Jeff & Tracey Schween

Having lived in the area for 10 years you really get to understand what makes it buzz. Sky Hawk boasts nearly 500 single family homes and arguably, the most desired elementary school - Austin Creek (don't forget about Hidden Valley, Strawberry, Yulupa, Proctor Terrace & Sequoia Schools as well when selecting yours). This community truly functions as one. The school is located centric to all points. Commonly you find children playing about on bikes, roller blades and a foot while adults are mingling/exercising. There seems to always be a "heightened" awareness of what is going on and there is even a neighborhood magazine in circulation. The area rests within one of the warmer micro climates of Santa Rosa at the cities eastern edge. With a constant view of Annadel State park it is no wonder you see so many frequent this 5000 acre sanctuary that boasts biking trails, horseback riding trails and a lake for swimming.

Sky Hawk real estate is trending up. Demand is high and there is currently a supply constrained marketplace for would be buyers. The Parkside collection, which consists of a few blocks of homes that vary in size from 900-1300 sqft. is where you will find entry prices of $400-500,000 (these originally sold in the mid-90's for $140-190,000). Christopherson Homes built a majority of the housing here with exception of about 30 homes each done by Marovich Homes and Adamson Development. The floor plans vary but the general range is 2000-4000 sqft. Some have larger lots than others (up to almost an acre), while some have constrained lots that offer little privacy from neighbors - choose wisely as some get sucked into valuing homes based only on the floor-plans. There are definitely preferred interior locations like Sailing Hawk Place, Barn Owl Place, the upper portions of Mountain Hawk & Great Heron. The interior finishes showcase dramatic differences as some initial buyers selected the "base option" (base carpeting, vinyl floors, oak cabinets, white tile counters & minimalistic yards) packages from the builder, while others went way beyond in choosing their preferential finishes (granite counters, cherry cabinets, stainless steel appliances, high quality flooring and full entertaining yards). Expect values at this writing to range from $650,000-$1,350,000. More recently numerous sales have been of the "all cash" variety further suggesting a neighborhood that has past the realms of highly leveraged homes (that's not to say there wasn't a time when it wasn't so).

Historic Dry Creek Valley is bustling with agricultural activity from personal gardens to large vineyard operations and unique wineries. Sometimes more sought after than the other side of the valley as it is more off the beaten path of higher travel speeds, is first to see the rising morning sun and boasts so many numerous knolls and bench settings for wine country homes. The road is uber quaint with rolling curves and dips amongst the setting of both magnificent and modest homes that overlook miles of vineyards and long southerly views, just keep in mind it is well travelled which can make it tricky for either bikers or automobiles, in some cases it is barely more than 1 lane wide and doing its' best to accommodate the bevy of people wanting for the experience that this area provides.

At the south end of the road (closest to downtown Healdsburg) nestled up a lane is the historic Madrona Manor. This prideful Victorian functions as a restaurant and an Inn, often also playing host to wedding and receptions. As the addresses grow, you start to realize your distance to the Plaza in downtown Healdsburg is constantly being marked as each address tells your distance to get back to the heart of town (i.e., 6300 W. Dry Creek is 6.3 mile to the plaza). Now that's keeping it simple! So your journey continues up the valley passing home's barns, wineries, biker's and runners, it is impossible to pull over for a picture, so just stop at any of the numerous favorite wineries to do this. This valley is comprehensively known for the Zinfandel it produces amongst other varietals like Merlot, Chardonnay & Cabernet. Some of our favorite stops are A. Rafanelli, Zichchi (can usually only order futures at this place but worth the wait, get the Petite Syrah), then stroll into Preston Winery where you will find an organic approach and a great place to picnic and relax while playing bocce on one of 2 courts they have. About the northernmost point on the road is Bella Vineyards (use to be Meeker, but has been completely modernized and glamourized). There you will find wine caves and frequent events. You will find a few crossovers that take you over Dry Creek to the busier Dry Creek Road (where if you head north you will find Lake Sonoma, perfect for watersports, camping, park activities, waterskiing & relaxing).

