IS BERNAL HEIGHTS THE TOP NEIGHBORHOOD IN AMERICA? 

A Bit About Bernal Heights 

Named as Redfin’s Number 1 neighborhood in the country recently this eclectic neighborhood is bisected by Bernal Hill — one of the favorite stomping grounds of Raffi and his four-legged friends who bark from time to time — into the North Slope and the South Slope. And the South Slope has a natural division at Cortland Street, the main commercial street for area and another at Ogden. To the southwest is Holly Park and to the east you’ll get closer to 101/280 and their freeway noise. Prices have surged of late and it’s common to see single-family houses with 3-bedrooms and updated bathrooms with parking close above $2M with nice and nice renovations and flips coming to market. The buyers here have a variety of motivations and deciding factors from commute considerations to being able to have a yard and view.

ONE OF the biggest neighborhoods in the City in terms of geographic size, numbers of houses and population density. Traditionally thought of as always being foggy that rep has started to change. Buyers who discovered that global climate change has changed the neighborhood’s foggy disposition into a sunnier one, have been buying here while you were busy looking in the eastern half of the City. They’ve driven up prices over the past few years dramatically.

Apart from the climate, one of the (truer) stereotypes about the Sunset, is that all of the houses look alike. And to a certain extent that is true: there are rows upon rows of similar-looking pastel stucco-clad homes, each with a driveway and two sets of front-facing windows all butted up against each other. This is thanks to the FHA, which really pushed building in the “outer/outside lands” in the 1920s-1950s. The formerly rolling sand dunes by the ocean. Streets are numbered avenues and alphabetical Spanish-sounding names. And while the area was originally referred to as the “outsidelands” the association people have with that name now is usually with a chic restaurant at the end of Judah or with the annual music festival in Golden Gate Park each August.

Bernal Heights in A Nutshell

Bernaloutline

Bernal Hill, Precita Park, Cortland, North Slope, South Slope, St. Mary’s, Holly Park, 101, Earthquake shacks


MLS DISTRICT 9A

The Many Faces of Bernal Heights

A. Edge of Mission/Manchester Hill/Coso flat. Still Bernal but barely — otherwise far west of Folsom. More rental buildings than rest of area, close to Mission and Cesar Chavez. Some nice properties but there are rentals and rundown ones too. Some lots are tiny, others large. Mixed inventory on a series of one-way streets that are narrow steep; many homes have no parking but a smart design and renovation can go far. There is a topography change here and the homes value will change. Those part of Bernal heights will retain value and are a mix of funky houses (some on a 12.5-ft lot!) and newer 1980s and 1990s homes and/or multi-unit buildings. Those on the lower parts by Cesar Chavez will have values radically impacted by being on the busy thoroughfare.

B. Ripley/Alabama/North Slope. City Views. Steep streets. Strong prices. Mix of smaller houses/town homes, 2-units. Many homes are taller so as to capture the view of the City’s skyline. Most valuable of the neighborhood. Precita Park/Bessie/Alabama/Folsom — Micro-Hot Area. Cute and charming park. Previously rough area now strong. Very desired because of location near freeways, park, Mission District. Houses are medium-sized with some modern stunners; yet fixers remain.

C. Peralta/Mullen — Very quiet, steep hills/narrow streets. Mix of old random bungalows and remodeled, chic homes. Some views, partial to full. Biggest price mix with some great done, done, done homes and fixers. Potentially amazing views.

D. Holladay — quiet activity, more removed and  eastern views but 101 is right below elevation; freeway noise. All houses were picked up and moved here in the 40s/50s/60s when freeway was built. Lower prices.

E. Midcentury edges. There’s a stillness here with freeway noise in the background. Almost desolate feel; steppe-like as area is removed from amenities. Eastern/Southern views. Houses starting to be renovate; irregular lots, potential steep hills.   

F. Banks Houses — looking to east, views yes but desolate feel. Houses are choppier and denser older stock on shorter parcels. New flippers increasing. Houses are choppier as you go downhill.

G. Powhattan/Close-to-Bernal Hill. Cute homes, some redone, many are not. Mixed. Cute/quiet neighborhood; with charm or quirkier. Close to Bernal Hill. Houses are denser together. Some houses will be pricey; others are fixers; eastern views if any.

H. Virginia, Fair and Prospect — close to Mission but quieter and tree-lined; curvy/steep streets. Cute. Some houses have been remodeled while others have not with potential views. Mix of prices.

J. Cortland Corridor ­  the main drag of area with cute neighborhood feel. More homes to have been remodeled recently but many haven’t so there’s a bigger mix, more dense. Some real stunners, gems and diamonds in the rough. North side of Cortland more valued than south side because of views and remodels.

I. Holly Park (Mixed) Cuteness — cute houses, many haven’t been remodeled yet depending on which part of circle you’re at. Quiet. Fixers will be in demand. Higher prices for done homes, but quality will depend. Housing project toward western part; fire station at Southwest corner.

K. Nevada/Ogden — a bit run-down, fewer homes have been remodeled but the ones that have been can be amazing. Cars on blocks south of Ogden, which can be mistook for a gravel path. Mediocre school. Mixed demand; more freeway noise.

L. Mission/St. Mary’s Park — Mixed feel. Close to Mission Street. Freeway noise from 280 nearer to Justin Street; can seems isolated/urban. Not too far from Alemany that wil also l lead to freeway. Lighter demand, lower prices; most urban of Bernal.

Richland/Crescent — Previously a rough neighborhood, the street is starting the process of gentrification with values starting to rise; housing project nearby.

