Ocean Shores Real Estate
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!"
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
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!"
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
Not much happens out here at the beach, but a few events managed to make headlines last year....
* Hundreds of mysterious silver-colored canisters that once contained rat poison washed up on our beaches...
* Ocean Shores was featured as one of the top 16 most affordable coastal communities in Coastal Living magazine...
* The Ocean Shores / Westport Ferry known as the El Matador shut down operations because of too much muck in the Marina...
* The Fire Department moved forward with the construction of a new 20,000 square foot fire station on Point Brown Avenue...
* The Grays Harbor County Commissioners approved a $3 million dollar loan to construct a new water system just outside of town...
* The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a permit for the Grays Harbor Ocean Energy Co. to conduct a feasibility study for generating power from wind and wave energy off of our coast. Hopefully coming soon...
* The Weatherwax property - an undeveloped 120 acre forest tract near the center of town - will stay that way...
* The local election brought us a strong mayor in Ocean Shores for the first time (rather than an appointed one). We also found out that Mayor Dean Bunkers is the highest paid government official in Grays Harbor County (never came up during the election interestingly enough) just before he announced the layoffs of eight city employees.
* The beach had more snowfall than most can remember this past December. It sure doesn't feel like global warming these days...
It's no secret that 2008 was a horrible year for most if not all businesses (except Walmart of course) in the country. Here are some numbers regarding Ocean Shores real estate:
* 206 Homes sold in 2008 for an average sales price of $194,480 compared to 241 Homes sold in 2007 for an average sales price of $209,783.
* Currently, there's 228 Homes on the market for an average price of $259,367 compared to 217 Homes on the market last year at this time for an average price of $275,592.
* 189 Lots sold in 2008 for an average sales price of $47,799 compared to 322 Lots sold in Ocean Shores during 2007 for an average sales price of $54,655. Ouch.
* Currently, there's 518 Lots on the market compared to 580 Lots on the market this time last year.
* Condo sales at the beach this past year wasn't very good. That's the bad news. The good news, is that condo prices in Ocean Shores are more reasonable than ever. There are some screaming deals these days on waterfront condos at the beach. Send me an email to get a list.
On another note, even though the Ocean Shores real estate market was off this past year, consider how bad the market is in a couple of other beach towns. All things said, real estate is doing pretty good in Ocean Shores.
* Ocean Shores sold 206 Homes and 189 Lots in 2008 compared to 241 Homes and 322 Lots in 2007.
* Seabrook/Pacific Beach sold 5 Homes and 1 Lot in 2008 compared to 16 Homes and 16 Lots in 2007.
* Westport sold 29 Homes and 8 Lots in 2008 compared to 51 Homes and 22 Lots in 2007.
* Long Beach sold 43 Homes and 15 Lots in 2008 compared to 73 Homes and 39 Lots in 2007.
Summary: Ocean Shores is still the most affordable coastal community in the country and that's a big reason why a lot of baby boomers are retiring in Ocean Shores and numerous people move here to work, play and buy their vacation getaways. Now is the best time to buy in Ocean Shores!
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties is #1
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties finished out 2007 as the Number One (#1) Real Estate Sales Office in Ocean Shores last year. This year, not only were we the #1 office in town again, we are the #1 office in all of Grays Harbor County! We sold more properties in the county this past year than any other office around. Congratulations and thanks to the customers, owners, agents, employees and friends of Coldwell Banker for making us the top real estate office in Ocean Shores and the entire Grays Harbor County.
On a personal note, I would very much like to thank everyone who helped me in becoming the #1 agent in not only Ocean Shores, but all of Grays Harbor County as well.
-all real estate statistics are supplied by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
Here's a list of Sweet Deals for Sale at the Beach!