MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE OREGON COAST!

As of December 24 here in the Pacific NW we had only received .10 inches of rain.  We were on track to break a record set in 1876 for the driest December.  As of December 25 this possibility has become less likely -- A succession of storms are heading our way over the next five to seven days.  The winds gusted to near 70 mph briefly early this morning and in the last 24 hours we have picked up .20 of an inch of rain.  Welcome back Pacific NW Winter! 

Dry, sunny weather on the Oregon Coast in December is something to cherish.  If you were here and able to be outdoors, you know what I am talking about.  There have been 22 visible sunsets out of 25 days so far in December.  That is likely more than we see in an entire Summer!  And on top of that, while sun on the North Oregon Coast is typically associated with North wind, the sun we have enjoyed over the last month, or so was not accompanied by wind from any direction.  Many days Netarts Bay looked like a mirror.  So, the purpose of this Christmas Day blog post is to share a few of the amazing sunsets I have experienced during the most beautiful December in memory.  I am very grateful to live in such an amazing place and believe I would be acting selfishly if I did not share them with others!

Taken on the beach in Oceanside just as the sun dropped into the ocean.

Somebodys trash was my treasure tonight! Taken from the staircase at the end of Crab Avenue.

Taken from the bank of Netarts Bay just after sunset.

A beautiful sunset reflection near the creek at Happy Camp.

Foam created by heaving surf on the beach in Oceanside.

A trail of bubbles leading to another fantastic sunset in Oceanside.

  Clear nights and days also means morning fog and cold temperatures.  Just as beautiful as a sunset.

Is it a painting, or a photograph?  Nature does something to amaze me every single day.

Looking South on the Netarts Spit toward Cape Lookout. 

What a wonderful way to finish the year!

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones. May 2012 be your best year yet!

FOR STORM CHASERS!

Well, I have to admit I am a serious weather geek.  I thoroughly enjoy Fall and Winter because of what Mother Nature sends our way. If part of what you love about the Oregon Coast involves Fall and Winter storms here are my favorite links to track what's coming our way, as well as up to the minute information about what is actually happening . 

#1  http://www.ocrg.org/level2pages/weatherstations.html
This is my favorite weather site to keep an eye on approaching storms and to see it in action once it arrives...assuming we have power and Internet!  It shows current wind speeds (sustained and gusts), rainfall totals, barometric activity, current temperatures and Doppler radar at the bottom of each screen.  There is also a 10-day history on this site.  

#2  http://www.nws.noaa.gov
This is by far the best website to keep yourself aware of what is heading our way - region wide. 

#3  http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=45.43339456538528&lon=-123.94037246704101&site=pqr&smap=1&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=marine
This link is also from NOAA. Click here to see a pinpoint forecast for Netarts, OR. It is always exciting to see warnings posted at the top of the screen when you click on this page!

#4  http://www.robtrost.com/html/rob_trost_weather_station.htm
Here's a link to our weather station mounted on top of the Schooner Restaurant and Lounge. Track wind speed in Netarts, barometric readings and current temperatures.

#5  http://schoonercamera.kicks-ass.org:8082/cgi-bin/viewer/video.jpg 
There is also a web cam up there to see what is happening during daylight hours.  It really looks best on a sunny day in the middle of Summer! 

Storm chasing is very entertaining and of course fun, but it isn't always safe to be out on the beach when the wind is gusting to 85mph, the ocean swell is 28 feet and it is raining sideways (though I have to admit I have done it plenty, and later wondered, "What was I thinking!")  If necessary the links above will allow you to enjoy the excitement from the comfort of your own home when it just doesn't make good sense to be outdoors.  Sometimes I have all four sites open at once!  Can you see the added benefit of knowing and following a weather geek?!  I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do!  Cross your fingers for an exciting 2011-2012!   We are off to a good start.  High winds and heavy rain coming our way tonight!

HWY 131 TO OPEN SOON?

