Lately those looking for Oregon Coast real estate, particularly those looking for beachfront property in Newport and Yachats, have noticed something new. Poetry groups, writers workshops, and reading clubs have been springing up like proverbial mushrooms after a spring rain. It seems that retired folks actually enjoy snuggling up in front of a woodstove or fireplace and digging into the classics they always promised themselves they would read one day. This has led to groups such as ‘Writers on the Edge’ who are hosting authors who read their own works. The younger set has even organized ‘poetry slams’ which are becoming quite the scene on weekends.

No one is sure if it’s the gentle rain or the dramatic coastal landscapes which are behind this movement. All the thriving booksellers are sure of one thing:  business is up – way up. Sitting in a friend’s coastal condo last week, I remarked that this summer has been unusually mild. She was assembling yet another bookcase from Ikea to hold her increasing library of book purchases. She wiped the hair out of her eyes smiled and said,  “Good, I’ve got a lot of reading to do and this is absolute heaven for a book lover like me.”  I looked out her front window at the scudding clouds and the crashing surf and had to agree.

You have to look at a map to understand that you have to travel east from Newport to reach San Diego. Real estate in Newport, like the rest of the country, has an west-to-east weather pattern. The problem (and the delight) about Lincoln County Real Estate is that the mighty Pacific Ocean is our neighbor. And it is this neighbor which controls all the weather. Homes directly in the teeth of the wild winter storms need special protection from the elements. Luckily the contractors and building suppliers are very familiar with the peculiar home maintenance needs of the local population.

Just a few miles inland the weather takes a dramatic turn with warmer temperatures settling over the towns of Toledo and Siletz. Summer temperatures inland are ofter in the 80’s and 90’s when the real estate along the coast may be struggling to reach 70 degrees.

Homes facing the south and west, along the coast, are the best candidates for solar heating and cooling. But the dramatic views of any coastal property are what most home buyers seek. So remember to look at the inland communities if weather is a primary concern. But really, the Pacific Ocean with it’s magnificent sunsets and panoramic vistas is the true main attraction.

Summer is a wonderful time to visit the Oregon Coast. Especially if you are in the market for a full time or vacation residence. The weather is warm and everything is very green. So the question is, “how do I see all there is to see and find out what Coastal living is all about?”

The simple and best answer is to connect with an experienced Real Estate Broker who lives on the Coast. We know the highways, byways and all the great places to visit. It is impossible for a visitor to be aware of all the unique neighborhoods and areas – many of which are off Highway 101 and easily missed.

Image courtesy of Bridgemeister.com

When touring the Central Oregon Coast it helps to remember that Highways, 101, 18, 20 and 34 are our main thoroughfares. As such traffic volume triples and quadruples during the Summer months and on holiday weekends. With so much scenic beauty to enjoy it is very common to be stuck in traffic behind cars and RVs that are so wrapped up in sight seeing that they forget about sharing the road and progress at a stately 35 to 45 MPH from one view point to the next. It may not seem like a big issue but it is. Our narrow roads are designed to accommodate traffic at 55 MPH and the flow goes pretty well. Drop below that and pretty soon we have major congestion and a dramatic increase in the number of rear ender accidents. What a crummy way to spend a vacation. So keep the speed up to the legal limit, make use of pull outs and enjoy the views. The next greatest challenge is the high use of bicycle traffic on the Coast as a very popular route. Most of the highways have designated bike lanes where space permits. There are really narrow areas where the riders actually have to travel in the traffic lane which creates hazards for drivers who are not paying attention — so give them plenty of room.

So, connect with an Oregon Coast Realtor and let us do the driving; you will be happy you did. Our two offices specialize in Newport Oregon Real Estate as well as communities north and south of Newport.

Some people are of the opinion that it frequently rains along the beautiful central Oregon Coast.

While it is true that the area can sometimes see up to 80 inches of rain per year, the drama of a winter storm is absolutely worth the experience. Imagine sipping hot tea in front of a roaring fire in your own coastal home or condo. The wind outside is whipping whitecaps on the ocean, and the entire fishing fleet has returned to the Depoe Bay or Newport harbors. You immerse yourself in a good book or old movie while Mother Nature rearranges the local beachscape with her pounding waves.

It’s no wonder that so many artists and writers call the Oregon Coast their home. In fact, the number of bookstores vastly exceeds the number of any other type of retail business, with the possible exception of local restaurants. And in the morning you know the agate rock beds will be exposed, the beachcombing will be epic, and the sun will rise over the Coast Range on another glorious day.

There is one simple secret to extremly productive crabbing on the Oregon Coast. Just drive to the Alsea Bay in the little town of Waldport, 15 miles south of Newport.

The bar at the mouth of the  Alsea (pronounced Al-see) Bay silted up a hundred years ago. Only the smallest of boats ever cross this treacherous opening to the Pacific. However, this means there is no commercial crabbing inside the bay and the crabs have been multiplying there ever since. Oregon charges about $5.00 for a license to crab. The public boat launch in the old town section of Waldport is free and pots can be rented at local businesses near the docks.

The  concept is simple and the results are delicious. Just tie some old fish heads or chicken necks to the bottom of you crab pot and throw it overboard, atttached to a float. Wait 15 minutes and the pull the pot and see how many delicious Dungeness crabs you bring up into the boat. Always observe local regulations, but when last checked the limit was 12 crabs… per person!

