Living in the Delta

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ginman

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Does anyone on the forums live in the delta? If so, how do you like it - any regrets? I'm currently in Contra Costa County - am thinking I'd like to put some space between me and the rat race. Due to my current job, financial and home situation, this is as good a time as ever to make the move. Isleton, Rio Vista and the Delta Loop are pretty much my favorite areas. A small place on the water would be ideal - nothing fancy with a price under $500K. To narrow it down, the Oxbow homes and the Brannon Island Road area are my favorites, though am open to anything. An input would be greatly appreciated.

Pete
 
With all the foreclosures, you can find a nice place in Discovery Bay for that amount. But then it might be a little too close to the rat race.
 
Ginman,
It's funny, but when I first discovered Oxbow 4 years ago, I thought $500K for a mobile home - thats insane! After watching the housing market crash and those same homes holding their value, my opinion is much different. It is such a nice community, so clean and safe, they are actually a great option to normal house! Would be a great place to retire or slow down a bit without a lot of land to take care of. In my mind, a nice Bayliner 4788 for $200K is not bad either. 3B2B and a slip fee of about $600 (?) - not a bad way to spend time, and if you get tired of one local, you can move to another.

I have seen a few houses in Isleton, not waterfront, going in the under $200K range but they are not turnkey. Most are down by Tyler Bridge area on the side street. Lots of options and a good time to be a buyer!

I'm on the boat right now - if you come down, stop and say hello.

Jim 775-721-0851
 
Upperdecker, a number of years ago, I would have shoveled a boat load of shinola to live at Discovery Bay. Can't believe you can get a place on the deep water out there now for under $500K but you are right, living there now, I'd only be trading my view of the golf course for the water (not that there's anything wrong with that). Am looking for a more laid back, funky environment.

Jim, totally agree with you on Oxbow and living aboard. In the back of my mind, I have thought of renting out my house, selling my Crownline - with that money and my savings, buy a houseboat and live aboard. Have heard living aboard in the delta these days is not the easiest thing any more what with the marinas cracking back on it. Think that whole thing would be a bit more extreme then I want to do. Re the Oxbow homes, I really think they are all overpriced now - which is why, as far as I know, nothing is selling. My house has always been valued about the same as the most expensive slough side homes there but in this awful market, I'd be happy if I could get $480K for it now. Still, when the time comes, Oxbow is the top of the list. Wish I was getting up to the marina this weekend but doesn't look like I'll make it. Will definitely let you know when I'm next up - probably after the Superbowl.

Pete
 
Did you say funky? Got the right place for you. It's called Mayberry Slough. Funkiest place in the Delta full of very colorful people. And the only rat race you will see are the rats racing around on your neighbor's boat.
 
ginman,

I seems that the Oxbow homes "only" dropped from the low $500's two years back, to the high $400's, maybe $50 drop, which considering the drop other places, says they are doing pretty good. I'm not sure how many are selling - most of them probably require cash or a really big down as banks probably will not loan on them like a stick-built - just a guess. Discovery Bay is a really noce place, at least the last time I was there, but it is pretty "yuppie" and everybody out to out-do their neighbor. Still, I know some really nice, laid back boaters that live there and don't seem to get too worried about it!

See you,

Jim
 
I've seen some listings in the past for cottages on some of the many islands in the Delta. But there is some sort of lease arrangement on the land. So the price of the cottage was very reasonable. I think I saw one in The Yachtsman a few months back.
 
I've heard about Mayberry Slough - not that funky! I also may take a look at Bethel Island again. I used to hang out there once in a while in the mid to late 90s. Last went out there a few years ago. Could not believe all the building that has happened. Didn't recognize the place until I got almost to the actual island. They were digging out for the Delta Coves at the time. The noise from those pile drivers!!!! I've talked to realtors at different places at Oxbow. Seems if the home is not properly anchored down to the foundation, it does not sell like a house. You purchase the home and the land. A whole new ballgame compared to buying a regular house. Am afraid if I got a place on the Georgiana Slough side (or the marina side for that matter), I'd never use my boat again. I'd get out on the back deck, crack open that first beer - that's all she wrote .......
 
ginman - I think thats the reason I will probably do a 4788 - it's a great floating condo, no lawn to cut, and you don't have to worry about putting the boat in the water - you're already there!
 
You could probably buy the whole Delta Cove development for $500 now! But the maintenance would be bi[:-censored]ch..... And you'd still have to build a home to go with the dock that is there.
 
Flutterby, are you familiar with the Sandmound Slough homes and area? I've checked out some of the area. Have heard chatter about it - pros ....... and cons. Nothing substantiated, though.
 
yes, I have several friends who live over there. PM or email me with your questions and I'll answer what I can......
 
One very important thing to remember about living in the Delta year round is that the winters can be totally miserable with days and weeks of fog. That is one thing Hal Schell usedd to really dislike, especially his days living at Lost Isle.
 
On the other hand, I've seen some of the most gorgeous days in the winter. If there is no fog and it isn't raining, it can be fabulous. It was that way yesterday [Friday]. When it is crumby in the delta, take a drive up to the Gold Country. Delta fog = Gold Country sunshine!
 
Saturday was nice too. No wind, lots of sun. Took the boat out for a cruise. Much nicer than the windy summer days.

The only bad thing about winter is that you can't swim, but that doesn't bother me. And when it rains, I like to hole up in the boat, relax, and enjoy the peace and quiet.
 
This is a nice site that give a pretty good overview of houses for sale anywhere. The interactive map will let you now which homes are for sale, which homes have sold and what they sold for, and what the value of other homes are. If you click on a specific home, you can find out almost anything about it including what it sold for and what the property taxes are.

In this case I did a search on Bethel Island, but you can pan the map to anywhere in the delta. Shell Mound has a few homes for sale and it just might provide you with the right level of funky.

http://www.zillow.com/homes/map/bethel-island,-ca_rb/
 
We are going to move back to the area as soon as we sell our house down here in SoCal now that we are retiring. We kicked around the idea of living on the water and looked into Discovery Bay so we could keep our boat at our home. We decided we would prefer to keep the boat in a marina where it feels more like you are getting away plus the interaction with others in the marina.
The hard part is selling our house. We can't keep up with the price drops.
 
Great info. Flutterby, would like to take you up on the offer on info soon. Just bought a Corvette over the weekend so it's kind of taken over my life ....... in a good way, of course.
 
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