2008 Home Sales in Danville, San Ramon & Dublin, California

Home sales in Dublin California reflect the influence of new home builders slashing prices and adding financing and upgrade incentives. Dublin has more entry-level new home inventory than other surrounding communities. The large number of condos being sold in Dublin is helping to home sales figures climbing. 

The impact of foreclosures and short sales on home prices in Windermere and Gale Ranch in San Ramon, CA is driving the number of homes sold in these communities. We expect the second half of 2008 to show a stronger sales trend than 2007 for most East Bay communities because of foreclosures.

In the older sections of San Ramon, we have a higher percentage of home owners who have been in their homes more than 10 years. These neighborhoods also have a higher percentage of baby boomers that are reaching retirement age and have the luxury of riding out the current market.

Blackhawk in Danville, California reflects the impact of problems with jumbo loans in 2007 more than any other communitiy. August of 2007 saw a near collapse of jumbo loan mortgages. 2008 sales of homes in Blackhawk should fare better in the second half of 2008 than 2007.

Danville, California is one of theEast Bay communities where home owners are gambling away more equity in their homes than other communities. Home sales in Danville will probaly trend flat through the remainder of 2008.

The Plaza at Gale Ranch in San Ramon has recently opened up to the public with the introduction of Safeway, its anchor tenant. The estimated $20 million development, located at Dougherty Road and Bollinger Canyon Road, will soon be home to other businesses that include Wells Fargo, Union Bank, Ascona Pizza, Gale Ranch Dental Group, Peet's Coffee and Fat Cactus Bar & Grill.

About 135,000 people live within five miles of the plaza, which is already more than Concord’s entire population. It is worth noting that the average household income in this area is $141,977.

Less than 5 miles away from Gale Ranch is Windmill Farms, which is facing pressure from the Contra Costa Health Department to change the way it has been doing business for the past 30 years. The San Ramon produce market has been selling cut fuits and vegetables along with other prepared foods in a space that is much larger than what is allowed by the county’s open-air codes. Windmill Farms can continue to sell their products as they have been if they create more indoor space and washable floors. If they fail to comply, they may be forced to shut down permanently.

It’s hard to hear of this produce market’s struggles alongside the success that The Plaza at Gale Ranch is destined for. As much as I would love for established, community-loved businesses to thrive, customer safety must be looked at as a priority. I hope that Windmill Farms will be able to resolve its disputes with the county without having to compromise too much of the services it has been providing to the San Ramon area for over three decades.

- Joseph Natividad

I was driving by the site for the Plaza at Gale Ranch the other day and noticed the dozers working away. I was wondering when the commercial part of this development would be a reality. I found this item in the East Bay Business Times today. 

The Plaza at Gale Ranch, an 11-acre, 126,000-square-foot neighborhood retail center in a new San Ramon residential area, will be anchored by a Safeway store.

At 60,000 square feet, Safeway will occupy nearly half of the shopping center at the corner of Dougherty and Bollinger Canyon roads in the developing Dougherty Valley area, according to Chris Truebridge, president of the commercial division of the developer, Shapell Homes.

What's next Wal Mart, Home Depot, Costco? 

I didn't know there was a Dougherty Valley - are we the QuadValley area now? Goes to show just how fast this area of California is growing!