Location: San Francisco, CA | Metro: San Francisco, CA HUD Metro FMR Area
Based on 1% Rule: A+ (≥1.5%) | A (≥1.2%) | B (≥1.0%) | C (≥0.8%) | D (≥0.6%) | F (<0.6%)
| Unit Size | Monthly FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio | $2,310 |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,700 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,320 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,340 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $4,880 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $5,661 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $6,340 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $6,847 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $7,189 |
Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-07-31)
| Bedrooms | Monthly FMR | Median Price | 1% Rule | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3BR | $4,340 | $1,471,010 | 0.3% | F |
| 4BR | $4,880 | $1,731,360 | 0.28% | F |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
To determine if you should buy in ZIP code 94018 for Section 8 purposes, follow this decision tree:
1) Does FMR $3600 (ZIP FY 2024) clear debt service on a $1,520,745 property?
2) Is market rent N/A (N/A) above, at, or below FMR?
3) Are 16.3% renters + N/A-day DOM enough demand?
In conclusion, based on the available data, the answer to whether you should buy in ZIP 94018 for Section 8 is no. The FMR does not sufficiently cover the debt service for a property valued at $1,520,745. Additionally, the absence of market rent data complicates the assessment of overall profitability. Lastly, while there is some rental demand indicated by the 16.3% figure, the lack of DOM data leaves a critical piece of information missing for a complete analysis.
Data Sources: FMR data from HUD (2027). Median home prices from Zillow (2026-07-31). Demographics from U.S. Census (2024).
About FMR: Fair Market Rent (FMR) is used to determine payment standards for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, initial renewal rents for some expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, and rent ceilings for HOME Investment Partnerships.