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 Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties between 2000 and 2010.
It more than doubled in the cities of Benicia, Castro Valley, Concord, Hercules, Lafayette, Martinez, Pinole, San Leandro, San Lorenzo and Union City.
In San Leandro, the number of unoccupied homes went from 692 in 2000, or 2 percent of the total available, to 1,702 in 2010, or 5.5 percent of the homes available, according to census data. The census figures don’t reveal what percentage of the vacancies are single-family homes, apartments, condominiums or mobile homes.
At the same time, data collected by the Department of Finance show a 3.5 percent increase in total housing units in the city — 32,419 units in January 2010 compared to 31,334 in April 2000, according to the data, an increase of 1,085 units.
It appears the real estate market collapse over the past three years and the increase in foreclosures has overshadowed the rise in new homes, though not as badly in San Leandro as in other parts of the state and country.
“There’s definitely been a slowdown” in housing construction, said Tom Liao, Planning and Housing Manager for the City of San Leandro. He said the city had also been struck by foreclosures, but not as badly as some neighboring communities.
"We’re definitely not immune, but there are certainly surrounding cities that were hit harder, Liao said.
Wayne Gregori with Gregori Group Real Estate, said he was surprised by the rise in unoccupied homes. However, he acknowledged, “There is a lot of word on the street about real estate agents getting into the short sale business.”
The total number of living units available in Alameda County went up, from slightly more than 540,000 in 2000 to 582,000 in 2010. However, the number of unoccupied residences jumped from 16,817 to 37,411.
The vacancy rate climbed from about 3 percent to 6 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 residences leaped from 10,448 to 24,899.
The vacancy rate rose from about 2.5 percent to 6 percent.
Most communities in these counties experienced similar increases, no matter what their socio-economic demographics.
Albany went from 237 unoccupied living units 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 living units to 2,847 in 2010, sending its vacancy rate from about 2.5 percent to 6 percent.
Walnut Creek rose from 1,124 unoccupied living units 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.
2000 Census
2010 Census
City or county
Number of unoccupied units
Percent vacancy
Number of unoccupied units
Percent vacancy
Alameda County
16,817
3
37,411
6
Contra Costa County
10,448
2.5
24,899
6
Solano County
4,110
3
10,940
7
Alameda
1,418
5
2,228
7
Alamo
91
2
226
4
Albany
237
3
488
6
Benicia
219
2
620
5.5
Blackhawk/Tassajara
55
2
142
3
Castro Valley
397
2
1,044
4.5
Cherryland
165
3.5
332
6.5
Clayton
41
1
80
2
Concord
1,083
2.5
2,847
6
Danville
314
2
514
3
Diablo
6
1.5
27
6
Dublin
547
5
869
5.5
El Cerrito
254
2.5
574
5
Hercules
120
2
438
5
Lafayette
182
2
428
4.5
Livermore
487
2
1208
4
Martinez
297
2
689
4.5
Moraga
98
2
184
3
Newark
158
1.5
442
3
Orinda
148
2
251
4
Pinole
85
1.5
383
5
Pleasanton
657
2.5
808
3
San Leandro
692
2
1,702
5.5
San Lorenzo
109
1.5
249
4
San Ramon
608
3.5
938
4
Union City
235
1.5
825
4
Walnut Creek
1,124
3.5
2,238
7
