5390 El Camino Bella, Bodega Bay (Image via Sonoma Coast Living Real Estate)
Knowing that the homes on the banks of the Russian River are currently in extremely short supply, many potential homeowners may have given up their dreams of a modest (or not-so-modest) waterfront home.
The good news is that this dream doesn’t have to die: there are currently 18 homes (and lots) in Sonoma County that offer a waterfront view. The views differ on each – from a modest creek to a sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean – as do the price points.
I’ve chosen six out of the 18 to showcase and tried to keep them fairly diverse in terms of price and location. Despite this effort, three of the six are, unsurprisingly, located in Bodega Bay. Some of these properties – like the first one seen below – will stay a dream for most (including me), but some of the others may not be completely unmanageable:
3315 Westside Rd, Healdsburg – $5,350,000
3 beds, 5 baths, 4,700 square feet.
(Image via Pacific Union International Inc.)
Having a home with a vineyard and a private dock has always been a dream of mine – as is having $5 million. But for an individual with the means to do so, I can’t imagine a more bucolic setting.
(Image via Pacific Union International Inc.)
Georges Seurat painted A Sunday on La Grande Jatte in 1884. Jumping ahead to 2016, a homeowner with an artistic bent would have an ideal backdrop to recreate this iconic painting right on the property.
(Image via Pacific Union International Inc.)
Since this home is one of the more expensive ones on the list, I had to include a quick peek inside. The backyard views are stunning, but the interior is just as striking.
5390 El Camino Bella, Bodega Bay – $949,950
2 beds, 2 baths, 2,438 square feet.
(Image via Sonoma Coast Living Real Estate)
At just under a $1 million, I had to grab the evening shot of this property. The size is ideal for a retired couple, or for a seasonal family retreat.
(Image via Sonoma Coast Living Real Estate)
Even for those who may have been looking for a larger home, if a true ocean view is what’s desired, this sight would be hard to beat.
5123 Gates Rd, Santa Rosa – $699,500
3 beds, 2 baths, 2,200 square feet.
(Image via Richard Keith & Co Inc)
I’m a fan of Santa Rosa, especially, and searching for a waterfront home I was surprised to notice this one pop up. In my way of thinking, ‘waterfront’ would denote a large area of water: the Russian River, a man-made lake, or Austin Creek. While definitely surrounded by gorgeous redwoods, I was interested to see what year-round creek this house was near…
(Image via Richard Keith & Co Inc)
The backyard of this home opens up to Humbug Creek. It’s a small creek, to be sure, but a family with small children would likely be delighted by the outdoor opportunities this would offer the kids – without needing to load up the car for a trip to Johnson’s Beach.
2665 N Fitch Mountain Rd, Healdsburg – $575,000
5 beds, 2 baths, 1,638 square feet.
(Image via Pacific Union International)
The price piqued my interest, as I rarely find anything less than 800k in the Healdsburg area. Admittedly, this home needs some TLC, but if it’s a home on the Russian river you’re looking for, this place does not disappoint.
(Image via Pacific Union International)
Descending down the two story deck will lead the homeowner right to the riverbank, and it’s set far enough away as to avoid any potential issues with flooding during a rainy winter.
7007 Cliff Ave, Bodega Bay – $925,000
3 beds, 2 baths, 1,668 square feet.
(Image via Adams Realty)
Architecturally, this beach front home reflects the 1970’s time that it was built in – which aligns well with the neighborhood.
(Image via Adams Realty)
However, no matter how I feel about the look of it, being able to step directly from the patio to the beach seems like it would be a welcome trade-off. Currently, this house is an active vacation rental, so a homebuyer should be prepared to have a thorough inspection done before making an offer.
21132 Pelican Loop, Bodega Bay – $1,450,000
3 beds 3 baths 2,489 square feet.
(Image via Adams Realty)
Ending at Bodega Bay, this larger contemporary property was built in 1990 and looks like the ideal family home for homebuyers that are intent on living in a beachfront community.
(Image via Adams Realty)
The rooms on the ocean side of the house all have large windows to make certain that the residents always have a waterfront view to enjoy.
