My Favorite Neighborhoods, Part Three: Ocean View

Everyone who comes to Florence asks about property that's water view. That makes water view property especially valuable and therefore especially pricey. That said, there are water view properties that may be attainable for you. One of my favorite water view neighborhoods is Southview. Located about 7 miles north of Florence, Southview is located on a high bluff overlooking the Pacific. Many of the homes are positioned such that they can view the coastline south as far as 15 miles on a clear day. Right now there are three homes for sale ranging in price from $899,500 to $1,495,000 and ranging in size from 3,000 to 6,500 square feet. It's the most spectacular views in the Florence area. If you're looking for peace and quiet the WOW view and a beautiful neighborhood not far from shopping, they don't get any better than Southview. Now my favorite "affordable" ocean view neighborhood is Rhodoview Dunes. There are three homes for sale ranging in price from $349,900 to $499,000. These homes have views of the City of Florence, the dunes, the Pacific Ocean and in some cases, the Siuslaw River. They sit on a small ridge inside the city of Florence limits so have all city services like water, sewer, and so forth and are only a few minutes from great shopping at Fred Meyer. Kla-ha-nee is an ocean front/ocean view gated community. The ocean is only steps away from any of the homes in this neighborhood. There is only one home for sale right now and it's listed for $679,000. Fawn Ridge West is Florence's newest ocean view gated community. The homes being built there are all custom homes. There's only one for sale now, though there are lots for sale. The ocean views on this home are fabulous and yet you're out of the tsunami zone. The home is listed for $895,000 and it's a real bell ringer. Now apart from these planned neighborhoods, there are stand alone homes that have ocean views too. Take, for example, one on 3rd Avenue at Heceta Beach, priced at $699,000 with panoramic ocean views and a really short walk to the Beach. With nearly 3,200 square feet, it's not a bad deal, especially if you enjoy beachy rusticity. If the ocean isn't your favorite water, then the Florence area has river and lake views. I'll be blogging about those in future posts.

Commercial Property for Sale in Florence

I've just completed a cursory study of Florence commercial property for sale. Here's some observations. The least expensive property is a 40' x 40' airplane hanger at the Florence Airport on land leased by the City of Florence. Current lease is $386.56 annually. Schweiss bi-fold electric door is approx. 9'4" high and 37"6' wide. Seller financing to qualified buyer. All this for $50,000. And the most expensive property is $2,299,000 and consists of the Bead Warehouse with a half a million dollars worth of inventory and excellent income AND Town Center Condominiums built in 2007 which has 10 single level units with attached garages, all two bed and two baths. There's also a great Italian restaurant in a remodeled bungalow just off of highway 101; and the building that houses Florence's only organic restaurant is for sale for a mere $175,000 and it's smack dab on 101, so has great drive-by traffic. There's a couple of buildings in Old Town for sale, including a Bed and Breakfast in a Craftsman style home and a darling historic building on a double lot with room for expansion. Want a motel? Or an RV storage park? Or how about a very profitable bar? You name it. We've got it. The selection of commercial property and businesses for sale in the Florence area has never been better. Just ask me about it.

Who Owns Oregon's Beaches

Oregon has nearly 363 miles of pristine, public coastline beaches. Or does it? The Oregon Beach Laws of 1967 and 1969 protected the public's right of access to the free and uninterrupted use of Oregon ocean beaches and regulated the use of motor vehicles on the beaches. Now the U.S. Supreme Court may have something to say about that. A case from Florida being argued today pits the state's need to prevent beach erosion against the rights of property owners to keep ownership of the land at the water's edge. Property owners bringing the case claim that new beach laid down through the State's beach replenishment program, is theirs. The State says the property owner's property line hasn't changed with the addition of more beach. It's just that they have more dry beach now. The real issue is that property owners don't want the general public to use the new beach area, in essence preserving the beach as their own private domain. Now it's up to the supreme court to decide if the State of Florida judicial system acted unconstitutionally by making a ruling which resulted in an unconstitutional taking of private property. The Florida Supreme Court says that the beach replenishment is just "the state's constitutional duty to protect Florida's beaches in a way that reasonably balances public and private interests." When new beach is created, property owners' rights haven't changed: they can still get to the ocean and see the water. The court also said Florida common law has never provided the landowner a right to own the emerging land as their own property. Now the U.S. Supreme Court — including at least one justice who owns a vacation house on the water — will make a ruling. The decision might make big changes for Oregon's beautiful public beaches--and not in a good way.

My Favorite Neighborhoods, Part Two: Greentrees Village

Greentrees Village is one of two over 55 gated communities in Florence. Greentrees residents enjoy the privileges of owning both their home and their land. Established in the early 70's, Greentrees has about 700 homes located east and west of Rhododendron Drive perhaps a mile from highway 101 near Old Town. Some homes on the west side are river front where owners have a spectacular view of the Siuslaw River and the ocean dunes. These home owners have their own beach available to them, especially at low tide. For those residents who don't own river front property, there is river and beach access for all residents who want to take advantage of Greentrees' fabulous location. Greentrees Village has so many advantages and amenities, it's hard for me to decide which I love the most. Perhaps it's the two swimming pools, pool table, sauna, tennis courts, library, popcorn machine, club house and so forth. Or maybe its all the fun events that one resident or another sponsors. Check out their calendar at http://www.greentreesvillage.com/ Or maybe it's one of the many clubs. Perhaps the well-kept pet-friendly streets where the speed limit is 10 mph. Or the native vegetation that must be kept as a visual barrier between homes. Perhaps the flock of wild turkeys that stand in the road. Or maybe it's the price of homes ranging from $75,000 to $322,650. There's a home in most every one's price range. I am particularly impressed with what's covered in the $146.00 a month home owner's association fees: maintenance of all the recreational facilities and the club house; the beach access; paving and maintenance of private roads; garbage collection; water and sewer; basic cable; and of course staffing. There's not a better deal anywhere else in friendly Florence, Oregon. I've represented several buyers who now are happy home owners in Greentrees Village. And soon one of my buyers, who has just sold her home in Oklahoma City will be one of the newest residents of Greentrees. All my buyers would be so pleased to speak with anyone thinking of relocating to Florence about the joys of living in their neighborhood. Just email or call me, and I'll put you right in touch with them.

My Favorite Neighborhoods, Part One: Heceta South

Florence, though a small town, includes areas and subdivisions both north and south of the Siuslaw River bridge, all with unique neighborhoods with their own style, ambiance, amenities and microclimates. One subdivision near the beach but out of the tsunami zone is a favorite of mine: Heceta South. Perhaps its distinguishing feature is the size and character of the lots, which range from .4 acres to .8 acres and are heavily vegetated with native plants and trees, primarily salal and shore pine. The CCR's require a 10 foot vegetative buffer around the perimeter of each property and that's such a good thing. Not only does it preserve native vegetation which provides food and shelter for animals large and small, like bear, deer, chipmunks, squirrels and birds, but it also acts to retain fragile beach area soils from washing away, acts as a rain filter, looks beautiful and, not insignificantly, acts as a wind break for our summer winds from the north and from our infrequent winter storms from the south. The homes in Heceta South are all custom built, so no tracts of the same design here. Home sizes range from about 1,800 to 3,000 square feet. Since there are only two access roads into the subdivision, the whole neighborhood is one big cul de sac with wide streets that are perfect for jogging, biking and walking. Most streets are either flat or sloped gently. Though there are a few second homes, most homes are owner occupied with very few rentals. What few rentals there are tend to be long-term rather than vacation rentals. Properties are very well kept, many with lovely landscaping, some with vegetable gardens planted with blueberry bushes and cool weather crops which do especially well in the prevailing temperatures in and around Florence. I am particularly fond of two homes that are for sale now in Heceta South. One is a short sale, particularly well-priced at $299,000. http://preview.tinyurl.com/y9tnud3 My favorite characteristic of the home is the cathedral ceiling in the living room with floor to ceiling windows that look out at a sea of green. My other favorite home is probably the most interesting home architecturally in Heceta South: http://preview.tinyurl.com/ye4ftzr It reminds me of a ship at sea with all the different windows and roof lines. It has 7 decks, a 3/4 acre lot on which live fascinating wild life, hardwood floors, a backyard Zen garden and so much more. If you want the best of living close to the beach without the disadvantages of being oceanfront, this neighborhood is the perfect choice.

