Sittin on a Sausalito Dock of the Bay + Zillow of the Week

Did you know that Otis Redding wrote "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" while sitting by a dock in Sausalito?

True story! Otis spent some downtime on a houseboat dock in Sausalito in 1967. Marin legend has it that he sat quietly, soaking in the scene — the rolling fog, lazy boats bobbing, and seagulls overhead. He scribbled lyrics capturing that peaceful yet melancholic vibe. In fact, longtime residents claim it was specifically the old wooden pilings along Waldo Point Harbor that sparked his creativity.

Sadly, he died in a plane crash just three days after recording the song! But here’s a fun fact that came out of it: the song became the first posthumous number-one hit in history.

So next time you're strolling along Sausalito's waterfront, pour one out for our boy Otis.

A houseboat upstairs unit for $420,000, you have to check out this view! This is a unique listing because it is used as a short-term rental that brought in $80,000 in revenue in 2024. Plus, you can buy all four units for $1.75M if you wish. Is it your dream to live in one unit and have the others cover your mortgage?

Zillow listing

Zillow of the Week will typically feature eye-catching Tiburon mansions or West Marin multi-building compounds, but this one was unique and tied in well with the Marin History section. But we need to know if you’re interested in keeping it going.

Thanks for reading. We will be back with the regular events and activities email Wednesday morning!

— Allison + Brian