We Buy Houses in San Francisco County, CA

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Transfer tax figures come from the City and County of San Francisco; the source is listed at the end.

We buy houses in San Francisco for cash, in any condition, with no repairs, agent commissions or closing costs. San Francisco is both a city and a county, so one set of local rules applies, and its transfer tax is tiered by sale price instead of the flat county rate used elsewhere in California. This page explains that tax and how a cash sale works here.

San Francisco transfer tax at a glance

More than $100 to $250,000	$2.50 per $500
More than $250,000 to under $1,000,000	$3.40 per $500
$1,000,000 to under $5,000,000	$3.75 per $500
$5,000,000 to under $10,000,000	$11.25 per $500
$10,000,000 to under $25,000,000	$27.50 per $500
$25,000,000 or more	$30.00 per $500
When due	When a deed or other transfer document is recorded
Paperwork	A Transfer Tax Affidavit is submitted with the recording, even if no tax is due

Deeded transfers are taxed on the purchase price. The rate for the tier the whole price falls in applies to the entire price, so crossing a tier threshold raises the tax on the full amount.

How much transfer tax will I pay selling a house in San Francisco?

For example, a $1,500,000 sale falls in the $3.75 tier: 3,000 units of $500 at $3.75 is $11,250. A $900,000 sale uses the $3.40 tier and comes to $6,120. Whether the buyer or seller pays is set by the contract, so confirm it before you sign.

How to sell a house in San Francisco

You can list the house with an agent or sell directly to a cash buyer. A listing may reach more buyers, but it brings repairs, staging and showings, and the buyer’s financing can fall through. A cash sale offers a firm price and a closing date you choose.

1. Send the address. Use the form or call (424) 435-2326.
2. Get a written offer within 24 hours. No fee and no obligation.
3. Choose the closing date. Escrow pays off the mortgage, liens and taxes from your proceeds.
4. Close. The deed and the Transfer Tax Affidavit are recorded and you are paid through escrow.

Are there transfer tax exemptions in San Francisco?

Some transfers are exempt, but the exemption must be claimed when the document is recorded. The city says written documentation proving the exemption has to be submitted at recording, and acceptable documentation includes trust documents or an LLC operating agreement for entity transfers.

If you do not claim and document the exemption at recording, the tax is due. Transfers of legal entities that change control are also taxable, on fair market value.

What situations do we help with in San Francisco?

• Inherited homes and trust or estate sales.
• Tenant-occupied properties and landlords ready to exit.
• Homes needing repairs, or with code and permit issues.
• Pre-foreclosure and tax-delinquent homes.
• Divorce and relocation sales on a set closing date.

Our city page is we buy houses in San Francisco. Ready to sell? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

San Francisco selling FAQ

How is San Francisco’s transfer tax calculated?

It is charged per $500 of the sale price, and the rate rises with the price. A sale between $250,000 and under $1,000,000 uses $3.40 per $500, and one from $1,000,000 to under $5,000,000 uses $3.75 per $500.

When is San Francisco transfer tax due?

When the deed or other transfer document is recorded. A Transfer Tax Affidavit must be submitted with it, even if no tax is due.

Can I sell a house in San Francisco without paying transfer tax?

Only if the transfer qualifies for an exemption and you document it when recording. Otherwise the tax is due.

How do I sell a house in San Francisco that needs repairs?

Sell it as-is to a cash buyer who prices the work into the offer, so you skip contractors, staging and showings.

Sources

• City and County of San Francisco: Transfer Tax

This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rates and exemptions can change; confirm with the City and County of San Francisco.