Nobody Home: Vacancy Rate Doubles In Castro Valley, County-Wide

The number of homes that are unoccupied has doubled in the East Bay during the past decade.

Census figures show the vacancy rate rose sharply in both Alameda and Contra Costa counties between the economic boom year of 2000 and recession-worn year of 2010.

In Castro Valley, the rate rose from 2 percent in 2000 to 4.5 percent in 2010 ­— slightly less than the county average, which rose from 3 percent to 6 percent.

Lafayette and Martinez also rose from 2 percent to 4.5 percent. San Leandro and Dublin’s vacancy rates are slightly higher at 5 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively.  San Lorenzo's is slightly lower at 4 percent.

The census figures don’t reveal what percentage of the vacancies are single-family homes, apartments, condominiums or mobile homes.

Hing Wong, a senior regional planner with the Association of Bay Area Governments, said the real estate market collapse in the past three years and the increase in foreclosures have played a major role.

He added banks holding onto foreclosed homes also is a factor because those houses don’t have anybody living in them.

Wong also noted 2000 was near the peak of the dot-com boom when the Bay Area housing market was riding high.

Total number of homes grew, too

In Alameda County, the number of living units went from slightly more than 540,000 in 2000 to 582,000 in 2010.  However, the number of unoccupied homes jumped from 16,817 to 37,411. The vacancy rate climbed from about 3 percent to 6 percent, an increase of 106 percent.

In Contra Costa County, the number of living units increased from 354,000 in 2000 to 400,000 in 2010. The number of unoccupied homes leaped from 10,448 to 24,899. The vacancy rate rose from about 2.5 percent to 6 percent., an increase of 111 percent.

Vacancy rates didn't discriminate

Most communities in these counties experienced similar increases, no matter what their socio-economic demographics.

Albany went from 237 unoccupied homes in 2000 to 488 in 2010, despite only a small rise in the total number of living units. The vacancy rate rose from about 3 percent to more than 6 percent.

Concord went from 1,083 vacant homes to 2,847 unoccupied dwellings in 2010, sending its vacancy rate from about 2.5 percent to 6 percent.

Walnut Creek rose from 1,124 unoccupied homes to 2,238 units in 2010, increasing its vacancy rate from about 3.5 percent to 7 percent.

 Even the high-income enclave of Diablo went from 6 unoccupied dwellings in 2000 to 27 in 2010. Its vacancy went from less than 2 percent to 6 percent. 

HOUSING OCCUPANCY CHART

CITY/COUNTY                    2000 UNOCCUPIED                  2010 UNOCCUPIED

 Alameda County                    16,817 (3 percent)                      37,411  (6 percent)

Contra Costa County             10,448 (2.5 percent)                  24,899 (6 percent)

Solano County                            4,110 (3 percent)                     10,940 (7 percent)

Alameda                                    1,418 (5 percent)                         2,228 (7 percent)

Alamo                                              91 (2 percent)                             226 (4 percent)

Albany                                          237 (3 percent)                              488 (6 percent)

Benicia                                          219 (2 percent)                              620 (5.5 percent)

Blackhawk/Tassajara                55 (2 percent)                               142 (3 percent)

Castro Valley                               397 (2 percent)                           1,044 (4.5 percent)

Cherryland                                   165 (3.5 percent)                           332 (6.5 percent)

Clayton                                             41 (1 percent)                                80 (2 percent)

Concord                                      1,083 (2.5 percent)                      2,847 (6 percent)

Danville                                          314 (2 percent)                             514 (3 percent)

Diablo                                                  6 (1.5 percent)                             27 (6 percent)

Dublin                                             547 (5 percent)                             869 (5.5 percent)

El Cerrito                                        254 (2.5 percent)                          574 (5 percent)

Hercules                                          120 (2 percent)                             438 (5 percent)

Lafayette                                          182 (2 percent)                             428 (4.5 percent)

Livermore                                       487 (2 percent)                           1,208 (4 percent)

Martinez                                          297  (2 percent)                             689 (4.5 percent)

Moraga                                               98 (2 percent)                               184 (3 percent)

Newark                                            158 (1.5 percent)                            442 (3 percent)

Orinda                                              148 (2 percent)                                251 (4 percent)

Pinole                                                  85 (1.5 percent)                            383 (5 percent)

Pleasanton                                      657 (2.5 percent)                             808 (3 percent)

San Leandro                                   692 (2 percent)                            1,702 (5 percent)

San Lorenzo                                    109 (1.5 percent)                          249 (4 percent)

San Ramon                                      608 (3.5 percent)                          938 (4 percent)

Union City                                        235 (1.5 percent)                          825 (4 percent)

Walnut Creek                                1,124 (3.5 percent)                     2,238 (7 percent)