Just after I finished my post this morning I heard the highway between Netarts and Oceanside may open as soon as this weekend (weather pending)?!  In just five days?  I've had my eye on it, though as I mentioned, I have not been able to walk up there for a week, or so.  Just a couple of days ago it was difficult to imagine how they were going to fill the large gap between the rock buttress and the level of the old road.  What I didn't realize was the fact they had no intention of filling the gap, or returning the road to it's former level.  Progress is being made at lightening speed.  In this photo you can see the new road is much lower than the old road (which was previously at the level of the orange cones in the photo).  I am encouraged and excited by this news and additionally what I was able to see with my own eyes.  This looks promising!  I'll keep you posted...  

ROAD CLOSURE UPDATE - HWY 131

Well, I don't have any new photos to post of the Hwy 131 road closure site, which turns out is a good thing!  The bids came back, a company was chosen to do the repair and the road department has closed the road to even foot traffic (or at least requested people stay out of there) until the project is complete.  It appears progress is being made and can be seen from below.  It looks as though a retaining wall is being built atop the rock buttress constructed over the Summer.  Double trailer gravel trucks are back in full-swing hauling sand out and returning with loads of rock over and over again all day long.  A truck passes by the office here in Netarts at least every five minutes (or so it seems.)  I will not even consider expressing my displeasure in the speed the trucks travel through this confined area, as I really just want the work to get done and the road to re-open!

The latest report says mid-November.  I have a feeling it will take longer, but you should consider my eye untrained.  It just looks like there is still ALOT of work to be done.  I can only hope my assumptions and judgements are wrong!  I, along with many others, are ready to drive to Oceanside in less than five minutes -- truly a priceless convenience.  My evening sunset trips have been confined to Netarts since the road closure in July (now I sound like a real whiner!) While there is nothing wrong with a Netarts sunset, I do feel a little trapped (I admit I have been spoiled!) 

While we wait, here is a peek at what last night had to offer down at Happy Camp -- the reflection of a perfect Fall sunset.  When you see a new picture of the Three Arch Rocks at sunset on here you will know the road is OPEN!  I will certainly keep you posted.  Until then...visit my website often for the latest updates!  www.iWantABeachHome.com

BIRTHDAY BAY PLUNGE

For me a birthday is a day to do something a little different than you would on other days.  A reminder you are in fact alive and to live each day to the fullest.  When you live on the Oregon Coast that "something" is not always easy to come up with.  For me it usually involves the ocean. This year I decided a plunge into Netarts Bay would be perfect.  Swimming across the bay sounded like an even better idea, but there were voices around me (specifically my mom and daughter) saying that was a bad idea! I will have to work on that one for next year.  The video above features a good friend and co-worker, Dusty Trost.  He was not only willing to join me in this small adventure, but also offered to go into the 45 degree water first so I would not be the woman that broke her neck and needed rescued on her birthday because she dove into shallow water.  That may have actually been my idea, but he went for it.  What a friend!  I followed close behind, GoPro camera strapped to my head.  No neck injuries to report, though it was cold enough, even in a wetsuit to take my breath away and force me let out a high pitched yelp.  I knew I was alive! 

Birthday mission accomplished. 

             

  Many more beach listings, adventure videos and photos to come!  Visit my website and blog often to see what's new. There is always something going on here!

www.iWantABeachHome.com 

Hwy 131 Update - Before and After

BEFORE {July 2011}To say "before" is not quite accurate, as this "before" photo was taken after the road had already began to slide.  Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of the road before it began to slide for the obvious reasons: Until it actually began to slip away it didn't seem photo worthy.  It was just a road!  When this photo was taken the road crew was still patching the crack with blacktop on at least a weekly basis.  Every time they'd put a patch on 24 hours later it would open up again.  This hillside clearly had plans of its own.

AFTER {September 2011}
The only word that came to mind while standing at the edge of this mess was, "WOW."  It has been amazing to see the progression of this slide.  To say this is an "after" photo though would not quite accurate here either, as "after" will be once the road is actually repaired and functional again -- If we are lucky (according to the road department) sometime in November of this year.  This really is just a stop along the way.  In this photo you can see the new "rock buttress" that's been constructed to the left intended to stop the slide (reported to be working) and support the new road project.  No word yet as to who will be building the new section of road.  I heard recently emergency vehicles will have an alternative road to access Oceanside from Netarts once the actual road repair gets underway.  That makes me think we are stuck with this situation for a quite a while longer, but thank goodness they have an alternative.  To make myself feel better about this situation I am going to plan on the road not being open until sometime next year, then when it actually opens in November I will be pleasantly surprised.  My hope is a year from now we will look back and it will seem like this never happened!  I can't wait to see how it turns out!

