Alameda County New Construction Homes for Sale

By Matthew Martinez, Founder, CEO & Managing Broker, Diamond Real Estate Group. California DRE #01869679.

New construction homes in Alameda County are concentrated where cities have adopted specific plans for growth: eastern Dublin and Dublin Crossing, the Warm Springs area of Fremont, Newark’s Bayside and Planning Areas 3 and 4, and Livermore’s Isabel neighborhood. Two rules matter most before you sign with a builder: California’s Right to Repair Act (SB 800) sets the warranty and claim process for new homes, and any Mello-Roos special tax must be disclosed to you before you sign the purchase contract.

At a glance

Where to look in Alameda County

New homes follow adopted plans, so the best map of where they are being built is each city’s planning page. These are the areas with plans we confirmed on official sites. We do not predict pricing or timing; ask the city or the builder which phases are open.

Dublin. The city lists four specific plans on its Specific Plans page. The Eastern Dublin Specific Plan covers about 3,300 acres east of the Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Area and is the framework for most of the city’s eastern growth. The Dublin Crossing Specific Plan, in the central part of the city, is planned as a neighborhood with homes. The Downtown Dublin Specific Plan includes housing mixed with shops and offices, which is where you will find newer condos and townhomes. See Dublin real estate.

Fremont. Around the Warm Springs/South Fremont BART station, growth is guided by the Warm Springs/South Fremont Community Plan. City planning commission minutes from 2015 describe the plan and a master plan for Planning Area 9, the site across from the station, with the densest housing nearest BART. Expect townhomes and condominiums more than detached homes near the station. See Fremont homes for sale.

Newark. The city’s specific plans and master plans page names Bayside Newark (formerly the Dumbarton Transit Oriented Development project), a 233-acre transit-oriented neighborhood next to a Dumbarton commuter rail station site; Planning Areas 3 and 4, a roughly 950-acre site in southwest Newark with about 1,200 housing units and a golf course; and the Old Town Newark Specific Plan, which calls for new multifamily and mixed-use housing. See Newark real estate.

Livermore. The city has an adopted Isabel Neighborhood Specific Plan that guides new housing in that part of the city; check the city page for which sites have approved projects. See Livermore real estate.

Elsewhere. Infill townhomes and condo buildings appear across the county, including Pleasanton, Hayward, Union City, Oakland and Alameda. In unincorporated communities such as Castro Valley real estate and San Lorenzo real estate, the county, not a city, approves new subdivisions. Our guide to where to live in Alameda County compares jurisdictions, water districts and transfer taxes by town.

What to check before you buy

The DRE public report. Builders marketing a new subdivision in California must first obtain a subdivision public report from the Department of Real Estate. The DRE says it covers use restrictions, HOA costs and assessments and other material disclosures, and you must receive it before you are obligated to buy. Read it before you put down a deposit, not after.

Mello-Roos and other special taxes. A new subdivision may sit inside a Community Facilities District (CFD) that pays for roads, parks or schools through a special tax on your bill. State law requires the subdivider to give you a notice of the special tax before you sign the contract (Gov. Code 53341.5), and the rate and method of apportionment, including any annual escalator and the end year, is set when the CFD is formed (Gov. Code 53321). Ask the builder for the CFD name and the levying agency, then confirm the amount with that agency. Our Mello-Roos guide explains how to read the notice.

HOA budget and CC&Rs. Most new subdivisions, and every condo project, come with a homeowners association. The budget in early phases is often based on projections, so read the CC&Rs, reserve study and budget closely. Our HOA documents guide lists what you are entitled to see.

Which city, which rules. A Hayward or Castro Valley mailing address does not tell you whether the parcel is in a city. Confirm by parcel number; it decides who issued the permits, which transfer tax applies at resale and who maintains streets. Our page on city or unincorporated property in Alameda County shows how.

Hazard disclosures. New homes still come with a Natural Hazard Disclosure statement. Review it for flood, fault and fire zones before your contingency period ends; see our natural hazard disclosure report guide.

