Buy and sell real estate in the Bay Area

About the San Francisco Bay Area

The San Francisco Bay area, otherwise referred to as simply the Bay Area or even just the Bay, is a densely populated region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in beautiful Northern California. 

While the exact boundaries of the Bay Area vary, depending on who you ask, the Association of Bay Area Governments defines the Bay Area to include the nine counties that border the following estuaries: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, and San Francisco. 

Your San Francisco Bay Area Neighbors 

One of the most important things to consider when browsing San Francisco houses for sale is your future neighborhood. The San Francisco Bay Area is home to approximately 7.75 million residents and contains many cities, towns, parks, and more — all connected by a complex transportation network. However, the larger combined statistical area of the San Francisco Bay region includes 14 counties and 9.67 million residents, making it the second-largest area in California (coming in behind only the Greater Los Angeles area), the 5th largest area in the United States, and the 41st largest urban area in the entire world. 

The Bay Area is home to a wonderfully diverse population, with approximately half of the area’s residents being Hispanic, African American, Asian, or Pacific Islander. From the most recent United States Census, we know that the Bay Area population is more than 7 million, with roughly equal numbers of males and females (49.6 percent versus 50.4 percent, respectively). 

Of these residents, nearly one in three is foreign-born, adding to the ethnic diversity. In fact, the Bay Area cities of Vallejo, Suisun City, Oakland, San Leandro, Fairfield, and Richmond are among the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States.

San Francisco Homes for Sale  

San Francisco Bay boasts some of the best and most exclusive real estate in the world, attracting home buyers from all over the world. A recent study used data from the United States Census’s American Community Survey to look at which major American cities have the most homeowners who have lived in the same house for 30 or more years. 

While the Bay Area didn’t take the top spot, you didn’t have to travel far down the list to see that many Bay Area residents are happy where they are. Daly City came in 2nd place in the list, with more than 37 percent of current homeowners living in their current home for at least 30 years. Berkeley took 4th place, with just over 35 percent of residents living in their home for 30+ years. 

Keep in mind that this particular study only looked at cities with populations of 100,000 or more, which actually excluded most of the Bay Area townships. 

No matter what type of home you are looking for, you are sure to find it in the Bay area. In the San Francisco area, about one in three buildings are large apartment buildings, with the remainder being smaller apartment buildings, single-family detached homes, and townhouses. The area offers a wide range of housing sizes, from studio lofts to large estates with as many bedrooms as you can imagine. Nearly half of Bay Area residents own their homes, and most of the housing was built in the 1960s or earlier, during the area’s biggest building boom. 

If you’re ready to search San Francisco homes for sale, we are here to help in your house search. We can also help sell your house fast — and for top dollar. Contact us when you’re ready to start exploring homes for sale in San Francisco.