Living in the SF Shipyard: A Two-Year Resident's Perspective…read more For the past two years, I've called the SF Shipyard home. Nestled at the end of a peninsula, it was once a quiet, safe, and charming neighborhood with delightful views of the bay and a scenic path adorned with large sculptures. It felt like a hidden gem--peaceful, warm, and full of promise. But 2025 brought change. With three new apartment buildings opening, the influx of residents has shifted the dynamic. Crime has increased enough that discussions about hiring full-time security have begun--at an additional cost to our already high HOA dues. Parking, once manageable, has become a daily challenge. Being on a peninsula means overflow traffic has only one direction to go: up Kirkwood and Jerrold. Pros of Living in the SF Shipyard * Affordability (Relatively Speaking): Your dollar stretches 2.5-3x farther than elsewhere in SF. No more throwing money away on rent. * Warmer Climate: It's about 10 degrees warmer in summer. * Peace and Quiet: It's still one of the quietest neighborhoods in the city. * Scenic Views: Water views are a daily luxury. * Modern Living: Homes come with decent appliances, in-unit washer/dryer, air conditioning, and energy-efficient features. * Outdoor Spaces: India Basin Park and two other parks nearby offer green space. * Walkability to Unique Spots: Archimedes Banya is walkable, and Pier 70 & 80 events are nearly within reach. * Community Events: Frisco Fridays add a fun, local vibe. Cons of Living in the SF Shipyard * Odors: Occasionally, the sewage treatment plant makes its presence known. * Property Value: Don't expect significant appreciation, if any. * Mello-Roos Fees: The city doesn't seem to be fulfilling its obligations with these funds. * Hidden Costs: High HOA dues, move-in/out fees, and Mello-Roos -make it less affordable than it appears. * Limited Amenities: No nearby grocery stores--you'll need to go to Bernal, Potrero, or the Mission. * Restricted Access: Much of the surrounding open space is off-limits due to radiation or naval restrictions. * Safety Concerns: Little to no police presence. Drivers often speed, run red lights, and ignore stop signs. SFPD rarely enforces traffic laws here. * Car Dependency: You need a car, and parking is a major issue. Without a designated spot, you must be home by 5-5:30pm to find parking. Going out at night risks losing your spot. Guests struggle to find parking at any time. Public transportation at night feels unsafe. * Madison Building Issues: Electrical issues are widespread--13 owners had to band together to get the developer to act. (Personally, I'm on my fourth set of breakers and second HVAC compressor.) The EST3 alarm goes off almost every weekend and can blare for 48-72 hours if it happens outside business hours. Hosting a party in the Pavilion costs over $200, on top of $700+/mo HOA dues. Final Thoughts I moved here for the peace, the views, and the modern amenities. I wanted to stop renting and avoid being house poor. But with the current growing pains, I can't recommend moving to the SF Shipyard--especially not to the Madison building.

Before you should deal with Lennar be aware that Lennar is 2nd worst builder in USA in terms of…read morecustomer satisfaction. I got to experience this first hand. I signed a purchase agreement on a home. A week later they dropped prices on similar homes by $22K. We requested them to adjust the price as any decent national builder would do. But Lennar doesn't give a s**t about you once you are trapped in the contract. So they denied. Never again in my life I'm doing business with this company. I advise you all to also add price drop contingency in your purchase agreement if you decide to deal with the devil or better yet stay away.

This was our first time purchasing a home without using a traditional real estate agent, and we…read morecouldn't have been more pleased with the experience. Vikrant, Hira, and their whole team did everything they promised (and more). They were incredibly responsive, knowledgeable, thoughtful, and strategic throughout the entire process. I never felt like I was sacrificing service or expertise by going with a flat-fee model. In fact, I'd say they outperformed the traditional agents I've worked with in the past, at a fraction of the cost. The entire experience exceeded my expectations, and I would strongly recommend them to anyone buying a home.

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make, so having the right team…read moremakes all the difference. We recently worked with Vikrant Goel and the Flat Fee Buyers team, and they exceeded our expectations from start to finish. We initially assumed that choosing a flat-fee brokerage would mean compromising on service. We couldn't have been more wrong. Their level of professionalism, organization, and attention to detail was better than many traditional real estate agents we've worked with or heard about. The entire team was incredibly responsive and communicative throughout the process. They had a clear system in place, kept us updated at every stage, and always responded quickly whenever we had questions. Everything felt organized and efficient, which made what is usually a stressful process much easier to navigate. Vikrant was especially valuable during the offer and negotiation stage. He took the time to walk us through different strategies, connected us with great lenders, and stayed in close contact with the listing agent to keep things moving. We always felt like he was looking out for our best interests and working hard to give us the strongest possible chance. What impressed us the most was that we never felt like just another transaction. Everyone on the team genuinely cared, and it showed in every interaction. If you're hesitant about using a flat-fee buyer's agent because you think you'll get less service, don't be. Our experience was the complete opposite. We received exceptional service, worked with an experienced and highly organized team, and saved a significant amount of money in the process. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Vikrant Goel and the Flat Fee Buyers team to anyone looking to buy a home.

