722 Steiner (www.SocketSite.com)

San Francisco’s Postcard Row was developed by Matthew Kavanaugh between 1892 and 1896, with the first house in the row at Steiner and Grove the developer’s own home.

Having survived the Great Quake, the 4,700-square-foot Victorian at 722 Steiner Street was slated for demolition in the 1970’s but survived that threat as well and was restored.

Listed for sale in early 2010 asking $3,999,999, the property was reduced and relisted a number of times. Last listed for $2,950,000 at the end of 2010 and noting “Seller MUST sell, will consider all offers,” the property was withdrawn from the market without a sale.

In default since early 2011 on a $1,740,000 mortgage from 2007 (hence the “Seller MUST sell, will consider all offers” at the end of 2010), the owner of 722 Steiner has survived three scheduled foreclosure auctions over the past three years, either by way of mutual agreement or bankruptcy filings.

And today, 722 Steiner Street is back on the market and listed for $4,000,000.

16 thoughts on “Postcard Row Home Survives Another Threat, Back On The Market”
  1. In view of the prices that tarted-up shacks have gone for in the Mission, this seems a bargain for a real SF house on a famous street facing a park, and with a view.

  2. @conifer: agreed, but remember it’s all about location for certain demographics who are willing to spend anything to live in the hottest parts of town.
    The volatility of the housing market does not cease to amaze me in this town. $4M in 2010, dropped 25% (most likely because the market had tanked from the 2007 high that the owner bought at), and now back up 25%. Clearly, I’m no expert, but for those out there who care to elaborate…are these price fluctuations normal?

  3. It seems pretty easy to imagine a new-money person wanting to own an iconic property. Cooler than your friends buying some tarted-up flip job.

  4. I agree with Craig. But, it would be fine with me to live in the lower level apartment and put the main house on AirBNB for 1000 per night.

  5. This is a historic piece of San Francisco history that is irreplaceable… a fabulous, one of a kind property. Sure to go over the asking price. And, well worth it! Just wish I could afford it.

  6. ^^^ What a ridiculous conclusion that you need off-street parking to enable visitors. Very few people in SF will acquire extra off-street parking just to enable visitors. For a second car or to enable using the garage for storage, yes and yes. But not for visitors.
    I’m pretty sure that people in this neighborhood are able to entertain visitors without providing off-street parking.

  7. Yeah, if I owned and lived in this place I’d probably have to tell my friends to stop coming over – and a lot of them have at least 1 car.

  8. I’ve found my visits by friends is inversely proportional to the amount of street parking in the neighborhood. When I lived in SOMA and street parking was scarce, we had a lot of visitors. Now I live where there is ample street parking (often up to a dozen spaces available on our block) no one visits. It is almost like there are other factors behind the decision to entertain and people’s willingness to visit.

  9. I just had a party at this lovely house with 50 guests. Not one person complained about parking and they all drove to Alamo Square. If your friends won’t visit you without you providing off-street parking . . . consider getting new friends!

  10. This house survived the 1906 earthquake and the attempts by the City to acquire it by eminent domain in the 1970’s. The current Owner fought the City and saved the house and postcard row. He lovingly and painstakingly restored this historic San Francisco home. After 39 years of ownership, he and his Painted Lady will part. But, she will remain standing . . . as regal and majestic as ever. Hooray to the future Owner.

  11. I find some of the comments on this post, outrageous, biased and in some cases, just plain erroneous. I have friends who live doors away in this row of houses and I have been visiting there for years. Parking is rarely an issue when I visit, and my friends have lots of parties. I agree with another post- essentially, maybe if your friends have stopped visiting you because of where you live, you need new friends! When you are inside these houses you have no feeling at all of any tourist activity in the park across the street. These homes are actually very quiet and have a warm private feeling inside. A couple of times in the last decade or so- someone has been a bit too enthusiastic, (posing on the stairs for photos). No big deal! As for the comments about crime? Look at the city-wide crime map on the net. Alamo Square, the east side especially, shows far less incidents of crime than most places in the city that are considered safe or “luxury”. About the yard? There is a nice outdoor space at 722. Who else has a front yard as nice as Alamo square? – and you don’t even have to cut the grass yourself! Leigh, LPH

  12. Don’t understand all the snipping. The house “rocks” and is a bargain in this market. Wish I could afford it!

  13. Don’t understand all the snipping. The house “rocks” and is a bargain in this market. Wish I could afford it!

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