SAN FRANCISCO NEIGHBORHOODS!

DISTRICT 1

Jordan Park
Jordan Park's boundaries include Geary Boulevard, California Street and Parker Avenue. It is adjacent to Children's Hospital and home to many doctors. The area has handsome stately homes that are well-designed and nicely landscaped. Jordan Park's home range from arts & crafts to Mediterranean style. Convenient location to Laurel Village shopping, which includes great coffee shops, delicatessens and restaurants. The area is predominately single family homes with a scattering of condominiums.
Price Range of Housing: Homes $1,500,000-$3,000,000. Condos $600,000-$1,000,000

Lake
This location is accessible to The Presidio, golf course, hiking and bike trails and runs the length of the Richmond from Arguello to Sea Cliff. Single family homes with units and condos in this area.
Price Range of Housing: $600,000-$2,500,000

Laurel Heights
This neighborhood centers on the Laurel Village shopping center, which caters not only residents but also to elite clientele from Pacific Heights and Presidio Heights. Most of the housing was built in the 1940's and 50's therefore a more contemporary feel is present throughout this neighborhood, spectacular views of downtown and North San Francisco can be found throughout various properties. Majority of properties are homes with a mixture of units.
Price Range of Housing: $700,000-$2,000,000

Richmond
This peninsula is home to many 1920's duplexes and a few spacious Edwardians. Housing some of the many landmarks in the city, Richmond boasts the dome of Temple Emanu-El, a reform synagogue, and the Russian Holy Virgin Cathedral. Clement Street offers a plethora of restaurants on every block from Chinese, Russian, Italian to Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern. The Richmond district is one of the largest neighborhoods in San Francisco and has exclusive pockets of wonderful tree lined streets and is also a thriving commercial corridor.
Price Range of Housing: $500,000-$1,200,000

Sea Cliff
Sea Cliff attracts many sightseers wanting to see the beautiful mansions and beaches in this area. China and Baker beaches are situated where the Golden Gate meets the Pacific Ocean. Sea Cliff's residences are located just above sea level and offer beautiful views of the ocean.
Price Range of Housing: $1,500,000-$6,000,000

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DISTRICT 2

Golden Gate Heights
Sometimes called Larsen Peak or Sunset Heights Park, Golden Gate Heights is perched on a 725-foot-high bluff and is characterized by huge retaining walls and panoramic views of the ocean. Steep streets curve around relatively new and upscale homes. Diverse architecture from traditional to contemporary offers spectacular views from the ocean to downtown San Francisco. Many houses also face the Forest Hill area.
Price Range of Housing: $585,000-$1,250,000

Parkside
Parallel to Pine Lake Park and Stern Grove, Parkside has a community feel, with two playgrounds, a meadow-like -playing field and swingsets. This area is predominantly filled with single-family residences. The active Sunset Neighborhood Coalition, the neighborly Sunset Beach newspaper, the world-class University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, the number of high schools, and proximity to San Francisco State University add to the Sunset's appeal to many families. Ninth Avenue provides an array of coffeehouses, eateries and boutiques. Nearby, Irving Street offers even more of the same, while the Westlake Shopping Center, Stonestown Galleria, Lakeshore Plaza Shopping Mall and Serramonte Shopping Center offer the residents all the essentials.
Price Range of Housing: $500,000-$700,000

Sunset
Before the 1930s, the Sunset District was made up of sand dunes that extended west to Ocean Beach. The dunes were paved over and replaced with pastel-colored stucco houses on wide streets. After WW I, the need for smaller lots and low Federal Housing Administration veteran loans created mass housing, cloning mostly square homes with bay windows over the garage. The Sunset is located just south of Golden Gate Park, north of Sloat Boulevard and framed by Stanyan Street and Ocean Beach. Commercial areas include 9th Avenue, Judah Street, Sloat Boulevard, and Noriega and Taraval streets, where many ethnic specialty stores, coffee shops, Irish pubs and the like line the bustling streets. The Sunset is also home to Shriners Hospital and San Francisco's Conservatory of Music. The Sunset is one of the foggiest pockets of all of San Francisco, thanks to its location near Ocean Beach. The Inner Sunset is a bit sunnier, from 19th Avenue eastward. Many students populate this area, while Outer Sunset (19th Avenue and westward) is populated by many senior citizens and Asian-American families.
Price Range of Housing $400,000-$750,000