Credit, Credit, Who's Got Credit?

Some people are re-examining their use of credit, especially as the all-important Holiday shopping season is upon us. The cost of credit has skyrocketed of late as credit card companies ratchet up charges before the new federal law goes into effect in February 2010 that curtails companies' ability to raise rates at will. So here's some food for thought. Credit scores are calculated from a lot of different credit data in a credit report. This data can be grouped into five categories. Payment History is 34%; Length of Credit History is 15%; New Credit is 10%; Types of Credit Used is 10%; and Amounts Owed is 30%. A credit score takes into consideration ALL these categories of information, not just one or two. The importance of any factor depends on the overall information in your credit report. Your score only looks at information in your credit report. However, lenders look at many things when making a credit decision including your income, how long you have worked at your present job and the kind of credit that you are requesting. Your score considers both positive and negative information in your credit report. Late payments will lower your score but establishing or re-establishing a good track record of making payments will raise your score. If you want to improve your credit so that you can qualify for the best home loan rate, contact me and I'll put you in touch with a great mortgage consultant who can help you put a plan together so that within a year, you're likely to be able to qualify for a good loan, barring things like bankruptcy and law suits on your record. Keeping good credit is a piece of cake once you've cleaned your old credit report up.

Relative Humidity and Mold on the Florence Oregon Coast

I went to a Home Inspection seminar recently conducted by a licensed home inspector who has 30,000 home inspections under his belt. I learned some great facts that affect homes on the Florence Oregon coast. 1. If wood has an 18-20% moisture content, you get rot. 2. You can rent a machine at Florence Heating that pumps hot air into a space to dry it out. 3. There is a 19 gallon moisture loss in a 1,000 square foot area of exposed soil in 24 hours. 4. A good website to look at is www.advancedenergy.org. Click on "buildings," then "Knowledge Library," then "Crawl Spaces." Their research shows that keeping crawl space vents closed keeps the space drier and therefore less likely to have mold/moisture problems. Great information throughout this site, so tootle around to learn lots of good "stuff." 5. There were only 8 days in the first half of 2009 when the relative humidity in the Florence area did not exceed 80% at some point during the day. There were only 7 days when the dew point i.e. condensation, was not achieved at some point during the day. Moisture condensation can lead to mold, rot and insect infestation. Florence is humid. So don't vent your crawl space. Learn the latest on how to keep your crawl space dry and how to build a home so that the crawl space is sealed properly and kept dry to begin with. Need more information? You can contact Charlie Rouse directly 503-708-3211 or email him at charlierouse@comcast.net

Distressed Properties in Florence, Oregon

There are 15 homes for sale in the Florence multiple listing service that are bank owned, ranging in price from $44,000 to $405,000. The home for $44,000 is a tear down on highway 101 north of town. The home for $404,000 is in the highly desirable south lakes area on a quiet dead end street. It was built as a spec. home, has never been occupied and is very nice with over 3,000 square feet. There's also a condo in Old Town Florence for $148,000 and a condo at Florence's only beachfront resort, Driftwood Shores, for $299,500. There are four short sales. My favorite is a 2006 square foot custom home in Heceta South, one of the beach area's most sought-after neighborhoods because of the large lots and the heavy native vegetation which gives homes great privacy. If you'd like the complete list of foreclosed and short sale homes, contact me at hope@hopemacmanus.net or call my cell at 541-991-7480.

5 Things to do Before Putting your Home on the Market

1. Have a pre-sale home inspection. Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you’ll be able to make repairs before open houses begin.

2. Organize and clean. Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine.

3. Get replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that are worn our or will need to be replaced soon, such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don’t plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be handy when negotiations begin.

4. Find your warranties. Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house.

5. Spruce up the curb appeal. Pretend you’re a buyer and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrance? Is the walkway free from cracks and impediments?

What to Do About Mold--Is It Really a Problem?

Home buyers and sellers want to know if there is mold in a home. So why not do mold testing? If it were only that simple. Fungal air tests are expensive and inconclusive. Neither the New York City Department of Health nor the Environmental Protection Agency recommend measuring airborne fungal levels. So how DO you know if there's mold: If you see mold or you smell mold you have mold. You do not need to test for it if you see it or smell it. Mold problems are caused by water problems. No water problem, no mold problem. Find the water problem and you will find the mold. Moisture meters can help determine whether a material is wet, even when it appears dry and can therefore help locate a moisture source or reservoir; the moisture meter provides immediate results. Here's where to look for water: high spots--roofs and attics near dormers. Low spots--basement and crawl spaces. The holes--doors, windows, under windows. Plumbing pipes and fixtures, water tanks, toilets, sinks, dishwashers, showers, washers. The cold spots, areas in contact with the outside, especially corners of closets. Mold may grow in hidden spaces like in exterior walls or ceilings or spaces that contain water pipes or air conditioning ducts. Look behind or beneath cabinets, furniture, shelving, appliances fixtures, sinks, cabinets, toilets, behind headboards, bookcases, sofas, dressers, file cabinets, or toilets. Under vinyl wallpaper, mop boards, under carpet or vinyl flooring. If you don't see it or smell it on a surface you probably don't have it. The "white glove test" and common sense are currently the best approach. No dust and dirt--no mold. Clean everything for dust and dirt and everything will be clean of mold. Dry dry dry. A little bit of mold is not a problem. A little bit of residual moisture may be a problem. Find that moisture! For futher information, see www.cdc.gov/mold/ , http://forensic-applications.com/moulds/sok.html and http://forensic-applications.com/index files/page477.htm

When's a Tsunami Coming to Florence?

Lots of people who are interested in owning a home in Florence ask me about tsunamis and the tsunami zone. The Cascadia subduction zone is a fault that stretches from northern Vancouver to northern California. Recent findings concluded the Cascadia subduction zone was more hazardous than previously suggested. The feared next major earthquake has some geologists predicting a 10 to 14% probability that the Cascadia Subduction will rupture in the next 50 years, producing an event of magnitude 9 or higher. The tsunami produced may reach heights of approximately 100 ft. The last known great earthquake in the northwest was in January of 1700. The Great Alaska earthquake of 1964 was the most powerful recorded earthquake in US history, a magnitude 9.2. The resulting tsunami affected Florence as well. Water was pushed up the Siuslaw River until it ran out of steam where the river widens out at the North Fork of the Siuslaw, not far from Florence. Geological evidence indicates that great earthquakes may have occurred at least seven times in the last 3,500 years, suggesting a return time of 300 to 600 years. There is also evidence of accompanying tsunamis with every earthquake. The City of Florence has addressed the question of tsunamis head on. Follow this link for more information, including a tsunami map: http://www.ci.florence.or.us/default.cfm. Click on the link on the left, Emergency Preparedness.

