Welcome to Russian Hill
The most cinematic neighborhood in San Francisco, the paramount allure of Russian Hill is a combination of the neighborhood’s pictorial views, convenient location, and hip urban vibe.
Populated by long-time residents and ambitious newcomers.
The Neighbors
Populated by long-time residents and ambitious newcomers.Russian Hill on a Friday night may overflow with the usual collection of ambitious tech and finance professionals, but climb any of the steep side streets and you’ll find longtime residents living in flats that have been around for generations, as well as young families putting down roots.
What to Expect
Familiar sights and traditions entwined with innovation.
At its heart, Russian Hill is a place people come to stay, with easy proximity to several work centers both in and out of the city, which has drawn tech workers to this once blue-collar locale.
The Lifestyle
Outdoorsy, elegant, and casual, with all the resources of a major urban center.Walkable, scenic streets, charming architecture, and a central location anchor this tight-knit community, where everything you could want—from bistros to boutiques—is at your fingertips.
Unexpected Appeal
An ideal neighborhood for those who prefer a quiet bar over a pulse-quickening nightclub.While it may not have it have a non-stop nightlife scene, Russian Hill is a perfect neighborhood for lovers of Victorian architecture, farm-to-table enthusiasts, oenophiles, and young parents with an encyclopedic knowledge of stroller brands.
The Market
The Russian Hill market spans a vast breadth of options, from unrestored Edwardian units to massive traditional mansions.Because of its large collection of spacious single-family homes, many of which just happen to have been built during the Victorian era, Russian Hill has become a high-end neighborhood with a median sales price approaching $2 million. The homes are beautiful — most have been restored or reimagined — but buyers can expect to pay well over the asking price to get into this very popular neighborhood.
You'll Fall in Love With
The classic, timeless romance of a neighborhood synonymous with one of the world’s favorite cities.Russian Hill is a perfect neighborhood for lovers of Victorian architecture, farm-to-table enthusiasts, and oenophiles. There is a delicate European flair to many of the boutiques and restaurants found along the lushly green streets of Jackson, Union, and Hyde.
Nob Hill provides a clear portal to the past, to a time when a few families ruled the west’s newest and most exciting city. It’s changed plenty over the years, yet it still symbolizes San Francisco as a shining city full of promise, and as a sepia-toned one proud of its glorious past.
Historic architecture meets burgeoning shops and eateries, encapsulating the iconic elements of San Francisco. Victorian influences lend charm, while a dynamic populace infuses the neighborhood with urban sophistication.
An eclectic mix of society names and downtown shop owners.
The Neighbors
An eclectic mix of society names and downtown shop owners.Along Nob Hill’s slopes, the story is one of diversity. Newcomers snap up the neighborhood’s renovated flats for premium prices while long-time residents live modestly alongside them.
What to Expect
The elegance of “old” San Francisco mixed with the bustle of a changing restaurant and bar scene.For some, this is the only neighborhood in town. From its high-rise, high-end towers to the urban serenity of Huntington Park, Nob Hill is the epitome of old-world elegance. It’s a lively, diverse neighborhood with all manner of residents, dozens of restaurants of all types, a growing retail scene, and proximity to almost everything in San Francisco’s core.
The Lifestyle
Active residents, organic and local markets, and brilliant views of downtown and San Francisco Bay.Those who live atop Nob Hill enjoy a much quieter lifestyle than those who choose to set up camp near busy Polk Street, where dinner and drinks are just a short stroll away. Further west the neighborhood changes: the high-rises are replaced with the mid-rise apartment and condo buildings and the restaurant, shop, bar, and club choices seem to multiply by the thousands. However, it still has its share of neighborhood mom-and-pop establishments, but the growing nightlife scene has made it a must-see for the young and active.
Unexpected Appeal
The bustle of a vibrant neighborhood brimming with covert historical gems.Fans of San Francisco history will appreciate a multitude of historic sites, while the neighborhood’s condensed geography offers residents the opportunity to go out without ever taking an Uber.