This is a great family experience and the sights on the bay are breathtaking. You’ll see sea lions sunning themselves just a few feet from your boat and a vast array of birdlife, even a bald eagle or two. Chances are extremely high that you will be having all the crab you can eat for dinner that night back at you Oregon Coast home.

Most tourists don’t know that there are two lighthouses in Newport Oregon.

There is the  ‘real’ one at Yaquina Head  which is two miles north of town, and the ‘haunted’ one overlooking the jetty at the entrance to Yaquina Bay.  The haunted lighthouse had a run of bad luck dating back to the late 1800’s. It was the first one built in the area, but it was located in the wrong place. Then the lighthouse keeper’s daughter died mysteriously, about 100 years ago. Then strange lights began flickering in the keepers cottage after it had been abandoned. Well, you get the picture.

To see for yourself just visit the north side of the Yaquna bridge, enjoy the lovely park overlooking the mighty Pacific and participate in the free lighthouse tour (summer months only). Sometimes the park service will also open the lighthouse on Halloween. But that night is too scary for all but the bravest souls.

Windermere West Coast Properties & Real Estate Gallery is pleased to participate in National Open House Weekend,  April 10th & 11th.

Saturday, April 3rd, 11am – 4pm
Saturday, April 10th, 11am – 4pm
Sunday, April 11th, 11am – 4pm

Saturday, March 13th 11am – 4pm
Sunday, March 21st 11am – 4pm
Saturday, March 27th 11 am – 4 pm

Newport’s biggest party roars into town this weekend.

For the 32nd time, the finest wines and seafood in the Pacific Northwest will be on display at the South Beach Marina Event Center. Over 100 booths will feature the bounty of seafood, grapes, cheeses and other local fresh Northwest fare. The event attracted 24,000 people in 2009 and local expectations anticipate that this will be exceeded given the beautiful weather predicted for this weekend.

Friday night is known as locals night but it is Saturday when musicians and other entertainment are in full swing. This is the granddaddy of wine festivals for the Oregon coast, a place where a gold medal actually matters to both the winemakers and distributors.

The Seafood and Wine Festival is co-sponsored by the Newport Chamber of Commerce and Seaport Airlines. Although you must be 21 and over to attend, the event has traditionally been a low-key affair. The locals look forward to this event as much as the 10,000 tourists we expect to descend on the coast for the weekend.

Because a free shuttle bus is offered at numerous locations around town, attendees can be guarantee that they’ll get back to their motel as quickly and safely as possible.

This is truly an event that brings forth the best efforts of the vintners, restaurants and the citizens of Newport. Most locals will tell you this is the weekend you can have the most fun on the Oregon Coast. Hey, and while you’re over here — look at some of the most beautiful and affordable properties on the Central Oregon Coast.

Once upon a time…..I was the “Not-From-Around-Here” Girl: flashy car, acrylic nails, Sun-In hair and 20 pairs of high heeled sandals.  I drove up here on a whim, fell in love with the coast, gave my notice at my job and started house hunting.  That was 15 years ago.  Since then I have learned a lot about becoming an Oregonian here are my top 5:  

#1 SLOW DOWN!  That was a hard one for me.  The coast has a different time frame than the rest of the world.  Things are more relaxed…which is great because you actually have time to meet people, remember their names and make lasting friendships and enjoy the view all at the same time. 

#2 Don’t expect all directions to include a street name.  This one floored me!  I needed to get from a friend’s house in Toledo to a friend’s house in Waldport.  It went as follows:

• Turn left out of the drive way and drive until you reach that church with the red door, turn right (OK…what street is that? No Answer)
• Take that street until you see the police station and turn right (Ummm..OK, but I’m scared now)
• Follow the road until you see DQ (OK, seriously, what street am I on now? Still no answer),
• Turn left on HWY 20 (YES! A STREET NAME)
• When you hit Newport turn left at HWY 101 (We are on a roll, that’s two street names in a row!)
• Take 101 to Waldport and turn left at the street after the one with the light (are you kidding me?) there is normally a nice old man named Earl on that corner (I kid you not, my friend not only said this, but Earl was actually there! I waved.) 
• Follow that until you get to a polka dotted mail box, take that gravel road until you get to the white house and You Are There!  (This last part was said with a cheeky little grin that I know was meant to humble this California girl!  It worked.)

#3 If you think you know how to pronounce some of the landmarks, you probably don’t!  For example:

• Yaquina (ya-KWIN-a)…not Yakeeena
• Not to be confused with La Quinta (Keeen-ta)…..not La Qwinta
• Siuslaw (Sigh-u-slaw) Not sue-we-slaw
• Philomath (Fill-LO-muth) Not Filowmath
• Yachats (YAW-hots) Not Yaa-chets
• It’s Lincoln City, not Lincoln
• Siletz (Si-LETS) Not SI-letzzzz

#4 If you show up with an “I’m a Food Snob” attitude, like I did, you will be put in your place…nicely.  We have the best food here!  From fabulous seafood with a view at Georgies to awesome locally made beer and Kobe burgers at Rogue.  We have something for everybody! 

#5 If someone asks you if you are a Ducks Fan or a Beavers Fan, answer quickly and decisively and stick with that decision, forever!  That, my friends, is how I became a Ducks Fan!!!

I am thankfully still learning, daily, about the Central Oregon Coast.  This is where I work, play and raise my family, and I love it here!!