San Francisco, CA Commercial Real Estate Market Trends

Commercial Real Estate Market Report

This page provides a high-level view of commercial real estate conditions in San Francisco, combining current pricing, property scale, and active inventory to support early market evaluation.

Explore Commercial Properties in San Francisco

Browse properties currently for sale or lease to see how local market pricing and building sizes translate into real opportunities.

 

San Francisco's Demographic Profile

With a population of 777,336 and a median household income of $128,655, these metrics help investors gauge whether San Francisco's pricing reflects local demand fundamentals.

Key Demographic Metrics Value
Population 777,336
# Households 330,111
Median age 42
Median household income $128,655
Avg household size 2
Renter-occupied housing units 220,085
5-year population change -8%

Commercial Real Estate Market Snapshot in San Francisco

These market metrics outline current pricing, typical deal size, and observed cap rate ranges, giving investors a quick read on entry costs and high-level underwriting expectations.

Key Market Metrics Value
Avg asking sale price $560 per SF
Avg asking lease rate $38 per SF
Avg unit size for lease 20,476 SF
Avg building size for sale 28,603 SF
Average cap rate 6.14%

In San Francisco, commercial properties are currently listed at an average sale price of $560 per square foot, with average lease rates around $38 per square foot. Typical leased spaces are approximately 20,476 SF, while properties for sale average 28,603 SF in building size. Observed cap rates average 6.14%, offering a reference point for return expectations relative to pricing and deal scale.

 

Commercial Properties For Sale In San Francisco

The listings below reflect how current market pricing and building scale translate into active opportunities available today.
For Sale

Bush & Larkin

San Francisco, CA 94109

  • 37,812 SF Industrial Building
For Sale

The Redstone Building

San Francisco, CA 94103

  • 55,560 SF Office Building
  • 8.90% Cap Rate
  • $7,497,000
For Sale

Redstone, Solano, and Irwin

  • 7.58% Cap Rate
  • $21,082,000
For Sale

1532 Howard St

San Francisco, CA 94103

  • 8,225 SF Multifamily
  • $4,895,000
For Sale

Boston Hotel - Tenderloin

San Francisco, CA 94102

  • 10,740 SF Hospitality
  • 6.50% Cap Rate
  • $2,500,000
For Sale

299 Rhine St

Daly City, CA 94014

  • 2,250 SF Multifamily
  • 4.40% Cap Rate
  • $1,400,000
For Sale

1040-1042 Howard St

San Francisco, CA 94103

  • 6,540 SF Multifamily
  • 5.98% Cap Rate
  • $2,450,000
For Sale

1903-1905 Lyon St

San Francisco, CA 94115

  • 7,125 SF Retail Building
  • 6.03% Cap Rate
  • $3,250,000

 

Commercial Market Metrics by Property Type

Office Building Market Metrics Near San Francisco

Office market metrics highlight how pricing, typical deal size, and return expectations vary across submarkets, helping investors compare entry costs and yield potential efficiently.

Nearby Office Markets Avg Cost/SF Typical Size Cap Max
San Francisco $543 35,352 SF 9.77%
South San Francisco $545 8,929 SF 4.01%
Pacifica $571 6,282 SF 4.70%
Alameda $305 11,267 SF 7.70%
Sausalito $618 4,560 SF 5.60%

Industrial Property Market Metrics Near San Francisco

Industrial market data shows how cost per square foot and typical building size differ by submarket, supporting comparisons around deal scale and pricing alignment.

Nearby Industrial Markets Avg Cost/SF Typical Size Cap Max
San Francisco $502 16,336 SF 8.78%
Brisbane $436 2,090 SF 6.50%
South San Francisco $571 14,496 SF 4.79%
Emeryville $298 18,042 SF 10.80%

 

Retail Property Market Metrics Near San Francisco

Retail pricing varies widely across nearby markets, making this comparison useful for identifying where cost per square foot and deal size diverge most.

Nearby Retail Markets Avg Cost/SF Typical Size
San Francisco $586 19,258 SF
Daly City $462 18,297 SF
South San Francisco $528 12,965 SF
Pacifica $616 5,820 SF
Alameda $573 8,267 SF

Multifamily Property Market Metrics Near San Francisco

Multifamily metrics show how pricing and building size relate to observed cap rate ranges, helping investors evaluate income potential relative to entry cost.

