San Francisco, CA Foreclosed Homes & Properties

Foreclosure Homes for Sale in San Francisco, CA: Everything You Need to Know

San Francisco Bay was found in 1769 by Gaspar de Portola, and by 1835 the Yerba Buena settlement was built. In 1848 gold was discovered and thus began the Gold Rush era, which helped boom San Francisco's population. In 1851 the city was devastated by a raging fire. Six years later, San Francisco's waterworks begun. 

After a quick "silver rush" in 1859, the population was over 300,000. Then in 1906, a deadly 7.9 magnitude earthquake devasted the city, killing over 3,000 people. It took the city many years to recover and began to rebuild the city. In 1912, Alcatraz Island opened as a military prison, but it closed its doors in 1963. 

With more earthquakes, fires, and riots happening in this city, San Francisco natives have the strength and wherewithal in recovering from significant events swiftly. San Francisco has overcome many ruinous circumstances and continues to hold a robust socio-economic position with a population of 884,000.

San Francisco Real Estate: Housing Availability

The most popular home style in San Francisco is the Italianate row houses that line the streets. Queen-Anne and Victorian-style homes are large, two to three-story homes with elaborate towers, overhanging eaves, and massive porches. The Marina style home is a one to two-story single-family home with garages, flat roofs, and lots of wide windows.  

The average list price of houses in San Francisco is $1.5 million and is expected to continue this upward trend. The city has a very low .2% foreclosure rate. Investing in real estate here is reserved for big-time, seasoned, and very wealthy investors. Properties are so expensive that many employees live outside of the city limits, driving one to two hours to and from work each day.  

Know Your Neighborhoods 

Neighborhoods in San Francisco are filled with a mix of hipster houses, preppy blocks, student residences, and, inevitably, ghettos. 

Living in a safe environment brings peace of mind and raises your quality of life. Some of the safest and most affordable neighborhoods in San Francisco are Bernal Heights, Excelsior, Oceanview, and the Financial District. Bayview, Potrero Hill, Downtown, and Lakeshore have higher crime rates.  

On the opposite side of the spectrum lies up-scale, high-end, and very expensive neighborhoods. Pacific Heights is the most sought-after place in San Fran, as it boasts the nicest views in the city. Big-name artists live in Billionaire's Row, where the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $3,971 a month.   

Things to Do in San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge, completed in 1937, is an iconic art deco bridge that connects San Francisco Bay across the Pacific Ocean to the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula. The American Society of Civil Engineers declared this one of the Wonders of the Modern World. When in San Francisco, you must get a photo of the most beautiful bridge in the world. 

Alcatraz Island was an offshore military fort and federal prison up until 1963. It is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is a National Historic Landmark. Tours of the facility are available.  

San Francisco's Chinatown has been around since the 1840s and is one of the oldest, biggest, and most famous "Chinatowns" in America. Tourists usually stick to Grant Avenue, since services and businesses in the area specifically cater to this crowd.  

Annual events that are popular amongst locals and tourists alike are the Chinese New Year's Parade, the Pride Parade, Outside Lands, and the unique Folsom Street Fair hosting the world's biggest leather event.