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Football stars, real estate shine bright in Bay Area’s Morgan Hill ahead of NFC Championship
San Francisco 49ers players find safe haven, flexibility in town
In a small Bay Area town, football and real estate are both having their moments.
With a population of around 45,000, Morgan Hill has become an unofficial hometown for numerous 49ers players, including stars Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams, SFGate reported.
The 49ers are scheduled to play the Detroit Lions Sunday in the NFC Championship, with a ticket to the Super Bowl on the line.
Amid the buzz about the big game, the allure of the Bay Area suburb lies in its tranquil ambiance as well as its trendy real estate market, which is characterized by a blend of rural charm, proximity to urban conveniences and ability to offload their purchases quickly.
“From what I see, [NFL players] like the laid-back part of town. It’s like what Palo Alto or Menlo Park used to be like,” Gregg Winovich, a fourth-generation rancher, told the outlet. “They can go places without getting molested.”
Indeed, Morgan Hill’s allure for professional athletes extends beyond its picturesque hills and pastoral landscape.
The town offers a balance of privacy and accessibility, with San Jose just a short drive away. For athletes like Trey Lance, who celebrated the purchase of his Morgan Hill mansion in 2022, the town’s real estate market offers affordability and agility.
“These guys are transient,” local real estate agent Chuck Vargas, told the outlet. “Especially the newer guys. They go to another team. Trey had to move quickly and his house sold in three or four days. He can get up and move.”
The town’s downtown area, revitalized over the past decade, buzzes with activity, offering a mix of dining, entertainment, and lifestyle amenities.
Big-time football and real estate intersect frequently.
Last week, University of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and his wife, Loreal, put their Austin mansion on the market, asking $5.8 million.
The home at 3300 Park Hills Drive has six bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms on just under half an acre. Their ask for the 5,300-square-foot home approaches $1,100 per square foot.
— Ted Glanzer