Serious buyers hit the streets right after Thanksgiving to scoop up what’s left of the year’s inventory. Yes, there are fewer homes from which to pick. But the competition thins out because a majority of the buyer pool gets distracted by holiday activities. (Why spend Sunday going to open houses when you can get your Christmas tree, attend a party or go shopping?)
There are 185 single-family homes, 388 condos and 59 TICs currently on the market as of this writing. Here’s a quick look at each category:
Single-Family Homes
Median list price: $1,850,000
Avge days on market: 65
My pick: 1086 Alabama is an updated three-bedroom home with a large kitchen that leads to a deck and yard. There’s also expansion potential on the garage level (if you don’t need two-car parking). Convenient Mission location near 24th Street and SF General. List price is $1,795,000.
Condos
Median list price: $1,471,500
Avge days on market: 71
My pick: 1568 Union Street #1 isn’t situated on the most glamorous street in Cow Hollow. Many buyers may not want an auto repair shop two doors down, or a motor lodge across the street. But you do have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, parking, in-unit laundry and a common roof deck in this ten-unit building. On the market since early November, this 1,044-square foot condo is listed at $1,249,000. The building is a few blocks from the heart of Union Street.
TICs
Median list price: $1,475,000
Avge days on market: 54
My pick: 1622 McAllister, a top-floor, 4BR/2BA two-level Victorian in a two-unit building with parking in NoPa. Listed for $1,795,000, this TIC interest has been on the market since mid-September. The sticking points are that the next owner will probably want to do some renovations (particularly in the kitchen). And the building is located next to a church, which can be off putting to those who want a quiet Sunday morning. But there are already TIC partners in place for the lower unit, and this building’s owners would be able to start the condo conversion process after a year of owner occupying both flats.