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DISTRICT 3

Lakeshore
Located on the Pacific on the southern border of San Francisco, Lakeshore was the last neighborhood in the city to be developed. This area includes San Francisco State University, Lake Merced, two golf courses and Stonestown Galleria, which is the only "suburban" shopping plaza in the city. Lakeshore and Lakeside offer well manicured lawns, pride of ownership, center patio and split level floor plans. Close to shopping, many golf courses nearby. The famous Laurel High School is also a big draw for this community.
Price Range of Housing: $550,000-$1,000,000

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DISTRICT 4

Ingleside
Ingleside Terrace is located in the southwestern corner of the city and enjoys more sun than the rest of San Francisco. At its gateway is the neighborhood's ode to the sun, a sundial that measures 34 feet in diameter and 28 feet in height. The neighborhood is close to the Pacific and has good views of San Bruno Mountain and Mt. Davidson. Nearby are San Francisco State University, Stonestown Shopping Center, and Lake Merced. The neighborhood is built on both sloping and steep hills. Many of the homes in this area are single-family and built between 1900 and 1940. There are many shops and restaurants along Ocean Avenue and some great views from the rock outcropping at Shields and Orizaba Streets. On a clear day, one can see Oakland and Alameda, as well as the Golden Gate.
Price Range of Housing: $500,000-$1,100,000

Forest Hill
Once a part of a 4,000-acre ranch owned by the last Mexican mayor of San Francisco, Jose Noe, Forest Hill was broken down into single-family home lots in 1912. In 1918, the Twin Peaks Tunnel was completed, and people began visiting and residing in the Forest Hill area. Today, Forest Hill is a very exclusive, extravagantly landscaped area with curving lanes, hills and a sprinkling of Bernard Maybeck architecture, including the Forest Hill Clubhouse. The streets and common areas in Forest Hill are beautifully maintained by the Forest Hill Association. The Forest Hill Garden Club has become a Ladies Social Club. The neighborhood features such gems as the elegant Grand Pacheco Stairway that connect Castenada Avenue to Magellan Drive. Nearby, West Portal Avenue provides residents with shopping, dining and a movie theatre. Parking is not a problem, and Muni has several lines to and from the area.
Price Range of Housing: $750,000-$1,600,000

Mt. Davidson Manor
This conservative and well-manicured neighborhood is home to free-standing, middle-income family homes that were built before WW II, many of these homes are Mediterranean style a top hillsides with sweeping southern views. This area is named after geographer and surveyor of the US Coast and Geodesic Survey, George Davidson, who surveyed the area in 1950.
Price Range of Housing: $550,000-$930,000

Sherwood Forest
This neighborhood lies on the southwesterly slope of Mt. Davidson and is home to elaborate ranch-style homes and groves of eucalyptus, cypress and pine trees. Although on of the most densely populated areas of the city, Sherwood Forest offers a feeling of spaciousness. City College of San Francisco is nearby, and residents visit West Portal Avenue for their closest shopping area.
Price Range of Housing: $650,000-$1,500,000

St. Francis Wood
This neighborhood consists of elite homes on the southwest side of San Francisco. The beautifully landscaped curving lanes lead to distinguished, grand-scale homes. John Galen Howard, the noted Beaux Arts-era architect, designed the gates at the St. Francis Boulevard-Portola Drive entry, as well as the fountain in the circular plaza on the St. Francis Boulevard. This exclusive neighborhood in San Francisco is like no other having a very European feel with wide lots, tree lined streets and spectacular architecture. Shopping and downtown transportation are only minutes away in the West Portal area.
Price Range of Housing: $800,000-$3,500,000