Weekly Mortgage Report

MORTGAGE RATES REMAIN LOW, INCREASING AFFORDABILITY
McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.04 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending September 24, 2009, unchanged from last week when it averaged 5.04 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.09 percent.
The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.46 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.47 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.77 percent. This is the lowest the 15-year FRM has been since Freddie Mac started tracking it in 1991.
The five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.51 percent this week, with an average 0.5 point, unchanged from last week when it averaged 4.51 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 6.02 percent.
The one-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 4.52 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.58 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.03 percent.
(Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)
“Mortgage rates held relatively steady at three-month lows this week,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. Correspondingly, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that mortgage applications jumped 12.8 percent over the week of September 18th to the strongest pace since late May, boosted by refinancing activity.
“In its September 23rd policy statement, the Federal Reserve (Fed) indicated that it plans to keep its benchmark interest rate exceptionally low for an extended period. This will likely benefit consumers who opt for ARMs, because they are typically tied to shorter-term interest rates. The Fed also noted that activity in the economy and housing market has picked up and financial markets have improved.”
Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation's residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible for one in six homebuyers and more than five million renters.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Mandated by HB 3450

The Oregon legislature passed HB 3450 in June mandating residential carbon monoxide detectors under the state building code. This requirement becomes effective in April of 2011. Carbon monoxide detectors will also be required in all residences with a carbon monoxide source at the time of sale under State Fire Marshall rules also to become effective in April 2011. Until the rules are adopted and the time of sale requirement becomes effective, no change in real estate practice is necessary.

Condos in Florence Oregon

There are 53 condos for sale in Florence now ranging in price from $110,000 to $479,000. The condo at $110,000 is an apartment conversion about 10 blocks from Old Town. The condo listed at $479,000 is in Old Town with views of the Siuslaw River in a beautiful building with elegant tiled courtyard outfitted to appeal to those who love Tuscan themes. Secure parking on the ground floor of the building combined with a market and gift store offer the discriminating buyer just what they need. The best deal in a condo is on Jasper Lane. Priced at $129,00 with 1368 square feet and a garage, it's a good investment whether you live in it yourself or rent it out. My favorite view condos are the Bay Bridge Condos. Built in the 1980's, many of these condos have fabulous views of the river and the Glenada Dune on the south side of the river. Sunsets are spectacular. There are two units for sale both priced at $299,000. One is 1500 square feet; one is 1048 square feet. The smaller unit is ground floor on one level. The larger unit is two level. Both have covered carports and outside storage. Home Owners Association Dues range from $75 a month at Cedarwood (there's a nicely renovated unit there priced at only $114,500) to $319 a month at Bridgeport Landing. If you'd like further information on condos in Florence, email me or call me at 541-991-7480. www.oregoncoastrealestate.com

Native Americans in Florence Oregon and the Oregon Coast

The earliest written record of life along the Siuslaw River comes from the journal of Alexander McLeod of the Hudson's Bay Company. In the mid-1820's he led a fur trapping brigade to the coast and came as far south as the Siuslaw River. He described the Native Americans he met as "peaceful and industrious." Fur trappers and traders would have ongoing good relations with coastal tribes until the middle of the 19th century when political events would forever alter the way of life along the coast. First, the bill that created the Oregon Territory passed Congress in 1848 and Lane County was formed by act of the territorial legislature a couple of years later. Then in 1855 a series of treaty conferences along the Oregon coast obtained the signatures of the heads of almost every Native American group between Tillamook Bay and the California border ceding more than 2.5 million acres that were never paid for as had been agreed upon. They were forced onto the Siletz Reservation which originally extended from Tillamook County to the "outlet of Tahkenitch Lake" south of Florence and stretched to the crest of the Coast Range. In 1865, the reservation was further decimated when it was cut into two parts, a wide swath being taken out of the middle so that non-Natives could exploit the oyster beds in Yaquina Bay. Then once more, in March 1875, the southern part of the reservation, including the Siuslaw Valley, was opened to non-Native American settlement. Most Native Americans moved to what was left of the reservation. The census of 1910 showed only 7 members of the Siuslaw Indian tribe living in the valley. Taken from "The Florence Book" 2008 Revised Edition, The Siuslaw Pioneer Museum

Florence Oregon Real Estate Market Report Summary for August

There were 467 active listings in the Florence Multiple Listing Service in August compared with 542 in August 2008, a decline of 13.9%. This decline may reflect sellers choosing not to list their home for sale in a very soft market, hoping for a better market in 2010. The Florence MLS includes homes north and south of the Florence city limits, and east to and including Mapleton. Average home sale price was $220,200 compared with $256,300, a decline of 13.3%. Days on the market increased by 27.5%, from 233 to 297. Closed sales declined by 28.8% year over year; 84 so far this year compared with 118 this time last year. Pending sales were up in August over last August but the Florence MLS is on track for a serious sales decline in 2009, right now, minus 28.8% compared with 2008. There have been no sales of homes over $1 million dollars this year and only 3 sales over $500,000. Since the greater Florence area is a retirement area, we depend on buyers moving here from California, Arizona, Washington and other such states. Until the markets there improve substantially, Florence's real estate market is likely to remain lethargic at best. Foreclosures in such areas as Sacramento and Phoenix are selling rapidly, a positive sign, but there is much more to go before Baby Boomers are able to sell their homes at a good price and relocate to Florence, Paradise on the Pacific.

Vacation Rental Options in Florence Oregon

Florence Oregon has been a popular vacation spot since Boris Karloff stayed at The Lighthouse Inn in the '30's http://www.lighthouseinn-florence.com/ and Clark Gable flew in to hunt and fish from the Lodge on Woahink Lake. Now Robin Williams finds his way to Florence on occasion. Well, if it's good enough for movie stars, it's good enough for the rest of us. Vacation rentals in Florence are as varied as the locales and microclimates in the greater Florence area. For instance, you can stay in a darling cabin at the Park Motel http://www.parkmotelflorence.com/ property south of the Siuslaw River Bridge. Bob and Margaret who own the Park Motel live on site. They'll treat you like family, so be prepared to want to come back every year as my friends from Gresham do. Or how about a family reunion on one of the areas' 18 lakes? This fabulous home has it all, privacy, a dock, swimming, warmth: http://www.florence-oregon-rentals.com/property-detail.php?property=31 and can sleep up to 12 people. You'll feel as though you're in heaven! Here's another idea: check out the vacation rentals by owner website for a whole page of fabulous vacation rentals including several on our lakes. http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/oregon/central-coast/florence Got an RV and want to rent a spot for a while? The Port of Siuslaw Harbor http://www.portofsiuslaw.com/pages/campground.php is a popular spot and the spaces right on the river are fabulous. Plus you can walk to Old Town for a morning coffee, stop at the river next to The Waterfront Depot for the view of the bridge or for rendering a watercolor en pleine aire or head to The Bridgewater for a brew http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-22031635R-the_bridgewater_restaurant-i. Don't have an RV but would like to stay in one spitting distance from the beach? Take a look at Mike and Debbies Coastal Hideaway http://www.florencerentals.com/vacrent.htm Always fantasized about sleeping on a luxury yacht? How about Enke: http://www.florencerentals.com/enke.htm What a romantic vacation this would be! So you're only limited by your imagination when it comes to renting a place in Florence. Want inside tips on vacation rentals? Call me and I'll give you the straight skinny, be it mountain, lake, ocean, RV, cabin or tent. I know the area well and can provide you with answers to all the little questions you might have: 541-991-7480. I don't claim to be unbiased because I love all the possibilities that Florence Oregon has to offer.

