West Portal and St. Francis Wood have recently become two of San Francisco's hottest real estate markets, a trend highlighted in a new Wall Street Journal article, “In One of San Francisco's Priciest ZIPs, Buyers Are Moving Fast and Paying Cash”.
The 94127 ZIP code where these neighborhoods are located offers something increasingly rare in San Francisco: single-family homes with actual yards, walkable village amenities, and quick access to downtown. By late 2025, the area's median listing price ranked second only to Pacific Heights.
These two west side San Francisco neighborhoods deliver that “suburb in the city” feel that many families are looking for. West Portal centers around a charming three-block village with locally owned shops, cafes, and the MUNI station that zips you downtown through the Twin Peaks tunnel. The area feels like a small town within the larger city, with tree-lined streets and a strong sense of community.
St. Francis Wood takes it up a notch architecturally. Designed in 1912 by the Olmsted Brothers, the nation's first landscape architecture firm, the neighborhood features gracefully curving streets, landscaped medians, and some of the city's most stunning homes. Think elaborate fountains, decorative lamp posts, and brick-diamond sidewalks that contribute to its elegant atmosphere. The neighborhood earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022, recognizing its architectural significance and preserved historic character.
Both sit in southwestern San Francisco, with West Portal bordering the Sunset District and providing easy access to Mount Davidson, the city's highest natural point at 938 feet. The local transit connections work well for professionals commuting to downtown SF or down to the Peninsula.
Many homebuyers particularly like the proximity to excellent schools, both public and private. Other nearby draws include the Stonestown Galleria mall, Stern Grove, the West Portal library, and the historic Olympic Club, one of the country's oldest athletic clubs founded in 1860.
West Portal Avenue packs a lot into three blocks. Bookshop West Portal has hosted author events since 2006. Guerra Quality Meats has been a neighborhood institution since 1954 as one of the city's few remaining traditional butcher shops. Recent additions include Elena's, a Mexican-American restaurant from the Original Joe's family, and George's Donuts & Merriment, co-founded by Hims & Hers CEO Andrew Dudum who grew up in the neighborhood.
The West Portal MUNI Station provides weather-protected access to downtown in about 20 to 30 minutes, but you can genuinely handle most daily errands without leaving the area. It's the kind of neighborhood where you run into familiar faces at the coffee shop and the local businesses know your name.
We're seeing exceptional market strength in West Portal right now. Here's what the recent data shows for single-family homes, based on 3-month rolling average MLS data between Sep-Nov 2025:
That 0.6 months supply tells you everything about how competitive buying a San Francisco home in West Portal has become. For context, San Francisco's overall months supply for houses sits at 1.2, which is already extremely low.
St. Francis Wood shows similarly hot market conditions, with prices reflecting the neighborhood's architectural prestige:
While St. Francis Wood's months supply is higher than West Portal's, it remains well below the six-ish month threshold that typically indicates a balanced market. These are predominantly single-family home neighborhoods with very few condos available, which contributes to the strong demand.
Working in these neighborhoods and surrounding areas of SF, it’s easy to understand what draws folks here. The ability to purchase a detached single-family home with a yard represents a rare luxury in San Francisco, where much of the housing stock consists of attached homes and condos. Add in the architectural character, excellent schools, and village atmosphere, and you have some very desirable real estate.
The limited listing inventory means buyers looking for homes in St. Francis Wood and West Portal need to move quickly when the right property becomes available. Many come prepared with cash offers or pre-approved financing. As top San Francisco real estate agents, we help clients access new and off-market opportunities and craft compelling offers (without giving away the farm), which makes all the difference in these highly competitive neighborhoods.
If you're considering selling your San Francisco home in West Portal or St. Francis Wood, current conditions strongly favor sellers. The combination of limited supply and strong buyer demand means well-prepared homes attract multiple offers quickly. Strategic pricing and presentation are the key to maximizing your results.
Year to date in 2025, we’ve helped San Francisco home sellers to net 22% higher sale-to-list price in 63% less time than the MLS average. Learn more - Our 2025 Results: How Are San Francisco Home Sellers Doing?
For further reading, check out our Real Estate Case Studies which showcase how we've achieved exceptional results for home buyer and seller clients in San Francisco.
The 94127 ZIP code has firmly established itself among San Francisco's premier residential areas, competing with historically expensive neighborhoods like Pacific Heights. As the city continues its post-pandemic resurgence, these west side neighborhoods remain magnets for families who want quality schools, walkable amenities, and the increasingly rare single-family home with outdoor space.
Ready to explore your options? We’d love to help. Contact us today to discuss your personal situation and see if we’re a good fit. We look forward to speaking with you!
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