A visit to Amboy, WA and the North Clark Historical Museum

What a great find for my family! On a rainy Saturday, we were driving the North Clark County Historical Tour, and stopped in at the North Clark Historical Museum. We were treated to wonderful stories and history of the museum on a personalized tour.

The story of the museum is a great story on it's own. I was impressed by the 'greenness' of the renovation. One of the interesting 'green' updates was the museum's decision to use geo-thermal heating. It allows the museum to very efficiently heat the big open space of the former church.

While I was viewing the story of the restoration of the building (that was in quite sad shape the before the museum took over), I noticed that the story was further 'greened' by the use of horses (sustainability to the nth degree) rather than tractors for taking down the trees that imperiled the building.

There are many interesting artifacts to see at this lovely little museum. It is a wonderful piece of the history of the enviornment and of the rise and fall of a lumbertown. There is much technological history that is revealed in the local history.

One of the things that most caught my eye is this old Maytag washing machine. This is particularly note worthy to me because I SO appreciate my electric washer and dryer and because I remember the very old wringer-washers that sat on the back porch of my grandma's. This is an even older version - as in before electricity was used in washing machines.

If you're thinking of moving out to the Amboy area, you'll have a wide range of options to move into an existing home. From the half-acre and manufactured home for $89,900, to the 27 acre homestead for $405,000. Call me if you'd like to explore more of the Amboy area. It is peaceful and woodsy and seems a bit closer to nature.

Whether you're looking for your first home, or possibly your last, or selling either of them, I have the patience and experience to help you make the best choice in Vancouver Washington. The Natural Choice in real estate is working with a professional real estate agent (me!) at Krogseng Real Estate who listens to your needs and works as a trusted advisor to get the best solution to your housing needs. We will give you a new attitude about real estate. If you are concerned about living a more sustainable lifestyle, Vancouver Washington may be the city for you. I specialize in knowing the neighborhoods in Vancouver Washington that have great walkscore ratings. Whether you want the low-maintenance condo lifestyle, a home that gets you off the grid, or a home that is something in between in Clark County, the natural choice in real estate will be someone that can help you find just the right home and neighborhood. If you're looking for homes that have been certified as green, you'll want to know I keep informed of the newly constructed homes and their various green certifications. Visit Krogseng Real Estate for more information.

Winning Wine, right here in Washington!

I've been deliberately buying local for several months (even giving up my favorite beer) now, and it's been satisfying.  Recently, I read of the recognized success of Washington Wines with the wine-judging crowd.

Perhaps the wine industry will be one way of preserving our beautiful local agricultural lands from short-sighted industrial and residential development.

Whether you're looking for your first home, or possibly your last, or selling either of them, I have the patience and experience to help you make the best choice in Vancouver Washington. The Natural Choice in real estate is working with a professional real estate agent (me!) at Krogseng Real Estate who listens to your needs and works as a trusted advisor to get the best solution to your housing needs. We will give you a new attitude about real estate. If you are concerned about living a more sustainable lifestyle, Vancouver Washington may be the city for you. I specialize in knowing the neighborhoods in Vancouver Washington that have great walkscore ratings. Whether you want the low-maintenance condo lifestyle, a home that gets you off the grid, or a home that is something in between in Clark County, the natural choice in real estate will be someone that can help you find just the right home and neighborhood. If you're looking for homes that have been certified as green, you'll want to know I keep informed of the newly constructed homes and their various green certifications. Visit Krogseng Real Estate for more information.

Great Western Malting, with a history in Vancouver, WA (and apparently Woodland, Wa). This picture was taken at the Cedar Creek Grist Mill.  I guess the burlap sack is from days long ago - do they still use burlap?

Whether you're looking for your first home, or possibly your last, or selling either of them, I have the patience and experience to help you make the best choice in Vancouver Washington. The Natural Choice in real estate is working with a professional real estate agent (me!) at Krogseng Real Estate who listens to your needs and works as a trusted advisor to get the best solution to your housing needs. We will give you a new attitude about real estate. If you are concerned about living a more sustainable lifestyle, Vancouver Washington may be the city for you. I specialize in knowing the neighborhoods in Vancouver Washington that have great walkscore ratings. Whether you want the low-maintenance condo lifestyle, a home that gets you off the grid, or a home that is something in between in Clark County, the natural choice in real estate will be someone that can help you find just the right home and neighborhood. If you're looking for homes that have been certified as green, you'll want to know I keep informed of the newly constructed homes and their various green certifications. Visit Krogseng Real Estate for more information.

