To Buy or to Build, is that the only Question?

On many occasions while showing new houses out on the beach, some buyers take the approach that they would rather get a loan to buy a vacant lot, then hire a local builder to build them their beach getaway. There are several differences when it comes to the financing options between purchasing an existing home or buying a lot and having a home built on it. I recently sat down and talked to Carol Warfield, loan officer with the Bank of the Pacific about some of the differences.

The first is the required down payment

On a conventional construction loan, you must invest 20% of the cost of the entire project, which would include land purchase and prep, cost of plans, plan review, building permit, well and septic design & permits if applicable, cost of construction including builders overhead, sales tax, etc. All closing costs on a construction loan are in addition to the 20% investment in the project itself, and generally run more than closing costs for a purchase loan.

With a construction loan, you can almost always count on two things - it will take longer and cost more than you expect. Another thing to watch is change orders. Once your construction loan is in place, 100% of the cost of change orders comes out of your pocket. 

On a purchase loan you know up-front what your costs will be. You will pay the required down payment, plus closing costs. There are many types of loan programs available for purchase loans - Conventional, FHA and USDA are among the most popular.

The second difference is interest rate

Single-close construction loan interest rates typically run about 1/2% higher than purchase loans interest rates. With either type of loan, you lock in an interest rate prior to closing the loan. On a construction loan, you pay interest monthly on the amount you’ve drawn during construction, and then the loan converts to a 15 or 30 year fixed rate loan, with principal and interest payments once construction is complete. You pay the same interest rate during construction and during the long-term loan. Because the interest rate is “locked in” prior to the home being built, the investor takes some risk by guaranteeing you that interest rate once construction is complete, so they tend to price them a little higher. The other potential hazard is that if you don’t complete construction in the allotted time-frame, you would either lose your interest rate lock, and get whatever the going rate is at the time construction is complete, or pay a fee to extend the interest rate lock.

On a purchase loan, the rate lock period is generally 30-45 days, just enough time to close the loan, so investors are more likely to price at current market rates. Once you’ve closed your purchase loan, there is no risk of losing your rate lock.

 

Another difference is the risk and hassle factor

A purchase loan is a pretty easy loan to process and close. All required documentation is gathered up front, generally two years income verification (tax returns and/or W-2s), two months recent paystubs, and two months recent asset statements. If you have non-wage income, you may be asked to supply verification of that information also, such as lease agreements on rental properties, trust agreements, child support, annuity or investment income, etc. Once your credit report is pulled, it is not a common practice to need an updated report before the loan closes. 

On a construction loan, all the same documentation is required up front, plus all the construction-project paperwork. Once construction is complete, some investors are requiring updated credit report and income documentation. I’ve seen instances where credit has deteriorated and income was reduced, causing the loan to no longer fit the program for which it was originally approved, sometimes making the loan ineligible for secondary market purchase. Then the loan would revert to a portfolio loan at a higher interest rate.

 

If you have any questions regarding new construction, new homes or builders in the Ocean Shores/North Beach area, please contact Jeff Daniel/Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties at 360.581.9020.

Whether you’re looking a home loan, construction loan or refinancing, please contact Carol Warfield at 360.537.4044.

Carol started with Bank of the Pacific in 1997 as a branch manager and has been originating home loans since 2004. Carol has over 20 years of banking experience which includes helping customers buy, refinance, and build their dream homes. With her vast experience and dedication to each customer, Carol ensures your transaction will go smoothly.

Existing-Home Sales Rise in May

Existing-Home Sales Rise in May

Source: BuildingOnline's eUpdate

Thu, 25 Jun 2009

Sales of existing homes showed another gain in May, benefiting from favorable affordability conditions and a first-time buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors. May's increase was the first back-to-back monthly gain since September 2005.

Existing-home sales x96 including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops x96 rose 2.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of 4.77 million units in May from a downwardly revised level of 4.66 million units in April, but remained 3.6 percent below the 4.95 million-unit pace in May 2008.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, expected an improvement. "Historically low mortgage interest rates clearly drew buyers into the market, and housing remains very affordable even with a recent uptick in rates," he said. "First-time buyers also are being drawn off the sidelines by the $8,000 tax credit, which is helping to absorb inventory. However, the increase in sales is less than expected because poor appraisals are stalling transactions. Pending home sales indicated much stronger activity, but some contracts are falling through from faulty valuations that keep buyers from getting a loan."

