Home valuation increase in San Juan County is best in state

by Buckley Jensen

An article in the Salt Lake Tribune on Saturday, May 3 states that the value of new homes in San Juan County jumped by 51.82 percent in the past year. This is more than twice the increase of any other county in the State.

Second place went to Wasatch County with an increase of 25.26 percent. Third place was Grand County with a rise of 24.24 percent. Biggest drop in the State was Juab county with a decrease of nearly 17 percent.

First Quarter average sales prices for homes in San Juan is $203,772, which was about the middle of the counties and cities shown in the report. Park City’s average sale price is $1,127,138. Wasatch County is second to Park City at $483,726. Grand County is $294,166. Washington County is $314,480.

Home prices state wide are down 1.2 percent. Sales of homes statewide fell 34 percent in the last year, to 6,312.

This data may be yet another reflection of the overall economic health of southeast Utah. In the past, San Juan County has been dead last in the state when it comes to per capita income, average home value, and many other economic yardsticks. Yet in the past year, records have been set for both the number of building permits sold, and the valuation of those permits.

Take the time to ride around and see the number and size of the new homes under construction in the county; particularly in Blanding at the present time.