Looking For Great Homes in San Joaquin County?

Westlake

Just getting out of school, or early in a career and looking for that starter home? How about empty-nesters wanting to downsize or young families looking for more room? All these and more are finding homes San Joaquin County that are available to rent or own at price points that are vastly lower than nearby major cities – and still a short commute away. 

The housing market is a true gold mine for those looking to blend urban convenience with smaller-town charm and affordability. 

Purposefully Planned Homes in San Joaquin County

If an all-inclusive environment is on the agenda, then look no further than River Islands, a designed community on a group of islands in the San Joaquin River Delta, adjacent to current and planned transportation that will carry residents to Silicon Valley and the Bay Area. 

Planning for the 5,000-acre River Islands began in 1989, with the first homes opening in 2014. A K-8 charter school system is already in place, and over its 40-year buildout, the community will continue to offer sought-after amenities, says Susan Dell’Osso, president of River Islands. 

“We’re about 3,500 units into what will be 15,000 total, and it really feels like a community,” Dell’Osso says. “We really focus on that. I have three employees who focus on things like the best way to do the Fourth of July parade. And baseball and football stadiums in our downtown will mean that people can go out to restaurants and other destinations before and after games.” 

And then there’s Tracy Hills, an 1,850-acre, resort-style master community of 6,500 homes being built just 30 minutes east of the Bay Area, at the foothills of southwest Tracy. It, too, will be all-encompassing, with trails and preserved conservation land, a fire station, three planned K-8 schools and a resident’s club with pool and gathering area, says John Stanek, partner at developer Integral Communities. 

“Tracy Hills attracts a diverse range of homebuyers including current renters and first-time buyers, young families, middle-aged families and pre-retirement buyers looking to downsize or be close to their children and grandchildren,” Stanek says. “Interested home shoppers are coming from the South Bay, Tri-Valley, East Bay and the local Tracy area in search of single-family living at an attainable price point that offers more room, comfort and community.” 

More to Come 

Keeping the area affordable is a consideration for all entities involved in home development. Nonprofit Visionary Home Builders of California has built more than 700 single-family homes as well as 1,400 units of rental housing in the Central Valley. The organization began 40 years ago with a focus on improving the living environment for farm workers, according to the developer, which points out Casa de Esperanza, a community for 70 large families that includes an educational program, a health clinic, a job placement center, ESL classes and many other multicultural services. 

Other developments making the San Joaquin Valley an attractive place to live include: 

• The Collective in Manteca, a full-amenity, 55+ community. 
• Mountain House, a community of smaller villages, known for its proximity to lakes and green spaces. 
• Waterside at Westlake, a community of single-family homes, many on waterfront lots, in Stockton. 
• Reynolds Ranch, a 200-plus-acre master community in the heart of Lodi wine country that offers new homes and luxury apartments. 
• Rose Gate, another neighborhood in Lodi that features modern architecture. 

Even with all this and growing regional awareness of all that the San Joaquin Valley offers, it’s still very much a hidden gem. 

“We’re well known in the region, yet people are still surprised to find us,” Dell’Osso says. “We advertise at San Francisco Giants and 49ers games, and even so, when people come out it’s not what they expect. We’ve built a community, a place with great diversity and appeal for all income levels. It really is the jewel of the Central Valley.”