Living At An Airport For $4K A Month | Unlocked

Joe Sobczak, 69, lives in a residential airpark in Groveland, CA. He bought the home in 2017 for $698,000 and pays $4,000 a month in mortgage. He commutes to the bay area in a Beechcraft T-34 Mentor airplane where he works for a major U.S. airline as a flight test pilot.
Unlocked is a home tour series focused on how much people across the globe spend on their housing, what they get for the money and what they had to sacrifice to make it happen.
Produced by: Erin Black
Managing Producer: Beatriz Bajuelos
Supervising Producer: Jessica Leibowitz
Additional Camera: Katie Schoolov
Animator: Elham Ataeiazar
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Living At An Airport For $4K A Month | Unlocked

[@pilotintraining2391]

This is as close to the dream I could ever imagine. Imagine finishing your coffee, cleaning your car and then going to start up your plane from your hangar/garage and proceed to taxi on your private taxiway. Insane !

[@bjjkickboxing7876]

Its a public taxiway. But ur right

[@pilotintraining2391]

@@bjjkickboxing7876 Look up Residential airparks. They are generally privately owned by the community (like a gated off community for rich people) and don’t feature commercial or even small base of operations

[@bjjkickboxing7876]

@@pilotintraining2391 i am talking about THIS airpark specificly. You dont jave to look it up as he expliccitly says that its owned by the county. Its a public taxiway

[@pilotintraining2391]

@@bjjkickboxing7876 It is public you are correct. That makes it even cooler if you have a friend that lives on the property and you yourself wish to fly and visit them. What a life these people are living

[@bjjkickboxing7876]

@@pilotintraining2391 more towns should do this tbh. It would make the comunity souch more vibrant.

[@TheQUBANQT]

Joe has a great sense of humor. His ability to subtly make fun of his choices is awesome. 😂 “4,000 sq more than I needed but it came with the hanger.” 😊

[@diegocedeno7262]

Are we gonna completely disregard his joke about the camera equipment, and how the elevator came in clutch for them

[@92kosta]

That's what he said to his wife.

[@Lup3r]

You can tell by the bullet hole stickers on his plane, he doesn't take life too serious. Definitely one of the cool neighbors you love to see out and about the neighborhood.

[@nameberry220]

He was an air force pilot, he's actually a murderer.

[@Londoncab]

What a life... What a role model. Obviously a really disciplined guy.

[@khez_]

Role Model for sure!

[@AirSafetyInstitute]

It was great to hear Joe's story. He is really living the ideal pilot life!

[@angela1984a]

If only it wasn't for Man-Made Global Warming and the Thwaites Ice Shelf.

[@MrPopples72843]

I love to see GA shared in the mainstream like this!

[@ShredCo]

No diversity is HEAVEN?

[@pn7064]

I generally love the "CNBC Make It" series, from traditional lifestyles to the more unique. This one was a great addition covering a very uncommon approach to living. Thank you for sharing with us!

[@aphex4000]

A community full of pilots and former pilots must make for some very interesting conversations and life experiences. What a cool place to live!

[@MichaelOdomwest16thAve]

Aphex, great name. I saw him in NY 3 years ago.

[@airhabairhab]

Interesting for a day or two then you get sick of talking about planes all the time 😂😂

[@TurdJesus]

@@airhabairhab if you know pilots they never get tired of talking about planes and flying 😂

[@markobekcic3320]

A pilot and a mechanic. Impressive.

[@dabneyoffermein595]

and test pilot

[@ahumblepoet]

This guy is my kind of guy. Calm, confident and capable. I’m not surprised he found success, but nonetheless I’m glad he did.

[@patrickjocelyn5836]

I’ve never enjoyed watching someone else live my dream more than this guy. Congratulations on your contentment sir!

[@edstoybox]

Make your dream a reality! Go to your local airport and go up for a discover flight. It is usually between 100-150 dollars. The flight instructor will let you sit in the pilots seat and fly for around 45mins. If you like it, take the leap and get your wings!

[@lynseyrussell3126]

As a young pilot (24f), it’s safe to say a new set of goals has been unlocked for me!! This is awesome!!

