As the leaves turn golden and a crisp breeze blows in from the bay, fall has arrived in San Francisco. 🍂From pumpkin patches to haunted houses to festivals and the busy autumn real estate market, there are plenty of fall things to do in the city and greater SF Bay Area. Here are a few of our local favorites.
For those who love the spookier side of fall, the San Francisco Bay Area has you covered. Visit one of the many pumpkin patches to pick out the perfect jack-o'-lantern, like Clancy's Pumpkin Patch in the Inner Sunset or Lemos Farm down the peninsula in Half Moon Bay. Enjoy festive hay rides, pony rides, and petting zoos while you're there.
Thrill-seekers won't want to miss the haunted houses and Halloween events around the city. The Winchester Mystery House down in San Jose hosts their "Unhinged Hotel" haunt, while the San Francisco Mint transforms into "The Terror Vault". For a tamer family-friendly event, the California Academy of Sciences throws a "SuperNatural" Halloween party.
Fall in San Francisco also means a packed calendar of festivals, concerts, and cultural events. Golden Gate Park hosts the free Hardly Strictly Bluegrass music festival and Comedy Day. The Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival fills the streets with arts and crafts, food, and lion dancing. For a taste of Bavaria, don your lederhosen for Oktoberfest on Front.
Here's a fun fact: Autumn marks the second busiest home selling season in San Francisco, after spring. Following a summer lull, the market tends to pick up in the fall for a flurry of sales ahead of the holidays.
If you're considering listing your home, now is the time to start preparing—or even start planning for the winter or spring. Tackle any deferred maintenance, boost your curb appeal, and work with an experienced agent like Danielle Lazier and the Vivre Real Estate team to price and market your property competitively. With over 20 years of experience and 500+ five-star reviews, Danielle is a top SF listing agent dedicated to helping clients make thoughtful decisions around buying and selling homes.
Want more home-selling prep tips? Read: Top 3 (Ok, 6) Ways to Prepare a San Francisco Home to Sell
For fall home buyers in San Francisco, more inventory typically hits the market as summer ends. The best thing you can do to prepare is get preapproved with a lender (if you'll take a mortgage), and start discussing your must-haves and deal-breakers with your agent. With a general understanding of your budget, you can start to attend open houses to get a feel for the market and refine your search criteria. Especially with interest rates and mortgage rates expected to improve as we get later in the year, San Francisco condo buyers who are ready to act quickly will be well-positioned.
If your fall plans involve buying a home or selling a home in San Francisco, working with a knowledgeable local realtor whom you trust is the key. We invite you to explore SF neighborhoods on our website, and contact us when you're ready to discuss your real estate goals. The earlier you start preparing, the better positioned you'll be for a successful fall transaction.
From pumpkins to open houses, San Francisco shines in the autumn months! We'd love to see you out there, soaking up the crisp fall weather at an outdoor festival, finding thrills and chills at a haunted house, and enjoying the beauty of the city this season.
And if a move is in your future, you can expect the fall real estate market to present new opportunities in SF luxury condos and throughout the Bay Area. With the right preparation and guidance from an experienced local agent, you can make your real estate dreams a reality this autumn. We'd love to help!