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Newport, OR Real Estate News

By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
The steady stream of visitors to Newport continues today as the Japanese Tsunami Dock awaits removal from where it has landed in Agate Beach.  This photo shows the tourist draw that the dock has provided to our community. Luckily, the dock stranded itself near the Agate Beach Wayside State Park, a day use recreational facility with plenty of parking which is about 1/4 mile from the dock itself. There are restrooms and barbeques, everything you need to make a day of it. The arrival of the behemoth has been a boon to merchants after a long, rainy and slow winter tourist season. Many locals are hoping it stays on the beach for as long as possible this summer. It could be removed anytime, so come soon if you want to see an exciting sight on the Oregon Coast. You might even find an agate or...
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
Here is a fresh photo of the Japanese Dock which is located near my office in Newport, Oregon near Agate Beach. While at a Chamber of Commerce meeting this morning, I heard about a new telephone number that people should call if they find any floating items that are suspected to be from Japan. Please dial 211 so that you may submit the item to the scientists to determine if there is any radiation or invasive marine life on the item. The 211 hotline has just gone live today, 6/29/2012, so this is very fresh news indeed. I have also heard that the Parks department may be leaving the dock in place for a bit longer due to the many requests by tourists and merchants in the Newport area who would like to enjoy the historic event as long as possible this summer season. Please be aware that th...
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
There are times when I experience something new that I have to tell everyone I know how much fun I had! Today was no exception. We have a new playground located next to the Newport Performing Arts Center which has a massive slide coming out of a pirate ship. The slide tube is large enough for kids and adults. The view is wonderful from "the ship" atop a hill. You get going pretty fast in the middle, then the last curve slows you down. Sit on your jacket and slide even faster, but be careful! Directions to the park: Take Hwy 20 (Olive St.) west to Coast St, make Left, south to park on right past N-PAC.  Enjoy!
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
The best thing about living in Newport, Oregon is the fresh seafood available every day of the week! Newport, Oregon is famous for Dungeness crab, which is plentiful and can be caught using a crab pot right off one of the many piers....However, the really special catch for me is the more difficult to find halibut, which lurks a few miles off the coast. This photo was taken after a 60 pound halibut was caught last week, then flash frozen on the boat. My friend, who is also a real estate agent, put the fish in a cooler for me and left it at my desk for me to find when I returned to the office. Just for you, a photo of Newport's Yaquina Bay Bridge as seen from the deck of a "soon-to-be listed" condo that I will represent in the coming week. The condo is located at the Embarcadero Resort i...
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By Todd Clark - Retired, Principle Broker Oregon
(eXp Realty LLC)
The Oregon Coast, what agreat place to find burried treasure! Now, not all the treasure is goldas my son soon found out, but hey, you never know what you are going tofind. He found a lot more nails from pallets that were burned duringcampfires than gold, but he never did give up! Do you give up when you arehunting for treasure?   
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By Todd Clark - Retired, Principle Broker Oregon
(eXp Realty LLC)
Yesterday was the first 80 degree day in the Portland area and it made for a great morning of baseball, but then as soon as we were done there, it was time to head to the coast! WHY? Because we had to take my daughter to Newport for a Girl Scout event and we thought we would make a night of it. So, the first thing I did was look up my Activerain friend Barbara Le Pine of Newport, Oregon and make an Activerain meet-up out of it. But, much to my surprise, she was playing with her Big Band that night at the Newport Middle School for a fundraiser for the High School Jazz band. OK, for those of you who know me, know I love big band and would never miss an opportunity like this. So, we took the kids to the concert and it was so much fun and my youngest daughter even got me to dance with her, ...
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
There is no guarantee of safety when you are dealing with Mother Nature!  Look closely at the deep crevices in the sand, this cliff could fall without warning. I expect that this section of cliff may be gone the next time I visit this listing which is located just north of Newport, Oregon... Watch your step!!! If you are a buyer who is interested in purchasing oceanfront property on the Central Oregon Coast, you will need a Broker who knows the lay of the land. Allow me to find you an oceanfront which is on Basalt rock rather than a sand cliff.  There are many fabulous listings on Basalt rock with great views are out there, just ask me where they are and I can show you! Call Barbara Le Pine at 541-270-6758 for the latest listings and more information about property in Lincoln County, O...
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
I received this email from a Newport, Oregon lender I work with. He wants agents he works with to write in a 45 day close on every transaction. He has given me permission to post it because he wants to get the word out to everybody in the hopes that it will make his life less stressful! Here it is: "As you all know, we continue to get new legislation and new regulations every month. The net result is a longer and more detailed process that results in frustration at every level. I am sending this out to encourage you to set reasonable expectations for your clients. A 45 day close date is now the norm. If problems are encountered it can be longer and shorter time frames are difficult but not impossible. A satisfied customer is our goal and if we set reasonable expectations we will have a ...
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
I see lots of homes with bathrooms that are clean and functional, but lack the update of a brand new home. Here is a good example of a bath which can continue to serve for years to come. This bath is located in a 2 unit condominium at the Embarcadero in Newport, Oregon.  All of the materials are in good condition, even the outdated floor was spotless and shiny. Would you advise your seller to completely renovate this bathroom just for fashion purposes? This seller wanted to know if he should tear out all of the old countertops and floors and redecorate. I did not feel he would recoup the costs to renovate, as he would not be doing the work himself, but using contractors. Instead, seller decided to clear off all surfaces of clutter, place a set of extra fluffy colorful towels on the tow...
