Living in Martinez, one of the Bay Area’s best kept secrets.

Nestled along the Carquinez Strait, Martinez, California offers a rare blend of small-town charm, natural beauty, and Bay Area convenience. Known for its tree-lined streets, historic downtown, and welcoming community, Martinez is the County Seat and one of the region’s most desirable places to live. Residents enjoy a relaxed pace of life surrounded by parks, hiking, biking, kayaking, and the beautiful waterfront park with Fishing Pier, waterfront trails, Marina, as well as Rankin Aquatic Center, Historic wine tasting room on Main, John Muir House and Museum and Martinez is the distinguished the home of baseball great, Joe DiMaggio and the Martini (plaque on Alhambra), home of the Martinez Music Mafia (MMM), Amtrak, minor league baseball, largest bocce league with 20 courts, and Farmer’s market and Marina makers Markets, and that’s a partial list…all with easy access to major job centers in Walnut Creek, Concord, and beyond. You may have missed the Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat downtown, Zombie Crawl so you might want to put those on your calendar for next year. Martinez welcomes everyone.

Martinez real estate features a mix of classic Craftsman homes, mid-century properties, and newer developments — providing options for first-time buyers, growing families, and retirees alike. Many excellent schools, walkable neighborhoods, and a vibrant local culture make Martinez a standout among Bay Area communities. As to the real estate market, Martinez is holding strong with 43 homes for sale in September 2025, down only 8.5% from last year, however closed sales are up 72.2% from last year, so buyers are out there, negotiating good deals for themselves. And perhaps that slight drop in interest rates spurred the pending sales, as they are up 33.3% from last year, meaning October solds will be strong as well.

What truly sets the city apart is its deep local pride. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2018–2023 for cities over 25,000), roughly 70% of Martinez residents were born in California — a testament to the city’s enduring appeal and strong community ties. Many who leave for college or career opportunities eventually return, drawn back by the same welcoming spirit and quality of life that define Martinez. This city doesn’t just attract people, it keeps them. Many of our Martinez homeowners have purchased and stayed in Martinez, because of what it offers and proximity to the entire Bay Area at affordable prices. There is something for everyone, from condos to farmland, homes to income property, and land, lots of land, horse properties, and more.