The Ocean Shores, WA Blog ~ Info & Real Estate: July 2009

October 1-6, 2007 ~ The American Kitefliers Association held their 30th Annual Convention in Ocean Shores, WA. This Convention is a gathering of roughly 500 AKA members from around the world, including Japan and Australia, and is said to be the largest kite gathering in the world. This Convention is held in different locations around the United States each year. Ocean Shores was last visited by these awesome kite fliers and competitors in 1998. The first annual Convention was held in Ocean City, Maryland in September 1978. The largest attraction is the Grand National kite competitions for kite making and sport kite flying. You can visit the association's web site at www.aka.kite.org.
The site was incredible with a scene direct from Under the Sea with octopi, a scuba diver, sharks, sea dragon and more. The world record was broken with 16 octopi flying in the sky. The weather was gorgeous on Friday the 5th with a great kite-flying Ocean breeze and the warm sun highlighting these massive kites.

See more pictures at www.oceanshoresinfo.com/pics/kitefestival2007.html

March 2007 ~ April Swenson has completed the real estate industry's most comprehensive new home sales course to earn the national certifications as a Certified New Home Specialist^TM and as a Residential Construction Certified^TM. With these certifications, April joins a group dedicated to providing the highest level of professionalism and service to builders and new home buyers.

The training covered architectural design and planning, blueprint reading, topography, building site design, evaluating quality construction, materials, methods, construction terminology and scheduling. She also studied successful buyer/builder relations, all aspects of customer service and the use of various oragnizational tools and systems. April will be able to do a much better job in helping builders market new homes and home buyers make their best decisions.

Completion of these training courses involves over 30 hours of interactive computer-based course work and a 90% or better score on the certification tests. These courses were created by Dennis Walsh, who is recognized internationally as a leading authority in all aspects of new home sales and marketing, and residential construction.

2008 Year-End Ocean Shores/North Beach Market Update/Stats

Presented by April Swenson

Here is the 2008 end-of-the-year real estate update with the Ocean Shores/North Beach market stats.  Yes, one cannot ignore that markets are down everywhere around the entire country and state.  But compared to the other Washington beach communities, Ocean Shores reigns supreme with the greatest selection, highest number of sales, lowest prices, and lots of new construction.

Ocean Shores: 201 houses (64 were new construction), 189 lots and 18 condos sold with median sale prices of $173K ($179K for new construction), $33K and $232K, respectively.
Compared to the North Beach: 21 houses (3 were new construction) and 12 lots sold with median sale prices of $193K ($554K for new construction) and $58K, respectively.
Compared to the South Beach: 45 houses (1 was new construction), 19 lots, and 4 condos sold with median sales prices of $220K, $20K and $590K, respectively.
Compared to the Long Beach Peninsula: 151 houses (14 were new construction), 57 lots and 16 condos sold with median sale prices of $170K ($237K for new construction), $45K and $159K, respectively.
(CHECK OUT THE CHARTS BELOW)

Ocean Shores also reigns supreme with the number of buildable lots available.  All properties have power, city sewer and water in the streets to hook-up to for ease of building.  You can also camp on your lot for up to 90 days per year.  Ocean Shores also features the greatest number of available and most affordable condos, which are located on the Ocean, Jetty and Grand Canal.  Lastly, the City of Ocean Shores Permit Center is comparatively easier to work with for building, clearing, etc.

We also feature the most amenities:

1. Year-Round Beaches accessible very easily by foot or car.
2. Parks with boat launches, ball fields, basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds, and much more.
3. Community Club's Bayshore Clubhouse, which lies directly on the Bay with gorgeous views, an indoor pool, spa, gym, basketball court, cafeteria, game room, and more.
4. 23 miles of interconnecting fresh water lakes and canals, including the approximately 5-mile long Duck Lake, where you can enjoy boating, water skiing, and fishing, and the Grand Canal, which is the largest canal.
5. The public 18-hole Golf Course with Driving Range and Putting Green.
6. The city-owned Airport for smaller, private planes.
7. Downtown with many large hotels, ie the Shilo and Quality Inn, restaurants, shops, grocery store, churches, family fun centers, ie miniature golf and go-cart race tracks, and much more fun available.
8. Yearly Events held on the Beach, Convention Center and the rest of the Downtown, including the 4th of July Fireworks, Sandcastle Competitions, Kite Challenge, Clam Digs, and more.

I have some other good news: we (my departed business partner as of May 15, 2009, Bob McDougal, and I) are ranked #3 in Grays Harbor County for the number of listings closed and volume closed for 2008 (per NWMLS data).  God has really blessed us!

