San Francisco is a great place to live, visit or simply dream about. The history of this city will capture various audiences for years to come. The thrill and excitement of San Francisco draws millions of visitors each year along with potential new real estate buyers.

If you are only visiting San Francisco, consider yourself privileged to be in this city. The following is a brief list of the many things that you can see or do while in San Francisco. Aquarium of the Bay, Pier 39, Fishermans Wharf, Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate Bridge, The Jelly Belly Candy Company, Metreon A Sony Entertainment Center, Ripleys Believe It or Not! Museum, San Francisco Zoo, Six Flags Marine World and Wax Museum at Fishermans Wharf are just some of the things you can spend time visiting. If you come to San Francisco, give yourself ample time to visit as much as you can.

The history of San Francisco will help to explain the current real estate market trends. In 1776, the first colonizing party arrived and founded the Presidio of San Francisco and Mission Dolores. In 1848, the first signs of the gold rush were seen, which brought thousands upon thousands of settlers and immigrants to the city. In 1869, the first westbound train arrived in San Francisco bringing even more people. By the following year, San Francisco was the tenth largest city in the U.S. A setback took place in 1906 when a majority of the city burned to the ground causing the evacuation of more than 30,000 people. Despite the setback, San Francisco was rebuilt and has continued to grow into what it is today. Because of the scarcity of available land upon which to build, real estate prices in San Francisco continue to increase on a regular basis.

Like many other cities in the country, if a property has a view of the water or the surrounding landscape, the prices will automatically be higher. For this reason, it would be wise to investigate your personal financial situation and determine what type of property would best fit your needs. If a house is too big or too expensive, the condo and townhouse markets are also in great supply. While doing research, dont become discouraged because there are many possibilities of being able to find exactly what you are looking for. For example, a three bed and three bath house with a view will price around $800,000. The same type of house without a view can price around $640,000. This is only one example of what a view can do to a house price. Be sure to investigate this aspect because it will make a big difference.

If you are not used to the California real estate market, your stomach is probably all twisted in knots. San Francisco is just the place to untwist those knots and put your stomach and mind back at ease. This city offers pretty much any type of food you may be looking for. From your typical American food, Chinese, Italian and seafood all the way to South American and other rare delicacies; San Francisco has it all. If heavy food is not your eating style, there are also many bakeries and pastry shops offering a wide selection of sweets and goodies.

San Francisco is a great place for those who come to stay permanently or come only for a short visit. The real estate market contains a wide selection of options for any real estate minded individual or family. Be sure to do thorough research beforehand and also be sure to find the right real estate agent for your personal needs. Once the research is completed, sit back and enjoy the atmosphere emanating from San Francisco.