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

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/.

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.

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.

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

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?

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

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.

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.

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.