Fabulous Cheeses and Wines Event in Fairhaven - 06/29/07 03:32 PM
I my attempt to keep you readers informed of what'sgoing on in Bellingham, I ran across a Cheese and Wine Event.
Friday (6/29) and Saturday (6/30), come taste with the experts! Quel Formage, the premier shop for artisan cheese and all things cheese in the historic Fairhavendistrict, welcomes nationally recognized wine and cheese expert Max McCalman, author of The Cheese Plate and Cheese: A Connoisseur's Guide to the World's Best. This memorable evening will not only be enjoyable for the expert cheese lover, but also a chance for the novice to expand their knowledge of cheese types, texture and pairing wine with your … (0 comments)
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The 23rd annual Lake Whatcom boat parade on Fourth of July. - 06/29/07 03:18 PM
The 23rd annual Lake Whatcom boat parade will take place on the Fourth of July.
The parade begins at 3 p.m. with the firing of a Civil War-era cannon. As many as 36 boats, including wooden classics, steam engine and ski boats, will participate. It begins at Strawberry Point and will follow the shoreline clockwise for about 90 minutes.
A few great spots to watch from are the dock area of Bloedel Donovan Park, the end of Cable Street and other street ends off North Shore Drive.
I've never seen it before but it sounds like something I will try and do this … (0 comments)
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Bellingham makes it onto yet another "Best Places" list. - 06/29/07 03:12 PM
It has happened again. Bellingham makes it onto yet another "Best Places" list.This time it is Mother Earth News naming Bellingham among the "Eight Great Places You've Never Heard Of." That seems kind of odd to me considering Bellingham has been discovered and made so many "Best Places" lists the past few years. I guess Mother Earth News just hasn't been paying attention.
The list is all about the cities' dedication to renewable energy, local farmers and other "green" efforts. Dave Wann, who wrote the article, said that he has never been to Bellingham, but that he has heard great things about … (0 comments)
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Whatcom County, the 10th fastest-growing county in Washington State. - 06/28/07 07:41 PM
Whatcom County is the 10th fastest-growing county in Washington State. Bellingham's growth was 44% of those new people. These stats came from the Office of Financial Management. It is no wonder we are growing we keep ending up on everyone's "Best Places to Live" list and prices are still relatively low by Seattle standards .
Whatcom County's fastest growing city this past year was its smallest, Nooksack gained 71 people, giving it a total of 1,075 people this year. That's a 7.1 percent increase over 2006.
The state office uses changes in school enrollment, housing, voter registrations, driver's license applications and other indicators … (2 comments)
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South Neighborhood - Bellingham - 06/28/07 05:59 PM
At the southern edge of Bellingham, the South Neighborhood is home to over 1,500 Bellingham residents. There are large areas of undeveloped property with significant natural features that help define the character of the neighborhood. The northern end of the Chuckanut Mountains are here rising out of Chuckanut Creek. Chuckanut Bay is another significant area within the neighborhood. It is an historic site as well as a unique natural recreational resource. Hoag's Pond, Chuckanut Creek, and the marsh area along the interurban right-of-way are all part of this neighborhood. Chuckanut Village perhaps epitomizes the historical character of the area with the … (0 comments)
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Edgemoor Neighborhood - Bellingham - 06/27/07 06:38 PM
Edgemoor has some of the finest homes in Bellingham. It is located in the south of Bellingham in close proximity to Fairhaven and the South Neighborhood featuring Fairhaven Park and west of Chuckanut Drive. The views from some of the homes in this area are just magnificent ones of the Bay and Islands. Many of the homes are on large lots with mature landscaping and feature Bellingham's most prestigeous, well maintained homes.
Clark's Point, extends into Bellingham Bay, it is a large, steep, heavily wooded peninsula that is protected from further development with a conservation easement. The city greenway and tidelands … (1 comments)
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South Neighborhood - 06/27/07 05:32 PM
At the southern edge of Bellingham, the South Neighborhood is home to over 1,500 Bellingham residents. There are large areas of undeveloped property with significant natural features that help define the character of the neighborhood. The northern end of the Chuckanut Mountains are here rising out of Chuckanut Creek. Chuckanut Bay is another significant area within the neighborhood. It is an historic site as well as a unique natural recreational resource. Hoag's Pond, Chuckanut Creek, and the marsh area along the interurban right-of-way are all part of this neighooorhood. Chuckanut Village perhaps epitomizes the historical character of the area with the … (0 comments)
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The Bellingham Real Estate Investors Network - 06/27/07 02:31 PM
The Bellingham Real Estate Investors Network(BREIN) will be presenting Dwan Bent-Twyford tonight June 27 6 p.m. at Fox Hall. She will be talking about short sales, hot topic of late due to all the national exposure of the subprime mortgage meltdown and foreclosures being at an all-time high
The Bellingham Real Estate Investors Network (BREIN) states:" Our Mission is to educate real estate investors and inspire them to ethically achieve success."
