@sfdragonboy @manch What are some safe and nice neighborhoods in SF for a 50+ married couple (no kids) to live in? I have a car but would be nice to walk to places. Need not be close to BART or caltrain. Great views would be nice to have. Thanks for your time.
You want condo/townhouse or SFH?
Welcome to Manch’s World!!!
Ok, once you answer our fearless leader’s question I would offer up these comments/suggestions:
- While the waterfront of the Embarcadero is nice, I wouldn’t call it a neighborhood. Too full of concrete highrises IMO.
- Generally speaking, I love Telegraph Hill and the North Beach area of SF. Granted I grew up in Chinatown, which is close. Usually the best weather in that NE corner of the city. North Beach has those cafes and close enough to downtown. Very walkable area to Fishermen’s Wharf, Downtown.
- The Sunset is def where one can get relatively more space than other spots. Usually cooler though but SFHs are the norm. Def more family oriented but to me still residential if you get what I mean. And, usually a lot of street parking.
- If you have deep pockets (sorry, I had to go there), who wouldn’t mind Sea Cliff or Presidio Heights? Or, the Marina which is near the Golden Gate Bridge.
Geez, too many good spots…
As more come to me, I will suggest…
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South Beach and Mission Bay are very nice though.
Hayes Valley is very hip and cool, not as “urban” as Mission if you get what I mean. They close off traffic in some sections during the weekend and there’s a lot of people walking around. There is even an outdoor gym in a park and plenty of young people working on their laptops outside.
Lots of micro neighborhoods in SF with vastly different aesthetics and feel (and price). You really have to spend a week walking around to see where fits you the best.
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Thanks so much, @sfdragonboy and @manch for your answers. I am very used to SFH lifestyle but since I want to buy my own place at some point, I am not sure if I can afford it in SF. So I may need to compromise to townhome or condo lifestyle.
Edit: (I am willing to live in a rented place initially and learn more if that’s better)
I was told by some people to strictly stay west of Van Ness since the homes closer to the wharf have foundation problems. Specifically they said Mission Bay area is bad. I was also told to stay on the east of Golden gate park because of sunlight and fog issues. What are your thoughts on that?
I love the North beach area but don’t know how safe it is.
Thanks again.
Wow…well, let’s talk North Beach first since I do love that area too. Hate to agree with the naysayers but yeah crime (mostly petty) is up in the Fab 7x7 all over. I am sure you have been following the reasons why. North Beach is fairly safe, as I don’t usually hear about any issues other than the street parked car break-ins. As long as you have a closed garage that should take care of it. Again, the area is so walkable that you won’t need the car until Costco run time…
Like Malaysia for me, it is probably wise for you to rent first and get a feel of the city. Rent as you know is not cheap in the city but again you are a big boy now.
On the comment about foundations, please remember that a lot of the housing stock in the Fab 7x7 is really old. Our family home in lower Nob Hill still has the hundred year brick foundation. Fortunately, no major earthquake. You probably know that the Financial District/Embarcadero parts are on landfill and so far knock on wood nothing has happened to those way heavier structures. Don’t read my Millenium Tower thread. That was more stupidity than anything.
Mission Bay to me is too new. I like the old, established neighborhoods like North Beach again. Nice coffee or Italian restaurants just a short walk away…
Well, everyone here knows I am the big Sunset king. But the facts speak for themselves, if you go to the start of my threads on the Sunset one literally would have made over a million dollars potentially in a matter of a few years. Yeah, a lot of places maybe but the fact is, Sunset homes which are mostly SFHs are now eclipsing 2M at a regular clip. I was pushing the Sunset when 1M was a semi stretch. If you are really against cooler climates, the Sunset is probably not for you. But if space is and you want a SFH in a family residential setting the Sunset is hard to beat. Especially if you are young and believe that global warming is for sure coming. Remember, one can always find heat, just not the other way around…
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I doubt the Mission Bay area has any serious foundation issues. They are still building like crazy over there. UCSF is expanding pretty aggressively in that area. We are talking about big office buildings. But yeah it’s fairly new, so lacking that homey old fashioned feeling. In exchange you get great views and sunny weather.
No offense but Sunset to me feels like a poor man’s version of suburb. If one really wants an SFH in the burb it’s far cheaper to go a few miles down south. Why even settle in SF? But I have to admit those parts of Sunset (and Richmond) that are one to two blocks away from the Golden Gate Park is great. The option to have a nice stroll any time of the day in one of the greatest urban oases in the world is pretty priceless.
If you like SFH check out Glen Park too. Close to BART, have a cute little downtown, not too much fog, and there is a great canyon you can run or walk around. Really awesome.
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OMG, how many places do you know command 2M for a relatively small house and possibly no yard???
Besides, you’re just pissed you didn’t listen to me and bought in on Sunset when it was under 1M…
Other neighborhoods worth checking out would be the Lake District(?) which is in the Richmond District, north of Geary Blvd and Noe Valley, close to the Castro area. I just don’t know anybody who lives in those areas to comment on them, but they are again also considered pretty safe areas and def upscale areas that attract families.
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What, you mean San Jose is not on the list???
National Geographic releases list of top 25 destinations for 2023 (fox5ny.com)
Don’t count out the Fab 7x7 yet, boys and girls!!!
World’s biggest architecture firm commits to downtown S.F. with new lease (sfchronicle.com)
