For Bernal Heights homeowners, here’s an interesting (and encouraging) data point. The 3BR, 3BA house at 315 Precita, on the north side of Precita Park just east of Folsom, just sold for $1,275,000. Realtor Sabrina Gee-Shin says:

Everything about 315 Precita is wonderful — starting with the neighborhood.  This gorgeous home sits along Precita Park — a great place for picnics, neighborhood film night and walking your dog.  It’s a slice of Bernal Heights heaven and just a hop, skip and jump from the action in the Mission.

I represented the buyer of this lovely property.  It’s a 3 Bedroom, 3 Full Bathroom, 2,100 Square Foot home with meticulous attention to all sorts of details like lighting for the wine refrigerator, steam sauna with limestone tile, media room with integrated sound system, and a VAVOOM hood for the gourmet Viking Range stove.

It’s a sweet pad with sweet amenities, obviously, but it’s nice to know that despite all the economic turmoil, glamorous homes can still fetch a fair penny here in Bernalwood.

UPDATE:

If you’er a potential home-buyer on the hunt for something more affordable, our friends at Curbed SF have tipped us off to a small cottage at 264 Mullen that can be had for less than $500K:

PHOTO: Top, via San Francisco MLS

SocketSite says the 1,231 square-foothouse at 580 Banks was originally listed for sale in July 2010 for $848,000. Reason prevailed, however, and it didn’t sell. So after a series of dramatic price cuts, the property eventually turned over for $442,000 last July.

Fast-forward four months, and the big numbers are back in play:

Sporting a remodeled kitchen and bathroom on the second floor, two new legal bedrooms and bath on the first floor, and new windows throughout, the now four-bedroom home has returned to the market listed with 1,822 square feet for $799,000.

But will the upgraded home will sell at the upgraded price? Let’s watch and see.

PHOTOS: MLS via SocketSite

Danielle Lazier is a realtor with Zephyr Real Estate, the author of SFHotlist, and Bernalwood’s official, unofficial real estate analyst. Here’s her autumn 2011 update on the residential real estate market in Bernal Heights:

Amid all of the economic uncertainty, real estate sales in our little village continue to thrive. Why is that?

I could talk about the inherent stability of the San Francisco real estate market, the concentration of single family homes in Bernal Heights…yada yada, but I’ve said that all before. Instead, I’ll just share my thoughts, as both a resident and real estate professional, as to why folks continue to choose Bernal Heights when shopping for a home.

Stereotyped as Noe Valley’s littler, less-expensive, “rougher-around-the-edges” sister, some perceive Bernal Heights to be a second choice neighborhood — if you want Noe but can’t afford it, look at Bernal. My experience suggests something different: Many, if not most, folks who buy a home in Bernal do so on purpose, because Bernal is their FIRST choice.

Just a couple of years ago (OK, maybe a few more) when I was a Wesleyan University student, I was often asked, “So, was Brown your first choice? You must not have gotten into Brown…Is that you chose Wesleyan?” Well, no, actually, I did not even apply to Brown! I wanted to go to Wesleyan. It was my first choice.

The cliche about Bernal being a haven for Noe rejects always reminds me of that experience. No offense to Noe Valley, which is a gorgeous, coveted neighborhood (and the location of my office and many of our home sales) but it’s kind of like comparing apples and oranges.

So, what do we like so much about Bernal? What makes it the first choice for so many home buyers? From my vantage point, it’s both Bernal’s diversity and “the urban village” vibe.

Bernal Heights is an old neighborhood, and you can feel that even today when you walk down Cortland Ave. And yet, it’s growing and changing. On my block, we have young families that are new to the ‘hood, as well as older residents who have been here for decades. The same is probably true on your street too. We have old homes, new homes, fancy homes, shabby-chic homes, and just shabby ones. All of us like the mix.

As for the “urban village;” Where else in San Francisco can you live in the middle of the City but still have that small-town feel? Bernal offers easy access to freeways and decent commute options, especially if you’re hearty and don’t mind walking or biking. On the north slope, BART and Caltrain access are very close by. The weather’s pretty nice by SF standards. We have parks and playgrounds for dogs and kiddies alike. We have a handful of cute shops and restaurants on our main drag, with enough to keep you fit, fed, cocktailed, and/or and caffeinated. (To use Todd’s lingo, let’s practice some YIMBYsm and continue to support our local merchants!)

