Location, Location, Location: Bandon, Oregon

Robb Report Staff

01/01/2003

Bandon-by-the-sea is on the verge of serious celebrity. It shares similar topographical and aesthetic elements with two other charming seaside villages, La Jolla and Carmel, which today have more million-dollar homes than Périgord has truffles. But Bandon is becoming a major player as the only coastal village in southern Oregon with million-dollar-plus properties that have large lots, private beach access, unimpeded ocean views and privacy.

Bandon’s dazzling coastal scenery and its luxury homes have been a secret for a simple reason—its location. Most people completely miss the Bandon coast when they drive the main highway, US 101, because it nudges the buildings adjacent to the harbor but then races inland to the north and east, steering away from the Bandon Beach Loop road to the west and south. (Click image to enlarge)

For those who have driven through the village and find—either by accident or design—the Beach Loop road, rewards abound: rugged cliffs, sand dunes, wide beaches punctuated by rock pinnacles called sea stacks. The village is still home to artists, dairy and cranberry farmers, and cheese makers—the Bandon Cheese Factory is a functional, locally famous landmark.

CEOs from Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and the San Diego area have found elegant, secluded second and vacation beachfront homes. They are discovering Bandon in part because they can still buy ocean-view property at a reasonable price and in part because of its proximity to the Bandon Dunes golf club (voted one of the Best Golf Courses in Robb Report’s Best of the Best, June 2002).

Five miles north of Bandon-by-the-Sea, Bandon Dunes (888.345.6008, www.bandondunesgolf.com) and Pacific Dunes have been instrumental in bringing to the area world-class golfers, who sing the praises of playing on a true Scottish-style course (treeless, windswept, no golf carts allowed). Golfweek recently named Pacific Dunes the number 2 course in America, and Bandon Dunes number 4. Golf Digest named Bandon Dunes the number 5 golf resort in the country. Because of Bandon Dunes, many golfers have come to play the course, stay at the Lodge and become acquainted, then enchanted, with Bandon. (Click image to enlarge) 

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Facts & Stats

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Off the 101: Bandon is 230 miles south of Portland and 101 miles north of the California/Oregon border. Horizon Air flies a 37-passenger aircraft four times a day from Portland’s airport to North Bend, 35 miles northeast of Bandon and 30 miles north of Bandon Dunes. Private jets can be flown into the Bandon and North Bend airports.

People: The population is about 3,000. Neighboring Port Orford, Langlois, Floras Creek, Ophir-Nesika Beach, Coos Bay and Coquille enlarge the population to about 7,000.

Amenities: Unspoiled beaches, a quaint village atmosphere and mild climate, plus a new hospital, a new performing arts center, new sports facilities for the high school and, of course, easy access to kayaking, windsurfing and salmon and trout fishing on the Coquille River on Bandon’s east side.

Mo' Money: A home recently sold for $1.2 million, and four others have come on the market in the $1.2 million to $1.95 million range. Lots are rare, and serious buyers or investors need to know a local Realtor to get the best pickings. Two oceanfront lots listed this year sold for $375,000 and $550,000. A good place to check out all properties for sale in southern Oregon is www.rwre.com.

Construction Issues: One homesite per 160 acres of land in the forest and grazing zone and timber zone. If a parcel is zoned forest and grazing or timber, the land cannot be subdivided. This has been beneficial to luxury home buyers, many of whom are building estates north of Bandon Dunes. According to Jason Locke of the City of Bandon Planning Commission, the only building restrictions in place are stringent height limitations.

Architects/Builders: Two local architects are Jim Tronson (541.332.6805) and Rick Howard (541.347.3280, www.howard5.com). A recommended builder is Don Bolduc (541.347.3592).

Realtor 101: Penny Allen or Chas. Waldrop at David L. Davis Real Estate, 800.835.9444, www.bandonhomes.com;
Chris and Debbie Llewellyn, Gold Coast Properties, 541.347.4533, www.coastproperties.com;
Marilyn and Eric Oberbeck at Sixes River Land Company, 888.291.8275, www. sixesriverlandcompany.com.