$2,439,851Average Value$1,122Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
A suburban slice of San Francisco
Drive through Balboa Terrace’s winding, tranquil streets — past its green lawns and eye-popping Spanish- and Italian-style homes — and one might forget that they’re less than 10 miles from the heart of one of California’s biggest metropolises. “You’re in the city but it has this country feel,” says local Realtor Mark Peschel of Corcoran Icon Properties. This section of San Francisco offers more of a suburban experience, a well-kept planned development that dates back to the 1920s. And while Balboa Terrace is mostly residential, it’s conveniently close to a packed commercial thoroughfare and quality public schools. The crime score here is also better than the national average, according to the CAP Index. “There are big lawns, there are beautiful gardens,” Peschel says. “It’s an awesome neighborhood, it’s safe.”
This public garden pathway helps children walk safely to and from school in Balboa Terrace.
Large houses can easily sell in the millions, and have better views of Balboa Terrace.
1/2
Homes come with distinct style
Balboa Terrace is perched along Mount Davidson, which at 938 feet is the highest point in San Francisco. When homes began to pop up here in the 1920s, Balboa Terrace was one of the first developments of its kind in the area. Houses were built in sought-after styles of the time, including Spanish Colonial Revival and Italian Renaissance Revival. Thus, most of the homes in this area date back to that period — many have been well-maintained, and some have been remodeled over the years. “People appreciate that I think,” says Peschel, a longtime San Francisco resident. “The neighborhood feel, the look, the architecture, the way it’s maintained.” The landscape in Balboa Terrace is dominated by single-family houses that average about 2,400 square feet. Lots here typically stretch roughly one-tenth of an acre, enough for a bit of off-street parking in many cases. Price tags in Balboa Terrace usually start at around $1.5 million and can climb to over $3 million for a renovated option over 3,000 square feet.
Homes in Balboa Terrace sometimes have spanish tile and red brick stairs, a great combo.
Some of the houses in Balboa Terrace are truly gorgeous with great views.
1/2
Standout schools are all around
The San Francisco Unified School District offers the flexibility of school choice, instead of assigning solely by address. Families in Balboa Terrace seeking convenience have multiple well-rated campuses to choose from. Students may start at Commodore Sloat Elementary, which has an A-minus grade on Niche and is a conveniently short walk away from a lot of Balboa Terrace residents. Commodore Sloat’s arts and enrichment programs range from choir to gardening. From Commodore Sloat, students could move on to the A-minus-rated Aptos Middle, which is also within walking distance for many and whose extracurricular opportunities include baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball. Then the A-plus-rated Lowell High is an option for grades 9 to 12, which tops the list of the best magnet schools in the Bay Area on Niche. Lowell offers eight languages, including French, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Mandarin and Spanish.
Balboa Terrace students can attend Commodore Sloat Elementary.
Aptos middle school is a highly rated school in Balboa Terrace.
1/2
Aptos is apt for outdoor recreation
Nearby Aptos Middle is adjacent to the roughly 5-acre Aptos Park. Aptos comes complete with a playground, multiple athletic fields and a tennis court. Balboa Terrace locals can also hop in the car for a short trip to Lake Merced Park, a 614-acre expanse near the coast. Lake Merced itself, which is open to boating and fishing, is the centerpiece of the park. The park also features an almost 5-mile paved trail and is surrounded by three golf courses: TPC Harding Park, The Olympic Club and San Francisco Golf Club. TPC Harding Park is a public course that hosted the PGA Championship in 2020.
The Aptos Park baseball field sits at the edge of Balboa Terrace.
Balboa Terrace children love the playground at Aptos Park.
1/2
West Portal Avenue a path to amenities
Balboa Terrace is just outside the thoroughfare of West Portal Avenue, a stretch lined with an assortment of restaurants and other businesses. Trattoria da Vittorio is among the popular picks on West Portal, an Italian restaurant liked in part for its lasagna and its ravioli. Oenophiles will enjoy Que Syrah, too, down the street, a wine bar with cheese pairings and chocolate truffles to boot. Sushi Suki, meanwhile, is a hotspot for Japanese fare. Those looking to pick up fixings for a home-cooked meal can stop at Four Seasons Market or West Portal Produce Market. The almost 888,000-square-foot Stonestown Galleria is another retail hub in the area, with more than 100 stores, from Apple to Zara.
West Portal Market serves fresh ingredients to the Balboa Terrace community.
Balboa Terrace diners can eat al fresco along W. Portal Avenue.
1/2
Lighten the commute on the light rail
Balboa Terrace residents can quickly reach multiple stops on the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s Muni bus and light rail networks, particularly along Ocean Avenue and Monterey Boulevard. The light rail can transport passengers up to Downtown San Francisco in just over 20 minutes. Drivers in Balboa Terrace can use stretches like Portola Drive and Market Street to get downtown in a trip of about 5 miles, or hop on Interstate 280 to get to places like San Jose, which is roughly 50 miles south.
Public transportation is the easiest way to get around Balboa Terrace.
The Bart and Muni station at Balboa Park is easily accessed by Balboa Terrace commuters.
1/2
Spooky good fun
One of Balboa Terrace’s neighborhood traditions is its Halloween Parade and Pizza Party, which draws dozens upon dozens of young attendees, who get to enjoy slices of pizza from local institution Original Joe’s and show off their costumes. The event is organized by the Balboa Terrace Homes Association, which meets on the first Monday of every month.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Shirin Zehtabfard,
an experienced agent in this area.
Parks in this Area
Carl Larsen Park
Pine Lake Park
West Portal Recreation Center
Picnic Area
Tennis
Playground
Aptos Park
Baseball/Softball
Picnic Area
Tennis
Junipero Serra Playground & Clubhouse
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Picnic Area
Rolph-Nicol Jr Playground
Playground
Multi-Purpose Field
Walking Paths
Transit
Airport
San Francisco International
20 min drive
Subway
Ocean Ave & Aptos Ave
Bus
Monterey Blvd & San Aleso Ave
Bus
Ocean Ave & San Leandro Way
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Balboa Terrace
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
3
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
3
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Balboa Terrace, San Francisco sell after 12 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Balboa Terrace, San Francisco over the last 12 months is $3,505,727, up 48% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Located in the picturesque Balboa Terrace neighborhood, this fully detached 3BD/2BA home is a charming example of Harold Stoner's whimsical Storybook architecture. Spanning 2,148 sqft, it blends historic details with elegant modern updates. A vaulted-ceiling living room with a stately fireplace welcomes you in, leading to a formal dining room and light-filled chef's kitchen with skylights, a
Spacious & full of character, this elegant detached Spanish Mediterranean home sits behind a manicured lawn on a picturesque block in coveted Balboa Terrace. With 4+ bd/4.5 ba it blends sophistication, charm & modern comfort. The foyer welcomes you in with its timeless appeal, featuring an arched window and classic checkerboard flooring that sets the tone for the home's elegant character. The
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Shirin Zehtabfard,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
656
Median Age
51
Population Density
13 ppl/acre
Population under 18
19.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
29.4%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$221,875
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$217,230
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
57.6%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
17.4%
% Population in Labor Force
63.6%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
22''
Average Winter Low Temperature
46°F
Average Summer High Temperature
68°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
69/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
86/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
69/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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.