We had a family outing in Woodland recently. We took our first ever visit to the Old Grist Mill at Cedar Creek. This being November, we had rather typical cool, wet weather for the trip. No worries. We were well rewarded!

There is a great story behind the grist mill.  We toured on our own and made up the rest of the story.  It was rather crowded there with so many visitors. I was pleased so many people were there in spite of the rain.  There are great exhibits of how the mill works, and pictures of the restoration process.

The water flows down hill, and so the mill capitalizes on the gravity by routing water into the mill.

Then it spins the axle for the various components that are belt driven and ultimately turn the mill. Water builds up here, and when they open the trap door, it flows out, spinning the axle. Nice and green and thoroughly sustainable!

This is the ultimate expression of the energy flowing into the mill - the grinder!

My husband bought some of the freshly ground flour. He got both hard and soft flour. Today he made bread but he used the bread machine (I'm a fan of doing it manually).

 If you wanted to live near the Grist Mill, you would have lots of options. From tiny lots of less than 5000 s.f. (for $51,000) up to 100 acres for $3,500,000.  The homes in this area typically are in more rural settings and will usually have 3 to 5 acres of land.  The ages of the homes range from 1900s to current year, with the bulk of the homes having been built since the 1990s, and, true to the building boom, plenty built in the last decade.  If you would like to learn more about the homes and properties in the areas of Woodland, Ridgefield, Amboy, Yacolt, Ariel, then give me a call.

Whether you're looking for your first home, or possibly your last, or selling either of them, I have the patience and experience to help you make the best choice in Vancouver Washington. The Natural Choice in real estate is working with a professional real estate agent (me!) at Krogseng Real Estate who listens to your needs and works as a trusted advisor to get the best solution to your housing needs. We will give you a new attitude about real estate. If you are concerned about living a more sustainable lifestyle, Vancouver Washington may be the city for you. I specialize in knowing the neighborhoods in Vancouver Washington that have great walkscore ratings. Whether you want the low-maintenance condo lifestyle, a home that gets you off the grid, or a home that is something in between in Clark County, the natural choice in real estate will be someone that can help you find just the right home and neighborhood. If you're looking for homes that have been certified as green, you'll want to know I keep informed of the newly constructed homes and their various green certifications. Visit Krogseng Real Estate for more information.

Monday Market Snapshot 2009/11/09

The market may be showing the first signs of change. What I've learned in the past is that the market changes swiftly once the change begins.

For the Clark County area, the number of homes on the market was 3491 last week and it's 3528 this week. That's the first increase since June. For the greater Vancouver area, the number of homes on the market was 2553 last week and 2554 this week (yeah, weird, huh?). The number of pending homes was 857 last week and it's 834 this week. This means the ratio of homes available versus undercontract changed a tad showing a slight increase in the ratio.

So what's this all mean? Well, I'm not sure. I watch the raw numbers and the ratio of homes for sale compared to the number under contract and this is the first time since August of 2008 I've seen the ratio grow. It's not much of a number, and it's just from last week to this week.

Perhaps the extension of the of the tax credit program gave some people reason to postpone putting an offer in this week. Stay tuned.

Whether you're looking for your first home, or possibly your last, or selling either of them, I have the patience and experience to help you make the best choice in Vancouver Washington. The Natural Choice in real estate is working with a professional real estate agent (me!) at Krogseng Real Estate who listens to your needs and works as a trusted advisor to get the best solution to your housing needs. We will give you a new attitude about real estate. If you are concerned about living a more sustainable lifestyle, Vancouver Washington may be the city for you. I specialize in knowing the neighborhoods in Vancouver Washington that have great walkscore ratings. Whether you want the low-maintenance condo lifestyle, a home that gets you off the grid, or a home that is something in between in Clark County, the natural choice in real estate will be someone that can help you find just the right home and neighborhood. If you're looking for homes that have been certified as green, you'll want to know I keep informed of the newly constructed homes and their various green certifications. Visit Krogseng Real Estate for more information.

Urban Food Production and You

Okay, Warning! This post is for those people who believe in sustainability and who understand it's more than being 'green'. If you don't see the connection between the cow in the field and the lump of meat encased in cellophane and styrofoam when you go to Safeway, you might be needing to read this too.

Food is important to life, and it's important to have food growing in sustainable methods and locations. There is a growing number of people who see the benefit (perhaps necessity) of growing food locally AND organically. And there were dozens of us gathered to hear from a panel of like-minded citizens at the monthly 'First Tuesday' event in downtown Vancouver.

The lead-in for the event reads: "Like air, water, and shelter, food is essential for life. Food plays a central role in our health, communities, customs, heritage, and culture." I'm not going to replay the information presented, but I do want to let you know that there are people actively engaged in protecting and improving our local food system.

