
Everybody knows that housing prices have gotten out of reach for many. The problem went from bad to terrible relatively recently as illustrated in the chart.
In the Beginning
Housing prices moderately increased during the first few years of the 2000’s. Beginning in 2003, prices rose rapidly until 2006 as buyers competed for homes using new financing options that proved to be unstable. The market slowed in 2006 and peaked that year with prices 66% higher than year 2000. Prices stabilized and then began to fall in 2007 and 2008. The decline continued for several years with the low point in 2011 when homes were valued at only 20% above year 2000.
Bargain Hunters
During 2011 and 2012 buyers with cash or the ability to qualify with new, much stricter mortgage standards made great real estate investments. Hard to believe, but lower priced homes in many parts of Sonoma County sold then for less than $100,000. In 2011, 42 homes like the one pictured sold in Sonoma County for less than $100,000. 163 sold for $100,000 to $150,000, and 324 sold between $150K and $200K. A plurality of home sales were between $250K and $300K.
Regaining Lost Ground
Buyers finally broke the previous high value mark from 2006 in early 2016, a ten year stagnation. Prices appreciated steadily from 2016 with a brief slowdown in 2019. During those four years, prices reached about 90% above where they were in 2000. When covid hit and work from home became common, home prices increased across Sonoma County, out but especially in Healdsburg, Sebastopol and the city of Sonoma. Each of those towns has an authentic “town-ness” that has kept them vibrant and attractive to highly paid workers who didn’t have to worry about a commute.

The Great Divergence
Meanwhile, the growth towns of Windsor, Rohnert Park and Petaluma had price increases, but not as dramatic as the smaller, charming towns. By 2024, the price differences among all the cities in Sonoma County are clearer than ever. If you’re looking for affordable housing, the bigger cities are your best option.