Long ago Noe Valley's fertile land was covered with cattle and sheep. Now the real estate here enjoys some of the fastest appreciation in San Francisco. This neighborhood is a hit with families and young couples who stroll down busy 24th Street or amble about the outer Church area. There's good access to the freeway and light rail, warm weather, nice views, and great shopping. Noe Valley is best known for its grand turn-of-the-century single-family homes. Its true housing stock is quite eclectic but always charming. Examples are tiny garden apartments on alley streets like Elizabeth and Vicksburg, Edwardian flats on Sanchez or Church Street, peaked-roof hillside cottages above Diamond, and contemporary view homes that sit where Castro Street dead ends in the neighborhood's southwest corner.