San Francisco

San Francisco’s downtown, the financial district is the business center of the city characterized by high rise commercial buildings, high-end hotels, fine dining, and newer development condo and rental buildings. People typically live in the financial district if they are looking for a place with stunning city views (see Millennium Tower), want more amenities in their residence (doorman, security, pool, gym), need to be close to work, or just prefer new construction and low maintenance.

One of the largest neighborhoods within San Francisco’s downtown corridor. SoMa covers everything south of Market Street as it runs east to west, roughly from 3rd Street to 9th Street and extends south to Townsend Street. SoMa represents an eclectic mix of retail, commercial, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, arts & culture, and residential real estate. It is most commonly known for its loft style buildings which appeal to the creative class and lean a bit more into a younger demo. SoMa has seen more new construction in recent years than other neighborhoods. SoMa is also fairly accessible from all parts of the city given its proximity to Market Street and is great for those who need to be close to the Bay Bridge or Highway 101.

An area that we like to refer to as a ‘pocket neighborhood,’ South Beach, is a sleepy little enclave just south of the Financial District and east of SoMa. It is a small corridor of townhomes and mid-rise residential buildings that sit just south of the Bay Bridge off the Embarcadero and are seconds from the waterfront. At the edge of south beach lies Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, and this area is really known for its Bay Bridge views, quiet and clean streets, and bustling atmosphere during the spring and summer when the Giants are playing.

By San Francisco standards, Mission Bay is a relatively new development which lies due south of SoMa and runs along the interior coastline of the San Francisco Bay. Mission Bay really started developing in the early to mid 2000s and is a combination of high rise condo and rental buildings, retail, and well maintained parks and community-centric destinations that make it attractive for young families. Mission Bay also has some of the flattest real estate in all of San Francisco, which make it easy for stroller-pushing parents to get around. Even though it’s quite a change of pace from the hills, hustle, and bustle of the neighborhoods to the north, it provides a nice balance of live, work, and play with close proximity to Oracle Park, the Chase Center, and the world renowned UCSF Medical Center.

Located directly west of the Mission district and directly east of the Dog Patch lies Potrero Hill, a quiet community of mostly single family residences that sit on one of San Francisco’s many hills. Potrero is tucked away west of Highway 280, making it accessible for commuters entering from the south (Peninsula / Silicon Valley), and somewhat difficult to get to from anywhere else in the city. Potrero Hill has some of the most unique real estate (both traditional and modern) in all of San Francisco and is a great option for anyone looking for a larger space while still in a more residential, neighborhood-centric environment.

Arguably one of the most culturally rich communities in San Francisco, the Mission is home to delicious cuisine (both street food and fine dining), the historic Dolores Park, and two Bart stations. The Mission is eclectic, bustling with diversity and activity. It attracts a wide range of individuals from the Silicon Valley tech elite (Mark Zuckerberg has a home in the Mission), to those living on a much smaller budget with stretches of low income housing. Located along the primary Bart line in San Francisco, the Mission is very accessible from the downtown / SoMa area and generally fairly easy to get to from all areas of the city. Shielded by hills to the east and west, the Mission also boasts weather that is a bit warmer than other parts of the city.

Bernal Heights lies south of the Mission at the crest of one of San Francisco’s highest hills. Bernal was once one of the more affordable neighborhoods within the city limits, and its distance from the city center and charming ‘downtown’ area gives it a suburb-like feel within the city. The community consists of more single family residences and has been a hotbed for architects, developers, and the like to transform traditional San Francisco bungalows into jaw dropping modern, yet very livable residences. Take a stroll down Cortland Avenue for a great mix of ethnic cuisine, craft cocktail bars, and local watering holes—you won’t be disappointed. If you are looking for a bit more space, a slower pace, and a slight discount to some of the more pricey hillside neighborhoods of Pacific and Presidio Heights, Bernal Heights is a great option.

Just west of the busy and bustling streets of the Mission District lies Noe Valley, a quiet neighborhood known for sweeping hillside streets and classic Victorian architecture. The center of Noe Valley is at 24th and Castro Street, where you can find a small but very tasty selection of restaurants, cafes, and bars (be sure to check out the critically acclaimed Noe Valley Bakery!). Access into and out of Noe is a bit more difficult as it is positioned away from most of the public transportation and highways into and out of SF, however it is not far from the Church Street Lightrail which can take you into downtown SF.

One of the most popular tourist destinations in San Francisco, Union Square is known for its blue chip retail stores (Saks 5th Avenue, Williams Sonoma, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Tiffany’s, and Nike Town all on the same block!), large hotels, arts & culture, and restaurants. Union Square lies north of SoMa and west of the Financial District. It is SF’s version of New York’s Rockefeller Plaza, and on any given day it is bustling with tourists and visitors looking to hitch a ride on San Francisco’s famed Trolley #5 rail car (among all the other things that Union Square has to offer). Given its presence as a tourist center, there is not much residential property in this area and the majority of the area is designed for commercial use.

