Free SF apartment background check

98 Carmel St

Cole Valley/Parnassus Heights, SF 94117 1291015 4 units · 2 fl · 1907

Nothing on record for this building in the last seven years. Our model still sees a moderate chance of maintenance problems in the next 12 months, from the owner's wider portfolio and the surrounding area rather than from anything recorded here. No public enforcement record to go on. Walk the building, ask the current tenants how repairs get handled, and get any promises in writing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Cole Valley/Parnassus Heights — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 0.9
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Cole Valley/Parnassus Heights average of 0.9.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 98 Carmel St rent-controlled?

San Francisco's Rent Ordinance caps rent increases and provides eviction protection for most residential units built before 1979 with 2+ units. Here's how this building scores.

Built before 1979
Built 1907
2 or more units
4 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH2
Likely rent-controlled. Building age and unit count suggest this property falls under San Francisco's Rent Ordinance.

Based on SF Assessor records. Not legal advice — confirm with the SF Rent Board.

Statewide backstop · AB 1482

California Tenant Protection Act of 2019

Even when a building isn't covered by local rent stabilization, the statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) may still apply. It caps annual rent increases and requires the landlord to state a legal reason to end most tenancies.

15+ years since occupancy
Built 1907
Annual rent increase cap
5% + CPI, max 10%
Just-cause eviction
After 12 months
Local rent control likely takes priority. This building appears to fall under the local ordinance above, which is stronger than AB 1482. Where a local just-cause ordinance applies, its rules govern instead of the state cap.

AB 1482 does not apply to single-family homes and condos unless owned by a corporation, REIT, or an LLC with a corporate member; to owner-occupied duplexes; or to deed-restricted affordable housing. The Act is in effect until January 1, 2030. Not legal advice — see the California landlord–tenant guide.

Building characteristics
Units4
Floors2
Year built1907
Total area2,750 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1291015
Ownership

Registered owner per SF Assessor-Recorder (secured roll).

Mailing address
Howard Grothe Jr Trustee Po Box 590657 San Francisco CA 94159
Last sale
—

Landlord portfolio

Other SF properties this owner holds, with a risk rating for each.

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

All street addresses sharing this blocklot that are covered by this report.

1450 Cole St, San Francisco, CA 94117
98 Carmel St, San Francisco, CA 94117
1448 Cole St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The property at 98 Carmel Street is a two-story, four-unit multi-family residential building constructed in 1907, currently owned by the Howard L Grothe Jr Revocable Trust. The building's documented history reveals several significant improvements and maintenance actions over the past two decades, with the most substantial renovations occurring between 2003-2004 when the kitchen and bathroom units underwent remodeling, along with window replacements and furnace upgrades, at a cost of $70,000. These improvements were completed in conjunction with addressing a building violation related to stair repairs. In 2005-2006, the garage facilities were notably reconstructed, including demolition of the old structure followed by the construction of a new garage valued at $35,000, along with the installation of new electrical systems including a sub-panel and lighting. The building's maintenance record shows generally good upkeep, with the last known building violation being resolved in October 2005.

Recent activity at the property, particularly in 2024, has primarily involved parking-related issues, with multiple reports of vehicles blocking driveways and other parking violations. These incidents, documented through 311 calls, suggest ongoing challenges with street parking management in the vicinity. Notably, there was one report of a fallen tree in June 2024, though this appears to have been promptly addressed. The property's historical permit records indicate regular maintenance and upgrading of facilities, including electrical systems, with no active violations or significant structural concerns documented in recent years. The last major construction work on record occurred in the mid-2000s, suggesting that the building's core systems have remained stable since then, with no recorded major repairs or improvements in the past decade.

AI-generated · may contain errors · check the source data tables below

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Risk rating

How 98 Carmel St's risk score is calculated

We trained a model on 7 years of SF DBI inspection data — notice of violation filings, complaint history, and owner track records. It estimates the probability that DBI inspectors will issue a Notice of Violation at this address in the next 12 months. Lower % = safer.

What the score means for you

Lower risk — safer than most nearby

DBI rarely finds violations here. Strong maintenance history and a clean complaint record.

Typical — about average for the neighborhood

Some past violations or complaints on record. Worth asking the landlord about any open issues before signing.

Higher risk — riskier than most nearby

Elevated violation and complaint history. DBI has found issues here before and is statistically likely to again.

Neighborhood percentile
42ndpercentile

Out of 526 buildings in this neighborhood, 305 are predicted to be safer. The band is relative to this neighborhood, so a share of every neighborhood falls in each colour.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
72%
No DBI
violation
28%
DBI violation
likely
Model explanation

What's driving this score

The three data points that most influenced this building's risk rating — ranked by the weight the model placed on each one.

Number of units

The number of units affects how the model reads complaint and violation totals — more units means more potential sources.

Neighborhood location

Precise location is a proxy for neighborhood-level risk — some SF blocks have systematically higher DBI activity.

Estimated permit spend (past 7 years)

Dollar value of permits pulled at this address — large recent spend can signal deferred-maintenance catch-up.

12-Month risk forecast
Moderate failure risk 28%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

98 Carmel St apartment reviews

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On the map

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Buildings nearby
8 found
The story over time

98 Carmel St event timeline

Violations, complaints, fire incidents, permits, and buyouts — most recent records in order.

2025
311 Request Apr 16
Abandoned vehicle
Parking Enforcement

See all 4 events

Full history back to 2023 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 98 Carmel St apartments

13 SF public datasets for this parcel — permits, violations, complaints, fire records, 311 calls, planning records, and buyouts.

Side by side

How 98 Carmel St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Cole Valley/Parnassus Heights. Toggle filters to narrow the peer group.

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