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1636-1638 Palou Ave

Bayview, SF 94124 5322048 2 units · 2 fl · 2004

This building has a higher-than-average number of open problems nearby. Few open issues; problems get fixed quickly. A reasonable bet for a smooth tenancy.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Bayview
At or below average
avg 4.5
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Bayview average of 4.5.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1636-1638 Palou Ave 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 2004
2 or more units
2 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH2
Not rent-controlled. Buildings constructed after 1978 are generally exempt from SF rent increase limits under the Costa-Hawkins Act.

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

Building characteristics
Units2
Floors2
Year built2004
Total area3,731 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot5322048
Ownership

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

Owner name
Pang David
Mailing address
1636 Palou Ave San Francisco CA 94124
Last sale
093013

Landlord portfolio

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

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

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

1636 Palou Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124
1638 Palou Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

1636-1638 Palou Avenue is a two-unit multi-family residence built in 2004, located in the Bayview neighborhood and currently owned by David Pang. The building has undergone several significant changes and had various maintenance issues over the years. Notably, in 2012, there were multiple complaints and violations related to unauthorized unit conversions, including illegal kitchens and ventilation problems, which required a $6,000 renovation project to comply with city orders. These issues were eventually resolved, and the building's address was officially changed to reflect its two legal units. The property has seen some positive upgrades in recent years, including the installation of solar panels with battery storage and an upgraded electrical panel (225 amps) in 2024, though this permit is still in process. Historical maintenance includes a significant reroofing project completed in 2020 costing $10,000.

The building faced several safety and maintenance challenges early in its history, particularly in 2008-2009, when there were violations related to fire safety (egress obstruction) and smoke detectors that were resolved. More recent history (2020-2024) shows relatively few issues directly related to the building itself, with most complaints focusing on external matters like street cleaning and parking concerns. The property has undergone various electrical upgrades over the years, including a 200-amp service installation in 2010 and multiple interior improvements in 2012. The recent solar panel installation represents a significant sustainability upgrade for the property. While historical records show periods of significant maintenance and compliance work, the most recent permits and service requests indicate fewer pressing issues, though there remain some exterior maintenance concerns as evidenced by recent 311 calls regarding sidewalk cleaning and curb defects.

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

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Risk rating

How 1636-1638 Palou Ave'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

Grade A–B — Low risk

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

Grade C — Moderate risk

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

Grade D–F — High risk

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

Neighborhood percentile
94th percentile

Out of 382 buildings in this neighborhood, 23 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
74%
No DBI
violation
26%
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.

Neighborhood location

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

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 severity forecast
No violation 74.2%
Moderate concern 22.3%
Severe concern 3.5%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

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The story over time

1636-1638 Palou Ave event timeline

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

2024
Electrical Permit May 16
Pv6517- install 8 solar modules on flat roof for 3.4kw with ess batteries and upgrade panel to 225amps
Cancelled

See all 2 events

Full history back to 2020 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 1636-1638 Palou Ave apartments

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

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Cancel anytime · Data sourced from SF Open Data, DBI, SFFD, SF Rent Board & Planning

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