[@coscorrodrift]

you probably know her already but in case you don't Stevie Triesenberg is probably another nice "goals" account lol

[@davelinde6317]

Having lived in the Tahoe area for fifty years and owned and operated aircraft out of the Truckee Airport, I’ve got to say Joe is living the dream. Truckee used to be a small uncontrolled airport where you knew most of the folks on the field. Now, there are more jet and turboprop operations than single engine piston airplanes. Joe, I envy you and hope you enjoy many more years at PML. Clear skies my friend.

[@outdoorfreedom9778]

I live in Mariposa just down the road from Joe. At one point I knew several pilots that commuted to the bay area from our local airport right out of town. It's a great idea. Joe did forget to mention fire season and the winter storms. Fire season is just one of those things we have to contend with every year. It's gotten a lot worse over the decades too! Winter storms that would ground you are not something that happens a lot but it's something that can happen up here. Just an FYI, there are a few problems with living in the mountains.

[@psiloki9054]

I figured there was a reason it would be so cheap for what he’s getting

[@chrisalarcon17]

This guy is living the dream

[@Ulbre]

This is what they call "Living The Life". You could win the powerball and still fall way short of 'living the life'. Well done Joe.

[@Later_Nerd]

I remember when I was delivering for Amazon probably 7 years ago (it wasn't awful and overworked back in the day.) I got assigned to a very random kind of backwoods type of area that was 30 minutes outside of the major city. I randomly stumbled upon a small airfield where people lived on it and all had their small and older little Cessna planes. It was nowhere near as nice as this. But it wasn't run down or anything at all. I remember thinking it was so cool. That these people obviously weren't poor, but they were far from rich. They chose to live on an airfield with their own little prop plane instead of getting that million dollar home in the city. Something about it was really charming and such a cool little neighborhood to stumble upon.

[@zdrux]

This is like being a kid and living in an ice-cream factory right above a toy store.

[@edstoybox]

It sure is, we just moved in to an aero community 2 months ago. I still tell my wife to pinch me because I must me dreaming!

[@edwink1467]

Goals! I'm in flight school now and will most definitely do this when I'm older.

[@nobbie_07]

How does one get started to fly small planes like his? Not commercial

[@edwink1467]

@@nobbie_07 I can only speak for the process in the US. To start, go take lessons at a Part 61 flight school or find a certified flight instructor (CFI) who is willing to take you as a student. You can start flying almost immediately under the supervision of the CFI. After passing the written aeronautical test, getting at least a third class medical, and having at least 40 hours (more if you aren't ready) of flight time that include solo, cross country, night flying, etc., you can take a checkride with an examiner to get your private pilot license (PPL). From zero to PPL costs about $10-20K depending on how quick you learn and how much your school/instructor charges you. If you passed, you can fly on your own or with passengers basically anywhere (except restricted air space for obvious reasons) at anytime. However, you cannot fly for commercial purposes, meaning you can't charge money to fly people or their cargo. Commercial airline pilots have a sh*t ton more trainings, checkrides, licenses, and ratings required, but all you need is a PPL to fly for fun.

[@pilotintraining2391]

@@nobbie_07 Start by researching all the local flight schools in your area and enrol in their flight lessons once you have picked 1 school to learn from

[@itsnotallrainbowsandunicor1505]

To add to the other comments, forget flight school college/universities unless you want a degree in aeronautical engineering, aviation management, etc. You can get your license first before your degree. Don't fall for a degree like aviation management if you prefer to study something else. If I was to do it over again, I would go for my A&P mechanic license, work at a school such as Embry Riddle, or FIT, take courses and fly on the side and build up hours. Yes, it's a longer process, but you are in control of the costs. and having an A&P license is a big plus. You know how planes work and assembled.

[@edwink1467]

@@itsnotallrainbowsandunicor1505 I think it’s even better to get a useful degree in something not related to aviation in case you changed your mind about being a pilot, failed training, or failed to get your first class medical. At least you can pivot to another field that way.

[@Motomobbin45]

At the end of this runway my buddy and his grandparents lived on the last hanger. As kids, it was so much fun riding our bikes through the neighborhood like it was normal passing taxing planes instead of cars! this was back in 2005 so not to long ago. Glad to see it has not changed!

