The 2008 Central Kitsap High School Cougars Varsity Football team (7-3) handed the Rogers Puyallup Rams only their 2nd loss of the season last Saturday night at Silverdale Stadium amidst an ecstatic 4000+ capacity crowd. The 21 to 6 win sends Central Kitsap onto the State Semi-finals in the Tacoma Dome against the (8-2) Issaquah Eagles. The Eagles narrowly escaped with a victory against Bothell (31-28), the same team that knocked Central Kitsap off in the State playoffs last year.

Our son, Elliot, a Senior at Central Kitsap High knows many of the players, including one of his best friends #88 Allen Hewey, pictured above.

The Cougars began the 2008 season with high expectations, having a large number of returning players from last year's winning squad. However, with a rather lackluster 2-3 start, their confidence could have been shaken. But with tremendous determination and 7 consecutive wins under their belts, the Cougars seem poised make a bid on the 4A State championship!

(photo courtesy of the Kitsap Sun)

Real Estate Market Report/Conditions in Kitsap County WA for 11/17/2008

The following is a brief analysis of the combined single-family home and condo market within Kitsap County, Washington for November 2008, provided by Rich Jacobson of Realty Executives Brio, in Silverdale, WA (this includes data for Bainbridge Island WA)

• Properties currently active on the market:  2455
• Properties closed in the last 180 days:  1357
• Average Sales Price:  $318,608
• Average List Price:  $329,358
• Ratio of List Price to Sales Price:  97%
• Average Days on Market:  102
• Sales Pending this Week: 24

Current Market Conditions: Area 150 (East Central Kitsap) continues to be the selling ‘Hot Spot’ here in Kitsap County WA with 6 properties pending this week, and DOM (Days on Market) at 89. Port Orchard (Area 143) had the longest DOM at 152.  The lowest Listing Price to Sales Price ratio  was 92% for Area 161 (Hansville).

Bainbridge Island Stats separately: (Area 170)

• Properties currently Active on the market:  338
• Properties closed in last 180 days:  123
• Average Sales Price:  $671,303
• Average List Price:  $716,862
• Ratio of List Price to Sales Price:  94%
• Average Days on Market:  101
• Sales Pending this week: 2

In a recent Kitsap Sun news article submitted by Rachel Pritchett, home values in Kitsap County WA have been estimated to have fallen 12 percent since the Spring of 2007, and are now back down at 2005 levels, according to Seattle-based company Zillow.com, which calculates its home values based on median price, tax assessments, physical characteristics of the house, and comparable sales.

For more additional information and resources concerning real estate in Kitsap County WA and the Western Puget Sound, access my website, Kitsap Life.

Real Estate Market Report for Kitsap County WA issued 10/07/2008

The following is a brief analysis of the combined single-family home and condo market within Kitsap County, Washington for October 2008, provided by Rich Jacobson of Realty Executives Brio, in Silverdale, WA (this includes data for Bainbridge Island WA)

• Properties currently active on the market:  2599
• Properties closed in the last 180 days:  1386
• Average Sales Price:  $327,432
• Average List Price:  $338,006
• Ratio of List Price to Sales Price:  94%
• Average Days on Market:  101
• Sales Pending this Week:  13

Current Market Conditions: Area 150 (East Central Kitsap) and Area 166 (Poulsbo) share the highest ratio of List Price vs. Sale Price with 99%.  The lowest ratio was 93% for Area 161 (Hansville). Shortest Days on Market (DOM) was Area 149 (East Bremerton) at 74, and Area 166 (Poulsbo) coming in 2nd with 79. Longest DOM goes to Area 168 (Indianola) with 150, followed by Area 167 (Suquamish) at 126.

Bainbridge Island Stats separately: (Area 170)

• Properties currently Active on the market:  367
• Properties closed in last 180 days:  137
• Average Sales Price:  $697,159
• Average List Price:  $738,505
• Ratio of List Price to Sales Price:  94%
• Average Days on Market:  105
• Sales Pending this week:  0

According to a recent Kitsap Sun news article, home prices have dropped by 18% when compared to this time last year. However, pending sales experienced a very sharp 31% increase in the month of September, but don’t expect that to be as robust as we head into the Winter months.

For Buyers: While current market conditions obviously favor Buyers, obtaining loan approval can have its challenges. Meet with an experienced local Loan Officer first, to verify that buying a home is within your budget, and ensure that you qualify.

For Sellers: Sellers must be prepared to ‘pull out all the stops’ to be successful in selling their homes. You must be priced aggressively and prepare the house to show well. Consider incentives, like a Buyers Home Warranty plan. Consult with your Listing Agent to determine ways to make your home stand out from the crowd.

For more additional information and resources concerning real estate in Kitsap County WA and the Western Puget Sound, access my website, Kitsap Life.

This coming Friday could be Doomsday for the long awaited and much-anticipated Olympic View Marina Project out in Seabeck.

How this has remained under my radar, I have no idea. Tonight, while taking a walk with my wife, I ran across fellow RE agent, Nick Blickhan (Nick and I had worked together at the Windermere office here in Silverdale).

As a waterfront resident of Seabeck WA, Nick has been keeping close tabs on the progress, or lack thereof, of the Olympic View LLC Marina Project. Four partners purchased the fledging property a few years ago, and put together a very detailed development plan. At considerable expense, they effectively jumped through each and every hoop that the County and State required, and in most instances, went way beyond what was necessary. From every indication, it appeared that things were moving forward, and the much needed marina would become a reality.

