Terraced hillside cabins above Monte Rio. A small riverside community along Moscow Road. Starrett Hill and Villa Grande sit close together, but the experience of owning a home in each can be quite different. Explore the listings below, then use my neighborhood map and Moscow Road video to get a better feel for the area.
Thinking about buying or selling here? Call David R. Millar with The Millar Group at Keller Williams Realty, 707-217-1786.
Four active listings matched to the selected neighborhood streets, from $482,000 to $665,000. Prices and availability can change.
$665,000
Monte Rio, California
2 beds · 2 baths · 1,476 sq. ft.
MLS #326057737
Listing courtesy of Mallory Lambert Silipo from Corcoran Icon Properties
$549,000
Monte Rio, California
3 beds · 1 bath
MLS #326074255
Listing courtesy of Stefan Schermerhorn from Holmes Burrell Real Estate
$499,000
Monte Rio, California
2 beds · 2 baths · 1,097 sq. ft.
MLS #326084624
Listing courtesy of Mikki Cardoza from Corcoran Icon Properties
$482,000
Monte Rio, California
2 beds · 1 bath · 720 sq. ft.
MLS #326051357
Listing courtesy of Mallory Lambert Silipo from Corcoran Icon Properties
Use this illustrated overview to orient yourself around the hillside terraces, Moscow Road and the Russian River. The street list below includes the additions and corrections made for this guide.
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In this tour, I drive from Monte Rio toward Duncans Mills and talk about Starrett Hill, Villa Grande, Patterson Point and the railroad history along the river. It is a useful introduction to how these communities fit together.
Watch on YouTube | Open the Moscow Road video page | Read the Moscow Road guide
Starrett Hill is a series of terraces climbing the hillside above Monte Rio and the Russian River. Depending on the house, its elevation and the trees around it, you may find views across the river valley or a more enclosed redwood setting.
Much of the neighborhood's character comes from its older vacation cabins. Over the years, many have been refurbished, expanded or adapted for year-round living. Some remain small and simple; others have been substantially updated. A home's condition, improvements and usable outdoor space can make a large difference in value.
For buyers comparing more affordable Russian River neighborhoods, I often suggest looking at Starrett Hill alongside Rio Nido. Both can offer smaller cabins and renovation opportunities at lower price points than some other parts of Sonoma County.
Based on my local experience, these are the price brackets I watch when helping buyers shop the area:
| Price bracket | Opportunities to watch for |
|---|---|
| $200,000s | Fixer homes that may need substantial work, when available. |
| $300,000s | Smaller cabins, with price depending on condition, access and improvements. |
| $400,000s | A common shopping range for cabins and smaller homes in the neighborhood. |
| Up to about $800,000 | Larger or more extensively refurbished homes, depending on their features and the market. |
David's broad neighborhood price guidance, October 2026. These brackets describe opportunities to watch for, not a guarantee that a home is currently available in every range. The four listings above are today's separate snapshot.
The streets are narrow and wind up the hill. Parking can be limited, and the drive to a house matters just as much as the photographs. If narrow hillside roads are uncomfortable for you, drive the route before deciding whether a particular home is a good fit. Check where you and your visitors would park, how you would turn around and how deliveries would reach the property.
Many of the hillside cabins I see are supported on posts or piers to accommodate the slope. Septic systems are common in the area. When evaluating a home, look closely at the foundation and supports, decks, drainage and septic inspection records.
The higher terraces sit above the river-level neighborhoods, which is one of Starrett Hill's attractions.
Villa Grande has a different feel. The core community sits on flatter land beside the Russian River, with a compact street pattern, older cottages and riverfront homes. It feels more like a little village than a hillside subdivision.
Villa Grande's general-store and post-office history is part of its small-town identity. Friends of Villa Grande records that the post office opened in the Mesa Grande General Store in 1907. Those gathering places help explain the community's long history as a place where people came to spend time along the river.
River access is a major part of Villa Grande's appeal. Patterson Point Preserve provides access to the Russian River and a wooded setting cared for by Friends of Villa Grande. The preserve is free and open to the public. I visit this part of the neighborhood in my Moscow Road video.
Villa Grande includes riverfront homes, homes near the preserve and properties with deeded river access. Villa Grande sits at river level, with a different flood setting from the higher Starrett Hill terraces.
These communities grew during the Russian River's railroad and summer-vacation era around the turn of the twentieth century, when visitors traveled from San Francisco and the Bay Area to stay along the river. Friends of Villa Grande dates the original Mesa Grande subdivision to 1897 and a terrace addition to 1906.
The cabins, small lots and winding terraces still reflect that earlier pattern of development. That history gives the area much of its character, and it is also why two houses close together can differ so much in layout, access and the improvements made over time.
Hillside terraces, wooded cabins and possible valley or river outlooks. Compare the drive, parking, stairs, foundation and usable outdoor space as carefully as the interior.
A flatter village setting beside the river, with older cottages, riverfront properties and Patterson Point nearby. Compare flood history, elevation and the specific river access arrangements.
They are neighboring communities along the Moscow Road corridor. Starrett Hill is the terraced hillside setting; Villa Grande's core village is on flatter land along the river.
Smaller cabins and fixers are part of the area's housing stock. Availability changes, and a low asking price should be weighed against the cost of repairs, access and the property's condition. Call me for the current options in your price range.
The higher Starrett Hill terraces sit above the lower river neighborhoods. Villa Grande is a flatter community at river level.
Start with my Russian River septic systems guide and local septic inspection article.
If you are considering a home on Starrett Hill or in Villa Grande, I can help you compare the setting, access, parking, property condition and current prices. If you are thinking about selling, we can look at the recent comparable sales and how your home's features fit today's market.
David R. Millar | The Millar Group
Keller Williams Realty
Call 707-217-1786
Explore Russian River real estate
History: Friends of Villa Grande community history.
River access: Friends of Villa Grande: Patterson Point recreation.
Flood information: National Flood Insurance Program flood-zone guidance.