Questions About Whaleshead, Brookings (Ashland: for sale, rental, HOA fees)

[ExNooYawk2]

We are fairly familiar with Coastal Oregon, having been up and down it when we had our Airstream (had to sell it). One place we almost stayed, before my husband got sick, was Whaleshead in Brookings. Those park models look cute and being across from the beach, even though you have to go through a tunnel during low tide unless you drive, is appealing.

I'm curious as to why so many of them seem to be on the market, all the time. Are they considered to be too far from from the Fred Meyer? Are they sliding off the hillside? Do people just get tired of them? Are the monthlies too high?

There are threads about Whaleshead Beach on this site but they are a few years old. Has anything changed in the last four years or so?

If you don't have half a million to buy a decent place to spend summers with grandkids, Whaleshead looks like an attractive option. What am I missing?

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I have no idea. How high are the HOA fees?

If you like a nice park model on a tiny lot, where you own the lot and the HOA fees are reasonable and actually provide for services, look at a place called Willard, on the outskirts of Lincoln city.

I would have purchased there myself but I had one dog over the dog limit.

[Larry Caldwell]

I have friends who sold theirs. They went in as partners on a beach place. One woman's husband died, another couple got a divorce, and the third couple just threw in the towel. I rented one once and it was a nice place to stay. I think people buy a beach home and then realize they wasted a lot of money buying when they could have just rented.

[Tulippsy]

Hey ExNewYawk, ex lower New York here (i.e. South Florida). When I moved to the Rogue Valley last year, I too longed for a little place at the coast. We saw the units at Whaleshead and booked a few days there and looked at one of the ones for sale.

Two downsides that we observed: The sea air and wind are brutal on the structures. We saw a lot of decks that needed replacing. There is also a small stream that flows under and near some of the lower placed ones. We met one of the new owners and he was trying to build a dam of sorts to keep the water clear of his foundation.

I don't remember if the property was up for sale or about to go on the market. This was last fall. At any rate, whoever was in charge was not putting a dime into the property. The thing that I liked was the rental pool option. You can block out some weeks you want to use the property and put your unit in the rental pool the rest of the time. I think the split was 60/40.

We thought it was too good to be true too. Although if you have 50k to gamble with, you might end up with a nice little place after it all shakes out.

Well, that all I know. We ended up not buying because of the uncertainty. Now I'm seriously considering moving to the coast full time. I really miss the sea. This is the first time in 38 years I've lived more than 5 miles from the ocean and I'm homesick!

[ExNooYawk2]

Originally Posted by Tulippsy

Hey ExNewYawk, ex lower New York here (i.e. South Florida). When I moved to the Rogue Valley last year, I too longed for a little place at the coast. We saw the units at Whaleshead and booked a few days there and looked at one of the ones for sale.

Two downsides that we observed: The sea air and wind are brutal on the structures. We saw a lot of decks that needed replacing. There is also a small stream that flows under and near some of the lower placed ones. We met one of the new owners and he was trying to build a dam of sorts to keep the water clear of his foundation.

I don't remember if the property was up for sale or about to go on the market. This was last fall. At any rate, whoever was in charge was not putting a dime into the property. The thing that I liked was the rental pool option. You can block out some weeks you want to use the property and put your unit in the rental pool the rest of the time. I think the split was 60/40.

We thought it was too good to be true too. Although if you have 50k to gamble with, you might end up with a nice little place after it all shakes out.

Well, that all I know. We ended up not buying because of the uncertainty. Now I'm seriously considering moving to the coast full time. I really miss the sea. This is the first time in 38 years I've lived more than 5 miles from the ocean and I'm homesick!

I love being near the sea as well; practically grew up on Jones Beach. Right now, with a sick spouse, we need to be near good medical facilities, which are few and far between on the coast. I think, for now, I'll just keep my eyes open. The attraction of Brookings is that my grandkids live in Ashland and it's an easy enough trip for them to visit on weekends. Meantime, I'll keep dreaming.

[Hawk J]

If you live along the Oregon Coast, i would suggest that you become a member of Life Flight or FireMed. Then, you will receive Emergency Helicopter transport to a major hospital, or Emergency Ambulance trans port to a major hospital when you need it. You will be protected is what i understand. There are fair priced yearly membership dues.

https://www.google.com/#q=FireMed+in+Brookings,++Oregon

[ExNooYawk2]

Originally Posted by Hawk J

If you live along the Oregon Coast, i would suggest that you become a member of Life Flight or FireMed. Then, you will receive Emergency Helicopter transport to a major hospital, or Emergency Ambulance trans port to a major hospital when you need it. You will be protected is what i understand. There are fair priced yearly membership dues.

https://www.google.com/#q=FireMed+in+Brookings,++Oregon

Thank you for that information!

[ExNooYawk2]

We are back from our four-day foray to Whaleshead in Brookings and really enjoyed being out of the intense heat. We had sunshine and beautiful temps. Nice trip.

Whaleshead is okay. It has the fatal flaw of being right above the 101 which can be somewhat noisy. The noise blocks out the sound of the ocean and the birds, so I don't know if we'll stay there again.

The restaurant is still not open despite many signs pointing you to its location on the premises.

I saw somewhere that the family that owns it is looking to sell. That could be good or bad in that most of the place could use a facelift. Monthly HOAs, as per the office personnel, run between $500 and $650. If new owners need to raise the space rent beyond those levels to spruce up the joint, it could get pricey.

Our unit was a decent size, clean had a nice view. They are sticklers about the 3:00 pm arrival time. We could have done without the wobbly toilet and the wobbly ceiling fan but the wifi and tv reception were super.

No regrets.

[Ocean Angel]

My husband and I are planning on a visit to Whaleshead to see if this is somewhere we would like to retire. We love the ocean and always wanted to live near one. We live in California, 45 minutes away from Half Moon Bay and other oceans/bays. However, we cannot afford to buy in those areas, the San Francisco Bay Area. We have always wanted to live in Oregon.

Wanted to know if this would be a sound investment to purchase and live year round. My husband is a heart patient, does have AirMed, so we have the security of knowing he will receive emergency helicopter ride out if needed. He is retired and might move there before I retire, so basically he will be there himself most of the time, while I will remain in California until I can retire. With frequent visits of course to Oregon, but I am concerned about him being there by himself.

My concern is this place worth the major change to our lives. Is this a place where one could live comfortably year round? Is it considered a not so good thought on our part to make such a major change? If anyone can enlighten some of our concerns we will appreciate it. I have read the threads and need more information.

Seeking new life in Oregon...……….

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by Ocean Angel

..........My concern is this place worth the major change to our lives. Is this a place where one could live comfortably year round? Is it considered a not so good thought on our part to make such a major change?...……….

You are asking questions that no one can answer but you and your family.