Monday, July 14, 2014

Ocean Shores and North Beach Newsletter for Real Estate, Events, News, etc. ~ 2nd-Quarter 2014

2nd-Quarter/1st-Half 2014
Ocean Shores/North Beach
Newsletter
Presented by April Swenson,
CRS & Managing Broker for Coldwell Banker Ocean Shores Brokers Real Estate
aswenson25@juno.com      360-589-2777 cell/text      www.OceanShoresInfo.com


NOTABLE NEWS & EVENTS

INDEPENDENCE DAY at the BEACH 2014

Ocean Shores is a great place to spend the 4th with fireworks show up and down the beach....a spectacular site.  See more pictures and the video at www.OceanShoresInfo.com/pics/july4th2014.html.


FIVE STAR SAND & SAWDUST FESTIVAL 2014

Sandcastle building and wood carvers come to Ocean Shores for this great weekend and event.  Check out the pictures and video on my web site at www.OceanShoresInfo.com/pics/sand&sawdustfestival2014.html
 

FLAG DAY PARADE 2014
 
Ocean Shores celebrates Old Glory with this classic and fun parade.  Check out the pictures on my web site at www.OceanShoresInfo.com/pics/flagdayparade2014.html 
 
 
KITE FESTIVAL 2014
 
Kites fly high in this great festival on the beach.  Check out the pictures and the video on my web site at www.OceanShoresInfo.com/pics/kitefestival2014.html
 
 
NEW YOUTUBE VIDEOS UPLOADED
 
Click on the following links to see my new pictures on my web site (www.OceanShoresInfo.com) and my new videos uploaded onto my YouTube site (http://www.youtube.com/AprilSwenson):


OTHER NOTABLE LOCAL NEWS
  • New Store Front in Downtown Ocean Shores: Burlap & Grain Vintage Market ~ a store of hand-made and refurbished vintage items; located at 817 Pt Brown Ave NW.
  • The Ocean Crest Resort Restaurant in Moclips is almost ready for its Grand Re-Opening after a fire in 2011.
  • The Ocean Shores City Council approved a 30-day camping allowance for Homeowners.  In a rule that has been primarily unrealized and unenforced, properties with homes were allowed to park RVs/trailers/5th-wheels year-round, but not allowed to be used by overnight guests.  So for Homeowners, it is now legal to have guests/family stay in your RV/trailer/5th-wheel up to 30-days/year at a max of 10-days per stay.
    NOTE:  The 90-day camping rule on Vacant Land still applies.  The above rule only applies to properties with homes.
  • I have created and am maintaining 2 Facebook pages (one personal and one business).  Like Me at www.facebook.com/OceanShoresWARealEstate and/or www.facebook.com/OceanShoresProperties


UPCOMING EVENTS
  • July 12th-13th ~ Ocean Shores Big Weekend Triathlon & Footfest: Start and finish at North Bay Park.
  • July 25th-27th ~ Sun & Surf Run: motorcycles roar into Ocean Shores.
  • Aug 9th-10th ~ Body & Soul Festival: held at the Ocean Shores Lion Club.
  • Aug 30th ~ Paddle-a-Thon: human powered boat races, poker paddle, etc. held at the North Bay Park.
  • Sept 5th-7th ~ AAOS Arts & Crafts Festival: held at the Convention Center.
  • Sept 19th-21st ~ Whale of a Quilt Show: quilt show at the Convention Center.


BUYS IN OCEAN SHORES

Click on the following links to view the MLS flyers for some good deals on properties in Ocean Shores:







 

 
 
 
 
 


2nd-Quarter 2014 ACTIVITY/UPDATE
(April 1st - June 30th)
 
We are off to a good start for 2014.  Here are some positive numbers:
  • # of Homes Sold in Ocean Shores increased from 39 in the 2nd-Q of 2013 to 62 in the 2nd-Q of 2014, but the Median Sales Price decreased from $145K in the 2nd-Q of 2013 to $140K in the 2nd-Q of 2014.
  • Sold Volume for Homes increased from $11.5M in the 1st-Half of 2013 to $17.073M in the 1st-Half of 2014.
  • # of Homes Sold in Ocean Shores increased from 77 in the 1st-Half of 2013 to 114 in the 1st-Half of 2014.

The numbers below show that Ocean Shores is still one of the leaders for affordability, availability and productivity (# of properties and volume closed) compared to the other beach towns along the Washington Coast.  Ocean Shores also offers a lot more availability and affordability for building lots too.
 

OCEAN SHORES MARKET:

Click on the following links to view the MLS flyers for sold properties (2nd-Quarter of 2014):

1st-Half 2014
 Homes
Land 
Condos 
Multi-
Family 
Commercial 
Total 
 Current Listings  259  492  38  3  16  808
 Pendings  28  12  1  0  0  41
 Solds  114  77  6  0  6  203
 Sold Volume  $17.073M  $1.85M  $464,500  $0  $925K  $20.3125M
 Sold Median Price  $143,450  $15K  $61,250  N/A  $167,500  
 Avg. Days on Market (solds)  267  290  151  N/A  254  

 
2nd-Quarter 2014
 Homes
Land 
Condos 
Multi-
Family 
Commercial 
Total 
 Solds  62  42  2  0  2  108
 Sold Volume  $8.94M  $1.055M  $70K  $0K  $305K  $10.37M
 Sold Median Price  $140K  $15K  $35K  $0K  $152,500  
 Avg. Days on Market (solds)  289  227  154  N/A  203  

