The wealthy have largely not suffered in the pandemic, and if anything, the Bay Area wealthy just opted to upgrade their manses or hunker down further in cloistered, expensive homes.

According to some fresh data from Sotheby’s International Realty, the San Francisco area saw bumps in high-end home sales in 2020 that were akin to Aukland, Singapore, and Tel Aviv, as wealthy people invested more wealth into real estate as their travel plans all evaporated.

The annual report from Sotheby's, "Luxury Outlook 2021," discusses how wealthy Millennial home buyers are driving the market — and helped to fuel increases in luxury home sales in places like Austin, Montecito, Park City, and Aspen, seeking outdoor access in addition to happening food and art scenes. And as Bloomberg notes, the boom in the high-end market is being moved not just by the pandemic, but also by rapid new wealth creation and easy access to capital.

As the San Francisco Business Times reports, via 2020 data from Compass Real Estate, ritzy zip codes around the Bay Area saw a year-over-year uptick of 46% in luxury home sales.

The median single-family home price in Marin County went up 12% last year, while in Santa Clara County it rose 10%, with both likely partly driven by homebuyers escaping urban congestion and high rents in SF amid a pandemic. (As several articles have suggested in recent months, the much publicized San Francisco exodus may just be temporary, and some people likely moved nearby just to get more space.)

As Jeff Gibson, executive vice president at Sotheby’s International Realty tells the Business Times, one side effect of the pandemic-driven urge to move has been increased sales activity in San Francisco's west side — with high-end properties seeing a noted uptick out in the Sunset and Richmond. For some who wanted more space, it looks like a move to the Avenues was as far as they really wanted to go.

"What was interesting was seeing houses in the Sunset go for over $3 million," Gibson tells the paper. "Our definition of luxury is over $3 million, so to see multiple houses going for over $3 million [out there] is like, wow!"

And, of course, San Francisco's traditionally tony enclaves have remained popular, with the median home price Presidio Heights driven up now to $7.35 million, and Pacific Heights comes in second place among SF neighborhoods with a median home sale price of $5.6 million.

Must be nice.

Hopefully all these people spend a shit ton of money and TIP WELL at restaurants as soon as they reopen.

Related: Number of Properties For Sale In SF Nearing Two-Decade High; Condos and Single-Family Homes See Price Drops

Photo: Jutta Kamp

Smack dab in the middle of a terrible affordability crisis, San Francisco is getting a jolt of what it really needs: ultra high-end condos. Or so argues Forbes, which on Friday published a post celebrating the fact that housing in the city by the Bay has "finally" begun to cater to the super rich. Think helipads, infinity pools, and brass door-handles custom-forged "a few steps from the Seine" — you know, rich people stuff.

"After years of lacking the kinds of glossy, amenity-filled towers found in abundance in other big markets, high-end condominium developments are coming to San Francisco," the article explains. "And they are packing some of the highest price tags in the city."

The Pacific, 181 Fremont Residences, and The Harrison are just three examples of what we (well, not "we," but the super wealthy) can look forward to. The $665-million, 70-story-tall 181 Fremont Residences is expected to be completed next year, and, as the building's management explains to would-be buyers of the $3 to $15-million homes, offers up "[the] most luxurious expression of living that the city of San Francisco has ever seen. From the moment residents step foot into 181 Fremont, they have achieved a higher stratum."

The theme of looking down on the daily struggles of San Francisco seems to be a recurring one among the luxury spots, with developers of the 49-story Harrison assuring potential buyers that the building is "[more] than a place to live." Rather, "[this] is a Life Above."

The Pacific, which will sell homes for $2 to $20 million, boasts that it "[carries] the neighborhood’s tradition of elegance into a new era." And you may remember the Pacific's promo video which, and I kid you not, promised "views so spectacular it feels as if San Francisco is unfolding in front of your eyes; views of clouds, dancing like a private ballet in the sky."

But don't worry, these building aren't pulling in global investors who will buy the property and just leave it sitting empty. Rather, Forbes tells us, they are meeting a local need. “These projects will appeal to local buyers,” Alan P. Mark, the president of a high-end development sales and marketing firm, explained the paper. “Bay Area buyers are looking for projects in prime locations that will rapidly appreciate.”

Luckily for us, it seems that someone finally is meeting our housing needs.

Related: New Waldorf Astoria Hotel In SoMa Promises To *Finally* Give SF A Taste Of Luxury

2121 Webster Street was once, as Curbed observes, a dentist’s school. We all have humble beginnings, but you won't hear much about those on the website of developers Trumark Urban, who converted the building to 76 "jewel box residences" they've dubbed "The Pacific."

No, there wasn't room on the sleek website for The Pacific amidst the photos and unapologetic purple prose. But, best of all, check out the video. Sorry, sorry, "film."

