Crypto + real estate in the Bay Area

The Bay Area has the highest concentration of crypto holders in the United States. If you hold BTC or ETH and you're thinking about buying a home, you have more options than a conventional Realtor will tell you about — and each path has tradeoffs that most agents don't know to walk through.

This page is a starting point. Below is a quick map of the four big questions that come up in every crypto-funded home purchase. Each one has its own page with more detail.

Crypto mortgages: overview

Crypto-backed mortgages let you borrow against your BTC or ETH instead of selling it. The lender holds your crypto as collateral. Rates are higher than conventional mortgages (typically 1-3 percentage points above the prevailing conventional rate), terms run 5-15 years in most cases, and the underwriting is asset-based rather than income-based. The advantage is clear: you keep your upside if crypto appreciates, and you avoid triggering a capital gains event. The disadvantage is also clear: higher rate, shorter term, more complexity. The best fit is a buyer with strong crypto conviction and a shorter time horizon.

Two established lenders in this space right now are Figure (which uses blockchain for the title and lien process) and Milo (which focuses on crypto-backed mortgages for US-based borrowers). Both operate in California. Other lenders enter and exit the space periodically. The market shifts every quarter, so when we sit down I'll show you what's actually available today, not what was available six months ago.

Holding crypto vs. liquidating before closing

The biggest decision for a crypto-funded buyer is whether to sell some of your crypto before closing or hold it through. Selling triggers capital gains tax (federal long-term rates 0-20% depending on income, plus CA state). Holding means you keep your upside but you need another funding source for the down payment. Most buyers I work with end up with a split: liquidate enough to cover the down payment, hold the rest.

The 2026 macro picture matters here. Bitcoin and Ethereum have moved significantly in the last 12 months, and the rate environment changes the calculus. There's no formula — it's a function of your tax bracket, your conviction in the asset, and your timeline for the home purchase. If you want a 15-minute walk-through of the numbers, that's exactly what the discovery call is for.

Tax implications

Three tax topics come up in every crypto + real estate conversation. First, California property tax: the effective rate runs 1.1-1.3% of assessed value per year, with Prop 13 capping the annual increase at 2%. Second, federal capital gains on the sale of crypto: long-term (held over a year) is 0-20%, short-term is your marginal income tax rate. Third, the 1031 exchange: real estate 1031 rules don't apply to crypto directly, but there are strategies involving converting crypto to real estate and then 1031-ing out. All of this is firmly in your CPA's domain, not mine. I'll coordinate with whoever does your taxes.

Why Bay Area needs crypto-friendly agents

Most Realtors don't hold crypto. They don't track on-chain liquidity, they don't read the macro tape, and they can't price the cross-market opportunity cost of liquidating BTC vs holding it. That gap shows up in two places: first, the source-of-funds documentation, which is materially different for a wallet than for a brokerage account, and title companies unfamiliar with crypto will stall closings; second, the strategic advice, which is incomplete without a crypto-aware lens. The Bay Area specifically has the highest crypto-holder density in the country, and very few agents who speak both languages.

Talk to a crypto-aware Realtor

If you're holding BTC or ETH and thinking about a home purchase in the Bay Area, the right next step is a 15-minute call. Tell me your situation — what you're holding, target price range, timeline, and whether you're working with a CPA or mortgage broker yet. I'll lay out the realistic paths and connect you with the right specialists where it makes sense. No charge for the conversation.

Schedule the 15-minute call Or run the free AI Visibility Audit