[@AlexaThinks]

THAT’S how life should be lived 🤩

[@frankmorgan1921]

If every life on earth live like this, we need 1000 more earth

[@gearheadgaming1537]

@@frankmorgan1921 We already need that anyway

[@infini.tesimo]

That's definitely one way to get around the crazy taxes in California while still being in the state. He sounded military the moment he spoke. For those that haven't served before, officers have a way of speaking that is sharp, direct, and as if it's always a speech to a crowd even if it's just you in the room. It's cool that he got to do what he loved for decades and still does! 👏

[@ravigandhi7742]

I would love to live a life like this guy.

[@bahadrsarcicek7110]

you won’t, lok

[@ravigandhi7742]

@@bahadrsarcicek7110 haha 😂

[@Arcticfox7]

No s**t!

[@edstoybox]

You will! Go to your local airport and go up for a discover flight. It is usually between 100-150 dollars. The flight instructor will let you sit in the pilot seat and fly for around 45mins. If you like it, take the leap and get your wings!

[@jeffl1484]

I've been in love with aviation since I was a kid, this guy is whom I aspire to mirror to an extent, as I grow older. Unfortunately while I decided to go a different route in finance, I love how this man is doing what he loves to this day. You get a great sense of serenity and peace in his demeanor. I hope to achieve that type of fulfillment as well.

[@AlexDenton0451]

I've been saving every penny working as an electrician myself lol, trying to go and get my commercial license.

[@joesobczak]

One of my nearby neighbors, a retired electrician, recently finished building a house AND an airplane! Keep saving, keep flying!

[@johnchiala]

Nice place to live!!! Looks gorgeous. And great job getting all the shots you needed to put this together. I loved the line about "it's a bigger house than I need but it came with a hangar so what the heck!"

[@jdonez8347]

This is inspiring, if only I'd have had a mentor to lead me down a path like this. Legit. Much props and respect pops.

[@itsnotallrainbowsandunicor1505]

I flew the T-34 down in Tennessee many years ago. Fine handling qualities, retractable gear, variable pitch prop, I missed flying such an aircraft.

[@Tomahawk16Romeo]

I come back and watch this video at least once a week. Just to keep me motivated to make this a reality for me.

[@WavePvps1]

This is the best dream you could ever live. I'm coming out of HS and have a scholarship to obtain my FAA A&P certificate. This inspires me a lot to what I could do as well if I can get my private pilot license.

[@jingconan]

This is so inspiring, and this sounds a fantastic community to live. I have always admire people who can fly. Hope one day flying will be as normal as driving.

[@york2600]

I had a family friend that lived at this airport. It was a blast to fly in and taxi to his house.

[@mxtzz.2907]

this is the type of life i wish to live once i retire from the airlines

[@warrenpuffett2359]

asides from being able to fly whenever you want, it must be awesome to live in a community full of people with the same passion as you

[@heytheremrbrooks1]

This guy is living the life!

[@MrPopples72843]

I’m a 130tt private pilot, and I’ve been struggling with juggling my instrument rating with work and life. Joe has painted a picture to really motivate me to finish it. I’m hoping I can get in contact with him and take him to lunch.

[@jeffl1484]

I'm still in the process of getting my PPL, best of luck to you! You've got this.

[@MrPopples72843]

@@jeffl1484 you’ll be three before you know!

[@aliceduanra7539]

Good luck! I'm doing my PPL right now

[@nickr5658]

Best thing you can do is go to accelerated instrument course and get it done in a few weeks.

[@MrPopples72843]

@@nickr5658 I’m totally out of money at the moment, had a startup go bust

[@Jon.......]

05:22 | Jet fuel? I don't think that the gasoline powered reciprocating Otto cycle engine in that T-34A would operate very well on jet fuel.

[@ajmomoho]

Clueless editor 🤷‍♂️

[@pi.actual]

There was a time when the Blankenburgs would hold an annual luau on the weekend of the Gathering of Luscombes event at their home at the southwest end of the runway. That house was like a museum with all sorts of antique machines and paraphernalia that included a Luscombe Sedan, Spartan Executive and a Lockheed Electra, just to name a few. I had the pleasure of attending a number of times.

[@evangelosvantzos5512]

Probably the best video I have ever see! I am astonished by the theme and the community 👏🥇😀

[@MrBrewman95]

I have tears in eyes seeing that this is so amazing.