"We will provide networking opportunities to investors, prospective investors and to those who provide value and services to our members. The Bellingham Real Estate Investor Network meets the 4th Wednesday of the … (0 comments)
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National Night Out Against Crime - 06/26/07 07:12 PM
National Night Out Against Crime will be held on - August 7, 2007. It is a time for communities to come together, build relationships and stand united against crime. Neighborhoods are encouraged to have an outside event planned for the evening. "A going away party for the criminals... if you will!" Check out what is going on in your town.
The focus here in Bellingham is making our city a safer place to live.
The 23nd Annual National Night Out Against Crime was held on Tuesday, August 1st, 2006. It had participants from 10,000 communities. All 50 states, US Territories, Canadian cities, and military bases … (3 comments)
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Who says Bellingham Real Estate is Overvalued? - 06/25/07 07:17 PM
The Bellingham Herald recently published an article about home prices in Bellingham being overvalued by 47% no less. This housing valuation analysis was done by Global Insight Inc. and National City Corp. who ranked the Bellingham area as the 20th most overvalued housing market out of 317 metro areas.
I would certainly take this study with a grain of salt. Are those who are putting out this study doing their research from a cubicle somewhere in the desert perhaps, or maybe a wheatfield in the middle of the country.
Bellingham real estate prices continue to slowly climb while much of the rest … (3 comments)
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Bellingham Bay History Cruises - Every Tuesday this Summer - 06/22/07 02:53 PM
The Whatcom Museumin assosiation with Island Mariner Cruises have set up their summer schedule for the Bellingham Bay History Cruises.
Every summer Thursday -- June 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26, August 9, and 16 -- ayou can board the boat and listen to Museum Curator of Education Richard Vanderway provide commentary about local tradition, lore and scenic views of Bellingham and it's history.
The sunset cruise allows those on board to learn more about the fascinating history of Bellingham Bay. The cruise travels past waterways,shipyards, historic points of interest, fishing activities,the working waterfront of the harbor, past Fairhaven and down the Chuckanut … (2 comments)
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Small and Simple Grants boost community projects in Bellingham - 06/22/07 02:37 PM
The city's Small and Simple Grants program has recently awarded a total of 23 projects awards totaling $44,000 for projects that provide city-wide benefits. Each project will recieve up to $2500.
"Small and Simple projects provide a unique and important opportunity for neighborhoods to match their volunteer efforts with cash to finance wonderful projects and community events in Bellingham," said Mayor Tim Douglas. Neighborhood associations, community organizations, schools, and other similar groups and agencies are eligible for these funds.
Projects for 2007 include elementary school and park improvements, tree plantings, neighborhood signs, community events, music performances, neighborhood newsletters, and community support programs.
For more … (0 comments)
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Lummi Nation's 61st annual Stommish Water Festival - 06/22/07 02:28 PM
Don't miss this weekend's Lummi Nation's 61st annual Stommish Water Festival.
"For thousands of years, the first inhabitants of this area celebrated with song and dance as tribes and local villages gathered in the Spirit of the Potlatch. These are our Ancestral Highways -- these waters of the Puget Sound. Since the late 1800's the governments of Canada and United States outlawed these gatherings in the hope of destroying the love and spirit of the Potlatch. After WWII, the Lummis began celebrating the return of our service men and women, "our Warriors." Stommish has since become the annual gathering of canoe tribes … (0 comments)
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Bellingham Inernational Airport - 06/21/07 05:50 PM
Yes it is true, Bellingham actually has an interational airport(BLI). The airport is growing and has 200,000 travellers a year passing through it's gates according to the Port of Bellingham. They call it a full service airport serveing the commercial, general aviation, and corporate air transportation needs of the region. It is about a 40 minute trip to SeaTac airport.
