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For sale by owner
  • $649,000

    122 Po Box, Avery, CA 95224

    3beds
    3,014sqft
    : 
    $4,369/mo
    Get pre-qualified
    SingleFamily
    Built in 2020
    5.7 Acres Lot
    $-- Zestimate®
    $215/sqft
    $20/mo HOA

    What's special

    Partially furnishedTemperate banana-belt river-canyon site
    Golden Eagle Manzanita Oaks (GEMO) house in Calaveras County off State Highway 4 in scenic “Angels Camp to Bear Valley” corridor: an off-grid solar-electric (photo-voltaic) 3-story custom contemporary home, with active/passive-solar space heating using an innovative ‘Seasonal Sunroom’ heat collector & circulation design with 3 wood stove backup, 14 rooms, 3014 square feet, 3 or 4 bedroom, upstairs/downstairs near-duplex style eclectic “country solar mansion on a hill” on 5.74 acres above River Canyon adjacent to Stanislaus National Forest near Avery, CA 95224. It’s 3½ miles from Highway 4 (last quarter mile on gravel) with solar-tempered south addition; large garden-level workshop & storage complex, upstairs one-bedroom apartment with full kitchen & large deck; downstairs ‘master suite’ featuring large party/event/dance/video/surround-sound/media room, 2 bedrooms, & all-electric ‘Cantilevered Kitchenette’ … & much more. House & property are located on eastern side & near top of Dowd’s Hill (4,000 ft. elev.) with exciting panoramic views of Love Creek ridge, Big Trees State Park, Stan. River Canyon, long views of Dodge Ridge ski area 30 miles east and Yosemite highlands. New solar-powered 8 gal./min. deep well (8 gallons per minute during recent drought), land phone line, Verizon cell tower link, Hughes Satellite Internet, full sine-wave 4 KW electric power inverter (Trace SW4024), no-maintenance 36 unit cell-tower battery pack, legacy Wedgewood propane cook stove & tankless hot water with full-sized electric refrigerator. Beautiful quiet private rustic lifestyle on acreage with older orchard trees and gardens in park-like setting 15 minutes from Arnold, CA, just above historic Murphys, CA (“Queen of the Sierra”) & Ironstone Winery & Amphitheatre, with Sonora, Angels Camp & Bear Valley Ski Resort within an hour’s drive. Golden Eagles nesting in canyon are often-seen near the house on this uphill property—possibly the best location in its rural “Dowd’s Landing” subdivision (just cleared by CDF fire abatement project)—with RV & car parking on private lower road. The house is on an excavated flat on sloping hillside land & has now been fully remodeled and expanded by owner, a retired architectural design engineer. It’s all-wheel or 4WD country with winter snow, numerous Ponderosas, Cedars, Manzanitas and oaks (Black, rare White and Valley). This temperate banana-belt, river-canyon site offers Sierra living at its best—robust power (100 amp charging) from 30+ 250-watt flat panels on power-towers and metal roof-tops of the new large event room, all reliably automated without the winter power outages of grid-connected houses along nearby Love Creek Rd. Year-round, remote-work or weekend turnkey retreat living—coming partially furnished—fitting for anyone working in hectic urban California, esp. the San Francisco Bay Area hustle (3 hour drive), or Central Valley heat (half that). (Possible contrary conditions: gov’t backed mortgage loan money generally not available for off-grid purchase; has house & property insurance bt coverage becoming more expensive; steep driveway; no garage or carport; 3 parking spaces next to house; no ducted fossil-fuel furnace, dishwasher, garbage disposal or green granite counter tops {;-). There’s winter snow on the private road. GEMO ‘concept house’ has large windows needing insulation panels to be covered for winter heating & summer cooling.) It’s an ideal situation for self-financed and experienced person(s) regarding off-grid solar lifestyle perks, with modest tax: ‘22-23 annual prop. tax = ~$2,500. Custom ‘Operations & Maintenance Manual’ for existing equipment for owner-managed water and power systems available. Ted.denmark@gmail.com
    What the owner loves about this home
    This lovely home at an elevation of 4,000 feet in the Central Sierra Motherlode was sited and designed from the beginning to be a place that works as an ideal location for solar-power in harmony with its natural surroundings. Nearly every room enjoys beautiful nearby forest views or distant vistas from its near hilltop location; abundant natural light, and a quiet sense of privacy are of great value and almost instantly engaging and rewarding. One of my favorite aspects has always been the four season climate: sow in winter (not so much anymore), cool mountain summers, colorful autumns, and the lush wet springtime with its fresh scent of the pines, each giving the property its own special character. Deer, wild turkeys, songbirds, golden eagles from the river canyon and other wildlife are frequent visitors, making every day feel charmingly connected to nature. The tempered passive-solar design and established active solarium and solar-electric system have provided years of comfortable, independent living. The combination of spring water with a backup solar-powered well and storage, and a robust, automated power system have made this home remarkably reliable and self-sufficient without sacrificing modern conveniences. Although the setting feels wonderfully secluded, it's only a short drive to Arnold, Murphys, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Bear Valley skiing, wineries, hiking, and all the recreational opportunities of the Sierra up and down the hill. What I have appreciated most is the feeling of having such a park-like peaceful reidence everyday I’m here. Whether enjoying morning coffee while watching the rosy sunrise from across the high ridges, entertaining friends, watching the dark glorious starry sky at night or simply walking the on-property trails on a cloud-filled afternoon, this home offers a lifestyle that is both relaxing and inspiring—or perhaps a welcome alternative to your primary work or living environment somewhere down the hill.
    47 days
    259
    5
    Listed by:

