Real estate in the Castro district benefited from the influx of people seeking a community of tolerance toward alternative lifestyles. The Castro District that originally grew from an agricultural beginning trading dirt roads and dairy farms for what must be considered one of the most energetic and unified communities in America. With out a doubt the Castro district is the center of gay real estate in America.
Homes in the Castro District lies in an area
of precipitous landscape and distinct philosophy. The Castro lies
in the in the protective shadow of the Twin Peaks, a pair of knolls
that rise over 900 feet above sea level. The protection The Castro
gets from these hills brings a warmer climate to this area of San
Francisco than is afforded to other areas more effected by the Pacific
Ocean. The Castro also doesn't’t have to deal with as much of that
infamous San Francisco fog either. Young professional climbing singles,
young families and both blue collar and white collar working people
call this predominately gay community home.
Victorian homes painted gaily and lavished with care predominate the residential neighborhoods of the Castro District. This is a neighborhood that has developed offering gays a place to openly be themselves. The Castro has probably been hit by aids harder than any community in the America. This community has done much to call attention to the problem of AIDS. June is the month that the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Pride Celebration Parade takes place and attracts around half a million participants and spectators.
The pride that this community has shown toward its homes is reflected in the fact that it now attracts young families not only because of the well cared for homes but also for the low crime rate here. Old prejudices against the gays are disappearing making The Castro appealing to a broader segment of the real estate buying public and offering other places in San Francisco for gays to find acceptability.
In the Castro District one of the main business
areas runs along Castro Street. Here you will find a street saturated
with unique restaurants, inspired boutiques, alternative bookstores,
gay bars, delis and diverse shops. Here you will also find the well-known
Castro Theater, a theater that maintains the architecture and style
of the movie palaces created in the 1920s. This theater features many
movie revivals, an interesting and unique entertainment venue.
The migration of real estate buying gay men to the Castro District
during the 60s and 70s was no doubt a prime reason so many of the
old Victorian homes there have been preserved through their efforts
to remodel and maintain these historic old homes. The structural designs
you will find in this neighborhood is modern, with many Victorian
homes and apartment buildings adorning secondary streets. It is estimated
that nearly 75% of the inhabitants of this neighborhood rent their
homes or apartments. Homes here range in price from $620,000 to $1,850,000
Dolores Heights Climbing to the heights always offers a person a spectacular view and Dolores Heights is not exception. The gardens in this neighborhood are magnificent and glorious views come with most Dolores Heights homes. Many of the homes in this neighborhood could be described as mansions.
This neighborhood surrounds old mission Dolores and Mission Dolores
Park. The Mission was founded in 1776. Here you will find the oldest
building in San Francisco. This church survived San Francisco earthquake
and subsequent fire of 1906. Dolores Park perched atop Dolores Heights
offers a beautiful view of the San Francisco skyline on days when
the fog doesn't’t blanket this coastal city. In 1906 the park served
as a temporary camp for over sixteen hundred families who lost their
homes in the earthquake and fire.
Dolores Heights homes and real estate are priced in a range of $270,000 to $5,000,000.
Eureka Valley Real estate that lies in the Eureka Valley includes land that lies on the flatlands of the valley floor as well as some of the hills surrounding it. Castro Village is a neighborhood around 18th Street and Castro Street. This northern area of the Eureka Valley, just south of the Upper Market district, could be considered the center of life in San Francisco.
Eureka Valley homes are occupied by a mixture of conventional families as well as gay and lesbian couples who live in vibrant Victorian and Edwardian style homes as well as more modern styled homes. A very common activity for homeowners here is to restore the beautiful old Victorian homes that still lie hidden in this neighborhood. Homes in this are in the price range of $700,000 to $1,850,000.
Noe Valley Noe Valley homes lie in an upscale neighborhood that continues to gentrify. This neighborhood that lies in the valley created by Twin Peaks and Diamond Heights runs along 24th Street. As with other neighborhoods with in the Castro District Victorian style homes are sought after gems here. This beautiful old homes went through the process of becoming subdivided apartments to returning to their Victorian splendor when up and coming yuppies and dot comers invaded purchasing and refurbishing these old homes.
bookstores. In this mixed neighborhood conservatives
rub elbows with liberals while working class customers share restaurants
with millionaires.
The commercial area following 24th Street is the center of Noe Valley
offering the trendy a diverse array of thing sot do that include public
houses, outdoor off-beat cafes, fortune tellers and access to coffees
and teas from around the world as well as eclectic poetry. Noe Valley
homes typically display box planters overflowing with brilliantly
colored flowers yards that are landscaped using old trees and mature
shrubs. The pleasant odor of eucalyptus wafts through the air in some
areas of this neighborhood. The Noe Valley is given a secluded feeling
by the hills that enclose it.
This trendy neighborhood is primarily served by small shops offering
meat, fish and produce. Here you will also find some nice taverns
as well as popular ethnic neighborhood eateries. The Noe Valley is
a caffeine junkie’s heaven as it is almost over populated with coffee
houses, boutiques and bookstores. In this mixed neighborhood conservatives
rub elbows with liberals while working class customers share restaurants
with millionaires.
Once the dot com boom went bust real estate prices here dropped and
are holding in this upscale neighborhood ranging from $700,000 to
$4,000,000.
