1177 California St #522
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
49% of that payment is not the mortgage. The HOA fee alone is $96,480 over five years — money that buys you no equity. A calculator that defaulted the fee to zero would have quoted you $2,692.
Not FHA-approved. No 3.5%-down FHA financing on this unit, so the realistic floor is a 5%-down conventional loan ($19,950). 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 2026-10-08 — 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
🚩 Rising fast · +12.9%/yrReconstructed from 10 units of recorded sales at 1177 California St — every recorded sale carries its HOA fee and date. No listing site shows this.
These dues climbed 27% in 2 years — about +12.9%/yr across 10 units of recorded sales, well above inflation. A rise this steep is a leading signal of a special assessment, a drained reserve fund, or an insurance shock. The listing never shows it; the building's documents are where the "why" lives.
🏢 Get this building's full reserve & assessment report — free →✅ Positives
- 28% below model fair value
- Upper floor (fl 5)
- Garage parking
⚠️ Cons
- Small (535 sf)
- Photos look dim — verify light in person
🚩 Red flags
- HOA rising ~13%/yr in this building ($1158/mo in 2024 → $1476)
- Very high HOA $1608/mo (full-service high-rise)
- HOA $1608/mo — 4.8%/yr of the price
Photos
Price history (this unit)
- Oct 8, 2026 — Listed $399,000
- Oct 8, 2026 — Listed $399,000
- Aug 6, 1997 — Sold (Public Records) $4,000
- May 21, 1997 — Sold (Public Records) $500
Description
Experience quintessential Nob Hill living in this charming fifth-floor studio at Gramercy Towers. Set in the heart of one of San Francisco's most iconic hilltop neighborhoods, the residence enjoys captivating cityscape views and an exceptional location beside The Masonic, across from Grace Cathedral and Huntington Park. With a 98 Walk Score® and 100 Transit Score®, shopping, dining, entertainment, culture, and everyday conveniences are close at hand. The California Street cable car runs directly past the building, providing easy access west toward Van Ness Avenue and east through the Financial District to Market Street, with the Ferry Building nearby. Union Square and Chinatown are each…