San Francisco

 

San Francisco is one of the United States’ most iconic cities, with a host of world-famous landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Union Square, and the former island penitentiary of Alcatraz. These attractions lie within a city of steep rolling hills known for its cool summers and a fog that rolls in with the ocean breeze.

San Francisco has long been regarded as a pillar of American counterculture and liberalism. It’s the spiritual home of the Beat generation and the 1960’s hippie movement, the anti-Vietnam War protest movement, and LGBT rights activism.

This forward-thinking city still stands at the cutting-edge of progressive American culture, with an eco-conscious populace who pride themselves on their inclusivity and open-mindedness and an economy that is centered around state-of-the-art tech start-ups. This bustling city is home to a large number of important technology companies as well as major financial institutions.

San Francisco is a hugely influential city with a thriving ultra-modern economy and some of the United States’ most vibrant cultural life. This enticing mix is found in a city with an incredibly comfortable year-round climate, all of which makes San Francisco one of the world’s most desirable cities.

The sprawling oceanfront city of San Francisco contains an incredible variety of luxury real estate, with everything from elegant Victorians to stunning state-of-the-art contemporary architectural masterpieces throughout. The city presents homebuyers with an array of neighborhoods to choose from, each with their own unique characteristics and benefits. With many options available, it comes to a matter of personal choice and taste whether to opt for an oceanfront property with stunning views of the Pacific or a luxurious residence conveniently located within walking distance of some of the city’s most vibrant cultural attractions.

Pacific Heights is the city’s most expensive neighborhood, where palatial residences offer commanding views of the Bay. These incredible custom-built homes designed by internationally renowned architects can change hands for tens of millions of dollars, with one stunning mansion in the neighborhood’s most sought-after Gold Coast three-block stretch attracting  headlines with a $40 million asking price. Pacific Heights also contains smaller luxury condominiums that provide the prestige of a Pacific Heights address and incredible ocean views.

After years of rising prices fueled by San Francisco’s status as a hi-tech business hub, the real estate market cooled slightly heading into 2017, but has since rebounded. To date, the median sales price has seen an effective 7% year-in-year increase. With an incredible array of properties, a future-focused economy, and a spectacular range of cultural offerings, San Francisco seems likely to remain ranking high among the United States’ most desirable cities.

The median sales price of homes in San Francisco over the past year was $1,250,000, with an average price per square foot of $1,048.

San Francisco is a city that truly has it all, including world-class museums abound and distinctive districts such as Haight Ashbury, the home of hippie culture, and Castro, the heart of the LGBT community. The iconic waterfront areas of Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 are fantastic places to sample delicious locally-caught Dungeness crab and the finest dim sum this side of the Pacific Ocean can be found in Chinatown.

Like the hi-tech industries which power the city’s economy, San Francisco is constantly evolving, with trendy new restaurants and hot new nightlife spots emerging all the time. San Francisco is an endlessly thrilling city with a independent spirit like no other.