Bay Area owners sitting on large gains use DSTs to exit hands-on management without the ~37% tax hit.
The typical San Francisco home is worth about $1.39M (+7.6% over the past year, per Zillow's home value index). For owners of appreciated San Francisco investment property, a sale can trigger a large tax bill — which a 1031 exchange into a Delaware Statutory Trust can defer while moving you out of active management.
San Francisco market snapshot
Home value & YoY: Zillow Home Value Index, 2026. Cap-rate range approximate — verify for your asset and submarket.
The tax on a San Francisco sale
Because San Francisco is in California, a gain is taxed as ordinary income up to 13.3%, plus the federal 20% rate and 3.8% NIIT — a combined ~37.1%. A 1031 exchange into a DST defers the whole bill.
See the full California 1031 rules, tax math, and state-specific reporting →
Baker 1031 near San Francisco
San Francisco FAQ
What's the typical home value in San Francisco?
The typical San Francisco home value is about $1.39M (+7.6% year-over-year, per Zillow's home value index, 2026). Owners of appreciated San Francisco rental or investment property often use a 1031 exchange into a DST to defer tax and move to passive ownership.
What tax would I owe selling investment property in San Francisco?
San Francisco sits in California, which taxes gains as ordinary income up to 13.3%; with the federal 20% rate and 3.8% NIIT, the combined bill can reach ~37.1%. A 1031 exchange into a DST defers it. See the full California rules for details.
Does a DST have to be located in San Francisco?
No. A DST doesn't have to hold San Francisco (or even California) property — you can exchange your San Francisco sale proceeds into vetted DST offerings anywhere in the country. We match the replacement to your goals, not your ZIP code.
Disclosures
This page is educational and is not investment, tax, or legal advice, or an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any security. Home-value data is from Zillow's home value index (2026) and cap-rate ranges are approximate — verify current figures. State tax rules are summarized; confirm with your CPA and attorney. For accredited investors only. Representatives may transact business only in states where registered or exempt. Securities offered through Aurora Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC; Baker 1031 Investments, LLC is independent of Aurora. Past performance does not guarantee future results.