Also known as the ‘Seven Sisters’ or ‘Postcard Row’, the ‘Painted Ladies’ of San Francisco are without a doubt the city’s most recognizable houses.
The term refers to the row of colorful Victorian and Edwardian houses located at 710–720 Steiner Street in Alamo Square in San Francisco, made famous by their unique appearance, pastel colors, and quintessential Queen Anne-style architecture.
Located across the street from Alamo Square Park — a hilltop park with scenic views of the city — the Painted Ladies are some of the most sought-after real estate in the seaside California city.
And if you’ve found yourself suddenly humming the Full House theme song, it’s no coincidence.
These charming homes are seen in the intro of the popular sitcom (and they’re located less than 6 minutes away from the real Full House). But D.J., Stephanie, and Uncle Jesse aren’t the only ones who love this idyllic block in San Francisco. The row houses are among the most photographed homes in America.
So, what is their history and what are they worth? Continue reading all about San Francisco’s most famous homes.
The Painted Ladies on Postcard Row: one of America’s most recognizable blocks
The Painted Ladies were built between 1892 and 1896 by developer Matthew Kavanaugh, who lived next door at 722 Steiner Street. Kavanaugh’s house is considered to be the 7th sister, even though it doesn’t share the same design (or quirky paint job) as the rest of its neighbors.
With their easily recognizable Queen Anne-style architecture, the houses are reminiscent of the Victorian building boom that began after the 1849 gold rush, when the city’s population started growing significantly, spurring the need for extra housing.
But their rise to fame came a little later, in the 1960s, when they were repainted in bright colors that embellished and enhanced their architectural details.
While their most famous role was in the opening credits of Full House and Fuller House, the Painted Ladies have appeared in an estimated 70 ads, movies, and television programs over the years.
They’re also one of San Francisco’s most popular tourist destinations. Other than the Golden Gate Bridge, no other spot in all of San Francisco is as frequently Instagrammed as this idyllic row of homes on the east side of Steiner Street.
A Lady was recently listed for sale asking $3.55M
In May 2022, the current owner of the “Painted Pink Lady,” Leah Culver, briefly listed the iconic home.
“It is with a heavy heart that I’ve decided to sell the Pink Painted Lady,” Culver announced via Instagram.
“I would love to transition to a new owner who cares as much as I do (or more!) about this special home,” writes Culver. “That’s why I am listing it for sale for the same price I purchased it for and am including the current building plans, permits, and social media accounts with the sale (if desired).”
Then listed at $3.55 million, the 2,996-square-foot 19th-century home offered 5 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, as well as the opportunity to literally own a piece of San Francisco. The listing was later taken down in September of that year, with public records showing that no sale was recorded.
Nevertheless, this got us thinking: How much do the other Painted Ladies cost? So we set out to find the answer.
Looking at both past selling prices and current market estimates, we used public records and popular real estate portals like Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com to narrow it down and place a $$$ figure next to each property set on the infamous Postcard Row.
710 Steiner Street:
Public records show the first Painted Lady, located at 710 Steiner Street, last sold in 2012 for $2,386,500.
Spanning 2,500 square feet, the four-level house packs 5 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, hardwood floors, period lights, three fireplaces (one with carved mahogany dragons), and plenty of exquisite Victorian details.
The charming home is now estimated to be worth well over $3 million. Zillow estimates its worth at around $3,100,000, while Realtor.com puts a $3,800,000+ price tag on the Painted Lady, with Redfin finding the middle ground at around $3,500,000.
712 Steiner Street:
In 2001, 712 Steiner Street sold for $1.25 million.
But today, the iconic 2,690-square-foot, 4-bedroom single-family home is estimated to be worth somewhere around the $3 million mark (Realtor.com places it around $2.8 million, Redfin says $3 million, while Zillow has a more conservative estimate of $1.9 million).
But if you’d like to “appraise” it yourself, know that the blue lady is the only one that you can go tour in person. As of 2021, its owner, George Horsfall, has been offering tours of his house on Instagram as @bluepaintedladyhousetour.
714 Steiner Street:
The house at 714 Steiner Street (a.k.a. the Painted Pink Lady) was on the market for $3.55 million, the same price the owner paid for it back in 2020. The listing has since been removed.
This 1890s Victorian is currently configured to host 2,588 square feet of living space, 5 bedrooms and 3 baths.
But the owner was also offering plans and approved permits by David Armour Architecture to restore the building to its former glory and split it into two units: a grand, house-like upper unit (3 levels) with 5 beds and 3.5 baths, measuring 2996 sq. ft. and an 845-square-foot rental or in-law suite on the lower level with 2 beds, 1 bath, and separate entrance.
716 Steiner Street:
The current zestimate for 716 Steiner Street clocks in at a cool $1.7 million, but Realtor.com has a more favorable pricing outlook for the property: they estimate its value at a little over $2.6 million.
But other than that, not much information is available on this secretive Painted Lady.
We couldn’t find any records showing how much its current owner paid for the 2,480-square-foot single-family home.
718 Steiner Street:
Offering 2,600 square feet of living space, 718 Steiner Street has 5 bedrooms and 2 baths.
According to Trulia, the home hasn’t changed owners since 1995, when it last sold for $491,000.
Now, the iconic home is estimated to be worth somewhere in the $1.5 to 2 million range, with the lowest estimate being $1.7 million (Redfin), and the highest, $1.9 million (Realtor.com).
720 Steiner Street:
This is the only house on the block to have had a famous owner. It was once owned by The Color Purple author Alice Walker.
Currently valued at $2.8 million per Zillow’s zestimate, the final Lady located at 720 Steiner Street was last sold for $1,210,000 in 2001. Redfin’s estimate is close to Zillow’s at $2.85 million, while Realtor.com says the property is currently worth more than $3 million.
Factored into the price: 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, and nearly 3,000 square feet of living space.
All of them are worth a pretty penny
Except for the property set at 718 Steiner St, each of the Painted Ladies has an estimated worth ranging from $2 million and $5 million.
That’s considerably higher than the city average, with the median home sale price for San Francisco being $1.2 million.
If they are to sell, the properties would likely fetch even more than the estimates above.
Real estate portals use automated value models when estimating the value of a home, taking into account tax assessment records and recent sale prices of comparable properties, among others. But their automated nature doesn’t factor in less tangible data points like a property’s popularity and cultural significance — and these ladies have that in spades.
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