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 They are spacious, a little outdated, but mostly acceptable…read more When moving in, the paint was fresh, the unit was clean, etc.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 Sure, the appliances are outdated, but what do you expect for a LARGE 2 bedroom split level townhouse in MARIN for $1,190/mo?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.

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.

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.

There are much better places nearby for the same or less rent…read more At Otavon you will pay well over $2100/month for 50-year-old windows that don't close properly, no insulation and no air conditioning, all of which make heat waves unbearable. Get used to 83F INSIDE at night in summer. Also, you'll know when the garden crew is using their gas-powered tools, because the gas smell will waft through the crappy windows.

I've been living here at Otavon for 2 years now and I have nothing but great things to say about…read moremanagement, my neighbors and the area that the complex is located in. It's conveniently nestled in a very quiet area of the city and close to a very nice shopping center and gym. I'm big on privacy living in an apartment complex and my neighbors are to themselves but at the same time very friendly when we see each other. It's really difficult for me to find a complaint living here but I guess that says a lot about management and how much they care about their tenants. The bonus was meeting the leasing manager and her and I sharing a love for animals- yes, Otovan is pet friendly so I was able to move myself and my pup here. I would highly recommend if your looking for a place to call home that is quiet, friendly and affordable D. H

very bad .Don't rent…read more I definitely do not recommend this place. The landlord and property management are both very poor. Communication is difficult and uncomfortable, and when problems come up, they are not handled in a timely or reasonable manner. As a tenant, I feel that there is very little consideration or respect for renters.

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.

THERE ARE COCKROACHES ALL OVER THE FUCKING APARTMENTS!!!! They have been infesting this unit for…read moreawhile and even with measures to get rid of them I.e bait traps with boric Acid, pesticides and natural remedies they have been making it impossible to sit down or sleep comfortably!!!! THIS IS INSANE!!! The State health department should be notified immediately!!!

I just wanted to let everyone know what a great place this is to live. Laura, Sharon and Ronald…read morekeep everything working well. I am truly grateful for the care they give to making our homes a safe and happy place to live. It is very apparent that they care for all of us, and the improvements and overall feeling that this is a community of good people. I highly recommend anyone living here. -and this is me saying thank you. Your the best!

I lived here for years. When I moved in, it had a horrendous reputation. When the manager…read moreChristopher came in, it was a great thing for the people living there. He turned it around and within a year, it was the go to place in Novato! Some problem, people moved in, but Christopher was always on top of it, and keeping them in line. If you did not like Christopher, you were probably part of the problem. Our work orders were handled quickly, and the follow-through was amazing. Was extremely sad when Christopher left.

Avoid these apartments at all cost. I currently reside here and from the mold to the roaches and…read morethe the staff at PFI it's a joke. They're horrible on fixing things in a timely manner. They will start construction outside your home without notice, and they ignore your problems for weeks in. I'm a single mother with 2 kids I work my ass off, to pay this 2500 a month rent and it's not worth it. I suggest no one moved here unless your ok with Roaches moving in too. Because the whole complex is infested. They honestly need to knock down these apartments and got them, fumigate and rebuild.

Great place to live. Management is always available to assist. Clean and the people are friendly…read moreand family like. Rent is kinda high, and doesn't balance with our economic status, at this time, management is strict when it comes to increases, policies and procedures.

In my opinion, the management company and their onsite manager, should be ashamed of what they have…read moredone to the quaint Parkside Apartments. It is now a pathetic, mismanaged, quickly eroding apartment complex. My story is like so many other tenants. I have called and emailed the apartment manager and the management company's corporate office in the State of Washington. The manager is holed up in apartment, because of stalled construction and the management company ignores you. In either case, you get a voicemail, and they do not respond to any of the correspondences. The vegetation is dying, the pool is green (see photo) and full of mosquitoes, they regularly make mistakes on your monthly billing statement. The entire complex is literally falling down around them. This story has been repeated over and over by most of the tenants. If you are thinking about moving into these apartments, stop a current tenant, and ask their opinion of the management company and the onsite manager. Until there is a change in both onsite management and the management company, I cannot recommend this place due to the poor condition of the complex and the absence of any management. The previous review was written by the spouse of the previous manager, who was the opposite of the ineffective/lazy individual who currently holds the position.