Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu

It's Personal

  • Topics
  • Episodes
  • About
  • Follow
    • Apple Podcasts
    • Google Podcasts
    • NPR One
    • Podcast RSS
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

'We Don't Have A Mortgage — It's Fantastic’

Tuesday, February 13, 2018
David Rodriguez / Next Generation Radio

Michelle’s daughter walks out the RV.

David Rodriguez / Next Generation Radio

By David Rodriguez, Next Generation Radio 

This story was originally published as part of the Next Generation Radio Training Project, hosted at Capital Public Radio for Northern California student journalists. Listen for a bonus The View From Here: Place And Privilege podcast episode featuring these stories on Feb. 13.

Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.

Down a pothole-filled single lane street off Highway 12 and Interstate 5 in Isleton, a family of six, two dogs, and a cat found a way to save money on housing costs. They live in an RV.

Michelle and her family, who for legal reasons have asked not use their last name, sold their home in Antioch and bought an RV expecting to move across the country for her husband’s job. But, that job fell through.

Michelle says the family looked around Sacramento County and the Bay Area for affordable homes.

They considered buying a home in Sacramento, but steered away due to high housing prices.

The family settled 50 miles south at Park Delta Bay because it allows RV owners long term living. Michelle says she and her family have been living at the campground for six months.

“I think living in an RV is a good alternative to having a house because… home is where you make it,” she says.  “RV’s are great ‘cause you can get up and go within [a] moments notice.”   


Let’s see what’s inside

Even though RVs are seen as camping or vacation vehicles, Michelle and her family bought what she calls a “more homey” RV to live in.

“This is fancy compared to my [old] house.”  Their black and white RV has many upscale features. There’s a two-sink island in the kitchen, marble countertops and cherrywood cabinets.  

A cage large enough for two medium-sized dogs, a big flat screen TV, three couches, and a small coffee table covered in toys fill the living room to the right.

The bathroom includes a glass bowl sink and a full-sized shower with a bench. There’s only one bedroom, but it contains a king-sized bed, another mounted flat screen TV and plenty of closet space for her whole family.

“My favorite place in the RV is definitely the bedroom because the kids don’t hang out there a lot and it’s a quiet place.”  

121217David Next Gen 02(P)Two dogs in the built-in cage inside the RV's living/bedroom. (David Rodriguez / Next Generation Radio)

Living in the Vehicle

It can be challenging at times, she says. She homeschools her four girls so they’re home all the time.  But Michelle says “it’s just part of living in an RV.”

Plus, the family is saving money.

“It is cheaper to live at Park Delta Bay and pay for the monthly rent of the site versus living in a house... we pay on average $1,000 to $1,500 less a month for all expenses.”

Michelle and her family were paying $1,800 for the mortgage on top of other bills before living in the RV.

“We save so much money by not having the mortgage -- it’s fantastic,” says Michelle laughing.

Michelle’s daughter sits outside on a green folding-camping chair and says that she enjoys living there, but it did come at a price.

“[It’s] really sad because it's like a jail without kids here. It's really hard without kids,” says her daughter who just turned nine.

But, says Michelle, her daughter makes friends with everybody, even some of the older women who live nearby.  “I mean, that’s part of being homeschooled is they make friends with whoever, wherever.”

One of the neighbors even baked a cake in celebration of the daughter’s birthday.

While the family has been making the best of the living situation, Michelle says with six family members, two dogs, a cat, and homeschooling in the RV, the family has had enough. They’ve bought a home, but they won’t move anytime soon.

    More about housing

  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    Housing

    CapRadio's coverage of California housing issues in the Sacramento region and throughout the state.

 housingPlace And PrivilegeNextGen

 Older

Finding Housing After An Eviction: The Need For A Second Chance

Newer 

Map: Here's How Meadowview Residents Define The Boundaries Of Their Neighborhood

Sign up for ReCap

and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Wednesday.

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Follow
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Google Podcasts
  • NPR One
  • Podcast RSS

Support comes, in part, from:

https://www.calendow.org
https://www.chcf.org
https://www.sierrahealth.org

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a News Tip
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.