Coast Remains a Value

The Long Beach Peninsula continues to be a great value in real estate. I have been showing property in Ocean Park and Oysterville recently and continue to marvel at the amazing deals one can find at the beach.

Last fall my sister and brother-in-law bought a tidy little house on a 'jumbo' acre. They managed to get it for a real song of a price compared to the values for a similar property in the Portland-Vancouver metro area. Frankly about 1/2 price. Now she has referred someone to me and that person is looking for a beach property as well.

My newest beach client is looking in the $300k - $400k range and should have no problem at all finding the right home. The Long Beach Peninsula remains under-valued in the market place, but I don't think this will last forever. It will be "discovered" soon and that could lead to a run up in values. Get yours while the 'gittin' is good :)

Here are some value properties I found recently in a search. 

2 beds, 1 bath 808 SF listed at $155,000

2 beds, 1 bath, 1040 SF listed at $164,900

3 beds, 2 baths, 1435 SF Ocean View! Listed at $239,000

Now don't go thinking the beach doesn't have upper end properties. Au contraire, my friends. I also found this stunning beachfront home on 3.2 acres butting right up against the beach. This one has 3 beds, 3.5 baths, 4035 SF. It is listed at a reasonable, all things considered, $1.585 million.

Chilly Weather and Hot Deals

March at the beach is not typically filled with frosty mornings, yet here we are with exactly that. Maybe this chilly but sunny weather will bring out the house hunters.

I have often showed value oriented properties here, inexpensive properties for the budget minded beach goer. But the deals don't stop at the entry level price range; what if I told you there was a beautiful house on a nine acre parcel of beach front property for less than $600,000? Now will you take the red pill? OK for those of you that haven't seen the Matrix, both of you ;) That was a movie reference. It is real and only on the Long Beach Peninsula could such a great estate be priced so reasonable.

Sotheby's International Realty has this fine property listed and I figured I would feature it right here on the blog. This fantastic retreat style home has 1590 SF 3 beds and 2 baths. The chalet style fits with the wooded forest meadow the house sits on. The property leads down towards the beach. for which there is a 200 foot wide piece all the way to mean high tide.

All this, right on the beach for $595,000, no way, I must have taken the blue pill by accident, is this real? Yes it's real friends. The Long Beach Peninsula offers excellent values like these and for those that can't swing the half-million dollar stuff, I found older single wide mobiles on 0.25 acre lots for less than $50k.


I never cease to be amazed at the huge difference in value between the Northwest Oregon Coast and the Southwest Washington Coast. All just separated by a bridge across the mighty Columbia River.

Take a ride out to the coast, enjoy the sun and surf, or the strong storms crashing the beach, but while you're out there, peak around at the real estate. You never know what treasures you may find.

Hot Cars at the Beach!

Hot cars and the beach, at the same time? Is that even possible? Yes, yes it is possible and in fact it will be happening this weekend in Ocean Park on the Long Beach Peninsula. Check out the Beach Barons website for explicit details.

Labor Day is in the rear view mirror and the waning days of summer are upon us. there is a bit of crispness in the morning air, you know, that tell-tale sign that autumn is lurking about. Once of the great things about the coast is the relatively level range of climate. The winters are a little warmer and the summers are a little cooler so the transitions are not quite as abrupt as they are here in the Portland-Vancouver Metro area.

The beach continues to be a great place to visit well into the autumn. I am a car lover and car shows like this weekend's 33rd annual 'Rod Run to the End of the World' is a fun excuse to get to the coast. While you're out there check out some real estate. The Long Beach Peninsula continues to be a great value on coastal properties. Owning your own beach house for under $150k is a real thing!

Be sure to check the previous posts on this blog to see some of the amazing real estate ops on the Washington Coast. Meanwhile, see you at the beach!

Beach Real Estate is Calm and Cool

For those looking to the coast for an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, it will surely deliver. When you get to that point where you want a more permanent coastal arrangement, it remains a calm and cool climate. Although the market for real estate on the SW Washington coast is enjoying a robust upward tendency, it is not the frantic and fever pitch nightmare for buyers that they might find in Vancouver or Portland.

Relaxing at the coast includes relaxing a little while you look at properties. There are still relatively good values on everything from Condos to beach houses to manufactured homes on a lot. $200,000 will still buy a nice little place at the beach!

Your 200k isn't likely to land you a 2000 sf foot house with the Pacific Ocean waves crashing against you property line; but it will get you close to the beach in a little two or three bedroom home just a few blocks away. That my friends is awesome!

Now that spring is firmly entrenched get out to the Washington Coast and enjoy the fresh salty air and peek at the real estate deals.

Look what I found today!

This is too juicy to pass up. I haven't seen the inside so it could be atrocious, but this home sits on a third of an acre on the bay side of Ocean Park. This does need work including repairs of a soft floor spot and likely allot more. But the bank will actually entertain carrying a note back for this one. Listed at... wait for it... $54,900.

This is a manufactured home, late model so it feels like a stick built not a trailer. This is a golden opportunity to own at the coast for what amounts to real estate chump change! No HOA. I will drive out there and show it myself. I love a great deal.