Total housing inventory at the end of May fell 3.5 percent to 3.80 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 9.6-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 10.1-month supply in April.

Yun said the appraisal problem is serious. "Lenders are using appraisers who may not be familiar with a neighborhood, or who compare traditional homes with distressed and discounted sales," he said. "In the past month, stories of appraisal problems have been snowballing from across the country with many contracts falling through at the last moment. There is danger of a delayed housing market recovery and a further rise in foreclosures if the appraisal problems are not quickly corrected."

An NAR practitioner survey in May showed first-time buyers accounted for 29 percent of transactions, and that the number of buyers looking at homes is nearly 10 percentage points higher than a year ago. "This is the time of year when we see large increases in the number of repeat buyers, who are benefitting from sales to entry-level buyers," Yun said. "Investors appear less active, but are more prevalent in areas with large price corrections."

NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth, said appraisals and the tax credit are key issues. "To maximize the potential for a housing recovery and subsequent economic recovery, we need realistic appraisals that are based on proper comparisons and done by a local specialist," he said. "In addition, the first-time buyer tax credit should be expanded to all buyers of primary homes regardless of income. Extending the credit into 2010 would allow more time for the market to catch up with underlying demand, in part because many families with children, who normally time their purchase based on school year considerations, do not have enough time to move before the start of school in late August.

"Freeing a pent-up demand in housing will absorb inventory at a faster pace, strengthen communities and stabilize home prices earlier," McMillan said.

The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $173,000 in May, down 16.8 percent from a year earlier. Distressed properties, which declined to 33 percent of all sales in May from 45 percent in April, continue to downwardly distort the median price because they generally sell at a discount relative to traditional homes.

"The decline in the distressed sales share likely results from an increase of repeat buyers in May," Yun said. "First-time buyers are concentrated in the lower price ranges, which include most of the distressed sales."

Single-family home sales rose 1.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.25 million in May from a pace of 4.17 million in April, but are 3.0 percent below the 4.38 million-unit level in May 2008. The median existing single-family home price was $172,900 in May, down 16.1 percent from a year ago.

Existing condominium and co-op sales increased 6.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 520,000 units in May from 490,000 in April, but are 8.9 percent below the 571,000-unit level in May 2008. The median existing condo price4 was $173,800 in May, down 21.9 percent from a year earlier.

Regionally, existing-home sales in the Northeast rose 3.9 percent to an annual level of 800,000 in May, but are 10.1 percent below a year ago. The median price in the Northeast was $243,600, which is 12.5 percent below May 2008.

Existing-home sales in the Midwest jumped 9.0 percent in May to a pace of 1.09 million but are 4.4 percent below May 2008. The median price in the Midwest was $145,800, which is 10.4 percent lower than a year ago. In the South, existing-home sales were unchanged at an annual pace of 1.74 million in May but are 8.9 percent below a year ago. The median price in the South was $157,400, down 9.9 percent from May 2008.

Existing-home sales in the West slipped 0.9 percent to an annual rate of 1.14 million in May, but are 11.8 percent higher than May 2008. The median price in the West was $197,700, down 30.6 percent from a year ago. 

Source: http://www.buildingonline.com/news/

Scenes of the Beach

Momma and Baby down by Damon Point

Boardwalk Shops filling up!

New Fire Station Going up!
New store with a cool face!

Cityofoceanshores.com Newsletter ~ 05.2009

It's the Season!

Here we go again. Another Ocean Shores summer coming right up. This means that tens of thousands of families will be calling Ocean Shores home for a week or two while they're on their summer vacation at the beach. Couples will come visit on weekends. The big events will draw thousands to town. Snow birds will return from the south for their 3 to 6 month stay at the North beach while the weather's nice and it's too hot in the South. Late Spring and Summertime are definitely the months of the year where most people visit the North Coast. And it's obvious with all the events coming up and gas prices being reasonable again, that this year should be a record breaker in terms of traffic and body counts at the beach. For those of us who live here fulltime, just remember that we live in a place where other people like to go on vacation and that's pretty cool. Except for when they pull up to one of those four way stops. That's when it's not very cool anymore.


