San Francisco Housing Market: Trends & Prices (2025)
San Francisco Real Estate Market Overview
(Last Updated – 04/2025)
The City by the Bay is an alluring town known for its amazing food, gorgeous architecture, and beloved sports teams. Not to mention, those stunning bay views.
This city may have a lot of cool, gloomy days, but the San Francisco housing market is very hot, even as the city’s cost of living is 66.8% above the national average.
The San Francisco median sale price rose 1.7% year over year as of February 2025, indicating this city has a hot housing market. For an average family of four, some experts estimate that they would need to earn as much as $339,123 annually to live in San Francisco comfortably.
While living in San Francisco is expensive, the city has a lot to offer that might make the cost worth it. Alongside amazing career opportunities in the tech world and other major industries, there is plenty of art, music, food, and fashion to enjoy in this somewhat small but very metropolitan city.
San Francisco is beloved for its diversity, so if you do look into buying there, make sure to take advantage of all of the city’s quirks.
Recommended: Cost of Living by State (2025)
Overall San Francisco Market Trends
As local trends go, the real estate experts at Redfin consider the San Francisco housing market to be very competitive.
Homes for sale in this area generally receive multiple offers, sell for 5% above asking price, and go pending in around 21 days.
$1,392,750
Median Sale Price
$951
Median Price Per Square Ft.
19 days
Median Days on Market
San Francisco Housing Market Forecast
What are experts forecasting for the San Francisco housing market in the coming year?
Housing prices dipped recently but are currently rising again. San Francisco’s housing inventory is on the low side, and its total supply is not keeping up with demand. Despite the high cost of living, it still attracts many people interested in buying homes there. Many properties (49%) sell for over list price. However, the number of homes with price drops has risen 2.8% in the past year as of early 2025. This could mean that buyers who are interested in moving to San Francisco, and can afford it, might have a bit of an easier time finding their dream home.
Demographics of the San Francisco Market
While San Francisco is a relatively compact city, its many neighborhoods offer up completely different vibes. From residential to coastal to retro, there’s likely a neighborhood for everybody.
In addition, it’s home to some well-known and successful tech-driven companies, such as Uber, Instacart, Atlassian, Snap, Dropbox, and Salesforce. This can make for a robust job market and may help explain why the median income is so much higher than the national average.
Overall, let’s look at the demographics of the San Francisco real estate market that may affect you, no matter where you decide to live.
Median Household Income: $126,730
Median Age: 40.7
College Educated: 60.4%
Homeowners: 38.5%
Married: 42%
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Popular San Francisco Neighborhoods
While the actual number of neighborhoods is heavily debated by San Francisco residents, there are about 20 popular neighborhoods to choose from.
Each neighborhood has something special to offer, so it will be challenging to narrow your choices. To help, we rounded up some fast facts about five of the most popular neighborhoods in San Francisco to consider if you’re contemplating a purchase and taking out a home loan.
Buena Vista
If you’ve always dreamed of having your own room with a view, then you’re in luck. The Buena Vista neighborhood is perched on one of San Francisco’s notoriously steep hills, providing residents with great views.
This neighborhood provides a safe haven from the hectic city, as it is low on commercial street traffic and high on greenery.
Quick Facts
Population:
39,496
Median Age:
34.5
Housing Units:
19,773
Bike Score:
72/100
Walk Score:
93/100
Transit Score:
80/100
Median Household Income:
$242,062
Buena Vista Housing Market
The housing market in Buena Vista has been on a bit of a rollercoaster lately, with prices dropping 36%, so there may be bargains out there. Nevertheless, the neighborhood is still considered quite competitive. Homes that are listed receive multiple offers and sell for about 6% above the listing price.
As of early 2025, Buena Vista houses on the market go pending in 19 days.
Median Sale Price
$950,000
Median Price Per Square Ft.
$1,070
Outer Sunset
Outer Sunset is another San Francisco neighborhood that offers a tranquil feel.
This almost suburban neighborhood is right next to the Pacific Ocean, which means there is a lot of outdoor fun to be had — especially if you love to surf. Residents also say they appreciate the parks; the array of bars, restaurants, and cafes; and the solid school system.
Quick Facts
Population:
59,453
Median Age:
40.8
Housing Units:
24,030
Bike Score:
77/100
Walk Score:
83/100
Transit Score:
57/100
Median Household Income:
$179,517
Outer Sunset Housing Market
If you are drawn to Outer Sunset, you are not alone. According to Redfin, Outer Sunset is among the most competitive housing markets out there. Home prices are up 7.7%, and the time in which a home sells has dropped from 45 days to 16 days as of 2025.
