January is a true reset for the real estate market. There’s a very real “new year, new me, new house” energy that shows up almost immediately. Buyers who came up short during the previous selling season return refreshed and motivated, often clearer about what they want and what they’re willing to do to get it. At the same time, a new group of buyers enters the market for the first time. Inventory is still low, but it begins to populate just enough to spark movement. After a typically quiet December, that first wave of listings tends to attract outsized attention, and early market activity can feel amplified as eager buyers aim high to secure what’s available.
This year is already off to the races, and it’s not happening in a vacuum. San Francisco continues to function as the global center of gravity for AI, and that capital is finding its way into housing in very real ways. At the same time, the work-from-home era is giving way to a more in-person reality, with companies across the city requiring employees back in the office for much of the week. That shift changes how people think about where they live and accelerates the desire to put down roots in the city. Add to that early signs of strength in the office market, with vacancy rates beginning to decline, and you have a backdrop that’s quietly rebuilding confidence in this city.
For sellers, this can be encouraging. For buyers, it means competition is returning, and not just in the single-family market. Condos are beginning to feel it too. January through March is often one of the most active stretches of the year, and while it’s still too early to know whether this marks the start of the next major appreciation cycle, the early signals are worth paying attention to. If you’re considering a move this year, now is the moment to get oriented, understand your position, and be ready to act when the right opportunity presents itself.