The Market
Highly sought-after residences make Nob Hill one of the most desirable Bay Area locales.With all of its apartments, Nob Hill is more of a renter’s neighborhood, though not an inexpensive one. As in most San Francisco districts, patience is paramount.
You'll Fall in Love With
Eclectic shopping and historic views with modern sensibilities.Whether strolling through the famed downtown shopping district or heading to Chinatown to buy produce the likes of which you’ve never seen before, Nob Hill provides a diverse and delightful experience for all.
The Mission is exciting, energetic, and chaotic — full of forward-thinking, creative individuals with a vested interest in their community, be they natives or recent arrivals to the area.
Described as one of the nation’s “coolest” and “hippest” neighborhoods, tech industry leaders flock to the Mission for its diverse array of retail and culinary pleasures.
Ambitious, stylish, and energetic.
The Neighbors
Ambitious, stylish, and energetic.During the past two decades a new group — young, dynamic, often working in the tech industry and settling in one of Mission Dolores’ plentiful new condominium and apartment complexes — has put down its stake in the district. They join the Mission’s creative class — artists, musicians, and literary types — to create a neighborhood where hole-in-the-wall restaurants are as much in demand as sleek gastropubs.
What to Expect
A vibrant populace on Valencia Street and side streets lined with Victorian and Edwardian architecture.In the Mission, you can expect lively crowds, arguments over which taqueria makes the best burritos, and brand-new restaurants opening every week. Experience how historically awesome Mission Dolores Park is, and the tranquility of streets like Linda and Albion.
The Lifestyle
World-class cultural outlets within a warm, committed community.San Franciscans flock to the Mission for dinner, for drinks, to see music, to visit a gallery, or perhaps just to lie in the sun with the crowds at Dolores Park. But this is not just a place to congregate at night; Mission Dolores is well known for the quiet, narrow lanes connecting its larger streets, tree-lined blocks where neighbors sit on their front steps, sharing the day’s news and soaking in gorgeous views of the downtown skyline.
Unexpected Appeal
Seemingly endless dining and shopping options.The Mission’s sheer volume of dining and shopping options may be overwhelming, but its locals welcome that happy dilemma. Residents delight in the knowledge that they can eat out at a different restaurant every night of the week for a month and never have to repeat.
The Market
A booming interest in the neighborhood was met by a plethora of brand-new residences.Beginning in the 1990s, Mission Dolores’ inexpensive real estate was irresistible to tech workers, young families, and newcomers to the city. Today, Mission Dolores is positioned slightly above the regional norm, with a median home value of just under $1.3 million.
You'll Fall in Love With
Existing at the city’s cultural epicenter.Almost everyone you meet on the street in the Mission is madly in love with their neighborhood’s dynamic cultural experiences. If you’re like them, you’ll find it easy to find things to love, starting with the unshakable knowledge that nowhere else will have the energy and the style of your newly chosen home.
Welcome to Presidio Heights
Presidio’s quiet streets are lined with grand, stately mansions that trade bay views for serenity, hiking trails, and a famed golf club.
Located just south of the Presidio, this immaculate neighborhood is mere steps away from some of San Francisco’s most alluring hiking trails and parks. Presidio Heights offers seclusion amid the hustle of the Bay Area.
Successful tech moguls who enjoy a more refined sense of living.
The Neighbors
Successful tech moguls who enjoy a more refined sense of living.Presidio Heights has the distinction of being not only an affluent neighborhood but a family-friendly one as well. Residents come to Presidio for a variety of reasons, but they all come with an eye toward permanency. It is a place individuals and families come when they’ve achieved plenty and are looking to plant their roots.
What to Expect
A rarified-yet-muted family environment.Historic mansions and large family homes brimming with charm line Presidio’s streets. This serene and exclusive neighborhood offers a plethora of luxurious and captivating residences.
The Lifestyle
Quiet and elegant, with close proximity to shopping and dining.Presidio’s residents are people who’ve worked hard to get to this neighborhood, so when locals go out, they have plenty of high-quality restaurants to choose from. However, if they do get tired of this selection, they walk over to Clement Street where shopping and dining options seem endless.
