Your Guide to Buying a Home in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home in San Francisco, California

(The Golden Gate Bridge is one of San Francisco's most recognizable landmarks)

San Francisco is located in San Francisco County

Since its early days during the Gold Rush period, San Francisco has built a strong respect for all things artistic. Groups such as the San Francisco Women Artists Collective, in existence since 1880, have continued to support the city's arts tradition. The MH de Young Museum is a tribute to the man who brought the world fair to the city in 1894. This museum is one of many fine arts museums owned by the city of San Francisco. The prevalence of the arts does not become completely visible until one realizes that every one in eleven jobs in the city is related to the arts through employment in graphic design, advertising, architecture, publishing, broadcast and film. Nearly half of all visitors from neighboring communities site museums as the most popular attraction, and San Francisco boasts of the highest per capita arts attendance of all metropolitan areas in the country.

Now that San Francisco has been labeled an "artsy" town, what can it offer those who have no interest in the arts? For starters, the city hosts two professional sports teams, the NFL 49ers and the Major League Baseball Giants. Fans of the Giants were witnesses to the record-breaking homerun season by Barry Bonds in 2001. For those families looking to spend a relaxing afternoon in one of the world's most beautiful settings, the Golden Gate Park is a great choice. Over 1,000 acres of trees and rivers provide running, walking, biking, Frisbee flying, boating, fly fishing, soccer and archery. Among the many attractions housed within the Park are the Conservatory of Flowers and the Japanese Tea Garden, the latter of which features a wooden Shinto pagoda, a variety of statues and a teahouse.

San Francisco has much for the tourist, but perhaps even more for the resident. In addition to the wonderful activities and sites to enjoy, San Francisco offers some of the most charming and unique neighborhoods. Described more as a "mosaic" than a melting pot, the city's collective residential districts span the range from Victorian to Spanish Mission. There are even a few famous neighborhoods, such as Russian Hill, home to the world's curviest street, Lombard Street. The "Painted Ladies" are a group of Victorian houses located in Alamo Square that have been featured on television shows (ABC's "Full House") and immortalized in posters.

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) is another benefit of local residents. The district a "multicultural, multilingual, major urban public-school system in which ethnic and racial diversity is seen as a strength." Nearly one-third of SFUSD students speak English as a second language, with the largest ethnic group being of Chinese descent (29.1%). Working in cooperation with the SFUSD is the School-to-Career Partnership (STC). This program seeks to prepare students for a larger variety of college and career opportunities. With more than 35 major universities and colleges that have positive impacts on the city's economy the STC program has more than enough resources to mentor and create future leaders of our country.

San Francisco also offers the common amenities that most Americans take for granted, such as a great variety of shopping and dining, and excellent public transportation systems. The city is serviced by I-280, I-80, and US 101. San Francisco International Airport provides quality air travel to numerous domestic and worldwide destinations.