Santa Clarita Is Growing: What New Housing and Current Development Mean for Homeowners
If it feels like there is construction everywhere you look around Santa Clarita lately, you’re not imagining it.
New homes are going up, major developments are moving forward, and decisions are being made now that will shape how the Santa Clarita Valley looks for years to come.
As someone who has lived in Santa Clarita since 1981, I’ve watched our community change tremendously. Some of the hillsides, roads and neighborhoods we drive through every day looked very different when I was growing up here.
And whenever we see another construction site, I hear the same questions:
Where are all these homes going?
What is being built?
Will more housing affect my property value?
What about water?
What about a hospital?
And, of course, what is this going to do to traffic?
Those are fair questions, so let’s look at what is actually happening.
A Very Big Project West of I-5
One of the biggest development stories right now is Homestead South, part of the larger FivePoint Valencia/Newhall Ranch master plan.
The project calls for 3,617 homes on approximately 1,752 acres south of Highway 126 and the Santa Clara River, about two miles west of Interstate 5.
This is not simply another small tract of homes.
Plans include a combination of single-family and multifamily housing, along with parks, schools, recreation areas, open space, a fire station and other community facilities.
The size alone gives you an idea of how much the west side of the Santa Clarita Valley may continue to change over the coming years.
And this is part of a much larger FivePoint vision that has been planned for decades.
New Homes Are Opening in Stevenson Ranch Too
Growth isn’t limited to Valencia.
Lennar’s new Hillcrest community in Stevenson Ranch is opening its models this weekend, August 8.
Hillcrest includes larger single-family homes designed for buyers looking for more space, with three floor plans ranging from approximately 3,767 to 4,681 square feet.
The homes offer four to five bedrooms, and some plans include first-floor suites, bonus rooms and multigenerational-style living options.
Pricing is starting in the low $1.4 millions.
For buyers looking at Stevenson Ranch, this adds a completely new option to the market and gives existing homeowners something else to pay attention to when evaluating their own home’s competition.
What Is Being Built Right Now?
There is plenty more already happening throughout Santa Clarita.
According to the City of Santa Clarita’s current Major Development Projects list, several projects have received approvals, pulled permits and are under construction.
Among them are MetroWalk, Victoria/The Overlook at Plum Canyon, Tesoro Highlands, Trenton Heights and Vista Canyon.
If you drive around Canyon Country, Plum Canyon, north Valencia and other growing portions of the valley, you can see just how much building is underway.
MetroWalk is particularly interesting because it is designed around the Via Princessa Metrolink station and can include as many as 498 residential units, including affordable senior housing.
And there is more coming.
The City currently lists projects that are approved but not yet under construction, including Golden Triangle Apartments, the Bouquet Canyon Project, River Walk Mixed Use, Paseo Nuevo, Plaza del Sol and the Soledad Mixed Use Project.
Golden Triangle Apartments, for example, is approved for 164 apartment units near Golden Triangle Road and Isabella Parkway.
Santa Clarita’s growth story is clearly far from finished.
What Does More Housing Mean for Current Homeowners?
This is probably the question I hear most.
Does building more homes hurt the value of the home I already own?
Not necessarily.
New construction creates additional choices for buyers, but a brand-new home and an established neighborhood are not always competing for exactly the same buyer.
Many buyers specifically want established neighborhoods because they may offer larger lots, mature landscaping, lower or no Mello Roos, different HOA structures and neighborhoods where the parks, shopping and amenities are already in place.
Newer communities have their own appeal, including modern floor plans, energy-efficient construction and newer amenities.
There is room in the market for both.
What matters more to an individual homeowner is how their property compares with the choices buyers have when they decide to sell.
That becomes especially important when developments like Hillcrest and FivePoint are adding brand-new inventory.
Pricing, condition, presentation and marketing matter even more when buyers have additional options.
More Homes Also Means More People
This is where the conversation gets more complicated.
Thousands of additional homes naturally raise questions about roads, schools, traffic, water, emergency services and health care.
Those concerns shouldn’t be dismissed.
When you talk about a project containing more than 3,600 homes, or multiple projects being built simultaneously throughout the valley, infrastructure becomes an important part of the conversation.
More housing can also bring additional businesses, restaurants, services, parks and investment into the community.
Growth itself isn’t necessarily good or bad.
The real question is whether infrastructure, services and planning keep pace with that growth.
For Buyers, More Construction Means More Choices
If you are planning to buy a home in Santa Clarita, this growth gives you something buyers haven’t always had much of here: options.
You may now be comparing a resale home in Valencia, Saugus, Newhall, Canyon Country, Castaic or Stevenson Ranch with brand-new construction.
Don’t compare only the purchase price.
Look at the complete picture, including HOA dues, Mello Roos or special assessments, lot size, upgrades, commute, location, future construction around the neighborhood and the total monthly cost of owning the home.
A new home priced similarly to a resale home can have a very different monthly payment once taxes, HOA fees and assessments are included.
And remember, when purchasing new construction, the builder’s sales representative represents the builder.
You can have your own real estate agent representing you as the buyer, and it is best to involve that agent before your first visit or registration with the builder.
What Sellers Need to Know
If you’re considering selling an existing Santa Clarita home, don’t panic because you see new homes going up nearby.
But do pay attention.
Today’s buyers can compare your home with resale listings, remodeled homes and brand-new construction from their phones before they ever schedule a showing.
That means we have to clearly show them why your home is worth choosing.
Maybe it’s a larger yard.
Maybe there is no Mello Roos.
Maybe you have a pool, RV parking, an established neighborhood, mature landscaping, beautiful upgrades or a location buyers can’t duplicate in a new development.
Those differences need to be part of the marketing strategy, not something we hope buyers notice on their own.
Santa Clarita Will Continue to Change
I’ve been local since 1981, and if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that Santa Clarita never really stops evolving.
I remember when many of today’s established neighborhoods were the “new construction” everyone was talking about.
Now they’re some of the communities buyers specifically seek out.
With more than 3,600 additional homes proposed at Homestead South, continued building throughout FivePoint Valencia, new homes opening at Hillcrest in Stevenson Ranch and projects underway throughout the City, the next several years are going to bring noticeable change.
That makes it even more important for homeowners, buyers and sellers to understand not only what is being built, but how it could affect their particular neighborhood and their real estate plans.
Because real estate is always local, and sometimes it is even neighborhood by neighborhood.
If you’re wondering how the new construction and development around Santa Clarita could affect your home’s value, or you’re trying to decide between a new home and an established neighborhood, I’m always happy to help you look at the numbers and your options.
Wendy Gundry
RE/MAX of Santa Clarita
Local Since 1981
Helping Buyers & Sellers Since 1996
Serving Your Real Estate Needs at a Higher Level
DRE #01250162
wendygundry.com
