Wine Country Real Estate

The world-renowned wines that hail from Northern California have piqued the interest of many people to either visit or move to the Wine Country area. The area known as "the Wine Country" generally refers to the counties of Napa and Sonoma, located north of San Francisco. The area is known world-wide for it's premium wines, and is home to hundreds of wineries and acres of vineyards. The wine growing regions are primarily the Napa Valley in Napa County and the Sonoma Valley, Alexander Valley, and Russian River Valley in Sonoma County.

Napa County

Napa County is primarily a rural community, a combination of protected valleys and surrounding mountain regions. The primary towns in the Napa Valley (from south to north) are Napa (county seat), Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, Calistoga, and St. Helena. Some of the outlying areas are Deer Park, American Canyon, Angwin, Lake Berryessa, and Pope Valley. Napa is a fairly small county, with a land area of 790 square miles and a population of 128,021.

With a reputation for great food and great wine, Napa County has become one of the hottest vacation destinations in California. Vacationing in the Napa Valley has led many people to relocate to the area or to purchase a second home or vacation property in the wine country. Whatever your reasons for buying real estate in the Napa Valley, there are many great properties available.

The median home cost in Napa is $426,000, but the range varies widely from $190,000 to multi-million dollar homes. Homes are available on city lots or on grandiose estates, from quaint cottages to contemporary ranch houses and from new homes to fixer-uppers. Property is also available for those interested in vineyards, farm and ranch land, or in building a custom estate. While the area is often associated with great wealth, not all houses are villas surrounded by vineyards. Most of the homes are average family homes, owned by Napa County residents that have an average income per household of $66,339.

Sonoma County

Sonoma County borders the Pacific Ocean on the west and Napa County on the east. The size of Sonoma County is 1576 square miles, with geography that varies from sandy beaches and forested mountains to rolling hills and valleys dotted with oak trees. The county seat is the city of Santa Rosa, the most populous city in the county. The population in Sonoma County was last counted at 458,614 people, with approximately 183,153 houses in the county.

Sonoma County is vast and varied, with many cities and communities. When deciding where to purchase real estate, there are many possibilities. Families may want to consider school districts and distance to schools, city living or country living, distance to shopping areas or recreational opportunities. Other things to consider are driving time and distance to employment, medical facilities, and location of shopping malls or grocery stores.

Among the areas to consider in Sonoma County are:

• Sonoma County North (Windsor, Healdsburg, Geyserville, Cloverdale, and Asti)
• Sonoma County Central (Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, Penngrove, Two Rock, Fulton, Bloomfield, and Lakeville)
• Russian River and West County(Sebastopol, Graton, Forestville, Occidental, Freestone, Guerneville, Monte Rio, Rio Nido, Camp Meeker, Duncans Mills, Cazadero)
• Sonoma Valley (Aqua Caliente, Boyes Hot Springs, Glen Ellen, Kenwood, Schellville, Sonoma, Vineburg)
• Sonoma Coast (Annapolis, Bodega, Fort Ross, Gualala, Jenner, Sea Ranch, Stewarts Point, Timber Cove, Valley Ford)

Finding a Real Estate Agent or Broker in the Wine Country

If you are previewing the wine country area, searching the internet and picking up real estate guides is a good way to get started. However, once you are ready to purchase, working with a real estate agent or broker who is familiar with the area can help you make this important decision. They can help you find a location that suits your needs and budget and can provide helpful information about the wine country area. They will be able to offer insight into neighborhoods and nearby services that can often be overlooked if you are unfamiliar with an area. When choosing a real estate professional, look for one that specializes in the type of property you are looking for (residential or commercial) and is committed to helping you find just the right place for you. Welcome to the Wine Country!!