SHUCK & SWALLOW OYSTER CONTEST

48 raw oysters in 10 minutes. Think you can beat that? You might have missed this event last year, but you won't want to let that happen again! This coming Saturday, September 10, 2011 the Netartian Beach and Bay Alliance {NBBA} will be hosting the 2nd Annual Pearl Street Oyster Festival where teams of two (a shucker and a swallower) pay an entry fee of $25 and compete for a $1000 purse (courtesy of the Schooner Restaurant and Lounge.) While not for the squeamish, this event requires these brave duos to shuck and swallow as many raw oysters as humanly possible in the designated time period of 10 minutes. While this is a very exciting event, there is much more than Netart Bay Oyster eating to this successful community event -- You will also find local artists, a variety of food vendors, a beer garden, non-profits and live music throughout the day.

Additionally, Kayak Tillamook will be offering demonstrations and kayak tours of Netarts Bay from the public boat launch, just steps away. Tours are $30 for each 1.5-hour trip, and include some instruction. Tours will be available from about 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for those 16 and older. EVENT LOCATION: Netarts Boat Basin Road -- In front of the Schooner. Pearl Street will be closed to through traffic during the event. TIME: 11am - Dark. The Oyster eating contest starts at Noon on the deck of the Schooner Restaurant and Lounge. LIVE MUSIC: Noon - 8pm. 12-2pm: H.A.L (from Tillamook) 2-4pm: The Nobodys (from Netarts) 4-6pm: The Exiles (from Rockaway Beach) 6-8pm: Volifonix (from Eugene...this is a GREAT band!)

The Oyster Festival is a family and dog-friendly event. Mapquest this address for driving directions: 2065 Boat Basin Road, Netarts, OR 97143 Come out and support the NBBA! This is going to be a great event...Fun to be had by all! I hope to see you there!

ALOT OF HOUSE FOR THE MONEY

This wonderful home is located on Sandlake Road just North of Tierra Del Mar + Pacific City and is worth taking a very close look at if your are in the luxury bay front home market. It has been on and off the market for the last several years, but as of today, the list price is very competitive and realistic. There is quite a history here: The home was originally listed for sale in 2006 for $1.2M (no sale resulted), then listed in 2007 for $1.4M (no sale again), listed in 2010 for $879,000, reduced to $779,000, listed again in 2011 for $725,000, reduced to $675,000, then $625,000, now to an all time low of $599,000 after 1,268 days on the market! It is pretty easy to see the seller has finally decided it is time to sell..

Now, for the juicy details! Three words that best describe this home: "Casual Coastal Luxury." This is a very comfortable home full of natural light and elbow room with stunning ocean and bay views out of every window and flawless finishes such as slab granite counters, red oak hardwoods, solid maple cabinets, solid fir doors, cedar decking and

exterior, ceramic and glass block tiles, stainless steel appliances, and 9'+ ceilings. There is an ocean & bay view spa just off the fourth bedroom and kitchen area, a private boat launch just West of the home and 2400+ SF of unfinished basement perfect for dry storage of boats, ATV's, or really just about any recreational toy you can imagine. In addition to

all of this is the rarity of overlooking 900 Acres of the serene Sandlake Estuary & constant tidal influx. The 180+ degree ocean & bay front views are all on just one level and provide show-stopping wildlife, sea and shorebird shows 365 days a year. This is a one-of-a-kind property now listed for a price you can hardly turn away from. Somebody is going to end up with one of the nicest homes in Tillamook county and feel really good about what they paid for it!

Here is some additional information about the home: The main level is 2,682 SF, with the same square footage below for storage. The home has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, sits on just over an Acre and has a three car garage. If you would like to take a tour of this home give me a call 503.812.4615, or send me an email wendy@iwantabeachhome.com. I am always happy to help and think this is not only a great house, but also a great deal. View more details at www.iWantABeachHome.com

Oceanside's One and Only Real Estate Office

We couldn't have planned a better weekend for the grand opening of our new Oceanside Real Estate office! It's hovering around 90 degrees outside and there are people everywhere. Do I wish I were out there enjoying this isolated weather event? I'd be lying if I said I no. Soaking up the sun and playing in the surf sounds just about right, but things aren't too shabby in here. The new office is pretty darn nice. And, lucky for me, I was just on vacation and I happen to love what I do!

