San Francisco Stats for Buyers, Sellers, and Investors
- The median sale price of a home in San Francisco was $1.5 million in October 2025.
- The median sale price has increased by only 8% since July 2018.
- The multifamily market added 9,272 new units in the first half of 2025.
- The city had a median sale-to-list ratio of 1.014 in September 2025.
- Dolores Heights saw a median price change of +3.0% in Q3.
- The metro area had 1.37 months of inventory in October 2025.
- The number of houses on the market on November 1 was a third less than a year prior.
- October 2025’s sales jumped 28% year over year.
- There are 1,312 active homes for sale in the city.
A Decrease in Prices
Even in a city as famously expensive as San Francisco, prices can and do dip. In October 2025, the numbers were actually down 4.5% year over year, landing at a median of $1.5 million. The typical property got about four offers and went into contract in 19 days.
Zooming out, we see a mix of loyalty and curiosity. Around 3% of buyers who purchased in the city started their search from out-of-area metros. Meanwhile, 76% of people looking in San Francisco wanted to stay local.
Put all of that together, and the housing landscape is somewhat competitive.
Looking Back to 2018
San Francisco is in a spot that resembles July 2018. It was the last time the market was described as “normal” before the pandemic and interest-rate storms changed everything. What is surprising is how different it is from the rest of the country.
Since 2018, the national median home price has shot up 56%. In San Francisco, it is just 8%. Local incomes climbed almost 7.7% annually, nearly double the national growth rate of 3.9%. Still, affordability remains a huge hurdle.
Opportunities in the Apartment Market
While single-family properties receive the most attention, the multifamily scene in the baya reaa has its own momentum. In the first half of 2025, it added 9,272 new units, a 34% jump compared to the same period in 2024. Moreover, vacancy fell to 3.5%, the lowest point since 2022.
The apartment market across the region continues to blend quality-of-life perks with solid financial performance. High wages and an endless talent pool keep rental demand humming, and the area’s tight housing supply only strengthens. Development is expensive and slow, and you end up with conditions that make long-term asset performance appealing.
Selling More Than the List Price
One of the more fascinating quirks of San Francisco real estate is how often houses sell above their list prices even in years where numbers are softening. In September 2025, the median sale-to-list price ratio was 1.014. Around 54.8% of all sales closed above the list price, while roughly 36.5% sold below the list price. For buyers, there is an absolute need to prepare for bidding pressure.
Neighborhood Trends
The San Francisco real estate market trends vary significantly from one neighborhood to another. Take Dolores Heights, for example. In Q3 2025, it showed robust buyer demand, boasting a quarter-over-quarter median price change of +3.0%. Renovated homes were in the spotlight.
Noe Valley was not far behind with a +2.8% median price change. Over in the Castro-Eureka Valley-Duboce Triangle area, prices climbed +2.4%, while Bernal Heights and Glen Park posted +2.6%. Single-family properties, Victorians, and nicely updated condos were the quickest to go.
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A Tight Supply
The San Francisco metro area has 1.37 months of supply. Absorbed homes carry a median listing price of $1,284,888, spending a median of 42 days on the market. The average stretches to 81 days, however. That gap usually means that some houses fly off the shelves, while others linger based on price, condition, or location. Either way, for such a high-cost region, the pace is surprisingly brisk.
More About the Dwindling Inventory
The inventory situation gets even more intriguing and dramatic. On November 1, the number of active properties was down by a third compared to last year. Keep in mind that last year was already a thin market because homeowners were reluctant to give up their low mortgage rates.
Three-quarters of all single-family home sales and nearly half of condo sales in October went above list price. Overall, 61% of all houses sold above asking, the highest rate in the Oakland and SF Bay Area estate market stats.
A Rapid Acceleration
The number of closed sales also increased by 28% year-over-year, marking the busiest month since spring 2022. Luxury homes, in particular, had their strongest sales performance in four years. Every metric points toward buyers coming back in force and competing over a shrinking pool of listings.
A big reason behind this momentum is the surge in A.I.-driven job growth in the region, fueling a fresh wave of buyers.
Rising Active Listings
It is worth mentioning that there are currently around 1,312 active properties for sale in San Francisco. People are drawn here for good reasons, such as top-tier schools, established neighborhoods, cultural layers, and the kind of job access that is almost impossible to match elsewhere.
Some of the most sought-after areas include South Beach, Pacific Heights, the Mission District, Outer Sunset, and Lower Pacific Heights. Buyers with specific preferences are also drilling down to hot zip codes, such as 94109 and 94115, or splitting their searches between condos, townhomes, and single-family homes, depending on their budgets and lifestyles.
Final Thoughts
If you are trying to buy in San Francisco, getting pre-underwritten makes a huge difference. Explore houses that have been on the market longer than average to avoid being just one of the many offers. Keep an eye out for late-Q4 price improvements as well. Some sellers prefer to wrap things up before year’s end and get more flexible.
The fundamentals still matter more than anything for sellers. Properties priced correctly, prepped well, and presented beautifully are the ones that earn those over-ask outcomes. Buyers are more selective right now, so exert extra effort to stand out.
For investors, the city is really going through an interesting moment. Castro Valley rental demand is strong, vacancy rates are low, and the long-term scarcity of supply continues to prop up rents and asset performance.
Ultimately, San Francisco real estate statistics show a market that behaves differently from national trends and in ways that benefit long-term holders. The wisest thing you can do is use them to guide your decisions to sell my house fast Bay Area.
