San Francisco, CA Housing Market

Hot Market

Metro-level monthly sale metrics for rental investors — prices, inventory, pace, and negotiation signals. Figures represent the San Francisco, CA metro area.

Data period: May 2026

Market snapshot

Median sale price
$1.79M
Median days on market
15 days
Months of supply
1.6
Active inventory
1,710
Homes sold
1,044
Sale-to-list ratio
109.1%
Listings with price drop
19.8%
Data month
May 2026

Pair this view with the rental property calculator, DSCR calculator, and cap rate calculator — or browse all calculators.

Rental Investor Snapshot

Labels below come from monthly sale-market indicators only. True cash flow requires local rent, taxes, insurance, vacancy, and expense assumptions — model those in the rental calculator, then sanity-check against sale-speed signals here.

Market temperature
Competitive
Buyer leverage
Medium
Pricing signal vs. U.S. median
Harder buy-in vs. U.S. median (price only)
Investor fit (heuristic)
Appreciation · Negotiation

Watch-outs

  • High median sale prices raise buy-in and tighten margin for error.
  • Low inventory with tight supply often means more competition on offers.
  • Fast markets reward speed; avoid waiving contingencies without a plan.

Suggested next step: Run a rental property analysis with your own rent, financing, vacancy, and expense assumptions — then sanity-check against this market's sale-speed and negotiation signals.

Hot Market

Homes are selling quickly with strong competition among buyers.

San Francisco, CA market summary

The San Francisco, CA metro area housing market is heating up. As of May 2026, the median home sale price is $1.79M, up 11.9% year-over-year. Homes are spending a median of 15 days on the market, 0.0% shorter than a year ago.

There are 1,710 homes for sale — 26.0% fewer than last year. With 1.6 months of supply, this is a seller's market. 1,257 new listings were added during this period, down 7.2% year-over-year.

Homes are selling for 109.1% of their list price on average, indicating buyers are paying above asking. 66.6% of homes sell above their asking price. 19.8% of listings have had a price drop.

Market Opportunity Score

Based on current market conditions

34

Contributing Factors

Months of Supply 1.6
Days on Market 15
Price Drops 19.8%
Sale-to-List Ratio 109.1%
Market Temperature Hot

How This Market Compares

vs. National Median

Median Price (National: $450K) 298.1%
Days on Market (National: 42) 64.3%
Inventory (National: 1,460,440) 99.9%

vs. California Median

Median Price (California: $887K) 101.8%
Days on Market (California: 33) 54.5%

Investor takeaway

This is a highly competitive market. Be prepared to move quickly and potentially offer above asking price. Prices are 298% above the national median. Model rent-to-price and expenses carefully before assuming cash flow.

San Francisco, CA market trends

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Detailed market metrics

Median list price

$1.50M

Price per sq ft

$1112

Sale-to-list ratio

109.1%

Months of supply

1.6

Sold above list

66.6%

Price drops

19.8%

New listings

1,257

7.2% YoY

Pending sales

1,187

Off market in 2 weeks

47.5%

San Francisco, CA housing market FAQs

What is the median home price in San Francisco, CA?

For the latest published month, the median sale price in San Francisco, CA is $1.79M. Median means half of homes sold above that price and half below — it is a useful benchmark, not a rule for every listing.

Is San Francisco, CA a buyer's or seller's market?

With about 1.6 months of supply, conditions often favor sellers (inventory is relatively tight versus sales pace). Buyers may need to move quickly and keep offers competitive.

How long do homes stay on the market in San Francisco, CA?

For the latest published month, the median days on market in San Francisco, CA is 15 days — half of homes went pending faster and half slower.

Is San Francisco, CA good for rental property investors?

Sale-market stats show how competitive buying is (speed, negotiation, inventory). They do not prove rent performance. San Francisco, CA can still work for rentals if the numbers work on a deal-by-deal basis — use local rent comps, financing, vacancy, and expenses in the rental property calculator.

How should investors analyze a rental property in San Francisco, CA?

Start with purchase price, financing, rent, vacancy, operating expenses, and capital repairs. Stress-test rates and rent. Will It Flow’s rental property calculator is built to translate those inputs into cash flow, DSCR, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return for San Francisco, CA deals.

National context

Step up to the U.S. housing market hub for national trends, then browse top metro markets by sales activity.

Underwrite a San Francisco, CA deal with real numbers

Use Will It Flow for cash flow, DSCR, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return — free and fast.

Housing market data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage. Not financial advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making investment decisions.