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San Francisco guide · Tier A · Rank #9 of 27

House hacking in San Francisco (Inner Richmond / Laurel Heights / Presidio Heights).

A large in-ZIP redevelopment, Geary BRT, and two institutional anchors (UCSF Parnassus and USF): multiple converging catalysts, discounted from an S signal because the flagship project sits in early permitting and FZP corridor reach is unconfirmed.

Status check: Verified 2026-07-14: 3333 California Phase 1 permits are filed (152 units), with vertical construction expected late 2026.

What's actually happening in 94118

  • Early permitting

    3333 California St (the former UCSF Laurel Heights campus): 558–744 units across 13 buildings (4–6 stories) plus retail, childcare, and 2+ acres of open space; first-phase Presidio Highlands (152 units) permits filed, with Planning Commission hearings July 2026. SF Planning 3333 California

  • In design

    Geary Boulevard Improvement Project Phase 2: ~$48M, in design; red lanes and signal priority on the 38/38R through the ZIP. SFMTA Geary Boulevard Improvement Project

  • Existing anchors

    UCSF Parnassus $4.3B about a mile south, plus USF at the Laurel Heights edge: two institutional anchors within a mile. SF Planning UCSF Parnassus MOU

  • Adopted; parcel reach WARN

    The Family Zoning Plan upzones Geary Blvd to ~85 ft generally, reportedly up to 20 stories at some intersections and 40 stories at Geary & Masonic (the 94118/94117 edge); parcel-level reach is unconfirmed. SF Planning Family Zoning Plan

The numbers

Median price
$2,014,000 (Redfin/ATTOM, May 2026), the highest of the A tier
Market rent
~$4,300/mo (Zumper)
Property tax (San Francisco County)
1.183% combined effective (SF Treasurer FY2025-26, consolidated city and county); new buyers pay about 1.183% of purchase price in year one, then assessed value rises at the 2%/yr Prop 13 cap until resale
Per-bed rent band
$1,500–2,000/mo per room
ADU rent band
$2,800–3,500/mo (ADU or in-law)
Whole-home rent band
$5,800–7,500/mo whole-home
Underwriting vacancy
3.0–3.5% underwriting vacancy (UCSF/USF demand)
Appreciation scenarios
3 / 4 / 6 %/yr (conservative / base / upside)

High basis is the constraint. Appreciation basis: 3333 California entitling and building is the base; upside if the Geary/Masonic FZP high-rise confirms. Rent bands are city-level medians; confirm the specific parcel before trusting any of them. Run your own scenario in the calculator.

The house-hack angle

Large Richmond flats (2–4 units) and houses-over-garages; a UCSF, USF, and Geary-commuter tenant pool; 3333 California adds amenity and population.

What breaks it

  • A $2M+ entry compresses house-hack DSCR: model conservatively
  • 3333 California is pre-construction (July 2026 hearings); capital has yet to land on the ground
  • FZP heights are unconfirmed (WARN), and all-bus transit runs 25–30 minutes to downtown