September 2026 over the San Francisco Bay Bridge and skyline at dusk, with Lisa Zahner branding.

September 2026 Newsletter

Market Update

Fresh Starts All Around: Free Birds, Banana Slugs & a Back-to-School Market!
Big changes in our home this September! Three family birthdays in the first week alone. My husband turned 60 and celebrated by swimming from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park, wow! And our youngest just started at UCSC, Go Banana Slugs! We are officially empty nesters... or, as Lynyrd Skynyrd would put it, "Free Birds!"

Two adults pose with a yellow banana slug mascot wearing a UC Santa Cruz shirt.

Speaking of fresh starts, the SF market is back in session too. Inventory jumped 36% in just three weeks, from 454 homes on September 2 to 619 today. This time last year? 860 — still 28% fewer homes to choose from. Condos are the star student this fall — condo contracts jumped 13.8% in a single week. (See chart below: 2026 vs. 2025 active inventory) — the gap says it all.) I had a fantastic September and closed my fabulous fully remodeled duplex at $600,000 over asking price. Two families, friends who had been looking to have their own "co-living compound" bought it - super cool! I'm thrilled for them!
New listings hit 188 the week of Sept 16 and have already cooled to 148, so the best fall selection is right now. Buying or selling, let's get you to the head of the class — just hit reply!

Chart comparing San Francisco active home listings in 2025 and 2026, showing 28% fewer listings in 2026.

Source: SFAR MLS. Data deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.

What's Happening with Mortgage Rates: Rates are at 7.03% this week, up from 6.67% in August. Seven months ago, they were under 6% (see below). Here's the upside: higher rates keep some buyers on the sidelines, that means less competition for you. Most owners won't give up their sub-6% rates, so inventory stays tight Find the right place now. Refinance when rates drop.

U.S. 30-year fixed mortgage rates, 1971–2026: 7.03% currently, with an 18.63% high and 2.65% low.

JUST SOLD! banner against a blurred city-building background.

White multi-story home with large windows and leafy trees along the street.

Representing the SELLER
$4,800,000
GORGEOUS remodeled duplex
over 5,000 SF
Just 14 Days on Market
14% over asking price with multiple offers!

Pink stucco house with bay windows, a tiled roof, and broad red front stairs.

77 benton street
Representing the BUYER
$2,200,000
This will be a fun redevelopment project! Wait until you see the end result. Getting to closing was an exercise in grit & creativity - my fave!

In Contract banner with a faint house outline and red border.

Bright living room with blue armchairs, a cream sofa, and tall windows overlooking neighboring Victorian buildings.

201 laguna st
Representing the SELLER
A fabulous sunny and spacious one-bedroom in the heart of Hayes Valley w/ shared outdoor deck & Parking!

Multi-story olive-green and cream building with ground-floor storefronts and street trees.

750 Van NEss Ave v502
Representing the BUYER
An amazing opportunity to work with the Mayors Office of Housing and Community Development on a Below Market Rate apartment - a rare find in today's competitive market!

Coming Soon text over a blurred building facade, framed by a red border.

  • Grand Victorian, Pacific Heights - under renovation - with parking!
  • Castro Duplex - renovated & vacant - with parking!
Well-priced homes are moving fast, and buyers are learning to look past the list price to figure out where a home will really trade. If you're thinking about buying or selling this fall, let's talk. I work with both buyers and sellers, for residential homes and investment properties. I'm always happy to answer any questions you might have.
Cheers,
Lisa Zahner
415.948.5747
p.s. just a quick dip in the Bay is invigorating enough for me!

Lisa Zahner smiling in a coral-pink jacket beside purple flowers.

LISA ZAHNER
415.948.5747
Lic. #02018164
LinkedIn - let's connect!

1031 Exchange - ask me how it works.

Recent Blog Posts

Miniature model home and keys on a table, representing a plan to buy a San Francisco property
The AI IPO Wave Is Coming to San Francisco. Are You Ready to Buy a San Francisco Property?

Planning for an IPO windfall? Here's how to get ready to buy San Francisco multifamily.

What Your Rent Roll Tells a San Francisco Buyer

A guide for SF owners who want to know what their 2–4 unit building is worth before they sell

Colorful Victorian homes with ornate trim and bay windows along a busy Castro neighborhood street.
The Benefits of Investing in a Duplex in San Francisco

Live in one unit, let the other help pay your mortgage, and build SF equity.

September 2026 over the San Francisco Bay Bridge and skyline at dusk, with Lisa Zahner branding.

Market Update

September 2026 Newsletter

Inventory is up 36%, condos are heating up, and fall's best selection is right now.

Rippling water reflects light inside a dark, rounded passage.
El Niño Is Coming — Is Your Sewer Lateral Ready?

Storm season is coming — protect your SF home (and your sale) from sewer surprises.

A red-and-gold FOR RENT sign hangs from an ornate bracket outside a storefront.
Rent vs. Buy in San Francisco: When It's Time to Stop Renting

Before you sign another lease, here's how to know if buying actually pays off in SF.

White multi-story home with dark gabled roofs, a covered entry, attached garage, and landscaped grounds at dusk.
The One Closing Cost That Protects Everything You Just Bought

Why this often-overlooked fee matters more in a city with San Francisco's history of century-old homes.

Man with an umbrella walking on San Francico's hills
Getting Ahead of El Niño: What San Francisco Homeowners Need to Know

Flood insurance has a mandatory waiting period — here's why SF homeowners shouldn't wait for the first storm to think about coverage.

Beige Victorian house with a turret, balcony, covered porch, and flower-lined walkway.
The Real Math Behind Buying in San Francisco

The real math behind "how much house can I afford" — and why the answer looks different here than almost anywhere else

View All

Endless Opportunity & Possibilites

Let's Connect
Get in Touch
Contact Details

Lisa Zahner | CA DRE# 02018164

(415) 948-5747

[email protected]

 

629 Divisadero St
San Francisco CA 94117

 

 

 

Contact Broker-Of-Record
Hilary Saunders
Corporate License No. 02014153
[email protected]