Ocean Shores Real Estate Update
January had a spark with some sales. February was okay. March was a real busy month with quite a few sales that closed in April. April sales started out strong, but then fizzled. May is looking to take It's still pretty strange these days in real estate. Some days, the phone won't stop ringing and the email inbox fills up with buyers looking for properties and then the next day nothing. Per usual, sales seem to be coming in waves this year. The end of off again now that tax season is behind us and the sun is staying out longer. I expect residential sales to stay pretty close to matching 2008's number in regards to the number of transactions going on. Lots and condo sales are still dreadful even as prices have fallen off the charts. There are some unbelievable prices on condos and lots in town right now. We haven't seen these kind of prices since 2003 or 2004 in some cases.

On another note, we're starting to see multiple offers on some properties these days and that's a great sign that there are plenty of buyers out there looking for a deal. This weekend alone I received two offers on a house listing. One was reasonable, the other was not. There's not much of a science to it, but if the price is right and the timing is right, buyers line up. Those people that made the lowball offer missed out and if they don't step up to the plate now, they're going to end up with a real nice beach house in Aberdeen or Hoquiam. If you don't think the bottom has already hit, you're going to end up paying more for waiting longer. Now's the time to buy.
Here are some real estate numbers as of 5/9/09 for Ocean Shores only. All statistics are supplied from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Residential Sales
22 Homes sold in April 2009 for an average selling price of $182,743. Average time on the market was 146 days. The maximum time for one house was 841 days. Unfortunately, it happens sometimes... There's currently 32 homes are pending around town. I know that 22 home sales for April doesn't sound all that great, but consider the following: 7 houses sold in January this year. Only 8 sold in February and 16 sold in March. Home sales in Ocean Shores for the month of April are most definitely up and the trend looks to stay strong for the remainder of this year. If for some reason you think Ocean Shores is a sluggish real estate market, think again. Our neighbors across the Harbor in Westport only had two home sales in the month of April.

In April of 2008, 22 homes also sold so that's even. Selling price was tad bit higher at $184,023 last year and average time on the market was quite a bit longer at 202 days.

There's 219 homes for sale in Ocean Shores for an average price of $247,517 right now and the average time on market is 234 days.

Condo Sales
5 Condos have sold in 2009 so far for an average selling price of $88,380. Average time on the market was 327 days. The maximum time for one condo was 1,153 days. Ugh. There's currently 6 condos that are pending around town so that's actually an encouragement.

Through May 1st of last year, only 4 Condos had sold for an average sale price of $247,000 (hey, Condos sales are up 20% this year through May 1st!). It's not that condo prices have fallen so hard (from $247,000 in 2008 to $88,380 this year), it's just that the cheaper ones are selling while the more expensive ones have been a bit more difficult to move during recent times.

There are currently 72 Condos for sale in Ocean Shores for an average listing price of $251,805 and the average time on the market is 422 days.

Vacant Lot Sales
11 Lots sold in April 2009 for an average selling price of $40,955 (this includes everything from a cheap interior lot at $16,000 to a waterfront lot for $143,000). Average time on the market was 254 days. The maximum time for one lot was 1,214 days. That seems a bit silly, but I'm not surprised... There's currently 11 lots that are pending around town. Lot sales are dreadful this year...

In April of 2008, 25 lots sold for an average price of $46,372 and time on the market was 172 days. The cheapest lot was sold for $18,000 while the most expensive one sold for $185,000.

There's 583 lots on the market for an average price of $86,922 while the cheapest one comes in at $12,000 (needs fill!) and the most expensive one is an ocean front near the North Jetty for a cool $499,900.
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 www.cityofoceanshores.com. Thanks!



Upcoming Events

Kite Challenge
Saturday, June 13 , 2009Sponsored by "Team Cutting Edge Kites" - 2005 & 2006 World Champions. Free kite flying lessons, stunt competitions, fun flies, displays and more.

Flag Day Parade & DanceSaturday, June 13 , 2009A chance to show our patriotic spirit. The parade features more than 75 entries and a Grand Marshall. End the day with dancing and raffle drawings. One of the only Flag Day parades in Western Washington.


WA State Square & Folk Dance Festival
Friday, June 19 - Saturday, June 20, 2009"Let the light shine in 2009" 58th Annual Washington State Square & Folk Dance Festival!