Alexander Valley is one of three AVA's (that means quality wine region) that spring out from Healdsburg. The main road about the Valley is HWY 128. Look for exceptional wineries and even excellent hardly known labels that due to there size never make it outside the region for others to celebrate. There are numerous quaint lanes like W. Sausal Lane & Red Winery Road to name a few that residents call home. This valley stretches from Knights Valley (the northern environs of Calistoga) up to the northern edge of Cloverdale incorporating the little hamlets of Geyserville and the famous town of Asti (only 55 acres in size) that was popularized by comedian turned self nominated presidential candidate, Pat Paulsen.

This valley is graced by thousands of acres of vineyards. A newly popularized stop is River Rock Casino (Dry Creek Rancheria Tribe owns this). This is also seen, too many, as a blight on the hillside with a prominent San Francisco style multi-story parking garage that towers over the actual casino facility that you see from HWY 101 and numerous points throughout the valley. For a more soulful visit try the Jim Town store on HWY 128, it is the market to the valley residents and for those enjoying time touring the valley. The Russian River is very easily accessed from a few points up and down the valley. The weather here can get quite hot in summer time (think 85-105*F), which is also why the grapes love it. Frances Ford Coppola has re-made/established a wine wonderland with this landmark facility with 2 full service bars, a separate wine bar, pool with pool side service, bocce courts and performers stage along with his personal museum (see the famous Tucker automobile and other movie related history). He also provides a first class indoor and outdoor dining environment at "Rustic", which is on-site and enhanced by it's Easterly views across the valley.

The area has seen multi-generational families farming the land for 150 years, some of which have gone on to becoming notable wine makers and even more so notable wineries. Life in Alexander Valley is warm & relaxing and you are only 10-15 minutes from the Healdsburg Plaza where you will find amazing food & entertaining options along with a summer jazz festival, numerous annual wine tasting events and a full gamet of lodging options like H2 hotel or simple Bed & Breakfast options on Tucker Street and many other downtown Healdsburg locations.

A highly regarded development initiated by Roger Valena in the 80's as 1/2-2 acre parcels readied for new custom crafted homes to be built there. Some of these have been exquisitely designed or remodeled (some were built in the 80's have gone through current transformations - some haven't). Some were built/remodeled as recently as the present. The styles are traditional, colonial, contemporary (one very edgy glass & concrete home), Prairie Style, Tuscan, Mediterranean & even Tudor. You can usually expect about 3500 sqft. here in the home (neighborhood ranges from 2600-5000 sqft. of living area). Values have been increasing and we have seen significant activity that has driven the "bar" higher. Typically the price range is $950,000-$2million. There is one undeveloped segment at the top of the street, wonder what will show up here?

Just off the 2nd fairway at Fountain Grove Country Club is this gated community of about 2 dozen properties. All have a generous amount of acreage and most of the homes have been architecturally designed well and finished using elaborate details. These homes usually have thoughtful "walk-out" yards with special landscaping details (pool, bocce, outdoor living rooms, kitchens, guest homes). The values vary as some homes are 2500qft and some near 7000sqft. Values can spread considerably and range from $1+million - $4million at present. The location affords desirable access to the Fountain Grove Country Club, major work centers, the airport and vineyards.

A small cul-de-sac of homes that were built by Greg Service. A few homes (along the creek side of the street) have challenging back yards to access and back up to Brush Creek while others have some fabulous sunny and very connected yards. The Portico is a common design theme with these homes which were usually finished with elegant granite counters, soft wall details, oversized door & ceiling moldings and thoughtful floor plans. Expect to find 3000-3500sqft of home here and values currently range from $900,000-$1.2million. People like the location due to its' proximity to desirable Rincon Valley for shopping, schools and family activities.

An exquisite street of homes built around 2005-2006 at the top of the hill in Fountain Grove. On the South side and East end of the street the homes have good to amazing views. My old home is here and we were the first to arrive. The lots are 1/2-3/4 acres in size with very good usability. the homes were semi-custom built (at least the first few until someone complained about different upgrades and the builder shut those options down). The average home is about 4000sqft. and the values range based upon individual finishes, views & desirability of landscaping. One model even boasted a 6 car garage option! The neighborhood values range from $900,000 - $1.4 million presently.
Living here you are conveniently located with good access to premier office buildings, hospitals, Fountain Grove Golf Club, employers (Medtronic & Agilent), HWY 101 access for those going South or North as well as dipping back over to Rincon Valley or down to Hidden Valley for school and kids activities.

