Recreational Properties - Remote Properties - Joe White Real Estate Broker

Northern California Real Estate
Northwest Sonoma County and Southern Mendocino County
Recreational And Estate Properties
We have been doing this since 1976

Lot A is .63 Acres AP# 072-300-010
Highway 116, Monte Rio, CA 95446

Lot B is 1.32 Acres AP# 072-300-011
18887 Highway 116, Monte Rio, CA 95446

1.95 Acres Total - Both for $149,103

We have the permit for a one bedroom pressure distribution septic system.

THE LOCATION IS

About fifteen seconds before the Northwoods Golf Course on your right in Monte Rio. It is also 5 minutes from Guerneville, 30 minutes from 101 near Santa Rosa and 15 minutes from the Pacific Ocean at Jenner.

THE ROAD

To it are good but can be busy on a summer weekend. It is in an area a lot of people like to visit. The building area is close to Highway 116. You will hear and see traffic. You can put up a fence. Building on the east tip of Lot 11 will minimize that.

THIS IS

In a park like setting with about 70 medium to large size redwood trees. My first thought was it should be saved as a small park but the government agencies are not interested. It is too small. It you have been to Muir Woods or Armstrong State Park, that is what it is like.

TERRAIN/BUILDING SITE

Probably 90 % is hillside and steep. A fair amount of the level ground is below the circular driveway. You could design a multi level house that climbs up the hill. The easy way is to build right off the circular drive on the east end of lot B.

WATER

Is provided by the Sweetwater Water District. The meter is now in place near the property line on the top of Lot A on Old Monte Rio Road. This road is closed to cars above this property. Years ago, this road was the highway and the railroad ran on what is now Highway 116 or River Road. The original need for the train was hauling timber. Then it became a passenger train. Guerneville was originally called Stump Town. The Sweetwater Water District recently upgraded their storage tank on the hill above us to a larger capacity.

THE RUSSIAN RIVER

Is your nearest neighbor. It is right across Highway 116. The land along it is owned by the government. All you need to do is walk across the pavement and down the short trail to your own spot on the river. Technically, it is a public access area but I have never seen anyone there except in a canoe. Lake Sonoma has made a big difference in reducing the flooding downstream. The summer level of the River is about 10 ft. The 10 year flood elevation is 42.5 ft and it is not on our property. The 50 year flood plain is 47.2 and it is about at the top of the culvert which is at the very bottom of this property. The 100 year flood mark is 48.8 ft. We have marked a bay tree with a 6-inch nail at the 49 ft level near the circular driveway on Lot B. It seems that it is possible for it to flood the lower portion about up to the circular driveway. We had a small flood in mid-February, 2005 and 2019. I went to the property on February 19th. The river high water mark did not reach up to the culvert. On January 1, 2006 there was a MAJOR FLOOD which did not come to this property. It came to the 42 ft. mark which was to the culvert outlet on the other side of the road.

SEPTIC/PERCOLATION

The county still has some of the files under 18950 Highway 116. Rob Huffman Engineering did the testing and a pressure distribution system is designed and approved 10/9/2019. for 1 bedroom for the 2 lots. The approval is vested until 10/8/2022. The leach field and the expansion for Lot B is on your left on the lower level as you enter the lot from the West end furthest to the Northwoods Golf Course. Instillation for the septic system should run about $29,000.

ELECTRICITY/MAIL/UPS/TELEPHONE/GARBAGE

Are all available on site.

USAGE/ZONING

It appears to be Rural Residential. It seems like it would make a wonderful studio/retail location if you are creating something you could sell here.

TIMBER

There is commercial timber here. Enough to justify a timber harvest. You would also create a huge cry from the environmental community. If you wish to build out of redwood you can harvest a little and greatly reduce your lumber cost which is a sizable portion of building. It should run about $.60 a board ft. to create your own lumber. There is a 150 ft. set back allowing removal of trees for a fire break from a house.

WEATHER

About 53 inches of rain per year. There will be some fog coming up from the ocean in the summer. Generally typical Sonoma County, nice.

EASMENTS/NEIGHBORS

PG&E owns the property on the Guerneville (East) side of the property. They also have an easement for the line that runs overhead on the same side. I tried to buy the PG&E parcel but they will not sell. They do make a nice neighbor that is effectively a green belt. The property on the golf course side and the PG&E ground do not appear to be possible to be built on. Obviously the other side of the road is effectively the river. It is owned by the government. You would own up to the upper road which is closed so there are no neighbors.

VALUE/FINANCING/THE SELLER

I am the owner and seller. There is nothing on the market that I would build on in this price range. There is one for sale close by but the county says it can not be built on. We did seriously think about building our retirement home here. I think the price is realistic and I look at more country property than anyone. The property is free and clear. If you have good credit I could carry some paper.

CONSERVATION EASEMENT

It might be possible to create a conservation easement on the 90% you just look at. It could have tax benefits to you. On the other hand, the largest conservation organization in the county can be very intrusive.

SURVEY

A map is an interpretation of a survey. A written survey takes precedence over a map. The survey work that was done in this area was from about one hundred years ago. It may be that the driveway on both sides is slightly off the property. That driveway has provided an access to this property for almost 100 years. It was actually owned by Sonoma County until recently. We acquired title to it. I would suggest widening it from the golf course end. It will involve taking out some redwood trees which I would turn into lumber. I am using local things to reference directions because it is hard to keep north and south straight due to the road curving around the river.

PROBLEMS

Noise from traffic. This is probably more of a thing for me but I am used to living in the middle of several hundred acres. It will be beautiful in the summer but damp in the winter. You may need an architect to design the house to make it work right. The county file is under 1887.

DIRECTIONS

Exit off 101 on River Road. It becomes Highway 116. Past Guerneville, 5 minutes watch for my sign and street # on your right. If you come to Northwoods Golf Course on your left, you just missed it. Bring your lunch and enjoy yourself.

AP#. It was 072-300-01 & 02. It is now 072-300-010 & 011
Thomas Bros. Map 361 6 B

The information we have gathered we believe is correct. We try hard but we are not perfect. Please consult with everyone you can think of.

Joe White - 2124 Kennedy Avenue - Chico, CA 95973
Tel: (707) 431-2151 - Fax: (530) 566-0356
DRE# 00254845

Site designed and maintained by Ed Striepeke