Getting Involved and Having a Ball in Florence

Once of the most amazing things about Florence Oregon is the amount of volunteerism here. Perhaps it's because many people who live here are retired and have the urge to have something positive to do with their time, perhaps it's because people like to be with other people, perhaps they want to have fun, all good reasons to volunteer. Florence is virtually run on volunteers. Much of what makes Florence special today is because of volunteers: the Florence Event Center, the Siuslaw Public Library, the revitalization of Old Town, the new ice machine which will soon be operational for our commercial fishing fleet, the Florence Area Humane Society, Florence FoodShare, the 102 year old Rhododendron Festival, the Florence Van Fans who take people with cancer to Eugene for chemo and now the new Senior Center just being built--all of these projects have been successful because of volunteers, many of whom are unsung heroes. It doesn't matter how old you are, where you came from, what you did in that other life, there's a volunteer opportunity just waiting for anyone who cares to lend a helping hand. If you're interested in finding out more about volunteering, check out the Florence Meeting Place page in The Siuslaw News, a full page in tiny print of many of the activities in Florence. That's a good starting place. Better yet, when you're in Florence next, ask the person you meet in the coffee shop or at the grocery store who they volunteer with. I'll be you they've got a great answer! And you'll get an invitation to get involved yourself.

Good Eats and Treats for the Vegetarian and Organic Eater

Looking for organic food? Want to crunch a great carrot right off the farm? Florence has a couple of choices for you. The Florence Food Co-Op, located on Rhododendron Drive a 1/2 block off highway 101 on the west side, is a year or so old. It has a lively and interesting group of committed volunteers, many of whom bring goodies directly from farms in the valley to the Co-op so that the veggies are as fresh as any bunny would want. If you're looking for good eats at a restaurant, try Nature's Corner Cafe and Market, also on highway 101 on the west side, 1/2 a block from the much loved and much photographed and painted Siuslaw River Bridge. There you'll find an eclectic mix of Art Deco furniture to plop down on and a menu extraordinaire. I don't think any other restaurant in town has such a fabulous selection of mouth-watering delectables. One of my staples is a black bean taco with yummy salsa and a smattering of fresh mixed greens on the side, all for the tiny price of $3.95. And the water's free. It's the perfectly sized lunch on the fly. Plus there's always entertainment looking out the window at passersby, or you can sit on their outside deck under blue skies and beachy breezes. Before you leave, you might want to pick up a bottle of organic wine and be sure to check out their petite grocery with everything you need to tempt the organic pallette. Of late, Safeway, Fred Meyer and Grocery Outlet carry their own selections of organic vegetables, frozen foods and miscellaneous sundries as well. All you veggie heads out there, Florence has what you need. It takes a veggie head to know a veggie head! So if you need any tips about vegging out in Florence, I'm your gal. www.oregonflorencerealestate.com

25 FREE Things to Do in the Florence Area

1. Go kayaking or canoeing on Cleawox Lake at Honeyman State Park. The lake has a long narrow finger that's great to explore. Look and listen for lots of interesting birds.
2. Hike the Siltcoos Lake trail through old growth Douglas Fir, hemlock and Western Red Cedar. The loop is a couple of miles round trip and the rewards are many, not the least of which, depending on the season, are brown newts and banana slugs crossing your path.
3. Take a walk on Heceta Beach from the North Jetty to Driftwood Shores. Be on the lookout for seals playing in the near shore waves.
4. Stroll Saturday & Sunday Market along the boardwalk in Old Town and chat with artisans about their work.
5. Check out the fabulous beads at The Brown Dog in the Highway 101 Antique District.
6. Go swimming at Woahink Lake. You'll love the little sandy beach and refreshing clear water.
7. Ask to see Boris Karloff's room at The Lighthouse Inn on Highway 101, a 1930's treasure.
8. See Cobra Lilies at Darlingtonia State Natural Site. No, they don't bite.
9. Listen to the ukeles play at the Old Town gazebo. You'll think you're in Hawaii.
10. Dance to Curtis Delgagdo at Traveler's Cove.
11. Look for Sea Stars and anemones at Stawberry Hill.
12. Watch the salmon make their run up the Upper North Fork River in the fall.
13. Agate hunt just about anywhere.
14. Tube down the Siuslaw above the Mapleton Bridge, and on down the river.
15. Check out the art work at Backstreet Gallery, an artist's cooperative.
16. Bike the Munsel Creek Bicycle Trail.
17. Attend the Pioneer Museum's Storytellers event.
18. See Lemon yellow Gorse in bloom in February on the rocks at Southview.
19. Eat sun-warmed blackberries you pick yourself in August. Yum!
20. Skate at the skateboard park in Miller Park.
21. Watch the Rhododendron Parade, 102 years old, in May.
22. Paint a picture of the Conde McCullough bridge over the Siuslaw from the beach on Bay Street.
23. Hunt for wild iris in the late spring.
24. View Sweet Creek falls any time of year. Enjoy the swimming holes in the summer.
25. Read The Siuslaw News online.

Peaches, Pooches and Pocketbooks on the Old Town Florence Boardwalk

I love strolling the Old Town Boardwalk during Saturday Market. What a lovely assortment of food and fun stuff to pick from. I think just about every dog in town visits the boardwalk. I saw hot dog doggies, fluffy doggies, short doggies and tall doggies, barky doggies and standoffish doggies. My dog, Maeve, is a whiner doggie, not to be confused with a weiner doggie, a cross between a Chow and a Golden Retriever, about 35 pounds, a redheaded shedder extraordinaire. If I were smart, I'd collect all that red hair and knit a sweater for the cool months I spend in front of the fire. Or maybe I could figure out a way to incorporate her hair into my watercoloring. Anyone with suggestions, please shout them out. Anyway, when Maeve sees another dog, she whines and sings out her hello, hoping someone will come over and pet her. She thinks she's the prettiest pooch on the boardwalk and lots of folks must think the same or love her singing because they come over and give her a pet. She gives them a toothy smile and that results in more pets, then she sings a little more and the pet goes on. Last time we were on the boardwalk, the fresh veggie vendors were there in force. I bought my husband and I a peach each from an organic farm, the kind of peach that you just have to eat right then and there, the kind I call a two paper towel peach, so much juice dripping down your chin, you attract bees and butterflys to the sweet nectar. Could August possibly get any better than this? Not in my book. The Saturday Market goes on until the weather gets fall-like, maybe a little rainy. I hope we've got another 6 weeks and that those peaches keep coming. But you never know, so if you've a yen for juicy peaches, pooches, pocketbooks and more, set your sites for Florence Old Town right away.

