Off-Market, On-Point: How Kindred SF Homes Turned a Tricky Residential Income Sale into a Win-Win

There’s always more to a real estate story than the sale price. Case in point: 1318–1320 6th Avenue. Sold off-market for $1,550,000. No signs, no staging, no open houses. Sounds easy, right? Spoiler alert: It wasn’t.

This one started 25 years ago, when Cynthia Cummins fielded calls from a curious homeowner (“B”) in the Richmond. Fast-forward to 2019: B moves east, Cynthia helps him prep and sell his longtime home — just as the pandemic hits. Multiple offers, shelter-in-place chaos, the whole nine yards.

Three years later, B passes away. His daughter (“L”), now executor of his estate from across the country, reaches out about selling his longtime investment property — a duplex in the Inner Sunset with long-term tenants.

Here’s where it gets complicated. Small residential income properties in San Francisco are notoriously tricky to sell. Why?

Long-term tenants often have below-market rents.

Rent control laws severely limit eviction options.

Tenant Buyout Agreements must follow strict legal protocols.

Showing tenant-occupied units is often difficult or impossible.

Some tenants are simply uncooperative — or unreachable.

And in this case? Check, check, check, check… and double check. But we — Cynthia Cummins and Lisa Riddle — stepped onto the chessboard and started plotting a winning move, one thoughtful step at a time.

One tenant wasn’t responsive. The property was managed by a third-party firm (cue “too many cooks”). And everything had to be navigated from 3,000 miles away — legally, strategically, respectfully.

So we looped in a top-notch landlord-tenant attorney, collaborated with the management company, and helped L craft a legal, ethical, tenant-respecting strategy — including a formal buyout offer. Crickets.

Then a twist: One of the tenants made a sincere offer to purchase the building. As any seasoned SF agent will tell you, when a tenant wants to buy, you listen. Because in this city, tenant cooperation isn’t optional — it’s the key to unlocking a smooth sale.

So, with patience, tact, and lots of Zooms, texts, and phone calls, we helped L and the tenants strike a deal that worked beautifully for everyone. The tenants got the home they loved. L closed the chapter on her father’s estate.

The real lesson? You need agents who know the terrain — who think beyond “just closing the deal.” Kindred SF Homes agents are experts in nuance. We’re patient. Strategic. And we treat everyone — sellers, buyers, tenants — with care and respect.

Have a complex real estate situation? Let’s  talk. We specialize in turning real-life complications into just-right solutions.