CityofOceanShores.com Newsletter ~ September 2010

Beach Updates
We went razor clam digging last weekend for the opening dig and I've got to report that we had a great time. It seems the more often you go, the easier it gets to find the holes to suck them up. Anyway, we got our clams, took them home, cleaned them and then fried 'em up. They're so good... and the price is right. Anyway, if you haven't eaten razor clams and done the whole "dig 'em up and eat them" thing, you're really missing out. Again, really good and really easy. This is a pretty good instructional video I found on the net...

How to dig a razor clamYouTube 2:10Watch video on Bing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S_YHSyBrLsv=6S_YHSyBrLs

Ocean Shores and the North Beach areas typically feature the best razor clams on Washington's coast. The WA State Department of Fish & Wildlife determines when we'll have a razor clam dig and they typically schedule it just a few weeks beforehand. As of right now, they still haven't scheduled one for November. Visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocean-Shores-WA/Ocean-Shores-Real-Estate/42604953991 to receive alerts as to when the next dig will be. If you need a license or gear, pop on by Ace Hardware in Ocean Shores to get those things.If you want more info about digging razor clams, send me an email.
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If you haven't visited the Ocean Shores Real Estate Facebook page lately, please check it out. I'm serious! In fact, this newsletter was posted there before this email was sent out! You should at least go look at the page... There's more timely info about the real estate market, pictures, news, etc. Get the full scoop on what's going on with real estate at the beach by being a fan! Visit the page today by clicking the logo or the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocean-Shores-WA/Ocean-Shores-Real-Estate/42604953991. Thank you to everyone who has recently signed up.
Ocean Shores Real Estate Update
I'm pretty shocked that 2010 is likely going to end up being a better year for real estate in Ocean Shores than it was in 2009. Activity is still up. The summer was pretty lame for sales, but because of a strong spring, the year should finish out quite well. See my Year-to-Dates down below...

September Home Sales
15 Homes sold in Ocean Shores during the month of September for an average price of $207,940 compared to 16 sales in August at an average price of $177,706. Home sales are still pretty flat but at least something is selling... The average sales prices are up because of a couple high end sales - an ocean front for $375,000 and a bayfront for $432,000. The cheapest house to sell in September was $115,000. Average time on the market was only 241 days... Average price per square foot comes in at $138.02. Only 27 homes are pending right now, compared to 34 homes last month. There's 244 homes on the market right now compared to 258 homes last month. Home inventory will drop as winter comes.

Year to Date
134 Homes have sold through the first three quarters of 2010 for an average price of $171,543. The cheapest was $35,000 while the one that brought in the most was $450,000.
129 Homes sold last year during the same period for an average sales price of $176,491. The cheapest was $31,500 while the most expensive one was $495,000.
I guess you could say things are a little better although it really doesn't feel like it. I guess we all expected the market to vastly improve this year over last... and of course we know that didn't happen. All things considered, staying flat from 2009 to 2010 is a win these days...

September Vacant Lot Sales
18 Lots sold in September for an average price of $21,711 compared to 13 Lots in August for an average price of $30,185. Average prices don't mean a whole lot in Ocean Shores for lot sales as one or two high end lots can spike the averages. The cheapest lot to sell last month was a lot out by North Jetty which was unloaded for a measily $8,500. One lakefront sold for $85,000, while three canal lots sold for $39,000, $35,000 and $26,500... Prices are way down for vacant land... The Street LID is the main culprit driving down lot prices... 17 lots are currently pending around town. There are 503 lots on the market right now compared to 567 last month.

Year to Date
126 Lots have sold through the first three quarters of 2010 for an average price of $29,618. The cheapest was $7,000 while the one that brought in the most was $179,500.
102 Lots sold last year during the same period for an average sales price of $36,235. The cheapest was $8,500 while the most expensive one was $155,000.

