Bellingham Real Estate Blog

Whatcom County Council has approved changes to septic system regulations that will allow some homeowners to avoid inspection costs by inspecting their own systems if they take a county-approved training class on septic system maintenance and testing.

Professional inspections are still required whenever a property is sold.

There has been controversy surrounding septic ordinance ever since the county passed it  2008. It was originally passed to enforce toughened state health regulations.

The objectionable part of, the 2008 ordinance required an initial professional inspection of every septic system in the county, at a cost estimated at $150 to $300. Some say that that requirement went beyond the mandates of state law.

There will still be plenty of business for those septic inspection companies as many residents won't want to take the class and be a "do-it your-selfer" and those having more complex, modern systems will still require annual professional inspections.

The majority of council members believe that regulations are still tough enough to curb septic system problems. The Whatcom County Health Department will investigate reports of any failing systems.

The County Council also hopes to establish a $2 million low-interest loan program to help qualifying homeowners finance the costly replacement of failed systems.

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

• Currently Active Listings: 443
• Price range of active listings - $90,000 - $3,450,000
• Average List Price $475,444 Days on the Market: 124
• Median List Price: $379,000 Days on the Market: 86
• Sold in January: 28
• Average List Price: $347,966
• Average Sales Price: $336,964 Days on the Market: 73
• Ratio of List to Price 96.8%
• Median List Price: $276,950
• Median Sales Price: $267,000 Days on the Market: 63
• Ratio of List to Price: 96.4%
• Pending Sales Last Week: 22 Total pending sales: 108

• Average Sales Price January 2000: $294,064
• Median Sales Price January 2009: $287,500
• Number Sold in January 2009: 38

The Average Sales price is up 14.5% compared to January 09 and up 2.5% compared to the previous month December 09.

The Median Sales prices is down 6.2% compared January 09 and down 2.8% compared to the previous  December 09.

The number of sales is down 10 compared to January 2009 and down 44 compared to the previous month December 09.

Condo Analysis for Bellingham

• Currently Active Listings: 241
• Price range of active listings - $105,000 - $1,565,000
• Average List Price $236,703 Days on the Market: 146
• Median List Price $179,900 Days on the Market: 181
• Sold in January: 11
  
• Average List Price: $257,509
• Average Sales Price: $244,455 Days on the Market: 120
• Ratio of List to Price: 97.1%
• Median List Price: $229,900
• Median Sales Price: $219,000 Days on the Market: 89
  
• Ratio of List to Price: 99.5%
• Pending Sales Last Week: 4 Total pending sales: 27

• Average Sales Price January, 2009: $210,200
• Median Sales Price January, 2009: $209,500
• Sold in January, 2009: 23

Average Condo sale price is up 16.2% from January 2009 and up 26.6% from the previous month - December 2009

Median Sales Price is up 4.7% from January 2009 and up 33.5% from the previous month - December 2009.

The number of sales is down 22 compared to January 2009 and  down 8 compared to the previous month  - December 09.

If you look at the graph you can see that the  residential and condo market prices  have taken a slight up tick.

Will the roller coaster ride of prices continue?........Tune in next month

Homes under $300,00 have been selling well and itt seems like the higher end of the market which has been pretty stagnant is starting to move again as well. The absorption rates have gone down meaning number of  homes sold per month over a particular period of time has gone down. The number of months to sell is a reflection of the absorption rate, how long it will take to sell the current inventory at the said absorption rate.

Will the roller coaster ride of prices continue?........Tune in next month 

Whatcom County Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Bellingham Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Blaine Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Ferndale Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Lynden Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Sudden Valley Estate Market Report for January, 2010

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 has been extended until April 2010.  The new program has also expanded the tax credit to include existing home owners who have owned a home for at least five of the last 8 years. You will be able to apply for tax credits of up to $6,500 when you purchase your next home. You might want to talk to your banker to see what you can afford. Meanwhile interest rates are still extremely low and there are some great values in the Bellingham market right now. You might want to take a look at what it would cost you to purchase one of these homes at today's rates. 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 Bellingham Property feel free to email me at or give me a call at 360-739-6981

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

• There are currently 1385 homes for sale
• Homes are priced from $15,000 - $4,500,000
• Average Asking Price $403,201 Days on Market: 139 days
• Median Asking Price $323,000 Days on Market: 93 days
• Homes sold in January: 97
• Average Listing Price $287,275
• Average Sold Price $277,881 Days on Market 99
  
• Median Listing Price $249,956
• Median Sold Price $245,000 Days on Market: 64
• Homes Pending this week: 71 Total Homes Pending: 340

• Average Sales Price January, 2009: $275,239
• Median Sales Price January, 2009: $249,898
• Sold in January. 2009: 91

The Average Sales price is up 1.0% compared to January, 09 and down 3.2% compared to the previous month December, 09.

