Fridays are for less serious real estate topic-age, so here is a meaningless poll and a tribute to another characteristic that makes SF unique.
Riding my bike through the Presidio last Saturday, I decided to cruise Presidio Heights. And oh my, the elevation- in status, I mean. It’s dizzying. The homes are palatial, complete with giant grand pianos, harps, chandeliers, all of which one can glimpse through elaborate stained glass windows. This got me wondering: why did I pick “teacher” as a career path?
But I digress. From a real estate standpoint, which Heights are really the highest (as in, highest class)? Where would you most desire to spend your halcyon days?
For my money, the top four are Presidio Heights, Pacific Heights, Telegraph Hill, and Sea Cliff.
No offense to any other Heights or Hills. Let’s be honest: SF is chock full of breath taking views from almost every corner (and I’d be thrilled to own a house in any of them), but if we include proximity to open space (like the Presidio or the ocean), the size of the homes and their lots, yards (front, back, side) and those cool carriage houses in back that are bigger than most people’s primary residences, then really, these four take the cake.
But I’m a sucker for parks and beaches, and if I have to pick from there, it’s sand and surf forever. My vote then is Sea Cliff.
Here are four ridiculously lush listings, one in each of my hypothetical contender’s neighborhoods. Study them, perhaps shedding a tear for your own career choice. From your own city explorer insight, which height is really the tops? Are certain areas more steady as investments? Are these places really worth all this dough? And are there really still enough buyers for places like this? After all, the four below are just four of myriad listings on the MLS for well over 3 million dollars, when the the San Francisco Census put the median income in our fair city at less than $70k.
2901 Broadway (Pacific Heights) (7 Bedroom mansion for $45 million.)
37 Presidio Ave (Presidio Heights) (7 Bedroom single family for or $5, 395,000)
632 El Camino Del Mar (Sea Cliff) (5 Bedroom single family for $9,000,000)
1454 Kearny St. (Telegraph Hill) (3 Bedroom single family for $3,500,000)
Sea Cliff shot via Panoramio
All these areas stay strong always, but Seacliff and Pac Heights enjoy the “old money” feel that inticates a lifetime of real wealth; people will always pay more to keep up with the Sir and Lady Joneses.
I grew up in Sea Cliff and when my father passed away a few years ago I begged my siblings to keep the house but they had other priorites…I will forever miss the memories of the house, block, neigborhood and of course the view of as pictured which was just a block away. You know it really was a great neighborhood, lots of kids, ball games in the street after school and weekends…”car coming!!!!!”
would seacliff be so valuable if we had another big earthquake?
Sea Cliff is in another country. It is so far away.
Good look riding your bike out up and down the hill to your house in Pac Heights or Presidio Heights.
The best place in San Francisco is the neighborhood that’s flat, and closest to the Bay.
BTW, the best reason to live in San Franciso is this weekend. The President’s Cup and the Blue Angels…. AWESOME!
I love your writing