The good news is that San Francisco is and has been for a long time, a very desirable place to live. Supply has historically been short of demand, so prices remain stable in down markets and appreciate in up markets. With equity in property and changes in personal financial ability, many homeowners find it possible to make the next move-either moving up, or accumulating property for retirement.
There are many things to consider in the sale of your property, such as establishing the target market, marketing schedule, and an appropriate list price that will generate maximum exposure to the property. If you are selling a property to purchase a replacement, timing will be even more important. Then there is the discussion about what repairs, remodeling, or market preparations are needed.
You may need to refinance to pull cash out for a down payment (if that is possible financing wise-that will depend on what is available at the time), or find out what you can afford once you sell. Check out my posting on this site ‘Getting started with financing’
The key to making the marketing and sale of a property go smoothly is when there is planning and preparation. That means getting your house looking ship-shape and ready for interested buyers to view, and having presale inspection reports and disclosures available for review when marketing begins.
A comprehensive list of the items that should be considered to be accomplished to make your home the most presentable for a prospective buyer can be found in my posting on this site ‘Presenting your Property Checklist’