The Passing of an Era in San Francisco Real Estate

Olive Fox, owner of Fox and Fox Properties, passed away recently, ending an era in San Francisco real estate. Olive, along with Miriam Smith, Anne Rosenberg, Helen Dawson and others, was a pioneer in San Francisco residential real estate. By making a career selling homes west of Twin Peaks, these women became a dominant factor in residential real estate. Signs of this can be seen everywhere.

Prior to the entry of women into residential real estate, the industry was primarily male dominated. Real estate became an exception when women found that they could compete effectively in this marketplace. They learned that they could secure listings based on their understanding of the desires and needs of a household. However, securing business and operating a real estate office were two different barriers for women to overcome. People had difficulties accepting women working in management. This was evident in real estate offices that were founded by women. Were men and women capable of working under a woman’s direction? Although that question may seem laughable today, thirty to fifty years ago it was of great concern.

In the early 1970’s, Olive Fox, along with her husband, opened one of the first Century 21 offices in San Francisco. Formerly located at an existing Starbuck’s Coffee at the corner of Vicente and West Portal, this office quickly grew to be one of the largest real estate offices in the city. During the 1960’s and 1970’s, before Olive Fox’s contributions to San Francisco real estate, Anne Rosenberg dominated the real estate market west of Twin Peaks. Another pioneer, Helen Dawson, of Dawson and Dolan, sold homes into her eighties.

These women paved the way for successful female real estate agents in both residential and commercial real estate. They helped open doors to accept women into the real estate market. Today, Stella Wong Florez of Starboard TCN Worldwide is the only female owner of a commercial real estate leasing and sales firm in the United States. Through her efforts, Starboard has hired more women agents than any other firm in the city. Olive Fox is missed, but the changes she brought about are manifested in every female real estate agent.