Amanda Graves works as the principal real estate broker at Kiwanda Coastal Properties in Pacific City, Oregon. She has lived in Oregon for 30 years and now calls the coast her home. Her background is not typical for someone in real estate, and that is part of what shapes her approach.

Before entering the industry, Amanda earned a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture, with her thesis focused on Designing Sacred Space. She also holds a degree in American Studies. Her earlier career took her through landscape design, production work, and the film industry. These experiences gave her a way of thinking about space and environment that she carries into her real estate work today.

Amanda describes her perspective in simple terms. “I am fascinated by what others feel is their safe place and how they make a home,” she said. That curiosity drives the way she works with clients, especially those buying second homes on the coast. She is not just looking at square footage or property lines. She is thinking about how a place will likely feel to the people who live there.

Serving Buyers From Afar

Many of Amanda’s clients do not live locally. They are looking for vacation properties, often with the goal of generating rental income to offset ownership costs. The landscape for short-term rentals is constantly shifting, and Amanda helps her clients navigate that uncertainty. She describes herself as a facilitator, someone who can point buyers to the right resources even when they are hundreds of miles away. Amanda’s Resort and Second Home Property specialist designation equips her with the specialized training coastal buyers may need to make informed decisions in one of Oregon’s sought-after markets.

“I strive to get my clients the needed information to make informed decisions and help them feel more comfortable with their coastal real estate purchases and sales,” she explained. Being local matters in this kind of work. Amanda can set up and attend inspections, assist with development research, and serve as a reliable contact for anything her clients might need while they are not physically present.

A Hands-On Approach

Amanda is not the type of broker who disappears after showing a property. She stays involved throughout the process and beyond. Her academic training gives her a different lens through which to view each transaction. With a background in landscape architecture and American studies, she looks at properties from multiple angles and considers factors that others might overlook.

She is also wired for numbers. Amanda puts together income and expense worksheets, amortization tables, and detailed breakdowns of terms and options. She walks her clients through the figures so they understand exactly what they are getting into. This combination of analytical skill and personal attention sets her apart in a market where buyers might often feel disconnected from the process.

Rooted in the Community

Amanda is deeply involved in the Pacific City area beyond her real estate work. She volunteers with several local nonprofits and serves on their boards. One of her most meaningful projects is a universally accessible community park that she has advocated for and designed. She continues to work on getting it further developed so that more people can enjoy it.

Helping others, she says, is a major part of who she is. That commitment shows up not just in her volunteer work but in how she treats her clients. She sees real estate as another way to support the people around her and to contribute to the place she calls home.

A Legacy of Local Ownership

Kiwanda Coastal Properties, where Amanda works, is celebrating 40 years as a local, family-owned business. The brokerage has built a solid reputation in the Pacific City area and is known for its approach to both real estate sales and vacation rental management. People in this small, rural community trust the reputation of the company and the quality of its work.

In 2020, the company established the Kiwanda Community Fund. This initiative connects vacation homeowners, visitors, and team members with local charities. It is one more way the brokerage gives back to the area it serves.

For Amanda, real estate is not about sales pitches or flashy marketing. It is about understanding what makes a place feel like home and helping people get there. She brings local knowledge, professional training, and a genuine interest in the people she works with. That combination is often what keeps her clients coming back.