SAN FRANCISCO MARKET OVERVIEW
San Francisco's residential market surged in Q1 2026, with the citywide median sale price reaching $1,650,000 — a 15.4% year-over-year gain according to the California Association of REALTORS. Renewed buyer confidence, stabilizing mortgage rates, and persistent housing scarcity across the city's most desirable corridors are driving accelerated appreciation after a period of measured growth.
The market's competitive character has returned in earnest. Homes are selling at 102.4% of asking price on average, days on market have compressed to 36 citywide, and inventory remains firmly in seller's-market territory at 2.2 months of supply. These dynamics are especially pronounced in the luxury tier, where well-positioned properties in premium neighborhoods attract multiple offers within days.
From the grand Victorians of Pacific Heights to the oceanfront estates of Sea Cliff, each neighborhood tells its own story. Median prices range from $2.15M in the condominium-heavy Nob Hill corridor to $8.2M along the exclusive bluffs of Sea Cliff, reflecting the extraordinary diversity of San Francisco's luxury landscape.
The Goodrich Group's expansion into San Francisco brings the same data-driven counsel and white-glove service that has defined our reputation in wine country. The following citywide and neighborhood-level data provides a comprehensive view of current conditions across the city's premier residential markets.
$1.65M
Citywide Median
+15.4%
Year-over-Year
36 Days
Median Days on Market
SAN FRANCISCO Q1 2026 STATISTICS
Citywide real estate performance indicators for the San Francisco market
MARKET INSIGHTS
San Francisco's residential market surged in Q1 2026, with the citywide median sale price reaching $1,650,000 — a 15.4% year-over-year gain according to the California Association of REALTORS. The acceleration reflects renewed buyer confidence driven by stabilizing mortgage rates, strong tech-sector employment, and constrained housing supply across the city's most desirable corridors.
Transaction velocity has improved materially, with average days on market compressing to 36 days citywide, down 8.3% from a year ago. The list-to-sale price ratio has climbed above 102%, indicating that competitive multi-offer situations have returned in earnest, particularly in the $1M-$3M segment that forms the core of San Francisco's market.
Inventory remains tight at 2.2 months of supply, firmly in seller's-market territory despite a 12.8% year-over-year increase in active listings to 1,245 homes. New listing volume rose 8.6% to 2,150 units, suggesting that more sellers are taking advantage of favorable pricing, but absorption continues to outpace supply in premium neighborhoods.
Price per square foot advanced 6.2% to $1,085, reinforcing the strength of underlying demand. The luxury tier — particularly single-family homes in Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, and Sea Cliff — has outperformed the broader market, with ultra-premium properties above $5M experiencing accelerated buyer interest from technology executives and venture-backed founders.
MEDIAN SALE PRICE
$1,650,000
↑ 15.4% from Q1 2025
Citywide median sold price per C.A.R. January 2026 report
AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET
36
↓ 8.3% from Q1 2025
Average days from listing to accepted offer
PRICE PER SQ. FT.
$1,085
↑ 6.2% from Q1 2025
Citywide median price per square foot for single-family homes
ACTIVE LISTINGS
1,245
↑ 12.8% from Q1 2025
Single-family homes and condos on the market at quarter's end
HOMES SOLD
1,680
↑ 3.5% from Q1 2025
Closed residential transactions in Q1 2026
LIST-TO-SALE PRICE RATIO
102.4%
↑ 1.2% from Q1 2025
Average sale price as a percentage of list price — above 100% indicates competitive bidding
NEW LISTINGS
2,150
↑ 8.6% from Q1 2025
New listings added during the quarter
MONTHS OF INVENTORY
2.2
↑ 10.0% from Q1 2025
Active inventory divided by monthly closed sales — below 3 signals a seller's market
Citywide median anchored to C.A.R. January 2026 data ($1,653,320, +15.4% YoY). Supporting metrics estimated from MLS summaries and broker reports. Data should be interpreted as directional for the luxury segment.
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Q1 2026
Market Trends & Outlook
01
Luxury Firing on All Cylinders
San Francisco's luxury segment is firing on all cylinders in early 2026. Across the six premier neighborhoods tracked here, median prices range from $2.15M in condominium-heavy Nob Hill to $8.2M along the exclusive oceanfront bluffs of Sea Cliff, with most neighborhoods posting low-to-mid single-digit appreciation year-over-year. The notable exception is Sea Cliff, where the ultra-luxury tier has softened modestly as extended marketing periods for properties above $10M temper the overall median.
02
Supply Structurally Constrained
Inventory remains structurally constrained in the city's premier corridors. The combined active listings across these six neighborhoods total approximately 225 homes — with Sea Cliff (8 active) and Presidio Heights (22 active) experiencing the tightest supply. Marina District leads absorption velocity at just 28 days on market, reflecting intense competition from young professionals and growing families drawn to the neighborhood's waterfront lifestyle.
03
Competitive Bidding Returns
The return of competitive bidding has been a defining theme of Q1 2026. Citywide, homes are selling at 102.4% of asking price on average, but in the most coveted micro-locations — particularly Pacific Heights' Broadway corridor and the Marina's best blocks — premiums of 5-10% above list are common for well-presented properties priced under $5M.
04
Outlook: Sustained Growth
Looking ahead, fundamentals remain supportive. San Francisco's unemployment rate sits near historic lows, AI and biotech companies continue to expand their physical footprints in the city, and mortgage rates have stabilized in the mid-6% range. We anticipate sustained price appreciation in the low-to-mid single digits through 2026, with the strongest performance in Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, and the Marina, where demand consistently outstrips new supply.
Analysis reflects The Goodrich Group's assessment based on available market data and professional experience. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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