Northern California’s diverse real estate market, which encompasses Bay Area homes, wine country estates and breathtaking coastal retreats, continues to attract buyers from around the globe. For this In the Know, we connect with top local agents Mara McCain and Jill Fusari to delve into this vibrant market, uncover the region’s hottest destinations, and explore why NorCal remains a top choice for homebuyers.
What are some of the top destinations for homebuyers in Northern California?
Mara: I would say Atherton, Menlo Park, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, and Woodside.
Jill: Some top locations for homebuyers in Norcal are the South Bay near Palo Alto and the tech hub, North Bay near the Golden Gate Bridge with views of the water—like Sausalito and Tiburon.
The East Bay—Lafayette, Alamo, Danville and Walnut Creek—are all near hiking and biking, and shopping. Plus they all have nice down-home charm with top-rated schools and a strong community feel. San Francisco is still a favorite for people who enjoy a bigger city with vibrant nightlife and culture.
What are some of your favorite things to do in the area?
Mara: Hiking trails are amazing on the mid-Peninsula—like Windy Hill, Wunderlich Park, Edgewood Park and so much more. Visiting Filoli Historic Home and Gardens in Woodside, where President Biden met Xi Jinping in November of 2023.
I also love sampling the fine dining and casual dining the SF Bay Area is famous for. For great scenery, I like taking road trips through the Redwood Forests of our local Santa Cruz Mountains through Highway 35 in Woodside to the Beach in Half Moon NAy and Pescaderro. I also enjoy day trips to Napa and Sonoma County wineries.
Jill: I love to go wine tasting and we have the most prolific and gorgeous wine region in all of the world in my opinion. I love to check out different wineries and eateries while up in Napa Valley. I love to go hiking as well and Muir Woods is one of my favorite areas to explore.
Visiting Carmel and the scenic 17-Mile Drive is breathtaking. I am not a golfer but thousands of tourists come from all over the world to partake in Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay, The Preserve, and Cypress Point. I also love to play tourist in San Francisco and enjoy a walking tour all around from Union Square to Nob Hill to Russian Hill and the Marina. In between enjoy the local small eateries. Lake Tahoe is of course a favorite for all seasons: skiing and boating, hiking and swimming in the summer.
NorCal encompasses many different landscapes and lifestyles. What are some that the area offers?
Jill: We are blessed to have so many wonderful world-renowned destinations in NorCal: Lake Tahoe, Carmel, Napa Valley, San Francisco, Bodega Bay, and Muir Woods to name a few.
Tourists come from all over the world to enjoy any of these wonderful destinations and I feel so lucky to live close to all of them. Within one hour of one another, we have two of the top universities in the country—Stanford and the University of California at Berkeley—so it is fun to experience the activity and bustle of the college towns and cheer on the local teams.
I love that you can experience and enjoy so many different landscapes all within a few hours of each other from the sophistication and elegance of the wine country, to the casual outdoorsy feel of Muir Woods and Lake Tahoe, to the stunning vistas and charm of Carmel, and finally to a spectacular city with shopping, culture, and top restaurants.
Why would a buyer choose to purchase in NorCal versus other regions of the state?
Mara: So many reasons! Mild climate, exciting job opportunities in Silicon Valley, diversity in culture, amazing universities and educational opportunities from Stanford and UC Berkeley to Santa Clara University and San Francisco State University.
Jill: It all starts with a buyer’s budget and where the potential homebuyer has to be for their job. But so many factors come into play, including kids and education choices, proximity to commute routes, proximity to the office for their job and whether family is close by. Buyers are probably also considering how important it is to be walking distance to schools, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, hiking and biking trails. There are so many factors that come into the decision-making process but the different landscapes, weather patterns, and proximity to them are what makes NorCal an extremely desirable place to live.
What are you expecting for the next year in the NorCal market?
Mara: Overall I anticipate a busy year, with high buyer demand. It is presently a seller’s market with low inventory.
Jill: I wish I had a crystal ball! But I do see continued increases in prices in the areas I discussed. I only have experience selling real estate in my market in the East Bay so I can only speak to that market, but I do see the market doing well with continued increase in values. We are faced with continued challenges with fire insurance, taxes, and interest rates but I still see the prices increasing and continued growth in the areas I mentioned.
What draws homebuyers to NorCal?
Jill: The weather, beautiful landscapes, and proximity to so many varied landscapes are also a huge draw. The casual lifestyle and ability to be outside for 10 months out of the year is not too bad either. Lots of exercise enthusiasts love hiking, biking and walking trails.
Where do you see buyers moving to NorCal from?
Mara: Internationally I see buyers coming from every country, and nationally I see them coming from every state—especially New York, the East Coast and Southern California, especially Los Angeles.
Jill: All over the country! I don’t think there is just one place that I see far more buyers coming from than the rest but it does usually start with employment opportunities and then homebuyers narrow down their search based on the factors that I have discussed above. Many people do move from within the state as well.
Notable Local Listings
30530 Aurora Del Mar. Carmel
The Agent: Cicily Sterling
The Price: $9,800,000
Known as “Serenity,” this legacy property is one of a few oceanfront homes on the ultra-private and gated Aurora Del Mar within the prestigious oceanfront enclave of Otter Cove.
94 Melanie Lane, Atherton
The Agent: Mara McCain
The Price: $32,000,000
No expenses were spared in architectural design and finish for this custom-built home, available to purchase now before completion this summer. Modern architecture
frames unobstructed city light views over the San Francisco Bay.
804 El Pintado Road, Alamo
The Price: $8,800,000
The Agent: Carolyn Gwynn
This gated knoll-top 360-degree view property is just two miles from downtown Danville, close to award winning schools and less than 30 miles from San Francisco and the Silicon Valley.
This Kubitschek-designed Napa-style home boasts almost 3 acres of usable land and views of Mt. Diablo to Las Trampas Ridge.
For more insight into current market trends and the world’s most dynamic real estate destinations, browse our other recent In the Knows: Santa Barbara & Montecito Real Estate Insights from Eric Haskell, The Rise of Lake Town Real Estate in Tahoe & Beyond, Today’s Golf Course Home Market, Palm Beach to Palm Springs and Buying Real Estate in Panama, Visas & More.