Now, be me for a just a second...have a seat at my desk. Imagine music piped in from the coffee shop just outside the door. I can also see the ocean out the window to my right, so things are good! To my left is the doorway leading into the coffee shop. I love the chatter at the cafe tables. I have talked to several people here for a weekend getaway, but have also had the chance to chat with many locals just stopping in to see what we are up to. The biggest problem here may be the smell of freshly brewed coffee and good food in the air. I finally broke down and ordered a latte and a hot turkey pesto sandwich. Delicious!

Okay, so you've seen my accommodations for the day, now how about what I am missing. Here a shot from the public parking lot just across the street. While busier than usual (due to the nice weather and holiday weekend) this still looks very inviting. Maybe another hour, or so in here, then I am out the door and on my way! This may be the hottest day of the entire year. I think I should take advantage of the last little bit of the afternoon. Come visit us at our satellite office in Oceanside {503.842.9092} next time you are in town, or in our flagship Netarts office {503.842.9090}. If you can't make it to town search for beach Real Estate on my website www.iWantABeachHome.com.

SEE YOU AT THE BEACH :)

Same Ocean, just not in Oregon

I've been in Maui for the last few days enjoying warm air and water temperatures. The beauty of the warmer ocean temps is having the opportunity to be submerged for good lengths of time. We snorkeled Honolua Bay on Maui two days ago and spent at least 90 minutes in the water.

The visibility was decent for this area and we were pretty much the first people there. Because of our good timing, and the expertise of our guide Jeffrey of Ed Robinson's Dive Shop we were fortunate enough to see at least ten different sea turtles, amongst other sea life. Just before we left for Maui I purchased a waterproof camera (Pentax optio WG-1.) This, to me, was worth it's weight in gold, as the pictures turned out amazing! The turtles seemed very calm and unafraid. We tried to be respectful of their personal space (not touching, or chasing) and still managed to be within a few feet over and over again. One turtle in particular, "Lucky" (identifiable by her missing a left front fin) seemed to be as curious of us as we were of her. At one point she was face to face with us! As we backed up she came closer. I'm not sure how Lucky lost the fin, but it didn't seem to hinder her maneuverability in the water.

We did eventually get cold while snorkeling. I imagine the water temperature was 70+ degrees, but still quite a bit lower than our body temperatures. Fortunately upon returning to the beach it was sunny and 85. I can say for sure nobody suffered today! I feel fortunate to have had this underwater experience. Thanks, again to Jeffrey for his knowledge and help! If you are visiting Maui anytime soon give Ed Robinson's Dive Shop a call. They were truly great to work with. We will definitely be back for more!

Add this to your "MUST DO" list. If you don't have one make one!

I had an opportunity yesterday to do something I have waited nearly five years to do. Thanks to my experienced paddling co-worker and friend, Dusty Trost, I was able to paddle out to the Three Arch Rocks just off the shore in Oceanside. There is, of course a good reason it has taken five years for this opportunity. You can't {shouldn't} just jump in a kayak and head out there on any given day. The ocean conditions, current weather and short term forecast must all be conducive to ocean paddling at the same time. We have been {patiently} waiting for a day like yesterday: calm winds, small ocean swell, small surf break at the shore and nothing lurking on the horizon.

Simply put: we got lucky! The important details were in-line, and on top of that we had beautiful blue skies and a decent ambient temperature -- close to 70 degrees.

There is one more factor to consider: We are Real Estate Brokers and work pretty much every day. We decided to close the office at 4pm yesterday {an hour early} and took advantage of what was before us. Turns out it was a good call!

