This sign proclaiming Newport as "The Friendliest" welcomes visitors to town.

I heard a quote one time that stuck with me, “The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don’t know what you’re doing, someone else does.” When I first heard it, I thought it sounded like having nosy neighbors that knew more about your life than you did. Then I moved here and the quote really started to make sense!  I come from a large city, where you can get anything at any time, day or night. That’s not necessarily a good thing, trust me. It can take the value out of people and things. It can also make people faceless and forgettable.

Then I move to a city whose motto is “The Friendliest”. Hmmmm, it sounded like a challenge to me, not an invitation! So I started to test this city’s motto as I began to look for various services that everyone needs when they start to settle down.

I started to ask my friends and my friends’ friends who they call when they need something and I was shocked at how quickly and decisively everyone answered.  And woe to the person who puts their doctor or hair stylist or Real Estate Agent down! Loyalty is definitely alive and kicking on the coast!

So after compiling my list, I started calling and making appointments for various things and everyone was so helpful and yes, I’ll say it, friendly! Everyone I talked to and then went to was accommodating, knowledgeable and fun. No one made me feel like only a number and everyone made me feel welcome.

And now, many years later I still have and will always have my “Go To” people that, if for some reason I couldn’t get in to see them (this has never happened)  I would do without, rather than see someone else. For example: My eyes are solely taken care of by Dr. Hyduchack and his fantastic staff at Newport Vision Center.  My teeth are healthy because of Dr. Parsons and his fabulous staff at Canyon Way Dental Clinic. My hair will ONLY be cut and colored by Robin at Hair Expression. I can walk upright because of Dr. Shones and his enthusiastic crew at Shones Chiropractic! I am healthy because of Dr. Bice and his wonderful staff! And of course I only turn to Windermere for buying and selling homes on the coast (come on, do you really expect me not to plug Windermere every chance I get!)

Don’t get me wrong, there are many, many great businesses in town besides these and I know they are someone else’s “Go To” people.  That’s the beauty of small communities, you find a business that has everything you need and a fun staff and they become more than just business, they become your friends!

So the motto was tested and found to be true. Thank you one and all for making the Oregon Coast a place to call home!

Sandra

Sunday July 3rd

Depoe Bay Area

Fireworks display at Boiler Bay north of Depoe Bay at dusk.

(Click on map for more detailed view.)

Waldport – Alsea Bay

This year’s fireworks at Waldport is extra special, as the town is celebrating it’s centennial.

(Click on map for more detailed view.)

Monday July 4th

Taft (at the south end of Lincoln City)

Fireworks over Siletz Bay — a Lincoln City area tradition for nearly 80 years.

(Click on map for more detailed view.)

Newport

Yaquina Bay Fireworks 9:30 – 11 p.m. Plan to arrive early to the bayfront or surrounding areas. This is one of the larger and best attended displays on the coast.

(Click on map for more detailed view.)

People have a fairly accurate impression that great bargains in the form of deeply discounted prices can be found within this category. While generally true, bank owned properties present several unique challenges. Read on to become an informed buyer.

The big challenge is getting through the inspection process. Under Oregon law, financial institutions are exempt from the Disclosure requirements of all other Sellers. This means that the sale is always an “as is where is” situation. The bank will not negotiate (pay for) any needed repairs. So the prudent Buyer will need to be prepared to pay for all inspections whether the sale succeeds or fails.

The inspection process is not so simple as most bank owned properties are the result of foreclosure. The best managed properties have been winterized to prevent freezing water pipes and all utilities have been disconnected. In order to perform an inspection of all the functions within the home, water, electricity and gas service (if appropriate) must be reconnected. In some service areas, this can be done for a nominal fee to the Buyer. Again this is a Buyer cost.

Assuming that all the inspections pass on the home’s structure, utilities and mechanicals,  the other big factor is an assessment of the general condition of the home. Many foreclosure actions result in damage or removal of fixtures by the departing property owner. For example, it is not at all unusual to find everything remotely portable stripped from the home. This includes kitchen cabinets, appliances, plumbing fixtures, light fixtures and even flooring. In some cases the departing owner will do extensive damage to walls, doors, windows and remaining fixtures as a way of “getting back” at the bank for taking the home. Some of the costs to repair or replace may be reflected in the offering price with a cover letter to the bank with written bids for the work.

