Want Dirt...in Sonoma County?

Want Dirt...in Sonoma County?

Clients I've been working with lately ... a number of them ... have been in the market for parcels of land.  Their requirements vary.  One couple wants to build a home in a rural setting, not far from restaurants and other amenities, preferably above any nearby homes, high up on a hilltop.   Another buyer is looking for at least 20 acres on the western slope Sonoma Mountain at an elevation that affords them dramatic and sweeping views.  And yet another is looking for a hundred acres or more overlooking the Pacific Ocean. All of these folks are on a steep learning curve about Sonoma land values.

There are currently 334 land listings in Sonoma County that are zoned for single family or residential use.  The asking prices range from $15,000 to $26.5 Million.   Prices for lots in agricultural areas are far different from prices for parcels in town.  There are also huge variations in land values in Coastal Sonoma County.

Determining the value of a parcel for building a home in Sonoma County is not a simple task unless you want a lot in a subdivision.   It's relatively easy to assign a market value to a piece of dirt surrounded by others that have similar improvements like water, sewer, and power.  When you get out into the country, though, there many issues to consider.

Prices for land in Sonoma County are baffling unless you understand that values are determined  by location, highest and best use, and improvements.  A buildable 2 acre parcel with an approved septic system, a productive well, and nearby power can run anywhere from $200,000 to $2 Million depending upon where it's located.   A 20 acre parcel of forest West Sonoma County might fetch several hundred thousand while that same amount of land could sell for millions in another location.  Plantable vineyard land carries a premium value that some buyers find hard to understand.  And the value of land already planted to vineyard varies depending upon soils, varietal, appellation, micro-climate, water, maturity of the vines....and so on.

If you are interested in information about land in Sonoma County,  it's in your best interest to find a local agent who knows how to help you investigate the true market value and whether it meets your needs.  For more on this...feel free to contact me.