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Florence and Florence volunteers have once again taken the bull by the horns to address a community need: replacing the outdated (built in 1956) senior center.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!