Posted by insidesfre on February 25, 2010
Eureka Valley, Cole Valley, Duboce Triangle, the Haight and Buena Vista Park are all neighbors. And smack dab in the middle of them is Corona Heights.
This small neighborhood is home to the Randall Museum, and has several parks nearby, so it’s great for dog owners. There’s Corona Heights Park itself, which has a dog area, and slightly north is Buena Vista Park. On the south side is Tank Hill. All are nice, open spaces. There are some crazy secret stairways in Corona Heights, too–one on Saturn Street, and one on Vulcan. And don’t forget about the tennis courts on 15th Street between Beaver and Buena Vista Terrace, or Mount Olympus, a historical site on Upper Terrace.
If you’re looking for the closest Muni rail lines, you’ll find them either in Cole Valley (N Judah) or the Castro. However, the 37 Corbett runs straight through Corona Heights, from Twin Peaks to the Haight. That’ll get you to the Muni rail stations in the Castro.
Single-family home and condo prices in Corona Heights are pretty much in line with surrounding neighborhoods, though they’re probably slightly lower (though not by much). Single-family house prices range from $741,000 for a 2BR/2BA cottage to $1,675,000 for a 3,000 square foot 3BR house on Market (originally listed at $2,450,000). And let’s not forget about the renovated, Mediterranean house currently back on the market at 424 Roosevelt Way.
Quite a few condos have recently sold in the neighborhood, too, at an average price of $879,857.
Posted in Neighborhood Spotlights, Noe/Eureka Valley | Tagged: Buena Vista Park, corona heights, mount olympus, randall museum, tank hill | Leave a Comment »
Posted by insidesfre on August 26, 2009
Often overlooked by prospective buyers, Forest Knolls is a very appealing neighborhood developed in the late 1950s and 1960s in San Francisco. Its homes feature accommodating floor plans, many properties have views, and the area provides a nice urban retreat with its woodsy, private feel. Bordered by the Inner Sunset, Cole Valley, and Forest Hill, Forest Knolls is a great alternative for those house hunters who’ve been priced out of these adjacent areas.
Forest Knolls is just up the road from the Forest Hill Muni station, and isn’t far from the West Portal shopping/restaurant hub, as well as the Mollie Stone’s on Portola.
Six single-family homes have sold in Forest Knolls since January—all three-bedroom homes, and one four-bedroom property. The average sales price was $804,000, and the average square footage just under 1600. It’s a challenge to find that much space for the money in San Francisco, which is why I think Forest Knolls offers good value. However, buyers should be aware that due to the geography of the area—lots of hills—there’s landslide potential. It’s never a bad idea to engage a structural engineer and/or geological specialist to provide an opinion on the land or property if you’re seriously considering a purchase here.
Posted in Neighborhood Spotlights | Tagged: first-time home buyer, forest knolls | 3 Comments »
Posted by insidesfre on April 1, 2009
An often overlooked neighborhood is Ingleside. Located south of Sunnyside and City College, east of the Stonestown area, and just west of Mission Terrace, Ingleside enjoys close proximity to Hwy 280. It’s also fairly close to the Balboa Park BART & Muni station, which provides service to downtown San Francisco.
Ocean Avenue is the retail strip that runs across the north end of Ingleside. This is where you’ll find sandwich, coffee, and produce shops, clothing stores, library, veterinarian, and even a massive 24-Hour Fitness.
And the neighborhood is priced within the first-time home buyer range. Approximately 26 homes have sold in Ingleside since October 2008, at an average price of $504,277.
Posted in Neighborhood Spotlights | Tagged: ingleside, mission terrace, Ocean Avenue | Leave a Comment »
Posted by insidesfre on February 24, 2009
Not too far from the West Portal enclave is Merced Manor. This southwestern San Francisco neighborhood is not usually mentioned by prospective buyers when we meet to talk about preferred areas. But Merced Manor actually has a lot going for it.
Bordered by 19th Avenue on the east, Eucalyptus on the south, 26th Avenue on the west and Sloat Boulevard on the north, Merced Manor was largely developed in the 1930s and 1940s, and covers a fairly small geographical area. In the middle lies the Merced Manor Reservoir, which was built in 1936 and was structurally and seismically upgraded in 2006.
Merced Manor isn’t very far from the West Portal retail district and Muni line, and sits just south of Stern Grove. It’s also right next door to Stonestown and the Y. Ocean Avenue runs through Merced Manor, and its own retail area is not far away, either. If you’re a golfer, Harding Park is right around the bend, and you can bring your dogs to nearby Fort Funston. San Francisco State is just south of the neighborhood.
Popular with families due to the proximity to coveted Lowell High School, Merced Manor’s homes typically feature three bedrooms or more. Single-family home averages tend to hover just above the $1M price point. The weather is typically cooler and foggier in the summer.
Posted in Neighborhood Spotlights, Sunset/Parkside | Tagged: merced manor | Leave a Comment »
Posted by insidesfre on November 6, 2008
One neighborhood that gets overlooked by many home buyers is Westwood Park. Located just west of Sunnyside near City College in the southwest part of San Francisco, Westwood Park consists of more than 600 homes built in the 1920s-1930s. The completion of the Twin Peaks Tunnel in West Portal spurred Westwood Park’s development. Many of the homes are bungalow style, and provide very functional and attractive spaces.
Ocean Avenue is the southern border of Westwood Park, and is the closest retail strip to the neighborhood. Not far away is the Balboa Park Muni/BART station, and there’s easy access to nearby 280.
You’ll get more for your money in this more suburban enclave. The average single-family home was just under $1M, in the time period from June-September. The homes are larger than, say, Victorians, and have garages and front/rear yards. As is typical in the more western part of the city, the fog is more prominent. But Westwood Park’s idyllic environment does a good job of keeping your mind off the fog.
Posted in Neighborhood Spotlights | Tagged: westwood park | Leave a Comment »
