How much does it cost to buy a house in Foster City?
Foster City median is $1,690,000. At 20% down with current rates around 6.85%, expect roughly $338,000 for the downpayment and ~$8,859/mo principal+interest (before tax/insurance/HOA).
For Foster City home buyers
Buy a home in Foster City — the realistic playbook.
Foster City median: $1,690,000. Days on market: 12. $/sqft: $1090. Roger Grubb has 18 years of Bay Area buyer-side experience including dozens of Foster City transactions. Buyer commission paid by seller — Roger costs you nothing extra.
What $$1,690,000 buys you in Foster City
Planned 1960s waterfront community. Lagoons throughout. Dense townhome stock, some SFR. San Mateo Foster City School District has strong schools. Diverse, family-anchored.
Roger's insider take: Mariner's Island offers the most lagoon-front homes. The east end (closer to Beach Park) is the value play. School-district consistency across the city is unusually strong.
Buying a Foster City home — FAQ
Is Foster City a good place to buy a home?
Families wanting a waterfront-feel with top schools at a Peninsula price below Burlingame/San Carlos.
What schools serve Foster City?
Key schools: Audubon Elementary (9/10), San Mateo HS (8/10).
What types of buyers does Foster City attract?
Tech families wanting waterside lifestyle, Townhome/condo first-time buyers, Equidistant SFO/Silicon Valley commuters.
What's the catch with buying in Foster City?
Single-family-home dominant. Most stock is townhome or attached.
How competitive is buying in Foster City?
Average 12 days on market. Very competitive — expect multi-offer scenarios on well-priced homes.
How do I find off-market homes in Foster City?
Roger Grubb has been transacting in Foster City for 18 years and sees ~1-in-4 homes off-market. Call (510) 504-0402 to get on his buyer list.
Buy in Foster City — one call.
Roger answers his own phone. (510) 504-0402.