15 January 2015
Area Real Estate Market balanced and rebounding
2014 proved to be one of the best real estate years in Florence since well before the recession.
Tawfik Ahdab, a residential property appraiser and tabulator of statistics related to happenings in the local real estate world, said there were 410 single family residential sales in the local market last year. That’s 45 more than in 2012; an increase of 12-percent.
The total dollar volume increased by 13-percent. That’s primarily because of a two-percent gain in the median sale price to $169-thousand.
The number of homes on the market has fallen to a more manageable number. At the beginning of January there were 230 active listings, the lowest in at least a decade. With the number of sales at the recent rate, that means less than a seven-month supply. Ahdab calls that the “most balanced” level the local market has seen in a decade.
C.R.O.W. seeks permanent nest
Melanie Heard thinks it’s something to crow about… the artistic director of the non-profit Children’s Repertory Oregon Workshop… commonly known as C.R.O.W., says the group is beginning a push to purchase a building that would serve as a permanent performing arts facility for kids.
Heard will host an informational meeting about the project Saturday, from four to six pm at Siuslaw Public Library. The group is also planning on hosting a fund-raiser Friday, February 13th to get them started on the road to their goal of $280-thousand.
Peace Harbor enters Medicare program of accountability
Medicare patients in the Florence area are now able to participate in a program aimed at improving care and reducing health care costs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently announced Peace Harbor Medical Center is one of 89 health care organizations that will participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
PeaceHealth is one of 89 new “Accountable Health Organizations” bringing the total number of ACOs nationwide to 405.
Under the program, the focus is to provide the highest level of care and coordinate that care with all providers in order to reduce duplications.
During the first two years of the program in other areas, CMS has been able to save $417-million while improving overall care.
Lawmakers say more money should be spent on education
Oregon’s Democratic legislative leaders are proposing a nearly $600 million increase in funding for primary and secondary schools during the next two-year budget cycle.
The chief budget writers released an outline of their proposals on Wednesday. Their budget would allocate $330 million more to K-12 schools than Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber’s proposal, which was criticized by school advocates. They also would spend less on early-childhood education.
Sen. Richard Devlin and Rep. Peter Buckley lead the Ways and Means Committee. They told reporters that they made education their top priority.
Their budget proposal would give 52 percent of the general fund and lottery to education, from preschool through college.
As a result, the lawmakers say their plan would require relatively small budget cuts in social safety net programs.
Reedsport walk-in clinic gets staffing boost
A long time Family Nurse Practitioner in Reedsport is returning to that community in an effort to bolster the availability of immediate health care.
Kathy Moon spent 8 ½ years with Dunes Family Health Care beginning in 1999 before leaving to work in Florence. The Board-Certified practitioner will join Dr. Audrey Shank and the staff at Lower Umpqua Hospital’s Walk-In Clinic in March.
Moon says she sees her role as one of helping patients meet their immediate needs while assisting them in finding a health care provider for long term needs.
Police make early morning arrest in two break-ins
A homeless man was arrested early Tuesday morning after police responded to an alarm at an old town restaurant. Officers found the break-in at the Bay Street Grill. During the course of the immediate investigation, they discovered a similar situation next door at the Beach Comber.
Liutenant John Pitcher said they arrested 38-year old Jesse Wayne Ferrel on two counts of burglary, criminal mischief and theft.
John Pitcher – “He didn’t leave a trail, we just started searching the area. One of our guys sees the guy on the bridge, makes contact and then develops the evidence and the information to tie him to it.”
Pitcher said police recovered several items that were stolen from the Bay Street Grill and the Beachcomber.
