New Home Permits Up
Visalia’s new home permits continued strong in July with 51 new homes compared to 31 for July 2013. Year-to-date new home permits are up 20% and their value is up 28%. Meanwhile residential remodels for existing homes is are 29% higher this year vs last – good news at for the home improvement stores in town.
Wathen-Castanos Buys McMillin Home Lots In Visalia
Fresno-based homebuilder Wathen Castanos has purchased the remaining 84 lots owned by McMillin Homes in Visalia this month. Peter Castanos says the family firm will be building in the Riggin and Roeben area on some 24 estate-size lots right away and 60 other lots by next spring.The company is also developing 55 lots it acquired from Pulte Homes north of Riggin, a gated community called Avalon with home prices starting below $200,000.
Castano says the Visalia marketplace has been “very competitive” with a half dozen large builders going toe to toe at least when they entered the market last fall.The company purchased the assets of Visalia builder Mangano Homes with some lots here and more on the Coast and Andy Mangano sitting on the their board.
McMillin,based in San Diego,had its big push into Visalia in 2002 when they acquired Richard Allen’s residential division.
The departure of McMillin as well as the exit of Pulte adds up to fewer players in the business here.
Visalia developer Harvey May says he remembers when most of the builders in town were locals.Then came the influx of national builders and now mostly Fresno home builders along with Centex and Lennar are the dominant firms. “There just are not any of the local guys left ” shrugs May.
Oil/Gas Prices Head Lower
Oil prices are down to $97.60 per barrel – a $8 drop since late June. Meanwhile California gas prices peaked around Memorial Day dropping from a high of $4.27 average to $3.90 as of this week according to Gas Buddy. A few stations in Tulare County are selling gas for $3.50 this week.
How Dry Are We?
Hard to blame Congress or anyone but Mother Nature for this. Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District says April through July Kaweah runoff is just 26% of average as measured over the past 110 years, the 4th driest on record. For the ”water year” measured from October to September – KDWCD fears we will fall to 24% of average, the third worst showing says operations manger Vic Hernandez. Not only is there less water, the river is hotter than usual with the website Kaweah River Page noting a June 18 temp of 81 degrees at Pumpkin Hollow and 85F at Dinely Bridge. This week the high is 77F at Pumpkin Hollow. Warm temps encourage algae growth.
One Too Many Family Dollar Stores
Tulare’s Family Dollar store at 1277 N Cherry is closing with 2 more company stores in town staying open.
Sunset Highlights Local Visitor Favorites
Popular Sunset magazine’s July cover story on Mountain Escapes includes 2 Sequoia Park spots in their Best of the Sierra category. On the list is Best Peak featuring the hike up Alta Peak overlooking the Kaweah Middle Fork as well as Best Campground featuring Cold Springs in Mineral King with tent sites on the river.Nearby is Silver City Resort, famous for pies. Both locations are seeing an influx of new visitors as a result say reports.