[@sean9421]

This guys voice is just straight comforting. What a unique and cool story

[@HipHopMovieNews]

He looks so happy living his best life. I love seeing that.

[@ToddBaldwin]

Wow! This is SO cool!!

[@darkwoodmovies]

This man's life dream is still cheaper than a 1-bedroom in NYC. Cool.

[@GonzoT38]

Bingo, now you're getting it. There's tons of us making "alternative" choices in "less desirable" locations, and still come out ahead in quality of life. Being a slave to housing costs in the same usual suspect proverbial three spots of the country where everybody insists on jamming up in, is greatly overrated. Being housing-poor is for the birds, yet it's preached as gospel in the US. The man in the video is doing it right, and he is not the highest earning guy. Any Air force pilot retiree (I'll be one in 4 years) with a major airline job (not my jam but probably will have to dabble in it to keep income parity for a few years more) can replicate his outcome. It's all a matter of priorities, he even admits so himself when evaluating proximity to healthcare and family in old age.

[@SURF4LIFE84]

@@GonzoT38 "and he is not the highest earning guy" What are you talking about, dude is making 20k/month!!!

[@darkwoodmovies]

@@GonzoT38 If that's what someone wants to do, it's a great alternative. Unfortunately, I could never survive in that kind of life - it's just not for me. I'm a city dweller, born and raised, and the choices in the USA are very slim pickings and all overpriced.

[@TheAamirRauf]

Beautiful!

[@FinancialShinanigan]

Got a great escape plan in case Yosemite erupts

[@blancolirio]

Great Lifestyle! Welcome to beautiful Norther California! Juan

[@HUBAsztikus]

one of the reason why USA is a dream country

[@thisguy73]

Much less likely to be a victim of a shooting with this lifestyle

[@MicCheckMemoirs]

Lol

[@professormeow7432]

So true

[@lilkris3008]

Yeah this guy owns 3 houses and makes 250k a year most of us would be thrilled to own one

[@alphabetagamma4142]

@@lilkris3008 Yeah crib about it... No other country even offers this kind of stuff. For once, appreciate your own country. I'm not even american...

[@paologallardo8869]

This is rad, good video!

[@PatternYourStyle]

Joe is living his best life ! way to go 👌🏼

[@MathiasGreenwalde]

I live 2 streets down from a residential airstrip. Pretty cool to see all small planes takeoff and land. Literally just houses on the side and the road is a airstrip.

[@egyphon]

This is so cool that such a place exists.

[@wayne8797]

This is as close to having flying super powers as it gets. 😅

[@CaptMoo]

Life goals. Awesome video.

[@kwfown]

Great episode! He's got a pretty sweet setup.

[@WilliamsWings]

Just moved into mine 7 months ago! Its as great as it sounds!

[@jeremyweaver7689]

I’ve flown into this airport before beautiful place.

[@KyCandicee]

This is so interesting and different!!

[@FloridaMan762]

this is awesome and a great story

[@guyinthewhiteT]

This guy is a SUPER commuter. Must be hilarious when he meets other people in the Bay and tells them where he commutes from.

[@Rhaspun]

Years ago I used to work with a guy who drove to San Jose for from San Andreas. He was like me having to work six days a week for much of the year. He said he wanted his kids to grow up in a smaller community. He grew up in the South Bay area.

[@adrianusseto1737]

Top Gun. So blessed. Healthy and live his life.

[@peteh5862]

Flew a T-34 out of Beale AFB aero club in the late 1960s. Love flying it but it was a bit under powered with 225 hp.

[@Johnnybananass-_]

This gent has clocked life ! congrats to him , well deserved,

[@gracemillar3384]

This was so cool

[@james4asu]

What a absolute dream to live like this. Wow!

[@kitfo18]

This is awesome!

[@jtb3797]

There's a community just like this in western WA, whole development with a separate taxiway that runs parallel to the roads.

[@blackamericanlesbianprofes4357]

Thank you for posting this interview. Interesting to see. I am a USAF Veteran, I had worked in Maintenance. So seeing the aircraft was interesting. 20feb23

[@TaggsR85]

That’s awesome!

[@Loyalhusband]

truly admirable man

[@warrenhardy2912]

Joe is so cool, I would love to meet him and gain more knowledge.

