Gavin Newsom’s childhood home in San Francisco lists for $4.5 million

A San Francisco home tied to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s childhood hit the market Wednesday for $4.5 million, according to Compass, offering buyers a wooded retreat along Mount Sutro Forest.

Read more Prop. 2 seeks to help California weather the next economic downturn. How we voted | Opinion

The two-bedroom, two-bath residence at 1284 Stanyan St. sits on two parcels totaling a little less than a quarter acre. It is set back from the street in Upper Cole Valley, near Belgrave Street, and is surrounded by mature trees, gardens and views toward the city and bay.

Listing agent John DiDomenico of Compass said in an email that the house’s appeal is rooted in its setting as much as its architecture.

“The vibe and feel is tranquil and relaxed,” he said. “It is a true urban getaway in nature surrounded by trees, plants, insects, animals and fresh air. The gorgeous home on this expansive parcel of land has wonderful natural light, and views from every window, in every direction.”

The home’s connection to the Newsom family is documented in a San Francisco election booklet published ahead of the Nov. 7, 1967, municipal election, media materials show. In his statement as a candidate for the Board of Supervisors, Bill Newsom wrote that he was “married to the former Tessa Menzies and residing at 1284 Stanyan Street.”

California State Library records showed that Gavin Newsom was born in San Francisco on Oct. 10, 1967. The records connected the address to the governor’s parents around the time of his birth, although they do not establish how long Newsom himself lived at the home. The Compass listing team and media reports say he lived there briefly as a child.

The property is marketed as a rare combination of city access and a secluded natural setting. Mount Sutro trails were across the street, while Cole Street cafes and shops, UCSF and Golden Gate Park are nearby.

The main house was built in 1951 and reclad in clear heart redwood from Marin County in 1979, according to the property website. The current owner renovated the kitchen and bathrooms. The open main level connected the kitchen, dining area and living room, with wood trim, custom lighting and large windows providing views of the surrounding landscape.

Read more Backhoe strikes Highway 50 overpass in Rancho Cordova, knocks concrete loose

The seller described the property as a compromise-free version of city living and rural seclusion.

“As a country girl asked to live in the city, I found the best of both worlds at 1284 Stanyan,” the seller, who was not identified, said in a statement from Compass. “It feels like a woodland refuge, surrounded by nature and just across the street from the hiking trails of Mount Sutro Forest. At the same time, its wonderfully central, with easy access to culture, sports, nightlife and the energy of San Francisco. I loved having that sense of escape without leaving the city.”

Sandra Leigh McBride purchased the property in 2025 for $3.9 million, according to public property records.

Upstairs, the primary bedroom suite includes a walk-in closet, a bathroom with a separate tub and shower, a meditation area and access to a view deck. The property website says the suite looks north toward the Golden Gate Bridge and downtown San Francisco. A second bedroom, office space and a separate artist studio or cabin add flexibility.

The outdoor spaces include front and rear patios, stone retaining walls, a top-floor sitting deck and a Japanese soaking tub. The second parcel, identified as 3,420 square feet in size, is separately assessed and zoned RH-1, according to the property website. The listing materials say it could offer options for additional housing, a pool or a garden, subject to applicable approvals.

Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, have listed their Fair Oaks estate at 7640 Tobia Way for $7.5 million.

Read more ‘Unbelievable 2½-hour fight’ ends with ‘monster in the boat,’ SC hunter says