The final hurdle in the purchase of a foreclosed property is negotiating with the bank itself. The bank will demand proof of pre-approval if a new loan is being obtained for the purchase, as well as proof of adequate funds to close.

The brokers in our Newport and Seal Rock offices can guide you through the sometimes time consuming and frustrating process of buying a bank owned home along the Central Oregon Coast. We want you to get the financial advantages, so our job is to help you avoid all the possible pitfalls along the way.

Christmas Boat Parade, Yaquina Bay, Newport

Snow is a very rare occurance on the Oregon Coast. Sant Claus usually sees scenes like this from his sleigh. While your new Newport or Waldport home or condo may never see much of the cold white stuff, that doesn’t mean that Christmas on the Oregon Coast is a low key affair. The towns dazzle with Christmas lights, the Christmas boat parade in the Yaquina harbor is internationally famous, and the Newport Symphony Orchestra is in full swing at the Performing Arts Center. Christmas shopping on the Central Coast is a major draw, with the local merchants offering one of a kind items and the outlet malls posting their deepest discounts.

Oregon Coast real estate shows very well during this time as the crisp days give way to magnificent views from your new oceanfront windows. Put all this together with the Christmas tree you cut yourself in the forest, a cup of hot cider in front of your own fireplace, and you will agree that there is nowhere finer to spend the holidays than on the beautiful central Oregon Coast.

OPEN HOUSE

SUNDAY, 1pm – 3pm

160 SE Rose St, Waldport, Oregon

Beautiful setting for this 3+ bedrooms, 1 1/2 bath home. Expansive deck that showcases the valley views. Open floor plan with laminate flooring, featured wood accents on ceiling and walls. Large room downstairs that could be a great room or master bedroom. SELLER TO PAY 3% OF BUYER CLOSING COSTS WITH ACCEPTABLE OFFER!  $197,500.  #3167/10-2388

OPEN HOUSE

SATURDAY, 12PM – 3PM

258 SW 11th St, Newport, Oregon

Centrally located in Newport with easy access to shopping and Bay Front restaurants. 2 bd, 2 ba home with attic bonus room used as a bedroom. Nice BAY VIEW from the bedroom & living room. Downstairs has seperate entrance door & used as office. Updated in 1999. Glass top Bosch stove/oven & hot tub are included in the sale. Enjoy entertaining on the backyard deck.  $244,00.  #3182/10-2506

OPEN HOUSE

September 4, 2010, 10am-1pm

11870 E Alsea Hwy, Tidewater, Oregon

Spectacular River Front Home with a magnificent 30′ high Idaho River Rock fireplace & soaring ceilings.370 feet of river frontage with GREAT SALMON AND STEELHEAD FISHING on a park-like setting of 2 level acres, completely fenced and a security gate. 1000 square feet of decking, Hot Tub room overlooking river & 2 car garage w/stainless fishing cleaning station. 12 miles to the beaches and crabbing.  $485,000.  #3158/10-2241

OPEN HOUSE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 2010, 12pm – 3pm

455 SW Range Dr, Waldport, Oregon

Beautifully Landscaped. Contemporary home with many details throughout is situated on the 9th tee of the beautiful Crestview Hills Golf Course. Game room with Billiard Table, pellet stove and golf cart garage. Sit on the deck and enjoy a spectacular view of the golf course and pond! Conveniently located within walking distance of the beautiful and pristine Oregon Beach.  $425,000.  #2647/10-696

Pity the poor novice when they begin to try the native sport of clamming in Waldport, Newport, or elsewhere on the beautiful central Oregon coast. Like the fellow pictured above they often attack the clams with their shovel rather than using the time honored ‘stealth’ approach. You see, when you walk out the front door of your Oregon coast beachfront property, more likely than not you will be the only person on the beach. This means that the clams are all yours.

The photo, above, shows a damaged  Razor clam. These delicious treats actually start burrowing when you start digging, so an experienced Oregon clammer will first spot the telltale dimple in the clean white sand. Then they will dig to the side of the dimple, not over it. Then the race for the clam starts. Can you dig faster than a clam can burrow? Oddly enough, probably not. That must be why they are in such plentiful supply along the Oregon coast. In fact, all of the Lincoln County beaches are able to supply the presistant clammer with a goodly supple of this delicious bivalve mollusk.

Although many restaurants claim to make their chowder exclusively from Razor clams, you will find that your own homemade, locally caught, chowder will win the raves of visitors to your new Oregon coast home with beach views.

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.