There were many exciting projects discussed and some of the ones that caught my attention were the growing number of CSA's, the growth and interest in community gardens, and the recognition that codes and home owner associations can be changed to allow for food gardening in the front yards.

At my house, we have made a few plantings with an eye toward an edible landscape. Namely, raspberries. After attending this First Tuesday, I'm eager to move forward with more.

If you are thinking you'd like to live near an existing community garden, or find a neighborhood that is food-garden friendly, then I'm probably the most Natural Choice in real estate agents you'll find in Vancouver, Washington. I can even help you find the land if you're thinking you'd like to start your own CSA farm.

Whether you're looking for your first home, or possibly your last, or selling either of them, I have the patience and experience to help you make the best choice in Vancouver Washington. The Natural Choice in real estate is working with a professional real estate agent (me!) at Krogseng Real Estate who listens to your needs and works as a trusted advisor to get the best solution to your housing needs. We will give you a new attitude about real estate. If you are concerned about living a more sustainable lifestyle, Vancouver Washington may be the city for you. I specialize in knowing the neighborhoods in Vancouver Washington that have great walkscore ratings. Whether you want the low-maintenance condo lifestyle, a home that gets you off the grid, or a home that is something in between in Clark County, the natural choice in real estate will be someone that can help you find just the right home and neighborhood. If you're looking for homes that have been certified as green, you'll want to know I keep informed of the newly constructed homes and their various green certifications. Visit Krogseng Real Estate for more information.

Urban Food Production and You

Okay, Warning! This post is for those people who believe in sustainability and who understand it's more than being 'green'. If you don't see the connection between the cow in the field and the lump of meat encased in cellophane and styrofoam when you go to Safeway, you might be needing to read this too.

Food is important to life, and it's important to have food growing in sustainable methods and locations. There is a growing number of people who see the benefit (perhaps necessity) of growing food locally AND organically. And there were dozens of us gathered to hear from a panel of like-minded citizens at the monthly 'First Tuesday' event in downtown Vancouver.

The lead-in for the event reads: "Like air, water, and shelter, food is essential for life. Food plays a central role in our health, communities, customs, heritage, and culture." I'm not going to replay the information presented, but I do want to let you know that there are people actively engaged in protecting and improving our local food system.

There were many exciting projects discussed and some of the ones that caught my attention were the growing number of CSA's, the growth and interest in community gardens, and the recognition that codes and home owner associations can be changed to allow for food gardening in the front yards.

At my house, we have made a few plantings with an eye toward an edible landscape. Namely, raspberries. After attending this First Tuesday, I eager to move forward with more.

If you are thinking you'd like to live near an existing community garden, or find a neighborhood that is food-garden friendly, then I'm probably the most Natural Choice in real estate agents you'll find in Vancouver, Washington. I can even help you find the land if you're thinking you'd like to start your own CSA farm.

Whether you're looking for your first home, or possibly your last, or selling either of them, I have the patience and experience to help you make the best choice in Vancouver Washington. The Natural Choice in real estate is working with a professional real estate agent (me!) at Krogseng Real Estate who listens to your needs and works as a trusted advisor to get the best solution to your housing needs. We will give you a new attitude about real estate. If you are concerned about living a more sustainable lifestyle, Vancouver Washington may be the city for you. I specialize in knowing the neighborhoods in Vancouver Washington that have great walkscore ratings. Whether you want the low-maintenance condo lifestyle, a home that gets you off the grid, or a home that is something in between in Clark County, the natural choice in real estate will be someone that can help you find just the right home and neighborhood. If you're looking for homes that have been certified as green, you'll want to know I keep informed of the newly constructed homes and their various green certifications. Visit Krogseng Real Estate for more information.

Steakburger Big Secret for 40 years?

I didn't know. I've seen the sign for years now as I drive up or down I-5 or Highway 99. It's an old retro-looking sign and occasionally I wondered if the food was any good and whether encroaching 'progress' would be it's demise.

Today I stopped in and fell in love!

This is a business that's been in one place and family-owned and family-run for over 40 years. From the moment I entered the front door, I was hooked. While I was waiting for my lunch date to arrive, I read the history of Steakburger and became a complete fan. The Steakburger has been manned and operated by 4 or 5 generations of the same family. How cool is that?

While you're pondering the coolness of a successful family owned business, I'll tell you that they also have a putt-putt golf course out the back that was put there back in the sixties (if I recall the quick read of the history). It's a charming little place and I will be taking my family there for golf soon.

