Getting a home sold takes more planning and savvy today than in the past. It is more important than ever to find ways to make your home stand out and get the attention of serious buyers. You may think a few worn out or broken things shouldn’t make a difference, but everything matters to a buyer. Anything that causes a buyer to think there may be MORE things that need repair, updating or remodeling takes them one step further from making [...]
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I love the quiet of winter, especially when the rare snow storm brings everything to a halt. It reminds me of my childhood in Western New York with snow angels, sledding and hot chocolate. Hopefully you will take a few moments to read about island living, real estate or just my wandering thoughts as I reflect on the joy, great fortune and privilege of living in the Pacific NW and on Whidbey [...]
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For the past year, I have been the happy recipient of the weekly Grange Food News email from Chris Williams, who is an officer of the Deer Lagoon Grange. Chris’ official title is Pomona, and like her Roman Goddess namesake, she dispenses tantalizing tidbits of information about the gardens, fruits, vegetables and local foods of Whidbey Island. I marvel and admire how much effort she must put into staying informed about the farmers and foods of our island home. Thank [...]
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If you are allergic to data, don’t read this, because it has a lot..:-)
Here’s a snapshot of the past 15 months of real estate activity for the Whidbey Island real estate market from Coupeville to Clinton. It excludes Oak Harbor and Camano Island which are very different markets compared the southern half of Whidbey Island.
The graph below shows the total number of single family homes for sale and sold in the past 15 months. Notice the seasonal nature of [...]
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Attached is the latest Gardner Report covering the third quarter of 2011. According to Matthew’s analysis, the economy continues at a tortoise-like pace with slow, plodding improvements. Compared to the first six months of the year, Island County’s unemployment rate fell to (8.8%) from last quarter, but still a slight increase over this time period last year. In YTD Closed Sales, Island County is down 1% in units. Claiming it is still unfair to look at year-over-year prices due to [...]
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The above chart shows the last 15 months of real estate activity for South and Central Whidbey. See discussion below:
The summer finished with a total of 103 homes being sold in July-Sep 2011 compared to 83 for the same period last year which is an increase of 24% more homes sold. This high sales rate in the summer meant that the overall sales for 2011 YTD is now slightly higher than 2010 with a total YTD homes sold of 225 [...]
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Why does Windermere sell more property than any other brokerage on Whidbey Island?
I can tell you… it is because we are the most professional, we strive to be the best educated about our market and we do the very best job possible for our clients. Be sure you talk to a Whidbey Island Windermere broker when you are ready to buy or sell a home on Whidbey. And yes, I hope that call will be to [...]
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Mark your calendar for 11 great things to do on Whidbey in 2011. All are very different and lots of fun.
1. Langley starts it off with Mystery Weekend, Feb. 26 & 27. A Prescription for Murder. The town has hundreds of ‘would be Whidbey sleuths” looking for the clues to solve the mystery. Fun for all ages.
2. The Penn Cove Mussel Festival, March 4th through the 6th. A celebration of Coupeville’s signature seafood. Enjoy a weekend of [...]
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Why look for a realtor who is a runner when you are ready to sell or buy property? More times than not that person has great self discipline, is highly motivated, has an excellent self image, and is organized. Runners use their time on the road or track to work out problems.
Sometimes that is not what they go out thinking they will do, but it is what happens to them while they are on a run.
Every [...]
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It has been a while since I have had time to analyze the active listing and closed sales real estate data for Whidbey Island, so I thought it would be good to give everyone an update. The data presented below is through the end of September, just as we are headed into what has traditionally been a quiet time for real estate sales. The conversation among realtors is that this year is not typical in any way, [...]
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Djangofest is a big part of WICA‘s line up every year, and locals and visitors are lucky for that. Did you know that you can actually attend classes with some of these amazing artists? ALFONSO PONTICELL does a class where you can learn to play flamenco. For a full line up of the bands that participate go to the Djangofest Website.
After you have enjoyed the fantastic flamenco it is time for tapas and drinks [...]
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You are the source. What does this mean? It means that your knowledge, your emotions, your photos are what create the personality of the home you have lived in and are selling. Sharing these brings your home to life. So tell me your story. We have the time, and it does make a difference.
All homes have a story. Sometimes it is about the history of the people who have lived there, and many times it [...]
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Whidbey Island Farmers Markets
If you live on Whidbey Island you really have it good when it comes to garden fresh produce from Spring through fall. Think baked bread, herbs, free range chicken, eggs, and so many other things you just can’t get enough of. Which is the reason why you REALLY have it good. From one end to another on Whidbey Island is only an hour but we have FIVE regular farmers markets, and best [...]