West Portal
On the western side of the lengthy Twin Peaks tunnel, the charming neighborhood of West Portal emerges, nestled at the foot of Mt. Davidson, Forest Hill and Edgehill Heights. With small businesses, a variety of restaurants and a movie theater, West Portal is its own "city within a city". The neighborhood is known for families, good schools and a quieter side to city living. West Portal is 95% single family homes, very few multi units and condos in this location.
Price Range of Housing: $600,000-$1,000,000

Ashbury Heights
Uphill from the heart of the Haight Ashbury is the community of Ashbury Heights, also know as the Upper Haight. At its summit is a mini-park called Mt. Olympus, great for dog-walking and picnicking. According to city archivist Gladys Hansen, the neighborhood was developed in 1911 as a part of a tract called Ashbury Park
.Price Range of Housing: $620,000-$2,225,000

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DISTRICT 5

Buena Vista Hill
Buena Vista lies adjacent to Ashbury Heights and is home to the city's most heavily forested area, Buena Vista Park. Steep slopes with vast views are lined with baroque mansions, restored Victorians, family homes, flats and apartments.
Price Range of Housing: $620,000-$1,850,000

Duboce Triangle
Beautifully restored Victorian homes line the Duboce Triangle. Nearby, Noe Valley provides public transportation, and the lively 24th Street, filled with restaurants, coffee houses, pubs and boutiques, provides entertainment.
Price Range of Housing: $800,000-$995,000

Eureka Valley
Eureka Valley is made up of both flat land and hills. On the lower slope is the San Francisco archbishop's headquarters, and on the upper is the dramatic pinnacle known as Corona Heights.
Price Range of Housing: $700,000-$1,850,000

Glen Park
On the lower slopes of Diamond Heights, just south of Noe Valley, sits the charming and quiet neighborhood of Glen Park. Victorians and architecturally interesting modern homes line Laidley Street. Coffee shops, bookstores and boutiques line Chenery and Diamond streets. The neighborhood feels a worlds away from downtown, but with a BART station at Diamond and Bosworth streets, local scan reach the city center in 10 minutes. Glen Park was once a dairy capital in the 1850s. Today, the rural area is confined to beautiful Glen Canyon Park, a haven for dogs, Frisbee throwing and picnics.
Price Range of Housing: $550,000-$850,000

Haight Ashbury
Universally know for its '60s flair, Haight Ashbury is still recognized for its creativity and diversity. Haight Ashbury is home to colorful Victorians, eclectic shops, sidewalk cafes and popular nightclubs. In 1870, California Gov. Henry Haight formed the San Francisco Park Commission to develop Golden Gate Park, which is adjacent to Haight Ashbury. Haight Ashbury is also famous for its residents of the past, including Jerry Garcia, the Jefferson Airplane and Janis Joplin, to name a few.
Price Range of Housing: $375,000-$1,050,000

Noe Valley
Nestled in the lowland between Twin Peaks and Diamond Heights, Noe Valley is a quaint neighborhood, centered around 24th Street, with its coffee shops, boutiques, bookstores and multitude of ethnic restaurants. Architecture in Noe Valley is predominantly Victorian. Noe Valley is named after Jose de Jesus Noe, a Spanish colonist who formed the Hyar and Padres colony in 1884. Noe is also the last Mexican mayor of San Francisco. Numerous Irish and German immigrants moved into Noe Valley over the years, and the influence is evident in the Irish Pubs and the specialty food stores lining 24th Street.
Price Range of Housing: $600,000-$1,500,000

Twin Peaks
Named for two hills reaching approximately 910 feet each, Twin Peaks offers the most panoramic views of the city and bay. Some home on the northern crest of Twin Peaks resemble Spanish Villas, while the eastern side has mainly apartment houses. In recent decades, the southern slopes have seen development of single-family homes that face San Bruno Mountain and the Ocean. Mt. Davidson, at approximately 940 feet, is the city's highest point and is located just south of Twin Peaks.
Price Range of Housing: $375,000-$1,850,000

Castro
Considered the center of alternative living in San Francisco, the Castro district offers some of the most colorful and vibrant settings in the city. The neighborhood's main thoroughfare, Castro Street, is home to many restaurants, alternative bookstores and diverse shops. Architecture in the Castro is contemporary, with Victorians and apartment buildings lining its side streets. The Castro is the center for the city's gay-lesbian population.
Price Range of Housing: $620,000-$1,850,000