September Condo Sales

Three condos sold in September for an average price of $103,000. Two were these tiny little downtown one bedroom cheapies that sold for for $25,000 & $35,000, while the other was an oceanfront at Ocean View Estates that was practically a giveway at $249,000. There are no condos pending right now.... Ugh. There's 155 condos listed right now on the NWMLS! There's enough condos to last 10 years in Ocean Shores if we're lucky! This high amount of inventory is ridiculous and not likely to change as there a couple (two too many) real estate brokers who appear to like to have a bunch of overpriced condo listings in their inventory that no one is interested in buying. These big condo projects like the Villages of Ocean Shores (28 condos listed as active by the developer. Nothing has sold) and the Gitche Gumee (58 condos listed as active by the developer. Nothing has sold) really need to reduce their on-the-market inventory. There's only about five or six good buys out there right now anyway in the condo market. Call me and I'll share...

Year to Date
16 Condos have sold through the first three quarters of 2010 for an average price of $115,088. The cheapest was $25,000 while the one that brought in the most was a Dreamscape unit at $259,000.
14 Condos sold last year during the same period for an average sales price of $155,162. The cheapest was $57,000 while the most expensive one was $350,000 and two actually sold for that.
It should be pretty easy to see why the average sales prices for this year were so much lower. On the other hand, it's quite hard to believe that condo sales are up (over 10% if you do the math) in Ocean Shores...

If you have any questions regarding Ocean Shores/North Coast Real Estate, call Jeff Daniel of Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties at 360.581.9020 or visit my website at http://www.cityofoceanshores.com/. Thanks! All statistics are supplied from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Be a Fan of Ocean Shores Real Estate on Facebook!
If you haven't visited the Ocean Shores Real Estate Facebook page lately, please check it out and you shouldn't even be reading this because you already should have clicked the link up above... There's more timely info about the real estate market, pictures, news, etc. Be a fan and be cool! Visit the page today by clicking the above logo or the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocean-Shores-WA/Ocean-Shores-Real-Estate/42604953991. Thank you.

Upcoming Events
Cat Fanciers' Association Cat Show
October 16-17, 2010A Cat Fanciers Association All Breed Cat Show. See an incredible variety of cats from the ordinary to the very unusual. Vendors will be selling unique pet items as well on Saturday. 10-5 on Sat & 9-4 on Sunday. http://www.cfa.org/shows.html
Art Walk
October 16, 2010Art Walk in the galleries and retail shops all over Ocean Shores from 3-8 p.m.
7th Annual Irish Music Festival
October 21-24, 2010The West Coast's Largest Irish Music Festival. 6 stages, 4 venues and 20 great bands. Come tip a pint and kick up your heels Thursday October 21 through Sunday the 24th. For more information and a schedule of the bands and events visit http://www.galwaybayevents.com/
Jazz at the Beach
November 5-7, 2010Jazz bands from all around the U.S. & Canada join together at the beach to offer up over 65 hours of live jazz at several venues throughout Ocean Shores. A three day passis only $60 if you order before 10/1/10. After that, they're $70. Single day badges are priced seperately. There's a free jazz hour for kids of all ages featuring the North Beach High School Jazz Band on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the Convention Center. Special umbrella parade to be held Saturday night at 8 p.m. - also at the Convention Center. http://www.osjazz.com/
Razor Clam Dig
November TBA 2010The State hasn't announced the November dig yet, but if you want to find out when the next dig is in a timely fashion, visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocean-Shores-WA/Ocean-Shores-Real-Estate/42604953991 to find out more info!
Winter Fanta-Sea
November 26-28 2010
Over 70 arts and crafts booths feature thousands of unique handmade items just in time for the holidays! Bring the kids, Santa will be there to listen to all of your Christmas wishes.

See you on the beach!
Jeff Daniel Managing Broker
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties
Cell Phone: 360.581.9020749 Point Brown Ave NW
PMB 1568, Ocean Shores, WA 98569
360.289.3111 (fax)