The Median Sales prices is down 2.0% compared to January, 09 and down 1.1% compared to the previous month December, 09.

The number of sales is up by 6 compared to January, 09 and down by 71 compared to the previous month December, 09.

Condo Analysis for Whatcom County

• Currently Active Listings: 398
• Price range of active listings - $22,000 - $1,565,000
• Average List Price $237,510 Days on Market: 158
• Median List Price $184,900 Days on Market: 141
• Sold in January: 13
  
• Average Listing Price $242,392
• Average Sold Price $230,346 Days on Market: 118
• Median Listing Price $225,000
• Median Sold Price $194,000 Days on Market: 89
• Condos Pending (went under contract) last week: 12 Total Condos Pending: 58

• Average Sales Price January, 2009: $199,243
• Median Sales Price  January, 2009: $201.975
• Sold in January, 2009: 14

The Average Sales price is up 15.6% compared to January, 09, and up 24.8% compared to the previous month December, 09.

The Median Sales prices is down by 3.9% compared to January, 09 and down by 28.7% compared to the previous month December, 09.

The number of sales is down by 1 compared to January, 09 and down by 15 compared to the previous month December, 09.

The good news this month is the number of pending sales is up.

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 has been extended until April 2010.  The new program has also expanded the tax credit to include existing home owners who have owned a home for at least five of the last 8 years. You will be able to apply for tax credits of up to $6,500 when you purchase your next home. You might want to talk to your banker to see what you can afford. Meanwhile interest rates are still extremely low and there are some great values in the Bellingham market right now. You might want to take a look at what it would cost you to purchase one of these homes at today's rates. 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 Bellingham Property feel free to email me at or give me a call at 360-739-6981

Whatcom County Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Bellingham Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Blaine Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Ferndale Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Lynden Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Sudden Valley Estate Market Report for January, 2010

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

There are currently 241  homes for sale.

• Homes are priced from $75,000 - $2,950,000
• Average Asking Price $456,984 Days on Market: 159 days
• Median Asking Price $344,000 Days on Market: 114  days
• Homes sold in January: 10
• Average Listing Price $281,911
• Average Sold Price $274,896 Days on Market 198
• Median Listing Price $214,490
• Median Sold Price $210,490 Days on Market: 88
• Homes Pending this week: 10 Total Homes Pending: 59

• Average Sales Price January 2009: $262,135
• Median Sales Price January 2009: $236,000
• Sold in January 2009: 10

The Average Sales price is up 4.9% compared to January 2009 and down 9.7% compared to the previous month December 09.

The Median Sales prices is down 10.8% compared to January 2009 and down 19.0% compared to the previous month December 09.

The number of sales is equal to January 2009 and is up by 2 compared to the previous month December  09.

Condo Analysis for Blaine/Birch Bay

• Currently Active Listings: 101
• Price range of active listings - $19,000 - $1,149,000
• Average List Price $239,823 Days on Market: 149
• Median List Price $224,950 Days on Market: 98
• Sold in January: 0

• Sold in January 2009: 0

Looks like Blaine Real Estate prices are up slightly from last year and down slightly from last month.

Whatcom County Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Bellingham Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Blaine Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Ferndale Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Lynden Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Sudden Valley Estate Market Report for January, 2010

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 has been extended until April 2010.  The new program has also expanded the tax credit to includeexisting home owners who have owned a home for at least five of the last 8 years. You will be able to apply for tax credits of up to $6,500 when you purchase your next home. You might want to talk to your banker to see what you can afford. Meanwhile interest rates are still extremely low and there are some great values in the Bellingham market right now. You might want to take a look at what it would cost you to purchase one of these homes at today's rates. 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 Bellingham Property feel free to email me at or give me a call at 360-739-6981

The following is a quick analysis of the Sudden Valley Real Estate Market.

