Bellingham Real Estate Blog

Fairhaven has lots of great places to eat. If your looking for a meal or a snack, a cup of coffee or tea, there are lots of options and they are all in a short 2 block radius from 11th an Harris in the center of the historic

I hope you have a chance to enjoy the wonderful variety of foods available in Fairhaven when you are there.

Have you ever been to Sudden Valley at the corner of Polo Park and Polo Park? Redundant road names abound in Sudden Valley and can be very confusing to visitors...

Four roads share the name Marina: Marina Circle, Marina Court, Marina Lane and Marina Place.

Five roads are named Harbor View,  six roads share the name Beaver Ridge. And how many Strawberries are there?

This is all about to change Monday, Aug. 3 when the road names will officially be changed.

The  Marina's have been renamed Inlet Circle, Spinnaker Lane, Longshore Lane and Bowline Court.

New road signs have already been installed above the old signs which will remain for up to 60 days before they are removed.

About 70 percent of the homes in Sudden Valley are on roads that are being renamed,

Something new in Sudden Valley is that  mailbox numbers will match the addresses of residents' homes.

Classic 2 bedroom brick home on a large lot in a great quiet neighborhood, close to Bellingham and Whatcom Falls Park. Great in town location, dead end street. This home is clean, recent interior paint and the carpets have even been cleaned, it's ready for you to make it your own.

2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath, 858 Sq. Ft., .31 Acres

Address: 2212 Whatcom St  Drive, Bellingham, WA 98225
MLS #: 29106533

500 SF detached garage/shop, ideal for artist, craftsman. Great first time homebuyer opportunity. 

 

 

Birch Bay Cabin - $125,000

1 Bedroom, 1 Bath, 858 Sq. Ft. Partial Bay View from the Deck

Address: 7403 Sunet Dr Blaine, WA 98230
MLS #: 29104045

Birch Bay cabin with large deck - ready for a new owner, move in as it is, remodel or build a new home on this great lot that is just a few minutes to the beach, Enjoy living near the beach. The lot has the potential to buid a 2 or maybe 3 story home that would have a great view of the bay.

The following is a quick analysis of the Lynden real estate market.

• There are currently 147 homes for sale.
• Homes are priced from $170,000 - $1,100,000
• Average Asking Price; $382,631       Days on Market are 122 days 
• Median Asking Price:  $349,900 Days on Market are  77 days
• Homes sold in June: 15
• Average Listing Price $275,230
• Average Sold Price $266,700        Days on the Market 161
• Median Listing Price $269,900
• Median Sold Price $266,000                Days on Market 175
• Homes Pending last week: 9     Total Homes Pending: 21

Average Sales Price June 2008: $322,617      137 Dom

Median Sales Price June 2008: $329,900        84 Dom

Sold in June 2008: 21

The Average Sales price is down 17.3% compared to June 08 and down .6% compared to May 09.
The Median Sales prices is down 19.4% compared to June 08 and down 6.7% compared to May 09.
The number of sales is down by 6 compared to June 08 and is up by 5  compared to last month May 09.

Condo Analysis for Lynden

• There are currently 44 condos for sale. 
• Condos are priced from $141,000 - $419,000
• Average List Price $238,862       Days on the Market: 183
• Median List Price   $234,225       Days on the Market: 120
• Condos Sold in June: 1
• Average List Price: $309,000
• Average Sales Price: $290,000   Days on the Market: 21
• Median List Price: $309,000
• Median Sales Price: $290,000   Days on the Market: 21
• Pending Sales Last Week: 1    Total Condos Pending: 2

Average Sales Price June 2008: $194,450     Dom 53

Median Sales Price June 2008: $194,450     Dom 53

Sold in June 2008: 2

The Average Sales price is up 49.1% compared to June 08 and up 31.7% compared to May 09.
The Median Sales prices is up 49.1% compared to June 08 and up 31.7% compared to May 09.
The number of sales is down by 1 compared to June 08 and is down by 1 compared to last month May 09.

The Average Sales price is up 3.1% compared to May 08 and up 6.1% compared to April 09.

The Median Sales prices is up 2.5% compared to May 08 and up 22.3% compared to April 09.

The number of sales is down by 4 compared to May 08 and is down by 1 compared to last month April 09.

Buyers: Interest rates are still low making now is a good time to get in the market. There are still plenty of homes to choose from and lots have been on the market a long time so there are some motivated sellers out there who need to sell their homes.