If you are not familiar with the Three Arch Rocks you should become so. This particular rock formation was the first designated National Wildlife refuge West of the Mississippi. It is is also one of the smallest covering just 15 Acres. The rocks rest about 1/2 mile offshore, each with a unique archway through the middle, thus the name Three Arch Rocks. The arches are not visible from most locations. Paddling out is the very best way to lay your eyes on them, as they are oriented North to South making them difficult to see from the beach to the East. For a very good reason May 1 - September 15 watercraft must stay within 500 feet of the monolith formations, as they provide a breeding habitat for Oregon's largest colony of tufted puffins, along with about 100,000 Common Murre {and too several other colonies of sea and shore birds.} Additionally this is the only pupping sight on the North Oregon Coast for the federally threatened Stellar Sea Lion. We saw several swimming in close by waters on our sea adventure. They were very curious, as well as large. My kayak suddenly felt small when one swam near!

So, we did not paddle through the archways, though I have to admit it was very tempting with the seas as calm as they were. We respected mother nature and the Federal governments request for a 500 Foot setback.

I believe it was just as enjoyable from this distance. The rocks are much larger up close and personal than I imagined. At times I felt as if I was watching a National Geographic documentary. And, then suddenly it would hit me we were actually out there! It was quite surreal.

I haven't told Dusty yet, but am assuming he knows by the look on my face for most of our paddle yesterday, I have BIG plans to return to the Three Arch Rocks. I realize this may require some patience. I am willing to wait -- again. September often brings calm weather. I can only hope this year will be consistent with years past. I am very interested in paddling through each of the archways once the watercraft restriction is lifted September 15. It is nice to have something so wonderful to look forward to! As the title reads, "Add this to your "must-do" list," but keep in mind the importance of getting good instruction if you are not experienced, and/or to paddle with someone that is. Also, never paddle alone. The ocean, while beautiful and exciting on a day like yesterday, remains powerful and can be unpredictable and dangerous. People are caught off guard every year -- some lucky enough to be rescued. Don't let that person be you. My advice is to be respectful and smart, but not afraid. Oceanside is the closest beach to Portland and has more to offer than most. What are you waiting for? Get out there and do something fun!

Visit my blog often! There is much more to come! And, you can always find me, view recent photos and of course all of my current Real Estate listings at www.iWantABeachHome.com.

TOP 12 {homes for sale}

#1 BEST CABIN UNDER $100K
1745 Myrtle, | Netarts | $99,000

#2 COOLEST LANDSCAPING
4615 Hughey Street ,| Netarts | $210,000

#3 BEST NEW CONSTRUCTION
2324 Fleming, | Netarts | $229,000

#4 CHEAPEST HOUSE W/a VIEW
2375 Cape Meares Loop, | Oceanside | $239,000

#5 BEST LOCATION - BAY FRONT
1800 Pearl, | Netarts | $249,000

#6 BEST TURNKEY
4809 Holly Heights, | Netarts | $369,000

#7 GREAT UPSIDE - POSSIBLE EXTRA LOT
1370 Sunset Ave, | Oceanside | $325,000

#8 BEST BEACH RETREAT
4465 Bay Ocean Road, | Cape Meares | $445,000

#9 BEST OCEAN VIEW
154 Glenwood, | Oceanside | $449,500

#10 BEST OCEANFRONT DEAL
200 Capes Drive | Oceanside | $489,000

#11 BEST DESIGN
1065 Hillsdale, | Oceanside | $595,000

#12 BEST INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY - Bed & Breakfast
1685 Maxwell Mountain, | Oceanside | $595,000

#13 BEST RENTAL OPPORTUNITY
892 Happy Camp Rd, | Netarts | $599,000

NEW LISTING - SWEET little COTTAGE IN THE VILLAGE

This is a new listing in Oceanside (just one day on the market) worth taking a look at: 1370 Sunset Avenue, current list price $325,000. I like this little house and I think it's a good value considering it sits on a double lot that may be able to be divided. Inside it's quaint and cozy with beautiful handscraped wood flooring and outside plenty of level yard space and just a block to the beach and three Oceanside restaurants. Plenty of 1946 charm left inside, but ready for your modern day vacation. Just over 1,000SF, concrete foundation, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, laundry room, enameled pellet stove, window seats in upstairs bedrooms, white painted built-ins with beautiful leaded glass panes and a peek at the ocean.

