San Francisco’s comeback: Is your high-rise ready?

San Francisco is rising again.

After years of pandemic-related challenges, the city is experiencing a powerful resurgence. Under the leadership of Mayor Daniel Lurie, San Francisco is reclaiming its reputation as a vibrant, safe, and desirable place to live. For HOA board members in self-managed high-rise buildings, this moment presents a critical question: Is your building ready for the comeback?
 

San Francisco’s post-COVID recovery

The city faced significant challenges during and after COVID, from economic slowdown and rising crime to declining tourism. But today, the tide is turning:

• Crime is down: Car break-ins have dropped 41%, property crime is down 35%, and violent crime has decreased by 15%.
   
• Encampments cleared: Tent encampments have been reduced by 92% in the Mission and 67% in SoMa.
   
• Downtown revitalization: The “Heart of the City” initiative is bringing life back to San Francisco’s core.
   
• Business and tourism rebound: Muni ridership is climbing, and new investments are flowing into the city.

According to Newsweek, this is “San Francisco’s Great American Comeback.” And the numbers back it up.
 

Population trends: The city is growing again

While San Francisco experienced a population decline of 2.1% from 2020 to 2023, the city added 39,000 residents between July 2023 and July 2024 – a 0.9% increase². This growth is largely driven by international migration, which added 179,000 residents between 2020 and 2024³. Natural population growth contributed another 48,000.

The city’s population now stands at approximately 827,526, just 6% below its pre-pandemic peak. This influx of new residents is creating fresh demand for housing and services.
 

What this means for HOA high-rises

As the city reawakens, competition among high-rise buildings is intensifying. Residents returning to San Francisco are looking for more than just a place to live, they want:

• Modern building technology
   
• Responsive resident support
   
• Clean, safe, and well-managed communities
   
• Expertise in high-rise operations

Self-managed buildings must ask: Do we have the tools, resources, and expertise to stand out amongst the competition?
 

Revolutionizing San Francisco high-rise property management

Now more than ever, residents want instant answers, seamless service, and connection. FirstService Residential is meeting, and exceeding, these expectations by transforming community management through a groundbreaking property management technology support model: HODA and RSS.
 

HODA: The Homeowner Digital Assistant

HODA, our proprietary property management technology solution, is an AI-powered assistant available 24/7 via text and website chat. It’s designed to support our resident service team and handle the most common resident inquiries instantly and accurately – and in any language. Whether it’s checking account balances, requesting statements, or understanding community rules, HODA delivers answers in real time.

Why it matters:

• 90% of inquiries resolved on first contact
   
• Reduces email volume and call traffic
   
• Improves resident satisfaction
   
• Frees up property managers to focus on strategic priorities

RSS: Resident Support Services

RSS is a team of locally based assistant property managers, not a call center, who handle day-to-day resident support. From architectural modification questions to access control issues, RSS ensures that every inquiry is addressed quickly and professionally.

Why it matters:

• Staffed by real people in local offices like San Francisco
   
• Allows property managers to focus on board-level and strategic tasks
   
• Delivers consistent, high-quality service across communities

Together, HODA and RSS create a support model that blends personalized service with cutting-edge HOA technology. This approach is revolutionizing how communities operate – especially in high-rise environments where responsiveness and efficiency are critical.
 

Staffing: A critical advantage

Staffing can be one of the most significant challenges for self-managed high-rise communities, especially in San Francisco’s rapidly evolving market. Limited recruiting resources and networks often result in longer vacancies, operational gaps, and inconsistent service – directly affecting resident satisfaction and property values.

Professional property management companies with dedicated recruitment teams are better equipped to address these challenges. At FirstService Residential, our approach results in:

• Quickly filling vacant positions to minimize disruption and maintain consistent operations.
   
• Recruiting candidates with specialized expertise suited for the demands of urban communities.
   
• Specialized training in hospitality to elevate the resident experience and foster a welcoming community environment.
   
• Maintaining a steady pipeline of qualified associates for ongoing support.

"In San Francisco’s competitive high-rise market, partnering with an experienced, locally based management company helps ensure communities have the talent and support needed for long-term success. A management partner with a proven recruitment strategy makes all the difference."

Tiffany Hannah, Executive Vice President, High-Rise at FirstService Residential

The risks of falling behind

Self-managed communities that don’t keep pace with the industry risk:

• Difficulty attracting new residents
   
• Lower resident satisfaction
   
• Operational inefficiencies
   
• Jeopardized property values
   
• Vacant positions of on-site staff

With smaller property management companies exiting the San Francisco market, the need for expert guidance and scalable support has never been greater.
 

Why partnering with a local property management expert matters

FirstService Residential is the largest residential management company in North America with deep roots and offices located in the Bay Area and San Francisco.

Our San Francisco high-rise team offers:

• Local expertise in high-rise operations
   
• Advanced technology for resident support
   
• On-site staffing and training 
   
• Decades of experience managing complex urban communities

"We understand the unique challenges of San Francisco’s high-rise buildings, and we know how to help them thrive."

Tiffany Hannah, Executive Vice President, High-Rise at FirstService Residential

The time to act is now

San Francisco’s comeback is in full swing, and the city’s high-rise communities are at the heart of this resurgence. As competition intensifies and resident expectations rise, self-managed buildings face unique challenges that can slow their progress. That’s why partnering with a local expert matters more than ever.

Don’t get left behind.

Let FirstService Residential help your building shine in the new San Francisco. Contact the San Francisco high-rise team today.

Bibliography

1. Newsweek. San Francisco’s Great American Comeback. July 2024. Link

2. Axios. San Francisco is growing despite leading U.S. in population loss. March 2025. Link

3. Danielle Lazier Real Estate. San Francisco Population Growth & What it Means for Real Estate. May 2025. Link

4. San Francisco Chronicle. Heart of the City Initiative Targets Downtown Recovery. June 2024.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.