I moved to San Francisco in 1980 to advance my career in brand marketing. But I ended up falling in love with San Francisco real estate. I remember telling my father, “If I could only own just a piece of Pacific Heights, I’d be in heaven.” Three years later I did. Then one day I drove just 6 blocks beyond my slice of heaven to discover a more luxurious neighborhood – Presidio Heights?.

I remember showing the area to a friend from Grosse Pointe, Michigan and saying, “Look! Some of the houses have front yards!” In 1996, as the U.S. was pulling out of a recession – very much like today – my husband and I got a great deal on our Presidio Heights house. Then, as only San Francisco can, the real estate market just took off, and we saw a return on our Presidio Heights investment in just 6 months.

What’s so great about Presidio Heights?

• It has clearly defined boundaries, giving it a real neighborhood feel, with only about 800 households, and its own very powerful Home Owners Association, PHAN.
• The houses, many built in the early 1900’s, are large with spectacular craftsmanship and superb curb appeal. Some feature astounding Golden Gate views, au-pair quarters, and don’t forget those front yards. Houses for sale run from $2 million (if you can find one at that price) up to around $15 million. Condos run from $700K to around $2 million. It is an affluent area, and attracts many captains of industry, socialites and newly minted Internet millionaires.
• Most of Presidio Heights is flat, so the walkability factor is out of this world. In fact, Walk Score ranks Presidio Heights as the 76th most walkable neighborhood in the country.
• Laurel Village, a very unpretentious strip shopping center across the street from Presidio Heights, has at least 2 of everything: 2 coffee shops, 3 banks, 2 grocery stores, 2 children clothing stores, but just one incredible Five ‘n Dime that is straight out of the 1950’s and carries EVERYTHING you would ever want.
• We stroll daily to Laurel Village to pick up a cup of coffee and dinner for that evening. We are guaranteed to run into one of our neighbors and catch up on what is going on in their lives.
• Sacramento Street, with its upscale restaurants, antique shops, hair salons, boutique clothing and consignment shops, is a destination street for many other San Franciscans.
• California Pacific Medical Center caters primarily to woman and children. It is located on the outskirts of Presidio Heights, so many of our doctors are all within walking distance.
• From an activity standpoint, the Arnold Palmer-managed Presidio Golf Course is nearby and open to the public. So is the recently re-built Jewish Community Center (JCC), with top-of the-line workout equipment, a tot and lap pool, dry and wet saunas, personal trainers, Zen spa and much, much more.
• There are 2 recreation parks: Presidio Heights Playground/Clay Street Playground and the famous Julius Kahn (JK) Playground. JK was recently renovated by the city of SF, but contributions from its wealthy neighbors make it by far the fanciest park in the city. JK has tennis and basketball courts, an elaborate children’s play area (filled with nannies), soccer, lacrosse and baseball fields, a recreation building with daily activities, picnic tables, and is a favorite spot for children’s birthday parties.
• Crime is very low, but there is a private security service you can subscribe to that will watch your home while you are on vacation, or walk you to your door when you get home late at night.
• And the final point, Zillow rates Presidio Heights as one of the best places to go trick-or-treating because of the “high home values (read: better, bigger candy), walkability and sidewalks, and density of single family homes.”

On average just 23 condos and 23 houses sell in Presidio Heights annually. But you won’t find a lovelier San Francisco neighborhood with beautiful homes, safety, walkability, great outdoor activity amenities, friendly neighbors and neighborhood prestige than Presidio Heights.

Julius Kahn Playground

View from Washington and Spruce Streets in Presidio Heights