Fall has arrived, and San Francisco's real estate market is getting ready for the year's second busiest season.
This summer was pretty typical - no major shakeups, but the AI boom continues to keep San Francisco as one of the Bay Area's strongest markets. If you're thinking about buying or selling, the timing looks pretty good as we head into the busy fall months.
San Francisco’s fall home selling season runs from early September through early November, and it usually starts with lots of new listings hitting the market. All that fresh inventory gets sales moving, especially for higher-priced homes. Here's the typical timeline (common but not guaranteed):
Anecdotally, as top SF realtors working with buyers and sellers, we're already hearing from more clients who want to jump into the fall market.
As of early September, mortgage rates are sitting just under 6.3%. That's getting close to the 6% mark that a lot of experts think could really get buyers moving again. But rates have been all over the place lately, so we're keeping a close eye on them.
The bigger economic picture is kind of all over the map:
| Good News | Things to Watch |
| Stock markets hitting record highs | People still aren't feeling super confident |
| Inflation holding steady at 2.7% | Producer prices just spiked |
| Fed expected to cut rates this month | Lots of economic uncertainty |
| AI companies still growing | Latest jobs numbers were pretty weak |
Want to know how San Francisco is bouncing back? Just look at apartment rents. They've shot up 11.5% to $3,040 a month over the past year - “the highest annual increase in the country,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Rental agents are calling this summer “the hottest in years, with bidding wars, crammed open houses and listings disappearing within days.” Three major contributing factors are:
The Wall Street Journal says "artificial-intelligence firms are leading a revival of the San Francisco office market," and office leasing is back to where it was before the pandemic. When offices fill up, more people need places to live nearby.
While Bay Area sales dropped 2% this year, San Francisco sales rose 5%, jumping from 2,870 to 3,010 transactions in the first seven months. The San Francisco Chronicle attributes this growth to “renewed optimism about the city's future” and AI companies relocating here.
Market Performance Breakdown:
Part of what's driving San Francisco's stronger performance is the unique approach we're seeing from AI professionals entering the market. Danielle was recently featured in Business Insider discussing how these buyers are different from previous tech booms.
As Danielle shared with the publication, today's AI buyers are "data-driven and decisive" in ways that benefit them in competitive markets. Many clients now model payments, taxes, and micro-market evaluations with large language models before touring properties. This preparation gives them real advantages in the fall market.
These buyers are also strategically timing secondary market equity sales with their home purchases, creating strong cash positions for competitive offers. While the single-family home market is "on fire" and condos are "perking up," AI professionals are approaching opportunities with calculated precision.
What we're seeing is buyers who understand both market dynamics and their own financial strategies. They're contributing to San Francisco's sales growth by making informed, strategic purchases rather than speculative moves.
This measured approach from well-capitalized buyers is one reason why San Francisco is outperforming the broader Bay Area market as we head into fall.
Read more about AI buyer trends and market dynamics in the complete Business Insider article (soft paywall) featuring Danielle's insights.
RELATED: How AI is Shaping San Francisco Real Estate
The best time to buy and/or sell is when it’s right for you, personally. If you’re ready to take the plunge, things are lining up pretty nicely for San Francisco real estate right now.
For Buyers:
For Sellers:
For more info, check out our buyer services and seller services pages. We’re happy to help you explore your options and decide the right step forward.
No worries if fall doesn't fit your schedule. Winter can actually be great for buying - fewer people looking means less competition and more room to negotiate. Sellers can also get ahead of the spring rush and position their property to capture early enthusiasm.
We've written about these seasonal timing strategies before. Check out the following posts:
❄️ Best Time to Sell a Home in SF? Try Winter, Not Spring
🎁 Holiday Season Home Buying: San Francisco's Best-Kept Real Estate Secret
San Francisco’s Fall 2025 real estate market is shaping up to be solid for folks who are ready to make a move. The key is matching up market timing with what makes sense for your life and financial situation. Check out our Real Estate Case Studies to see how we've helped other people figure this out in different market conditions.
SF real estate moves fast. Our newsletter keeps you in the loop on San Francisco market trends, policy changes, and local stuff that could affect your real estate plans.
Ready to see what your San Francisco real estate options look like this fall? As the best San Francisco home buyers agents and top SF listing agents, we're here to help you understand what's happening now and get where you want to go.
Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation about your specific situation and see if we're a good fit to help. We look forward to hearing from you!
