Cox Island, A Siuslaw River Sanctuary

Cox Island, Siuslaw River Sanctuary: Cox Island is in the middle of the Siuslaw River a few miles inland from Florence Oregon. Now owned by the Oregon Nature Conservancy, it is a prime example of an estuarine saltmarsh ecosystem. During high tides, the island is flooded by the rising tide. During low tides, the island's mudflats are revealed, supporting large colonies of shrimp and clams which great blue heron and other birds and mammals feast on. The island is dissected by a maze of channels, narrow but deep and not suitable for foot travel.

You can reach Cox Island by boat; it's an easy kayak and canoe paddle, particularly if you can time your trip by the tides, floating down to the island as the tide goes out and floating back to the ramp as the tide comes back in. If you want to rent a kayak or canoe, Central Coast Watersports on Highway 101 in the center of town can fix you right up. You can launch at the public boat ramp at Cushman, a few miles up 126 from the Florence city limits. Cox Island is a mile downstream. Land your boat on the northeast corner where the old house is. That's the safest spot. But be sure that your boat is tied up securely lest the tide take it all the way to the mouth of the Siuslaw, some seven miles away.

The best times to visit are during the Spring and Summer. There are over 80 species of birds to watch for including great egrets, phalaropes, whimbrels and short-billed dowitchers. Beaver, river otter, muskrat and mink call the island home. It is common to see bald eagles and hawks.

For more information, visit the Oregon Nature Conservancy.

This was first posted on the ActiveRain Real Estate Network under Localism

How to Boat Where the Fish Go in Florence Oregon: Docks, Wharves, Water Sport Stuctures, Oh My!

How to Boat Where the Fish Go in Florence Oreogon: I attended a seminar put on by the Oregon Department of State Lands this week and learned a lot about wetlands, submerged and submersible land and structures on them. Turns out, folks must register boat docks, floats, boat houses, floating cabins, water sport structures, revetments, attenuators and retaining walls that are on state-owned submerged and submersible land. Whew! That was sure a mouthful. The state has a way with words, doesn't it? Here's the easy skinny: A water sport structure includes water ski buoys, jumps and ramps; kayak race gates and so forth. The cost of registration ranges from $125 to $350 depending on the structure and its size. The registration must be renewed every 5 years. You have to submit the names and addresses of your neighbors, those owning riparian land within 200 feet of your structure, along with their comments for and against with your application. The department may deny your registration if your neighbor has a legitimate bone to pick with you, for example, that your dock interferes with their fishing or recreation. The state won't deny you if the neighbor doesn't like the color you picked, however. If your dock gets washed away, you can replace it with the same size and use structure. You can't make it bigger or change the location or way it was used. Gaming the system is "no win." You can even submit a registration for a structure that is shared with your neighbor, including a floating recreational cabin. If you need more info, take a look at http://www.oregonstatelands.us/. Florence Oregon has some 18 lakes plus the Siuslaw River, and the mighty Pacific beyond, all full of fish and fun to boat and float and have a home on. I have a pamphlet which describes all the lakes and the types of fish they have along with a photo of each lake. I can send you a copy by snail mail or better yet, take a look at the pamphlet on my website, http://www.oregonflorencerealestate.com/ Wondering about the photo? It's the beautiful Florence harbor, marina and boardwalk.

Help Me Find My Neighbors!

Foreclosed Florence Home in My Neighborhood, Mercer Lake Heights--There's a lonely home looking for a family. Yup, the home directly across the street from me--I live in Mercer Lake Heights--is empty, has been for a whole year, the unfortunate result of a foreclosure. The neighborhood I live in is great, and not just because I live there. It's quiet, it has a family of deer and a family of black bear, all the neighbors know one another, nearly everyone has a dog or a cat, it's in the county--no city taxes--but it's only 10 minutes from Old Town's great boutiques, restaurants and our gorgeous little harbor. And--hard to believe--our homeowner's association owns a dock and picnic area on Mercer Lake, one of the area's most sought after lakes for its beauty and great fishing. A few steps away from this home is an open space with a couple of chairs perched on the edge of the ridge. The lot is owned by the next door neighbors but he and his wife let everyone snug up with their honey and drink in the beauty of the Northwest, the lake and the towering trees. The home is about 1500 square feet, simple ranch style, sunken living room, plenty of kitchen cabinets and a sunny south facing deck. What more could you ask for? This cute foreclosed home is listed for $155,000 but no doubt you could get it for less. So if you want to know more about banana belt living in Mercer Lake Heights and what it means, let me know. I'll even share a banana with you, my treat! www.oregonflorencerealestate.com www.twitter.Florence_OR.com

