Hillcrest Townhomes are nice inside! They are spacious, a little outdated, but mostly acceptable…read more When moving in, the paint was fresh, the unit was clean, etc. My biggest gripe about this complex, however, is the fact that it is about 100 ft from US 101 freeway, making the unit unbearably loud if you face it. With the single-pane slider closed, you can hear cars zoom by all day. With the slider open, you cannot talk in the living room--this is not an exaggeration; it is that bad. I would gladly stay here for another year, but the sound has gotten to me. Other than that, the 2br, 1.5 bath layout is nice and efficient. Water and garbage are paid, which helps keep our total utility bill under $50 in the winter, and about $30 in the summer, excluding internet and television. Maintenance is fast to respond and management is very nice. Joey, the apt. manager lives on site and he stays out of your business. I have to say, this apartment offers very private living. Aside from annual fire inspections, maintenance has never entered our apartment without being called. Parking can be a challenge, but not for residents, as they are typically given two spots. Ours are situated in a weird place, but not far from our unit. The laundry room is big and has rarely been at full-capacity--I've only had to wait once to use a washing machine. As far as the neighbors go, most keep to themselves and are quiet. We've had no crime problems at our complex--at least none that we know of. There are move-in bonuses. Ours was $100 off our monthly rent + 1 month free, which was really nice. The manager also let us bring our small dog without charging us a pet deposit. Overall, our stay here at Hillcrest Townhomes was mostly positive. The only thing I dislike about it is the freeway noise, especially during the summer time when we have to keep our slider open for fresh air (there is no AC). Sure, the appliances are outdated, but what do you expect for a LARGE 2 bedroom split level townhouse in MARIN for $1,190/mo?

I've been living here for about a month now and I absolutely love it. Very safe and friendly…read morecommunity, affordable, convenient location.

Great apartments. Well run place and great managers. Maintenance guys are great too.read more

Cute town center in downtown San Rafael that has an great plaza with Julie's Hummus, Chonmage,…read moreMagnolia Kitchen, Coldstone and Arizmendi ! Love coming here on a sunny day and great fir people watching tooo lol! Highly recommend!

First off let me just say, Oaktops is Family Owned and not farmed out to some corporation. Your…read morerent is the same every month unlike our neighbors at Bella Vista and The View. Beyond the EXTREMELY reasonable rent, Oaktops has the greatest community. Everyone looks out for each other and that includes Management. Let's take a moment to talk about "Management" At Oaktops we have Jana and Heather. They along with the Super, Manuel, have created the nicest, cleanest, safest environment you could ask for in Apartment Living. Nothing is ever an issue when speaking to them. If you have a problem....they fix it, that's it. That simple. I have been here 4 years. I moved in to clean carpets, freshly painted walls and great appliances. My dishwasher started acting funny and Manuel came to look at it. He made an adjustment and it went back to working again. But then it did the same thing. Fix it again? NOPE!! Not doing that. They just ordered me a new dishwasher. Now, let me just say it wasn't ANY dishwasher. It was a top of the line all stainless steels gorgeous and SILENT dishwasher. I was in heaven. And when my refrigerator started making "lakes" in the bottom under the produce bins. Same thing. Brand new, peal the protective plastic off it (I didn't have to I requested to lol) even better then the one before Refrigerator!! Bottom line there is a reason we have tenants here for 20 plus years. Because we are seen as people, not tenants and that is a culture the Owners started and I hope spreads like wildfire. It's a joy living at Oaktops and I doubt I never leave. Oh and they have great reasonable amenities that are logical and useful unlike the places charging for community living rooms. We have free laundry and the option to rent a storage unit on site. Oaktops makes apartment living not only easy but enjoyable!

My husband and I lived at Oaktops for close to two years and have nothing but wonderful things to…read moresay about it. Jana, the property manager, is by far the most attentive, transparent, and caring property managers we have ever had. Manuel, the lead maintenance associate, is an extremely hard worker who is very thorough and timely when it comes to addressing any issues that arise. The safe and quiet atmosphere at Oaktops along with the incredible view of Marin County is truly unbeatable. Had we not moved due to a job relocation we most certainly would have stayed for much longer. To anyone looking for a place in the San Rafael area I highly recommend Oaktops as you will not be disappointed.

Bridgecreek looks peaceful at first -- mature trees, quiet pathways, a pretty name -- but living…read morehere tells another story. The real issue isn't the property itself; it's the management behind it. I've lived here long enough to see how little accountability exists at the top. Communication with the office is inconsistent, dismissive, and often downright unhelpful. Requests are brushed off, follow-ups are ignored, and there's a sense that management just doesn't care once you've signed your lease. You'll get polite words when it's time to renew, but not much support when there's an actual problem. To be clear, maintenance is not the issue. Alex, in particular, is responsive, kind, and genuinely cares about residents -- he's the one bright spot here. He shows up, follows through, and actually listens. It's unfortunate that management doesn't match his professionalism or reliability. Another frustration: the pricing is completely backward. My unit is not renovated -- older flooring, original cabinetry, dated fixtures -- yet I'm paying more than residents in newer, updated units. There's no logical explanation for it, and management won't give one. You're essentially paying premium rent for below-average conditions. Noise levels vary depending on your building, parking is tight, and guest spaces are scarce. But the bigger problem is the lack of fairness, communication, and consistency from the leasing office. It's not just an occasional oversight -- it's a pattern. Bridgecreek could easily be a great place to live. The property has charm, and the maintenance staff do their best. But until management learns how to communicate with residents and treat people with respect, the experience here will continue to fall short of what it should be -- especially for what they charge in Novato. If you're looking for a well-managed community where your rent actually matches the quality of your apartment, keep looking. Bridgecreek has potential, but management makes it an exhausting place to call home.

