www.thebusinessjournal.com UPDATED DAILY DECEMBER 30, 2016 THE FOCUS | 8 THE LIST desirable features, but its main selling point was its privacy. “It has acreage, but it’s also right in town, which is hard to find,” Conner said. “Many Year in Review buyers in this range want a larger lot with some land THE EXECUTIVE and the buyers of this home PROFILE | 9 wanted that without having to buy a property in the foothills or too far away from the city. This property is close in and offers the extreme privacy they wanted.” Most luxury homes on the market in town have lots under IMAGE VIA MOVOTO.COM | The No. 2 most expensive home purchased in the Central Valley this year was a $2.55 an acre, Conner said, making million, 8,398 square-foot house purchased in the Copper River area of Northeast Fresno. the Bluff View property unique. To respect the buyer’s Valerie Shelton – STAFF WRITER residential real estate sales of buyers pushing their successful privacy, no photos of the gated A look back at 2016 2016. offers higher and higher. property were made available A newly remodeled 5,900 The year’s most expensive Sitting on an expansive to The Business Journal, and square-foot home overlooking home just eclipses the $3 million 14-acre lot, the 4-bedroom, Conner requested the address THE LIST | 10 the San Joaquin River in paid for a 6,700 square-foot 4-bath home sold in March for not be published. London Properties Fresno’s posh Bluff View Mediterranean-style estate in $3,025,000. Selling agent Paula With privacy a precious tops the list of Most neighborhood tops this year’s Clovis last year, and continues Conner of London Properties Expensive Home Sales list of the most expensive a years-long trend of high-end said the property has many Expensive Homes | 2 This Week Online 6 Leads 14-16 Public Notices 17-24 MANUFACTURING & DISTRIBUTION GOVERNMENT Opinion 26 FILE PHOTO | Donald Trump’s Fresno rally in May created quite a stir, as he would go on to win the election. A new era of public service PHOTO VIA WIKIPEDIA USER ALVARO IBANEZ | Fresno is on the hunt for an Amazon Gabriel Dillard – MANAGING EDITOR fulfillment center that is promising a $110 million project that would create up to 2,000 jobs. It was a whirlwind year in politics. While the presidential campaign and election of Donald Trump dominated the headlines, plenty happened locally On the hunt for e-commerce fulfillment centers that is likely to shift the region’s political landscape for years to come. Gabriel Dillard – MANAGING EDITOR regional distribution center in February marked the start of a rough year for 1999, ushered in by $500,000 in Fresno County when it was ruled culpable for an It’s been nearly two decades since state subsidies and $415,000 in April 2015 natural gas line explosion at its shooting Fresno landed a huge distribution street and utility infrastructure range on Highway 99 near the San Joaquin River that center that pushed the area’s jobs paid for by the city. killed one man and injured 13 others. Things turned needle by the hundreds or even Dinuba in Tulare County landed worse in September when two correctional officers thousands. Gap Inc. started up its $40 million Manufacturing | 5 Government | 5 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 ISSUE # 325210 | $1.25 PER COPY USPS 145-100 SENSITIVE PRIORITY HANDLING TIME PERIODICAL: 2 www.thebusinessjournal.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 54TH ANNUAL The No. 2 home on the expensive list features 5-bedrooms and 6-baths on two lots with a Winter Sale pool/hot tub and waterfall overlooking Copper River Country Club’s 16th hole. Expensive Homes | from 1 features 5-bedrooms and 6-baths th on two lots with a pool/hot tub and SALE ENDS JANUARY 15 commodity, listing agent Joe waterfall overlooking Copper River Sciarrone said the home had multiple Country Club’s 16th hole. offers pushing it well above the Lourie Folland with Investment asking price of $2,885,000. Sciarrone Commercial Specialists, Inc. was the described the completely remodeled listing agent and Ana M. Sherwood 30%-70% OFF 1960 Taylor Wheeler original as with Guarantee Real Estate was the “spectacular” with grounds that selling agent. offer “unobstructed river and bluff Rounding out the top 3 was a $2.1 Patrick James at Fig Garden Village views.” Conner said the property also million, 6,548 square-foot home 780 W Shaw Ave, Fresno, CA 93704 features a pool and outdoor dining featuring 4-bedrooms and 6-baths space, which is essential for many overlooking Fort Washington Country SHOP PATRICKJAMES.COM FOR ADDITIONAL SALE MERCHANDISE