HOME REMODELING : Record Year Stacks Up for Some Cities

The value of remodeling and additions made annually to Orange County homes has more than tripled in this decade to a total of more than $244 million. Based on data from the first nine months of 1989, this will be a record year for remodelers. Valuations on remodeled property increased by 50% or more from last year in Yorba Linda, San Clemente, Seal Beach and Tustin, and 11 other county communities have seen the value of additions and remodeling rise 20% or more. Although four communities and the county’s unincorporated areas saw declines in remodeling activity from last year, only Brea and Costa Mesa fell appreciably. Overall, the value of remodeling countywide increased 27.7%.

RESIDENTIAL ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS

In thousands of $ First 9 First 9 % City Months 1988 Months 1989 Change Yorba Linda 3,790 9,092 +139.9 San Clemente 3,523 6,197 +75.9 Seal Beach 4,499 7,572 +68.3 Tustin 1,664 2,513 +51.0 Los Alamitos 828 1,209 +46.0 Fullerton 4,310 6,197 +43.8 Orange 6,209 8,885 +43.1 Anaheim 15,328 21,730 +41.8 Newport Beach 13,207 18,732 +41.8 Fountain Valley 3,407 4,756 +39.6 Villa Park 1,384 1,915 +38.4 Westminster 3,767 4,713 +25.1 La Habra 1,694 2,102 +24.1 San Juan Capistrano 820 1,004 +22.4 Cypress 2,478 2,992 +20.7 Huntington Beach 8,378 10,021 +19.6 Garden Grove 4,222 4,982 +18.0 Buena Park 2,950 3,468 +17.6 Laguna Beach 5,184 5,917 +14.1 Stanton 598 646 +8.0 Santa Ana 15,219 16,307 +7.1 Placentia 895 932 +4.1 La Palma 755 747 -1.1 Irvine 3,940 3,869 -1.8 Unincorporated 22,092 21,501 -2.7 Brea 832 780 -6.3 Costa Mesa 7,922 6,221 -21.5 Dana Point* 0 1,060 NA Mission Viejo* 645 3,235 NA Countywide 140,540 179,295 +27.7

* Was not an incorporated city during all of 1988.

Source: Construction Industry Research Board