Serra Highlands

It’s been a long time since a three-bedroom, two-bath home in Serra Highlands sold for $16,450 — 65 years, in fact, when the ambitious housing development broke ground on former Rancho Buri Buri land. Today, homes in this sturdy, conveniently-located-but-quiet residential neighborhood sell for seven figures. The most recent sales in Serra Highlands showed a range of $960,000 to $1.32 million, with the majority of homes selling for $1.1 million and up. For that price, buyers will find homes built in the mid-1950s (Serra Highlands was mostly developed in 1955-1956) that are larger than those found in some of South San Francisco’s other post-war boom neighborhoods. Homes here rarely have less than 1,200 square feet of interior living space. Some have been expanded to over 2,000 square feet. Lots in Serra Highlands can range from 4,500 to 7,500 square feet in size, but most are around 4,500 to 5,000. Serra Highlands is a desirable South City neighborhood, due to its housing inventory and its central location. It lays within reach of two shopping centers, two freeways, two BART stations, parks, schools and downtown South San Francisco.

In 2000, a new subdivision was built on the former site of McClellan’s “Acres of Orchids” nursery along Serra Highlands north border. Homes in the Promenade development have three or four bedrooms and can have well over 2,000 square feet of space. They’ve been selling for the low $1 millions — making them a relative bargain in what lately has become an overheated local real estate market.

Favorable

• Larger homes than most post-war South San Francisco neighborhoods, including the 2,000-plus square-foot homes of the Promenade subdivision

• Very convenient location with access to freeways, BART, shopping malls, parks and schools

• Though homes are at the top of the South San Francisco real estate market, price-per-square-foot value is solid

Adverse

• Homes in this desirable neighborhood are priced at or near the top of the South San Francisco market

• Access to downtown South San Francisco and/or biotechnology industry is not the most convenient;