There are currently 96 homes for sale. Homes are priced from $109,900 - $789,000

• Average Asking Price is $293,932 Average Days on Market is 114
• Median Asking Price is $269,900 Median Days on Market is 81
• Sold in January: 7
• Average Listing Price $300,243
• Average Sold Price $288,914 Average Days on Market 47
• Median Listing Price $279,000
• Median Sold Price $274,000 Median Days on Market 35
• Pending Sales Last Week: 6 Total pending sales: 29

• Average Sales Price January, 2009: $293,784
• Median Sales Price January, 2009: $312,450
• Sold in January, 2009: 10

The Average Sales price is down 1.7% compared to January, 09 and up 27.7% compared to December 09.

The Median Sales prices is down 12.3% compared to January, 09 and up 21.3% compared to December 09.

The number of sales down 3 compared to January, 09 and is down 7 unit compared to December 09.

Condo Analysis for Sudden Valley

There are currently 11 condos for sale. Condos are priced from $69,900 - $298,000

• Average List Price $159,364 Average Days on the Market: 131
• Median List Price $164,900 Median Days on the Market: 98
• Sold in January: 0
• Average Listing Price $139,500
• Average Sold Price $132,500 Average Days on Market 67
• Median Listing Price $139,500
• Median Sold Price $132,500 Median Days on Market 67
• Pending Sales Last Week: 1 Total pending sales: 1

• Sold in January 2009: 0

Sudden Valley Sales prices are higher than they have been in at least 6 months, also the pending numbers are up for the week maybe translating to higher number of sales next month.

Whatcom County Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Bellingham Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Blaine Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Ferndale Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Lynden Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Sudden Valley Estate Market Report for January, 2010

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 has been extended until April 2010.  The new program has also expanded the tax credit to include existing home owners who have owned a home for at least five of the last 8 years. You will be able to apply for tax credits of up to $6,500 when you purchase your next home. You might want to talk to your banker to see what you can afford. Meanwhile interest rates are still extremely low and there are some great values in the Bellingham market right now. You might want to take a look at what it would cost you to purchase one of these homes at today's rates. 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 Bellingham Property feel free to email me at or give me a call at 360-739-6981

The following is a quick analysis of the Lynden Real Estate market.

There are currently 156 homes for sale.

• Homes are priced from $175,000 - $987,000
• Average Asking Price; $355,824 Days on Market are 149 days
• Median Asking Price: $316,450 Days on Market are 94 days
• Homes sold in January: 13
• Average Listing Price $253,612
• Average Sold Price $247,262 Days on the Market 130
• Median Listing Price $249,956
• Median Sold Price $240,000 Days on Market 89
• Homes Pending last week: 8 Total Homes Pending: 39

• Average Sales Price January 2009: $286,450
• Median Sales Price January 2009: $249,800
• Sold in January 2009: 11

The Average Sales price is down 12.0% compared to January 2009 and down 7.5% compared to December 09.

The Median Sales prices is down 3.9% compared to January 2009 and down 2.9% compared to December 09.

The number of sales is up by 2 compared to  January 2009 and is up 1 compared to last month December 09.

Condo Analysis for Lynden

• There are currently 23 condos for sale.
• Condos are priced from $137,900 - $379,950
• Average List Price $219,413 Days on the Market: 157
• Median List Price $219,956 Days on the Market: 101
• Condos Sold in January: 1
• Average List Price: $179,000
• Average Sales Price: $173,000Days on the Market: 144
• Median List Price: $179,000
• Median Sales Price: $173,000 Days on the Market: 144
• Pending Sales Last Week: 0 Total Condos Pending  9

• Average Sales Price January 2009: $199,950
• Median Sales Price January 2009: $199,950
• Sold in January 2009: 2
  

Looks like residential pending numbers are up for the week maybe translating to higher number of sales next month.

Whatcom County Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Bellingham Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Blaine Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Ferndale Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Lynden Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Sudden Valley Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Great news 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 has been extended until April 2010.  The new program will also expand the tax credit to include existing home owners who have owned a home for at least five of the last 8 years will be able to apply for tax credits of up to $6,500 when they purchase their next home.

You might want to talk to your banker to see what you can afford. Meanwhile interest rates are still extremely low and there are some great values in the Bellingham market right now. You might want to take a look at what it would cost you to purchase one of these homes at today's rates. 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 Lynden Property feel free to email me at or give me a call at 360-739-6981

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

There are currently 201 homes for sale.

