Known for larger-than-typical homes on smaller lots, Mission Terrace features Spanish-style homes tightly packed on curvy streets named after Spanish saints (the names of which sound an awfully lot like the ones in St. Francis Wood). While the homes may be dense (many are Junior 5s) you do get more than a few midcentury ones thrown in for good measure. The neighborhood runs along San Jose, to Alemany (which does that bizarro thing of connecting to Bernal, Sunnywide, Excelsior and Ocean Avenue in a span of what seem to be nanoseconds.
Proximity to San Jose Avenue, 101, 280, and Alemany make it a commuter-friendly location, though the rumble of the MUNI, howling of the BART and drone of the freeway noise are common considerations.
The area has strong legacy family ties but is also diverse and changing, with younger buyers moving in over the last decade. Many homes are fixers or cosmetic fixers, providing opportunities for buyers willing to take on renovations. Fog can influence the microclimate here, but the neighborhood’s charm and convenience keep demand strong.