# AI Wealth Drives San Francisco Home Prices Higher > Source: > Published: 2026-07-08 23:11:35+00:00 Concentrated equity liquidity from AI companies is reshaping local cost structures and worker location choices, which matters to data scientists weighing total-compensation and relocation tradeoffs. Reported facts: According to Redfin and reporting by the BBC, the San Francisco median sale price reached a record high of **$1.76m** as of May 2026. Real estate brokerage Compass, cited by The Guardian and the San Francisco Chronicle, reported median prices above **$2m** in March and that **144** homes sold for at least **$1m** over asking in the first half of 2026. The Guardian cites the Wall Street Journal reporting that more than **600** OpenAI employees cashed out roughly **$6.6bn** in a recent tender process. Local agents quoted across outlets say sellers are accepting equity in companies such as **OpenAI** and **Anthropic** as payment, and Redfin economist Daryl Fairweather described prices as "just astronomical," per the BBC.