Luxury Homes for Sale in San Francisco

San Francisco consistently ranks as one of the top luxury real estate markets in the world. It is an economic powerhouse best known for its technology companies and financial institutions. It is the anchor city for the Bay Area, which includes Silicon Valley. With all that economic activity, the high-paying jobs that go with it, and the fact that San Francisco is surrounded by water on three sides means real estate in the city comes at a premium; prices here are some of the highest in the nation.

This page includes both luxury single-family homes and condominiums. Register for alerts when new properties come on the market. For all local inventory, view San Francisco, CA properties.

San Francisco Luxury Listings

San Francisco Luxury Real Estate

Affluent San Francisco neighborhoods are dense. Space is at a premium and amenities one might wish for like backyard pools are uncommon, except in the absolutely elite tier of properties. Similarly, only a small number of luxury homes exceed 10,000 square feet. The bulk of single-family luxury homes here range between 4,000 and 8,000 square feet.

Once inside, luxury buyers will find high-quality construction materials inside and out, with extra attention paid to small details that make a home elegant. Common flooring materials include natural wood, designer-grade carpet, or stone. Home shoppers can expect the same level of quality for countertops. Chef’s kitchens include high-end appliances from brands like Sub-Zero / Wolf, Viking, Thermador, Gaggenau, Miele, and La Cornue. Look for vaulted ceilings, crown moldings, and other details that indicate a high level of craftsmanship.

Some luxury homes in San Francisco have a backstory, a history of celebrity and business mogul owners which can add to a home's appeal.

San Francisco Luxury Architecture

The top five architectural styles of luxury homes in San Francisco, in order of prevalence, include Contemporary, Edwardian, Modern, Victorian, and Traditional. What’s more, roughly 2 in 3 luxury properties in San Francisco are condos.

This is quite a contrast to luxury homes in Los Angeles where the warmer Mediterranean climate dictates the style of homes, which typically have an open floor plan and large windows to promote air flow of ocean breezes. The most common architectural styles include Contemporary, Modern, Spanish, and Mediterranean Also, properties here site on large lots with yards and well-manicured landscaping. Also, only 1 in 8 luxury properties in L.A. are condos. The San Diego luxury market is similar to L.A.

Luxury Home Amenities

S.F Luxury Homes

• Theaters, walk-in closets, multi-car garage
• Smart home technology
• Electric car charging stations
• Robust security systems with video surveillance
• Spa

S.F. Ultra-Luxury Homes

• IMAX theater
• Walk-in closets
• Zen garden

S.F. Luxury Buildings

• Penthouses
• Concierge service
• Balconies
• Top-of-the-line fitness center
• On-premise spa
• Upgraded appliances

Buying San Francisco Luxury Homes

Like other luxury markets, in San Francisco, buyers will need to document their financial ability to buy a luxury home before viewing properties in person.

Cash buyers will need to supply proof of funds. A bank statement will typically suffice. Your financial manager, portfolio manager, accountant, or personal banker can put one together quickly.

For buyers who are financing their purchase, and loan pre-approval letter from their lender will suffice.

When buying a luxury condominium, an additional financial matter comes into play, beyond a buyer’s financial ability to complete a purchase. For lender-financed deals, your bank will review the condo board’s financials to make sure the association is solvent (the members are paid up and cash flow is stable). Outstanding liens, pending lawsuits, or a history of late payments from the building’s residents can derail a final loan approval.

Cash buyers will also want to review the association's financial position as it could have an impact on the unit's resale value.

San Francisco Luxury Realtors®

If you’re looking to buy a home, contact our San Francisco real estate agents; we're the LOCAL experts and can answer all of your home buying and San Francisco neighborhood questions.

Please get in touch if you're thinking of selling your luxury home in San Francisco or the surrounding area. Our listing agents can provide dates and prices of recently sold houses nearby (a.k.a. “comparables”) and up-to-date data for the San Francisco luxury market.