Sand and Sawdust Festival
Friday, June 26 - Sunday, June 28, 2009Five Star Dealerships Sand and Sawdust Festival welcomes you to the beach! Master, Intermediate, & Novice Sand-Sculpting teams compete for over $5,000.00 in cash prizes. At the Convention Center master woodcarvers from all over the world compete in this amazing annual competition. There are vendors, food sales & the live auctions are held daily on carvings! Families & children are invited to enter the sand-sculpting competition or learn sand-sculpting skills at the free lesson offered Friday morning.

Independence Day PicnicFriday, July 3 , 2009The business community of Ocean Shores is sponsoring the annual Ocean Shores Independence Day Picnic on Friday, July 3, 2009 at North Bay Park. Picnic Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free!! Come celebrate the birth of our nation. Bring a blanket and your picnic basket or take advantage of the many food vendors that will be on hand. There will be something fun for all ages at this old-fashioned community friendly event.

Beach News
This is where I've been getting mine lately:



Jeff Daniel Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties
Phone: 360.581.9020749 Point Brown Ave NW/PMB 1568, Ocean Shores, WA 98569PROPERTY SEARCH: http://www.oceanshoreshomesforsale.com/
OCEAN SHORES WEBSITE: http://www.cityofoceanshores.comOCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://oceanshoresrealestate.blogspot.com
OCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://activerain.com/jeffgdaniel

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Cityofoceanshores.com Newsletter ~ 04.2009

Spring Time means Whale Migration Time!
It's starting to look a lot like spring with daffodils blooming and new leaves taking shape on the trees. Along the coast, spring time means whale time! The season typically begins in late March to coincide with the migration of gray whales, which often stop to feed in Grays Harbor on their annual trip from Baja, CA to feeding grounds in Alaska. The season lasts until the end of May. While many people will venture out to watch the whales on a charter boat, I prefer to save a coin and watch them from the comforts of the high sand dunes at the North Jetty. As it stands, most of the charters venture to the area between Westport and Ocean Shores, known as the "whale hole" in hopes of spotting the mammals. You can watch this area from the Jetty. Bring your binoculars. In addition to gray whales, it's not uncommon at all to watch sea lions and Pacific Harbor porpoises nosing around the Jetty. If you get lucky, you'll see some Orca whales inside the harbor. This is a real treat. It's not often, but sometimes people get lucky and will see a humpback whale or two passing by. This is one of my favorite times to be at the beach...


Ocean Shores Real Estate Update

Real Estate activity is still up and down out here. Surprisingly, traffic counts are way up with lots of people looking at property and some are buying again... and that's good. According to the City, numbers from the count at the City entrances show that the visitor count is up 9% so far this year. That's great news! Nearly 60,000 more people visited Ocean Shores in February 2009 than February 2008 alone. Last year, with high gas prices for most of the time, numbers were down 8.5% for the year. The fact that traffic count numbers are up bodes well for sellers and local businesses. Here are some statistics regarding home sales in Ocean Shores for 1st quarter 2009:

2009: 31 Homes sold during 1st Quarter / Average Sales Price: $179,355.
2008: 37 Homes sold during 1st Quarter / Average Sales Price: $211,534.
2007: 46 Homes sold during 1st Quarter / Average Sales Price: $192,175.

*Average time on market for homes that have sold: 177 Days. Last year at this time, it took 190 days to sell your house.
*Home sellers are getting on average, 95.05% of asking price.
*As of April 7th, there's 36 homes that are pending (waiting to close) right now - meaning, that assuming all of those homes close, 2nd quarter without any new sales for the next few months, will already outperform the dismal results of the 1st quarter. We know that there will be new sales of course, so 2nd quarter is definitely looking up and I'll be shocked if by the end of the 2nd quarter, home sales haven't more than doubled or even tripled 1st quarter's results.

Overall, home inventory is shrinking which is really good news as we would all like to see the market to stabilize. Also shrinking are the number of bank-owned properties. They are definitely selling out here for really low prices. There's very few bank-owned house out here anymore though. Most of the bank-owned properties are fixers and need a lot of work. If you're interested, send me an email. Also doing pretty well is new construction. People still want their getaway at the beach and builders are still building them.


Land and condo sales are horrible. That's the bad news for sellers. For buyers, prices on condos and land are way down and there's plenty of fantastic deals that are up for grabs right now. As summer approaches and the tourism seasons moves into full swing, we're expecting the deals to disappear. Prices at the beach generally speaking don't go down during the summer months. If you're looking for a deal, now's the time.

