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Market MapCaliforniaSan Francisco

San Francisco County

CaliforniaPopulation: 851,036
37
/100
Avoid
#976 of 1,000 counties
#41 in California (58 counties)

Market Snapshot

$1,245,307
Median Home Price
355% above national median
$3,680/mo
Median Rent
146% above national median
3.55%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Top 98% nationally
-$4,136
Est. Monthly Cash Flow
With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

20%
5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$1,245,307
Down Payment (20%)$249,061
Loan Amount$996,246
Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$3,680
Monthly P&I-$6,528
Est. Expenses (35%)-$1,288
Net Cash Flow-$4,136/mo
2.3%
Cap Rate (all cash)
-17.3%
Cash-on-Cash Return
3.55%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 2.3% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full AnalysisTry House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score
37/100
37
Cash Flow(30%)
23/100

Based on 3.55% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)
59/100

Based on 0.9% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)
50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)
14/100

Price-to-income ratio of 9.1x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

  • +Complete rent data available

Challenges

  • -Below-average rent-to-price ratio (3.55%)
  • -Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$4,136/mo)
  • -Negative leverage (cap rate 2.3% < mortgage rate 6.9%)
  • -High price-to-income ratio makes financing challenging

Economic Indicators

Population
851,036
Median Income
$136,689
vs $62,400 national est.
Unemployment Rate
—
Data pending
Price-to-Income
9.1x
Less affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

CountyVerdict
YoloCA
39$608,368$2,2374.41%AvoidView
CurrentSan FranciscoCA
37$1,245,307$3,6803.55%Avoid
VenturaCA
36$859,803$2,9414.11%AvoidView
Santa BarbaraCA
36$959,051$3,2764.10%AvoidView
TrinityCA
36$245,830Est. pending—AvoidView
MontereyCA
35$827,906$2,7694.01%AvoidView

The Bottom Line

AvoidSan Francisco may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

San Francisco County in California scores 37/100, ranking #976 of 1,000 US counties (top 97%). The 3.55% rent-to-price ratio may require creative strategies or below-market purchases for positive cash flow. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow
$-4,136/mo
Cap Rate
2.3%
Cash-on-Cash
-17.3%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in San Francisco?

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