2014 First Quarter North County Real Estate Review
This real estate review is for the first quarter activity in the North County real estate market. Today, the wine industry and the grape growing industry are driving economic activity in our community. A decade ago construction was the driving economic force. Things change. Communities need revenue to sustain public services. North County is fortunate to be the right place at the right time. Furthermore our City leaders have actually facilitated this economic growth, via the wine industry and keeping our City solvent.
In this first quarter residential single family home sales dropped 15% in numbers sold, but the average sale price rose 20% to $368,000. The supply of homes for sale increased by 100 units, or almost 30% from 2013 to 2014. The average list price rose to almost $400,000 in the first quarter. Sellers are getting ahead of the market today with the expectation of Spring activity.
The luxury home market is moving at a pace similar to last year. Sales, pending sales and supply are all somewhat in line with last year’s numbers. There is increased spec building activity in the high end million dollar properties for the first time in years. It’s still a Buyer’s market at the high end.
Paso Robles has been lauded in the press quite a bit recently, beginning with the Central Coast being named the number one wine region in the Country last year in the Wine Spectator. Every few weeks we see a new magazine or newspaper article describing the beauty and desirability of this region. And even a new poll by Gallup Well-Being ranks this region’s population as the second most satisfied in the United States. Tourists have
discovered this place and the pace is not slowing. Paso Robles is on track to double our current number of hotel rooms. Perhaps these rooms will not all be built immediately but this is an extraordinary vote of confidence from inbound private money. And with any real estate review of our area tourism is noted as driving new restaurants. Wine tasting room sales have been stable and growing. This type of economic activity is helping to absorb retail commercial space by providing entrepreneurial opportunities for small business people. Demand for office space is still weak. The wine industry creates some demand for storage, processing and ancillary small support businesses.
The Paso Robles version of Silicon Valley success stories are boutique wine brands. Investors are seeking cash flow and growth off Wall Street. Some local Paso Robles brands are now worth millions of dollars net of real estate. We have some larger operations that may approach a billion dollars one day in brand equity.
Demand for wine grapes is stable. West side fruit is in high demand. Raw land for planting Westside fruit is in demand. The pricing for existing vineyard properties is also very strong, both east and Westside. A combination of solid prices for fruit and uncertainty of planting, because of the water ordinance, is driving this demand. We also are seeing crush facilities at capacity with more in demand.
Drought conditions have created a cloud of uncertainty within the entire state. Real estate buyers are more cautious across the board in regard to water. This buyer caution has delayed some sales. I believe the drought will also foster innovation and conservation measures that will strengthen our community in the long term.
Real estate remains a strong investment in North County. Our community is well 
positioned for economic prosperity in the next few years. The cost of building a home, planting a vineyard or building anything will continue to rise through government fees and restrictive policies. Existing properties are a good value when compared to replacement costs. The drought accelerated the future cost of building and planting. Desirable communities tend to become pricey communities. That’s just the way it is. We are on our way.