Sellers: There is still a lot of competition right now and if you don't want your home to sit on the market without an offer here are a few bits of advise:

• The most important thing you can do is price your home right, have your real estate agent do a CMA and price your home aggressively, that is in the lower range of similar homes if you want a quick sale
• Have a pre-inspection done to your home and fix any problems
• Give your home curb appeal
• Offer a Home Warranty if it is an older home
• Get rid of clutter, start clearing out your things, even if you have to put them in storage.
• Think about staging your home, get advise from a staging professional or at least your agent.

If you would like some info about Lynden real estate or living in Lynden visit my website at BellinghamProperty.com or give me a call. 

More accolades for Bellingham ranked #1 for small cities  (population 50,000-99,999)  

The Natural Resources Defense Council has a project and website called Smarter Cities. The website says their "mission is to foster a little friendly competition (Annual Cities Research and Rankings) as well as provide a forum for exploring the progress American cities are making in environmental stewardship and sustainable growth"

The criteria and Bellingham's ranking for each is

Green Building (#4)

Air Quality (#1)

Transportation (#7)

Recycling (#4)

Green Space (#1)

Energy Production and Conservation (#2)

 

Bellingham's been well recognized by for it's green power usage, clean air, clean water, good transportation, mild climate, natural beauty, & great parks and trails.  We are also in the midst of a large scale long term project of transforming an aging pulp mill on the waterfront of Bellingham Bay to a unique new waterfront downtown.

I think Bellingham's future is bright, and our real estate market will remain strong because of it.

 

Written by Michael Eisenberg. If you are considering relocating to Bellingham or looking to sell or buy locally, feel free to contact me: Email Michael.

 

  The following is a quick analysis of the Ferndale real estate market. 

• There are currently 228 homes for sale.
• Homes are priced from $74,900 - $1,950,000
• Average Asking Price is $398,439    Days on Market are 113 days 
• Median Asking Price is $349,500       Days on Market are 71 days
• Homes sold in June: 31
• Average Listing Price $300,387
• Average Sold Price $287,620        Days on the Market 102
• Median Listing Price $299,000 
• Median Sold Price $285,000      Days on Market 61
• Homes Pending this week: 12    Total Homes Pending: 60

 

Average Sales Price June 2008: $295,995      

Median Sales Price June 2008: $260,700       

Sold in June 2008: 20

The Average Sales price is down 2.8% compared to June 08 and down 2.6% compared to last month May 09.

The Median Sales prices is down 5.5% compared to June 08 and down 1.4% compared to last month May 09.                                                                                                                                                 
The number of sales is down up by 11 or 55% to June 08 and is up by 12 or 63% compared to last month May 09.

If you would like some info about Ferndale real estate or living in Ferndale visit my website at BellinghamProperty.com or give me a call.

 The following is a quick analysis of the Residential Bellingham real estate market in Sudden Valley.

There are currently 117 homes for sale. Homes are priced from $110,000 - $995,000

• Average Asking Price is $336,076   Average Days on Market are 114 days
• Median Asking Price is $299,000    Median Days on Market are 61 days
• Sold in June: 22
• Average Listing Price $230,600
• Average Sold Price $217,895         Average Days on Market 124
• Median Listing Price $234,950
• Median Sold Price $220,450           Median Days on Market 81
• Pending Sales Last Week: 6       Total pending sales: 36

Average Sales Price June 2008: $281,313

Median Sales Price June 2008: $256,250

Sold in June 2008: 8

 The Average Sales price is down 22.5% compared to June 08 and down 19.6% compared to last month May 09.

The Median Sales prices is down 14.0% compared to June 08 and down 4.3% compared to last month May 09.

The number of sales is up by 14 or 175% to June 08 and is up by 17 or 340% compared to last month May 09.

Condo Analysis for Sudden Valley

There are currently 8 condos for sale. Condos are priced from $89,500 - $299,900

• Average List Price $209,013         Average Days on the Market: 146
• Median List Price $209,950           Median Days on the Market: 96
• Sold in June: 2
• Average Listing Price $134,400
• Average Sold Price $128,000        Average Days on Market 44
• Median Listing Price $134,400
• Median Sold Price $128,000             Median Days on Market 43
• Pending Sales Last Week: 1                  Total pending sales: 3

 

Average Sales Price June 2008: $144,167

Median Sales Price June 2008: $89,500

Sold in June 2008: 3

There are some great values in the Sudden Valley market right now, and interest rates are still extremely low. 

Don't forget about the First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit of $8,000 available to anyone who hasn't owned a home in the past 3 years, ask your lender about using that tax credit for part of you downpayment or closing costs.

You might want to talk to your banker to see what you can afford. You might be surprised at what your monthly payments would be, maybe less than your paying for rent right now if you are renting a comparable sized house.

