Gentrification and mid-century charm, lots of in-laws, good BART access.
Ingleside: Rising from Ocean Avenue to Lakeview
Ingleside climbs upward from Ocean Avenue until you hit the neighborhood’s relative peak at Lakeview. As you move up the grade, so does market value, with some homes offering unexpectedly dramatic views—especially of the backside of Mt. Davidson in District 4.
At its base, Ocean Avenue is Ingleside’s bustling thoroughfare, packed with cars, MUNI streetcars, and steady foot traffic. The crowd here is a mix of City College and SF State students, area families, and commuters heading to and from I-280. The streets are broad and often inclined, which encourages fast driving—but with street traffic and blind driveways, it’s not exactly smooth sailing.
Housing & Market Trends
Homes in Ingleside range from Victorian and Edwardian classics to the Marina/Sunset-style tunnel-entry houses that dominate much of the neighborhood. Most homes date from the 1940s to the 1960s, often with a nostalgic, Glen Miller Band-era charm. Many are multi-generational homes, passed down through families, and it’s common to see ADUs or in-law units—whether fully legal or, let’s say, questionably compliant.
Flips still tend to follow the “contractor-grade attempt at good home design” trend. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a cheesy LED fireplace with karaoke-bar-style visual effects (and a space heater, of course). If the developers had a bigger budget, expect the Thermador buy-2-get-1-free package: a Thermador range, refrigerator, and maybe a hood or dishwasher—if they really splurged, both.
Other common finishes? If they did it right, you’ll see eggshell or low-luster sheens on the walls (practical and durable). If they went the cheap route with flat paint, be prepared to repaint soon—those walls scuff if you even look at them too hard. Well-maintained homes tend to have high-gloss oak cabinets and larger-format, shinier tile. Fixers still pop up, and be alert for homes with existing renters, as Ingleside’s proximity to SF State and City College makes it a natural rental market.