We've transcribed it in full, and darling, I do say it's a tour de force. My goodness. It's as if the words were diamonds carefully inlaid into sentences.

Dylan Thomas wrote, "You wouldn't think such a place as San Francisco could exist. The wonderful sunlight here, the great bridges, the Pacific at your shoes." Nowhere is this more true than Pacific Heights.

It is the kind of inimitable place that invites you to stay for generations because it would be impossible to do better. In the years after 1906 many of San Francisco's wealthiest residents ascended the pinnacles of Pacific Heights, transforming it into one of the finest geographic pedigrees imaginable.

Today, the median price for a single family home exceeds 10.25 million dollars, which would make Pacific Heights the most expensive place to live in the U.S., if it had its own zip code. And 2121 Webster, The Pacific will sit at the center of this coveted enclave.

As the city expands, awash in a tech fueled, gold rush gigantic residential towers packed with platinum level comforts are popping up like wildflowers, compressing as much luxury as possible into the smallest living spaces imaginable

The Pacific, however offers a dramatic departure. There is nothing else like it in San Francisco. In London, or Paris, perhaps — there you may find buildings of this level of quality and grandeur on the most desirable blocks polished like architectural gems.

Here it is a rare exception, bucking the trend to tear down the old structure and maximize the number of units. Instead, the Pacific is designed with a single constraint: To create 76 impeccable jewel box residences, each beginning with unobstructed floor plates, generous square footage, soaring ceiling heights, and oversized windows. Or, as they say in the design world, good bones.

Throughout, the interiors are appointed with the world's finest finishes, selected to rival the quality of those found in neighboring Gold Coast mansions. Although each residence creates an eloquent statement on its own, it is the array of luxurious private services and amenities that makes The Pacific extraordinary. A private valeted garage. A grand lobby with concierge services. A fully appointed guest suite. A yoga garden and fitness studio. And a penthouse level observatory lounge with unparalleled views; views so spectacular it feels as if San Francisco is unfolding in front of your eyes; views of clouds, dancing like a private ballet in the sky.

It may not make sense to focus on quality rather than quantity, or to forego efficiencies of scale to incorporate every high rise luxury into a boutique collection of 76 jewelbox residences. But we've done just that. why? Because real beauty, the lasting kind, defies expectations, setting The Pacific in a class of its own.

I want to luxuriate in this copy. I want to bathe in it. I would be honored to drown in it.

Related: Peek Inside The Luxury Condos Going Into Former Church Across From Dolores Park

San Francisco's hippy-dippy embrace of holistic healing, plus everyone's constant need to get naked all the time, make this city a particularly great place to unwind with a spa treatment or just soak in some city views while you unwind in a tub. Options range from the communal and traditional to the new-agey and intimate, meaning there's something for every price range and comfort level. (But if you're looking for the sort of bathhouses that make cameos in Looking, well, those are reserved for another listicle.) Here now, are our favorites:

Spa Vitale
The spa at the Hotel Vitale is tucked away on an upper floor with its own, bamboo-enclosed outdoor patio with deep soaking tubs. The massage therapists all have top-notch training (read their bios here), but if you don't even want to spring for a full treatment, you can just spend $60 to have a bath personally drawn for you to soak in for 25 minutes on the patio, and then go downstairs and treat yourself to a Manhattan at Americano. —Jay Barmann
Hotel Vitale, 8 Mission Street at the Embarcadero

Bliss at the W
Bliss is an enormous national brand at this point, skin care products and all, but their location at the W is still one of the better spas in town. You'll get good deep-tissue massages from trained professionals, a rubberized floor so you feel like you're floating a little bit, an R&B soundtrack in the main areas, and a clean and relaxing locker room area with steam sauna to relax in afterwards. They also have stations where you can watch a movie while you get a manicure, and, yeah, there's a brownie bar, so it's not about health here so much as pampering. —Jay Barmann
Bliss Spa, 181 Third Street, 4th Floor. 415-817-4100

Photo courtesy Kabuki Springs and Spa

Kabuki Springs and Spa
Sure, they have spa treatments galore, but the real reason to hit the Kabuki are their communal baths. You know that scene in Eastern Promises? You could totally imagine that at the Kabuki. You're not allowed to talk (someone bangs a gong at you if you do, no joke), and it's a nude scene, so creepers get the boot. Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday is for the ladies, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday is for the gentlemen, and Tuesday is co-ed (bathing suits required). You can hang out in there for the entire day, snarfing up all the bath products and tea you can handle, for $25. — Eve Batey
1750 Geary Boulevard at Fillmore

