Seeking a great rental home in San Francisco for 2 families

A 4-5 bedroom home with 3 baths is a big house for SF. You might check Pacific Hgts & Cole Valley to begin with in VRBO.

You might also check out Parnassus Hgts and Noe Valley.
Again that's a BIG house for SF so you will be limited.

<<<that's a BIG house for SF>>>

especially in Noe Valley, which was a "workingman's" neighborhood -- very few 4 bedrooms, let alone 5 bedrooms. The "plurality" of the houses will be 2 or 3 bedrooms with 1 or at most 2 bathrooms.

How many do you need to "sleep"?

This might suit you:

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p263466

As might this:

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p253621

Stay away from anything that says "near the ocean". If it's "near the ocean" in San Francisco, it's too far away from your typical tourist activities.

It is possible to find houses that have been redone(either as a single family dwelling or in two flats) in Noe Valley in keeping with the OP's wishes. Sadly, a great many of the small workingman houses have been cleared for "bigger and better" modern homes. That neighborhood would be in keeping with some of the other wants posted.

Of the two homeaway places, both are in a good neighborhood. The first looks to be closer to The Marina and so you can walk to the Bay and have lots of shopping within your proximity.

I happen to like the neighborhood of the second home better. You will be close to the Presidio which is lovely for walking and does run into Crissy Field and the Bay. Shopping will be in the Laurel or the Fillmore areas both of which have great
things to offer. Buses will be your prime mode of public transport and probably the #1 California which will take you downtown and all the way to the beach area(generally speaking).

BUT the photo of the second listing has what appears to be a for sale sign on it. Check carefully.

To follow on from PamSF's post: I checked Zephyr's website (the distinctive sign shown on the Clay street property is the Z for Zephyr Real Estate)

Sure enough - it is listed @ $2,390,000.

Meant to add - they are listed together for the $2+ million, and as two separate units: 3073 Clay $995,000 and 3075 Clay $1,395,000.

Do you really think the second one is legit? With a price tag in excess of $2 million and renting for $420 a night??

Sounds a bit odd to me. But I am always the doubting Thomas when it comes to rentals of homes. I have seen places that are actually for sale listed as rentals with prices too low and it turned out that the pictures were stolen from a Real Estate offices legit website.

Just a thought...

Deb

Hmm, some of my post didn't make it --

Would you want renters in your beautiful, pristine, $$$$$ home while it was for sale? How does a broker show it when there are short term renters in it? Do you have to leave every time it needs to be shown?

Something just doesn't ring true for me.

Deb

Would you consider staying outside of SF? I would suggest you look at Rockridge area of Oakland. There are lots of big houses,great shopping and a BART line in close proximity. We think of it like Brooklyn to NYC.

Thanks for all the help. We need to sleep at least 8 and would like at least 5 or 6 beds if possible. Kids can sleep in twins.

We'd like to stay centrally, in SF. Union Square, Nob Hill, etc. would be our preference, but you're right, I don't see much big enough.

I had found the Clay street properties on VRBO and then checked them out on zillow and discovered they're for sale -- I am leery due to prior experience in Florida. Had booked a perfect house for our two families, sent in the money, then later was notified that the bank had foreclosed on the house, a new owner owned it and we couldn't get it. We were offered a replacement house, but didn't like it. After MUCH haggling they refunded my money and I found another house I actually liked better. But I am not inclined to go into a booking knowing a house is for sale.

We've had great luck otherwise renting houses through VRBO in other cities and I'm not giving up yet in SF... so if anyone learns of good houses there, please post! Thanks.