All numbers & stats are from the NWMLS. If you have any questions regarding these numbers or activity in the real estate market, please call me at 360.581.9020 or send me an email.

Seller Financing? How to get financing for a vacant lot without anyone's stimulus...
These days, with the economy as it is, getting a lot loan from a bank is more of a challenge that it was only a couple of years ago. Back in 2007, a person with a decent income, credit score and 20% down could get a lot loan from any local lender. Today, you can get a loan, but it's going to require you... (click "HERE" to read the rest of this story)

Upcoming Events

Photo & Fine Arts Show - April 9-12
Artists & photographers from all over the United States enter this show to win prizes and display their unique photos and works of art. Held at the Convention Center.
Shorebird Festival - April 24th - 26th
Discover the incredible variety of shorebirds that pass through Grays Harbor in April at this 14th annual event. Multiple locations for viewing around Ocean Shores include Protection Island, Damon Point and the North Jetty! Join scheduled watching tours or set your own birding agenda and enjoy the views!

Three-day Razor Clam Dig starting April 25th!
The state Department of Fish & Wildlife has announced tentative dates for the next (and probably last for the spring) razor clam dig. Three beaches are set to open this month if marine toxin tests find the clams are safe to eat. Dates and low tides for the April dig are:
Saturday, April 25 (7:27 a.m., -1.3 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
Sunday, April 26 (8:10 a.m., -1.6 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
Monday, April 27 (8:55 a.m., -1.7 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2008 Washington state annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the department's Web site at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/.

Country Music Jam - May 2-3
Two days of open jam sessions. This is an old-time jam and people of all playing levels are welcome. The public is invited. Admission is free. Dinner & Dance Saturday night. Ear plugs optional.

News
First Bank Robbery Ever in Ocean Shores
So this 40 year old lady walks into Timberland Bank just outside the gates of Ocean Shores and hands the teller a note saying "you are being robbed." The note also said to "smile." She made off with almost $1800, hopped in her little car and drove about a half mile away, parked and called 911 confessing to the robbery. The scoop is that she wanted a fresh start in life and understood that robbing a federal bank is a good way to go to federal prison which apparently is a much better prison that educates better and feeds you better than local state prisons. I'm not sure about this. Anyway, the robber, while being arrested, wanted to know where the FBI was and stated to the local officers that she wanted to be arrested by the FBI because this was a federal bank robbery. Unfortunately for her, it wasn't. And unfortunately for her, she's not going to federal prison. She's going to a state prison.

Fresh Water Update
Some citizens and visitors in certain parts of town have complained for years about their water containing fowl odors and a strange taste. With the billions and trillions of dollars being thrown at our spiraling economy, Ocean Shores is in the running to receive about $3 million in federal funds to create the city's aquifer treatment plant project - aimed at improving the city's water quality. The city has now decided to move ahead with a new water treatment facility. More later...

New Features at the Interpretive Center
The Ocean Shores Interpretive Center is expanding and has some new cool things to do like exploring a new trail, checking out new exhibits and getting silly on a playground. Students from local high schools designed and constructed the Interpretive Trail as part of their senior culminating project. The trail is about 500 feet long (that's about the right length of a trail I want to walk on) leads visitors through a small coastal forest with a wetland area and a boardwalk. Students who worked on the project identified tree and plant species along the trail, and Interpretive Center officials will be placing signs in front of each type identified. Check it out. The Center is now open daily through the summer.

* http://www.cityofoceanshores.com/ Check it out now. Changes almost everyday!


Jeff Daniel/Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties
Cell Phone: 360.581.9020749 Point Brown Ave NW/PMB 1568, Ocean Shores, WA 98569888.469.3100 (toll free) - 360.289.3111 (fax)
PROPERTY SEARCH: http://www.oceanshoreshomesforsale.com/
OCEAN SHORES WEBSITE: http://www.cityofoceanshores.com/
OCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://oceanshoresrealestate.blogspot.com/
OCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://activerain.com/jeffgdaniel