My Favorite Small Homes in Florence, Oregon

There are two small homes in the greater Florence area that I just love. The first one is on W. 17th Street. Although it was built in 1954, it has been completely remodeled and when I say completely, I mean completely: new roof, new shake siding, new windows and trim, new garage door, new cabinets, new appliances, new flooring, new plumbing and most electrical. It's as cute as a small home can possibly be. It is 1008 square feet and is located across from Miller Park and a walking trail to take your dog and only 17 blocks from all the restaurants and boutiques of Old Town Florence. Take a look at it: http://preview.tinyurl.com/yhn7h8c. The second home that I love is north of the Florence city limits by about 10 minutes, ensconced in Western Red Cedar and Sitka Spruce. It's 896 square feet with two bedrooms and one bath located steps from Mercer Lake. It has new everything--plumbing, septic, electrical, cabinets, you name it. Built in 1966, it has a 2-car garage and plenty of room for parking. It's fully furnished and would make a great vacation home as well as an income property. You can see it at
http://preview.tinyurl.com/y8ten99. So if you're ready to downsize, you won't go wrong with these two cuties. Looking for something a bit bigger? We've got brand new small homes too. One that's soon to be built in town is listed at $169,900. And you get to pick out the color granite! That's right: granite. Want to know more? Email me at hope@hopemacmanus.net, www.oregonflorencerealestate.com, www.twitter.com/Florence_OR.

Florence Oregon Neighborhoods, Part 5: Munsel Creek Estates

One of my absolute favorite in-town neighborhoods in Florence is Munsel Creek Estates, a small cul-de-sac subdivision of 35 lovely homes built in 2003 to 2005. The homes are all one story except one and range in size from 1700 square feet to 2200 square feet. Lots are just shy of one quarter of an acre, large enough to garden, low maintenance landscaping already in place. I think the reason that I especially like this subdivision is that all the homes are gracefully placed on their lots, are very well kept and the subdivision is tucked away and quiet. The developer left some large trees, a sought-after feature for many who move to Florence. In addition, the homes are different from one another but harmonious. Munsel Creek runs along the northern edge of the subdivision and makes a nice destination for a dog walk. Munsel Creek Estates begins at 13th Street, making it only 13 blocks from Old Town Florence's boutiques, yummy restaurants and harbor, an easy walk or bike along pretty flat streets or along the Munsel Creek bike path. Since Munsel Creek Estates is located on the east side of highway 101, it's sunny when subdivisions at the beach are fogged in and it's a little warmer, making it more likely that you'll get a good crop of strawberries and fat squash in the summer. Since it's a small neighborhood, all the neighbors know one another and virtually every home is owner occupied, an added plus. Homes are not that frequently on the market. There's is only one for sale right now:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/yb4h4aq. If you'd like to stay in touch with this neighborhood's sales, let me know and I'll email you future listings as soon as they come onto the market. http://www.oregonflorencerealestate.com/, www.twitter.com/Florence_OR

Florence Oregon Foreclosed Bank Owned Homes

Florence Oregon Foreclosed Bank Owned Homes There are 13 foreclosed bank owned homes listed on the MLS right now, much fewer than before. Even though that's a small number, the selection is quite varied, offering Buyers just about everything by way of location, price and amenities. The least expensive is $79,050, a fixer on .24 acres north of the Florence city limits. Even though it's right on highway 101, it's worth looking at as an income property or two family living since Lane County has it listed as a duplex. It's been added onto over the years since it was built in 1944. The most expensive is $390,000, a brand new custom home, never lived in, over 3,000 square feet, located in the south lakes area with a seasonal peek of a beautiful coastal lake. In between are two river front properties, one in Mapleton and one in Florence, both nearly new, priced at $227,000 and $225,000 respectively. There's one home that is lake front--there's a steep path to the lake--with a shared community dock, 2,400 square feet, two separate living areas, older home (1973) but mostly updated. It has a strong financial record as a vacation rental so this one would make a good income property. If you want some elbow room, there are two or three homes on large lots, about half an acre. And if you need bedrooms or two family living there are three homes that fit the bill. There's even one condominium for sale for $99,800, two story, close to Peace Health Hospital. If you're interested in purchasing a bank owned property in Florence, Oregon, recently name one of eight coastal towns that are bargains for real estate by "Where to Retire" magazine, the time may be now or never. www.oregonflorencerealestate.com, www.twitter.com/Florence_OR

