Ocean Shores info (Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia: real estate, city hall, loans)

[moopiespoo]

I was born and raised in wa. Ive lived in Eastern, Central and Western wa. Well now I am moving to Ocean shores. Coastal WA! Please tell me what to expect in regards to people, climate, crime, schools (elementary), culture(yes I know it is a tourist town). Anything you got I'd like to know. I want the good, the bad, the in between. Thanks

[Fat Freddy]

People: about 5,000 of them. Most retired. The ones who work make their money from developing the area, servicing the residents, or hustling the tourists.

Climate: Rain, Fog, Clouds, Wind most of the time.

Crime: Not much, but growing.

Schools: There is a new Elementary School. It ranks rather low in academic standing.

Culture: A few bars, a movie theatre, a smoke filled casino, and a couple of churches.

There is a grocery store and a hardware store in Ocean Shores. For shopping other than that, Aberdeen is 25 miles away.
Medical services are sparse and of poor quality. Nearest "good" hospital is in Olympia.

Real state values are inflated even though there is a surplus of properties on the market. Taxes are high and getting higher. A new LID is about to go into effect that will cost each property owner about $5,000.

The City Council represents the real estate developers, not the residents.

Other than that, it's a good place to live.

[pw72]

What is interesting is that Ocean Shores had grandiose visions of being this huge resort city back in the 60's. Lots of people bought into it, and lots of people lost their shirts. The area just never really developed into anything more than a lower-middle class residential area, very average golf course, and a few motels that some Seattle/Tacoma residents liked to frequent on certain weekends. Seems like there is still potential there, but perhaps the lack of natural beauty (it is mostly flat, compared to the beauty of the Oregon Coast), and the lousy weather are the real culprits. Plus, it doesn't have a great transportation corridor from Aberdeen/Hoquiam. All in all, a good example of an area that had some potential, but never came close to reaching it. (Read a story a few years ago about developers trying to sell this "waterfront" at inflated prices to Californians sight unseen. Rip-off city!)

[Fat Freddy]

Originally Posted by pw72

Read a story a few years ago about developers trying to sell this "waterfront" at inflated prices to Californians sight unseen. Rip-off city!

That would be National Recreation Properties, a California development company that specializes in developing second rate "resort areas" around the country.

They buy vacant lots and low ball prices and sell them at super inflated prices which upsets the local property values. Of course the real estate people love this as higher prices mean higher commissions.

Their most recent Oceans Shores rip-off featured a TV infomercial which showed Eric Estrada playing golf and praising the beauty of the area. They offered a free "all expense paid" trip where they flew clients up to Ocean Shores, kept them captive, and hi-pressured them into buying lots at triple the market value with 25% interest loans.

The present Ocean Shores City Hall is the former NRP office building.

[pwright1]

PW72 hit it on the nose.

[moopiespoo]

Thought I'd would update....I have been here almost a year now and I love it. The elementary is pretty good, I dont mind driving to aberdeen for stuff, and I love watching the storms, even the big one this past winter. The only negative...the touristswhere in the world did they learn how to drive? Or for that matter learn manners???? Grrr