Some property searches are about finding “a nice house,” and others are about solving a complex family puzzle with real estate. That’s exactly what happened when this family reached out about finding a triplex for three generations.
Their vision was crystal clear: they wanted their parents and their partner’s parents to each have their own equally-sized units, while they occupied a larger owner’s suite. Oh, and it needed to be close to work in a very specific area of San Francisco.
Spoiler alert: we found it and got their first offer accepted within a month. Here’s how we made multi-generational home buying work in one of the most competitive markets in the country.
When families decide to live together across generations, it’s usually driven by practical and emotional reasons – caring for aging parents, sharing childcare responsibilities, building wealth together, or simply wanting to stay close as a family unit.
But finding the right property? That’s where things get complicated.
This family had very specific requirements:
In San Francisco’s tight inventory, finding a property that checks all these boxes is like finding a needle in a haystack. And when you do find it, you better be ready to win it on the first try.
Here’s where experience with multi-family properties really matters. Before we even started looking at listings, Lauren spent time with our buyers to understand not just their immediate needs, but their long-term vision.
Our groundwork included:
The key insight: Multi-generational properties are so specific that you might only see one or two that truly work. When the right one appears, you need to be ready to move decisively.
Multi-family home purchases are inherently more complex than single-family transactions. There are tenant considerations, rental income calculations, maintenance histories, and zoning compliance issues to evaluate.
Lauren’s approach was to arm our buyers with comprehensive market data so they could make confident decisions quickly. We analyzed comparable sales, rental income potential, and renovation costs to give them a complete financial picture.
This data-driven preparation paid off huge: When we found their perfect property, they had the confidence to submit a strong offer immediately instead of hesitating or trying to negotiate extensively.
Despite the challenging criteria, we located the ideal triplex and secured it with their very first offer. The property had everything they wanted – three well-configured units, good tenant situations, and proximity to work.
The timeline was remarkable:
Why this worked: Our strategic approach to competitive bidding, combined with thorough market preparation, meant we could act decisively when the right opportunity appeared.
In a market where multi-generational properties are rare, losing out on the right one could mean months of additional searching. Getting it right the first time saved this family significant time, stress, and potentially money if prices continued rising.
Here’s what most people don’t realize about multi-generational home buying: it requires completely different expertise than single-family purchases.
Key considerations include:
Lauren’s deep understanding of San Francisco’s multi-family market meant our buyers could navigate these complexities confidently. They weren’t just buying a house – they were making a strategic investment in their family’s future.
When you’re searching for something specific like a multi-generational property, every opportunity matters. These properties don’t come on the market frequently, and when they do, they often attract multiple interested buyers.
Our proven strategies for winning competitive bids included:
The result was a successful purchase that met every single requirement while avoiding the extended search process that often frustrates families looking for specialized properties.
This success story reflects a broader trend we’re seeing in San Francisco and beyond. More families are choosing multi-generational living arrangements for financial, practical, and emotional reasons.
Common motivations include:
The key is finding properties that accommodate everyone’s needs while making financial sense for the long term.
Here’s what the buyers from this story shared about their experience:
“We had the pleasure of working with Lauren from Ruth’s team to purchase our first home, a multi-family building, after discovering them through their YouTube channel. Buying a multi-family property is more complex than a single-family home, but Lauren’s deep understanding of the San Francisco market and her expertise made the process seamless. Working with an experienced team played a huge role in getting our 1st offer accepted – within a month of starting our search!
From the start, Lauren was patient, flexible, and always available at convenient times for us. Her in-depth, data-driven analysis of pricing gave us the confidence to make the offer. She took the time to make sure we understood the market and the best approach to our offer. Beyond that, Lauren supported us through the entire process, from the initial offer to navigating the insurance and lender processes, ensuring everything went smoothly.”
— A.L., Buyer
Whether you’re exploring multi-generational living for practical reasons or investment purposes, the key is understanding both the opportunities and complexities involved.
Questions to consider:
Every family’s situation is unique, but the principles remain the same: thorough research, strategic planning, and decisive action when the right opportunity appears.
Ready to explore multi-generational housing options? Let’s discuss your family’s specific needs and see what possibilities exist in today’s market.