Kats Cove Condominiums

Kats Cove Condominiums

Cityofoceanshores.com Newsletter ~ 03.2009

How to enjoy Spring Break in Ocean Shores
Spring Break is coming up for a lot of families and Ocean Shores remains a top destination for folks from all over the Northwest who flock to Ocean Shores to getaway from it all. Here's a few free activities to consider other than enjoying the beach of course:
1. Check out Damon Point State Park at the southern end of town. It's a good 3 hour walk to the end of Protection Island and back but well worth it.
2. Visit the Interpretive Center to get a sense of history of this place (educational).
3. Enjoy a nature's walk throughout the Weatherwax property.
4. Visit the North Jetty during low tide to visit the starfish, crabs, sea urchins and more as the low tides exposes these creatures.
5. Don't forget to get out and go sightseeing. You really can't get lost driving around in Ocean Shores. Just remember that there's only one road in and out of Ocean Shore. If that's not enough, head North and drive up State Route 109 to visit the tiny towns of Copalis Beach, Pacific Beach, Seabrook and Moclips. Some of the sights up there are just amazing.

This hilarious picture was emailed to me recently with the following headline:
"Trampolines Banned in Ocean Shores!"
Real Estate Update


Real Estate activity is still busy out here with lots of people looking at property and a few are actually buying again... and that's good. Land & Condo sales are still very slow however. There are some screaming deals out at the beach right now!
I'm always surprised by the number of people who say that they're familiar with Ocean Shores, but have no idea that there's 23 miles of freshwater in town featuring two lakes and miles and miles of connecting canals. Then again, I don't know why I'm surprised as I didn't even know that when we first started looking for our home down here either. I guess it's a big secret. There's not many places on this planet where someone can own a home, condo or a lot and have 60+ feet of waterfront footage on a freshwater canal or lake and still only be a 1/2 mile or so from the ocean beaches. For hundreds and hundreds of people who own a piece of Duck Lake, Lake Minard, the Bell Canals, the Grand Canal or some other section of fresh waterfront in Ocean Shores, this is real and it's awesome. With that in mind, prices are down and that's something to think about (now is the time, buy low, sell high?)....

* Lake front homes are averaging $319,552 these days ranging in price from $114,900 for a double wide all the way up to $639,000 for a 3,000 sq ft beauty.
* Lake front lots are down to $108,416 on average ranging in price from $62,500 up to $159,000.

* Canal front homes are averaging $241,813 right now ranging in price from $129,900 on up to $449,000.
* Canal front lots are averaging $80,617 these days ranging in price from $49,888 on up to $139,900.

Let me know if you'd like to see what's available on the water. Click on any of the pictures above to search for properties. Next month, I'll have first quarter '09 real estate stats to report... Ugh.

Upcoming Events
Four-day razor clam dig approved starting March 27th!
The state Department of Fish & Wildlife has announced dates for the next razor clam digs, one in late March and another in April. Four beaches are set to open this month if marine toxin tests find the clams are safe to eat. Twin Harbors and Mockrocks will be open March 27 through March 29, while Long Beach and Copalis will be open March 28 and 29 only. All digs on those beaches must be completed by noon, officials said. Dates and low tides for the March dig are:
Friday, March 27 - (7:49 a.m. 0.0 ft.) Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Saturday, March 28 - (8:29 a.m. -0.4 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
Sunday, March 29 - (9:12 a.m. -0.6 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, MocrocksAyres added more digs will likely be announced following the April digs.Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2008 Washington state annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the department's Web site at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov.

Razor Clam Festival - March 27-28The Ocean Shores/North Beach Chamber of Commerce will host the Third Annual Razor Clam Festival and Chowder Cook-Off March 27-28th. This two-day event will celebrate the natural bounty of "coastal life"-it's community, conservation and culture. The event will kick off Friday evening, March 27th at the Shilo Inn, with a Coronation Dance in honor of this year's Clam King & Queen. Tickets are available in advance by calling the chamber at (360) 289-2451.

On Saturday, the festival will run from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm at the Convention Center and will feature both amateur and professional chowder cook-off divisions and a professional only "creative clam entrée" contest.

The Chamber is very honored to have celebrity chef Kathy Casey with them this year as head judge for the professional categories. Casey is celebrated as a pioneer in northwest cuisine and has gained national prominence as one of the first female executive chefs in the United States. Kathy is also is a razor clam digging enthusiast!

The winners of the cook-offs will again enjoy boasting rights for an entire year as having the "Best Chowder and/or Creative Clam Entrée on the Washington Coast".

Other activities will include a pancake breakfast, the awarding of the "Best Decorated Clam Shovel or Clam Gun"; a salute to the businesses of Ocean Shores; the Artisan Craft Marketplace, featuring over 40 Northwest artists and crafters with unique and indigenous works; children's activities and games; live entertainment; information about coastal heritage, conservation and cultural exhibits; a beer and wine bar; and great food all setting the stage for the low tide that morning and the scheduled clam dig.

