3900 Balboa Street, San Francisco, CA 94121, San Francisco, 94121 - 8 bed, 8 bath
ACTIVE$4,998,000
3900 Balboa Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
8Beds
8Baths
10,772Sqft
4,750Lot
Year Built
1948
Close
-
List price
$5M
Original List price
-
Price/Sqft
$464
HOA
$0
Days on market
-
Sold On
-
MLS number
ML82025532
Home ConditionPoor
Features
Good View:
Deck
Patio
View-
About this home
We found 4 Cons,6 Pros. Rank: price - $5.00M(93th), sqft - 10772(98th), beds - 8(98th), baths - 8(98th).
Rare opportunity to acquire a landmark property in San Francisco's Outer Richmond district! Currently improved with approximately 10,772 sq ft of living space plus an additional 2,546 sq ft of unfinished basement, this unique corner-lot property offers tremendous flexibility for continued institutional, community, or residential use. Formerly used as a convent, the existing structure includes 8 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, an elevator, large kitchen, multiple gathering rooms, and a chapel. Zoned RH-2, the site also presents an outstanding redevelopment opportunity for those seeking to reposition the property into multi-unit residential configurations (buyer to verify with City Planning). Located just blocks from Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park, 3900 Balboa Street offers scale, character, and potential rarely available in this neighborhood.
Nearby schools
9/10
Lafayette Elementary School
Public,•K-5•0.3mi
8/10
Alamo Elementary School
Public,•K-5•1.1mi
8/10
Argonne Elementary School
Public,•K-5•1.3mi
8/10
Sutro Elementary School
Public,•K-5•1.7mi
9/10
Stevenson (Robert Louis) Elementary School
Public,•K-5•1.9mi
8/10
Mccoppin (Frank) Elementary School
Public,•K-5•2.0mi
8/10
Peabody (George) Elementary School
Public,•K-5•2.1mi
8/10
New Traditions Elementary School
Public,•K-5•2.8mi
7/10
Grattan Elementary School
Public,•K-5•2.9mi
9/10
Chinese Immersion School At Deavila
Public,•K-5•3.1mi
6/10
San Francisco Public Montessori School
Public,•K-5•3.9mi
1/10
Mission Education Center
Public,•K-5•4.5mi
2/10
Fairmount Elementary School
Public,•K-5•4.8mi
/10
Chinese Education Center
Public,•K-5•5.4mi
8/10
Presidio Middle School
Public,•6-8•0.7mi
9/10
Lawton Alternative Elementary School
Public,•K-8•1.4mi
8/10
Giannini (A.P.) Middle School
Public,•6-8•1.7mi
8/10
Yu (Alice Fong) Elementary School
Public,•K-8•2.1mi
9/10
Roosevelt Middle School
Public,•6-8•2.3mi
6/10
Rooftop Elementary School
Public,•K-8•3.4mi
9/10
Lilienthal (Claire) Elementary School
Public,•K-8•3.7mi
4/10
Buena Vista/ Horace Mann K-8
Public,•K-8•4.7mi
3/10
San Francisco Community Alternative School
Public,•K-8•5.1mi
3/10
Carmichael (Bessie)/Fec
Public,•K-8•5.1mi
2/10
Revere (Paul) Elementary School
Public,•K-8•5.5mi
7/10
Washington (George) High School
Public,•9-12•0.5mi
7/10
Lincoln (Abraham) High School
Public,•9-12•2.2mi
7/10
Wallenberg (Raoul) Traditional High School
Public,•9-12•3.0mi
10/10
Lowell High School
Public,•9-12•3.2mi
6/10
Academy Of Arts And Sciences
Public,•9-12•3.5mi
9/10
Asawa (Ruth) San Francisco School Of The Arts, A Public School.
Public,•9-12•3.5mi
2/10
Wells (Ida B.) High School
Public,•9-12•3.6mi
3/10
Mission High School
Public,•9-12•4.1mi
8/10
Galileo High School
Public,•9-12•4.6mi
3/10
O'connell (John) High School
Public,•9-12•4.8mi
7/10
Balboa High School
Public,•9-12•5.0mi
2/10
S.F. International High School
Public,•9-12•5.2mi
1/10
Downtown High School
Public,•9-12•5.4mi
2/10
Jordan (June) School For Equity
Public,•9-12•5.6mi
2/10
Marshall (Thurgood) High School
Public,•9-12•6.1mi
5/10
Burton (Phillip And Sala) Academic High School
Public,•9-12•6.5mi
Price History
Date
Event
Price
10/22/25
Price Change
$4,998,000
09/25/92
Sold
$900,000
Condition Rating
Poor
Built in 1948, this former convent is severely outdated for modern residential use. The kitchen is institutional-grade, requiring a complete overhaul, and all 8 bathrooms feature very old fixtures and finishes, necessitating full renovation. While the exterior appears maintained, the interior systems, flooring, and overall aesthetic are from a bygone era, requiring substantial repairs and rehabilitation to meet contemporary living standards. The listing itself highlights 'extensive renovation/conversion required' and 'redevelopment opportunity,' indicating its current condition is far from move-in ready.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Great Schools: Elementary School: Lafayette Elementary School (9/10). Middle School: Lilienthal (Claire) Elementary School (9/10). High School: Lowell High School (10/10).
Exceptional Size and Scale: The property boasts an impressive 10,772 sq ft of living space, plus an additional 2,546 sq ft of unfinished basement, offering rare scale and significant utility in San Francisco.
Versatile Zoning & Redevelopment Potential: Zoned RH-2, the site presents an outstanding opportunity for multi-unit residential configurations, appealing to developers and investors seeking to reposition the property.
Prime Coastal Location: Located just blocks from Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park, offering highly desirable access to major recreational amenities and a sought-after neighborhood.
Unique Architectural Character: Formerly a convent, the property features distinctive elements like a chapel, elevator, and multiple gathering rooms, providing unique character and potential for various uses.
High Accommodation Capacity: With 8 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms, the existing structure offers extensive accommodation, suitable for large families, multi-generational living, or conversion projects.
Cons
Low Available Lot Utilization: The property has a small lot size, more than 70 percent of which is taken by its living area. lot size in square feet = 4750, living area = 10772.
Extensive Renovation/Conversion Required: The specialized layout of a former convent will likely necessitate significant and costly renovations to adapt it for modern single-family or multi-unit residential use.
Uncertainty in Redevelopment Approval: The description notes 'buyer to verify with City Planning' for multi-unit configurations, indicating potential complexities, costs, and time associated with obtaining necessary approvals.
Age of Property & Potential for Deferred Maintenance: Built in 1948, the property is over 75 years old, suggesting a likelihood of outdated systems, structural wear, and potential deferred maintenance requiring substantial capital investment.