Inland Empire Becomes Hotspot for Residential Housing Development

The Inland Empire is the new center of housing development in Southern California. The logistics boom—which has brought economic and job growth to the region—is supporting a housing boom for new families and workers. Brookfield Residential is among the leading developers in the market with three master plan communities, New Haven in Ontario, Audie Murphy Ranch in Menifee and Spencer’s Crossing in Murrieta.

“California’s Inland Empire has emerged as a national leader for new housing and strong home sales. Over the past half-decade, multiple factors have combined to create this positive growth,” Caitlyn Lai‑Valenti, senior director of sales and marketing at Brookfield Residential, tells GlobeSt.com. “The two big ones are a booming economy and progressive local communities. The region’s logistics industry has become a center for the country’s seemingly endless appetite for shipped goods.”

Home sales have been the strongest among industrial workers. The sector has been the largest driver of jobs in the market. “The phenomenal job growth is especially dramatic during a time when most of the economy is suffering,” says Lai‑Valenti. “The recent data from Federal Reserve of St. Louis shows job postings were up 8.3% from a year ago in Riverside County and San Bernardino County. That represents the highest growth in the nation. New home communities serve the families of these workers, as well as families moving from coastal regions and urban centers looking for affordability and more space.”

The market growth is coming at a perfect time. Regulatory challenges and high costs of development in coastal markets have sent developers—and homebuyers for that matter—searching for alternative markets. “Local governments such as the City of Ontario wisely prepared for this growth,” says Lai‑Valenti. “Their long-term regional plans balance new housing with schools, retail, open space and recreation, and with technological advances to accommodate the growing population.”

Brookfield’s master plan developments are strategically located near industrial hubs. This has helped to drive strong sales activity, even through the pandemic. “Many of the logistics and other job centers are very close to our masterplan communities, such as New Haven in Ontario Ranch,” says Lai‑Valenti. “New Haven has seen 359 new home sales to date in 2020. The same is true farther east in communities such as Audie Murphy Ranch in Menifee with 451 sales year to date, and Spencer’s Crossing in Murrieta with 397 sales year to date. These communities have a dominant share of the market for absorbing the demand for housing.”

The next piece of this puzzle is retail activity. Brookfield is also planning to support growth in that sector. “We recently partnered with Frontier Real Estate Investments to create New Haven Marketplace, a new retail center where the anchor store—a 42,204-square-foot Stater Bros. Market—has just opened,” says Lai‑Valenti. “A food hall and brewery are coming soon along with other tenants, creating a destination for surrounding neighborhoods. Many of the new homes are within walking distance of this center.”