Marvelous setting atop Bennett Valley Heights where most homes either have a prominent Westerly view or actually back up to Annadel State Park (5000 acres). A unique and nearly level street occupying a flat ridge for easy walks and park access with large custom designed homes on 1/2-1 acre lots. This locale has a gracious access and although not gated, feels that way. All this with great proximity to schools, shopping and work.

The Brush Creek area straddles the valley floor and some sloping hills. It is conveniently located in the Rincon valley area while also being the most proximate to down town Santa Rosa. The area is served by a gently curving road (Brush Creek) which is thought of as a "busy corridor" as numerous neighborhoods access out onto it to get most places. You will find homes & condos (Brush Creek Villas, part of the Veale families rancho that pre-existed it) on the lower side of the road and they will vary in price from $275,000-$775,000 with most in the middle. While to the uphill side you will find exclusive neighborhoods like ""Selene Ct", "Woodside Hills" or "Montecito Woods"(Gemma Cir & Massimo Cir) known for their large wooded lots (1/2 - 2 acre) where prices range from $700,000-$2 million. The character of the homes can vary as they were mostly custom built. The proximity to schools & work are a plus not to mention the larger more buffered space in the yards.

The first place I visited when I arrived to Santa Rosa in 1990 just out of college and turned me into a lifetime resident of the area. The Riebli area is very well thought of. It affords a quaint and convenient setting for both being close to town(10+min), schools(5+min), shopping(5-10min) and activities yet far enough out to be on 1-200 acres of your own land. You will commonly find prices for homes in this area in the $800,000-$2,000,000. On the Rincon Valley end you are close to premier schools, convenient shopping, local & state parks while on the Mark West end you have good access to the airport, golfing & HWY 101.
Most homes have elegant views and there are very few rentals available. You will also find an increasing amount of vineyards being planted do to the terroire being recognized more recently for its' characteristics. Some properties have elaborate gate systems and guest/pool houses. There is a location in the middle that reminds me of being in Italy - you will know it when you go through it.

Having worked in this area for over 20 years and now seeing both sets of our parents enjoying themselves, Oakmont has a lot to offer. The genesis of the area harkens back to the early 60's and has seen new housing built in every decade since, but now has very little left to expand further so as the demand to live here increases rest assured the newbies will be looking for prime locations and homes that have been remodeled with exceptional quality.

With over 4000 residents living in everything from lovely view properties ($700,000-1,000,000), golf course homes ($400,000-$900,000), owner maintained homes and yards ($300,000-$700,000), association maintained homes/condos ($200,000-$500,000) and even assisted living care at Oakmont Gardens. Nearly 90% of all homes are occupied by the owners, so rentals ($1500-3500/mo.) can be thin to choose from. Your neighbors are wonderful but beware the occasional "I have nothing else to do but scrutinize what you are doing" neighbor - which can be overcome but requires tenacity. The area is promptly adjacent to Annadel State Park with over 5000 acres of hiking, walking, biking & horseback riding trails and boasts close proximity to everything Santa Rosa (over 160,000 people).

Our kids enjoy visiting for the summer camps & spring time events and driving in the golf cart is always a hit. We love the fact that, as we are raising our family in Bennett Valley now, we are just the other side of the park from Oakmont and can walk or bike (preferred) with our entire family to our parent's homes for family time, visiting, tennis and golf. One time we were riding bikes and our youngest took a spill, a neighbor driving bye that saw it happen came to an immediate stop and jumped out of his car with first aid kit in hand ready to assist (Thank You!)

Activity wise, where do I start.... 2 golf courses, 3 different recreation centers with gym's, pool, tennis courts, lawn bowling & bocce. Residents can join numerous clubs (in fact, in some cases there is more than 1 club for those that may not "like" who is in the other). There are organized excursions for shopping and theater events and my mother-in-law even participates in a Wii bowling league (no heavy lifting required).