Admission is free with nominal fees for chowder sampling.

About Kathy Casey
Kathy Casey is a celebrity chef, mixologist, TV and radio personality, and author of nine cookbooks, including the James Beard-nominated Kathy Casey's Northwest Table. Her newest book is Sips & Apps. As one of the first female executive chefs in the United States, Kathy was featured as one of Food and Wine's hot new American chefs. Kathy founded Kathy Casey Food Studios and Liquid Kitchen, a food and beverage consulting firm and research and development facility. She is also owner of Dish D'Lish cafes and specialty food line. When not dreaming up the next big thing, Kathy can be found foraging for wild mushrooms, digging razor clams and harvesting kiwis from her urban garden. For more information, visit www.kathycasey.com


Shorebird Festival - April 24th - 26th
Discover the incredible variety of shorebirds that pass through Grays Harbor in April at this 14th annual event. Multiple locations for viewing around Ocean Shores include Protection Island, Damon Point and the North Jetty! Join scheduled watching tours or set your own birding agenda and enjoy the view!

News
Again, this is the beach and not much happens out here and that's the way we like it. Maybe next month something will happen.

* www.cityofoceanshores.comThe website has been redesigned and mainly severely updated to serve property buyers, sellers, visitors, vacationers and anyone interested in Ocean Shores or the North Beach area. I've added a few new sections to the site. Please check it out and feel free to share any comments with me if you want. Thanks I'll see you on the beach!



Jeff Daniel Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties749 Point Brown Ave NW/PMB 1568, Ocean Shores, WA 985691.360.581.9020 (cell) - 1.888.469.3100 (toll free) - 1.360.289.3111 (fax)PROPERTY SEARCH: http://cityofoceanshores.postlets.com/
PROPERTY SEARCH: http://www.coldwellbanker.com/local/jeffdaniel
OCEAN SHORES INFO: http://www.cityofoceanshores.comOCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://oceanshoresrealestate.blogspot.com
OCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://activerain.com/jeffgdaniel

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Ocean Shores Home Owner Asbestos Prevention Info

Located on the Pacific Northwest of the United States, the use of asbestos became widespread due to the variety of industries stationed in Washington. Industries such as chemical plants, paper mills, shipyards and oil refiners used the material because of its fire resistant and ultra durable qualities.

The known affects of asbestos exposure have been documented since the early 1900’s. It was not until the late 1970’s that the fire retardant insulation was banned from being manufactured in the United States (mostly).

In the world of real estate and home ownership, there are many things that need to be considered and decisions to be made. Owning a home will bring many memorable moments to families, but also additional responsibilities. Many homes and buildings built prior to 1980 can still contain asbestos. Potential Ocean Shore home buyers or those seeking to remodel older homes should be aware frequent exposure to asbestos can potentially cause health concerns.
This is not to make you incredibly frightened of asbestos because exposure it easily prevented by taking simple precautions. Asbestos that is left un-disturbed and is in good condition almost always will not be cause for alarm. When it becomes damaged and its fibers become airborne, where significant worries arise.

The frequent inhalation of asbestos can cause a rare, but severe lung ailment known as pleural mesothelioma. Current research indicates it can take up to 20 to 50 years for this illness to develop. Although significant progress has been made with mesothelioma treatments, patient prognosis is usually poor. If you locate any suspected asbestos, most experts advise to leave it alone. A home inspector can determine the validity of toxicity present. In most cases, the best action is no action in regards to asbestos. However, if removal is necessary, it must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained and licensed to deal with hazardous materials.
The Washington Foundation for the Environment is a nonprofit corporation striving to provide projects and education focusing on environmental awareness. It also provides detailed information to citizens, schools and public facilities about the health hazards of asbestos.

Once the asbestos removal is complete, you should consider green insulation alternatives as viable replacements for asbestos. These options include cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose, which make the use of asbestos obsolete. Studies show that these recycled building materials can even reduce annual energy costs up to 25 percent. Citizens and organizations in Washington are doing their part in nurturing and prospering their mountains, natural springs and fresh air. There is no need for innocent by standards to put their health and lives at risk for obsolete and dangerous building applications.