Manor 1 & 2/Park Millbrae

A small neighborhood consisting of two populated streets, Hemlock and Hermosa Avenues, plus commercial frontage on El Camino Real and the Millbrae BART and Caltrain station, Manor #1/#2/Park Millbrae is often overlooked when discussing Millbrae neighborhoods. Though its name is a mouthful, Manor #1/#2/Park Millbrae is a low-profile place whose selling points are proximity to the aforementioned El Camino and BART/Caltrain, plus the unexpected charm of its neat, well-maintained pre-war housing.

The neighborhood shares part of its name with Millbrae Manor, an assisted-living complex, sits at one end of Hemlock Avenue (actually in Marino Vista Park). Park Millbrae was the name of the subdivision at the other end of Hemlock. Though only two-plus blocks long, this small development is unique in that it is one of the few in Millbrae to predate World War II. It may lack the punch (and cachet) of Millbrae Highlands, but Park Millbrae has its fans, witness the approximately $50,000 to $100,000 premium homebuyers will pay to live on Hemlock Avenue rather than in neighboring Marino Vista Park.

Manor #1/#2/Park Millbrae real estate is not flashy. Hemlock Avenue is made up of two- and three-bedroom, single story homes on lots ranging in size between 5,000 and 8,000 square feet. Homes have prominent garages. Some have front porches. All have small, level front lawns. The 500 block of Hemlock is lined with mature trees.

Hermosa Avenue, at the neighborhood’s north end, is a different animal. In contrast to Hemlock’s orderly layout, Hermosa is a hodge-podge of properties, single- and two-story homes built anywhere from 1912 to 2001 and multi-unit buildings of varying sizes. Thanks to this diverse block, Manor #1/#2/Park Millbrae homes for sale can range in price from $700,000 to $1 million. The most recent data on the neighborhood shows a median sale price of $764,000.

Hillcrest Boulevard bisects the tiny neighborhood of Manor #1/#2/Park Millbrae, leading to another of Millbrae’s unsung tracts, Bayside Manor #2. Both of these eastern neighborhoods share surprisingly convenient locations and affordable home prices, making them an interesting option for entry-level buyers looking for single-family homes.