This is something even modest income people can afford as a second home or vacation home. Again as a cautionary note, it definitely needs work, but a nice chunk of dirt with a house on it for $55 large is work a peek don't you think? A little drive to the beach is in order methinks.

Ocean Front under 200k? Believe it!

I was wandering about on the multiple listing service and stumbled upon this interesting and fantastic property. It is a lovely 1930s cottage with a two bedrooms and a bath. The living area totals 728 square feet. It is an absolutely charming little house that appears to have been very well kept.

The strange thing about this house however is the property on which it sits. The home sits on a 1.5 acre lot that is only 40 feet wide. Barely wide enough for the house. The lot extends more than 1600 feet to the beach. This is true beach front property.

The pink colored lot is the lot and house for sale, from Pacific, County Mapsifter

Like the headline says, this home is under $200k; in fact it is listed for just $189,900. Sure it is just a cottage but it is a tidy little house and it has beach front access! Sure it's only 40 feet of beach front but it's still beachfront! This house is in the city of Long Beach, Washington. It is very close to the Columbia River, Ilwaco, WA Astoria, OR. This is not way up on the peninsula. Long Beach hosts a variety of events every year and has a charming, classic American beach town setting.

I never cease to be amazed at the beach-side opportunities here in the Evergreen State. This property offers up retirees or families seeking a vacation home something they can afford from the middle class rather than the wealthy class. We have some of the best coastal living in America, and sometimes it's even a bargain!

Featured Coastal Home

Every once in a while I like to post a listed house that is active out on the coast. I have found this property in in Ocean Park for just $250,000. This home is 5 blocks from the beach and features more than 1700 square feet of living space.

Coastal living in Washington state is affordable and fabulous. Imagine taking a stroll along the beach with the mighty Pacific Ocean crashing against the sand.

This fantastic property was built in 1995 and is in great shape. This house would be this price in the 'Couv' in a garden variety neighborhood. This is the beach my friends, the beach! I love the Washington Coast.

Beachfront Property is so Alluring

Photo from RMLS

There is just something magical about a beachfront home. In past articles on this blog I have shown properties across a variety of price ranges even the $100k range right on the beach. Today I found a 2,800 square foot home situated on more than 3/4 of an acre right at the feet of the mighty Pacific Ocean. This Ocean Park home is listed on the MLS for $545,000. It is by no means an inexpensive home, but compared to its brethren on the Oregon Coast just a few miles south, it is a bargain. I continue to remain amazed at the shear value offered to buyers on the Washington Coast. There is nearly an acre of ground fronting the largest body of water on Earth. This home is spacious, nicely appointed although not overly luxurious. It offers high vaulted ceilings with lots of glass to take in that gorgeous ocean view. 

Photo from RMLS

I write another blog; Retire to Washington and I often tie in our amazing coastal value to posts on that blog. The coast is after all ideally suited for retirees. The weather is more consistent, lacking the hot weather often found inland and perhaps more importantly less frequent snowfall. Retirees need not commute into work so that is completely off the table. Everything you need is right there in town. 

Come out and visit Washington's somewhat less famous coast and see for yourself just how wonderful it is. While you are there take a peek around at some real estate. You can find some outstanding values on property you may have thought was unattainable. 

Ocean Park Dreams

 Last week I mentioned in the welcome post that there is amazing opportunity to own beach property in Southwest Washington for prices well within reach of middle class citizens. Today I would like to talk about a home that recently sold in Ocean Park.

This amazing property features nearly 1800 square feet of living space as close to the beach as is possible. You can see the trail from the backyard patio right out onto the sands that touch the biggest body of water on this planet. This home was a nice clean, move in ready property with easy and quick access to the beach and it sold for just $300,000. The features lots of glass and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean crashing on the shores of the beach just a few hundred feet away!

This type of home right on the beach on the Oregon Coast would easily cost twice to thrice as much. Here in the great state of Washington, dreams can come true.


Ocean Park is right smack in the middle of the Long Beach Peninsula. Long Beach has been billed as the longest drive-on oceanfront beach in the world. Although some may refute it's biggest in the world status it is an amazing 28 miles of drivable beach. The beach is actually designated as a State Hwy. The Long Beach Peninsula is a skinny piece of ground that juts northward from the mouth of the mighty Columbia River. To the west is the Pacific Ocean and that famous beach. To the east is the Willapa Bay. The peninsula ranges between one and two miles wide and is roughly 30 miles in length. Beginning at Ilwaco and terminating at Leadbetter Point State Park this peninsula provides both ocean front and bay front living and your never far from either.

Imagine owning your own home at the beach. There are opportunities to own property less than a 1/4 mile from the beach and under $100,000.

Welcome!

I would like to welcome you to the new Evergreen Coastal Living blog. This blog will bring you exciting information about Washington State's amazing coastal living opportunities. Our great state offers fantastic coastal living in warm and friendly beach communities at a fraction of the price you'd pay just a few miles south on the Oregon Coast.

When coupled with the superior economic conditions for retirees in Washington State our coast is the best ocean side location in America!

Whether you want a chance to own that dream getaway vacation property or settle down in retirement on the shores of the Mighty Pacific, the Evergreen State has you covered.

Check back frequently or better yet subscribe to this blog and enjoy updates and information on Evergreen Coastal Living.