Photo of Hand Job: Hand Job proprietor bao n./Yelp

Hand Job Salon and Spa
Yeah, the name is a little hard to take (don't even bother googling them, geez), but the quality of service you get will distract you from their moniker. Flop on their couch and get a manicure and/or pedicure while you're plied with free champagne (the discriminating palates at Yelp say it's Cook's, but, hey, it's on the house), no stiff chairs or awkward manicure tables here. Unlike some places, they're just as ready to serve men as they are women, they don't balk at cutting women's nails very short, and they won't let you leave until your polish is completely dry (no flimsy flip flops or weird purse maneuvers here). My (male and female) friends with the coolest eyebrows get theirs done at Hand Job, where, if you're lucky, actress and comedienne Tuesday Thomas will dish the dirt on her latest adventures as she shapes yours to perfection. — Eve Batey
565 Castro between 18th and 19th Streets

Burke Williams
Did someone order a steaming pile of LUXURY? Take a whiff. That's that nasty stank of pure fucking relaxation. The Burke Williams Spa (located inside the Westfield Mall, if you can imagine) experience will extract the unruly brats, subpar maids, and couldn't-catch-an-Uber-towncar-to-save-your-life pandemonium clogging your pores. It's the perfect place to go if you're rich and are under the impression that you actually have problems and/or real stress. Also of note? They've got a fireplace. So that's nice. —Brock Keeling
845 Market (at the Westfield Mall), level 5; 415-694-7980

Dude. Whoa.

Nob Hill Spa at the Huntington Hotel
O-p-u-l-e-n-c-e...opulence. You. Own. Everything. Everything is yours. And here at the Huntington Hotel Nob Hill Spa you can feel that way for a day. Yes, the joint comes replete with all the amenities one would expect from a spa (massages, a workout room, pedicures, infinity pool, water with slices of fruit shoved in it, rich bitches in fluffy white robes), but it also boasts one of the best views in the entire city. Seriously, it's nuts. And if you haven't been to the Huntington Hotel's Nob HIll Spa yet, there might be something seriously wrong with you, you sick freak. For immediate help, call 415-345-2888. —Brock Keeling
1075 California (at Jones), 415-345-2888

(Photo credit: David Wakley Photography via SenSpa)

SenSpa
Hidden in plain sight on the eastern edge of the Presidio, SenSpa's converted warehouse shelters a lush, indoor oasis. On the menu you'll find the usual spa treatments like Thai, Shiatsu and deep-tissue massages, mud baths and acupuncture treatments, as well as acupuncture, rolfing and naturopathic medicine. In between sessions, you can lounge about in the tea garden, drift to sleep by the fireplace, or just open up in the eucalyptus steam room. For maximum bliss, book a couples package. —Andrew Dalton
1161 Gorgas Avenue (Near Richardson Ave in the Presidio)

(Photo: Archimedes Banya)

Archimedes Banya
On the fine line between kitsch and tradition sits Archimedes Banya, wrapped in a towel. Steam yourself in the two traditional Russian saunas, relax with a drink in the soaking pools and finish off with a Platza massage and a cold water plunge. If the humidity gets to be too much, step outside to the roof deck with views of the San Francisco Bay or relax with a beer on the bar mezzanine. Although the facilities are co-ed and clothing-optional in some spaces, the banya maintains a "nude is not lewd" policy. —Andrew Dalton
748 Innes Ave (Near Arelious Walker in Hunters Point)

No longer just for Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle, here are a few affordable (and not-so-affordable) ways in San Francisco you can treat yourself. From spas to juicing to a day in the park, we have you covered. Why? Because you deserve it.

THE FAIRMONT HOTEL PENTHOUSE SUITE
Want to vacation like a Kennedy without ever leaving town? Or maybe you're a king of tech looking to spend some IPO money living like Prince Charles for a weekend. The Penthouse Suite at the Fairmont Hotel has hosted English and American nobility alike and can be yours for a mere $15,000 per night. That price tag gets you 6,000 square feet of prime Nob Hill living space, including a terrace overlooking the bay, a formal dining room, a beautifully tiled billiard room and a spectacular library full of books you probably shouldn't bring into the lavish master bath. Use all that square footage to entertain up to 100 of your fanciest friends, or just use the three bedrooms for a couple of your closest.
Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason Street (at California), 415-772-5000

IMPERIAL SPA
Just down the street from Kabuki, this Korean-style bathhouse is a more stripped-down affair and is especially famous for its vigorous body scrub. If you've got sore muscles or just need a soak, we recommend paying the day rate to use the steam room, red clay sauna, and Jacuzzis. Don't miss the Jade Fomentation Room and Yellow Clay Fomentation room, which are as mysterious as they are weirdly relaxing.
1875 Geary Boulevard (at Steiner), 415-771-1114

EROS
Get a massage. And then get off. Just trust us. (For gay/bisexual men.)
2051 Market (at Church), 415-255-4921

