The birthplace of biotech on the San Francisco Peninsula
South San Francisco is a dense Peninsula suburb where midcentury homes, landscaped lawns and a cozy downtown district skirt the edge of San Bruno Mountain and the San Francisco Bay. And while it may feel small compared to its northern neighbor, it’s home to some of the world’s biggest biotech companies, including the corporate headquarters of Genentech. “Biotech has been a big boost to the city and its real estate values. It’s also enabled the city to improve its downtown, build new parks and invest in city amenities,” says Realtor Stephen Marshall of Christies International Real Estate, who lives in nearby San Bruno.
The city has come a long way from its founding era. For much of the 20th century, it was known as the “Smokestack capital of the Peninsula” and “The Industrial City” because of its many factories, shipbuilders and manufacturing plants. That began to change in the 1970s and 80s as factories were replaced by major biotech companies like Genentech, Amgen, Exelixis and many others. So robust is this high-tech industry that the city bills itself “the birthplace of biotechnology.” These tech juggernauts are the city’s largest employers, but it still feels like a small bedroom community on the Peninsula. “It’s gotten big in terms of biotech, but it still has a small-town mentality,” says Phil Watson, broker associate at Christies International Real Estate.
The city’s bayside coastline is where the bulk of its biotech firms are located, but it’s also got a few waterfront parks, trails and marinas for residents to enjoy. It’s separated from San Francisco by San Bruno Mountain State Park, a tall peak crisscrossed by hiking paths and dotted with California scrub.
Oyster Point is a busy hub for industry in South San Francisco.
Oyster Point is home to Genentech's enormous campus.
1/2
A bedroom community with a mix of housing options
South San Francisco’s median home price is around $1.3 million, putting it slightly below surrounding cities. Homes spend about 28 days on the market, compared to the national average of 44 days. “It’s a good alternative to places further down on the Peninsula where prices can be much higher,” Watson says. The city's architecture includes everything from historic early 20th-century dwellings to brand-new contemporary homes, but most of its housing stock dates to the post-war construction boom. Ranch homes, split-levels and other popular styles of the era are a common sight in neighborhoods like Sunshine Gardens, Westborough and Serra Highlands. Early 20th-century homes can be found near the city’s historic downtown district, and in neighborhoods like Signal Hill and Paradise Valley. There are also some small farm properties in the city, although they rarely go on the market. “What people don’t realize is there’s a small, unincorporated part of the city on Country Club Drive where people can have horses. So, you’ve got some horse properties that are right in the thick of everything. It’s really unique,” Marshall says.
A row of neat and tidy Mediterranean houses line this street in Sign Hill.
A row of brightly colored mid century homes in Serra Highlands.
1/2
Cozy, historic Downtown South San Francisco
Downtown South San Francisco is a mellow, historic district of mostly single-story shops and storefronts. Some are historic brick buildings that date back to the city’s earliest days. It’s also where South San Francisco City Hall is, an old Neo-Colonial Georgian building inspired by Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. “It’s a small-town downtown district that’s almost all family-owned businesses. There might be a Starbucks, but other than that you won’t see many chains there. It’s really eclectic, and there’s a lot of good food,” Marshall says. Elsewhere, residents can shop at big box stores and major grocers like Safeway, Costco and Target.
Grand Ave. in Downtown South San Francisco is line with beautifully restored historic buildings.
Starbucks offers a calm place to work remotely in Downtown South San Francisco.
1/2
Hiking trails and bayside scenery
Parks, trails and outdoor recreation are plentiful in South San Francisco. Residents can hike to the top of Sign Hill, where the city’s slogan is spelled out against the slopes in white block letters, or take in the panorama from the brush-laden ridges of San Bruno Mountain. Walkers, joggers and bikers also enjoy access to the San Francisco Bay Trail, which snakes along the water’s edge from San Jose to San Francisco. Community parks, athletic fields and playgrounds are interspersed throughout the city’s neighborhoods. Weather in South San Francisco is typically mild, with warm summers and chilly, rainy winters.
Enjoy a hike at Sign Hill Park in Sign Hill on a warm day.
Serra Highlands adventurers can parasail at the nearby coast.
1/2
Highly rated San Mateo schools
The South San Francisco Unified School District earns a B-plus rating from Niche, which also ranks it the third-best school division in San Mateo County. It enrolls around 9,000 students across nine elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools. El Camino High, one of the region’s top-ranked high schools, has a graduation rate of 96% and its academic scores are far above the statewide average, according to state data.
El Camino High School is part of the SSF Unified School District.
All Souls Catholic Elementary School in Downtown South San Francisco.
1/2
Crime on par with the statewide average
South San Francisco’s violent and property crime rates are about even with the California statewide average, according to FBI stats. The city’s violent crime rates have risen slightly over the past decade, while property crime rates have remained steady.
BART, Caltrain and San Francisco International
South San Francisco is 10 miles from Downtown San Francisco and 25 miles from Silicon Valley cities like Menlo Park and Palo Alto. There’s a BART stop and a Caltrain stop for people who prefer to travel by rail and avoid the Bay Area’s notoriously heavy highway traffic. San Francisco International Airport is 15 miles south. “You’re close to the airport without being right underneath it,” Watson says. Those seeking medical care can go to Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco.
On average, homes in South San Francisco, CA sell after 24 days on the market compared to the national average of 48 days. The median sale price for homes in South San Francisco, CA over the last 12 months is $1,230,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
When you work with Yolanda, you will receive a knowledgeable and professional real estate agent, a committed ally to negotiate on your behalf, the systems in place to streamline buying your home and the backing of a trusted company, Keller Williams Realty.
Looking to sell your home? As a real estate associate of Keller Williams Realty, you will now have access to over 170,000 associates across the country to help you sell your property. With their technology, they are leading the way in how homes are sold and bought through online marketing.
Looking to buy a home? With their KW Technology and advanced websites, searching for properties that are active on the MLS is a breeze. Now you can search 24/7, save properties to your profile to view later and schedule showings with Yolanda so you can see these properties in person. Her job is to make the real estate buying process that much simpler and as a real estate associate of Keller Williams Realty, we are doing just that.
Her company prides themselves in staying on the cutting edge of technology and if you select Yolanda as your real estate agent, you will receive all of this and more. You could never find a more dedicated, energetic, or focused agent to represent you. Please give Yolanda a call for a no obligation assessment of your needs.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
