Cityofoceanshores.com Newsletter ~ 11.2008

Wintertime Storm Watching
Vertical rain, 70 mph wind and 30-foot swells don't sound much like visitor attractions, but Washington coast storm watching is the thing to do out here on the beach during the winter months. Dozens of ferocious storms typically batter the coast between November and March. January and February traditionally deliver the most wicked weather. The wintertime storms in Ocean Shores are awesome to watch and experience. Watching Mother Nature do her thing is truly a spectacular site. If you can, make your way down to the North Jetty next time we get a good winter storm. The power and impact of the large waves crashing against the jetty wall and spaying inland is truly something exciting to see. This is really one of my favorite times of the year out here on the beach.

Remembering the '07 Storm
One year ago this month, Grays Harbor County and Ocean Shores were battered with a monster storm that over the course of two days, spread devastation that was unmatched since the Columbus Day Storm of 1962.
The storm started with a bang Sunday night during the first week of December last year when fierce winds kicked up. The winds blew from 40 mph to over 60 mph. Individual gusts hit 100 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The winds actually got stronger from Sunday to Monday before finally tapering off. Ocean Shores was without power for nearly five days. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but a few houses at the south end of town got a little wet.

During last December's storm, I received numerous emails from people who were concerned about the status of their houses here in Ocean Shores. My internet was up and I was able to update my websites and various blogs with storm updates and pictures. I was also able to check out their properties and let them know that their houses were fine. So you know, please feel free to contact me to check on your properties as well next time we have another big storm. It was no problem at all.

But, if you live here, there's a couple things to be aware of in case we lose the power for more than just a few hours:
1. If you're going to have a residence in Ocean Shores, you need a gas powered generator.
2. If you have a generator, make sure you have at least 10 gallons of gas at home. The gas stations here can't pump gas without power so you'll need to count on yourself.3. Qwest is my telephone and internet provider. Qwest didn't lose service at all during last years storm. If you have telephone or internet through the cable company, you'll have nothing because the local cable company goes down as the power goes down.
4. If you don't have satellite for your television, you won't be able to watch the news or whatever. If you have cable, you'll have nothing because the local cable company goes down as the power goes down. I have service with the Dish Network and we were able to watch television like all was well.

Real Estate Forecast
I'm usually not one for predictions, but I'm still confident in what I was telling people last winter and that is that it's going to take 18 months before this market turns positive again. A new president, the ending of a war, new optimism and more. This renewed sense of optimism will lead to hope which will lead to consumer spending. That must be a Yoda line or something. Once this happens, it's good times again. No one could've predicted the mess the country is in right now and of course the trickle down effect has taken it's toll on this market as well. That being said, the Ocean Shores real estate market will bounce back vigorously in June and not long after, home builders in Ocean Shores will be back to raising their prices and values will be on the rise once again. Now is the time to buy.~
Overall, prices seem to be hitting the bottom now with the exception of a few foreclosures here and there polluting our inventory of homes at the beach. If we haven't bottomed out yet, the moment is certainly getting closer.
Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are at 5 percent now, and last week there were suggestions that the federal government might try to drive them down to 4.5 percent, a truly incredible figure to be able to lock in for three decades. Low inventory, low prices and cheap money are all in play assuming you've got great credit, steady income and a down payment... just like the old days when those who could afford to buy a house did and those who couldn't, didn't... Anyway, when this crisis has ended and housing prices are up again, will you look in the mirror and realize that you missed out on this golden opportunity to get in cheap? Or, will you NOT be kicking yourself because you took advantage of what is likely to turn out to be the buying opportunity of a lifetime...

Upcoming Events
Clam Digging!
Time to go, another clam dig is on, set for this coming weekend.Four evening digs are scheduled at Copalis and Mocrocks Dec. 11-14. Digging will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight.

Dates, times and open beaches are:
Thursday, Dec. 11 (5:23 p.m. -1.1 ft.) Copalis, Mocrocks.
Friday, Dec. 12 (6:13 p.m. -1.5 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks.
Saturday, Dec. 13 (7:02 p.m. -1.6 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks.
Sunday, Dec. 14 (7:50 p.m. -1.4 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks.

Further digs are tentatively scheduled for Jan. 8-11 and Feb. 6-8.A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2008 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination fishing license is 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 Wildlife Department website at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov. Clam diggers are not required to display their licenses on outer clothing.
Copalis Beach, which extends from the Grays Harbor north jetty to the Copalis River, and includes the Copalis, Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City and Copalis areas.
Mocrocks Beach, which extends from the Copalis River to the southern boundary of the Quinault Reservation near the Moclips River, including Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Pacific Beach and Moclips.

North Beach Singers Christmas Cantata
December 12-13. The North Beach Singers present Yuletide favorites to bring in the holiday season. Admission is free.

Ocean Shores Antique & Collectible Show
Over 80 Booths of Antiques & Vintage CollectiblesFeb 14-15, 2009The 7th Annual Show at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. Over eighty booths offering a wide variety of antiques including dolls, glass, furniture, American Art pottery, and much, much more. Last year's event raised $4,235.90 for the Ocean Shores Food Bank and the SeaPal Quilters for their quilt guild charities. For a small donation to local charities and nonprofits, you can have your treasures evaluated. Hourly Door Prizes.

News
The Aberdeen Daily World recently published an interesting story about the mayor of Ocean Shores titled "Ocean Shores mayor tops list of officials' pay." The article reports that "Ocean Shores Mayor Dean Bunkers is the highest paid elected official on the Twin Harbors, a Daily World analysis of government salaries shows. With an annual salary of $99,600, Bunkers makes more than twice what a state senator receives, nearly nine times what Aberdeen Mayor Bill Simpson makes and 80 times what Oakville Mayor Mitchell Smith takes in. In fact, The Daily World found he's the eleventh highest paid mayor in the state." Mayor Bunkers gets paid more for being mayor of Ocean Shores more than the mayors of Mount Vernon, Lynnwood, Tacoma, Marysville, Issaquah, Tukwila, Anacortes, Wenatchee and Bainbridge Island. Who said there was no high paying jobs in Grays Harbor County?

Happy Holidays!

Jeff Daniel
Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties
749 Point Brown Ave NW/PMB 1568, Ocean Shores, WA 98569
1.360.581.9020 (cell) - 1.888.469.3100 (toll free) - 1.360.289.3111 (fax)
PROPERTY SEARCH: http://cityofoceanshores.postlets.com/
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OCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://oceanshoresrealestate.blogspot.com
OCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://activerain.com/jeffgdaniel