A long time ago, Bernal Heights was a refuge — for the San Francisco residents after the 1906 earthquake — and I believe it remains so today. So, thank you very much, but no: We’re not Noe’ Vally’s less elegant, hippie sister. Bernal, in all its glory, is an urban hamlet, and the robust real estate market here proves it. See for yourself:

Bernal Heights Real Estate vs. San Francisco Citywide (past 90 days)

Single Family Homes
Bernal: (39 Sales) High – $1,275,000, Low – $380,000, Median – $675,000
All SF: (564 Sales) High – $8,500,000, Low – $120,000.00, Median – $725,000

Condos
Bernal: (8 Sales) High – $1,650,000, Low – $585,000, Median – $849,500
All SF: (473 Sales) High – $5,750,000, Low – $100,000.00, Median – $644,000

2-4 Unit Buildings
Bernal: (10 Sales) High – $1,000,000, Low – $440,000, Median – $716,500
All SF: (104 Sales) High – $3,995,000, Low – $166,000, Median – $946,000

UPDATE:

The Downing and Company website just published some interesting stats on August sales of single-family homes in Bernalwood. Note the average sales price of $712,750:

Photos of each of these homes available on the Downing & Co. website.

PHOTO: giggie larue

Our real estate-obsessed friends at CurbedSF had a little contest last week, and their readers chose a house in Bernal Heights as the fairest one of all:

This week we asked you to vote for the single-family home you’d like to live in. The only requirement was that they had to be priced in the 700K to 750K range. Some had more bedrooms or curb appeal than the others, but each one is a true gem that’s packed with loveliness.

Over 200 votes later and 144 Putnam in Bernal Heights won with 34.2%.

Yes, the house in our glamorous ‘hood beat out similarly priced homes in The Mission, Lakeside, and The Excelsior to bring home the most-desirable crown.

But then again… when you consider the contest that way, Bernal’s victory almost seems preordained, doesn’t it?

PHOTO: 144 Putnam, via Redfin. Montage, CurbedSF

It’s that time again! Danielle Lazier, Bernalwood’s realtor-in-residence, is back with some insight into the workings of the neighborhood real estate market. Over to you, Danielle:

So where the heck is Bernal anyway?

Yeah yeah, I know there is an ongoing border dispute (at least in the blogosphere and local bars) regarding the appropriate boundaries of Bernal Heights, the Mission, and even Glen Park and  Noe Valley. But when it comes to real estate, the San Francisco Multiple Listing Service map is the one that matters.

Whether you agree with the map or not, understanding the borders of a neighborhood (and what MLS sub-district you’re in) is very important when house-hunting or determining the accurate “market value” of your home for a listing or refinance. Other agents, buyers, and the appraiser sent out by the bank will all base their “comps,” or comparable home sales, on the MLS sub-district — and NOT by zip code (hello, Zillow!) or even citizen consensus (hello La Lengua Revolutionary Army).

From Cesar Chavez to Alemany, from 101 to 280, Bernal Heights encompasses a large area and has a lot of different micro-hoods. Per the MLS, it is called District 9A.

OK, so now let’s do a quick market update…

Summer is typically a slow selling season for real estate. Between school vacation, summer trips, and the “better” weather, folks are just busy doing other things.

This year, we have both the usual summer slowdown and the recent bout of economic malaise to make thingscomplicated. Yet in Bernal Heights, we continue to see more “ready-to-buy” home buyers than houses for them to buy, especially in the more desirable parts of the neighborhood.

Houses near Bernal Village — central Cortland — are the most popular, and they tend to sell quickly, receiving multiple offers over the asking price. That has certainly has been true for the last couple of sales. For example, 125 Andover received 4 offers in the first week. Let’s look at the stats:

Single Family Homes near central Cortland Ave over the last 90 days:

• Average Days From List to Close of Escrow – 44 Days
• Average % of Sales Price/List Price – 101.31%
• Median Sales Price – $826,000
• Highest Sales Price – $1,295,000
• Lowest Sales Price – $450,000

Finally, here on Bernalwood, I’m happy to answer any questions you have about Bernal Heights real estate, so send us your question (bernalwood *at* gmail dotcom) and I’ll make up a good answer!