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DISTRICT 6

Anza Vista
Anza Vista was developed during the 1930s and 1940s. A quite neighborhood in the Western addition, the homes, flats and Apartments of Anza Vista are designed with little ornamentation. Unlike many San Francisco Neighborhoods, streets in Anza Vista have little overhead wiring, giving it a quite suburban feel. The area's boundaries include Masonic Avenue, Turk Boulevard, Broderick and O'Farrell Streets. Anza Vista is located near Alamo Square, a park and playground surrounded by Victorian homes.
Price Range of Housing: $650,000-$860,000

Alamo Square
These popular four blocks surround the grassy park and playground called Alamo Square. Most famous for it's picture-perfect row of colorful Victorians, the "Painted Ladies," Alamo Square has true San Francisco charm. Attractions include the Addams House at 1198 Fulton Street and the French-American School at Steiner and grove streets. Alamo Square borders the Western Addition.
Price Range of Housing: $650,000-$1,850,000

Hayes Valley
This is one of the up-and-coming San Francisco neighborhoods. Located close to downtown, with Franklin and Divisadero streets at its east and west boundaries, Hayes Valley has been expanding with new restaurants and shops. Hayes Street, with boutiques and galleries is great for browsing and window shopping, as well as serious shopping and spending. Before the 1989 earthquake, Hayes Valley was known to have problems with crime. When the earthquake weakened the nearby overhead freeway, which was then dismantled, the historical, charming Hayes Valley emerged. Today, Hayes is experiencing a healthy influx of new residents.
Price Range of Housing: $300,000-$950,000

Western Addition
The Western Addition includes the plateau west of Civic Center, Stretching west to Masonic and Presidio avenues. Victorian houses, many restored, dominate the area's architecture. Sights include the musically historic Fillmore Auditorium. Western Addition is in walking distance of Davies Symphony Hall, downtown and San Francisco's main library. In the 1960s and the 1970s redevelopment took a hold of the Western Addition and many decaying Victorians gave way to massive apartment complexes near Geary Avenue. More changes are on the way, a Jazz Preservation District, with federal funding moving and restore galleries, music and dance clubs.
Price Range of Housing: $350,000-$750,000

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DISTRICT 7

Cow Hollow
Cow Hollow is located between Pacific Heights and the Marina, consisting of a small section along Union Street. Once filled with natural springs, sand dunes and a small lagoon, cow hollow is home to many young professionals and characterized by quaint homes and apartments. At the heart of Cow hollow is popular Union Street, which is lined with fashionable shops and restaurants. Bentio Diaz, a Spanish chaplain, was the fist to inhabit this area. In 1845, he petitioned the governor for the land and a year later, sold the area for $1,000 in silver to Thomas G Larkin, a real estate speculator and dealer in hides. Cow hollow is named after the dairy farms that comprised the area during the 19th century. Approximately 30 dairies existed, the largest having more than 200 cows. During the early part of the century, Cow Hollow's vegetable gardens provided much of its produce.
Price Range of Housing: $650,000-$3,300,000

Marina
Once marshland, the Marina is now home to many young professionals and the landmark Palace of Fine Arts. In 1915, the Place of Fine Arts was built to host the Pan Pacific Exposition, celebrating the opening physical and economic devastation of the 1906 earthquake. Designed by Bernard Maybeck, the Palace became the focal point of the fair. Deeded to the city by the army after World War II, the once-temporary structure fell to ruin. By the 1950s, a movement to save the Palace emerged, and the funds were raised to tear down the entire building and rebuild using permanent materials. The unique San Francisco landmark is owned by the city and is leased to the Exploratorium and the Palace of Fine Arts Theater. The Marina attracts many seeking the pleasures of jogging, sunbathing and strolling by the bay. The Marina Green is a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors, with a pedestrian path that is perfect for rollerblading, walking or running. For shopping enthusiasts, Chestnut Street has many fashionable shops and boutiques. Fort Mason is also nearby and hosts many cultural events, including the San Francisco Blues and Jazz Festival. With views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, the Marina offers a quaint neighborhood with a relaxed lifestyle.
Price Range of Housing: $600,000-$2,500,000