Cute little houses like this on level lots in the village usually don't stick around too long! If you are coming to town give me a call and I will be sure to make time to give you a tour. Send me an email {wendy@iwantabeachhome.com} or give me a call {503.812.4615}. No question is too small. I am always happy to help!

MORE TO EAT IN OCEANSIDE

Oceanside has been the same for a long time. Change isn't always welcome, but I think in this case it is positive and a great addition to the community. Just before the Fourth of July weekend to evevryone's surprise the "Brewin' in the Wind" coffee shop moved out of their long-time oceanview corner location and into the new "old" Anchor building just up the street. While they may have lost some nostalgic appeal, they have made up for it with an enormous increase in seating space, a coffee bar, and best of all they can serve more customers, faster. The food is the same -- still great and pretty much every table has a view of the ocean. When you visit you will feel compelled to linger not only because it is a wifi hotspot, but because there is plenty of seating which eliminates the annoyance of standing room only and the occassional table stalker.

The old building is not sitting idle. The "Ocean Front Deli" has moved in on its heels with a serious goal of feeding a family of four for as little as possible. You can easily walk in here off the beach with your kids and leave with everyone fed and happy serving items like corndogs for $1, nachos, grilled cheese, kraft mac-n-cheese, slushies, coffee, donuts, etc. There are made-to-order deli sandwiches and soup for a more advanced palate, as well (i.e. for parents and just generally hungry people!) It think this will be a successful Summer for both establishments.

Education Proves Useful When Buying and Selling on the Coast

One of my goals as a Real Estate Broker is to make certain my clients are well educated. I believe it is important to have a clear understanding of the current (local) market if you intend to make good, educated decisions when it comes time to buy and/or sell -- even if that decision is not to buy, or not to sell.

The stats below are based on data available to me from the Tillamook County MLS. I used Oceanside specifically because it paints a very precise picture of the decline since 2007 and slight recovery so far in 2011.

Average sales price of homes in Oceanside
2007: $556,000
2008: $429,000
2009: $336,000
2010: $286,000
2011: $410,000 (as of July)

Average price per square foot on homes sold in Oceanside
2007: $370
2008: $252
2009: $192
2010: $192
2011: $200 (as of July)

Average square footage of homes sold in Oceanside
2007: 1,500 SQFT
2008: 1,702 SQFT
2009: 1,750 SQFT
2010: 1,490 SQFT
2011: 2,050 SQFT (as of July)

Number of homes sold in Oceanside
2007: 21
2008: 18
2009: 18
2010: 21
2011: 10 (as of July)

It is interesting the volume of homes sold year to year has remained stable, though average sales price has declined by 27% (as of July 2011.) Notice the decline reached 50% in 2010! Buyers were spending less money and clearly getting more house. I see a slight recovery in this data where the average price per square increased to $200 after two consistent years of $192/SQFT.

It will be interesting to see what the remainder of 2011 brings. I will keep a close watch on this data and pass along the results to you when available. I still say it is time to buy. If you have ever wanted a home on the Oregon Coast our prices are scraping the bottom -- And, sales prices remain negotiable. If you would like more information about the current market call or email me anytime. I am always happy to help!

SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT NETARTS

I get the impression most people living in the Portland area do not know the coast fogs in when Portland gets much over 85 degrees. It makes sense if it is nice in Portland you may come to the beach for more of the same type of weather, or perhaps you actually are trying to escape the heat. On these "hot" Portland days I see people on, or near the beach wearing sandals, tank tops and shorts -- sometimes even bathing suits. I'm pretty sure if you had a truck full of sweatshirts to sell you could make some money! In the picture above dense fog hugs Cape Lookout, while sun shines over Netarts Bay.

So, you are wondering how the fog bank relates to the uniqueness of Netarts. I didn't know this when I chose to live here five years ago, but the fog doesn't hang over Netarts like it does the beach. It can be 55 degrees on the beach in Oceanside, Cape Meares, Cape Lookout (foggy, drizzling, etc) but 70 degrees in Netarts just a few miles away. Really something you have to experience yourself, and worth checking out if you aren't in Netarts and you are wondering where in the world the sun is. Netarts is a banana belt. Good to know!

