How We Sold a Burned Out San Francisco Home Occupied by a Squatter for $106K Over Asking

Some homes look impossible to sell. 266 Farallones St. in San Francisco’s Oceanview neighborhood was one of them.

The sale caught the attention of the press. It was covered by The San Francisco Standard and The California Post (New York Post).

The property

Built in 1907, this detached Victorian sits on a large 4,400 square foot lot. Over the last few years it had been through a lot:

🔥 A fire in 2023 that left a large hole in the roof
🏚️ A burned out interior full of debris
🚪 An unauthorized occupant living there since the pandemic
📋 Several city notices of violation

The home was in such poor condition that buyers were not allowed to go inside.

Our strategy

We sold the home as is and disclosed everything up front: the occupant, the fire damage and the city violations. Every buyer knew exactly what they were getting before any offer was accepted.

Then we focused on what made this property valuable. It was a detached home on a big lot at a price that is almost impossible to find in San Francisco today.

The result

🏷️ Listed at $449,000
📩 Multiple offers
✅ Sold for $555,000
💰 $106,000 over asking

“If there was no squatter, it would sell for even more,” Janice told The California Post. “There’s just not a lot of entry level homes on the market.”

What this means for you

If your home needs major repairs, was inherited or comes with city violations or unwanted occupants, you still have options. Full transparency and the right strategy bring in the right buyers, whatever the condition of the home.

Read the coverage

📰 The California Post (New York Post), October 22, 2026
📰 The San Francisco Standard, September 29, 2026

Thinking about selling a property with a complicated story?

Call or text me at (415) 832-9151 or email me at JaniceFLee@gmail.com for a free and confidential property evaluation.

Janice Lee | Coldwell Banker Realty | DRE #01720205