Tiny Beach Getaway or Casual Country Elegance, You Decide

Even though Florence is a small town, just over 9,000, I am continually amazed at the complexity and variety of homes for sale. Take the 2 bed 1 bath upgraded and updated single wide manufactured home on West 19th Street. Talk about cute as a bug's ear, this has got it happening. I was the selling agent when this home was on the market a couple of years ago. Have you seen the ad "We Buy Ugly Homes?" Well, this would be that ad's poster child. That was then. Now, it's the perfect beach area getaway close to shopping on a street that dead ends at Miller Park. How sweet is that? Take a look for yourself: http://tinyurl.com/pzezny

On the other end of the spectrum is Bearfoot Lodge, a Northwest Rustic style chalet home on about 3 acres, complete with fish pond, vegetable garden, fruit trees, totally secluded, tucked away in a little valley where your only neighbors are long haired Scottish Highland cattle, coastal mountains and tall trees. http://tinyurl.com/qahycy It has an 1156 square foot ground floor Guest Suite with private entrance suitable as caretakers quarters. And that's only the beginning. From it's Master Suite with ensuite lounge, its dining room bathed in Merlot, to it's wraparound deck for gracious al fresco entertaining, this home is perfect for those seeking their own little piece of heaven. Located 3 miles from Highway 101, a quick trip to Florence's popular Old Town galleries and restaurants, it boasts temperatures a full 10 degrees warmer than Townies experience. So it has the best of both worlds: great temperatures for gardening and sunbathing yet minutes from all the action and the might Pacific Ocean.

And Florence has homes in-between too. Want one-story no maintenance living? Is an Old Town condo your cup of tea? Looking for a view lot to build your dream home on? Does the lake and it's magnificent steelhead fishing strike your fancy? It's all here in spades. Get it while the getting's good. The selection of properties is the best it's ever been in Florence but that won't last forever. A gal from Texas just popped into the office and she's discovered that Florence is truly that Paradise she's been looking for. Pending sales have picked up. I think they'll soon be lining up to buy property. The days of multiple offers are around the corner. http://www.oregonflorencerealestae.com/

Lots of Lots for Pennies on the Dollar in Florence

This morning I had a lovely couple walk into the office. They have a home in Grants Pass and an RV lot in Arizona and are looking for an RV lot in Florence because Grants Pass is way too hot in the summer. There are lots of lots for little to nothing in Florence right now, some of which are foreclosed lots in lovely subdivisions, some in gated communities on the golf course, some in 55+ parks, some in the country, one with a fabulous view of Old Town Florence, the Siuslaw River and the beautiful Conde McCullough bridge built in 1936, http://tinyurl.com/kpp8fw. I sent them off to explore the two best lots for their RV and for investment. If they're smart, they'll be back because now's the best time to purchase a lot or a home in our area. Prices haven't been this good since before the 2004-2005 boom. Check out all the Florence area lots for sale at www.oregonflorencerealestate.com. Contact me for my two favorite lots for sale.

A Bungalow by the Sea for You and Me Honey 'Cause Home Prices in Florence Oregon Just Hit Bottom!

Florence, Oregon has seen few foreclosures and only modest home price declines. In fact, many homes in the over $350,000 price range are still overpriced. However home prices in the lower end of the market have come down substantially. The Coastal Highlands neighborhood is a good example. This neighborhood is comprised of modest 3 bedroom 2 bathroom homes built in the late '90's. Folks who live there are police officers and hospital workers with a good sprinkling of retirees. There's one lovely home listed at $155,000 that's on a quarter acre with a fenced yard, 2-car garage, new paint inside and out and new carpeting. That's a good buy in this town any way you look at it. Take a look at MLS #9044819 at http://www.oregonflorencerealestate.com/. I guarantee you, the home looks better than the photos and it's not my listing either! So if you want to live in Paradise on the Pacific, all indications are that this really is the time to buy, especially if you want a sweet bungalow in a pretty, quiet neighborhood. And if you're interested in a list of foreclosed and short sale properties, I have one. Just email me and ask for this free report and I'll send it right along: hope@hopemacmanus.net

Happy Days are Here Again??

Yippee! According to "Realty Times", Standard and Poor's Case-Shiller index indicates that

"...home prices have reversed course and are finally rising again, and you know
that Case-Shiller has been the gloomiest, scariest-headline-producing monitor of
the real estate market for the past three years -- some say: We have truly
turned the corner here. "

Real estate sales in Florence for the first six months of the year are down about 29% from the first half of 2008 and '08 sales were poor. But activity and pending sales have picked up this past month, all good news. Now if we can just get those pending sales closed. It's certainly not as easy as it once was, primarily because of all of the new lending requirements. For example, now lenders must check borrower-provided tax returns against data from the IRS in order to ferret out borrowers who might have prepared one tax return for the IRS and another more favorable return for their lender. And lenders must verify a buyer's employment three days before funding the loan. Lenders tell me that there's more new verification rules to come. No doubt about it: the lending pendulum has swung to the far right. And it will swing back toward the middle eventually. No one wants loans that result in the type of loose lending that allowed so many people to borrow money that had no business borrowing. The question remains as to just when the pendulum will begin to swing back toward the middle. I doubt it will be any time soon, so buyers, sellers and real estate agents all need to be prepared to cool their jets and allow at least 8 weeks for a real estate deal to close. In the meantime, let's all hope that we never go back to the Wild West style of lending because we never want to have to mop up a mess like the real estate market has been in for the last two years. It's back to basics, thank goodness and we'll all be the beneficiaries--in our pocketbooks--with more real estate sales and less federal taxes being used to bail out all the bad actors.

Hawaii Arrives in Florence Oregon

Just as I was closing the Home Finders Service Real Estate office Saturday evening, in walked a gentleman clutching papers. Thinking that he might be looking for directions or a recommendation on a place to eat, much to my surprise he told me that he'd just bought the food trailer parked in the parking lot near the Florence harbor. AND that this week, he would be opening "A Taste of Hawaii," the very first foods from Hawaii in Paradise on the Pacific. The new owner is Christian "Kane Haole" Jakobsen. He was raised on Maui since a little keiki, as he puts it on his menu brochure. His father was a state known Hawaiian cuisine chef and restaurateur. Christian has been preparing Hawaiian food ever since he was born. The menu has a bit of everything and it all sounds fabulous, from fried coconut shrimp with pineapple ginger and orange marmalade to the pulehu style kalua pig and cabbage. He also offers sushi, including a veggie roll. Prices range from $3.95 to $6.95 and he'll deliver in the Old Town district. So mahalo and aloha from Christian and A Taste of Hawaii. Another reason to come to Old Town Florence, stroll the boardwalk and eat fabulous food. Contact me for all your culinary and real estate needs! www.oregonflorencerealestate.com

New Senior Center Needs a Boost

The City of Florence and Florence volunteers have once again taken the bull by the horns to address a community need: replacing the outdated (built in 1956) senior center. The new building to be placed on city owned land on Kingwood Street will not only allow more fun activities and more meals to be served but also the Alzheimer's support group will be housed there. Jan Neiberlein, an amazing volunteer, wrote a grant for the City which was funded by the federal government. The grant requires matches by the city--the land--and by the community--some dollars. We're about $90,000 short ($200,000 required) and if the gap is not closed by August 12th or so, Florence may lose the federal funding. Yikes! Folks, let's not let this happen. The Florence community has always stepped up to the plate to build our fabulous library and the immensely popular Florence Events Center. If we blow this grant, our town will have a black eye all over the northwest. So get that checkbook out right now and send a generous donation to Western Lane Community Foundation, Attn. Senior Center, P.O. Box 1589, Florence, OR 97439