Current MLS Sales Data:

The Skinny

The area is known for its single-family homes. For every condominium that was sold there were 4 single-family homes sold in 2015. Here are 2015 stats for District 9A from the MLS:

  • 176 single-family homes sold, average list price: $1.1709M, sale: $1.380M, 21 days on market at $944/sqft, ≈ 1500 sqft
  • 39 condominiums sold, average list price: $793K, sale: $933K, 35 days on market at $924/sqft, ≈ 1018 sqft
  • 27 2-4 unit buildings sold, average list price: $1.268M, sale: $1.362M, 28 days on market at $629/sqft
  • 2 5+ unit buildings
  • 3 vacant lots

LEARN MORE

Curbed SF’s Coverage of the Bernal Heights.

The area’s blog: Bernalwood.

Now Selling: 1882-1884 Church Street, San Francisco, listed by Kevin Ho + Jonathan McNarry, San Francisco MLS 424016247

1882-1884 Church Street, San Francisco, proudly presented by Kevin Ho and Jonathan McNarry, renowned top-producing real estate agents with Vanguard Properties. This sensational and exceptional Glen-Noe property straddles the coveted Glen Park and Noe Valley neighborhoods. A 3,000-sqft Victorian building with 1-car parking, the charming and elegant home sits on an extra deep, 125-ft parcel. San Francisco Association of Realtors (SFAR) MLS #424016247 www.1882-church.com

Pending: 144 Galewood Circle, San Francisco, Listed by Kevin Ho and Jonathan McNarry – SF MLS 424010935

144 Galewood Circle, proudly presented by Kevin Ho and Jonathan McNarry, renowned top-producing real estate agents with Vanguard Properties. This exceptional property is a standout listing in the San Francisco Association of Realtors (SFAR) MLS #424010935, featuring a rare corner lot that hosts a spacious 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home in one of the city’s most sought-after neighborhoods. www.144-galewood.com

SOLD: 816 Haight Street, San Francisco, Listed by Kevin Ho and Jonathan McNarry, San Francisco MLS 23926339

816 Haight Street, San Francisco, as listed by Kevin Ho and Jonathan McNarry of Vanguard Properties is a spectacular, spacious and sunny home in a historic and vibrant location on the Wiggle at the intersection of 3 great neighborhoods – the Haight, Duboce and Castro – and the Divisadero Corridor. Just updated with modern, but warm, finishes, details and features.

What to Know About Condo and HOA Documents

Property disclosures are vitally important part of buyer diligence in San Francisco especially with condominium purchases. Kevin Ho and Jonathan McNarry, top real estate agents with Vanguard Properties, discuss what you should look for.

Sold: 1264 Church Street, San Francisco, MLS 423910006 Listed By Kevin+Jonathan

1264 Church Street, San Francisco, a sunny, top-floor, 2-bed, 1-bath, 1-car parking garage space with ±1,284 sqft (per LiDar) as listed by Kevin Ho and Jonathan McNarry of Vanguard Properties. SF MLS 423910006. www.1264-church.com At the heart of this stand-out property is the newly renovated chef’s kitchen (designed for cooking classes and entertaining), the new bathroom, new, in-unit laundry, new stainless appliances, dual pane windows, wood floors and designer lighting. Combined with its 1935 Spanish-revival heritage in a sought-after Noe Valley location, 1264 Church is exceptional.

Client Wins with Kevin+Jonathan

Kevin Ho and Jonathan McNarry, realtors, top producing agents with Vanguard Properties in San Francisco, use the power of their long experience, energy, and higher education and visual and graphic design skills to keep buyer and seller clients ahead and successful in our competitive housing market. www.kevinandjonathan.com

SOLD: 2621 Bryant Street, San Francisco Mission District 2-Unit Fixer Exclusively Listed with Kevin Ho and Jonathan McNarry, Vanguard Properties

2621 Bryant Street, San Francisco, as listed with Kevin Ho and Jonathan McNarry, top real estate agents with Vanguard Properties sold for $1,500,000 in October 2023 with multiple offers after 12 days on the market. Captivating, sunny Victorian 2-unit gem fixer with timeless grace brimming with potential delivered vacant with yard, full, seismically upgraded full garage in San Francisco’s South Mission Historic District with 10’8” tall ceilings, large, secluded and warm yard and optimal location near 24th Street near 101/280, SF Zuckerberg General Hospital and Calle 24. www.2621-Bryant.com SFAR MLS No. 423900390

Learning About Buying a San Francisco Condominium — the most traded category

Top real estate agents Kevin Ho and Jonathan McNarry give an overview of San Francisco’s most commonly bought and sold home: the condominium. With the largest range of prices, sizes and kinds, knowing what to consider when buying a San Francisco condominium is key. Kevin and Jonathan of Vanguard Properties in San Francisco have deep experience in this market segment.

Reviewed: The San Francisco Association of REALTORS June 2023 Purchase Contract with Kevin+Jonathan

As realtors and leading San Francisco real estate agents, Kevin Ho and Jonathan McNarry, Vanguard Properties, read through the latest version of the standard purchase contract that they consulted on. This version tracks homeowner insurance and responds to the housing market’s recent evolution.

Dog Parks in San Francisco from Dog Dads & Realtors Kevin+Jonathan (and Raffi)

In a City with more dogs than children, looking for homes where your dog will thrive may mean proximity to dog parks is key. Here’s where they are in San Francisco, as vetted by Mr. Raffi, real estate super dog who lives with Kevin+Jonathan