Welcome to Kentfield & Greenbrae
The communities of Greenbrae and Kentfield are “next door neighbors,” located at the opening of the Ross Valley corridor. With a combined land area of just under 10 square miles, you can find a variety of Greenbrae and Kentfield homes for sale, many with views and space, at any given time.
Why buy Greenbrae or Kentfield real estate?
Whether you are searching for a home on a hill, in a level neighborhood or somewhere in between, there are numerous neighborhoods offering plenty of variety with Greenbrae homes for sale and Kentfield homes for sale. Predominantly composed of hillside and waterfront terrain, Greenbrae’s homes and offices are famous for their views of the San Francisco Bay, Corte Madera Creek, and Mount Tamalpais. Kentfield has a number of larger, upscale homes, many of which are located on generous and level lots. Of note is the Kent Woodlands neighborhood, with numerous estate homes on generous parcels.
Greenbrae and Kentfield are both served by the Kentfield School District. This district includes two highly regarded schools: Anthony G. Bacich Elementary School (K-4) and Adaline E. Kent Middle School (5-8.) Most Kentfield School District graduates attend Redwood High School in the Tamalpais Union High School District. Kentfield is also home to the original College of Marin campus, which offers associate degrees and career programs as well as a wide variety of continuing education instruction.
Greenbrae’s Bon Air Shopping Center is a popular destination for shopping and dining and consists of an upscale grocery store, restaurants and fast-casual places, fitness studios and specialty retail shops. Bon Air also hosts a number of events tied to the major holidays as well as summertime activities which are popular with families.
Kentfield is home of Woodlands Market, a gourmet grocery store with an incredible deli and bakery, plus an adjoining flower and garden shop. There are several contemporary restaurants scattered throughout the area.
Both Kentfield and Greenbrae are served by one of Marin’s largest healthcare hubs, MarinHealth, consisting of a full-service hospital and adjacent medical offices.
With choices in neighborhoods ranging in price, terrain and style, there are many options for Greenbrae homes for sale as well as Kentfield homes for sale.
Fun Facts & Statistics
When the original developers for Greenbrae, the Schultz Building Company, first designed Greenbrae’s neighborhoods in the late 1940s, they focused on saving the local oak trees, establishing housing setbacks, creating landscaped medians and preserving open areas.
“Brae" means a steep bank or hillside in dialects of Scotland and Northern Ireland; Greenbrae translates to "green hillside."
Kentfield was originally known as "Ross Landing," as steamers would travel up Corte Madera Creek to the landing there. It transitioned to being known as Kentfield when Albert Emmett Kent bought the land from the Ross estate in 1871 and built his own estate called Tamalpais. Albert Emmett Kent's son, William Kent, became the founder of Muir Woods, and was also a US Congressman and philanthropist.
Between Greenbrae and Kentfield, the area has a combined population of. Both places share the same zip code.
Greenbrae and Kentfield Nature & Geography
In Greenbrae, Hal Brown Park at Creekside is home to a protected wetlands area that serves as a habitat for wildlife, including endangered shorebirds like the Ridgeway’s rail. Although visitors are not allowed to venture into the shoreline habitat, there are observation areas. A large number of individuals, organizations, and community groups have supported the marshland area restoration over the years. The area also offers unparalleled views of Mt. Tamalpais.
Also popular with Kentfield locals is the Crown Road hike, an assortment of fire roads and trails on the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais right above Kentfield and offering gorgeous views of the county.
Both Greenbrae and Kentfield are a short drive to in multiple directions to Marin’s natural gems throughout the county, including redwood groves, shorelines and hiking trails.
A Perfect Day in Greenbrae and Kentfield
There are oh so many ways to enjoy time with family and friends in the area once you’ve done research on Greenbrae and Kentfield properties and found your dream home. Start off your day with a hearty brunch on the ivy covered patio at Half Day Café in Kentfield; or pop into Noah’s Bagels in Bon Air Center for a grab ‘n go breakfast.
Take the kids over to Hal Brown Park at Creekside for activity on the extremely well-designed play structures, with plenty of options for both younger and older children. There is a large lawn area and several picnic tables for al fresco dining. Adjacent to the park is Corte Madera Creek Path, perfect for biking-riding, rollerblading, walking and bird-watching.
For a mid-afternoon sweet treat, pop into Susie Cakes in Bon Air Center for a melt-in-your-mouth cupcake or one of its famous whoopie pies.
Enjoy dinner at Guesthouse in Kentfield, headed by the former chef of Picco and featuring wood-fire-grilled fare, or try Jason’s at Drakes Landing in Greenbrae, where you can order a Golden Gate Sunset cocktail and watch the sun go down over Corte Madera Creek. For more casual options, head over to Gott’s Roadside for a melt-in-your-mouth burger or Paxti’s Pizza for a Chicago style deep dish pie.
Learn about other neighborhoods: