Find Your Dream Home in San Francisco
Start Your Journey with Kevin + Company
Congratulations—deciding to buy a home in San Francisco is no small feat! You’re about to accomplish something that few can, and that’s worth celebrating. With Kevin + Company at your side, your chances of success just got a whole lot better.
Navigating the San Francisco real estate market can feel overwhelming—but it’s also incredibly rewarding. This is a city that gets under your skin (in the best way), and owning a piece of it connects you to its energy in a whole new way. Our job? To help you make sense of the details, decisions, and opportunities that come with buying here.
Our team brings together the experience of a lawyer, a journalist, a nurse—and a very good guide dog. That combination means sharp instincts, strong advocacy, emotional insight, and grounded support. We geek out over market data and technology, but more importantly, we see the city through your eyes and help you spot the possibilities that matter most to you.
For us, real estate isn’t just about transactions. It’s about elevating your everyday life.
Explore the resources, tips, and testimonials below to get a feel for what working with us is like—and what’s possible when you have the right team behind you.
Ready to begin? Let’s go.
Buying a Home Can Be...
Exciting. Nerve-racking. Daunting. Rewarding. Fulfilling. Anti-climatic. Logical. Dramatic. Life-Changing. Expensive. Prudent. Emotional. Imprudent. The ‘Adult’ Thing to Do. Comforting. Wise. Exhilarating.
ON THE MEDIA
Kevin Writes and Appears on TV About Real Estate
Check out my SF Chronicle columns for expert guidance on what buyers can do to help the process along, plus my TV news interviews where I regularly weigh in on San Francisco’s housing market with insight and clarity.
Time to Get Started.
As we begin the process, here are a couple of items for you to consider.
NEEDS + WANTS
What do you want to buy?
Let’s Start With Your Vision
Here’s your chance to tell me what your next property looks like.
The form below includes both a short version and a long version—whichever fits where you are in the process. It’s a great way to gather your thoughts and help us make the most of our first conversation.
Ready when you are.
A BUYER QUIZ
A Quiz Already?! But I just started!
We have an intro pop quiz for you that will not be graded of course. The quiz is designed to help you understand why values vary so much in San Francisco.
IN JUST A FEW STEPS
How the process will go — an overview
In a nutshell, we’ve listed the buying process in sequential order here.
Big Picture Things.
To buy confidently and assuredly in San Francisco requires a bit of market knowledge of all the nooks and crannies there are here.
WHERE IS THAT?
Where in the 7 x 7?
Because a Lot Can Fit into 49 Square Miles
San Francisco may be compact, but it’s anything but uniform. Within its 49 square miles, you’ll find an incredible range of neighborhood vibes, microclimates, topographies, and architectural styles.
To help make sense of it all, Realtors divided the City into 10 MLS Districts—each encompassing distinct neighborhoods with their own feel and rhythm.
Here’s our point of view on each one: what it feels like to live there, what the homes are like, and what’s actually selling right now. You’ll get a sense of fog patterns, walkability, architecture, and more. Because when it comes to buying in San Francisco, context is everything.
BUYER TESTIMONIALS
Why People Choose Kevin + Company
We could tell you all about what it’s like to work with us—but it’s better if you hear it directly from the people who’ve been in your shoes.
Here’s where our clients share their stories about buying in San Francisco with our help. From first-time buyers to seasoned investors, we’ve had the honor of helping folks make one of the biggest decisions of their lives—and change them for the better.
Real stories. Real results. Real heart.
PROPERTY SEARCH
A Proper Property Search
Better than Zillow-fin. Use our credentials to find property currently on the market all over the Bay Area. Be sure to sign up for an account too.
YOUTUBE VIDEOS
Moving Pictures of Houses, Condos & More
Want to see what a property really looks like on the inside? I’ve got you covered.
If you can’t make it in person, I’ll often go preview a property for you—and instead of just telling you about it, I’ll make a YouTube video so you can see it for yourself.
I’ve made more than 1,000 walk-through videos, with over 1 million hours watched and 4,300+ subscribers. It’s one of the most popular ways my clients get a feel for the market—and see what’s possible.
Take a look. You might just find your next home.
OPEN HOUSES
Where and When
Open houses are the most obvious ways to see properties and they take place on more days than just Sundays. See when below.
What Does the Data Say?
Look Up LIVE MLS Sales Data
Remember that closed home sales data are lagging indicators by at least a month, which is the average time most homes will close in San Francisco
VISUALLY SPEAKING
What if the Buying Journey Were Laid Out in One Place?
Which reminds me… I made a map for that.
Buying a home in San Francisco involves a lot of moving parts—different places, processes, paths, and paperwork. There will be stops both expected and unexpected (yes, even if you’re an all-cash buyer with a short escrow). It’s a lot to keep track of.
But don’t worry.
You’re not just working with a seasoned real estate agent—you’re working with someone who also happens to be a trained reporter who loves graphic design and maps. What you’ll see below is the result of that combination:
a visual guide to the homebuying journey, designed to help you see what’s ahead.
Going to Bat For Our Clients
so they can
Hit it Out of the Park
while also
Covering All the Bases.
Buyer Success in Noe Valley!
One of their many strengths is breaking down the many steps of purchasing a home into simple easy to understand terms. Their advice was always considerate, honest and supportive. We are now in our new home and despite having closed 6 months ago are still fortunate to be able to contact them for follow on assistance and help. They are always just a phone call away and always willing and happy to offer guidance. I hope that if you are reading this that you will strongly consider them as your realtor.
— Ross and Sarah, Noe Valley Buyers/Homeowners, Tech, Finance, Parents
Buyer Success in Bernal!
Step by step they guided us through the process and advised us on how best to proceed. Most of all their encouragement is probably what kept us in the game that otherwise I thought we could not have won. I worked with other agents in the past but Kevin and Jonathan had the knowledge and commitment to get my me and my family into a home when others could not. Thank you guys!
— R+K, Bernal Heights Buyers/Homeowners, Architecture, Education, Parents
BUYER SUCCESS IN DOGPATCH
Buyer Support Over the Long Haul
All good things come to those that wait! While that’s not really my motto, it turned out to be true for the house search and Kevin was there for the long haul. He was recommended by my coworker and I liked him instantly, he is all about the clients and their needs. He is super responsive, techy, great eye for design and has great ideas and network to help with remodeling, design, etc. He was a lawyer in his previous life, so he’s great at reviewing contracts and the legal expertise.
Our search started in 2012 which was an awful year without much on the market, so we go to know Kevin and he got to know us and what we liked and didn't like and what our goals were. The came 2013, with a but more on the market and a crazy competitive market. We put in about 5 offers and were outbid every time so things can get a bit frustrating. Kevin was very encouraging and told us the right place would come along.
He always sent us places he thought would be good, looked at every place we put in offers and gave us his professional opinion. Even talked us out of a few places where he thought we were caving to the pressure of finding a place, not that anything was pushing us to move except our own desire to buy. He really wanted us to buy a place we loved and felt comfortable in financially.
Finally in 2014 there were more places on the market, prices were high and new construction started to come out and we found the one we love. The benefit of new construction is that there is no bidding and so we got the place we wanted even a bit below asking. Kevin was there every step of the way, set us up with a lender, painter, handy man and was there for all the paperwork, and of course getting our keys.
I can’t say enough about how great Kevin was an agent.
— Inga and Oren, Buyers, Dogpatch
H.R. and Tech/App Development
I’m more interested in getting you the right house—not just any house right now.
What’s Important to You?
Buying a home is both straightforward and intricate—a simple idea wrapped in a complex process.
The Simple Part
At its core, you want a place to call your own. A space that reflects you, where you can build equity instead of just paying rent. That part is easy to understand—and exciting.
The Complex Part
But buying in San Francisco? That’s where things get more layered. You’ll likely run into:
Older inventory that may need updates or renovations
Limited availability, thanks to high demand and low turnover
Strict local regulations that can add time, cost, and confusion
High costs—this is one of the most expensive markets in the country
The Personal Part
On a deeper level, buying a home is also about imagining your future self. It’s about aligning where you are now with where you want to go. That’s why I’ll ask you to:
Clarify your needs — What’s essential for day-to-day life?
Understand your wants — What would elevate your lifestyle?
Set your goals — Where do you want this decision to take you?
You don’t have to figure all of this out on your own. I’ve helped guide so many buyers through this very process—people just like you—making the complex feel manageable and the results worthwhile.
I’ve been in your shoes. I own my home here too, and I know how emotional, financial, and exciting this journey can be. So let’s make a plan that’s grounded, informed, and uniquely yours.
What Does Your Future Home Look Like?
Part of the fun of buying a home is imagining what it might be. Will it have bay windows? A sun-drenched garden? That perfect kitchen island?
As we work together, we’ll start filling in that picture—sometimes it ends up looking exactly like what you first imagined, and other times, it turns out to be something even better and totally unexpected.
Either way, the only way to find out is to begin.
And the sooner you start, the sooner we can get going.
So why is it so costly to buy a home in San Francisco?
A combination of human-made and geographic reasons combine to make it dear to live here
Why Are San Francisco Prices So High?
Yes, the City has charm—but these are the real forces keeping housing prices up.
🌊 Surrounded by Water, Ringed by Constraints
San Francisco is boxed in—by geography and fog.
The city is surrounded by water on three sides, leaving little room for outward expansion. Every inch of land is precious, and new construction is a challenge from the start.
Add to that the Bay Area’s iconic coastal fog (known affectionately as Karl), which blankets much of the western and southern parts of the city. These fog-prone areas tend to be less desirable for many, pushing demand—and prices—east of Twin Peaks and into neighborhoods like Noe Valley, Mission Dolores, and the northeast quadrant.
Meanwhile, liquefaction zones—especially in parts of the northeast and Marina—limit where dense housing can be safely built. Human-made constraints like freeways, outdated zoning, and overlapping bureaucracies only add to the squeeze.
🏛️ Protected Charm Comes at a Price
San Francisco’s history and beauty are part of what makes it so beloved. But preserving that charm comes with a price.
Strict environmental and historic preservation laws—like CEQA—make it difficult and expensive to upgrade or replace older buildings.
Any structure older than 45 years (which includes roughly 80% of the city’s buildings) is presumptively historic and may require review before any meaningful renovation.
While these laws protect the city’s architectural heritage, they also slow down modernization and exacerbate the housing shortage.
There’s now momentum to roll back parts of CEQA to help encourage housing growth—but how those changes will play out is still unclear.
🚫 NIMBYism + Bureaucracy = Bottlenecks
The “Not In My Backyard” mindset runs deep here.
Even a single neighbor can delay or derail housing projects through hearings, objections, and appeals. Add in San Francisco’s maze of departments, permits, and review boards, and what takes weeks elsewhere can take years here.
Delays result in:
Higher carrying and holding costs
Vacancy losses
Legal, consulting, and administrative expenses
These all add cost to each project—and limit inventory—which helps push home prices ever higher.
⚖️ A New Push for Change
Because San Francisco hasn’t met its state-mandated housing goals, developers now have access to “builder’s remedy”—a legal path that lets them bypass many of the local bottlenecks.
But how effective this tool will be—especially in San Francisco’s uniquely resistant environment—remains to be seen.
📈 As of Fall 2025: Pandemic Recovery, AI Money, and Renewed Optimism
Despite all this, San Francisco’s housing market has come roaring back—especially for single-family homes.
After a sluggish Spring 2025, Fall has shown major strength, likely fueled by:
The post-pandemic return to city life
Increased liquidity from AI-related industries
A renewed sense of optimism and energy
For well-located homes that are well-prepared, pricing is as strong as ever—and in many cases, stronger than before.
And Then There’s This…
Additional Forces That Keep San Francisco’s Housing Market Tight
🛠️ Too Few People to Build
A nationwide skilled labor shortage is hitting San Francisco especially hard.
The city’s already high cost of living makes it difficult to attract and retain tradespeople in the first place. Add in ongoing wildfire reconstruction efforts in nearby Wine Country and the chilling effect of potential immigration restrictions, and the result is a construction industry stretched thin.
As of 2025, one trusted contractor told me that high-quality residential renovation work in San Francisco can cost $700+ per square foot—with other projects easily reaching $1,500 per square foot or more, depending on the scope and complexity.
🏚️ Rent Control + Eviction Protections = Distorted Supply
San Francisco’s strong tenant protections provide much-needed stability for renters—but they also come with unintended consequences.
Owners are discouraged from selling or renovating, fearing lengthy holdover periods or complex eviction proceedings.
This contributes to a lack of modernized housing stock and fewer homes available for buyers—especially move-in-ready ones.
💸 Taxes (Of Course)
Federal and state tax policies further restrict housing turnover.
Capital gains taxes start after $250,000 (or $500,000 for married couples)—a modest amount in San Francisco terms.
Proposition 13 locks in property tax levels, often keeping taxes incredibly low for long-time owners.
This combination creates little incentive for older or long-term owners to sell, even when they no longer need the space.
🔒 Mortgage-Based Handcuffs
Homeowners with sub-3% mortgage rates—a common scenario before 2023—are now effectively locked into their homes.
Selling often means giving up a rate that’s half of what’s available today, which makes upgrading or downsizing financially unattractive.
With low monthly costs and rising equity, many homeowners are choosing to stay put and renovate rather than move. The result?
Even fewer homes hit the market.
📉 The Cycle Continues
Together, these forces tighten inventory, drive up prices, and make entry even harder for new buyers—especially those who don’t have all-cash offers, legacy wealth, or existing equity.
It’s not just that there aren’t enough homes.
It’s that the system we’ve created makes the ones we do have very hard to let go of.
Dip Your Toes In (Just a Bit)
These terms and concepts might seem like a lot now, but trust us—when you’re house hunting, they’ll quickly become your latest data junkie obsession. Let’s get you started!
Starting Searches
When the time comes, you’ll set up your own search criteria to find the listings that match your needs perfectly. To help you get started, we’ve broken it down by real estate district to give you a head start:
How Long is Too Long? How Fast is Fast?
Our market moves fast here in San Francisco. Just how fast depends on a lot of things like seasonality, mortgage rates, competition and pricing (among more). Take a look at the stats:
Days on Market
One of the clearest ways to gauge the state of the market is by looking at the median and average days on market (DOM). These numbers tell you, on average, how long a property sits on the market after listing. When DOM is very low, it signals a competitive market—buyers often find themselves in bidding wars or making multiple offers. We saw that in 2018, 2021 and the early part of 2022.
When DOM is high, inventory is heavier, and sellers may need to reduce expectations.
Now, here’s what the data say for San Francisco:
According to Zillow, as of September 30 2025, homes in San Francisco County go to pending in a median of around 22 days.
In desirable zip codes, such as 94123, the median days‐to‐pending is even lower—approximately 18 days.
Conversely, in areas like zip code 94107 the median days to pending is significantly higher—about 42 days.
Here’s how I interpret that:
What this means for you—buyer or seller
If you’re a buyer, a DOM of around 20 days (or less) means you need to be ready. You’ll want your financing in order, your criteria clear, and your offer strategy sharp—because homes are not lingering.
If you’re a seller, a low DOM means you likely still have the advantage—but you’ll want to price and market your home in a way that takes advantage of the momentum.
That said, high DOM in some neighborhoods shows that not all markets behave the same. A 42‑day DOM in 94107 tells me some product types, locations or price bands are moving more slowly and may require a different approach.
A note of calibration
DOM is just one metric—and in San Francisco it must be paired with inventory, list‑to‑sale ratios, price trends, and product type.
For example:
Even though the DOM in many parts of the city is low, inventory remains constrained and prices remain strong.
The fact that some ZIP codes have longer DOM suggests micro‑market variation. Lower demand product types (e.g., older condos, smaller units, or less desirable micro‑locations) may sit longer—even in an otherwise hot market.
The surge in buyer activity post‑pandemic (especially single‑family homes) and renewed optimism mean that DOM has bounced back faster than one might expect given rate headwinds.
Square Footage: What Is It Really?
Determining the true size of a property in San Francisco is often more complicated than you’d think. Different professionals use different standards—Gross Living Area (GLA), Gross Internal Area (GIA), or something else entirely. And the numbers can vary depending on why the space is being measured in the first place.
You might see multiple square footage figures for the same property:
Assessor records
Appraiser measurements
Condo maps
Graphic artist renderings
Even what an agent or seller simply thinks it is
Because of this, I often remind my buyers:
A space is as big as it lives.
What matters most isn’t the number—it’s whether the space works for you.
Does it have the ceiling height, layout, light, and flow you want?
Can you picture your life unfolding there in a way that makes sense and feels right?
For some people, square footage is a dealbreaker.
For others, it’s just a number on a page.
When Each Square Foot is $1,000…
It really does matter then, right?
Well — maybe, as I pointed out above. But I’ll still start with the numbers when valuing a property. Here’s what’s happening lately for homes and condos in San Francisco:
What Else?
Some potentially relevant links and pages to consider