We've been working with Andy for the last several months on our 3rd and 4th story addition project…read morein upper Noe Valley. Communication: Andy is organized, efficient, and clear in his communications with us. He was also upfront with us from the beginning about the potential challenges our project would face, from city building regulations to neighbor considerations, but always presented solutions to the issues. Design: Andy has been able to take our high level requirements and turn them into an elegant and practical design that is above and beyond what we originally imagined. His in-depth knowledge of the city codes has also been reassuring - we really appreciate his focus on the goal of making this a smooth, low drama process. Process and Cost: Finally, Andy's wealth of vetted and reliable industry contacts has helped us determine a working budget early in the process - this has been invaluable for ensuring we're comfortable with the major changes to come. Andy and his contacts have all provided reasonable pricing, considering the scale of the project we are undertaking. We're really happy working with Andy, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend him for any projects in SF!

We've just completed our 2nd Major Remodel with Andy after having the pleasure of working with him…read moreseveral years ago on our 2nd story addition. Our 2nd project with Andy included the main level Kitchen, Family area, Mudroom and Powder Room. We were so impressed with Andy's design talent the first time, that we were certain we wanted to work with Andy to tackle the design challenges for the second go round. Andy again was integral to the success of the project. After receiving an initial estimate from a contractor we had worked with in the past that was higher than expected, Andy was able to offer another contractor more in line with our budget. After listening to our thoughts and concerns, Andy offered several design options, and again we were really excited with the finalized approach. Andy was able to incorporate some specific design details we wanted, and then build upon them and make them a unique feature for our project. When we were facing technical challenges with the millwork detail we incorporated into the project, Andy suggested a solution that the millworker went with to solve the problem. Andy again was great to work with through the design, both listening and offering design options we hadn't thought of. His attention to design detail really made the project. His knowledge of construction and cost were such a great asset to making our project a success. He followed through with the project from beginning to end. We Hired Andy 2x as our Architect, we highly recommend him for your project!

We recently bought a new place and we wanted to do skim coating the walls of the whole house…read moreincluding the ceiling. It's a big project and It was the end of the last year - holidays season during the time. So we had been through a lot of difficulties for finding the right business that is responsive and reliable to do the job, till our real estate agent introduced us Aura Design Villa. They are very professional and easy to work with since the very beginning. AK, who is the project manager carefully inquired about all our needs and concerns. He spent a lot of time to answered all questions we had and communicated well in details. During the whole process, the crew leader Z and the crew was updating us the progress within group chat everyday and constantly communicating necessary details, they worked very hard to completed an efficient and wonderful work. I'm someone who pays attention to details and because this is the first house we own, we are highly cared that all the finishes meet our needs. Therefore, we really appreciate the whole crew understands our needs so well and how flexible the crew was. You guys are true dream builders, thank you for helping us to complete our dream. Super highly recommend Aura Design Villa, will definitely work with them again. And I will keep updating the comments here when I have more :)

We hired Aura Building Company to completely demolish & rebuild our house. This project included a…read moredriveway, reframing the house,3 bathrooms, 4 bedrooms, flooring, full House electrcial and plumbing etc. The project took about 6 months and Aura Building Company pretty much did all the work from permitting to Design to construction and punch out. This company is a one stop shop with amazing design team, highly skilled group of builders & engineers. We loved the entire experience and the final result. It was like we were on HGTV. They keep us informed, engaged and incorporated our input throughout the project. I am so happy we found this company and they took us as clients and would recommend them for any home project.

So happy we found Edri Construction to do a few major exterior repairs on our house. I'd met with…read moretwo other companies prior to contacting Edri--one declined the job, and another ghosted me. I left either a voicemail or a message on Edri's website (can't remember) and they called me back the same day and our Project Manager, Isaac, came out soon thereafter to check things out and start the estimate process. Isaac gave me the estimate exactly when he said they would, and at this point I had a feeling we would be in good hands because the communication and follow-up were all on point. Our house needed new fascia and soffits and a new balcony cap, and after seeing a few houses with natural wood soffits, I wanted to change the plan from matching the existing painted soffits. This was no problem for Edri and they helped select a beautiful cedar wood and brought the vision to life. The work went pretty much as planned with some minor delays for expected things--weather, etc. No nightmares where the work gets behind and you have no idea when it will be done. Communication was so great and everyone who worked on our house was professional and friendly. They even arranged to take their lunch breaks when our kid had her nap. Isaac would come out at the end of major milestones to inspect the work with me and make sure I was happy. Minor issues I found were addressed with no hassle. We were so happy working with Isaac and the crew that we asked them if they could add on several additional projects, which they happily did. The quality of the work is very good, and we have gotten compliments from many neighbors. I could not be happier with how it turned out myself. Thank you, Isaac and crew!