Unexpected Appeal
A high-end neighborhood removed from the buzz of the city.It’s not the type of place that attracts high-profile residents looking for active nightlife, but instead a preferred landing spot for city dwellers whose aim is to put down roots.
The Market
This neighborhood has more than its share of eight-figure homes and inventory can be hard to come by.Presidio Heights is a place where eight-figure asking prices are not unusual and where the few sub-million dollar properties available are always one-bedroom condos. The “average” Presidio Heights home usually sells for upwards of $2 million. This does not mean that Presidio Heights is complete without condos or apartments; the Sacramento Street corridor has several multi-unit buildings. These apartments do command very high rents, guaranteeing that even those renting in Presidio Heights have done plenty of work to get there.
You'll Fall in Love With
Opulence sans the buzz of a famous neighborhood.Early mornings in the Presidio, watching the fog pass beneath the Golden Gate Bridge; quiet nights dining at Spruce and low-key after-work drinks at Garibaldi’s; all of these activities (and many more) will make you feel like you’ve found a secret enclave in which to spend your life.
Welcome to Mission Bay
They live in sleek and modern condominiums, giving Mission Bay’s vibrant cultural epicenter a unique buzz all its own, and this reimagined urban neighborhood is far from finished.
Mission Bay may not conjure visions of classic San Francisco, but this contemporary neighborhood is up-and-coming. Just across AT&T Park, Mission Bay’s wide boulevards and extravagant spaces are steadily filling in with luxury apartment complexes boasting bayside views.
Active and ambitious professionals.
The Neighbors
Active and ambitious professionals.Mission Bay has become the city’s main hub for scientists and tech industry workers, giving the neighborhood a brainy, youthful personality. Mission Bay has added an impressive roster of tech companies and anticipates the arrival of Uber’s world headquarters in 2018.
What to Expect
The latest in cutting-edge residential living.Mission Bay is unlike any other neighborhood in San Francisco. It has a history, but it lives in the present — and the future. It has a vast coastline to explore (not to mention it is adjacent to AT&T Park) and is poised for exciting growth.
The Lifestyle
Seamlessly combines urban amenities with outdoor recreational opportunities.Mission Bay is a breeding ground for ideas — and not only scientific ones. Mission Bay is for strolling the Bay Trail, scaling the walls at Mission Rock, and floating in a kayak waiting for a home run at McCovey Cove. Given how hard they work from Monday to Friday, there simply aren’t enough hours in a weekend to exhaust the go-getters of Mission Bay.
Unexpected Appeal
An updated vision for city living.This is the new San Francisco, full of the seekers and dreamers who’ve always come to San Francisco, but with a twist: Mission Bay is sleek and bustling. It is San Francisco’s future, the first neighborhood to establish itself in the city in over a century. Here you trade charm for efficiency; that might mean giving up your curved bay windows, but when was the last time you saw a Victorian with an on-site fitness center?
The Market
A wide range of multi-unit buildings with more constantly being added.Mission Bay is a planned community, and the strategy was to provide housing targeted at young homebuyers with the long-term strategy of keeping them in the neighborhood throughout adulthood. Right now Mission Bay is a bargain among San Francisco neighborhoods and spacious homes with outdoor space and community perks.
You'll Fall in Love With
The youthful energy and the opportunities for a balanced work/life ratio.Locals enjoy views of the bay, baseball games on weekends, and walking along The Embarcadero to the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market. Does an active, busy, modern lifestyle sound good to you? Come see all that Mission Bay has to offer.
Pacific Heights is San Francisco’s star neighborhood, where the streets are lined with a collection of French Chateau and Spanish-style mansions. Pacific Heights is a place where life is lived to the fullest, by people who’ve worked hard to get here.
This demure neighborhood embodies affluent elegance, where visitors stare in envy at Pacific Heights’ architectural splendor.
San Francisco’s highest-end society families and wealthy tech execs.
The Neighbors
San Francisco’s highest-end society families and wealthy tech execs.In a city where space is at a premium, Pacific Heights is the only neighborhood east of The Presidio that offers truly enormous homes and large city lots. It’s one-of-a-kind, and its population reflects that.