Situated atop one of San Francisco’s tallest hills, Nob Hill is one of the larger residential areas in the city and is only a 10-15 minute ride from the city center via public transit. The neighborhood is known for its narrow but deep Victorian style homes built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Residents of this area love it for its charming coffee shops and corner bodegas, cozy restaurants and wine bars, and the access it provides to other parts of the city. Despite the high concentration of Victorians, there are a handful of high rise buildings in the neighborhood whose units provide sweeping views of the entire city.

At one point a less desirable neighborhood, Hayes Valley went through a urban development renewal starting in the early 2000s when a highway overpass was removed from the central part of the neighborhood. It is now one of the hippest places to live in the city, offering a fun mix of craft wine and cocktail bars, trendy retail, and Michelin-star-worthy cuisine. It also has one of the more diverse cross-sections of residents in the city as it has large swaths of lower income housing juxtaposed with high-end, mid-rise condo developments. Just up the hill from the heart of Hayes Valley sits Alamo Square Park known for having one of the most iconic sets of real estate in San Francisco: the 5 home stretch that is affectionately referred to as the Painted Ladies. The Hayes Valley / Alamo Square area offers quintessential urban living and has become one of the more popular hoods in all of SF.

Located just west and south of the Financial District, North Beach is the home of little Italy and known as the pasta and pizza epicenter of San Francisco. Columbus Street runs diagonally through the heart of the neighborhood with Broadway and Bay Street bordering to the east and west respectively. The area is a hotspot with tourists and visitors alike given its proximity to the water, appealing food scene, and iconic landmarks such as Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill, one of the steepest and tallest hills in San Francisco. Property in North Beach is some of the oldest in San Francisco with Victorian single and multi-family homes representing the majority of the real estate. Given North Beach’s dense and tightly packed, and hilly streets there has not been a lot of new development, and street parking is a challenge.

One of the more popular tourist destinations in the city, Fisherman’s Wharf is situated just west of North Beach and is a mostly commercial district of shops, restaurants, and sight seeing. Many of the walking and biking tour companies in the city are based in Fisherman’s Wharf due to its proximity to the water providing immediate access to the Embarcadero, several ferry terminals, and the Marina District to the west. Ghirardelli Square is the most frequented destination within the area and is a great spot for a bite to eat, a sweet treat, or a casual stroll. Given its position as a tourist hotspot, Fisherman’s Wharf is mostly a hotel and restaurant district with a handful of small residential streets scattered throughout the neighborhood.

Adjacent to Nob Hill is Russian Hill, an area with almost all of the same residential features and characteristics as its neighbor to the east. Located slightly closer to the water, Russian Hill provides for some lifestyle advantages for those that want access to the Bay. The Polk Street corridor runs through the heart of Russian Hill and this 5 block strip provides for the ideal landing zone for trendy bars, restaurants, and cafes along with boutique grocery stores. Be prepared to walk up or down a hill depending on which direction you are heading in this area, but feel good that you are living in one of the more sought after neighborhoods in the city.

The Marina and Cow Hollow districts are home to some of the most beautiful streets in the entire Bay Area. The neighborhoods offer a bit of everything that makes San Francisco unique: picturesque tree lined streets, Bay and Golden Gate Views, and a bustling central corridor of restaurants, bars, and boutique retail on both Union and Chestnut streets. Residents of the Marina / Cow Hollow area may find it hard to leave given the ideal combination of outdoor recreation (Fort Mason and Chrissy Field), proximity to the water (Marina Harbor), and iconic San Francisco landmarks (the Palace of Fine Arts). Residences in the Marina flats and facing the coast on Marina Blvd represent some of the most expensive real estate in the Bay Area. While the Marina skews a bit younger, this is definitely an area that is worth checking out if you are looking to maximize everything that San Francisco has to offer.

Located just west of the Marina is the Presidio, which has its roots as a military base during the 20th century war time era (and was originally a Spanish fort founded in 1776). The Presidio is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is administered by a partnership with the National Park space, so most housing is rental properties that were former army barracks and officer housing. The Presidio is great for hiking, bike rides, and long (but challenging) walks given its hilly terrain.

By lot size and square footage, Presidio Heights has some of the largest single family residences in all of San Francisco. This area is characterized by having a highly affluent population base and offers privacy and exclusivity that is unmatched in any other area of the city. Many of the embassies and consulates are located in Presidio Heights, which adds to the appeal of it being a destination for the area’s business and political elite.