Speaking of pets, the Farmer’s Market is a gathering of very social dogs who love to see their friends and bring their owners to see their friends. Many local folks attend regularly and we see more visitors every week as Newport’s “secret” market becomes known. This must be similar to what my grandmother spoke about the village markets where she grew up in Sweden. It’s a great excuse to be out and about on a Saturday, come rain or shine. Plan a little time out from other activities on your next visit to the Coast. You will be glad you did.

Hope to see you there.

WAG has been active on the Coast and Willamette Valley for 20 years this year.  In the beginning it was a forum for training working dogs in herding skills.  Now it is largely done for fun and ribbons.  To watch these dogs do their work with such joy and abandon is a wonderful treat.  Some are faster than others and all seem to take great pride in completing the course for a reward of kind words and pats from the handlers as well as applause from the spectators.  Excellent entertainment here on the beautiful Central Oregon Coast and yet another good reason to live here.

Historically low interest rates (5% or less) make this a great time to buy – especially with a rich inventory.  The number of bank owned properties is shrinking as Buyers are discovering the challenges of purchasing “distressed” properties.  Good prices?  Sure, but you really need an experienced broker to advise and assist.  One other factor is the trend with Sellers to list at realistic prices.  The aware Seller wants to market the home not be on the market.

This charming Seal Rock cottage had tons of interest and closed after only 54 days on market. Priced at $149,000, it is a great example of pricing a property to sell vs. pricing it to sit on the market.

Plan a trip to the Coast! The weather is great, activities abound and you can find some excellent buys in homes.

Breaking ground. Image courtesy University of Oregon

Those in attendance included Gov. Ted Kulongoski, US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkly, US Representatives Kurt Schrader and David Wu as well as State Representative Jean Cowan, Port Commissioner Don Mann, County Commissioners Bill Hall and Terry Thompson and OSU President Ed Ray.

Four of Oregon's leading politicians -- Gov. Ted Kulongoski, Sen. Ron Wyden, Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. David Wu.

Best of all was the enthusiastic response of more than 500 local residents who attended in support.

Photo courtesy of Oregon State University

Sunday 6/6 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM will feature a community celebration at the site. Come on over to the Coast and join in the festivities.

1925 Newport home which was listed and sold by Winderemere West Coast Properties in May 2010.

We are seeing more closings of bank owned properties as they represent good buys for the informed Buyer.  Short sales are disappearing due to the 10 to 18 month wait for bank approval.  We can expect to see more bank owned properties come on the market as Sellers are not able to maintain a short sale position for the time required to work through the banking system.  Many of these homes will unfortunately go through the foreclosure process.   Even in difficult conditions this is an excellent time to Buy on the Oregon Coast.

Osprey bringing fish home for dinner

Just outside the Regatta Condominiums on Yaquina Bay is a set of pilings that support a Coast Guard operated fog horn as well as a new construction project.  This new project is an Osprey nest comprised of sticks and vegetation.   The nest being built on the Bay is likely going to be the home of an offspring of a pair of Ospreys located 1 mile South in South Beach.  The parents, mated for life, have come back to their nest for at least 6 years running, making small improvements each year.

It’s a perfect place for a nest for these birds also known as “fish eagle” or “fish hawk”.  They spot their fish prey from a height of  32 to 130 feet, hover then dive feet first into the water. The pilings this pair selected for their “construction project” are about 120 feet above the water.

Ospreys are very particular about visitors in their neighborhoods.  Many times this writer has been thoroughly scolded be Ospreys flying back to the nest with a fish clasped in their talons.  This has occurred near coastal lakes and on the beaches.  On you next visit to the Oregon Coast I would be happy to share a close up look at the nest building project and recommend other bird viewing locations that abound here on the Coast.

Rendering of the $25 million Marine Mammal and Marine Genomics Building (image courtesy of Oregon State University)

Becoming the “Woods Hole of the West” (coined by Jock Mills, director of government relations for OSU) would be more about external recognition than any need for local approval. Here on the Coast we are really proud of our scientists – investigators, graduate students and even undergraduate students. They bring about a new awareness of our complex and interwoven environment. On your next visit to the Coast, let me know you’ll be in town. I would be delighted to share my impressions of the Coastal scene from a 20 year resident’s perspective.