What to Expect
Sophistication in an upscale environment.It’s not a loud neighborhood, but one that values elegance and grace above all else.
The Lifestyle
City dwellers seeking suburban solace.While it is not a nightlife destination, the streets of the neighborhood are lined with eight-figure mansions and prominent residents who enjoy the exclusivity and tranquility of their homes.
Unexpected Appeal
The urban refuge of Presidio National Park.Residents of Pacific Heights can escape their hectic schedules and seek solace in the superb hiking trails and spectacular views of Presidio National Park.
The Market
An upscale assemblage of homes, condos, and renovated apartment buildings.This neighborhood contains the city’s grandest mansions. It also has a large collection of restored Victorian homes, and several tasteful Edwardian apartment buildings, most now condo-converted. Nothing is inexpensive; rents here often soar into five figures and sale prices routinely top eight.
You'll Fall in Love With
The views, the architecture, and the sense that you’ve arrived.Whether strolling the streets and gawking at the majestic mansions or enjoying the view in Alta Vista Park, both visitors and residents of Pacific Heights soak in the splendor of the neighborhood by simply stepping foot in this breathtaking area.
Welcome to The Marina
A pervasive continental allure extends from the rows of charming eateries and shops to the neighborhood’s awe-inspiring views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
With picturesque views along the edge of the bay, the Marina attracts shoppers and foodies to congregate on its boutique-lined streets and extensive green spaces. Offering exceptional views of the Golden Gate Bridge and a plethora of entertainment options, there is always something to do in the Marina.
Ambitious young professionals matched by long-time residents.
The Neighbors
Ambitious young professionals matched by long-time residents.The Marina is largely populated by dynamic working professionals and new families living side-by-side with empty nesters who enjoy the neighborhood’s flat streets and ample sun.
What to Expect
A resort-like enclave within the city.The Marina combines high-end housing with a high-energy commercial strip. Some of the city’s best restaurants and its most unique boutiques can be found here. The Marina is set apart by its location, boasting incredible, iconic views and outdoor opportunities galore.
The Lifestyle
Quiet residential streets surround a dynamic commercial district.Marina residents embrace the distance dividing them from downtown because that makes their little corner of San Francisco a bit quieter than others. Theirs is a retreat, with ample parks and Golden Gate Bridge views on-demand. Chestnut Street is a bit quieter than Union Street, but it has no shortage of chic restaurants and stylish boutiques.
Unexpected Appeal
Endless entertainment options all within an elegant locale.Residential streets can be quiet, but being a destination in its own right, the Marina is seldom empty. Fans of casual dining and comfortable watering holes will love the neighborhood’s seemingly endless culinary choices.
The Market
Spanish-style homes command a premium.The Marina is unique among San Francisco neighborhoods; it’s completely free of Victorians. Instead, the district is populated by breezy Mediterranean buildings. Those who can afford the steep price of admission are rewarded with magnificent abodes and exclusive addresses.
You'll Fall in Love With
The feeling that you’ve somehow stumbled onto a place that’s equal parts California, New England, and Italy.Whether you spend sunny days on Marina Green, watch sailboats on the Bay, or enjoy a farm-to-table meal from the Fort Mason Farmer’s Market, San Franciscans can feel the international influence throughout this illustrious neighborhood.
Welcome to Hayes Valley
Add a wealth of new condominium communities into the mix and Hayes Valley has become one of the Bay Area’s hottest locales.
Considered one of the most burgeoning areas in San Francisco, Hayes Valley’s rapid ascent as one of the Bay Area’s hippest neighborhoods can be attributed to the vast array of high-end boutiques, restaurants, and bars that populate the city plaza. After years of embryonic growth, this once-forgotten neighborhood is now grabbing its share of the spotlight.
Professionals living alongside the district’s longstanding populace.
The Neighbors
Professionals living alongside the district’s longstanding populace.Over the past decade, Hayes Valley has added a significant number of young professionals, creating a dynamic new population. The old-timers are still here, but now they share space with recent arrivals who’ve brought with them an appetite for boutiques, restaurants, and unique opportunities.
