Del Rey Oaks Luxury Homes for Sale: a small town in the middle of everything.
Del Rey Oaks is one of the smallest cities on the Monterey Peninsula, about 1,650 people tucked into an oak-covered canyon between Monterey and Seaside. It has its own city hall and police department, a citywide picnic and garage sale every year, and a little more sunshine than the towns right on the water. The city likes to call itself the sunbelt of the Monterey Peninsula, and on a foggy August morning you’ll see why.
It’s easy to drive straight through on Highway 218 and never notice it. If you’re looking at Del Rey Oaks homes for sale, here’s what I’d tell a friend first: what makes it different, what to check before you buy, and how I can help.
Why buyers look at Del Rey Oaks
It’s not on most people’s first list. The ones who find it tend to stay.
- A real small townWith around 1,650 residents, Del Rey Oaks feels more like a neighborhood than a city. You get your own city council, planning commission and police department, and neighbors who actually show up to the annual picnic.
- More sun, less fogSet back from the bay in a canyon, Del Rey Oaks often sees clearer skies than Pacific Grove or the Monterey waterfront, and the beach is still an easy 5 to 10 minute drive.
- Central to everythingHighway 218 runs right through town, connecting Highway 1 in Seaside to Highway 68. Downtown Monterey, the Monterey airport, Ryan Ranch, and the drive to Salinas or Carmel are all close.
- Nature at the doorstepThe 17-acre Frog Pond Wetland Preserve is a favorite with birders and dog walkers. Arroyo del Rey creek runs the length of town through Del Rey Park and Work Memorial Park, and the former Fort Ord trails are just uphill.
How Del Rey Oaks lays out
The whole city is only a few minutes end to end, but location still matters: how close you are to Highway 218, how the street sits on the slope, and which side of the city line you’re on. Here’s how I think about it with buyers.
Along Canyon Del Rey
Canyon Del Rey Boulevard (Highway 218) is the town’s main street. City Hall, Del Rey Park and its dog park, bocce courts and ball field, and a small strip of local businesses are all here, with the Frog Pond a little farther along.
City of Del Rey Oaks · Cal Am waterThe residential slopes
Most homes sit on the quieter streets that climb the canyon sides off Canyon Del Rey. Expect mostly single-family homes, many of them mid-century, under oaks and pines. Some lots catch more sun and a peek of the hills; others feel tucked into the trees.
City of Del Rey Oaks · mostly single-familyToward Highway 68 & Ryan Ranch
The south end of town is closest to Highway 68, the Monterey airport and the Ryan Ranch business park next door in Monterey. It’s a practical spot if you work in Ryan Ranch or Salinas, or travel often.
City of Del Rey Oaks · near Highway 68The edges with Seaside & Monterey
Del Rey Oaks shares the 93940 ZIP code with Monterey and borders Seaside, so a mailing address can say “Monterey” and still be in Del Rey Oaks, and some nearby homes that feel like Del Rey Oaks are actually in Seaside or Monterey. Toward the bay, Sand City and its West End arts district are a few minutes away.
Confirm the city by parcel, not ZIPFrog Pond, the creek & FORTAG
The Frog Pond’s three-quarter-mile loop runs through willows and a small grove of redwoods. The new Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway (FORTAG) segment along Canyon Del Rey is under construction, and could finish as late as 2027.
Open to all · trail work in progressThe city’s former Fort Ord land
Del Rey Oaks owns about 235 acres of undeveloped former Fort Ord land uphill from town. In August 2026 the council picked Shea Homes as its preferred partner to negotiate a possible project. That’s a first step, not an approval.
Early stage · plans can changeWhat to know before buying in Del Rey Oaks
None of this should scare you off. These are just the things that are much easier to plan for up front than to discover in escrow.
Very few homes come up
In a city this small, only a handful of homes sell in a typical month, and some months there may be none at all. When the right one hits the market, there’s usually not much time to think it over.
My advice: let’s get your search, financing and must-haves set before you need them, and I’ll watch for coming-soon homes so you hear early.
Make sure it’s really Del Rey Oaks
Because Del Rey Oaks shares the 93940 ZIP code with Monterey and sits right against Seaside, the address on a listing doesn’t always tell you which city a home is in. That matters for permits, rental rules, and which city services you get.
My advice: we’ll confirm the jurisdiction from the parcel and title report early, before you plan anything around local rules.
Short-term rentals are capped
Any stay under 30 days needs a city license that renews every year. Whole-home (un-hosted) licenses are capped at 25 citywide, and the city says none are available right now, so new applicants go on a waiting list. Licenses don’t transfer with a sale, and ADUs can’t be used as short-term rentals.