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
When I show homes on a day like this, I am glad I moved to the Oregon Coast! This photo was taken in an area just north of Newport, looking toward Cape Fowlweather and Otter Rock, a popular spot for surfers. Ahh, what a day to open a lockbox! This area of the Central Oregon Coast is some of the most affordable ocean view property on the West Coast. We are fortunate to have miles of beautiful sandy beaches with easy public access which allows an uninterrupted stroll to magical inlets and tidepools. I have found many lovely agates and sand dollars while walking along the beach as I show my clients the "lay of the land." Up ahead on the right side of Hwy. 101 is a nice campground called Beverly Beach. I highly recommend Beverly Beach to my clients who prefer to camp near Newport while sea...
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
In the current climate of lower priced homes, foreclosures and absentee sellers I see many homes being sold with a fair amount of clean up necessary. Buyer's need to be aware that what they see during the initial showing of a home is likely what they are offering on. The seller is not going to magically appear and clean it in preparation for the closing unless it is specifically required by the contract. When I list a home like this, I have the seller hire a cleaning company, or sometimes I will even get in there with a bottle of bleach and a scrub brush and do it myself. When I represent a buyer on a home like this, I make sure the buyer asks for the cleanup on an addendum, or is willing to don a pair of cleaning gloves after close. I sell homes in Lincoln County, a beautiful, coastal...
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
This morning my office held a meeting to discuss our past year. I was unprepared for the surprize at the end of the meeting when I was awarded an engraved sales plaque for top sales this year. It was a moment better than any school graduation or applause for a musical performance - it is the first time ever I have received something like this. At the beginning of 2011, we had a meeting about the poor market and how we need to sell if we wish to stay in business. Therefore, my simple wish in Jan. 2011 was to survive and continue to be a real estate professional in year 2012. Oddly enough, it may have been my referral from Active Rain that put the sales numbers over the top to land the big prize.......AR has helped me in so many other ways too, I am surrounded by helpful and supportive fe...
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
Last night I went to a holiday party at the Embarcadero Resort in Newport, Oregon on the bayfront. It had a fabulous view of the marina and many of the boats were adorned with Christmas lights, making for a festive setting. By the end of the evening, I had met a dozen new faces and handed out a few business cards. The topic of conversation at many of the tables was real estate, and because I had already introduced myself as an agent to a couple of strangers early in the evening, I was introduced by those folks to others who were also talking about real estate and wanted to chat once they realized I am a working Broker in the area. Just by chance, in another part of the restaurant, a few other Newport agents were having dinner. I stopped and said hello as I left and was able to discuss a...
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
When I was a kid, I had a red toy tractor that looked exactly like the one in this photo I took recently in Newport, Oregon. It's interesting how some things come full circle! The Yaquina Bay is full of visual surprises, like the salmon that were jumping in the backround the day this photo was taken last week. This was shot looking toward the west from the widest part of Yaquina Bay. From here you can see the Bayfront and the new NOAA facility. That large (barely visible) white ship in the center backround is a research vessel that just came in from Alaska after being out at sea for over six months. Just around the bend beyond the harbor is the beautiful Yaquina Bay Bridge. Something you should know about! Next week on Dec. 3rd is the "Lighted Boat Parade" which is a magical evening sa...
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
Telling a seller that they need to lower the price of a listing can be an uncomfortable job, we end up hearing all the reasons they are unable or unwilling to make a price reduction. There is no cheerful way to break the bad news, especially if you have not spoken to the seller in a few weeks because the listing has not had any activity. My preferred method is to let the facts speak for themselves.  I send weekly email updates to my sellers for all price changes to active listings and any recently closed properties for comparables in the sellers area so they can see for themselves if they are overpriced for the market.  Often, my seller will email me with a reasonable adjustment when they are armed with a clear picture of the market every week. All it takes is a few minutes a week to c...
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
To take this very unnerving photo, I had to stand back and use the zoom on my camera. There is no guarantee of safety when you are dealing with Mother Nature.  Look closely at the deep crevices in the sand. I expect that this section of cliff will be gone the next time I visit this property, located just north of Newport, Oregon... Watch your step!!! 
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
A beautiful view of the ocean can come with unnerving reality, that your home is built on sand. Before you buy an oceanfront home, take a walk around the property, but don't get too close to the cliff! This is a good example of why that "great price you found on an oceanfront home," is not selling. Beautiful home, scary lot. Enough said.
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
WOW - We just did a study of rates and home values and it is cheaper to buy now than it was in October 1981. WAIT... look at the stats.    Hurry up and BUY before it passes you BY! In Oct 1981 the Rates were 18.45 for a 30 year fixed If you obtained a $100,000 loan your payments would be $1543.85 (PI)   NOW homes are worth approximately 3 times what they were in 1981 SO…. In Sept 2011 the Rates were 4.24 for a 30 year fixed If you obtained a $300,000 loan your payments would be $1474.06 (PI)   Just like buying in Oct 1981… I know jobs are an issue BUT celebrate the market - it is a GREAT time to buy.    
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By Barbara Le Pine, Your agent for the Central Oregon Coast!
(ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE, serving Lincoln County)
Wow, that was fun. Glad you could join me in a late afternoon soiree to celebrate this milestone! Now I will get back to work so I can get my transaction closed in escrow tomorrow. Here is a photo of the exciting Oregon coast for your reading enjoyment, I gotta go sell something before it gets dark tonight! Thanks for visiting!
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