Photo by Octoferret
San Francisco Forest Hill Neighborhood Overview
Are you moving into a new home in San Francisco? Here are the top five (5) reasons why you should consider moving to the Forest Hill Neighborhood!
You have probably seen it, the colorful and historic Victorian row homes, houses with perfect views of the famous Golden Gate Bridge, and charming sidewalk cafes. There is an endless list of what San Francisco can offer, but as exciting as it may sound, this beautiful city life comes with a high price.
Yet for those tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, the busy roads, the crowded streets, and the people fixated on their daily lives, a serene place with a lush green environment is an escape. Imagine waking up to birds chirping, spending morning coffee on your patio, and enjoying the unfiltered beauty of nature at its finest! A serene community will welcome you to Forest Hill.
Here are the top five (5) reasons why you should consider moving to Forest Hill.
1. Strategic location in the Heart of San Francisco
Forest Hill is one of the smaller neighborhoods in San Francisco, with a surface area of only 0.3 square miles. Located in the city center, Forest Hill enjoys proximity to other fantastic neighborhoods like Forest Knolls, Inner Parkside, West Portal, and Forest Hills Extension. Residents love strolling along charming shops, restaurants, and businesses on West Portal Avenue, a few blocks from the community. You can also enjoy the Chinese markets of Irving street and the eclectic shops and restaurants of the Inner Sunset in less than a mile. Moreover, Union Square and the Financial District are just 20 minutes away from the Forest Hill or West Portal Muni stations.
Albeit small, you will never really feel tiny living in this neighborhood. Forest Hill has all the commercial space you need to make life easier and more comfortable within the community. It has several coffee shops and restaurants where you can dine, like the Mission Edge Café, Bistro SF Grill, or Bob’s burgers. And if you are feeling under the weather, you can order your takeout from The Little Chihuahua or Street Taco. It also has several grocery stores like the Kj Produce Market and Andronico’s when you run out of supplies.
2. Rated #2 best neighborhoods in San Francisco
According to Niche, an independent online body, forest hills san francisco real estate ranks #2 as Best Neighborhood to raise a family. Of course, experience and opinion vary from homeowner to homeowner, but an essential indicator of a good neighborhood would be the number of homes sold in the past three (3) to five (5) years. Ideally, if there is an increasing trend or a high percentage of homes sold through the years, it could mean that more people are settling in.
For the past three (3) years, Forest Hill neighborhood real estate has had a high percentage of homes sold. Based on the San Francisco Real Estate Market Report, records show five (5) new listings in August 2022 compared to the four (4) listings last August 2021. Moreover, (five) 5 sold listings are recorded in August 2022 vs. One (1) unit sold in the same month of 2021. Interestingly, the median sales price of houses in August 2021 is relatively lower at $1.9M vs. $3.3M as of August 2022. These statistics only show that more and more people are looking forward to making Forest Hill Neighborhood their permanent home.
Moving over from the neighborhood real estate market perspective, Forest Hill as a community has a lot to offer to its residents and future homeowners. Aside from its very convenient location, Forest Hill also prides itself on a variety of restaurants, cafes, parks, and above-average quality education. Transit is also accessible in the neighborhood, with bus service from the 6-Parnassus and numerous Muni metro lines whisking residents downtown from the Forest Hill station on Laguna Honda Boulevard.
3. Proximity to Parks and Urgent care centers
Aside from retail therapy and fine dining options, your future home should be close to healthcare and recreational facilities. You might not need this now, but you will thank yourself for including this in your list.
Forest Hill is accessible to nearby parks and playground centers such as Balboa Park, Glen Canyon Park, and Aptos Playground. Public parks and playgrounds are great spaces that provide recreational facilities for kids and adults to stay fit and active. Families can enjoy a picnic under the sun in the summer or walk along the trail for a weekend activity. Proximity to urgent care centers such as San Francisco VA Medical Center, Golden Gate Urgent center, and more is also a plus.
4. Spacious indoor and outdoor living space.
Everything about living in Forest Hill gives you the feeling of space. All the wide streets and homes rambling around the curve of the hills are the opposite picture of houses along city streets fighting over a piece of land. It can be suffocating to stay in a concrete jungle, yet here, in Forest Hill, there is a sense of freedom. In 1912, when the neighborhood began development, the streets of Forest Hill were designed to accommodate horses and carriages. As a result, streets are unusually wide, giving the residents larger spaces for outdoor activities.
These massive spaces in the neighborhood are well-complimented with huge homes and styles ranging from detailed Tudors and prominent stone homes to split-level mid-century modern homes.
Most of the homes in Forest Hill have well-maintained landscaping decorated with plants, trees, and lush gardens. The Community Garden Club is also very active in maintaining community garden spaces and outdoor patio spaces make the perfect opportunity to host get-togethers.
5. Amazing views of San Francisco away from the crowds!
After a long day of work and a busy schedule, it would be refreshing to sit back, relax and enjoy watching the amazing views of San Francisco from the comfort of your home! And the good news is that you can finally make this dream a reality in the Forest Hill neighborhood.
Depending on where your home is within the neighborhood, you may experience a view of the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, or the San Francisco Bay. And even if you don’t get to see these picturesque views directly from your home, a quick stroll in the neighborhood will allow you to appreciate these views away from the crowd! With its heavy tree-lined winding streets and architecturally significant houses, Forest Hill offers tranquility and beauty to its residents.
As StBloomSF wrote, Forest Hill is just far enough to escape the hectic locations in San Francisco. Yet, not so far away to stop you from easily dining at a 5-star restaurant within 15 minutes.
Forest Hill Neighborhood is a community where you can enjoy everything the city offers while keeping close to the raw beauty of history and nature. So if you are looking for the perfect place for your dream home, this calming and enchanting Forest Hill neighborhood is waiting for you!