What to Expect
The city’s recent changes are personified in the form of new shops, new restaurants, and new residents.With its restored Victorian buildings, central green space, innovative shops, and casual eateries, Hayes Valley is now perfectly aligned for urban living. Hip boutiques, independent bookstores, and pop-up art galleries make Hayes Valley an object of envy to non-residents.
The Lifestyle
Youthful energy with effortless access to downtown.Living in Hayes Valley today means having everything you need easily within reach. It is thriving and full of activity, with more coming every day, thanks to its other attraction: ease in reaching downtown and SOMA. Residents of Hayes Valley make the most of their compact living spaces and maximize their proximity to almost everything.
Unexpected Appeal
A non-stop cultural hub where an endless stream of activities awaits.Dynamic streets, sidewalk cafes, and a lively arts scene serve as a symbol for the ambitious and thriving vibe the neighborhood has adopted since its post-earthquake rebirth.
The Market
A buzzing center of new housing and refurbished Victorian flats.The Hayes Valley real estate market is dominated by condominiums and luxury apartment complexes. With the addition of new units and the neighborhood’s popularity continuously growing, the market is trending up. Units can still be bought for less than $1 million in the neighborhood, but that may not be possible for much longer.
You'll Fall in Love With
Being a part of the city’s most dynamically changing neighborhood.You’ll love lunch in the park, afternoon beers at the Biergarten, and marveling at Hayes Street’s seemingly endless well of unique shops. Locals enjoy the rush of finding everything they need sitting right outside their front door.
Welcome to Cow Hollow
Blessed with quiet residential streets and ample entertainment opportunities, Cow Hollow sits atop the wish lists of a variety of San Franciscans, from new families to long-established members of the city’s upper class.
A plethora of galleries, boutiques, and stylish restaurants line the streets of Cow Hollow, making it an incredibly coveted San Franciscan locale. The neighborhood’s indisputable popularity ensures it's always bustling, and the nightlife is unlike anywhere else in the Bay Area.
A mix of young professionals and San Francisco veterans.
The Neighbors
A mix of young professionals and San Francisco veterans.Who lives in Cow Hollow? A combination of San Francisco families and young, active professionals make this neighborhood one of the city’s most vibrant. Weekend mornings on Union Street feature a parade of spandex and yoga mats, while just up the street society matrons tend to their small sidewalk gardens.
What to Expect
Endless entertainment options are just minutes away.Cow Hollow has been a desirable neighborhood for decades, but its recent demographic shift has given it a shot of adrenaline. Union Street has found new life as trendy new boutiques, spas, cycle shops, and casual eateries share space with long-time neighborhood fixtures.
The Lifestyle
Buzzy, cosmopolitan, and vibrant.Cow Hollow residents work hard, play hard, and yet somehow it seems that they’re doing it all with ease. They can blow off steam at a multitude of bars and clubs in the neighborhood, but also appreciate a quiet night at home, entertaining friends, or maybe just sitting with a glass of wine and gazing out the window at the bay.
Unexpected Appeal
A plethora of outdoor activities.Cow Hollow delivers the quintessential urban, dynamic lifestyle as much as any other neighborhood in San Francisco. Think of it as Manhattan — only without the skyscrapers and humidity, and located just a short walk from incredible outdoor recreational opportunities.
The Market
Plentiful apartments and townhouses with few single-family homes.Cow Hollow is not cheap and it is no place to find small, reasonably priced single-family homes. However, it has an abundance of apartments and townhouses, most of which has been remodeled several times over. Though once a neighborhood of fixer-uppers, Cow Hollow is no more.
You'll Fall in Love With
The neighborhood’s casual elegance and simple glamour.There is always something to do in Cow Hollow, which is why locals love their neighborhood so much. Cow Hollow residents love being outdoors, whether that means passing the time at a sidewalk café or setting a new personal best time on a run to the Marina Green, all while maintaining a level of luxury and style.