My advice: if rental income is part of your plan, we’ll check current rules with the city before you write an offer. Don’t count on “STR potential” in a listing.
Water is part of every remodel plan
Del Rey Oaks is served by California American Water, so adding a bathroom, a pool or new fixtures generally needs a Monterey Peninsula Water Management District water permit. The city has received a small water allocation and says it has credits for certain planned ADUs.
My advice: if your plans add fixtures or an ADU, we’ll check water availability with the city and the water district during escrow, not after you close.
Older homes, oaks and a creek
Many homes here date from the town’s early decades and have been remodeled or added on to along the way, not always with permits. Big oaks and pines are part of the charm and part of the upkeep, and homes near Arroyo del Rey deserve a look at drainage.
My advice: compare the permit history to the actual square footage, get a thorough inspection with the sewer lateral and roof, and ask an arborist about the big trees.
Change is possible, but slow
The city’s Fort Ord land has never been developed and, as the city itself notes, comes with infrastructure, environmental and unexploded-ordnance challenges. Earlier plans, including an approved RV resort and a previous developer agreement, never got built.
My advice: don’t pay extra for a project that only exists on paper. We’ll look at what’s approved, what’s only proposed, and how it could affect your street.
Rules change, so we’ll confirm current requirements with the City of Del Rey Oaks, California American Water and the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District for a home you’re serious about, including zoning, short-term rental licensing, water and ADUs. Del Rey Oaks is in Monterey Peninsula Unified School District; confirm school assignments by address.
A few things I’d tell you over coffee
Where Del Rey Oaks fits, and how to stay ahead of the few listings that matter here.
The town people forget to look at
When buyers tell me they want a quiet street, a little more sun and a short drive to everything, but Carmel or Pacific Grove prices don’t fit, Del Rey Oaks belongs on the list. It’s small enough that you get to know your neighbors and central enough that you’re rarely more than 15 minutes from where you need to be.
The tradeoff is choice. With so few homes for sale, it rewards buyers who are ready to move and have someone watching the market for them.
Coming-soon listings and The Balog Report
Compass is now part of the same family as Coldwell Banker, Sotheby’s International Realty, Corcoran and more, so I can often show you coming-soon listings from those brokerages before they hit the open market.
Once a month I also send The Balog Report: what actually sold on the Peninsula, what’s sitting, and what I’d do with that information if I were buying or selling.
Del Rey Oaks home buying FAQ
Can I run a short-term rental in Del Rey Oaks?
Stays under 30 days need a City of Del Rey Oaks license that renews annually. Whole-home (un-hosted) licenses are capped at 25 citywide, and the city has said none are currently available, so new applicants join a waiting list. Licenses are not transferable, and ADUs cannot be used as short-term rentals. Confirm current rules with the city before buying.
Who provides water in Del Rey Oaks?
California American Water serves Del Rey Oaks. Adding fixtures, a bathroom, a pool or an ADU generally requires a Monterey Peninsula Water Management District water permit, so confirm water availability during escrow.
Is a 93940 address in Del Rey Oaks or Monterey?
It can be either. Del Rey Oaks shares the 93940 ZIP code with Monterey and borders Seaside, so confirm the city from the parcel and title report rather than the mailing address.
What schools serve Del Rey Oaks?
Del Rey Oaks is in Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. Confirm school assignments by address.
Have a question that isn’t here? Contact me.
Del Rey Oaks homes for sale right now
There may only be a home or two listed at any given time, so check back often or let me watch for you. I can also show you coming-soon listings from Compass and its partner brokerages before they hit the open market.
The live listings are just below. If one catches your eye, ask me about water, permits and what similar homes nearby have actually sold for. Weighing Del Rey Oaks against Monterey or Seaside? Compare the areas I cover.
Thinking about Del Rey Oaks? Let’s talk it through.
Tell me what you’re picturing, whether that’s a quiet street under the oaks, a sunnier alternative to the coast, or a central base for commuting, and I’ll tell you honestly what it takes to get there: how often homes like it come up, what to check on water and permits, and what a fair price looks like. No pitch.
Prefer to text? 831-747-0310 · [email protected]
Own in Del Rey Oaks? With so few homes for sale, a well-prepared listing here gets noticed. Start with a no-pressure home valuation, or see how I help sellers.
Looking nearby? Explore Monterey, Seaside, Marina, or Salinas. Or get The Balog Report once a month.
Jonathan Balog, Associate Broker | Compass | DRE# 01980970
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Local rules summarized here, including zoning, short-term rental licensing, water and ADUs, are general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the City of Del Rey Oaks, California American Water and the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. Development plans described here are subject to change. If your property is currently listed for sale, this is not a solicitation.