Bodega Bay vacation rental owners seek to follow the rules

Bill Kedem owns a million-dollar home with sweeping views of the coast that take in Bodega Head, Doran Beach, Point Reyes and Tomales Bay.

He and his wife live in the upscale Bodega Harbour subdivision part time, and when they aren’t there, rent out their home for an average of $500 a night to strangers, who come from places like England and Sweden, the West Coast, Bay Area and Sacramento.

“We think we have one of the best views out here,” said Kedem. “I believe in the sharing economy, especially with all these expensive homes around.”

Kedem is part of an ever-growing number of homeowners who offer short-term vacation rentals, which are sometimes viewed as controversial for threatening neighborhood cohesion, or bringing extra noise and traffic.

But in affluent Bodega Harbour where many property owners are second-home buyers, vacation rentals have become an accepted part of the landscape.

In the roughly 600-home subdivision, which bills itself as a premiere residential-recreational community, there are easily 75 property owners who offer their place as a vacation rental, either through a website like VRBO and Airbnb, or a property management company. For the most part they draw few complaints.

“There are strict rules on vacation rentals,” said Kedem, who likes it that way.

“I don’t want vacation rental owners to get a bad reputation for not taking care of the neighborhood, not adhering to county requirements,” he said.

In the five years he has been renting out his home, he said it’s gone smoothly.

“We have great relations with our neighbors, who are full-time residents. We made friends,” he said.

Darlene Donaldson, his next-door neighbor, said “I have no complaints whatsoever.”

“They evidently really screen the people that come in,” she said. Nine out of 10 times, they (paying guests) will be there and I won’t even know they’re there.”

Kedem is a retired Silicon Valley global energy service energy professional and premium wine consultant married to a retired attorney. They also rent out their house in San Francisco on Airbnb when they aren’t staying there.

For tax purposes, Kedem said he doesn’t rent out the Bodega Bay house for more than 181 days a year.

For anywhere from $350 to $650 per night, depending on the time of year and whether it’s for a few nights or a full week, up to eight guests at a time can stay in his Bodega Harbour home.

The three-bedroom, three-bath house has a large spa, expansive deck, big stainless steel barbecue grill, pool table, wide-screen TVs with surround sound, and a two-car garage that guests are asked to use. The first tee on the golf course is a block away and a beach trail head is nearby.

And of course there’s the killer view.

Kedem said his guests don’t cause trouble.

“For the most part, it’s been quite good. There is the odd, let’s say challenging guest. It’s somewhat rare,” he said.

Kedem said it’s important to have a hands-on management style to avoid any problems and also cut down on spending for maintenance and upkeep.

There’s a profit in it for Kedem and his wife, but also he sees vacation rentals as helping to preserve sensitive coastal zones from more building.

“We try to share what we have,” he said, “It lets someone else enjoy your home.”