Rincon Valley is too large to classify as just one neighborhood, but Sky Hawk rests on its' Eastern boundary and offers mush to those seeking quality homes, schools, weather and access into the Sonoma Valley (Kenwood & Glen Ellen) wine country. This master planned community saw construction start in the mid 1990's and carried on for about 10 years (there is only a small 18 unit section left to be constructed). There were several phases built by Christopherson Homes and each phase was a dressed up larger version of the prior. There are now about 500 homes that populate this community which is centered around Austin Creek Elementary school (one of the most highly rated/scored around). The homes range in size (with the exception of the Parkside collection which offered 3 models ranging from 900-1300sqft.) from 1900-4200 sqft. Some have amazing large level yards, but most encounter upward or downward sloping ones. You will find a bevy of 3 car garages here as well. The neighbors are keenly aware of the "what's happening" in their area and what's not. In 2013, you could expect to pay $700,000-$800,000 for the average home bosting about 3000sqft of living area. Some homes have seen incredible/imaginative things done with the finishes and some are very basic with white tile and oak everywhere. At the top of Sailing Hawk and Mountian Hawk you will find the most premium lots and interesting roof lines, also the highest prices (think $950,000-1,200,000).

Situated in downtown this can be a "rough" spot to live or even park your car. The graffiti and what goes with it is a real bummer...Maybe ABC can do a new show called "extreme neighborhood makeover"

How did this get named SOS??? Unless it is for Super Often Sought after area... Typically a hard area for people from "outside" Santa Rosa to understand, but after you are here you get it! This can better be broken down into 2 neighborhoods: The Mcdonald Area with its' historic mansions dating back to the 1870's including the famous Mableton House on McDonald Ave is where local "old money" goes. There are both majestic and casual homes that follow the tree lined streets about, but casual does not mean cheap, expect to pay $600,000-$700,000 for a quaint 1600sqft home with an average yard. Mcdonald avenue (the original main street) is an eye popper for good architecture and excellent stewardship of these prized homes. The larger ones are typically 3000-5000 sqft. with large yards, period details and a local who's who list of occupants. Currently there is a very desirable home on a double lot across the street from the mansion for $1.8 million. It has been lovingly updated but still very true to its' heritage and like most of the substantial homes on the avenue it has a sizable basement as well. The area is also widely known for the extensive/illustrious Halloween celebrations where you will find a "real treat" for the senses each year (if you go, be prepared for crowds, noise, fun and keep your little ones close bye as it can get packed with wall-to-wall people).
The other part of this area (between Bryden & E. Foothill) is commonly referred to as The Proctor Terrace area due to the elementary school by the same name being located here. This school represents well and has so for decades with its' vaunted parental support and true "walk-ability" from around the homes in the area. Within this area there are sub-areas (Grace Tract and Town & Country) which are usually just thought as being under the "greater area name". Pacific Market is gracefully poised within the neighborhood and offers an amazing butcher shop, quaint coffee stand, a "Sandy's" Take-n-bake pizza as well as Carmen's Burger Bar (neighborhood favorite). Homes in the Proctor Terrace Area vary from 1100 sqft. to 3400 sqft. with most being of the 1600-2200 sqft. size. Primarily a neighborhood that evolved with custom built homes in the 50's and early 1960's people love the dependability, serenity & charm. You will find a very high owner occupied ratio as well. Some homes have been (although you may not be able to tell from the street) exceptionally/luxuriously remodeled and yet there are others that are likely candidates for this. We have personally lived in and remodeled 5 homes ourselves in this area.

