801 Franklin St #1406
Higher is a better buy. 50 is "priced about right for what it is". The last step curves the raw advantage onto 0–100, so points stop being one-for-one at the extremes.
💵What this unit actually costs per month
40% of that payment is not the mortgage. The HOA fee alone is $51,180 over five years — money that buys you no equity. A calculator that defaulted the fee to zero would have quoted you $2,382.
Not FHA-approved. No 3.5%-down FHA financing on this unit, so the realistic floor is a 5%-down conventional loan ($18,750). Common for small associations and not a defect on its own, but it does remove FHA buyers from your resale pool.
Minimum realistic down payment here: 5% · verify on HUD's lookup
Rate is the Freddie Mac PMMS 30-year average for the week of 2026-08-20 — a national survey figure, not a quote. Tax, insurance and closing costs are estimates; your own Loan Estimate is the real number.
This building's HOA fees
✅ Fairly steady · +5%/yrReconstructed from 23 units of recorded sales at 801 Franklin St — every recorded sale carries its HOA fee and date. No listing site shows this.
These dues have held relatively steady (about +5%/yr over 5 years across 23 units) — a good sign. Only the reserve study confirms the building is keeping up with its big-ticket repairs.
🏢 Get this building's full reserve & assessment report — free →✅ Positives
- Best $/sf of 10 tracked in Chinatown
- 26% below model fair value
- Upper floor (fl 14)
- In-unit W/D
⚠️ Cons
- HOA $853/mo
🚩 Red flags
- Listed BELOW its 2005 sale ($418k) → value eroding
Photos
Price history (this unit)
- Aug 26, 2026 — Listed $375,000
- Mar 18, 2005 — Sold (MLS) $418,000
- Jan 27, 2005 — Listed $428,000
Description
Welcome to City Center Plaza in the heart of Oakland’s vibrant Chinatown. This top-floor 2-bedroom, 2-level penthouse is filled with natural light, with a spacious open living area and large private balcony with panoramic views of Downtown Oakland, the bay, and Bay Bridge. In-unit laundry, large closets, and two assigned tandem parking spaces make city living even easier. With a Walk Score of 100, restaurants, shops, markets, and weekly farmers markets are just steps away. BART and AC Transit are within easy walking distance, with quick access to I-880 and I-980. Lake Merritt, Uptown, and Jack London Square are just minutes away, with San Francisco less than 20 minutes across the bay.