Unfortunately, due in large part to one lone, dissenting squeaky wheel, the ear of the WA Department of Ecology has been effectively bent, and it appears that the project is headed to a devastating demise. Evidently, the neighborhood squeaky wheel is one of these types who defines/measures ‘Smart’ growth by how far you can bury your head in the sand.

Nevermind that the dire needs of the many clearly outweighs the preferences of the few, or, in this case, the one.

Nevermind that the partners paid exceptionally close attention to detail in their plans towards maintaining and even enhancing the existing environmental integrity of the areas impacted by the proposed marina development.

Nevermind that the marina would have a very positive impact on the financial stability of existing Seabeck merchants/businesses, and long-term residential property values.

Nevermind that area boat owners would finally have badly needed basic marina services and mooring space available. The closest marina is Pleasant Harbor, over on the western side of Hood Canal, just south of Brinnon. You can moor your boat there, but it takes nearly an hour by car to get there.

The Olympic View Marina Project should make complete sense - ecologically, or otherwise. While it could be argued that some commercial developments are not necessarily environmental-friendly, this project clearly fulfills the demand for highest and best use. Although Kitsap County Commissioner, Josh Brown, has voiced his full support for this project, but his influence may not be enough to affect the outcome.

The WA State Department of Ecology is issuing their final verdict on the project this Friday. In my humble opinion, the Dept needs to step up and display some backbone. Rather than buckling under the incessant whining of one solitary voice, the project should be measured and approved on the merits of the significant positive impact it will have on the environment/habitat, and the true value that quality marina services will offer to our community.

As many of you may know, my wife, Janice, is a 5th grade teacher at Brownsville Elementary School in the Central Kitsap School District here in scenic Kitsap County WA.

She received a phone call today from her Principal, who informed her that the WASL scores (WA Assessment of Student Learning) had come in. Evidently, in years past, the Science scores for her school haven't been all that good. One school within the district in particular, Emerald Heights, has historically held the highest scores for her grade level.

Well, according to the new score results my wife's class this past year had the highest science scores, and not just for her school, but for the entire district!

I am so proud of my wife! She is always so hard on herself, and never gives herself the credit she is due. She is one of the most gifted and dedicated teachers I have ever known. Her kids love her and obviously learn a lot from her!

I thought it would be fun, just to mix things up a bit, to share small snapshots into my life. Nothing major or heavy. Just kinda light-hearted and fun. I think we all need more of that, don't you?

Okay, so today I'm outside, enjoying an incredibly beautiful Pacific Northwest sunny day, washing the Jacobson fleet of cars (my gas-guzzling Expedition; the wife's 'Benz, and the kids beat-up Mazda Protege).

Since it's so warm out, and I'm using the hose rather liberally, I opt to go shirt-less.

About this time, we usually hear one of the neighbor kids yell, "Thar She blows!"

We even occasionally get the SPCA Emergency Response Team to show up from reports of a 'beached' whale.

So I'm out washing our cars, when my youngest son, Luke (you know, the one who should be out here helping me, but is too busy watching TV), yells at me from the upstairs window:

"Hey, Dad! Some of my buddies are coming over in a few minutes. Can you put your shirt back on?"

Alright, so where is that Richard Simmon's "Sweatin' to the Oldies" CD?

This coming weekend is the final opportunity for you to dig up the ever illusive, yet delectable, Razor Clam!

If you've never ventured out to the coast to try your hand at capturing these evasive shellfish, you're in for quite a treat! Not only are they fun to catch, but you'll find them incredibly delicious as well.

For all the details on the upcoming dig - including times, beaches, tides, how-to-dig, how-to-clean, how-to-cook....simply click on thru to SOUNDBITEBLOG.

brought to you by the Blog Frog and his friends, Sparky & Buckwheat

I find it rather comforting. Strangely soothing. Driving down a long stretch of road, the dotted white line mesmerising, nearly hypnotic.

My peripheral is blurred, out of focus. There are no other concerns. The incessant noise is filtered out. All is Quiet on the Western Front of my Life. For now...

I do my best thinking (or lack thereof) when I drive. The rest of the world, all the worries, all the concerns of life, temporarily abated. Silenced by the good engineers at Ford.

I wish I didn't have a destitnation. That, in and of itself, tells me that there will be an eventual end to my momentary solace of solitude. Those spontaneous "I have no idea where I'm going!" kind of trips are usually the best. But I don't have that luxury today.

If only I could just keep on driving today....and never concern myself with having to actually 'arrive' somewhere. Whenever you 'arrive' at a destination, reality always sets in.

As a result of yesterday's cliff hanging victory against the Texas Longhorns, the Kansas Jayhawks secured a #1 seed in the upcoming 2008 NCAA Tournament.

The brackets for this year's 'Dance' were released yesterday afternoon. The first round opponent the Crimson & Blue will face are the Vikings of Portland State, a 16 seed out of Oregon. The game will take place this Thursday March 20th at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Tip-off time is 12:25pm EDT.

I have KU going all the way to the Final Four and winning this year's NCAA Tournament. Rounding out my Final Four predictions are North Carolina, Memphis, and UCLA.

Rock Chalk, Jayhawk. GO KU!