1559 McKinnon Ave. in San Francisco just sold in early September. It is yellow in this street view shot but was painted blue for the sale.
San Francisco is not the easiest place to become a homeowner. Despite a recent housing market slowdown that caused local home prices to drop, houses in the city are still notoriously expensive. According to Redfin data, San Francisco’s median home price for August was $1.3 million. That’s down from $1.5 million in July but still more than many of us can reasonably afford.
We’ve compiled a list of some homes in the city that sold for less than $1 million in September. Many of these properties need some TLC, but that didn’t stop their new owners from taking advantage of these lower price tags.
This three-story Bayview home was on the market for the first time in 36 years. Unless you’re a fan of outdated red carpet, the house is in need of some renovations — but its current state is still full of charm, complete with a large fireplace, built-in cabinets and a wood-paneled sunroom that the listing notes could be remodeled into a rooftop deck. Plus, it’s located a block away from Third Street, where you can easily find some great eats, catch an event at the Bayview Opera House or hop on the Muni K/T line to downtown.
This house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a garage on the first floor.
View the full listing on Zillow.
This two-bedroom, one-bathroom home is located right up the street from City College of San Francisco. Though its listing notes that the house is in need of some upgrades and remodeling, its proximity to CCSF, Balboa Park BART station, the shops and restaurants along Ocean Avenue and the natural beauty of both Mount Davidson and Glen Canyon Park could easily make the extra work worth it.
The house is two stories with a garage on the first floor. It features classic bay windows and is painted an eye-catching shade of light pink.
View the full listing on Zillow.
On the outside, this four-bedroom, two-bathroom house looks deceptively simple — like an orange box with barred windows — but inside, it’s hiding a basement level that turns the property into twice the size it appears.
Though its underground rooms still need to be permitted, the listing notes that the house could be perfect for musicians or party throwers who don’t want to deal with noise complaints from their neighbors. It’s also located close to McLaren Park and the charming Excelsior portion of Mission Street.
View the full listing on Zillow.
Another Balboa Park house in need of some love, this property is described in its listing as being in “poor condition but great location.” Photos of both the interior and exterior of the house show that it needs some serious work. But Balboa Park is directly across the street, and the home’s bare bones look like they hold the potential to one day be a beautiful three-story property.
This house has two bedrooms and one bathroom and includes a garage on the first floor.
View the full listing on Realtor.com.
This two-bedroom, one-bathroom home is described in its listing as an “urban oasis,” and its beautiful backyard and garden are a testament to that — it even comes with its own chicken coop. The rest of the house is sunny and simple, with sprinkles of midcentury charm throughout. The property comes with a fireplace and a garage on the first floor.
View the full listing on Zillow.
From its photos alone, it’s hard to believe this three-bedroom, two-bathroom Bayview home sold for less than $1 million. It looks completely ready to be moved into and comes with a garage and outdoor space that both look huge for San Francisco standards.
The home also includes an original fireplace, retro checkered tile floors in the foyer and several charming built-ins (I’m partial to the built-in reading nook overlooking the backyard).
View the full listing on Zillow.