This area of Santa Rosa is central to town and surrounding amenities. It's most recognizable feature is Memorial Hospital (a St. Joseph's Sister's of Orange Hospital) but don't overlook the beauty of the historic neighborhood built around it mostly in the 1940-1950's. These are highly desirable homes located on quaint tree lined streets, some busier than others but near so many amenities: Montgomery Village Shopping center, Santa Rosa Creek, Flamingo Hotel, medical and business offices as well as the core of downtown Santa Rosa with all its' restaurants, shops and activities like the Wednesday night markets that happen throughout the summer season. The area offers housing that ranges from smaller 1000 sqft mid-century homes (Sherwood Forest) to those boasting nearly 3000 sqft.(like those on Kjell Ct.). Something you wont find on the maps is the little kid park/playground located off California Ave. I have spent many a days there with my little ones. In 2013 you can expect to find homes ranging from $350,000-$900,000 in the area with a reasonable estimate for a well conditioned 3br/2ba home to be $500,000-$600,000.

Alta Vista Heights is ideally located in the heart of Santa Rosa yet on a ridge line overlooking it. The highly desirable location is set within the greater scope of the Montecito Area of Santa Rosa. It is known for its' privacy and ecelcetic architecture as some homes date back to the original settling (1940-1950's) days of the town itself when city dwellers from the San Francisco area would come up for summer respites and built small cabins here. Today there are few of these still left. The larger parcels have been divided into smaller ones (typically 1/2 acre now) and boast a variety of styles having been built from as far back as the 1940's to new construction seen today. The homes typically vary in size 1100 sqft. - 12,000 sqft. and priced in the $600,000-$3 million range. Commonly you could expect an average home (about 3000 sqft. with 4bR/3Ba) in 2013 to fetch about $900,000. The area is a favorite due to its' proximity to downtown, shopping, medical offices, hospitals, the Flamingo Hotel and Montecito Heights Health and Racquet Club. The streets are typically more narrow and without sidewalks. Residents enjoy their views & privacy

Founded in 1857 by Harmon Heald, this is true small town America and The Plaza is where you will find the pulse of the town. As much as it is actually an incorporated city of nearly 12,000 people, it really feels like a "town". Healdsburg is wine central. There are 3 world famous viticulture regions that come together here: Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley & the Russian River Valley which draws both locals and tourists to the area. You can explore by bike or car throughout these valleys and still be within 5-30 minutes of the town or you put on your walking shoes and roam about The Plaza area taking in the various tasting rooms, restaurants, galleries & stores. The lodging has become first class since adding the Healdsburg Hotel and H2 (the greener, more modern, not so little sister hotel) as well as a B&B like the Haydon House.

Healdsburg offers exceptional foodie access. One of our favorites is Bistro Ralph's. They are on the North side of the Plaza. It is small like most restaurants here but big in what it delivers. Try their Chicken Paillard (it's amazing) and they are famous for the Martini (which is not so "tini"). If you want an appetizer, I suggest the Szechuan Calamari and don't forget to dip their special bread cubes in the sauce that accompanies the calamari. The bar scene is alive with all the visitors each week streaming from San Francisco or around the world, they all find their way here. SpoonBar is located at H2 on Healdsburg Ave. They make many exceptional drinks, try the Corpse Revival #2 - it is a gin drink (even if you don't like gin) that looks like a lemon drop but has, at least in my estimation, a supple fennel/lemony (not sweet like the lemon drop drink) flavor that you will simply say "how about one for my friends as well". You could also bring your dog here as they can stand at attention with you and straddle the outdoors. A block away is another favorite, Barn Diva. This place has a lot more space and is completely different, but still exceptional atmosphere. With its' setting amongst market lights and old world outdoor dining, it also feels very new and alive...we had a 40th birthday there for a friend - enough said. If you need a wind down, catch a movie at The Raven Theater or relax in the Plaza - they just redid it after 150 years of existence.

We are lucky to call Bennett Valley home! We have lived in BV since 2009 and love it! We know most of our neighbors by first name or by sight and feel a great sense of community. We chose BV for many reasons... schools were important to us, we love being near Annadel State Park and though it feels rural, you are quick to downtown or Montgomery Village for great restaurants and shopping. We love to ride our bikes, run or hike into the park. In the summer, we often ride in with the kids for dinner. On Tuesdays last year there were food trucks and newly opened Lakeside Grill.
The neighborhoods around BV are filled with people who have lived here there whole life or have left and come back to raise their children. It is a safe neighborhood where you can walk your dog at night and feel safe, just look out for the occasional skunk, raccoon or fox that wander after dark.