Pacific Heights
One of the most prestigious neighborhoods in San Francisco, Pacific Heights is home to the most breathtaking view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay. This neighborhood was first developed in 1870s to accommodate working-class families that were moving from wealthy Nob Hill area. Small Victorian homes were built until the turn of the century when these homes were replaced with period homes. Still residential, the area is characterized by painted Victorians, historic chateaus and architecturally superior mansions. Today, there are many consulatesand consular residences in Pacific Heights. It is home of many San Francisco's first families, as well as successful entrepreneurs and artists.
Price Range of Housing: $900,000- 10,000,000

Presidio Heights
Located just west of Pacific Heights and adjacent to the Presidio, Presidio Heights is a small enclave of elegant homes. It is a short walk to the fashionable shops of Union and Chestnut streets. Some of San Francisco's most elite families and dignitaries reside here.
Price Rang of Housing: $1,125,000-$7,500,000

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DISTRICT 8

Downtown/Financial District
Some call San Francisco's downtown "Wall Street West" because it is ranked as one of the top four financial centers in the nation. The Financial District begins at Montgomery Street and extends east toward the Embarcadero, comprising only a few city blocks. Montgomery Street has been linked to banking since the Gold Rush, and today, continues to be a bustling business area. Two easily recognizable landmarks distinguish Financial District: rising to 858 feet the Transamerica Pyramid is one of San Francisco's famous icons and a dominant features in the city's skyline. The 52nd floor of the Bank of America Building offers breathtaking views of the city.
Price Range of Housing: $600,000-$1,500,00

North Beach
North Beach is known as the "Little Italy" of the West, with its abundant Italian Restaurants, cafes and bakeries. The cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church gracefully sits on the Northern side of Washington Square, a grassy center to North Beach's energy and cultural buzz. Every dawn, Washington Square hosts a handful to a hundred people gathering to practice the ancient Asian art of Tai Chi. First settled by Italian immigrants in the 1870s and later populated by a range of nationalities, North Beach exemplifies San Francisco's diverse populace. The main attractions of North Beach are its restaurants, which include fine dining, traditional cafes and Italian delicatessens. The oldest street in the city is Grant Avenue, extends from Chinatown into North Beach where its Chinese eateries and shops are transformed to Barbary Coast Saloons, second hand shops, pizza parlors and clothing boutiques. Very few single family homes, mostly condos and income properties.
Price Range of Housing: $620,000-$1,150,000

Nob Hill
Nob Hill hosts some of the most elite San Francisco address, as well as some of San Francisco's riches history. With the completion of the cable car in 1843, the influential and wealthy move to Nob Hill. In the late 1800s, major figures of the mining and railroad industries resided in the huge mansions that now make up the Fairmont hotel, Stoufer Stanford Court, Hunting Hotel and Mark Hopkins inter-continental Hotel. Today, Grace Cathedral sits beautifully atop the hill, with the Fairmont hotel and the Pacific Union Club nearby. Impressive apartments and flats dot the area. Taylor and Jones streets offer a few select restaurants and shops, while the cable car makes it's way through the neighborhood giving it true San Francisco flavor.
Price Range of Housing: $700,000-$3,000,000

Russian Hill
Russian Hill's world famous Lombard Street twists down the hill to the delight of tourists and the dismay of cab drivers. Just west of North Beach and east of the Marina, Russian Hill offers outstanding views of the San Francisco Bay and downtown. A cable car line begins at the base of Hyde Street, traveling up Russian and Nob Hills. The area is mainly residential. Locals enjoy Polk Street with its restaurants, bars, fruit and flower markets, boutiques and cafes. This neighborhood is quintessential San Francisco. It can be tough to find housing whether you are renting or buying. A mix of homes, units and condos.
Price Range of Housing: $775,000-$5,000,000

