Welcome to Portola Valley
Portola Valley began as a quiet place for artists and Stanford academics who wanted to live close to campus, and it incorporated as a town in 1964.
The outdoors is the center of life here, and residents protect it fiercely. A town trail system links neighborhoods, schools and shops for walkers, cyclists and riders. Windy Hill Open Space Preserve rises behind the town, and horse trails run through it.
The award-winning Town Center blends into its surroundings. The Valley Center, anchored by Roberts Market, is where residents and passing cyclists stop for groceries, prepared food and coffee.
It's a place that ought to be hundreds of miles away, yet it sits a few minutes from everything on the Peninsula.
What Makes Portola Valley Different
- The Open Space. Windy Hill, the town trails and the surrounding preserves make hiking, cycling and riding part of everyday life.
- The Privacy. Large lots, hillside settings and careful town planning keep homes private and the landscape natural.
- The Location. Sand Hill Road, Stanford and Highway 280 are minutes away.
Neighborhoods in Portola Valley
Central Portola Valley
Oaks and chaparral cover the hillsides, and the terrain creates lots of every shape and size, with many homes built on several levels to take in the views. The Westridge neighborhood has 2.5-acre minimum lots and backs onto the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve.
Corte Madera
Portola Road, Alpine Road and Willowbrook Drive form a triangle around this bucolic neighborhood, much of it first subdivided in the 1920s. Older homes and new construction sit on lots averaging about half an acre, next to the trails of Windy Hill Open Space Preserve.
Portola Valley Ranch
A planned community of more than 200 homes set within about 350 acres of open space and 10 miles of trails, with a recreation center, tennis courts, pools, a vineyard, a community garden and a clubhouse.
Los Trancos Woods
Off the beaten path and breathtakingly scenic. Properties range from secluded estates to new custom homes to rustic cabins first built as summer retreats, surrounded by forest and grassland.
Ladera
Founded in the 1940s as an experimental cooperative housing development, Ladera still has a strong community spirit. Its recreation district and association keep activities going year-round. More than 500 homes on quarter-acre lots make it the most accessible way into Portola Valley.
Selling in Portola Valley
My record sale, $56 million, was in Portola Valley. Not every home here is an estate, but every home here is different, and buyers want to understand the land as much as the house.
Geology reports, town design review, trail easements, views and privacy all affect value. I make sure buyers understand them before they make an offer, so there are fewer surprises later. Then I keep you updated every week until it closes.
Homes for Sale
Questions About Portola Valley
When did Portola Valley become a town?
Portola Valley incorporated in 1964.
Which schools serve Portola Valley?
Most of the town is served by the Portola Valley School District, which runs Ormondale School and Corte Madera School. Some addresses are served by other districts, so always check a specific address.
Is Ladera part of Portola Valley?
Ladera is in unincorporated San Mateo County but has a Portola Valley address.
What should buyers know about building or remodeling here?
Portola Valley has careful design and geologic review, and the San Andreas Fault runs through the valley. Geology reports are part of most sales.