PC OFFICE TO OPEN JULY 4 WEEKEND

I TOOK A DRIVE SOUTH to Pacific City today to see how things are coming along at the new office. The walls are freshly painted in a light buttercream shade, new carpet installed, crisp white moldings are in place, now if we just had some furniture! The good news is it's on its way and we will be ready for business come Sunday morning.

WHAT A LOCATION!
No question this is one great location! Take two steps to the left of BJ's [Ben and Jeff's] Burger's and Tacos http://www.benandjeffs.com/ [near the Pelican Brew Pub] and you'll see our OPEN sign. You can count on seeing at least one of us eating BJ's amazing fish tacos around the lunch and/or dinner hour (today was no exception.) We couldn't be more excited about the prospect of getting to know people in Pacific City -- homeowners and vacationers alike. Anytime you are out walking around stop in for a cup of coffee, or just to say hello. We hope the atmosphere in the new PC office will be as easy going as in our Netarts office. Been on the beach with your family? No problem! We have tile in our foyer and aren't afraid of wet & sandy feet. We plan to be open seven days a week and truly welcome visitors anytime. We give alot of driving directions, too! No question is too small.

I DO LOVE OUR NEW WEBSITE
There of course is a website to go along with this new PC baby. Visit www.RobTrostPC.com to see all of our Pacific City listings, as well as everything we have listed in Tillamook County. You can also visit www.iWantABeachHome.com, or our home site RobTrost.com to search the Tillamook County MLS and Portland RMLS. There is a ton of information between these three websites. We are very excited about having another Rob Trost Real Estate office to offer even more service to our clients. The possibilities are endless.

Here's today's photo: I pulled off along Netarts Bay on my way back to the office. What an amazing afternoon! Enjoy!

DETOUR: DESTINATION OCEANSIDE

So close, yet so far away. That's what residents of Netarts will be saying if Oceanside is their intended destination. According to ODOT Highway 131 between Netarts and Oceanside will be closing toward the end of this week (July 1) for some much needed repair work. Once closed, a one-way trip between the tiny towns will increase from just two miles to nearly 15! We've certainly taken this scenic stretch of roadway for granted. Our fingers are crossed for speedy repair.

ODOT hopes to have the slide situation solved and the road back in working order by Fall, though I've heard the precise solution is still unknown. Already there is talk of creative travel while the road is closed: Driving on the beach from Happy Camp to Oceanside (might get you into some trouble), walking of course, biking and maybe a four wheeler trek through the woods. No doubt Netartians and weekenders will feel compelled to travel the shortest distance while the road is out of service. It will be fun and interesting to see what people come up with. We still love you Oceanside will surely make the best of this unfortunate situation!

My how quickly time passes!

Okay, it's been a while...Almost an entire year since my last post! I offer no excuses, but realize it is the perfect time to get this baby back on track! Many new things to talk about in our micro beach Real Estate world!


In no particular order:
1st...on a personal note :) My photo collection can now be viewed on my website! Visit www.iWantABeachHome.com and click on "Wendy's Photo Gallery" Currently 225 photos can be viewed, with more added weekly. Take a look and let me know what you think!

On Real Estate side...
1 - Rob Trost Real Estate [RTRE] mounted a Netarts Bay Cam and weather station high atop the Schooner Bar and Grill. The camera is great in the summer to check bay conditions and the weather station is a ton of fun in the winter giving peak wind gusts during and after storms. Visit my website www.iWantABeachHome.com, or www.robtrost.com to view both.

2 - RTRE is opening two new locations! Both in the Three Capes Loop Scenic Loop: Our new Pacific City office will have a soft opening July 1, 2011. It is located just South of the Pelican Brew Pub next door to the new walk up Taco/Burger shack. Our third office will open mid-July in Oceanside in the old [new] Anchor Building. We will be sharing this space with the Brewin' in the Wind coffee shop, which has already made the move from their original location. Our Netarts office will still be our main office open seven days nearly 360 days a year.

3 - Along with two new office we are also pleased to welcome three new Brokers: Steph McRea will be joining the Netarts office and Janis Holmes and Virginia Reid will be at our new Pacific City office.


More coming soon about all of these exciting additions!