 

NORTH BEACH (Ocean City to Moclips) MARKET:

Click on the following links to view the MLS flyers for sold properties (2nd-Quarter of 2014):
Sold Homes
Sold Land

1st-Half 2014
 Homes
Land 
Condos 
Multi-
Family 
Commercial 
Total 
 Current Listings  65  139  1  0  1  206
 Pendings  4  0  0  0  0  4
 Solds  15  4  0  0  0  19
 Sold Volume  $4.78M  $71K  $0  $0  $0  $4.851M
 Sold Median Price  $317K  $12,250  N/A  N/A  N/A  
 Avg. Days on Market (solds)  274  257  N/A  N/A  N/A  

 
2nd-Quarter 2014
 Homes
Land 
Condos 
Multi-
Family 
Commercial 
Total 
 Solds  8  3  0  0  0  11
 Sold Volume  $2.585M  $28K  $0  $0K  $0K  $2.613M
 Sold Median Price  $342,250  $11K  $0  $0K  $0K  
 Avg. Days on Market (solds)  389  254  N/A  N/A  N/A  
 
 

SOUTH BEACH (Westport/Grayland/Ocosta) MARKET:
 
1st-Half 2014
 Homes
Land 
Condos 
Multi-
Family 
Commercial 
Total 
 Current Listings  87  91  20  8  11  217
 Pendings  6  3  3  0  1  13
 Solds  30  9  8  1  2  50
 Sold Volume  $4.075M  $271,300  $1.408M  $0  $360K  $6.114M
 Sold Median Price  $132,500  $18K  $183,500  N/A  $180K  
 Avg. Days on Market (solds)  133  215  85  N/A  182  
 
 

LONG BEACH PENINSULA (Ilwaco to Surfside Estates) MARKET:
 
1st-Half 2014
 Homes
Land 
Condos 
Multi-
Family 
Commercial 
Total 
 Current Listings  321  330  40  4  28  723
 Pendings  48  8  5  0  2  63
 Solds  103  55  12  1  2  173
 Sold Volume  $17.887M  $2.077M  $749,251  $89,950  $214K  $21.017M
 Sold Median Price  $46,500  $30K  $58,750  $89,950  $107K  
 Avg. Days on Market (solds)  227  257  431  308  23  
 
NOTE: All of the above data was pulled from the NWMLS and is not guaranteed.
 


FINANCING NEWS

MORTGAGE NEWS 

Interest rates are down to around 4.25% with 0 points (depending on credit and down payment).  Funding is available through FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional Loans to buy primary and secondary/vacation homes in Ocean Shores and the North Beach.

For more help on getting pre-approved/qualified, contact our local lender, The Bank of the Pacific....Desiree Goodwin, the Residential Loan Officer, at 360-500-4003, or e-mail her at dgoodwin@bankofthepacific.com.  You can also contact Saul Schiffner at Wallick & Volk Mortgage Brokers in Bellevue at 425-422-6333, or e-mail him at saul.schiffner@wvmb.com.


 

If you ever have any questions about Area Information and Real Estate in Ocean Shores and the North Beach, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail me.
~ April Swenson
aswenson25@juno.com
360-589-2777 (cell/text)

 


Your Beach Destination Awaits You at the #1 Washington Coast Town!
 
 
 

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Ocean Shores Events: July 4th at the Beach ~ Fireworks Galore!

OCEAN SHORES EVENTS
 
July 4th at the Beach
 

 
July 4, 2014 ~ Independence Day fell on a Friday this year, so this brought even more people out to the Beach. It was packed! It rained early morning hours of Friday, but the rain stopped in the late morning and the Sun started to peer through later afternoon. The winds died down too. So it was a very nice afternoon and evening. Independence Day is one of the greatest and most amazing sites visitors and locals can see along the Beaches of Ocean Shores and the North Beach. The beaches are lined with cars and people packing it in beginning of the afternoon. The fireworks can be heard as the days lead up to the 4th, but America's birthday brings the most unbelievable sites you will see as the sky is lit up with tons of colorful fireworks. There are personal firework displays one right after the other. The Casino puts on a firework display too. I saw the fireworks shooting off from the Beach behind the hotels (taken from the Downtown Golf Course area on Minard Ave) and overseeing the action on the Beach from my Chevy Tahoe. To all of those who have not spent July 4th in Ocean Shores -- you must come out and see it for yourself.


See more pictures and the video at www.oceanshoresinfo.com/pics/july4th2014.html






Friday, July 4, 2014

Ocean Shores Events: Sand & Sawdust Festival ~ June 27-29, 2014

OCEAN SHORES EVENTS
 
Five Star Dealerships Sand & Sawdust Festival 2014
 

 
June 27th-29th ~ The annual Five Star Dealerships Sand & Sawdust Festival was held over the weekend. The weather was lovely with sun and some clouds and warm days. The Team Competition for the sand sculptures did not turn out so well this year because the event overseers did not look at the tide tables and so, the teams did not even get to finish before the tides came in and started to ruin their progress. But we still were able to see some of the works of sand art.

Wood carvers were doing a great job at the Convention Center.  There were lots of vendors too.

See more pictures and the video at www.oceanshoresinfo.com/pics/sand&sawdustfestival2014.html