Construction in San Diego County and elsewhere in Southern California should continue to see recovery in 2014, led by coastal development of new apartments, according to a forecast by locally based consulting firm Xpera Group.
“The major national apartment builders only recently discovered the California market and are trying to make up for lost time,” said Alan Nevin, the company’s director of economic and market research.
On the for-sale side, Nevin said Canadian condominium builders “have no fear” and will start new construction projects in markets including San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles, timed to meet expected demand for high-end high-rise residential product when completed in late 2016 or 2017.
Nevin noted that San Diego County ran out of developable residential lots in 2006-07, and the next wave of coastal land for development of moderately priced homes won’t be available until 2015. Most of the current new-home product being delivered is in North County, with homes typically selling for more than $750,000, as overall housing production in the county continues to lag far behind demand.
