September 2025: San Francisco Real Estate Insider

We are now in what should be the busiest real estate season of the year. As I look back at August, generally a fairly slow month in terms of activity, the market was in full swing as buyers were very active and many sellers jumped the post-Labor Day market to try to find a buyer. The impact of the brisk August activity has put numerous buyers on notice for what to expect this fall- competition. Of course not all new listings are competitive, but the B-level and above properties should be competitive from a buyers perspective. But over-priced properties, properties with issues, and poorly marketed properties are expected to lag behind.

What is prompting the resurgence in the market and in essence San Francisco; particularly downtown and the FiDi? I don’t think I can pinpoint any single item or issue, but you can go back to the point that Blackstone announced that it was investing in San Francisco. When a company of that magnitude invests, money and people follow. After that, momentum started to gain velocity and here we are today. The AI impact is also directly related.

With the anticipated reduction in interest rates adding fuel to the fire for buyers, what neighborhoods should be pursued as well as possibly ignored? Looking at neighborhoods and percent of properties selling over asking, you can expect lower cost neighborhoods to lead the list.

Are you looking at a possible purchase in the Sunset?

Again, looking at neighborhoods and the overbid percent (needed) to acquire a property, again, this slide follows the prior (and the lower cost narrative).

Looking at the luxury market and where those homes are sold, it’s no mystery that the majority of those homes are on the north side. But the second place “mover” is the dramatic uptick in prices in Noe/Cole Valley (generally D1 - the Richmond takes second place).

As for the luxury condo market, the same holds true for the top neighborhood (as single family homes) but it’s a dramatic shift to second place.

That is it for now. Have a great weekend. If you are thinking of a move, let’s put a plan in place to make the most of your asset. Likewise, if you have friends or colleagues looking to get into the market, feel free to pass my name along. 

Call or email, anytime.