I've Got Rocks on My Mind Or Rocking out in Reedsport

Saturday my husband, dog and I took a little trip to the usually laid back burb of Reedsport, about a 30 minute drive south of Florence on Highway 101. It wasn't sleepy! Instead, Reedsportians and lots of folks from out of the area made a beeline to the Reedsport Gem and Mineral Show being held at the community center downtown. What a feast for the eyes and lots of temptations for the pocketbook! My favorite vendor was Bend Beads. www.bendbeads.com. I drooled over their pink saphires, fire opals and most especially over their gold necklaces made in India. I was amazed by the complexity of the links that were all hand-hammered and by the brilliance of the 24 karat gold. Unfortunatley, the necklace didn't come home with me, though no doubt it was priced attractively, but not in my budget. The community center was packed with displays and with lapidarians polishing rocks. There were door prizes and silent auctions for adults and kids. A short stroll away is Thai Smile, a new restaurant that has yummy mango beverages as well as to-die for food. Oh, and yes, I looked around for good real estate deals too--in between shows and food. Want a copy of "Hope's Hot Picks?" Email me at hope@hopemacmanus.net and I'll send it right out.

Florence Oregon Real Estate Goes to the Dogs!

It's another fabulously beautiful day in Old Town Florence, Oregon. Lots of Eugenians and Rosebergians have made a hasty departure from the sodden heat of the valley in search of cool breezes and delicious smoothies at the Herb Jar next door to the Home Finder Service Real Estate office in Laurel Crossing. Many of the folks who drift into our lovely office with its comfy overstuffed leather chairs, doors open of course so that we can enjoy the splashing of the fountain--bring their dogs in. Yes, we're a dog-friendly place, as is all of Florence. We are so proud of our animal shelter which operates primarily on volunteer love and labor and the proceeds of sales made at the Florence Humane Society Thrift Store located a couple of blocks from the Home Finder's office. Today Harry the fox terrier stopped in with my friend, Pam, to get a few tasty biscuits. I'm wild about Harry and you'd be wild about Harry too, he's so handsome, polite and perky. Pam and I talked real estate for a few minutes. Pam has discovered the wonders of Florence and is escaping the heat of Oklahoma City. She's so enamored of our fair town that she's returning to Okieland in a couple of weeks, selling her home there, and plans to buy a home in Florence either in Greentrees Village, one of our two 55+ gated communities, or a little bungalow within walking distance of all the pleasures of Old Town Florence. And boy, are there some real estate deals to be found right now. One of the Laurel Crossing condominiums above our office is listed below $150,000. When these condos were first on the market in 2004, they sold for $300,000 plus. If you're looking for the next great deal, let me know. I'll send you a "Picks of the Week" report and you'll be on your way to owning a piece of "Paradise on the Pacific." http://www.oregonflorencerealestate.com/ email: hope@hopemacmanus.net

Florence Oregon Real Estate Sales Report

Tawfik Ahdab, our local Certified Residential Appraiser, prepares sales reports for us every quarter. Here's some pithy remarks from his summary:

"Extrapolating from the current rate of sales since the beginning of this year, the total Greater Florence sales volume for 2009 is projected at about 142 units, which would be 33.65% lower than the already-pathetic 214 sales of 2008. Even with the summer season having begun, there is little evidence of a reversal of the continuing contraction of the Greater Florence residential market...One reason for the current market lethargy is that tightness in the mortgage market persists...The median sale price reached $179,900 in the second quarter of 2009, very near the low registered in the third quarter of 2008.... Most market activity has been at the lower end, with very little action above the $350,000 price segment. This is partially explained by the eager response of buyers perceiving good deals among foreclosure and short sale related listings. It should be noted that the handful of foreclosures on the market tend to be purchased more quickly than nonduress related listings, such that are not just piling up. And although the number of listings at mid-year was within the recent historical range at 487, the months’ supply of listings was up to a record 31.4 months...Much uncertainty remains about the direction of Florence real estate, just as there is lingering concern about the recovery of most housing markets nationally. The silver lining is that purchasers who are able to buy at all are responding to good and even excellent deals in the Greater Florence market.

Florence Oregon Real Estate Sales Remain Slow

Florence Oregon real estate sales are so different from Eugene's sales and for that matter, real estate sales across the nation. I spoke with my "Boss" this morning. He lives in the valley, in Eugene. He said that sales there are good enough to receive multiple offers on some properties, those that are well-priced in great neighborhoods. Florence's sales aren't that way--yet--but they will be. Since Florence is surrounded by federally owned property--Siuslaw National Forest, home to THE spotted owl controversy and Bureau of Land Management property,--buildable land is limited. During the real estate boomlet of 2005, we indeed had multiple offers on homes in our most desirable areas. And when California real estate turns around, those Californians will once again make a bee line to Florence, Paradise on the Pacific. Right now, I have some buyers on their way from Montana. They are planning to make an offer on a home. They're over the Montana heat. They're amazed by both the prices and the selection Florence has to offer in residential real estate. So they've discovered Florence. No doubt others will, if not this year, then next. There's pent up demand and all my buyers who are unable to sell their homes because of the market will be on their way. I predict that 2011 will be Florence's next boomlet year. Bring it on!

From the Florence Oregon Real Estate Expert: Don't you Wish you were Here?

I'm sitting in my office in lovely Old Town Florence, Oregon. The office doors are wide open and a piney little breeze is wafting in. The fountain is burbling. Sweet smells from The Shed Bakery are in the air and I'm hoping that Siuslaw Coffee Roasters will roast this morning. There's a bundle of folks sitting at the sidewalk tables in front of The Beachcomber on Bay Street enjoying a sunbath and The Beachcomber's wonderful huevos rancheros. I bet they'll be back to sample the wares from the brew pub, equally yummy. Highway 101 is busy with RV'ers and ATV'ers. The Lighthouse Inn, our historic mom and pop motel which was a favorite haunt of Boris Karloff, is filling up for the 4th of July celebrations. I'll be watching for the barge to arrive from which the fireworks are set off; it anchors across the Siuslaw River at the old Glenada ferry landing. Folks bring chairs, kids, dogs and coolers and set up along the Old Town boardwalk for an old-fashioned fun-filled evening. Life is good in Paradise on the Pacific. If you want to live here, let me know. I'll even tell you where my favorite skinny dipping spot is!

Hope@HopeMacManus.net
www.oregoncoastrealestate.com

From the Florence Oregon Real Estate Expert: Florence Woman Wins International Beading Prize

The Florence, Oregon area is amazing in so many ways, not the least of which is the number and quality of artists who make their home here. Take Charmaine Pesnell. She just won the Treasures of TOHO, Emerging Artist Competition by creating an intricately beaded face of a Japanese Geisha surrounded by beaded cherry blossom branches. To see a photo of the piece and of the artist and to find out what she won, check out The Siuslaw News , June 27th issue. If your art preference leans toward watercolor, I take watercolor lessons from Pamella Vosseller and I own three pieces of Morgan Johnson's art. If it's art, it's in Florence, from microbrew beer at Wakonda Brewing--you know that's an art--to glass jewelry. You can see a few of Florence's fabulous artists The River Gallery and Backstreet Gallery in Old Town Florence, Paradise on the Pacific.

From the Florence, Oregon Real Estate Expert: Is Real Estate Taking a Dive, or Is This the North Jetty?

