Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (July 6, 2019)
6C | SATURDAY, JULY 6, 2019 | PROGRESS — R EAL E STATE IN THE S IUSLAW Keeping families in Florence West Coast Real Estate Services works with people at every stage of life “There’s not a whole lot of options, so they’re review- ing every option they have, whether it’s to stay in Flor- ence or move out of Flor- ence,” Hoberg said. “We’re working with people right now where the home was selling property — when Hoberg and his crew help support the community. “To see them go from rock bottom when they got notice and came in, saying ‘We have no place to live,’ to actually owning a home.” To stay put or move on? for our new job?’ That’s an- other aspect on the rental Many home improve- of six years before selling. side. People get hired here. ment television series Since 2010, however, NAR Where do we house them? “I just think it’s an undis- showcase people decid- says the average expected It’s definitely a juggling covered gem,” Jim Hoberg, ing whether to improve length of time people will act.” owner of West Coast Real upon their current homes stay in their homes before But the issues surround- Estate Services, said of the to make them into the selling is now 15 years. ing the “housing crunch,” Florence area. “We have all houses of their dreams or Part of what’s fueling this as some people call the outdoor activi- to put “for sale” signs in permanency is that many it, are temporary. ties, we have all the “We walk buyers through every step of the process to get their lawns and move on home buyers were able “Right now, the events. We have approved for a new home, find a property that suits their city is pretty pro- to something new. to acquire rock-bottom everything that a The question of wheth- mortgage interest rates big town has in a needs and take them all the way through closing. Then we active in trying er to move or stay put shortly after the 2008 re- small-town atmo- give helpful hints on how to maintain the home afterwards, to find a solution depends on various fac- cession. As a result, they’re to that problem,” sphere. And then if so they don’t have problems.” tors. These may include not inclined to walk away Hoberg said. Hun- you want big town, — Jim Hoberg, emotional attachment to from those rates, even if dreds of afford- it’s 60 miles in ev- West Coast Real Estate Services a home, the current eco- doing so means getting able homes are in ery direction. It is a nomic climate and the cost more house. Also, a low the planning right great place to live, of real estate. Current data inventory of available It’s the excitement of now, particularly to the work, raise kids. I mean, it’s sold out from underneath points to a greater propen- houses has stymied repeat them. They were renting a those getting out of a tough north side of the city. “It’s just a really cool place.” sity for people to invest buying for many people. situation that makes the job very nice,” he added. Florence is the kind of home and it was sold.” and improve upon their Those factors and others While he said he didn’t special. And when that occurs, place that Hoberg, along current properties rather have led many homeown- “They’re going from be- West Coast Real Estate will with his five associates, like to use the word “couch than trading up for some- ers to invest in renovations have dedicated their lives surfing,” his clients did not ing a renter that was dis- transition from keeping thing new. instead. to. The goal is to ensure the have a stable home. This placed from a sale to living the community together, to According to informa- The experts at Bank- undiscovered gem remains is where West Coast Real with family and friends,” he growing it. tion collected by John rate say realistic budgeting “The best is probably vibrant and healthy, though Estate becomes a vital part said. “They were exploring Burns Real Estate Con- and comparing renova- at times it can be difficult. of keeping the community every option and it’s nice the first-time homebuy- sulting, the percentage of tion project costs against that we were able to keep er,” Hoberg said. “They’ve Hoberg, whose business together. homeowners moving up mortgages and interests “We walk buyers through them here. Florence needs been renting for years and covers both rental property to their next home is the rates can further help in- management and real es- every step of the process as many people remaining they finally come to the lowest in 25 years. Many dividuals decide whether tate, has experienced first- to get approved for a new in Florence as we can keep.” conclusion that they want are opting to make start- to remain in their current The displaced are not the to be a homeowner. That’s hand some of the issues home, find a property that er homes permanent by homes or move out. Very facing the local rental and suits their needs and take only people that West Coast probably the most satisfy- expanding them and re- often a smarter layout and them all the way through Real Estate helps. There’s ing aspect of our business.” housing market. pairing homes for the long more efficient floor plan As new families come in “The rental market is su- closing,” Hoberg said. the people who want to haul. can make meaningful dif- per strong,” Hoberg said. “Then we give helpful hints move into the region who to Florence to help grow The National Associa- ferences in spaces. Reno- “There’s not a whole lot of on how to maintain the can’t find an entry-level the community, West Coast tion of Realtors said that, vations and redesigns can Real Estate will be there to rentals for people to stay in, home afterwards, so they home. between 1987 and 2008, make sense and often are “The story is, ‘I got a job ensure that everyone gets a and there is not a whole lot don’t have problems.” home buyers stayed in less expensive and disrup- And it’s at that moment here, but I have no place to chance — because commu- of homes for people to pur- their homes an average tive than moving. chase. It’s a tough process when the job goes beyond live. How do I move here nity begins with a home. right now. Our job is to try and keep every family and every person in Florence.” And when Hoberg and his crew are able to fulfill their goal, the moment that a family in need finds sta- bility, West Coast Real Es- tate goes beyond just find- ing people homes — the staff does its part by help- ing keep the community thriving. Hoberg is celebrating 30 years in the business. A VOTED #1 REALTOR 5 YEARS Florence native, he grew up learning the ins and outs of Siuslaw News Readers Choice the automotive business. “I was a certified me- chanic in the family busi- ness,” he said, referring im Hoberg is a Florence PSSOMRKJSV[E]WXSI\TERHLMW to Hoberg’s Auto Repair, EVIEWSJI\TIVXMWI6IGIRXP] native, and has been which his family has run for decades. But 30 years he has earned the NAR working in Real Estate ago, he saw an opening in Green designation and the WMRGIÿćĆć,ILEWWIVZIHEW the real estate business. Senior Real Estate Specialist E6IEPXSVJSVāþ]IEVW,ILEW “I started to pursue that,” he said. “The family HIWMKREXMSR.MQIRNS]W obtained several designations supported me and I never LIPTMRKTISTPIÁRHWSPYXMSRW that require continuing looked back. It was super to their real estate needs and education, which keeps him fun, and I can’t believe it’s been 30 years. It’s still very HMWGSZIVMRK[L]*PSVIRGIMW on the cutting edge of the exciting every day. I’m very MRHYWXV]ERHLIMWGSRWXERXP] WYGLEKVIEXTPEGIXSPMZI happy.” His favorite part has been satisfying client needs. “We strive very hard to find whatever the client, whether it be a buyer or a seller, what their actual mo- tivation is and what they want to do,” he said. “And then we scour the market. That is one of our leading things here, to satisfy their desire.” The past three decades • RESIDENTIAL • LAND • COMMERCIAL • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • have seen a lot of chang- es in the Florence com- munity when it comes to real estate. There was the waning timber industry in the ‘80’s, followed by a re- tirement housing boom in the ‘90’s. Then the housing 1870 Hwy. 126, Suite A • PO Box 3040, Florence, OR crash of the 2000s caused an abundance of rental opportunities in the area. Homeowners, looking at the houses as investment properties, began renting VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW JIMHOBERG COM their single-family units just to cover the costs of the mortgages. But things changed when the market prices began to recover. While there are many factors associated with the current “hous- ing crunch” in the region, one large factor came from homeowners looking to re- coup their losses after the crash. They began selling off their properties to re- cover the losses. This has left many long-term res- idents who were renting without a place to land. By Jared Anderson Siuslaw News 3 g n 0 i t a Y r ears b e l e C in Real Estate J JIM HOBERG Broker/Owner • • • 541.997.7653 Fax: 541.997.7654 . .