Telegraph Hill
Coit Tower, a 180-foot tower resembling a fire-hose nozzle, sits authoritatively at the top of Telegraph Hill. The tower, built in 1933, was a gift to the city from Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who requested the monument be built in honor of the fireman at Knikerboker Engine Co. The hill was originally referred to as "Signal Hill" when a semaphore system was installed to alert residents that a ship was coming through the golden gate. In 1850, the Marina Telegraph replaced the semaphore, and they were officially named Telegraph Hill. By the end of the 19th century, the area was still ethnically diverse with large populations of Irish, Italians, Germans, Spanish and Portuguese. Because the hill was surrounded by the fishing and shipping industries, the neighborhood had never been home to the wealthy. With the building of Coit Tower, the hill became automobile accessible. Consequently, Telegraph Hill became an expensive neighborhood for those seeking panoramic views of the bay. A mixture of Victorian Era, Art Deco to Contemporary buildings are scattered throughout this hill.
Price Range of Housing: $625,000-$7,000,000

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DISTRICT 9

Bernal Heights
South of the Mission District and bordered by Cesar Chavez/Army Street, Bayshore and Alemany boulevards, Bernal Heights with its pastel-colored houses sits quietly away from the hustle and bustle of urban San Francisco. Its open-space hill keeps Bernal Heights from straying too far from rural, remaining distantly connected to its farming history. In 1776, this area was deeded to Juan Francisco Bernal, and continued for a century to serve as grazing grounds for goats and sheep.
Price Range of Housing: $400,000-$900,000

Yerba Buena
This neighborhood South of Market (SoMa) is centered around the Yerba Buena Center and Gardens, which is quickly becoming a sophisticated center for art and business. Yerba Buena Gardens boasts a five-acre, well-manicured green space in this SoMa location. While many young people populate the area, enjoying the clubs, museums, restaurants and high-energy atmosphere, Yerba Buena has a thriving senior population, with six housing projects erected during the 1980s. Yerba Buena was named after the wild mint that once flourished here. Today, high-rise condominiums, warehouses and lofts dominate the area. Highways 280 and 80 (the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge) are easily accessible from Yerba Buena.
Price Range of Housing: $400,000-$950,000

South Beach
South Beach encompasses the lively Embarcadero, South Park, the new Pacific Bell Park and the newly constructed Muni Metro extension. The San Francisco Giants' ballpark has transformed the area, bringing clean streets and new cafes to this South of Market neighborhood. The Embarcadero, with its waterfront sidewalks, draws skateboarders, lunchtime joggers and tourists enjoying the bay view. South Park (off of 2nd Street) was developed in 1852 to resemble a London Square. Today, the area hosts many dot com companies, design studios and other businesses and lofts around its green center. Cafes and chic restaurants line South Park as well. Another San Francisco icon, the Palace Hotel on the corner of Market and New Montgomery Streets, has been around since 1873. Having been remodeled several times, the hotel has maintained much of its original architecture. The palace has been host to several high-profile guests, including Queen Victoria and U.S. presidents. Dominant housing is condos and lofts.
Price Range of Housing: $400,000-$800,000

Mission Bay
Mission Bay, also know as Mission Rock, Mission Creek and China Basin, is a rapidly evolving area of the city, thanks in part to the new San Francisco Giants' stadium. This eclectic neighborhood features San Francisco's houseboat enclave, as well as the Lefty O'Doul drawbridge and a new University of California, San Francisco, campus. Mission Bay affords great city and bay views from its free-standing homes, town houses, flat-style condos, warehouse spaces and lofts, and multi-unit buildings. It is hard to beat the convenience and proximity to Highways 80 and 101, as well as the Caltrain station.
Price Range of Housing: $350,000-$600,000