I've lived in Florence, Oregon for over five years and I continue to learn new things about this marvelous place every single day. Here's today's new thing: the Florence area has some great dive spots. The North Jetty dive park is used as a saltwater training site and is very popular with beginners and returning divers. You can find crab, cockles and some fish. Woahink Lake just south of Florence has been used since the 60s as a freshwater training site and is protected shallow water area for beginners. You can find many man made things, from a sunken boat and rocking horse to a mini "Kiss concert." And when you're through with these two spots, it's a short drive to Coos Bay's Sunset Bay State Park for some challenging diving. You can see kelp beds and an abundance of fish and other sea life. An hour north of Florence, Newport's South Jetty is a good place to learn how to spearfish and pick up crab.

From the Florence, Oregon Real Estate Expert: Killer Real Estate Deals!

Since we've had a big increase in folks walking into our lovely office in Florence, OR I've been thinking about what THE BEST real estate deals are right now. Here's my favorites today: a condo right above my Old Town Florence office, so you can walk to Siuslaw Coffee Roasters for a fabulous cup a joe or sit on your balcony and view the famous Siuslaw River Bridge designed by Conde McCullough in the 30's for $159,000; a great lot in one of our nicest new subdivisions, The Reserve, for $35,000; a 1638 square foot water view home in town for $247,000. All of these are "distressed" properties and may therefore be gotten for less. You don't know until you make an offer. So call me for the MLS numbers and a chat about Paradise on the Pacific, Florence, Oregon, USA.

From the Florence Oregon Real Estate Expert: We Didn't See the Ghost!

I have the most wonderful mother-in-law in the world and here's one of a million reasons why: Helen treated Cliff and me to a stay at the Heceta Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast, http://www.hecetalighthouse.com/ We actually slept in one of the last remaining Lightkeeper's Cottages on the Pacific Coast. We had the Queen Anne Room which is described this way:

Our most romantic room, fit for a queen. A four-poster bed with Austrian shears
sets the mood. View the forest and our gardens through your window. We
provide terry cloth bathrobes for the walk across the hall to the shared
European style bath. Soak in a porcelain claw foot tub and gaze at the beach below.

Doesn't that sound like the perfect room? And it was. The sunset was unbelievably fabulous. A sliver of a moon hung in the perfect spot to the south of the lighthouse. I took a million photos and plan to paint the scene--I'm a beginning watercolorist. Not the least remarkable about our stay was the seven course breakfast. How do I sing its praises? No words could possibly capture the palate-stimulating extravaganza that I experienced. You'll just have to go there yourself. Oh, I almost forgot! We'd heard that the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage is haunted. In fact there's a book full of guest comments from those who have seen "them" and written about "them." Maybe the moon wasn't right, maybe the wine I'd had wasn't strong enough, but I didn't see one ghost, didn't smell one ghost, there wasn't even any ghostly fog that night. Must mean that I'll have to return under more auspicious circumstances!

Once you've fallen totally in love with the Central Oregon Coast, come see me and I'll regale you with the Best Place to Skinny Dip and the Best Place to Picnic Under a Waterfall. And I can always tell you about real estate in Florence, Oregon. Because there's lots more to explore in this amazing area. So much that you'll want to live right here in Paradise on the Pacific.

You can search all property in Oregon at http://www.oregonflorencerealestate.com/, or email me at hope@hopemacmanus.net. Ghost inquiries welcome!

It's a Great Time to Buy: Mortgage Rates Remain at Historic Lows

MORTGAGE RATES FLAT THIS WEEK THANKS MAINLY TO ACTIONS BY TREASURY AND THE FED

McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.82 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending May 21, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 4.86 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.98 percent.
The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.50 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.52 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.55 percent.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 4.79 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.82 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.61 percent.

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 4.82 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.71 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.24 percent.

(Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)

"Long-term fixed-rate mortgage rates have remained below 5.0 percent for the past 10 weeks as the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve (Fed) act to keep interest rates low through security purchases," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. "The Treasury purchased $136 billion in mortgage-backed securities through April and the Fed bought $740 billion through mid-May. In addition, the Fed purchased $115 billion in Treasury bonds since March of this year.

"Housing construction continued to decline, as total starts fell to the lowest level since the Census Bureau began its monthly series in January 1959. While single-family construction appears to be near or at a bottom, multi-unit construction continued to recede. Reflecting the apparent stabilization in single-family construction levels, homebuilder confidence rose in May to the highest level since September 2008 and represented the first back-to-back up tick since February 2008."

Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation's residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible for one in six homebuyers and more than five million renters.

DEFINITIONS
Commitment Rate is the interest rate a lender would charge to lend mortgage money to a qualified borrower exclusive of the fees and points required by the lender. This commitment rate applies only to conventional financing on conforming mortgages with loan-to-value rates of 80 percent or less.

ARM Index - is the One-year Treasury
Loan to Value Ratio (LTV) is the ratio of the loan amount of a mortgage loan to the lower of the appraisal value or purchase price of the property securing the loan.
Origination Fees and Discount Points are the total charged by the lender at settlement. One point equals one percent of the loan amount.
Margin is a fixed amount added to the underlying index to establish the fully indexed rate for an ARM.

Weighted Averages for the Primary Mortgage Market Survey have been adjusted as of October 16, 2008. The new weights use the dollar volume of conventional mortgage originations within the 1-unit Freddie Mac loan limit as reported under Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) for 2007.

What's It Doing on the Oregon Coast

Memorial Day weekend is a great time to visit the Oregon Coast and this weekend's weather is going to be a stunner: sunny sunny sunny. Florence's famous native rhododendrons around which the Rhododendron Festival was founded 103 years ago were not quite in full bloom for that festival last weekend. This weekend, they'll be out in all their blazing pink glory. Though with Florence's development over the past five years, native rhodys have become less prevalent, there are certainly areas where they are prominent. One of my favorite areas for viewing is around our lakes to the south of the Siuslaw River Bridge, especially around Honeyman Park, the site of Cleawox Lake, and around Woahink Lake. If you've not taken the flat leisurely walk around Cleawox Lake, you've got a real treat in store for you. Our dog, Maeve, loves that trail too. Cleawox Lake is a top spot for fishing--no big motors allowed--kayaking, swimming, canoeing, picnicing, and hiking over the massive dunes to the beach. South of the Siuslaw River Bridge, especially east of highway 101 is a sought-after area to live. Lots are typically an acre or more and best of all, this area is protected from the coast's summer wind thus allowing people to garden to their hearts content, even growing large vegetable gardens. There, depending on the particular microclimate, temperatures can actually exceed 80 degrees during the summer. If you think you want to live where the temperatures get that warm, you need the help of an expert in the Florence area's microclimates. Guess who that would be: me! So for the latest in the weather, good real estate deals, and where the best skinny dipping spot is, just email me. I'm your neighborhood expert.

So What's Happening with the Florence Real Estate Market?

How do you spell the word "slow" as in "real estate sales?": You spell it "Florence." Not a surprise given the national real estate mess.

So how slow is slow? According to Tawfik Ahdab, Certified Residential Appraiser, who writes a quarterly sales report for Florence, the "Greater Florence single family residential market performance in the first quarter of 2009 signaled a record low – and possibly a bottom – in sales activity... The moderating median sale price of $205,000 is explained by a combination of price reductions and a focus by buyers on modestly-priced properties.

