Original ‘Real World: San Francisco’ house drops $2.1 million

Back in August, the seven-bed, seven-bath Russian Hill triplex at 949 Lombard, once used to film the first San Francisco season of MTV’s The Real World, popped up for sale, asking a princely but contextually appropriate $6.99 million.

Yes, a house of seven strangers now sports seven beds and baths, and is worth (nearly) seven million big ones—or at least that was the aspiration.

Four months later the price has precipitously dropped, landing at $4.89 million in the latest offer. Falling prices are always welcome, but it does spoil the symmetry of its previous 7-7-7 tableau.

In truth, it’s not the same place it was during its star-making TV appearance in 1994, now rebuilt as multiple units after a fire caused by (no fooling) a scented candle in 2000.

Still, many of the changes are for the better: Gone is the grim and lopsided ’90s era facade with single window up top that previously made the circa 1925 Mediterranean home look like a staggered cyclops, for example.

And since it’s at least recognizable as the same building, a little fame and a little Gen X nostalgia appeal still goes a long way.

The season of the proto-reality show The Real World shot here remains a fan favorite after more than two decades—the public has made the wise decision to forget about the terrible 2013 SF sequel—thanks largely to contributing some of the most memorable cast members to the show’s legacy, including late artist Pedro Zamora and crude, perpetually unwashed bike messenger Puck Rainey.

Since then the home has seen plenty of drama of its own, including the fire and a subsequent foreclosure. But you can’t catch any of that in reruns.

• “Real World” House For Sale [Curbed SF]
• 949 Lombard [AgencyRE]
• “Real World” House In Flames [SF Chronicle]
• SF Real World House, 96 [YouTube]
• 949 Lombard Foreclosure [RealtyTrac]