San Benito California Information

Named for an early Christian Saint – Saint Benedict, the Patron Saint of the Married – and established in 1874, San Benito County is a primarily agricultural area of charming cities and towns, farms and sprawling ranch land.

Located South of San Jose in the California Coastal Range Mountains, the County’s proximity to the San Francisco Bay area has made San Benito County’s lower housing costs and open space an attractive relocation destination for San Franciscans. San Benito’s County Seat is Hollister. The County’s two other towns are Ridgemark and San Juan Bautista.

Named after William Welles Hollister, Hollister was founded in 1858. Hollister, in particular, has been targeted by developers attracted by the comparatively low cost of undeveloped land, and the result has been rapidly increasing community growth.

Hollister’s progressive public school system has been a factor in bringing more families to the city. The town has six elementary schools, two middle schools, San Benito High School, which is the primary high school for residents and a Junior College – Gavilan Community College.

San Juan Bautista was incorporated in 1859 and is named for the Old Mission of San Juan Bautista, the largest of the famed California Missions. A pleasingly tranquil little town, it has strong ties to the past which are evident in it’s restoration and preservation of 19^th century homes. Fronting the Old Mission Grounds, the San Juan Bautista Walking Tour covers an area rich with the town’s early history.

Located just 3.5 miles from Hollister and about twelve miles from San Juan Bautista, Ridgemark is an upscale area with a median household income above the national average and above median national home prices.

San Benito Real Estate

San Benito County continues to attract Californians from the Bay Area and despite rising interest rates, the County population, particularly in Hollister, continues to grow, despite a 2006 median home sales price edging on toward $700,000.

An example of homes for sale in the County as of Spring 2006:

San Juan Bautista – 2 story, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage with a spacious back yard, pool and patio, modern kitchen with pantry and all appliances, formal dining room, fire place in living room, separate den, ceiling fans, Jacuzzi in master bath, fire place in master bedroom ------- asking price $689,500

Hollister – one story, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage on quiet cul de sac, view of golf course, stone counter in kitchen and baths, updated kitchen and baths, easy care landscaping, walk to schools and shopping ---asking price $1,049,000

Ridgemark – 2 story, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, ceramic tile in kitchen, new cherry wood cabinets, new refrigerator, fire place in master bedroom, living room and paneled den --------- asking price $655,000

Hollister – single story, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage, formal dining room, custom patio, fenced and professionally landscaped back yard with pool, stainless steel appliances, freshly painted ------- asking price $629,000

San Benito MLS

San Benito County real estate includes many ranch land properties and “ranchettes” ranging in size from less than one hundred to over one thousand acres. Sale prices are based on numerous factors for this type of real estate and can range from one to several million dollars.

San Benito Realtor

San Benito Real Estate Agent