Meanwhile, when my lunch date arrived we ordered our hamburgers. I had the hamburger with sourdough bread, french fries, and (oh yum!!!) a pineapple milkshake. Doggone good! It was a lot of food and I eventually ate nearly all of it. The people there were really friendly and I just loved this visit.

As it happens, the location where Steakburger is and has been for 40+ years, is also within a half mile walking distance of quite a range of housing options. From rentals to condos to large homes built in 2006. Prices range (today's market) from $54,900 to $389,000. There is even a property available on over an acre of land. For more information about homes in this area, or any other places in Clark County, I'm the Natural Choice for your real estate solutions. So call me. Maybe I'll buy you a Steakburger!

Whether you're looking for your first home, or possibly your last, or selling either of them, I have the patience and experience to help you make the best choice in Vancouver Washington. The Natural Choice in real estate is working with a professional real estate agent (me!) at Krogseng Real Estate who listens to your needs and works as a trusted advisor to get the best solution to your housing needs. We will give you a new attitude about real estate. If you are concerned about living a more sustainable lifestyle, Vancouver Washington may be the city for you. I specialize in knowing the neighborhoods in Vancouver Washington that have great walkscore ratings. Whether you want the low-maintenance condo lifestyle, a home that gets you off the grid, or a home that is something in between in Clark County, the natural choice in real estate will be someone that can help you find just the right home and neighborhood. If you're looking for homes that have been certified as green, you'll want to know I keep informed of the newly constructed homes and their various green certifications. Visit Krogseng Real Estate for more information.

My inexpert rendering of Market Trends in Vancouver, WA

I have been tracking the data (yes, even though I haven't posted every week) and this is what it's looking like for the last 16 months. Notice, just like the detail report, we have a declining number of homes for sale and an increasing number of pending.  I think it's reasonable to believe the large number of pending is in part the cause of short sales and bank owned taking multiple months to actually close. Normal closing time from pending to sold is about 45 days. Bank involvement (via short sale or bank owned) pushes the average time to 90 days and often close to 180.

Whether you're looking for your first home, or possibly your last, or selling either of them, I have the patience and experience to help you make the best choice in Vancouver Washington. The Natural Choice in real estate is working with a professional real estate agent (me!) at Krogseng Real Estate who listens to your needs and works as a trusted advisor to get the best solution to your housing needs. We will give you a new attitude about real estate. If you are concerned about living a more sustainable lifestyle, Vancouver Washington may be the city for you. I specialize in knowing the neighborhoods in Vancouver Washington that have great walkscore ratings. Whether you want the low-maintenance condo lifestyle, a home that gets you off the grid, or a home that is something in between in Clark County, the natural choice in real estate will be someone that can help you find just the right home and neighborhood. If you're looking for homes that have been certified as green, you'll want to know I keep informed of the newly constructed homes and their various green certifications. Visit Krogseng Real Estate for more information.

My first jar of Ajvar

I like to shop at Gateway Produce, even before I read about them in VBJ. I like that the produce there generally is from our region. I also enjoy the ethnic selection just because it's a bit different from what I'm accustomed to. That's how I ended up with my first jar of Ajvar. I bought it on a whim, mostly because it said "Hot". After I got home I researched it. And then tasted it.

I'm a Hot Ajvar fan! I don't know if Zergut makes the best bottled ajvar or not, but I enjoy what I know so far. It's best on those little toasty breads from Trader Joe's , but simple sandwich bread nicely toasted works too.

Buying local, from Gateway Produce, is part of our normal shopping routine. If you wanted to live within walking distance of Gateway Produce, you would learn that the homes in the half-mile area that sold recently were between $119,000 and $186,000. Currently three homes on the market range from $128,000 to $194,000. I'm here to help if you'd like more information on this neighborhood.

Whether you're looking for your first home, or possibly your last, or selling either of them, I have the patience and experience to help you make the best choice in Vancouver Washington. The Natural Choice in real estate is working with a professional real estate agent (me!) at Krogseng Real Estate who listens to your needs and works as a trusted advisor to get the best solution to your housing needs. We will give you a new attitude about real estate. If you are concerned about living a more sustainable lifestyle, Vancouver Washington may be the city for you. I specialize in knowing the neighborhoods in Vancouver Washington that have great walkscore ratings. Whether you want the low-maintenance condo lifestyle, a home that gets you off the grid, or a home that is something in between in Clark County, the natural choice in real estate will be someone that can help you find just the right home and neighborhood. If you're looking for homes that have been certified as green, you'll want to know I keep informed of the newly constructed homes and their various green certifications. Visit Krogseng Real Estate for more information.