Burlingame houses for sale are scarce. In early November 2026, just 15 homes were listed, with a median asking price just under $3 million and only 1.2 months of inventory. Competition is intense: 29 of the city’s 50 highest-priced sales in the past year closed above the asking price.

Why people choose Burlingame

Burlingame is a small city of tree-lined streets on the San Francisco Peninsula, between San Francisco and Silicon Valley. It has long called itself the “City of Trees,” and it is one of the few Peninsula towns with two real main streets: Burlingame Avenue and Broadway.

For people relocating, three things come up again and again:

• Getting around without a car. Caltrain stops at two stations in town, and the downtowns are walkable.
• San Francisco International Airport is a few minutes away, which matters for anyone who flies often for work.
• Neighborhood feel. Much of the city was built in the early 20th century, so many streets have older Craftsman, Tudor and Colonial Revival homes and mature trees.

Who is buying, and where they land

Buyers in Burlingame tend to fall into a few groups. The price ranges below come from the city’s current listings and pending sales in early November 2026.

Buyer	What they usually want	Where in the market	Price range in current data
First-time buyers and renters ready to own	A 2-bedroom condo or townhome near downtown or Caltrain	Condos and townhomes near El Camino Real and the downtown streets	About $965,000 to $1.5 million (7 of 14 pending sales)
Families moving up	A 3- to 5-bedroom house near schools and parks	Single-family streets on both sides of El Camino Real	Active houses about $2.99 million to $5 million
Buyers wanting space or views	A larger house, a bigger lot, or a view	The hills toward Skyline Boulevard and the Hillsborough border	Top recent sales $5 million to $7.2 million
Downsizers staying local	A smaller home with less upkeep, close to shops	Condos and smaller houses near Burlingame Avenue and Broadway	Similar to the first-time range, plus some small houses

What the competition looks like

Burlingame is a seller’s market most of the time. In early November 2026, about 6 homes were in contract for every 10 listed, and homes averaged 50 days on market.

Sales data shows how fast good homes go. Among the 50 highest-priced sales from November 2025 to October 2026:

• 29 sold above asking, 9 sold at asking and 12 sold below.
• The median home sold for about 104% of its list price.
• The biggest premiums were close to 30%. A Columbus Avenue house listed at $3.295 million sold for $4.28 million.

The lesson for anyone relocating: the list price is often a starting point, not the final price. Buyers who win usually have financing approved, inspections reviewed and a clear offer ready by the offer date.

The neighborhoods newcomers compare

• Burlingame Park and Easton Addition. Larger lots, mature trees and many early 20th-century homes, a short walk from Burlingame Avenue.
• Ray Park and Lyon-Hoag. Near the Broadway corridor, with more modest single-family homes and lower prices.
• The hills. Streets climbing toward Skyline Boulevard offer views and larger parcels.
• Near downtown. Most condos and townhomes, often a few minutes’ walk from Caltrain.

Planning a move to Burlingame

• Start with financing. Most houses here need a jumbo loan or a large down payment, so speak to a lender before you tour.
• Know the calendar. Many sellers set an offer date about a week after listing. Plan your trip so you can see homes in the first few days.
• Read the disclosures early. Sellers usually share inspection reports up front. Review them before the offer date.
• Budget for property tax. California’s base rate is 1% of the purchase price plus local assessments, so plan for about 1.1% to 1.25% a year.

Questions newcomers ask

Is Burlingame cheaper than Hillsborough?

Yes. Hillsborough’s median asking price was about $10.3 million in early November 2026, compared with just under $3 million in Burlingame.

Can I find a house under $2 million in Burlingame?

It is rare. In current data, homes under $2 million were almost all condos or townhomes.

How long does it take to buy?

A typical escrow is about 30 days, but finding the right home in a market with 15 listings can take longer.

See live Burlingame listings

Inventory changes every week. You can see current listings, pending and sold homes and a guide to each neighborhood at highnote360.com/burlingame-ca-homes-for-sale.

Market figures are from Highnote360’s listing data (MLSListings), as of November 3, 2026.

About the author: Mark Choey is a real estate broker with Christie’s International Real Estate San Francisco and the founder of Highnote360.