I have also added some new features to my web site (www.oceanshoresinfo.com):

1. Brunk Homes: premier spec builder in Ocean Shores
   www.oceanshoresinfo.com/brunkhomes.html
2. Community Club's Bayshore Clubhouse pictures
   www.oceanshoresinfo.com/pics/clubhouse.html
3. The Boardwalk Shops of Ocean Shores: brand-new downtown retail shops
   www.oceanshoresinfo.com/commercial/boardwalkshops.html
4. All different kinds of pictures of Ocean Shores and the other Coastal Communities
   www.oceanshoresinfo.com/pics.html
5. News Releases/Announcements: Windsurfers, Passing Broker's Test, Snow Storms, and much more
   www.oceanshoresinfo.com/news.html
6. And so much more

 Yearly Market Activity
January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008

Ocean Shores Market:

North Beach Market:

South Beach (Westport/Grayland) Market:

Long Beach Peninsula (Ilwaco to Ocean Park/Surfside Estates) Market:

NOTE: All of the above data was pulled from the NWMLS and is not guaranteed.

Ocean Shores Events for 2009
Provided by April Swenson

7th Annual Show offers seminars, expert evaluations, and over 80 booths of collectibles and antiques.

22nd Annual event features exhibits, seminars, information booths and vendors. The kids' science fair is held on Saturday morning. Enjoy beach walks on Sunday morning.

Top chefs from the area restaurants bring their best clam chowder and entrees for a chance at "The Best on the North Beach." Vendor and food booths, music and more. A great family event!

Artists and photographers from all over the United States enter this show to win prizes and show their unique photos and works of art. For more information, visit www.associatedarts.org.

Attention all musicians and vocalists! Dust off your guitar, fiddle or banjo. Join us for a weekend of music and fun with a dance on Saturday night. For more information, visit www.oceanshoresact.com.

A full day of activities! The Kite Challenge is sponsered by "Team Cutting Edge Kites" ~ 2005 & 2006 World Champion Winners. Free kite flying lessons, stunt competitions, fun flies, displays and more.
Also honor our Nation's flag with an old-fashioned parade. Over 50 entrants parade through the streets of downtown Ocean Shores. Dance to live music from 7-11pm at the Convention Center. For more information, visit www.oceanshoresact.com.

Master woodcarvers from all over the world come to compete in this annual competition. Auctions held daily. Visit the beach where artists compete for the best sand sculpture on Saturday. Free sand-sculpting lessons given on Friday. For more information, visit www.oceanshoresact.com.

Celebrate our Nation's Independence Day with a community sponsored picnic on the 3rd. Enjoy games, prizes, food and fun. Stay over for the best fireworks show on the coast at Ocean City. For more information, visit www.oceanshoresact.com.

4th Annual event features 1/2-Iron Triathlon, Olympic Triathlon, Sprint Triathlon, Half Marathon, 10K Run and 5K Run. For more information, visit www.trifreak.com.

Listen to the roar as Ocean Shores welcomes over 2,000 motorcycles for the weekend. Enjoy stunt riders, mortorcycle parades, bonfire & fireworks on the beach, and vendors. For more information, visit www.sunandsurfevent.com.

41st Annual event includes over 120 indoor and outdoor booths featuring thousands of handcrafted items by gifted artists and talented craftspeople. For more information, visit www.associatedarts.org.

Paddle activities on the lakes and canals of Ocean Shores. A race, a Poker Paddle, cardboard boat race, seminars, boat try-outs, boating gear and a picnic on Sunday. For more information, visit www.oceanshoresact.com or call 360-289-5632.

Sea-Pals Quilters show offers vendors, handmade quilts, demonstrations and quilted items. The show is judged and prizes awarded. Free admission.

United States and Canadian jazz bands offer over 65 hours of live jazz at several venues throughout Ocean Shores. For more information, call the Jazz Hotline at 360-289-4094.

Kick off your holiday shopping. The Convention Center is filled with over 70 arts and crafts booths featuring handmade arts and crafts just in time for Christmas.

The North Beach Singers present Yuletide favorites to bring in the Christmas Season. Free admission.

OCEAN SHORES, Washington is a peninsula that stretches along the Pacific Ocean and Grays Harbor. With over 6 miles of full-access sandy beaches and over 23 miles of interconnecting fresh water canals and lakes, this place has become one of the top tourist destinations in Washington, as well as becoming one of the top investment communities along the West Coast.

The NORTH BEACH stretches north of Ocean Shores along State Route 109 from Ocean City to Moclips.

WESTPORT lies directly across Grays Harbor Bay from Ocean Shores. It's greatest industry is fishing, which is operated from the Marina, and being home to the Westport Shipyards.  The SOUTH BEACH includes Westport, Grayland, and Ocosta.

Please take this opportunity to search for Ocean Shores & surrounding beach communities real estate, pictures and much more information about these towns on my web site at www.OceanShoresInfo.com