[@thegoldengatesound]

Been to that neighborhood a few times for work. Wished I lived there from the first time seeing it

[@justsnappy]

The T-34 uses Avgas, not “jet fuel.”

[@tr5946]

Joe has what he wants! I'm happy for him! Keep going Joe!

[@t3true-games]

Great point about being in control of your environment. I think people fear flying because if anything happens you fall to the ground.. But I bet you are safer up there than we are in this California roads.. Cool story. p.s. yea that would be way to quiet for me..

[@phantomx2003]

Amazing!

[@michaelbruchas6663]

The Brookeridge neighborhood South of Downers Grove, IL is like this…

[@khareemoliver]

Great video !

[@ChuckWilliamsTechnology]

Wow..that is awesome...I am planning to learn to fly. I did a discover flight and now got my student license...I'll be on my way soon...this seems a like a dream...a great way to live..

[@nathansuka5302]

Love how he calmly talks about his own mortality

[@youknowwithMartyKauffman]

Looks cool

[@rigatoniphoni8247]

Honestly as a LA resident, that house is a steal for that price with all that 😭😭😭

[@Jalu3]

1:07 The Waypoint Pin you placed for San Francisco International Airport (KSFO) is wrong. You placed the pin near the Bayview district of San Francisco, San Francisco International is south and slight to the east of your original way point, and east of the City of San Bruno. Please correct this.

[@toffeelatte6042]

This is happiness in a video.

[@rhondamock7628]

I love it when people live their dream! What a wonderful life!

[@Anthony-iq4lf]

Yet another thing we will never experience in our lifetimes. At least someone gets to live good out there!

[@zachschaneberger]

You can if you want it bad enough! I worked 80-90 hours per week to be able to save up and pay for my flight training about 2 years ago.

[@sailesh11101]

As a aviation lover this is home 🤩

[@chad9971]

This is badass. An actual "Make it" I enjoy.

[@oneclickandclosed]

This is awesome

[@Imintune...]

Aviator dream come true. ✈🛩

[@jta1]

This is amazing!

[@Myulls]

This guy is mad cool

[@justjoe1071]

This is what I need

[@KoshBosch]

Very cool!

[@charleskavoukjian3441]

This is so cool

[@JonDoe-wy1sr]

Amazing

[@sultanateofoman]

He commutes to work by flying?! Wow!

[@edwink1467]

Lots of pilots commute to work by flying. They typically fly standby to their base from their home for free. Finish the trip (usually a few days long), fly home for free, have a few days off, and repeat. Most don't like commuting like this, but if you have family in another city/town and don't want to move to your base, this is a solution.

[@sultanateofoman]

@@edwink1467 interesting. did not know that. thanks

[@jerrynguyen8083]

@@edwink1467 yea but if they commute to bigger cities like San Francisco they will have to pay to land in SFO. Not sure if it's economical

[@edwink1467]

@@jerrynguyen8083 No, I am talking about airline pilots. They fly on commercial flights just like you and I, so they don’t pay landing fees. They just hop on a flight for free if there’s an empty seat. If there isn’t, they can fly in the jump seat in the cockpit with permission from the captain. Their airlines usually have agreements with other airlines, so they can fly for free on nearly all flights to get to work. Some do commute by flying their own plane, but they are in the tiny, tiny minority. In that case, they fly to secondary airports and then drive to their base like what this gentleman does. Say you are a pilot at United based in SFO. You have several kids in school in Orange County, CA, so you don’t want to move to San Francisco. What you’ll do is fly on a United flight from SNA to SFO before the start of your 4-day trip. Once you are done, you fly from SFO back to SNA, rest for a few days, and repeat. You don’t pay a penny to land at SFO. Obviously, you are still wasting time commuting and waiting in the airport, but if you must, the option is there.

[@envitech02]

Commuting to work via airplane is pretty common in the US, especially in huge states like California and Texas.

[@jcam1776]

They got tons of these communities up in central Wisconsin. Way cheaper than the 650k but the weather isn't close to being that of California.

[@max31505]

this life is amazing , like people work in IT, can HOMEoffice and remote

[@kafenaded]

that is awesome!

[@123auer]

Bro is living the dream!!

[@whitneybrown4067]

This is Gonna b so Good🔥🔥🔥👍n Happy Sunday😀….

[@Gasconauxolives]

A beautiful lesson about how to design your life.