Florence's Annexation War

Florence is generally a sleepy town--until someone or "ones" get a burr under their saddle. It happened when a casino was in the making. The casino is built, though opponents are still at it with a law suit which may come before the Oregon Supreme Court. Now opponents of annexation have scored a victory by waylaying the city's 2020 Comprehensive Plan : Lane County decided last week to send the plan back to the Florence City Council. Though the city adopted the plan way back in 2002, the county must also adopt it because they are responsible for the plans in the city's UGB, the Urban Growth Boundary, which lies north of the city limits. The city has worked diligently to address the concerns of annexation opponents, and a lot of key kingpins have given their blessing at the county and state levels. But members of Citizens Against Annexation (CAA) till oppose the plan contending that the city is creating a septic care to force residents of the UGB to annex. Opponents won the day when Springfield Commissioner Bill Dwyer said “This thing is not ready and I’m not going to vote for it.” So the Florence City Council will surely grumble about having to deal with the issue once more. Hopefully the local Planning Commission, working with all the right grand poo bahs to tweak the plan, will satisfy the County Commissioners at their May 19th meeting. I think many in Florence and Lane County hope that this issue won't end up on the docket of the Oregon Supreme Court. Stay tuned. For a more complete account of the issue, check The Siuslaw News.

Things to Do: 17th Annual Pow-Wow

Now here's something fun and FREE to do in Florence. Everyone is welcome to attend.The 17th annual pow wow to benefit the Native American Education Programs in three area school districts--Siuslaw, Mapleton and Reedsport--is scheduled for Saturday, March 20th at Siuslaw Middle School on Oak Street. The Grand Entry is at 1:00 and 6:00 pm. The pot luck is at 4:30 pm. There's open drumming, Native American arts and crafts and much more. Dancers and drummers from all over Oregon and surrounding states come to this community for the pow wow. Any proceeds go to the Native American Education Program Parent Committee fund to help enhance the program. The Native American Education Program is a two part program with the schools districts. The first part is scholastic: children are helped with their school work and encouraged to stay in school. The second part helps students understand the culture and traditions of their ancestors. The program teaches respect of self, others and the world around. Now what could be a better accomplishment than that!

My Favorite Neighborhoods, Part Four: Golfing

There are two golf courses in Florence: Sandpines Golf Links http://www.sandpines.com/index.php and Ocean Dunes Golf Links http://www.oceandunesgolf.com/. Both are surrounded by lovely homes. Sandpines is still in the process of being developed with plans in process for townhomes and additional single family residences. Sandpines has a stunning Northwest Lodge style clubhouse with a restaurant, Tavolo's, which is open to the public serving Northwest style fare such as halibut, steak and a vegetarian pasta primavera. The Bistro at Ocean Dunes is also open to the public and offers unusual dishes like roasted beet and arugula salad. Neither golf course neighborhood has very many homes for sale at the moment. Sandpines has four ranging in price from $327,000 to $699,800 (this one has a fabulous view of the greens, high end finishes throughout and an elevator). Home Owner's Association dues are only $240 a year which includes road and gate maintenance. Ocean Dunes has two homes priced at $369,000 and $439,900. Some of my favorite homes in Ocean Dunes are the Cottages, a gated planned unit development of generously sized homes (2200 square feet is not unusual), some of which have a pond view. Home Owner's Association dues are $75 a month and include power washing once a year and window washing twice a year in addition to the usual road maintenance and so forth. Both golf courses are within the city limits, are on city services, and are close to shopping and all of Florence's wonderful ammenities like boutique shopping in Old Town, the beach and Freddies, our extraordinary grocery, department store and coffee shop. So if golf is your passion, if you want to look out on the greens while you sip that Cup of Joe, you have two beautiful places to choose between. You can view these homes on my website: www.oregonflorencerealestate.com

Pick of the Week: Darling Ranch on a Quiet Neighborhood Street

I'm positively in love with a charming ranch style home and just have to write about it. It's sweet, TOTALLY remodeled, on a quiet street across from Miller Park and the city's bike and walking path. http://tinyurl.com/yhn7h8c When I say totally remodeled, I mean new roof, new shake siding, new windows, new garage door, new cabinets, appliances, fixtures, lights, carpeting, vinyl, plumbing, electrical. Is there any more? Oh, the landscaping! So if you are serious about downsizing, living small, embracing the new ethic in housing and getting away from it all, this just might be the house for you. I spoke with the listing agent who told me that the owners bought it to remodel and re-sell. They're loan is due and they are VERY motivated to get it sold so I suspect there's still room for negotiation. If this cutie is not quite right, I've got another couple of small clean homes I can tell you about that'll bowl you over. Remember, the $6,000 tax credit for home buyers with existing homes runs out soon, so make your move and pocket a cool bunch of greenbacks. You won't be sorry. www.oregonflorencerealestate.com, www.twitter.com/Florence_OR