The Maintenance team is amazing and fast. When I put in a work order it's handled hastily. The…read moreneighborhood is quiet and safe. I've been here 2 years and I do like how all shopping is conveniently located within a 5 minute drive.

Great place to live! Its been wonderful, people are friendly, Tom, the on site manager is so funny!…read moreCreekside always does their best to accommodate and make you feel right at home! Quiet complex, not meant for partiers and or lots of visitors as parking is limited. Has pool, laundry and parking! Would definitely recommend to live in this cute complex in fairfax! Great inside apartments renovated to be functional and clean.

Good apartments, nice location in Fairfax. Would live there again. If you can ask for an apartment…read moreclosest to the creek, it's a really beautiful view.

I lived here for 5 years. I would have lived here for as long as I was in Marin, but they only have…read more2 bedrooms and our family out grew our place. The staff, Jodi and Randy, are the very best. They are really reachable and friendly. Randy is quite possibly the speediest maintenance person ever. The company that owns Crooked Oak is also quite good, as they have set up a great online presence that allows you to pay rent online, as well as maintenance requests. The property gets better all the time too, with small but important renovations that make it just a nicer place to live. They accept cats and dogs, and fortunately the people with dogs do a great job of cleaning up after them. The neighbors are nice and generally quiet. I really can't recommend them enough. They are quite possibly the best apartment complex in Marin. (I have personal experience with three of them, and through friends 4 more. Of that sample, they are by far the best.) Each unit is quite nice and has a washer and dryer in unit. The only thing they could do to improve the units is to make them bigger, and add ac, neither of which is really feasible without just building a new complex.

I lived in this apartment for 2.5 years and had a good experience overall--well-maintained…read moreproperty, friendly neighbors, and no issues during my lease. Unfortunately, the move-out process was a major disappointment. I didn't receive any update on my security deposit within the required 21 days and had to follow up myself. After 28 days, I was told not only was my full deposit being withheld, but I was also being charged for carpet replacement, cleaning, and even an extra day of rent--despite leaving the unit in excellent condition. They also charged for normal wear and tear, which is not allowed by law. Over 45 days later, the issue remains unresolved. The office manager has been unhelpful, and I haven't been able to speak to anyone with the ability to resolve this. Final advice: If you rent here, document everything and take photos when moving out. Don't expect your deposit back without a fight--management is unresponsive and disregards tenant rights laws.

I'm soooo grateful for the amazing group of people that works at Madera Valley!! Yasmin,Jason and…read moreChris are by far the best team I've had the privilege to live at their property for the last year! I hope at some point I'll be back. As for now, I give you all a10 out of 10, can't ask for more.

Madera Valley is best ! It's safe, quiet, maintenance…read moreperson is very responsive. management team that cares about the tenants.

I lived here from 2012-2020, and do not recommend it for anyone. The current manager, Mike, acts…read morelike he is a nice guy; he is not. The owners and management do not care about the health and safety of residents. I had multiple service requests that were ignored during my residency here, one of which lead to a mold infestation in my apartment, #78. I reported an issue with my water heater for several years, and it was not addressed properly. A water heater leak caused toxic mold in my apartment. After reporting the issue to Mike, he had a new water heater put in without getting a permit, but did nothing to address the mold & claimed no further repairs were needed. I had to have a mold inspection done and provide him with the report showing my apartment was infested with toxic black mold (stachybotrys). He then refused to have a mold abatement specialist repair the issue, and instead had the maintenance/handyman address it. They painted over the mold in some areas and did not remove all of it. Mike was uncooperative and entered my unit without providing 24-hours notice. He ignored phone calls and emails and is dishonest. I had to choose between continuing to live in an apartment with toxic black mold or moving. I moved out as a result. Then Mike withheld my security deposit and did not send an accounting for it, which is illegal. I had a walk through inspection with Mike 2 weeks before moving out where he told me I would get my full deposit back, and a written confirmation that I had no remaining balance from him as well. I contacted him 4 weeks after moving out since I had not received my deposit nor an accounting for it, and Mike said I owed unpaid rent and a cleaning fee, despite my paying my balance in full and leaving the apartment clean. When I disputed this, Mike sent me a mutual release to sign stating he would release the deposit if I signed agreeing not to sue. If you're thinking of moving here, don't.

We love it here! 3…read moreyears later and still like our upgraded 2 bedroom apartment. The ground floor apartments all have a fenced in yard - made our dogs love it here too! Super nice wood floors and crown molding (love that). My favorite if the sparkling pool and clean jacuzzi all year round. Never had a problem with any of our neighbors, great laundry rooms, and the manager (the new one the last two years) is super duper! Always helpful and attentive. He's upgraded the apartments , the parking areas, the grounds in such a positive way. Made it a really nice environment. The maintenance chief, Sal, is always timely and he know's what he's doing. Between Dante (manager) and Sal the grounds are green and flowers in the spring and summer make it a wonderful outdoor experience. Private covered parking rocks too. Best we found in all of Marin for the rent, and especially the pet friendly atmosphere. You would want to live here!