Median Sale Price
$1,555,000
Median Price Per Square Ft.
$1,090
South of Market
San Francisco’s South of Market District, commonly called SoMa by locals, has become the home of many tech startups in recent years.
This neighborhood has something for everyone, from Michelin star restaurants to a trusty Trader Joe’s. It is also near other popular neighborhoods like the Design District, which expands your options for food, entertainment, and shopping.
Quick Facts
Population:
20,293
Median Age:
36
Housing Units:
12,581
Bike Score:
94/100
Walk Score:
97/100
Transit Score:
99/100
Median Household Income:
$171,338
South of Market Housing Market
This housing market is deemed somewhat competitive. For buyers, that can be good news. What’s more, the area has a lower median sale price than the other popular San Francisco neighborhoods highlighted here. It is also significantly below the median sale price for San Francisco overall.
South of Market home values were down 12.2% in early 2025 compared to last year, and homes typically sell for 3% below list price.
Median Sale Price
$900,000
Median Price Per Square Ft.
$864
Pacific Heights
Some refer to Pacific Heights as the quintessential San Francisco neighborhood. Many grand Victorian homes grace Pacific Heights, and the neighborhood offers great views of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Residents say it’s safe, has a few great parks, and street parking isn’t as difficult as elsewhere in the city.
Quick Facts
Population:
21,217
Median Age:
37.4
Housing Units:
13,205
Bike Score:
66/100
Walk Score:
97/100
Transit Score:
80/100
Median Household Income:
$149,927
Pacific Heights Housing Market
While still pricey, Pacific Heights has seen home prices drop a significant 40.6% year over year as of early 2025, and properties typically sell for 1% below their asking price. However, the market is still considered very competitive. The time for houses on the market to get snapped up and deemed “sold” was 40 days vs. 62 days the prior year.
Median Home Price
$1,720,000
Median Price Per Square Ft.
$1,200
Haight-Ashbury
The name Haight-Ashbury might ring a bell: It was the epicenter of the 1960s counterculture movement.
While many people like what they describe as the “funky” and “bohemian” vibe, others point out the number of tourists in the neighborhood, plus some of the same issues (panhandling) you’ll find elsewhere in the city.
Quick Facts
Population:
39,496
Median Age:
34.5
Housing Units:
19,773
Bike Score:
82/100
Walk Score:
97/100
Transit Score:
73/100
Median Household Income:
$242,062
Haight-Ashbury Housing Market
This neighborhood in San Francisco has seen a steep price drop of almost 30% year over year as of February 2025. Nevertheless, if you want to buy a home in Haight-Ashbury, get ready to compete. It’s still a challenging market. Inventory is low, and homes typically sell for 3% above list price and go to pending status in 36 days.
Highly desirable homes can sell for as much as 19% above list price.
Median Sale Price
$897,500
Median Price Per Square Ft.
$1,200
SoFi Home Loans
It’s easy to see why San Francisco has become such a popular market to buy a home in. There are some really amazing neighborhoods to choose from whether you’re young and single or have a family to look after.
If you think San Francisco could be your home sweet home, then you may need to consider your mortgage financing options.
Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% - 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It's online, with access to one-on-one help.
FAQ
Are home prices dropping in San Francisco?
As of early 2025, prices have been dropping in San Francisco, as they have in several major U.S. cities. Home prices tumbled by almost 11% year over year to $889,500. In the U.S. as a whole, the median home price in December 2024, stood at $402,502, down from $410,000 in 2023.
Should I buy a house now or wait to see if prices drop?
Deciding when to buy a house is a very personal decision. It depends on your own financial situation, your personal needs, and your risk tolerance. For example, if you are relocating for work and rental options are scarce or pricey, you may want to dive into the market now. It’s also worth noting that if the economy declines, it can make jobs unstable and credit harder to come by, so it’s wise to factor that in, too.
What is the San Francisco housing market forecast this year?
As in most markets, people are bracing to see how the economy pans out. At the start of the year, the forecast was that interest rates and the market were holding steady; rates, for instance, had risen from lows of about 3.15% in early 2021 to 7.00% in 2023, and haven’t dropped. That said, if the economy declines, these indicators are in play, and the market could soften.
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