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Enjoy walking on the trails of the old growth forest on Whidbey Island, learn how Islanders are working to buy the Trillium property which has more old growth forest.
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If it’s spring, it is the beginning of salmon season in the Pacific NW. Wild salmon is an iconic symbol of our region, and every spring we are reminded about how fortunate we are to be able to enjoy this wonderful fish. It is a symbol of the the natural beauty and bounty of the Pacific NW, and rekindles our desire to protect and preserve this precious gift.
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What makes a good Windermere Realtor? It is a person who can cheerfully sort huge piles of miscellaneous clothing in different sizes, price them, and ready them for sale. He is a person who can work all day in rain or hot sun in a big garden without complaining. She is a person who can lift boxes, sort items, fill shelves, break down boxes, sweep the floor and all the time be having fun with other agents getting [...]
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Pricing your home right in the beginning can make the difference between a long time on the market and a short time. How do we price right?
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You must price it right when when your home 1st goes on the market. You have about 21 days to be “new”. After that you are just another home in the ever increasing inventory that we are all seeing now. I can show you comparatives, we can review the numbers, the days on market etc, I can provide good photos, but if you are not priced very competitively you will not sell your home.
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No, I am not talking about grouchy people. Whidbey Island has many popular crabbing spots, but many crabbers like to keep their special spots secret. One of the best spots is off of Bells Beach, along Saratoga Passage, and the location of one of my great beachfront listings. Row your boat out to your crab trap, and bring home fresh crab for dinner. So keep reading, we are going to talk about how to clean and cook [...]
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What do buyers really want? What I have found is that most people want to know what makes this town, this community, this street, this house – special and different. I live on an island, so many of the people who come here to buy a home are new to island living. Interspersed with looking at homes, I like to give a taste of Island life, both literally and figuratively.
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I am a foodie. I love to cook, I love to eat, and I love to share that passion. Doesn’t it just make you feel welcome when you walk into a house and there are wonderful food aromas coming from the kitchen? One of the older “tricks of the trade” in real estate is to instruct the seller to bake a batch of cookies just before the potential buyers are supposed to arrive. We are all [...]
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If you love gardening you won’t want to miss the Whidbey Gardening Workshop in Coupeville on March 20. It is an all day affair with an amazing group of workshops, and a keynote address by Valerie Easton. Valerie writes about gardens and houses for Garden Design, Metropolitan Home and the Seattle Times,and lives and gardens in Langley. The cost of this incredible day is $35 for the workshop and $8 for lunch. There are over 50 classes to [...]
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The 21st annual Penn Cove Coupeville Mussel Festival is being held over the weekend of March 5-7 2010 on the waterfront. Come enjoy briny mussels fresh from the sea in chowder and off the grill. This is a fitting place to hold an event like this, as the famous Penn Cove mussels are farmed here. Cruise aboard the Mystic Sea and visit the Penn Cove Shellfish farm just a short distance from the historic Coupeville Wharf. The vessel is equipped [...]
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Try to sneak a quick trip to an island grocery store without meeting someone you know. No way.
You are stranded, and out of gas on the road. Not for long. Someone will stop and help you in a matter of minutes. Guaranteed.
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Rain doesn’t bother me one drop. I love the sound on the roof and watching the way the earth, sky and the “ in-between” interact. But my personality doesn’t let me spend too much time in contemplation. I start looking for ways to enjoy the rain experience on the islands when I have a day off.
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When you think about winery wine tasting, I’ll bet you think California, Oregon or Eastern Washington.
On South Whidbey Island, there are a number of local wineries making some pretty darn good northwest wine. It is an eclectic mix of wineries, some offering wines made from locally grown grapes and/or wines made from grapes grown in Eastern Washington. These are all small wineries, and the owners and wine makers are passionate about their wine.
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You get up in the morning to the quiet of island life, waves lapping on the shore, birds and eagles flying overhead, deer and other wild life framing the landscape of your life. But every once and a while, you just need to go to the city and feel the pulse and excitement of Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, the Seattle Art Museum, Nordstrom’s, Uwajimaya’s, the Seattle Library, and, of course, the many incredible restaurants.
If you live on [...]
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I am often asked by those who come to the islands and are thinking about making it their home, “What do you love best about living on an island?”
From the well of who I have become living here, comes these thoughts: eagles soaring above in the bright sun, Madrona red sunsets, black nights with brilliant starlight, and most of all, the silence that surrounds you. The sounds of civilization evaporate in the moody waters between [...]
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