Potrero Hill
Potrero Hill sits south of 16th Street and is framed by Potrero Avenue, Cesar Chavez/Army Street and Highway 280. The neighborhood has a community feel all its own; it even has its own weekly newspaper, the Potrero View. Pleasant window shopping and café dining is popular with locals. The Potrero Hill Neighborhood House has existed for almost a century and is used by residents for various occasions, such as town meetings and recitals. This area of the city gets more sun than most and has attracted a lively mix of professionals and artists. Residences are comprised of freestanding houses (many built in Victorian architecture), town homes, flat-style condominiums, warehouse spaces, lofts and multi-unit buildings. Many enjoy outstanding city views from the 300-foot high hill. Potrero Hill is rich in history, originally serving as farmland until the 1870s, when immigrants-Scottish, Irish and Italian-began populating the area. In the early 20th century, Potrero Hill was known as Scottish Hill.
Price Range of Housing: $500,000-$1,800,000

South of Market
South of market (SoMa) is one of the richest historical areas in the city, and today, has a character all its own. In the early 20th century, the city blocks of SoMa were made larger than those north of Market to facilitate development of the city's industrial, utility and transportation hub. Although the wealthy migrated to Rincon Hill for the views of the Bay, the majority of SoMa was referred to as the "flatlands surrounded by freeways." Author Jack Kerouac describes living and working in SoMa in his prose collection, Lonesome Traveler, referring to his time as a brakeman at a shipyard in the 1950s. Today, SoMa is the creative, cutting-edge center of the city, home to the majority of graphic arts, design, film, multimedia businesses and more, many of which are thriving on the dot-com revolution. The vibe is funky and high-energy, and by day, stylish "20-and-30-somethings"walk briskly to and from their loft or warehouse offices. Culture abounds in SoMa, with the Yerba Buena Center, the city's modern and beautiful Moscone Convention Center, SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art), the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Ansel Adams Museum of Photography and more. Shopping is plentiful in SoMa, with boutiques and specialty stores sprinkled throughout. By night, SoMa bustles with cool and hip restaurants and nightclubs, many hosting nightcrawlers until the wee hours of the morning. SoMa has made a reputation for itself, drawing big-name musicians to entertain club-goers. Residential buildings in SoMa are mostly town homes, flat-style condos, warehouse spaces and lofts, and multi-unit buildings.
Price Range of Housing: $400,000-$1,200,000

Mission
The Mission is home to the city's oldest structure, Mission Dolores, the sixth Franciscan mission along El Camino Real. Located nearby is the ornate Mission Dolores Basilica. Within the Mission area, it is easy to find spicy taquerias, Mexican bakeries and colorful murals depicting Mexican and Latino history. The original Levi Strauss factory is located in this area at 250 Valencia Street. Today, the Mission is popular area for a mix of working class Latino families, young professionals, artists and others who enjoy its culturally diverse atmosphere.
Price Range of Housing: $300,000-$800,000

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DISTRICT 10

Bayview/Hunters
Point This working-class neighborhood is on the southeast side of the city and it near the former Navy yard and 3Com (Candlestick) Park. There is a mixture of single-family homes, apartments and factories. The main commercial strip for this area is Third Street. The boundaries for Hunters Point include Mendell Street, Evans and Palou avenues and the bay. In 1867, Hunters Point served as the site of the first permanent dry dock on the Pacific Coast. By 1939, the Navy purchased the site to use as a shipyard. Along Hunters Point Boulevard are small boat-repair yards, spots for fishing and an old stone brewery.
Price Range of Housing: $275,000-$550,000

Crocker Amazon
Crocker Amazon is a middle-class neighborhood on land that once belonged to the Crocker Estate. The neighborhood is well maintained, with some streets beautifully landscaped and most front yards well manicured. Boundaries include Amazon and Crocker avenues, Mission Street and McLaren Park.
Price Range of Housing: $300,000-$650,000

Excelsior
Excelsior borders McLaren Park on the east and Portola District on the north. The home in this area are about 50 years old and older, and are predominantly single-family, stucco and wood frame. There are also apartments, duplexes and public housing available. Only a short bus ride to downtown, excelsior is near Highways 101 and 280, and close to a BART station.
Price Range of Housing: $275,000-$550,000

Portola Heights
This area is also known as University Mound, because its street names include Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and Yale. Landmarks include a home for the elderly, the Convent of the Good Shepherd home for girls and McLaren Park.
Price Range of Housing: $400,000 to $500,000

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COLLEGES

TRANSPORTATION

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