Insider’s Guide to the Bay Area
Where you live is just as important as what home you buy. This is my take on the communities in San Francisco, the Peninsula and Silicon Valley. My favorite restaurants, coffee shops and parks. The historical tidbits and famous properties that make each place interesting to me. I want you to imagine what life would be like if one of these addresses was yours.
Find more insider tips on my blog and Bay Area market reports here.
San Francisco Communities
NoPa is a trendy 5-by-6 block neighborhood, aptly located North of the Panhandle (NoPa). It’s primarily residential with most businesses along Divisadero.
Talk about a reinvention. Hayes Valley went from a very rough part of town to one of San Francisco’s most sought-after neighborhoods.
Noe Valley is a desirable residential haven, surrounded by lively neighborhoods like the Castro and Mission. For many San Franciscans, this makes it the best of both worlds.
There’s just a feeling you get when you go to the Castro. You see that huge rainbow flag waving on the corner of Market and Castro Street …
Nothing compares to the Mission. It’s hispanic roots, socially-minded population and colorful lineup of businesses make it the most unique district in San Francisco.
Potrero Hill is a trending neighborhood that sits between the hip Mission and Dogpatch neighborhoods. The peninsula can be easily accessed by 101, 280 or the 22nd Street Caltrain station.
Bernal Heights is a neighborhood on the rise. So much so that it’s been referred to as the hottest neighborhood in San Francisco. It has a more residential feel …
Located on a peninsula bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west, and the San Francisco Bay on the north and east, the city of San Francisco spans about seven square miles…
Bay Area Communities
The cities that make up Northern San Mateo County—Daly City, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Colma and Brisbane—have a different feel than the rest of the Peninsula.
Burlingame is one of the most desirable suburban cities in the Bay Area, and for good reason. It’s beautiful homes, commute-friendly location, excellent public schools…
With a population of more than 100,000, San Mateo is the county namesake and one of the Peninsula’s largest cities. There’s a little bit of everything here…
Hillsborough has been home to the elite ever since the land was purchased by William Davis Merry Howard (of Hillsborough, New Hampshire) in 1846.
Pacifica offers a very specific lifestyle and is what I would consider a true hidden gem in the Bay Area. It’s not for everyone but if it is for you, there’s a lot to love.
East of Highway 101 there are two planned, waterfront communities that share a lot in common—Redwood Shores and Foster City. Houses began…
San Carlos has always been a nice place to live, noted by their motto, “The City of Good Living.” The schools are consistently good and it’s common for people to raise their families…
Belmont is a variation of the French word, beaumont, and means beautiful mountains. The city lives up to its name with windy roads, sweeping views and lots of lush open space…
With a concentration of high-tech companies and a population that exceeds one-million, San Jose is one of the 10 largest cities in the United States and has rightfully been…
A major Silicon Valley player, Mountain View has a lot to offer in its 12 square miles. The city earned its status in high-tech early on with the development of the first silicon…
Once a verdant oasis of fruit orchards, Sunnyvale is now a mainstay of Silicon Valley with a bounty of high-tech opportunities. In the last two decades, companies like Apple…
Entrepreneurs, innovators, and risk takers from around the world have made Silicon Valley a diverse, forward-thinking region where the next great idea is always brewing…
Woodside and Portola Valley sit side-by-side next to Interstate 280, both offering Bay Area residents a rural retreat in the heart of the Peninsula.
A revitalized downtown and jam-packed community calendar have transformed Redwood City into a Silicon Valley hotspot. Long known for its celebrated slogan…
At the center of innovation sits Palo Alto, a university town turned high-tech hub that’s considered one of the most educated zip codes in the country…
Menlo Park’s charming downtown on Santa Cruz Avenue is the heart of the city, complemented by nearby shopping and entertainment available in Palo Alto…
Once an agricultural town with many summer cottages, Los Altos is now an affluent bedroom community located about 40 miles south of San Francisco. Its semi-rural atmosphere…
Beginning in the flatlands, then moving westward to the hills by Highway 280, Atherton is noted for its heritage trees and park-like setting. With its picturesque streets…