    Property Owner (970) 398-1050

    This property is for sale by owner and Zillow, Inc. is displaying it at the owner's request. It is not subject to a listing agreement with Zillow, Inc. or its affiliates.

      Facts & features

      Interior

      Bedrooms & bathrooms
      • Bedrooms: 3
      • Bathrooms: 2
      • Full bathrooms: 2
      Heating
      • Other, Stove, Solar, Wood / Pellet
      Cooling
      • Refrigerator, Evaporative, Solar
      Appliances
      • Included: Microwave, Range / Oven, Refrigerator, Washer
      Features
      • Flooring: Tile, Carpet, Concrete, Hardwood
      • Basement: Unfinished
      • Has fireplace: No
      Interior area
      • Total interior livable area: 3,014 sqft

      Property

      Parking
      • Total spaces: 7
      • Parking features: Off-street
      Features
      • Exterior features: Shingle, Wood, Wood products, Metal
      • Has spa: Yes
      • Has view: Yes
      • View description: Mountain
      Lot
      • Size: 5.7 Acres

      Construction

      Type & style
      • Home type: SingleFamily
      Materials
      • Roof: Asphalt
      Condition
      • New construction: No
      • Year built: 2020

      Community & HOA

      HOA
      • Has HOA: Yes
      • HOA fee: $20 monthly
      Location
      • Region: Avery

      Financial & listing details

      • Price per square foot: $215/sqft
      • Date on market: 7/25/2026

        Estimated market value

        Not available

        Estimated sales range

        Not available

        $3,260/mo

        Price history

        DateEventPrice
        7/25/2026Listed for sale$649,000+2.2%$215/sqft
        Source: Owner Report a problem
        9/12/2025Listing removed--
        Source: Owner Report a problem
        4/10/2025Listed for sale$635,000-23%$211/sqft
        Source: Owner Report a problem
        11/14/2023Listing removed--
        Source: Owner Report a problem
        8/16/2023Listed for sale$825,000+175.9%$274/sqft
        Source: Owner Report a problem
        3/24/2021Listing removed--
        Source: Owner Report a problem
        5/16/2017Listing removed$299,000$99/sqft
        Source: Owner Report a problem
        6/21/2016Listed for sale$299,000$99/sqft
        Source: Owner Report a problem

        Public tax history

        Tax history is unavailable.

        Monthly payment

        Est. payment

        Payment breakdown

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        Climate risks

        Neighborhood: 95224

        Getting around

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        Nearby schools

        GreatSchools rating