Builder warranties and SB 800 in plain terms

California’s Right to Repair Act, often called SB 800 (Civil Code sections 895 through 945.5), sets building standards for new homes and a process for defect claims. The key points for a buyer:

• Fit and finish. The builder must provide at least a one-year written limited warranty covering the fit and finish of cabinets, mirrors, flooring, walls, countertops, paint and trim (Civil Code 900).
• Documents at sale. With the original sales documents, the builder must give you maintenance recommendations, product warranty information, its own limited warranties, a copy of the statute and a recorded notice that these procedures affect your legal rights. It must also name an agent for receiving claims (Civil Code 912). Keep these; you are asked to pass them to the next buyer.
• Notice before suing. Before filing suit, a homeowner must send the builder written notice by certified mail, overnight mail or personal delivery, describing the claim (Civil Code 910). Using the builder’s customer service line does not count as that notice.
• Time limit. Most claims must be brought within 10 years after substantial completion (Civil Code 941); some standards in Civil Code 896 carry shorter periods.

A builder’s warranty is not the same as a home warranty plan, and neither replaces your own inspection. Hire an independent inspector before drywall if the builder allows it and again before closing; our home inspection guide covers what to ask for.

Property taxes on a brand-new home

New construction often produces more than one tax bill in the first year. The Alameda County Assessor values new construction as of its completion date, and if a home is only partly finished on January 1 it estimates the completed portion for that roll. When you buy, the change in ownership triggers a supplemental assessment, and the Assessor offers an online supplemental tax estimator. Ask your lender whether it will pay supplemental bills from your impound account, and budget for them in case it does not. Our supplemental tax bill guide walks through the timing, and our Prop 13 guide explains how your base year is set.

Having your own agent at a builder’s site

The salesperson in a model home works for the builder. You can bring your own agent, but many builders have a registration policy, often requiring your agent to be with you or named on your first visit. Ask before you walk in. Your agent can compare lot premiums and upgrade pricing across phases, review the builder’s contract (which usually differs from the standard C.A.R. form) and keep track of your deposit and contingency dates. See how a buyer broker agreement works and our upcoming guide to buying new construction in California.

Questions people ask

Where are most new homes being built in Alameda County?

In areas with adopted growth plans: the Eastern Dublin and Dublin Crossing specific plans, Fremont’s Warm Springs/South Fremont Community Plan area, Newark’s Bayside and Planning Areas 3 and 4, and Livermore’s Isabel Neighborhood Specific Plan. Infill townhomes and condos appear in most cities.

Do new homes in Dublin or Fremont have Mello-Roos?

Many newer subdivisions in California are inside a Community Facilities District, but it varies by tract. The builder must give you the special tax notice before you sign, and the levying agency can confirm the amount and end year for your parcel.

What warranty does a California builder have to give?

At least a one-year written warranty on fit-and-finish items under Civil Code 900. Separately, SB 800 sets performance standards for structure, systems and soils, and most claims under it can be brought up to 10 years after substantial completion.

Should I get an inspection on a brand-new home?

Yes. City inspections check code compliance, not workmanship. An independent inspector can catch issues before drywall and before closing, while the builder is still on site to fix them.

Can I use my own agent with a builder?

Yes, but check the builder’s registration policy before your first visit. Some require your agent to accompany you or be named when you register, or they may not work with your agent later.

Why did I get another tax bill after closing?

That is usually a supplemental bill. Buying triggers a reassessment, and a home finished after January 1 may also be reassessed for the completed construction. Ask your lender whether it will pay them from your impound account.

What is the DRE public report?

A state disclosure document for new subdivisions covering use restrictions, HOA costs and assessments and other material facts. The builder must give it to you before you are obligated to buy.

Sources & notes

1. Civil Code 900: one-year minimum fit-and-finish warranty.
2. Civil Code 910: prelitigation notice to the builder.
3. Civil Code 912: documents and notices the builder must provide.
4. Civil Code 941: 10-year time limit from substantial completion.
5. Gov. Code 53341.5 and Gov. Code 53321: Mello-Roos notice and rate and method of apportionment.
6. California DRE: Public Reports.
7. Alameda County Assessor: New construction and supplemental tax estimator.
8. City of Dublin: Specific Plans.
9. City of Fremont Planning Commission minutes, June 18, 2015: Warm Springs/South Fremont Community Plan and Planning Area 9.
10. City of Newark: Specific plans and master plans.
11. City of Livermore: Isabel Neighborhood Specific Plan.

Plans are amended and phases change; confirm current projects with each city’s planning department and CFD amounts with the levying agency. Statutes can be amended; confirm current text on leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

General information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Updated November 2026. Primary sources are linked in this guide.

Related: Alameda County real estate · Where to live in Alameda County · Mello-Roos in California · Supplemental tax bills · New construction vs. existing homes