parties, boat cruises and the Independence Day festivities. The district’s building houses the community center and clubhouse for the Bel Marin Keys Yacht Club. “Because we’re small and self-contained, the district is very responsive to the community, and people here have a real desire to stay that way.” “We’re very independent and take care of ourselves,” he says. Ganas, a Community Services District board member, agrees. But if anything goes wrong or anybody needs help, the community jumps up.” “You get up in the morning and take a look outside, and it’s peaceful,” she says. District manager Madeline Thomas, who moved to Bel Marin Keys from San Francisco 47 years ago, was among the first 10 original residents and understands the area’s appeal.

The Bel Marin Keys Community Services District, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this September, governs this unincorporated area of Marin.

Swimmers, fishermen and old-fashioned inner tube floaters are just as likely to be seen as boaters. Boats aren’t necessary to enjoy the on-the-water lifestyle, though. “And I can’t tell you how many people come out here and say they didn’t know we are out here, even though it’s been here since 1961.”Īs a result of Bel Marin Keys’ relative remoteness and a lack of through traffic, the flat-as-pancakes streets draw out pedestrians and bicyclists to explore their neighborhood right from their front doors.Īnd because every house is on the waterfront, residents with sailboats, powerboats, kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards can step out their back doors and ply the four lagoons or Novato River. “People who visit say it’s like living year-round in a vacation home,” offers Ernie Ganas, who moved to Bel Marin Keys in 1974. Residents here love the broad streets and contemporary architecture, the active and family-oriented vibe, and the waterways that link and intersect their lives in this friendly neighborhood, as well as the grassy parks and playgrounds, tennis courts and community boat ramps that seemingly invite them to come out every day and play. With an entrance lined in palm trees and a fair share of banana plants, fragrant vines and colorful tropical plants in home gardens, this community of about 700 homes just east of Novato could serve as Marin’s poster child for paradise living.

Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin in the sale, rental or financing of housing.Developed in stages between 19, Bel Marin Keys enjoys sunny weather, balmy breezes and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. IDX information being provided is for the consumer's personal, non-commercial use, and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. BAREIS MLS does not create, control, or review the property data displayed on this site and takes no responsibility for the content of such records. Information provided is not guaranteed to be accurate by BAREIS MLS, and you are advised to verify facts that are important to you. Property information is provided by the listing broker. Properties listed by brokers other than the broker owning this website are identified with the name of the listing broker's company, and name of the Listing Agent. The properties displayed are only the properties in the MLS's database approved by the cooperating listing Brokers to be displayed. Multiple Listing Service (BAREIS MLS) in which this real estate broker participates. The data relating to real estate on this website is provided through a cooperative data exchange program of the Bay Area Real Estate Information Services, Inc. Copyright© 2022 Bay Area Real Estate Information Services, Inc.

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