Real Estate Investing in San Francisco, California (94131)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

San Francisco County • Population: 27,809 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 94131 (San Francisco, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (31/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
4 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.1% CAGR).
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 32.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in San Francisco, CA (94131)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $1,747,653
Avg Monthly Rent $4,551
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $196,571
% Renters 44.5%

Market Analysis: 94131 San Francisco

ZIP 94131 in San Francisco, CA carries a solid set of headwinds. Home values near $1.7M and rents of $4,551/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

For an experienced owner, 94131 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $1.7M reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

In the broader CA picture, 94131 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

A impressive renter share of 45% in 94131 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 94131 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in San Francisco:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 50/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+17.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $4,551/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
38 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.6%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 94131

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
-0.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$537,854/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $609,466 $3,260 3.9% -3.0% $609,466
2BR $1,256,458 $3,950 2.3% -1.2% $628,229
3BR $1,717,046 $5,050 2.1% -0.6% $572,349
4BR $2,257,513 $5,230 1.7% -0.3% $564,378
5BR $2,689,270 -0.9% $537,854

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.9M$1.6M$1.4M$1.1M$900K$651KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$4,662$4,341$4,020$3,699$3,378$3,057Jan 2019Oct 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 94131 Compare?

Metric 94131 San Francisco San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA California
Home Value $1,747,653 $693,502 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 1.1% N/A N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $4,551 $4,437 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.0% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 94131? Click to expand

A healthy rental market with 45% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 94131 (San Francisco, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving San Francisco County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

2B Living offers reimagined property management services, including residential management, property onboarding, accounting, and reporting, for properties around the Bay Area. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Azari Property Management provides one-stop real estate service as a property management company since 2006. summary from their website

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Boardwalk Investments Property Management specializes in property management and leasing in San Francisco and the Northern Peninsula. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
2.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.1%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,747,653
Monthly Rent $4,551
Price-to-Rent 32.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.1%
Cap Rate 2.0%
5-Year IRR 3.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +17.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +6.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.0%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
9.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.1%
Flat
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 94131

Population: 27,809

💰 Median Household Income
$196,571
This area
$196,571
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
44.5%
This area
44.5%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
78.4%
This area
78.4%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.8 years
This area
40.8 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.2%
This area
9.2%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 56.5%
Asian 22.2%
Other/Mixed 17.3%
Hispanic/Latino 9.1%
Black/African American 4.0%
👶 Under 18
16.3%
This area
16.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.6%
This area
15.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 94131

B+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
21.2:1 Avg Class Size
$27,074 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Academy (The)- SF @McAteer

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
265 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$27,074 Per Student
A Very Good

Glen Park Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
321 Students
👨‍🏫
18.9:1 Class Size
💰
$27,074 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Clarendon Alternative Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
529 Students
👨‍🏫
24.6:1 Class Size
💰
$27,074 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Huerta (Dolores) Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
381 Students
👨‍🏫
25.0:1 Class Size
💰
$27,074 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Rooftop Elementary

📚 K – 08 School
👥
570 Students
👨‍🏫
24.5:1 Class Size
💰
$27,074 Per Student
B+ Above Average
👥
680 Students
👨‍🏫
18.8:1 Class Size
💰
$27,074 Per Student
B Good

Mission Education Center

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
124 Students
👨‍🏫
23.3:1 Class Size
💰
$27,074 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Everett Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 450 Church St., San Francisco
👥
467 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$27,074 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Visitacion Valley Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1971 Visitacion Ave., San Francisco
👥
311 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$27,074 Per Student
A Very Good

Brown Jr. (Willie L) Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 2055 Silver Ave., San Francisco
👥
313 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$27,074 Per Student
A Very Good

Cleveland Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 455 Athens St., San Francisco
👥
306 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$27,074 Per Student
A Very Good

King (Thomas Starr) Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 1215 Carolina St., San Francisco
👥
335 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$27,074 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 11,874 Off-Campus Students
C
City College of San Francisco
17,808 students · 1.4 mi
C
University of California-San Francisco
3,126 students · 1.5 mi
D
San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork
131 students · 1.8 mi
B
University of San Francisco
9,212 students · 2.2 mi
C+
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
403 students · 2.4 mi
C
California Institute of Integral Studies
2,047 students · 2.5 mi
C+
San Francisco State University
23,908 students · 2.5 mi
C
California College of the Arts
1,333 students · 2.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 11,874 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do rents currently stand in San Francisco, CA?

The typical rental in San Francisco, CA commands about $4,551/mo monthly. That rent profile steady cash flow against the $1.7M purchase basis.

What is the median home value in San Francisco, CA?

Expect median prices around $1.7M in San Francisco, CA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been steady.

Does San Francisco, CA make sense for an investment property?

With a 2.0/5 investability score, San Francisco, CA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $1.7M and rents of $4,551/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Is San Francisco, CA better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

San Francisco, CA investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($1.7M prices, $4,551/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

How strong is the working-renter base in San Francisco, CA?

Tenant demand in San Francisco, CA is solid. The local workforce $4,551/mo rents across most rental classes.

You know 94131 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 94131 ranks in San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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