• Homes are priced from $94,500 - $1,500,000
• Average Asking Price is $384,702 Days on Market are 134 days
• Median Asking Price is $328,500 Days on Market are 97 days
• Homes sold in January: 24
• Average Listing Price $268,044
• Average Sold Price $259,758 Days on the Market 96
• Median Listing Price $245,950
• Median Sold Price $246,000 Days on Market 69
• Homes Pending this week: 10 Total Homes Pending: 50

• Average Sales Price January, 2009: $227,486 Days on the Market: 68
• Median Sales Price January, 2009: $228,000 Days on the Market:  49
• Sold in January, 2009: 7

The Average Sales price is up 19.8% compared to January, 2009 and down 7.4% compared to last month, December 2009.

The Median Sales prices is up 7.8% compared to January, 2009 and up .2% compared to last month, December 2009.

The number of sales is down up 17 compared to January, 2009 and is up 6 compared to last month, December 2009.

Looks like Ferndale prices have come up almost 20% from last years lows but seem to be trending down again.

Whatcom County Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Bellingham Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Blaine Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Ferndale Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Lynden Real Estate Market Report for January, 2010

Sudden Valley Estate Market Report for January, 2010

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 has been extended until April 2010.  The new program has also expanded the tax credit to include existing home owners who have owned a home for at least five of the last 8 years. You will be able to apply for tax credits of up to $6,500 when you purchase your next home. You might want to talk to your banker to see what you can afford. Meanwhile interest rates are still extremely low and there are some great values in the Bellingham market right now. You might want to take a look at what it would cost you to purchase one of these homes at today's rates. 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 Bellingham Property feel free to email me at or give me a call at 360-739-6981

 The Olympic torch will be making a stop at Blaine's Peace Arch Park on  Tuesday, Feb. 9., it will be there at 7:20 am so you better get there early. The events are free and include entertainment.

Olympic torch is a symbol of the Olympic Games.  In 1936, Carl Diem, the chairman of the organizing committee for the 1936 Games, suggested what is now the modern Olympic Torch relay.  The Olympic flame is lit at the ancient site of Olympia by women wearing ancient-style robes and using a curved mirror and the sun, it  is then passed along from runner to runner from this ancient site to the Olympic stadium in the hosting city. The flame is kept lit until the end of the Games.

If you miss it there it will be making it's way to Vancouver over the next few days at these  locations.

"Abbotsford: The party will begin at 5:45 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, at Abbotsford Exhibition Park, not far north of Sumas. The torch is expected to arrive at about 7 p.m., followed by a cauldron lighting. Parking at the site will be limited, and the event is scheduled to run until 8 p.m.

Surrey: The torch is expected to arrive at about 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at Surrey's Holland Park. A community torch celebration will begin at 5:45 p.m.

White Rock: The torch will pass through White Rock starting at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9. White Rock firefighters will host a fundraiser pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the White Rock Community Centre, 15154 Russell Ave. Olympic athletes from the region will sign autographs.

Peace Arch Park: At about 7:20 a.m. Tuesday, the torch comes to Peace Arch Provincial Park, just across the border. Take exit 276 off Interstate 5 and head to Peace Arch State Park to get one of about 200 parking spaces. Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell are scheduled to be there."

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

It looks like life will continue without disruptions for the roughly 1,000 permanent residents of Lummi Island.  Whatcom County officials and the Lummi Nation have announced an agreement on a new long-term lease for the Gooseberry Point ferry dock,  ensuring uninterrupted ferry service between Gooseberry Point and Lummi.

The current lease expires Feb. 14, and thing were looking shaky for island residents. The County even did a tet run to Fairhaven.

Rumor has it that fares and schedules for the Whatcom Chief ferry may change once a final, long-term deal is done.

Tribal leaders have recently stated their goal was the eventual relocation of the ferry dock, and they expressed reluctance to consider any lease renewal beyond five years. But Tuesday's announcement said the tribe and county have reached "a conceptual agreement for a 25-year lease with an option to renew for an additional 25 years……………………..Both the Lummi Nation and Whatcom County are committed to continuing to work in a spirit of cooperation to develop a final agreement in a timely manner,"

So if you’re considering a move to Lummi Island, you won’t have to worry about whether or not you’ll have a way to get to your new home. The ferry will be around for many years to come.

If your interested in Lummi Island homes give me a call, there are some great deals there.