Local Real Estate Market showing sluggish signs of recovery
You may not be able to tell on the surface, but the Florence area real estate market is on the rebound. In 2010 there were 255 residential sales, up from 222 the year before, and well above a record low of 214 in 2008. Tawfik Ahdab, a Certified Residential Appraiser with the Pacific Valuation Group says despite more sales, the mean and median prices for homes has dropped.
200 – “This correction is partly due to short sales and foreclosures, but they’re still not dominant factors in the market. Willing sellers are certainly one of the main reasons that we’re seeing these prices lower and that’s helped our sales volume go up.”
Tight financing continues to bog the market down. That’s contributed to the “buyer’s market” atmosphere as it strengthens the position of cash buyers.
201 – “Many people who are prospective purchasers in the Florence area are unable to qualify for financing. So, that’s definitely been an impediment to sales in this market area. As a result we’re seeing what was already a strong cash buying market is in fact extending to a record high.”
Ahdab says he’s checked with many area realtors and they’re reporting light traffic in the final month of December. But he’s optimistic about the future.
202 – “This last quarter has been pretty slow. Pretty slow, you know the year end is typically slow, partly due to weather. But they are telling me that the people are trickling in. Some people are interested in buying now, some people will buy in the future.”
He says there are only 28 pending sales to start the year off, but there are “clear signs of improvement” in market activity.
Dig out that old Tiffany lamp that used to belong to grandmother. The popular PBS series “Antiques Roadshow” is coming to Lane County later this year. The show, which brings experts in a variety of different topics together to evaluate family heirlooms and garage sale finds, will be in Eugene June 4th. Programs taped this summer will make up the Roadshow’s sixteenth broadcast season airing in 2012. Tickets for the taping are free, but must be secured in advance. Information on the show is available at pbs.org/antiques.
Techniques and strategies for catching winter steelhead in the Siuslaw River basin will be shared tomorrow evening at the monthly meeting of the Florence Salmon Trout Enhancement Program. Dean Hendricks with North Country Lures in Florence will talk about ways to catch the tough fighting steelhead. The seven pm Wednesday meeting at the Florence Elks Lodge on 12th street coincides with the beginning of the group’s signature activity… the steelhead brood stock program. Volunteers are busy installing a weir on Whittaker Creek to trap fish. Volunteers will harvest the eggs and milt for the hatchery program.
Volunteers at Shore Acres State Park are hard at work this week packing up and storing the more than 300-thousand L-E-D lights that have graced the botanical gardens at that location since Thanksgiving. Holiday Lights organizer Shirley Bridgham says the 24th annual event drew fewer visitors this year than in 2008. According to the count kept by the Oregon Parks and Recreation, just over 49-thousand people toured the park between thanksgiving and New Years’ day. That’s down from a high of 53-thousand last year.
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - A 31-year-old Creswell man has been
sentenced to 35 years in prison for kidnapping a Eugene
acquaintance last summer, driving her to a remote location and
repeatedly sexually assaulting her. The term includes Matthew
Phillip Williams' penalty for leading police on a car chase and
manhunt at the base of the Coburg Hills before his capture.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Portland-area real estate agent who
dropped out of an Oregon state House race last year has pleaded
guilty to money laundering. Federal prosecutors say that in 2006,
Chael Sonnen arranged for a title company to pay $69,000 for
plumbing repairs to a home that were never done.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington and Oregon health officials say
six Northwest residents have fallen ill in a salmonella outbreak
linked to clover sprouts from a Kent, Wash., company. Four
illnesses have been reported in Washington and two in Oregon; no
one has required hospitalization.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Democrat Ted Wheeler has been sworn in to his
first full term as Oregon's treasurer. Wheeler was elected in
November when he beat Republican Sen. Chris Telfer of Bend. In
March Gov. Ted Kulongoski appointed Wheeler to replace Democrat Ben
Westlund, who died in office.
RENTON, Wash. (AP) - The Seattle Seahawks now get a chance to
prove they belong against the defending Super Bowl champion New
Orleans Saints on Saturday in the playoffs. And while the debate
rages about the Seahawks' playoff merits, the biggest question for
Seattle remains who will be its quarterback. Coach Pete Carroll
says Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst will split reps early
in the week before a decision is made on the starter.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Portland Police Chief Mike Reese has
praised a police traffic sergeant who fired one shot as he watched
a homicide unfold early New Year's Day outside a club. The chief
says that after Sgt. Mike Fort fired a round at a man he saw
shooting at a Club 915 bouncer, Fort continued to chase after the
suspect: 31-year-old Kevin Charles Moffett.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Meantime, Portland's police chief says his
city's recent spate of shootings involving officers is
unacceptable. The Oregonian reports Portland saw six
officer-involved shootings in 2010. Four of those ended in
fatalities. There were two officer-involved shootings in the first
two days of the new year. Chief Mike Reese said yesterday he's
asking the bureau to study the shootings to determine if changes to
protocols or tactics are needed.
RENTON, Wash. (AP) - Seattle guard Chester Pitts and tight end
Chris Baker both will be out for Saturday's NFC playoff game
against New Orleans. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll says Pitts
suffered a serious concussion Sunday night against the Rams, while
Baker fractured a bone in his hip. And receiver Brandon Stokley
(STOHK'-lee) is questionable for this week.
SEATTLE (AP) - Miguel Olivo (oh-LEE'-voh) and the Seattle
Mariners have completed their $7 million, two-year contract,
bringing the catcher back to the Pacific Northwest. Seattle
announced the deal yesterday, which includes a club option for
2013. It was first agreed upon during the winter meetings in
Florida last month, but was subject to Olivo passing a physical.
TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
Siuslaw Wrestling standout, Zach Ough, is Coast Radio Sports’ Athlete of the Week. In his first competition of the season the sophomore grappler claimed the tournament title at 189 pounds at the Myrtle Point Wrestling Invitational… Honorable Mention is given to his teammate, Sonny Tupua, who dominated the heavyweight class at the same tournament, winning the title at 285 pounds.
On the court tonight with prep basketball the Siuslaw Vikings are at home this evening for boys’ action against the number one ranked Newport Cubs. The Lady Vikings are in Newport… that game will air on Coast Radio Sports beginning at 6:45. The Mapleton Sailors have a boys and girls double header in Lowell for Mountain West League action and the Reedsport Braves… with a co-ed double header will host Myrtle Point for Sunset League Play.
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