higher-end homebuyers. Club in Northeast Fresno. The No. 2 home on this year’s list While buyers across the board are (see page 10) was a $2.55 million, most concerned with the quality of Follow us on Social Media for Special Offers 8,398 square-foot house purchased in construction, privacy and landscaping, Not all manufacturers, styles and sizes are available in all Patrick James stores. the Copper River area of Northeast Not valid with gift card, any other promotion, special orders and no adjustment on prior purchases. Fresno off of Friant Road. The house Expensive Homes | 3 Central Valley Showroom 677 West Palmdon Drive, Suite 101 Fresno, California 93704 559.316.0300 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 www.thebusinessjournal.com 3 Expensive Homes | from 2 a home that not only stands out as high-quality and unique, but is also Conner said she has noticed some a warm, comfortable home for the emerging trends, particularly among family.” newly constructed homes. Though there are few buyers in One feature she said is a must-have the luxury homes market, Aluisi said for many buyers is a floor plan that there are even fewer properties for includes a master bedroom on the sale for more than $1 million. main level. “The Fresno and Clovis market “Even younger buyers are thinking continues to face a shortage of ahead to when they are older and inventory in the high-end home they don’t want to deal with stairs,” market, combined with a shortage of Conner said. “It wasn’t always that custom home lots.” Aluisi said. “Last way. For a long time, buyers wanted checked, in the Fresno/Clovis area all the bedrooms upstairs, but now there were 31 homes above $1 million, they want a master suite on the main 15 above $1.5 million and seven above level.” $2 million. We also face a market with One thing that hasn’t changed, very few available custom home sites Conner said, is the importance of a and very few home site developments high-end kitchen in a luxury home. in process.” “Buyers look for large kitchens with According to agents, these market a walk-in pantry, the latest stoves and conditions signal it’s a good time to ovens, and now buyers are searching sell for those considering listing a for kitchens with two dishwashers,” higher-end home. Conner said. “It’s a great time to be a seller in Rod Aluisi of Rod Aluisi Real the Fresno and Clovis area, as long Estate, who sold two homes on as sellers are realistic with that this year’s most expensive list, said they have to offer and their pricing,” energy efficient features are also Sciarrone said. desirable. If you’re in the market for a new “Buyers want solar, tankless high-end home, it’s also a good time water heaters and high efficiency to consider building a custom home, air conditioners and heaters,” Aluisi Aluisi said. said. “I have closed several high-end Conner said the demand for solar in home sites between $400K and $800K particular is prevalent among buyers and my buyers are building homes, eyeing new homes. which at completion, will have $1 “As far as new construction, all million to $3.5 million invested,” the homes are equipped with energy Aluisi said. “The luxury homes trend saving features and many have solar,” now is in building. Rod Aluisi Real Conner said. “When looking at older Estate has been doing custom home homes, though, we don’t get many building seminars for 25 years and we buyers specifically requesting solar, walk the buyer through every step of but it is an asset when a home has it.” the process from the lot purchase, to Other features agents said are selecting the builder that best suits sought out by homebuyers include their needs, to financing. Because of high-end finishes on cabinets, the lack of inventory, building has stone and granite in kitchens and become more necessary.” bathrooms, home automation and For those seeking to purchase an security systems. Gated properties existing home, Sciarrone advises that are also a must for many buyers. buyers shouldn’t hesitate to make an One feature Conner said is offer. surprisingly not on most buyers’ “If I were a buyer, I would definitely must-have lists is a media room or have my eyes open for that one-of- “home theater” area. a-kind property and jump on it,” “Interestingly enough, one feature Sciarrone said. “Believe me, if you I was asked a lot about a few years like it, so do 50 other buyers.” ago was a media room,” Conner said. Aluisi agreed, advising buyers to “Those were a big deal for a while, act before interest rates climb. but now no one hardly mentions “The recent increase in interest media rooms.