Condos at the Coast

Photo from RMLS public site.

One you get right down to it there are three basic residential property owners at the coast. Full time residents, most of which are retired, Vacation home owners, and investors that either rent to full time residents or rent to vacationers.

For many people the idea of owning a getaway vacation home at the coast is the stuff of dreams and folly. But we have this unique opportunity happening along the Southwest Washington coast that makes that silly dream a very potential reality.

I pulled a couple of current condo listings in Long Beach, WA and found some wonderful opportunities. I found a 1 bedroom 1 bath condo as close to the beach as possible listed for just $99,000. There is full time on site management and the HOA pays everything except the electric bill. There is a two bedroom one and a half bath unit at $149,000 and a 2-2 at $159,000.

That little one bedroom unit would make a great retreat property for an empty next couple. This particular condo complex sits on a whooping 24 acres with just the four buildings and lots of sand dunes and trails to go along with that direct beach access.

The finances on this are not too bad at all. If you put down 20% ($19,800) then add in the PITI (principle, interest, taxes and insurance) and HOA for a monthly payment of around $875. I realize that this still is a healthy contribution from the monthly budget, but it is clearly within reach for many people including a fair number that "think" it requires the magic of the Fairy Godmother.

If these numbers are still out of reach, the idea of going in with partners and sharing the use of the space is a possible solution. There are potential problems with a sharing arrangement but they can be overcome with planning and written agreements. Splitting this between four groups makes the space very available for all parties to get more than ample use out of the property and reduces the cost to less than most timeshares on the Oregon coast offering a lousy two weeks a year! Between four the number work out to $4950 each as a down payment and just $220 a month each. This would leave each family with 13 weeks a year to stay in the unit. That is far more vacation time than most people take!

All said this is a small unit measure in at just 655 square feet. But that is still quite a bit bigger than most hotel suites and it has a full kitchen and dedicated parking. The condo offers the advantage of management of the grounds and structure and that can be important for those not living full time on the property.

There are many golden opportunities on our beautiful Washington Coast. all you have to do is look and you may surprise yourself with a gift from the Fairy Godmother.

Fort Canby and Cape Disappointment State Park

The Town of Ilwaco Washington sits at the very base of the Long Beach Peninsula. Right in the heart of the town is the former Fort Canby State park, now called Cape Disappointment State Park. This is a really nice park located on the north shore of the mouth of the Columbia River and the southern reaches of the Long Beach Peninsula.

The park features the Colbert House museum, In Ilwaco which is a restored Victorian era home listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center with an amazing perch overlooking the confluence of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean.

Two of the best known features are the lighthouses. Cape Disappointment Lighthouse first lit in 1856 and its companion the North Head Lighthouse added to cover the Norther approach and first lit in 1898. Of course the park has no shortage of great hiking trails and scenic wonders along with camping, picnic area and the usual assortment of State Park activities.

This park is part of the greater Lewis and Clark National Historical Park with state and national facilities in both Oregon and Washington.

History excerpted from Wikipedia:

In 1862, during the American Civil War, a camp called Post at Cape Disappointment was established and fortifications existed here from that date to protect the northern approaches to the mouth of the Columbia River from possible attacks by Confederate raiders or foreign fleets. It was garrisoned by Company A, U.S. 9th Infantry Regiment and Company A, 8th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry in the District of Oregon. In 1863, its mate Fort Stevens was established on the south bank of the Columbia River. In 1864, the post was renamed Fort Cape Disappointment. Some Civil War-era fortifications still exist. They were called the Tower (or Right) Battery, Left Battery, and Center Battery.

Fort Cape Disappointment was renamed Fort Canby in 1875. Later Fort Canby became part of the three fort Columbia River harbor defenses as a subpost of Fort Stevens along with Fort Columbia.

This is a must visit when out at the coast and a great getaway spot for the locals as well.

Drive on the Beach at Least Once in Your Life

From the Long Beach City Website

How many states can boast that they have a state hwy that is not just on the beach but IS the beach! Washington is one such state that can make that claim. Driving on Long Beach is not as easy as it seems. Often the entrances have loose sand that cars with low clearance can easily get stuck in. Once you are past the soft sand at the entrance is is pretty easy to drive on the hard packed sand closer to the water. As mentioned above this is an official state highway and that mean troopers will write you a ticket for exceeding the 25 mph speed limit or any reckless driving. They are quite serious about it and the fine are HUGE so drive safe.

Driving on the beach. Circa 2006

There is much to do in Long Beach. Adults and children alike can enjoy this great coastal retreat. The best part about it is the ability to purchase your own home to live in or vacation at for a reasonably price.

You can check out this website info about the Long Beach Peninsula and driving on the beach here.