What to Look for if Sunshine and Warmth are MUST HAVES

On our first visit to Florence from North Carolina in January 2004, our real estate agent told us that there are people who move to Florence seeking a small coastal town with natural beauty and the ambiance of Old Town. Florence has all that and more. But, he said, some leave after five years, seeking warmer temperatures and more sunshine. Well, Florence has warmth and sunshine too, but to find it in spades, those looking for the perfect home need to be experts about the area's many micro climates. Here's what I mean: most people think they want to live close to the beach, maybe even within walking distance. What could be finer? Well, here's some little known facts to consider about beach area living in Florence. In the summer, the prevailing winds are from the north, and let me tell you, that northern wind is chilly: the air temperature may be a perfect 70 but the northern wind makes it feel as though it's 40. In fact, it's often warmer on the beach in January than it is in July because there's no wind in the winter--I'm talking shirt sleeve warmth. Florence's winter weather is one of our best kept secrets. Here's another little known fact: if you're strolling the beach after noon in the summer, you're likely to get a free facial microdermabrasion because of blowing sand, so you learn to take your stroll at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m when the wind is calm. And then there's the summer fog: the fog line often hangs a half mile inland and follows the river all the way into Old Town Florence. Sometimes the fog doesn't lift until noon. Fog is cold. So all this means, if you want plenty of sunshine, don't live right at the beach or close to the river. Many people prefer living on the east side of highway 101 to be sure of sun because they're out of the fog line. Now to find warmth, that's a whole other story. Would you believe there are homes at the beach that are situated so perfectly that you can go out on your deck on a sunny day when the fog has lifted in a bikini and be perfectly warm--and tanned! You can even grow--and ripen--tomatoes, which for most places in the greater Florence area is a real art. Many people who want to be out of the wind and the fog and want to grow a garden live in the so-called banana belts north and south of the city. I have a friend who grows tomatoes as big as my two fists and zucchini like watermelons who lives on an acre in the south lakes area. He gets temperatures 80 to 85 degrees consistently in the summer. And I live 10 minutes north of Florence in the banana belt. However, I can't grow tomatoes because my home sits on top of a ridge and doesn't get nearly as much warmth as I need and can be breezy. But my neighbor below me has a home that is snugged into a sunny spot and she grows a huge organic garden with enough veggies to can and freeze. So it all comes down to this: unless you plan to spend lots of personal time trying to find out everything there is to know about Florence's microclimates, you'd be best served by finding a real estate agent who is a microclimatologist. Want to know more about Florence's weather? I have a chart of prevailing temperatues I can send you or look at the chart on our website, http://www.oregonflorencerealestate.com/.

Here Come the Feds, Here Come the Feds

The Feds have ridden up on their white horses once again, this time to institute changes to RESPA, the Real Estate Settlement Procedure Act, a federal law designed to help borrowers shop for the best loan. RESPA is enforced by HUD, Housing and Urban Development. RESPA requires federal loan or mortgage programs backed by the Feds, like FHA for example, to provide borrowers with how much their closing costs and other fees are going to be. Many people know this document as the Good Faith Estimate. Recent changes in RESPA regulations which became effective January 1, 2010, require a standard format for the Good Faith Estimate which clearly discloses key loan terms and closing costs. The estimate must remain valid and binding for a certain number of days, allowing borrowers to shop around for better terms and lower fees. Time periods under the new RESPA rules must be honored. The good news is that borrowers should be better informed and in a better position to speak with other lenders and negotiate a better loan. The bad news is that the lender now has more hoops to jump through that will require borrowers to jump through some hoops of their own.

Florence Named Number One. Again.

Florence was named THE number one retirement community by "Retirement Places Rated" in August 2004. People flocked to my town, Paradise on the Pacific, driving up real estate prices. New homes popped up overnight, like mushrooms after a good rain in our beautiful forests. Five years later, Florence has been named to another List: "8 Fantastic Coastal Sites with Bargains," according to "Where to Retire," January/February 2010. The magazine's subtitle for their article is "Ready for the Rebound: Hot Spots for Retirement Real Estate Discounts." Florence is included with Barnstable, MA, Hilton Head, SC, Whidbey Island, WA and Oceanside, CA, among others. Pretty good company, I'd say. Not only that, our median sales price is much lower than all of these towns, coming in at $205,000 for the fourth quarter of 2009. And we've got brand new homes starting at $180,000. There are lots of folks wandering Bay Street, picking up real estate information and dreaming of relocating, enjoying a phenomenally warm and dry winter, and beginning to learn some of the secrets of my home town. Welcome, all of you! Read the full article at www.oregonflorencerealestate.com under Retirement Living.