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luxury condo project in Healdsburg's Mill District has set a new record for Sonoma County with penthouse units selling for around $7 million. The development, a $500-million project on a 10-acre site, is the only standalone luxury condo project in Northern California. According to developer Replay Destinations, three penthouses are already under contract, and two more are available for purchase at $7.5 million and $8.6 million.

    The Mill District's exclusivity appeals to high-end buyers seeking a low-maintenance lifestyle in a walkable community. The development offers 43 units, with prices starting at $1.65 million. In the first phase of the project, dubbed Canopy, 26 units have been sold, and 17 are still available.

    Buyers tend to be active individuals over 65 or younger professionals in their late 40s, often couples with adult children or grandchildren nearby. Many luxury wine country buyers maintain homes in San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and other areas, a trend known as the "Magic Triangle." However, this is evolving into a "Magic Q" with high-end buyers adding on homes in desert communities.

    The Sonoma County market has normalized since the pandemic, with median home prices down slightly compared to last year. Luxury sales volume, however, was up 6.5 percent in the first 11 months of the year. The Mill District's success highlights a growing demand among high-end buyers for proximity, charm, convenience, and amenities in wine country without the burden of maintaining large properties.