San Francisco Rankings & Reviews

Each condominium development is unique with different styles, features, amenities, and even different types of residents. Several factors will influence the investment potential for condos, including market factors (economic growth, interest rates, market growth, etc.) and competition. A key factor is the desirability of the development itself. Here, NewCondoInvestor.com rates each new development based on several criteria important to a buyer. In any given market conditions, these ratings should be used as a guide and comparison. It is not a guarantee of future gains, of course, but all else being equal, the higher the rating, the more desirable the development would be to an average buyer. Details on methodology and ratings definitions details.

Below are detailed reviews and ratings for each property by category. Properties are listed here and subsequent pages by overall rating (best to worst). A summary of all properties is available in a single table format. Information provided below is for reference only. All renderings, illustrations, photos, floorplans, and drawings are copyright the respective builders and architects. See the property's official website for more. All information presented is deemed accurate at time of publication but NewCondoInvestor.com is not responsible for changes or differences from the actual property.

Ratings Legend:

	Completed		Under Construction	Nearing Completion	Planned
Overall Rating		Rating Description
4.5 - 5.0		World class - Top of the Line. One of the top properties in the world.
4.0 - 4.4		Top Tier - Nearly everything a discriminating buyer would want. One of the top properties in the region.
3.5 - 3.9		Excellent - Features, amenities, location make this an excellent property. May be the best in a community.
3.0 - 3.4		First Class - Most features expected in a new luxury building. A solid choice for value-conscious buyers.
2.5 - 2.9		Comfortable - A quality property and may offer a bargain location, especially for occasional use.
2.0 - 2.4		Attractive - Some good qualities but many properties offer more features/amenities.
1.5 - 1.9		Basic - Lower quality, poor location, few amenities.
1.0 - 1.4		Unattractive - Not desirable for upscale buyers.

Properties Ranked 8 and Higher

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The Palms (completed)
Rank	Overall Rating	Neighborhood Amenities	Proximity to Attractions	Floor Plan Variety	Views	Pool Spa Fitness	On-site Conveniences	Cool or "Wow" Factor	Hotel
8	2.6	3	3	4	3	1	2	2	None
Developer		General Contractor		Floors	Total Units	# of Floor Plans	Unit Size (sq ft)	Price (USD)	Availability
Joe Cassidy		Webcor		9	300	11	580-2,585	$500K-$1M	Now
Commentary: The Palms represents a large development in the South of Market district. The building contains roughly 300 units on just 9 floors encompassing a full city block. For those who like palm trees, The Palms should live up to its name with a ring of palm trees lined up along the exterior of the building. Although lacking a pool, a lush courtyard is part of the property and other amenities include concierge service, business center, party room, etc. The Palms is a good value for the location in an area of new developments. For those looking for space, The Palms offers a number of floor plans over 1,500-2,000 square feet in both single and multi-level designs. In San Francisco, most luxury buildings only offer plans of that size in very pricey penthouses. The architecture is a bit more conservative then some other glass/steel designs so would appeal to those who want to live in a building that has a more traditional look. Overall, a good choice especially for buyers looking for more square footage than other new buildings.

The Lansing (completed)
Rank	Overall Rating	Neighborhood Amenities	Proximity to Attractions	Floor Plan Variety	Views	Pool Spa Fitness	On-site Conveniences	Cool or "Wow" Factor	Hotel
9	2.4	3	3	3	3	1	2	2	None
Developer		General Contractor		Floors	Total Units	# of Floor Plans	Unit Size (sq ft)	Price (USD)	Availability
Lambert Dev.		Cannon Constructors		9	82	5	n/a	$500K-$900K	Now
Commentary: The Lansing is an intimate building (only 82 units) in the South of Market district. SOMA is a mix of older retail businesses, new office towers, and new loft-style condos. As the land values increase, though, more density is needed to make the new developments financially feasible. The Lansing represents a bit of a blend--a new building but with more traditional single level condo floor plans (although a few other designs are available too). It's small number of units prevents the building from offering a lot of the amenities of the bigger new condo developments (e.g., a fitness facility but no pool). It's location puts it squarely in a neighborhood that is ripe for new residential support businesses (due to a number of other planned developments) but for now is several blocks from most shops and restaurants. The lower floors may have views of the downtown skyline but that may change as new buildings are built in the area. The Lansing is a very good choice for those looking for a new building in a neighborhood on the rise (construction-wise) and within a mile of downtown.

Other unrated downtown high-rise San Francisco condominium buildings (completed)

The rated buildings are amongst the best and newest luxury condo towers in San Francisco. Buyers may, however, also be interested in the following downtown buildings. Some were actually constructed as luxury rental apartments but have been converted to condominiums. Most have resale units available from time to time.