Civic Center
Homes for Sale

Civic Center Neighborhood Vibe

It’s oh-so-central and chock full of condos and houses of worship. Cathedral Hill, the west side of the neighborhood, is sandwiched between the cultural heart of the City (the opera house, symphony, museums, the main library, and City Hall) and the densely developed blocks of condos and commercial buildings. Busy, a little gritty in spots, and touristy in others. That’s Civic Center in a nutshell.

Popular Civic Center Home Styles

We can count the single-family homes in this neighborhood on one hand. The rest of the housing stock in the area consists of condos, TICs, and apartment buildings of varying sizes. Ages span the decades from the late 1800s to the present, with high-rise condos sharing the block with 100-year-old unit buildings.

Getting Around in Civic Center

It’s a transit-rich environment, with more bus lines than you can shake a stick at providing service in every direction. Having a garage isn’t a given in this neighborhood, so it’s a good place to live a car-free existence.

Median Sales Price

Median sales price is calculated based on sold data and doesn’t account for seller concessions. Median price represents the point at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less. In smaller neighborhoods like many of those found in San Francisco, this metric is less likely to be influenced by extremely high or low sales prices that don’t represent the typical neighborhood home.

Days on Market

Days on Market indicates how quickly or slowly homes are selling in the neighborhood. The lower the days on market (DOM), the stronger the market is for sellers, all other things being equal.

Number of Active Listings

The number of homes available for sale in active status at the end of a given month. Fewer homes available for sale may indicate a seasonal trend or market dynamics that favor a seller more than a buyer.

Sales Price Compared to List Price

In strong or balanced markets, homes in San Francisco typically sell over asking. In a buyer’s market, homes will sell at list price or slightly under. If a home has had price reductions, the calculation is based on the last listed price.

Price per Square Foot

Price per square foot is most useful when the homes are almost identical in size, age, layout and other factors important to buyers. Our experience suggests it is a more valuable metric in larger condo buildings and less valuable for homes in neighborhoods built with a diverse selection of styles, sizes, and ages.

Where is the Civic Center?

The Civic Center is a district in the northeastern part of San Francisco. It is bordered by Hayes Valley, the Western Addition, and Lower Pacific Heights to the west, Pacific Heights and Nob Hill to the north, downtown to the east, and South of Market to the south. On an SFAR (San Francisco Association of Realtors) MLS map, the Civic Center is often combined with Van Ness, and is identified as neighborhood 8f.

Are there any notable historical landmarks or sites in the Civic Center?

San Francisco’s Civic Center is both a National Historic Landmark and a National Historic Place, featuring many buildings in the classical architectural style. The United Nations Charter was signed in 1945 in the Herbst Theatre within the Veterans Building, marking the founding of the United Nations. The venue also hosted the signing of the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco, the peace treaty that officially ended the Pacific War with Japan following its 1945 surrender.

Today’s Civic Center was built in the early 20th Century following City Hall’s destruction in the 1906 earthquake and fire. After the Panama–Pacific International Exposition in 1915, several landmark buildings were completed: the Main Library (1916), the California State Building (1926), the War Memorial Opera House and its twin, the War Memorial Veterans Building, which together formed the core of the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center (finished in 1932), and the Old Federal Building (1936).

What is there to do in the Civic Center?

The Civic Center is home to the city’s beloved artistic trifecta: the world-class opera, ballet, and symphony. You can also catch plays and musicals in some of these locations, or a concert at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. The city’s Main Library hosts frequent classes, exhibits, and presentations, including kid-friendly diversions. Speaking of kids, they and their kid-like peers can spend afternoons at the UN Plaza’s skating park, which even offers free lessons. The massive and iconic Civic Center Plaza hosts plenty of community events, demonstrations, and concerts. Stop by the Asian Art Museum, or stroll up Market Street for Zuni Cafe’s famous roast chicken, Caesar salad, and oysters.

How does the community vibe in the Civic Center contribute to its real estate appeal?

Though small in size, the historic Civic Center has a big presence in the city’s life. You could conceivably get married in city hall, check in for jury duty at the Superior Court of California, and catch a performance of Carmen at the War Memorial Opera House, all in one day. You won’t find single-family homes here, but the residents of Civic Center appreciate the proximity of their condos and TICs to so many of the city’s diversions, including museums, concerts, restaurants, and nightlife, not to mention the city’s most abundant public transit options,

Where can I find new construction in the Civic Center?

As an “already built” neighborhood, the Civic Center is not a neighborhood where you should expect to find substantial new construction projects. Smaller developers may renovate/flip existing properties, or may take advantage of recent housing laws to add additional units to already existing housing. Transit corridors and major neighborhood streets are the most likely areas for new construction buildings in already built neighborhoods with existing housing stock.

What are the average home prices in the Civic Center, and how have they trended?

You can scroll up to see our market charts showing current neighborhood prices and other real estate trends for the Civic Center. We update these charts dynamically as new data becomes available. Reach out to us to learn more about prices, trends, and possibilities in the Civic Center.