If I could give a negative I would. So many promises of communication and there was none. Lots…read moresubcontractors with no supervision. Left the job not done. We had to finish with others. Tried to keep our permits hostage. Owner Avi is not a good guy and does not supervise his workers. Horrible experience. Do your research. Not a fake review. We are in Cole valley. You cannot even keep track of your customers.

We had a great experience working with Massoudi Consulting Engineers. Rod is incredibly…read moreknowledgeable and brought up several important structural and design considerations that we hadn't even thought about. He clearly has deep experience, especially with projects in San Francisco - he pointed out a number of intricacies and local requirements that only someone familiar with SF codes and processes would know. It really gave us peace of mind knowing we were in good hands. Tiffany and Vivian were also wonderful to work with - very responsive, detail-oriented, and efficient. They kept everything moving smoothly and were quick to answer our (many!) questions. You can tell they know exactly what they're doing, which makes the whole process so much easier. Overall, the team is professional, experienced, and extremely well-versed in the kind of nuance that SF projects demand. Highly recommend!

I've been working with the engineers from MCE since before they were MCE. They've been my gold…read morestandard for quality engineering on jobs big and small for over a decade. I can recommend them without hesitation or reservation.

I met Kira and Danny at a listing in Noe Valley across the street from our home. It was a luxury…read moreview property that they had listed. I was impressed with their attention to detail and their professional approach to prospective buyers. When it came time to sell our view home, I reached out and agreed to list the house with them. They became partners with us in a much longer journey than any of us expected as we put the house on the market in the Fall of 2022, which ended up being dead for homes at our price point. We successfully sold the home in the spring of this year in a still challenging market. We were happy with the value we received for the home and grateful for their work to sell it successfully. However, the real testament was in the systematic way they prepared the home, worked with us closely in the extended sale process, put many hours in open houses and showings, and even ensured the house was always in tip-top condition through a very wet rainy season. Finally, coordinating with the home buyer and ensuring their experience was just as stellar. We then purchased a new house in a different part of the city. We had the opportunity to compare our experience with Kira and Danny with other listing agents. We were blown away by the difference in attention to detail. Our home was in new condition when we put it on the market. Their team took the lead in the work needed to get it in that state. There were no homes we toured that approached their level of preparedness and care. High standards, strong work ethic, solid results. I highly recommend them to anyone selling their home. They are indeed an exceptional team.

I've requested to be removed from their list multiple times, unfortunately they have decided to run…read morea mailing list with no unsubscribe option which is illegal. If they cannot manage to take me off their list, I would not trust they could broker your deal.

I honestly cannot say enough good things about Maven Maintenance…read more To start, Craig, Vinny, and their team kept constant communication with us on the process regarding the repairs we needed. They gave up front and transparent pricing that was very reasonable. In regards of when they got to work, as soon as we signed the contract they were ready to go the next day. The work they did was repairing drywall on our ceiling and wall after a leak. You cannot even see that there was a hole there before. Blended beautifully and the matched the color to be identical. When our water mitigation company left a mess, their team not only cleaned up after them but painstakingly covered our floors to protect them. We just moved into our home and have a list of renovations we would like to do. We are 100% only using Maven Maintenance.

Hired Craig and his crew to modify a wall oven cabinet cutout and install a junction box for a new…read moreoven. Craig was immediately responsive and accommodated a last minute request, which I really appreciated. The crew was communicative throughout, answered every question along the way, and walked me through everything both during and after the work. That transparency gave me a lot of confidence in the job. Would absolutely hire them again.

Call Ricardo at 415.286.4696 before you call any other contractor about home renovation…read moreconstruction needs. He is very good at it and goes the extra mile to satisfy you as his customer. Everyone else thought it would be best to install a new shower pan. The prefabs are not easy to find in the size we needed. Ricardo tailor-made one that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. He identified a shower glass installer without my having to ask. I am very pleased with the tiling work as well. I called before the walk-through to ask him who he would recommend for hauling away the debris away. He was already taking it to the dump. Most of it was from the other contractors. I have contacted and gone through a lot of contractors for this renovation. Ricardo was the only one that could do all of the remaining work. That was a relief, but the quality of his work at a competitive price is what makes him and his crew stand out. You will not be disappointed. Thank you, Ricardo, for making my home beautiful.

Ricardo was professional from beginning to end. He was extremely prompt in returning my call, and…read morewas very informative and helpful in explaining what the process was. I needed some new windows installed in my home, and Ricardo came the next day, and finished the job within 3 days. Not only was the work exceptional, but the price was fair. They were in and out, extremely professional, and very informative throughout the process. I highly recommend Ricardo with window installation or any related work you might need.