Relocate to the Mendocino Coast!  A unique combination of  a healthful, natural and peaceful life style with spectacular beauty wherever one looks.

On the North Coast, nature abounds in all its forms - the sea, rugged coast, rivers, trees, flowers, birds, deer, seals... The people are friendly and the pace is country.

Real estate in Mendocino and Fort Bragg offers more house and land for the same dollar amount, or considerably less, than you would pay in other areas that have so much to offer.  You can choose between ocean views, being nestled among the redwoods, having farmland, pastures, or being in town. There are also beautiful Bed and Breakfasts and a variety of other businesses for sale.

To access detailed information about available properties you can go directly from this site into the Coastal Mendocino Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. In addition to Mendocino, the MLS covers coastal communities from Elk in the south to Westport in the north, the several small communities in between, as well as Comptche to the east.

The air is among the purest in the entire country. The weather on this part of the north coast has an undeserved reputation for being rainy and foggy; there are many more clear, sunny days than is rumored. Traffic is a non-issue. On most days, four to five cars stopped simultaneously at a traffic light is the local version of congestion.

The population numbers that follow are strictly approximations based on the 2000 census and done by zip code, not city limits.

There is a "there"here - hard to find, once you leave a big city! The Mendocino Coast offers: the annual two weeks-long Mendocino Music Festival, the Mendocino Film Festival, Opera Fresca, the Lodge at the Woods--an attractive retirement community in the redwoods, the Mendocino Art Center, the Mendocino Theater Company, the extraordinary 47 acre Botanical Gardens, the College in the Redwoods . . . I could go on and on.

Starting with Mendocino (population 2,223), it looks like what it is--a pretty picture postcard, well-known for its New England Victorian style buildings; its enticing shops and art galleries galore; its gracious and lovely Bed and Breakfasts; its outstanding restaurants; the historic Mendocino Hotel;  all within view of the waves pounding against the cliffs. Right beneath that touristy surface is a very lively, robust, community with constant activities, including food and wine festivals, art openings, readings at the Gallery Bookshop, the annual Fourth of July Parade, the Christmas Candle  Light Tour of Bed and Breakfast Inns,  and so on. There are markets, bakeries, a health food store, library, schools , and more.

Less than 15 minutes north of Mendocino, also facing the ocean, is the town of Fort Bragg (population 14,410) - not to be confused with the military installation in North Carolina. It has a much wider range of prices and architectural styles and has many more properties for sale. Fort Bragg has no shopping malls and no fast food, other than one McDonald's. It does have a Starbucks!. The Harvest Market, Safeway, and other smaller stores, fulfill all of one's grocery and bakery needs. There is a hospital, a DMV, computer store, a four screen movie theater, a home supply store, schools, etc.  Its many small specialty shops, exceptional restaurants, an active fishing port in Noyo Harbor and the famous Skunk Train, are among its other attractions.

All along the Coast are numerous delightful places to stay, including: The Heritage House, the Little River Inn with its 9-hole golf course, the Seafoam Lodge and the Inn at Schoolhouse Creek, each with ocean views and its own unique appeal.

Continuing south on Highway 1, less than 15 minutes from Mendocino, is the tiny village of Albion (population 1,035). Ocean view and forested properties are available within a broad price range. There is a post office, hardware store, market with deli and a gas station. Amazingly, it has two ocean-view, world-class restaurants within minutes of each other, the Ledford House and the Albion River Inn, which also has romantic guest cottages. An inviting B&B in Albion is the Fensalden Inn, which was built in 1860, originally as a stage-coach stop.

Sincerely,

Maria B. Hansen

Gilleran Griffin Realtors