IN-SYMMETRY ACUPUNCTURE FACIAL
Located at 18th and Florida Street, smack dab in the in the questionably defined Mission Creek neighborhood, this spa treatment oasis isn't like stuffy Union Square spas. In addition to offering comparatively affordable self-care options, In-Symmetry ("the Trader Joe’s of massage and facials") offers a seemingly magical acupuncture-facial treatment. First, you visit their acupuncturist, who pricks you with blessed needles (almost like cat whiskers) for an hour. Then you head over to the aesthetician for a deep facial. Both work together to create a more beautiful you—inside and out .
650D Florida Street (at 18th Street), 415-875-9020

EARTHBODY DAY SPA
If you've ever done an idle Yelp search, you'll notice that this spot has done the impossible: weather hundreds of reviews and maintain a five-star rating. That's because Earthbody is the ultimate treat-yo'self destination, from the array of therapeutic oils they let you pick from to the little plate of fruit and nuts they give you post-massage. Earthbody nails the ultra holistic vibe while staying clean and professional, and it's a go-to for a relaxing and centering massage.
534 Laguna Street (at Linden), 415-552-7200

SIDEWALK JUICE
Yes, everyone is sick of everyone else's juice cleanse. But shouldn't have to be on a juice cleanse to enjoy a delicious and healthy fresh squeezed juice. It may seem crazy to spend money on a daily juice, but it's a perfect way to treat yourself once in a while. Sidewalk Juice has lots of unique and juiceful combinations, but any other juice shop in town (Sow, Juice Shop, Frapez) will hit the spot in a pinch.
3287 21st Street (at Valencia), 415-932-6221

Picnic in Presidio Park.

PICNIC AT THE PRESIDIO
Unlike your regular picnics, which usually include lugging armfuls of blankets, grocery bags of food and unwieldy lawn games, the Picnic at the Presidio has all that stuff covered for you. Blankets are available for rent and bocce sets are on loan to save you the hassle. And with Off the Grid's roundup of food trucks, local restaurants and farmers market vendors, you won't have to settle for scraping Trader Joe's chèvre on a baguette. Since you're on federal land, open container laws don't apply and there's a bar serving mason jars of Bloody Marys or buckets of Corona so parents can get quietly drunk while their kids frolic. (And of course, BYO is always an option.) Best of all: you're right next to the Walt Disney Family museum, which has the best parkside bathroom facilities we have ever had the pleasure of stumbling into.
11 a.m. - 4 p.m every Sunday in May through October. Main Post Lawn, The Presidio; 415-339-5888

KABUKI SPRINGS & SPA
Tucked away on a non-foot-trafficked stretch of Geary near the Fillmore Street underpass is this windowless Zen retreat. Massages, either shiatsu or Swedish, are somewhat reasonably priced ($65 for 25 minutes, $85 for 50 minutes, $120 for 80 minutes, with slightly higher rates on weekends), and they also offer facials and acupuncture. Or you can just spend $25 to hang out as long as you like in the communal baths. It's nude and men-only on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, and women-only on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, with Tuesday being the co-ed, bathing-suit-required day. (On weekends and some evenings, in the interest of crowd control, you can expect to wait a half hour or more to get in.) We've spent many a rainy or foggy afternoon, unaware of what time it was, wandering from shower to steam to sauna to hot soak to cool dip and back again. And there's unlimited cucumber-flavored water and coarse salt for rubbing on your calloused feet. Basically, it's the cheapest spa day you can have in town, besides the nearby, smaller Imperial Spa.
1750 Geary Boulevard (at Fillmore), 415-922-6000

MARTINIS AT BIX
This supper club hidden on an alley in the Financial District, once the longtime home of a gay bar called Gold Street, is the perfect place to treat yourself if you're feeling blue. It's a place to indulge in classics, like a Perfect Manhattan ($12) or a dry martini, and to order up some potato pillows with caviar and creme fraiche ($15) or steak tartare prepared in front of you ($15). An hour at the bar here and you'll feel like you've stepped back in time, and escaped the tedium of craft cocktails and the bustle of downtown for just long enough to breathe.
56 Gold Street (at Montgomery), 415-433-6300

Jay Barmann, Andrew Dalton, Rose Garrett and Brock Keeling contributed to this article.

It seems real estate construction types are finally -- finally! -- realizing in 2009 that no one can afford their mindnumbingly thoughtless, albeit impressive and mildly erotic, InfinityBeaconOneRinconBLŪ luxury towers. San Francisco Business Times has more, but here's a frank, death-of-fun quote from one of those coalition, do-gooder types. AHem:

"The frills are coming out," said Tim Colen, executive director of the Housing Action Coalition, who advocates for housing in the city. "No concierge, no fitness room, and much smaller units. These are the coping mechanisms for the new era we’re in."

Alas.

goes on to say, now that the condo housing market has slowed down to a dead man's crawl, developers in San Francisco must focus on three things: "rental housing, cheaper midrise construction and innovative, new financing."