Nearby Multifamily Markets Avg Cost/SF Typical Size Cap Max
San Francisco $580 7,818 SF 8.50%
South San Francisco $364 7,059 SF 6.58%
Pacifica $635 17,632 SF 6.43%
Alameda $317 28,839 SF 8.62%
Burlingame $634 9,093 SF 5.59%

 

How Investors Evaluate Commercial Real Estate Markets in San Francisco

Use these tools to move from market-level signals to deal-level math. Each calculator helps translate San Francisco pricing, rents, and building size into concrete metrics like value, income, and space requirements, so you can validate assumptions before spending time on individual listings.

 

Nearby Commercial Markets

Comparing nearby markets helps investors see whether San Francisco pricing and building scale sit above, below, or in line with surrounding areas.

Commercial Markets Avg Cost/SF Average Size
San Francisco $560 28,603 SF
Brisbane $459 4,393 SF
Colma $319 7,277 SF
Daly City $468 15,556 SF
South San Francisco $520 13,990 SF

Multifamily For Sale In San Francisco

Multifamily listings shown here connect market pricing and cap rate patterns with income-producing opportunities currently available.
For Sale

1532 Howard St

San Francisco, CA 94103

  • 8,225 SF Multifamily
  • $4,895,000
For Sale

Acorss from Twitter Building-$187K Per Unit

San Francisco, CA 94103

  • 22,670 SF Multifamily
  • 5.30% Cap Rate
  • $10,500,000
For Sale

15-Unit Multifamily Nob Hill

San Francisco, CA 94109

  • 27,260 SF Multifamily
  • 5.63% Cap Rate
  • $6,300,000
For Sale

1601- 1603 Revere Ave, San Francisco, CA 941

San Francisco, CA 94124

  • 2,387 SF Multifamily
  • 6.96% Cap Rate
  • $999,000
For Sale

Elevant

San Francisco, CA 94102

  • 70,796 SF Multifamily
  • $550,000
For Sale

661-667 Fillmore St

San Francisco, CA 94117

  • 12,326 SF Multifamily
  • 5.33% Cap Rate
  • $3,795,000
For Sale

Assumable 3.5% Loan Through 2030

San Francisco, CA 94110

  • 5,697 SF Multifamily
  • 5.08% Cap Rate
  • $4,400,000
For Sale

Brand-New Commercial Condo For Sale - RENOU

San Francisco, CA 94103

  • 96,225 SF Multifamily
  • $399,500

Regional Demographic Comparison

This comparison places San Francisco alongside nearby cities to show how population size, household counts, and income levels differ across the region. Viewing these markets side by side helps investors understand whether local demand and income characteristics are concentrated in San Francisco or distributed across surrounding areas.

City Population # Households Age MedianHouseholdIncome AvgHouseholdSize RenterOccupiedHousingUnits FiveYrPopGrowthPct
San Francisco 777,336 330,111 42 $128,655 2 220,085 -8%
Brisbane 4,433 1,779 45 $126,109 3 662 -6%
Colma 1,152 399 44 $103,688 3 233 -9%
Daly City 94,537 28,588 42 $103,334 3 13,272 -6%
South San Francisco 20,527 6,950 44 $132,000 3 2,554 -6%

FAQs About Commercial Investing in San Francisco

View All Commercial Real Estate For Sale in San Francisco
Is San Francisco a good market for a first-time commercial real estate investor?

San Francisco offers commercial properties across a wide range of sizes and price points. By reviewing the market data and benchmarks on this page, first-time investors can better understand what a typical commercial property looks like before committing capital and narrowing in on specific listings.

How can this market data help me decide whether to buy commercial property for my business in San Francisco?

The pricing and size metrics on this page help business owners compare the cost of ownership against leasing in San Francisco. Typical building sizes and asking prices provide a starting point for evaluating space needs, budget fit, and long term occupancy costs before engaging lenders or brokers.

What should conservative investors focus on when evaluating commercial properties in San Francisco?

Conservative investors often prioritize manageable deal sizes, stable pricing ranges, and cap rate benchmarks shown for San Francisco. These metrics help assess whether current market conditions support steady income potential without relying on aggressive assumptions.

How does San Francisco compare to nearby commercial real estate markets?

Nearby market comparisons highlight differences in pricing, building scale, and cap rate ranges relative to San Francisco. Reviewing these side by side helps experienced investors identify relative value, pricing premiums, or alternative markets that may better align with return targets.

How can this page support early-stage deal screening for San Francisco acquisitions?

This page provides high-level benchmarks for pricing, deal size, and observed cap rates in San Francisco, which are useful for initial market filtering. Institutional and data-driven investors often use these signals to prioritize listings that meet size, pricing, and return thresholds before deeper underwriting.