If you have any questions or want to see any Sudden Valley homes or condos feel free to email me or give me a call at 360-739-6981.

 

 

The following is a quick analysis of the Whatcom County real estate market.

• There are currently 1629 homes for sale.
• Homes are priced from $16,000 - $6,995,000
• Average Asking Price $429,724       Days on Market: 125 days
• Median Asking Price $339,900        Days on Market: 77 days
• Homes sold in June: 220
• Average Listing Price $300,149
• Average Sold Price $289,029       Days on Market 91
• Median Listing Price $279,000
• Median Sold Price $267,500             Days on Market: 45
• Homes Pending this week: 64    Total Homes Pending: 408

• Average Sales Price June 2008: $350,534     
• Median Sales Price June 2008: $295,375 
• Sold in June 2008: 194   

 The Average Sales price is down 17.5% compared to June 08 and up 2.7% compared to last month.

The Median Sales prices is down 10.4% compared to June 08 and $500 higher than last month.     

The number of sales is up by 26 or 13.4% compared to June 08 and up by 68 or 44.7% compared to last month.

Condo Analysis for Whatcom County

 

 

• Currently Active Listings: 476
• Price range of active listings - $20,000 - $1,565,000
• Average List Price $271,383       Days on Market: 205
• Median List Price $212,950           Days on Market: 127
• Sold in June: 26
• Average Listing Price $255,437
• Average Sold Price $241,655           Days on Market: 142
• Median Listing Price $209,950
• Median Sold Price $202,416              Days on Market: 80
• Condos Pending (went under contract) last week: 11    Total Condos Pending: 62  

• Average Sales Price June 2008: $221,556
• Median Sales Price June 2008: $188,900
• Sold in June 2008: 41

The Average Sales price is up by 9.1% compared to June 08, and up by 24.2% over last month.

The Median Sales prices is up by 7.2% compared to June 08 and up by 1.2% over last month. 

The number of sales is down by 15 or 36% compared to June 08 and up by 8 or 44% compared to last month. 

 

Buyers: Interest rates are still low making now is a good time to get in the market. There are still plenty of homes to choose from and lots have been on the market a long time so there are some motivated sellers out there who need to sell their homes.

Sellers: There is still a lot of competition right now and if you don't want your home to sit on the market without an offer here are a few bits of advise:

• The most important thing you can do is price your home right, have your real estate agent do a CMA and price your home aggressively, that is in the lower range of similar homes if you want a quick sale
• Have a pre-inspection done to your home and fix any problems
• Give your home curb appeal
• Offer a Home Warranty if it is an older home
• Get rid of clutter, start clearing out your things, even if you have to put them in storage.
• Think about staging your home, get advise from a staging professional or at least your agent.

If you would like some info about Whatcom County real estate or living in Whatcom County send me an email or give me a call.

 

 

The following is a quick analysis of the Blaine real estate market.

• There are currently 272  homes for sale.
• Homes are priced from $89,900- $6,995,000
• Average Asking Price $513,041        Days on Market: 135 days
• Median Asking Price $382,500         Days on Market: 80 days
• Homes sold in June: 22
• Average Listing Price $312,468
• Average Sold Price $296,115      Days on Market 67
• Median Listing Price $229,495
• Median Sold Price $226,050           Days on Market: 33
• Homes Pending this week: 8    Total Homes Pending: 66

   

• Average Sales Price June 2008: $245,945
• Median Sales Price June 2008: $226,130
• Sold in June 2008: 23

 The Average Sales price is down 20.3% compared to June 08 and up 6.1% compared to last month May 09.

The Median Sales prices is down 20.8% compared to June 08 and down 10.1% compared to last month May 09.

The number of sales is down by 9 or 39% to June 08 and is up by 3 or 27.3% compared to last month May 09.

Condo Analysis for Blaine/Birch Bay 

• Currently Active Listings: 124
• Price range of active listings - $20,000 - $1,249,000
• Average List Price $339,273         Days on Market: 168
• Median List Price $283,930           Days on Market: 148
• Sold in June: 4
• Average Listing Price $169,540
• Average Sold Price $153,250             Days on Market: 214 
• Median Listing Price $92.250
• Median Sold Price $79,000               Days on Market: 208
• Condos Pending this week: 2    Total Condos Pending: 11  

Average Sales Price June 2008: $125,000

Median Sales Price June 2008: $107,000

Sold in June 2008: 5

Once again it is hard to compare Blaine condo sales, June saw 3 small manufactured homes in Latitude 49 which are condo units all under $100,000 and one $400,000 unit at Grand Bay Condos in Birch Bay..