Robb Report

Dockominiums—condos with docks—were all the rage 15 years ago. Since then, the concept has evolved into more exclusive access for yacht owners. This second wave of upscale residences, which provide slip spaces to a homeowner’s or visitor’s private yachts, has grown across the US, Caribbean and Europe, now including marinas that accommodate superyachts. They range from little hideaway islands in the Bahamas to Miami-area neighborhoods to an exclusive island retreats, or a five-star resort with oceanfront mansions in untouched areas of the Dominican Republic. Here are seven of the world’s finest, offering the best possible form of pier pressure.

Built within minutes of fast water on the California Delta, the 494 Delta Coves waterfront residences, each with a 19-foot private dock that can accommodate up to a 32-ft. vessel, place owners in one of the world’s most idyllic cruising grounds. Situated in California’s East Bay area, which takes in San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay, the homes provide a gateway to 1,000-plus miles of waterways for unlimited boating, fishing and watersports. “Among the waterfront views, private docks have absolutely been a key selling point,” Nick Taratsas, executive vice president and general manager of Delta Coves, told Robb Report. “In many cases, we’ve had homeowners motivated to purchase a boat in response to the opportunity that comes with living in a waterfront home.” Alongside yachting, social activities revolve around the Island Camp, a 15,000-square-foot private club.

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Architectural Digest

What are fancy gyms, spas, and farm-to-table restaurants as amenities when there’s a marina to lure homebuyers in?

By Shivani Vora

Developments with marinas offer a myriad of perks, according to Edward de Mallet Morgan, a partner at Knight Frank, a global real estate consultancy based in London. He describes marinas as “sexy” and “exclusive.” “They’re a perfect addition to beachfront living because you have the world of boating open to you and easy access to the water,” he says. “A marina also increases the value of your property.”

Best of all, de Mallett Morgan points out that in some destinations you can get to where you need to go by boat and leave directly from where you live. “It’s a journey that you’re going to enjoy every bit of the way,” he says.

Delta Coves, Bethel Island, California
Starting Price of Residences: Around $1M

Located off the canals of the California Delta in the East Bay Area—which is an hour from San Francisco—Delta Coves has waterfront residences, and all feature private boat docks. Given that the development is more than 1,000 miles of waterways, activities such as fishing, boating, and kayaking are mainstays. Owners also have access to Island Camp, a 15,000-square-foot private club with a gym, yoga room, lap pool, and an indoor-outdoor game pavilion.

Read the full article here.

The Happiness That Waterfront Living Brings

Home, and its proximity to nature and the great outdoors, is being valued more than ever—and water has long had an unmistakable allure and power to inspire relaxation and promote personal rejuvenation. The pull can be so strong that living near water and open space is one of the top requirements in considering where and how we want to live.

The bestselling book, Blue Mind: The surprising science that shows how being near, in, on, or under water can make you happier, healthier, more connected, and better at what you do, by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols, focuses on the proven scientific evidence that being close to bodies of water promotes mental health and happiness. From playing in the waves as a child to his later scuba-diving explorations, he understood that enjoying the water was more than a fun pastime—it was a natural way to rest and recharge.

The term “blue mind” describes the mildly meditative state we fall into around water. It’s the antidote to what we refer to as “red mind,” which is the anxious, over-connected and over-stimulated state that defines much of modern life. Research has shown that being near, in, on, or under water can provide a long list of benefits for our mind and body, including lowering stress and anxiety, increasing an overall sense of well-being and happiness, a lower heart and breathing rate, and safe, better workouts.

Among the pristine canals of the Delta, the water-based lifestyle at the private boaters club called Delta Coves begins from the very moment you look out your back door to the ultimate swimming hole, the lagoon. Here, families can launch from their private dock into a serious splash zone, spot for liquid lounging to cool off in summer, wild habitat to watch marine animals, protected harbor to learn early boating and floating skills, and a meditative retreat to wind down from the day.

The 461 waterfront residences range from 1,800 square feet to 4,000 square feet, 3-6 bedrooms, and prices from the $700s to $2M. The ‘uniquely Delta’ designs feature generous ground-floor spaces that connect seamlessly to spacious back decks and private docks, linking them to more than 1,000 miles of rivers, sloughs, and canals that create a different highway to enjoy life—no matter the speed. Delta Coves is ideal for both those who enjoy being out on the water, and those looking for a calming, tranquil place to call home.

With the knowledge that being by the water is really good for you, why not maximize your time being close? Imagine a day’s beginning and end with a gaze out across the water. And then imagine every day just like that. Whether you’re a family seeking togetherness and quality time, a thrill seeker after speed and excitement, or a city dweller who yearns to get back to the wildness of the outdoors, the new homes at Delta Coves are waiting for you to unpack, take a deep breath, and live your waterfront life.

East Bay Waterfront Home Office Lifestyle

In the California Delta, the glint of sunlight on water announces the beginning of the day, where the soundtrack is made up of the clear trills of the song sparrow, splash of kayak paddles slicing through the water’s surface, and the occasional distant hum of a ski boat engine. Working from home never looked quite so good, or so relaxing.

Though some places in the Bay Area might be considered the old-school version of “bedroom communities,” Delta Coves was designed to shift opinions and perspectives on what a bedroom community is. When home can be both a destination for relaxation and adventure, it offers far more than just a bedroom. It becomes a way of life.

“Delta Coves offers a rich life on water,” said Nick Taratsas, general manager of Delta Coves and executive vice president of DMB Development, the company leading the effort to build 560 waterfront and water-facing houses in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. “It’s a place where you can take your boat out and hike natural trails with your family.”

Here, there’s plenty of personal space, room to breathe, and fresh air. With a home office on the water, instant accessibility to the outdoors means that it’s easier to blend work-style with lifestyle. There’s no need to spend time between home and work driving to the beach or park when you have them both, combined, right out your back door. It changes the meaning of a lunch break or sneaking out early for extra free time.

When you do venture into the Bay Area—whether for work or fun—you’re not far away. Just 10 minutes away is the Antioch BART Station, which makes it possible for people who want to live a waterfront lifestyle within close proximity to the Bay Area. “We’re going to be considered a bedroom community, but at the same time a highly recreational community,” Taratsas said. “Delta Coves will be an ideal place to call home.”

Delta Coves’ prime location on a manmade lagoon sits at the gateway to the Delta’s 1,000-plus miles of waterways and 740,000 acres of natural preserves. The canal-front setting and the region’s warm, Mediterranean-style climate set the stage for an exceptional lifestyle to those who want to experience life on the water.

Due to modest waterfront settlements of early Delta inhabitants being responsive to the local climate, it was important for Delta Coves architects to design modern buildings that match the Delta’s rustic aesthetic. It’s a place where the barrier between inside and outside disappears. Homes here feature board-and-batten siding, and floor plans are designed to funnel guests toward the back, to the lagoon and private docks—the launchpad to the great outdoors.

“One thing we emphasized to the builders is that they needed to make the houses water-centric,” Taratsas said. “We wanted them to pull the living spaces on the ground floor to the back. After all, residents are genuinely there for the water.”