Indeed, many of the buyers we have at HomeFinders Service are looking for homes in the under $200,000 range. And the supply of homes at that price point is decent. Homes over $250,000 aren't selling, for the most part. Unless they are distressed properties, meaning short sales and foreclosures.

Bottom line, if you ever had a notion to move to "Paradise on the Pacific," Florence, Oregon, now's the time. And if you'd like a free report of our office's best buys or a list of distressed properties for sale, let me know. You can email me at hope@hopemacmanus.net, or give me a buzz: 541-991-7480. Happy house hunting!

What’s Going on in Florence, Oregon

It’s hard to believe it’s still the depths of winter. Today in Old Town Florence, the sun is brilliant, the Douglas Firs are sharply etched against a winter blue sky, the office front door is open and as I type, I’m listening to the splash of the rugged rock fountain a few steps away from my desk. A slight breeze is stirring, wafting smells of freshly broiled steak through the door and the air is split every now and again with the raucous rumble of a Harley, reverberating in my chest. So this tells you some of the fun things to do in Florence if you’re a winter tourist: ride your Harley or your collector car on Bay Street, grab a bite to eat at Bridgeport Landing . It’s warm enough to sit at one of their outside tables so you have a front row seat from which to observe and comment on the local color: boats and seals and kayakers, flotsam and jetsam out and about on the Siuslaw River. If the Pacific beckons you, it’s only a couple of miles to the North Jetty. I’ve heard the surf’s up, so grab your board and let’s go!

Want to know more about life in Florence, Oregon, Paradise on the Pacific? Just give me a holler!

WAYS YOU WIN WITH ME AS YOUR EXCLUSIVE BUYERS AGENT

• I am a tough negotiator, which means you get the best price & terms, saving you money.

• I represent only your interests.
  
  
• I don't charge you for my services; the listing office pays me.
  
  
• You don't need to buy property to receive my representation; if you do buy, you only agree to purchase through my firm for a limited period of time.
  
  
• I will give you a tour of all neighborhoods to help you decide where you want to live, not only those where my firm has houses listed.
  
  
• I will show you all available properties, even those for sale by owner and those not listed in the MLS.
  
  
• I will provide you a comparative market analysis to assist you in establishing a fair market value for the property you are interested in before you make an offer.
  
  
• I am experienced with local laws, regulations, and land use planning and zoning requirements.
  
  
• I will give you expert advice, always pointing out reasons not to buy a particular property.
  
  
• I will promote and protect only your interests at all times.
  
  
• I will keep your bargaining position confidential.
  
  
• I will arrange for all inspections and negotiate with the seller to resolve any problems.
  
  
• I will arrange for a survey and loan appraisal to be done.
  
  
• I will help you obtain the best possible terms on a loan because I have strong relationships with the best lenders.
  
  
• I will be with you every step of the way, even after the sale.

Hope is the answer.

Home Finders Service Real Estate Group specializes in farms, ranches, land residential homes, vacation homes, recreational properties, businesses, and historic properties.

Home Seller’s Marketing

At Home Finders Service Real Estate, we are committed to offering the highest standards of professional service to all our customers. We assure you that your property is marketed to its full potential in order to obtain its highest possible market value. Please take the time to review the variety of steps we take to ensure complete client satisfaction.

• We will help you identify the right price. If you price your property too high, your home will not sell. If you price it too low, you will not realize what you should out of the proceeds.
  
  
• We will give you tips on what you can do to show your home to its best advantage.
  
  
• We will market properties using sound planning and computerized marketing and promotion.
  
  
• We will represent you and be the negotiator.
  
  
• We will fill out the multitude of forms (complex, detailed purchase agreements required by lenders requiring seller and buyer signatures before a buyer can secure financing).
  
  
• We will handle the problems, paperwork, legal and title work, coordinate inspections, loan appraisals, surveys and the closing.
  
  

FOR ALL YOUR BUYING, SELLING, RELOCATING, & INVESTING NEEDS

HOPE is the answer!

Cell 541-991-7480

At Home Finders Service Real Estate, we are committed to offering the highest standards of professional service to all our customers. We assure you that your property is marketed to its full potential in order to obtain its highest possible market value. Please take the time to review the variety of steps we take to ensure complete client satisfaction.

• We will help you identify the right price. If you price your property too high, your home will not sell. If you price it too low, you will not realize what you should out of the proceeds.
  
  
• We will give you tips on what you can do to show your home to its best advantage.
  
  
• We will market properties using sound planning and computerized marketing and promotion.
  
  
• We will represent you and be the negotiator.
  
  
• We will fill out the multitude of forms (complex, detailed purchase agreements required by lenders requiring seller and buyer signatures before a buyer can secure financing).
  
  
• We will handle the problems, paperwork, legal and title work, coordinate inspections, loan appraisals, surveys and the closing.
  
  

FOR ALL YOUR BUYING, SELLING, RELOCATING, & INVESTING NEEDS

HOPE is the answer!

Cell 541-991-7480

HERE IS WHAT I Deliver to Sellers

1. Management Experience- I know how to handle multiple tasks, supervise complex deals and control multimillion-dollar budgets.
   
   
2. Problem Solving Skills-I am tough, tenacious, and get the job done.
   
   
3. Professionalism-Real estate is my full time career. That means I call you promptly, I don’t let your brochure box run out, I actively promote your property to other agents, and I can be reached 7 days a week.
   

CHECKLIST OF SERVICES PROVIDED

• Prepare market analysis to determine fair market value of your home
  
  
• Prepare and sign your listing contract
  
  
• Place a “For Sale” sign on your property
  
  
• Place lock box on property, if needed
  
  
• List your property with the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
  
  
• Schedule your property for an office tour
  
  
• Publish your listing, including color photographs of your property, on our heavily
  promoted Web site
  
  
• Hold open houses
  
  
• Arrange and facilitate showings for other agents
  
  
• Contact you regularly with verbal progress reports
  
  
• Prepare and deliver Marketing Service report to you
  
  
• Review marketing activities with you
  
  
• Present and discuss all offers on property with you
  
  
• Direct mail “just listed” flyers throughout the neighborhood
  
  
• Advertise your property in the local paper
  
  
• Telephone all potential buyers with details of your listing
  
  
• Pre-qualify potential buyers
  
  
• Confirm that all contingencies of sale contracts are completed
  
  
• Finalize your closing
  
  
• Arrange for moving company and other services, within the definition of agency laws and guidelines

Here's What my Happy Clients Say about Me

"She's a client-centered professional." --Tony R.

"She's fast, fun and fabulous." --Carl and Kris L.

"Thanks for all the info and for getting back to us so soon." --John and Jeff

"She can make a rabbit hug a hound dog!" --Ken and Sue G.

"Go with Hope: She's detail oriented and has great follow-up." --John and Morgan

"I appreciate all the support and seemingly undivided attention...You went above and beyond the call of duty and I wouldn't have been able to pull this off without you." --Sarah W.

"Thanks for all your help for the last two years! We all love the house and it was worth the wait." --Trish and Russell W.

"Thank you for all you do--For all you'll do for our future sales--and purchases! We've made a friend in you!" --Alan and Marilyn W.

"Thank you for all your help and for keeping us going when we were frustrated so that we could achieve our dream." --Ralph and Vicki M.

Look no further. I will provide the utmost in professional representation.