It is a small airport so it has it' lots easier to navigate and deal with than the larger airports of the world.
The Bellingham airport presently houses an aviation museum. The Heritage Flight Museum is a private, non-profit aircraft museum. check for operating … (1 comments)
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The Birchwood Neighborhood - Bellingham - 06/21/07 05:23 PM
The Birchwood neighborhood is well known for it's older, well-kept homes built on large lots. Many of the deep lots in the neighborhood are 1/3 acre or moe. These large lots, & mature landscaping, give a rural feel to the neighborhood. Apartment complexes have been constructed in the multifamily zoned areas primarily along Northwest Avenue and W. Maplewood in recent years . There is also a commercial area located near the intersection of Northwest, W. Maplewood and Birchwood Avenue providing services to the Birchwood, Cornwall Park and Columbia neighborhoods.
The Bellingham Golf and Country Club, the Squalicum Creek greenbelt, Bellingham Technical … (0 comments)
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Free & Cheap Phone Service - Jajah - 06/19/07 03:00 PM
Have you heard of Jajah.com it is a great site for internet phone service. It is free between Jajah members and pretty cheap otherwise. My wife is in Thailand and the charge there is 4 cents a minute, as compared to a phone card I had been using at 10 cents/minute. And you are actually talking over telephones not speakers on the computer or some special phone you need to buy. Once you join, you input a nimber on their webpage and your phone rings and you get a message that Jajah is connecting you, then your friends phone rins.
Easy and … (3 comments)
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Marine Drive Trail and it's Park - 06/18/07 05:27 PM
Just off of Marine Drive in the north of Bellingham is Marine Drive Trail. There is a small park above the trail with outstanding island views, a small parking lot where I often see people sitting and relaxing or reading a book. The trail is right below the park, I'm disabled so I can't exactly tell you where the trail goes, I just enjoy the park.
… (1 comments)
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Bellingham's Waterfont - 06/18/07 05:07 PM
Welcome to Bellingham's Waterfront!
We here in Bellingham are blessed with a beautiful waterfront indeed. Not only do we have several waterfront parks but a working harbor and marina.
Squalicum Harbor is home to as many as 1800 boats, many pleasure boats of all kinds and sizes as well as a working fishing fleet and charter fleets. With the San Juan & Gulf Islands in our backyard it is no wonder there are so many boaters anxious to take the short trip to the islands. If you don't have your own boat, lots of charters available as well as whale watching trips in the … (0 comments)
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Bellingham's Community Food Co-op - 06/17/07 06:09 PM
Bellingham's Community Food Co-op, natural food at it's finest.
The Co-op was fonded in 1970 in Fairhaven as a 900-square-foot store with fewer than 10 items has grown to an 11,000-member-strong natural grocery store and soon expanding again to a second store in the Cordata Neighborhood. I remember that old store and the early days as I worked in the co-op wrapping cheese and sorting things in exchange for my membership.
Membership is encouraged but everyone is welcome to shop there.
If you are looking for organic produce, meat and seafood, wine, an exciting deli, a juice & espresso bar, bulk items, natural and organic … (1 comments)
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Need some Help with Projects around the House - 06/17/07 05:29 PM
Here is an interesting site I ran across for Do-it-youselfers out there. It is called Referbur. It is a social network or community of handymen & women and Do-ti-yourselfers, sharing ideas & advise. There is a group for everything these days isn't there. This should be useful if you need help with any home improvement projects.
While we are on the subject there is also a great resource for home projects at America's Master Handymansite as well - that would be Glenn Haege. He has a huge collection of articles on anything you want to know about home repairs and resources for … (0 comments)
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Open House Ideas - 06/15/07 04:59 PM
I just read a post on Open Houses and started thinking about a few ideas I want to try for my next open house.
1. Have a drawing for theater tickets to every open house visitor who came by and subscribes to you email or snail mail newsletter .
2. Have several free copies of real estate reports available, making sure to offer a copy to every open house visitor.
3. Offer homeowners a free CMA of their home, even if they aren't thinking about selling soon.
4. An idea I got from someone here at AR. Candy bars with a custom made wrapper with … (21 comments)
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1-800-FREE-411 - 06/15/07 02:53 PM
Are you still paying $1 or more to get phone numbers from information at 411. Switch to 1-800-FREE-411 and get those phone numbers for free. You may have to listen to a brief commercial but hey why pay the phone company when someone else is willing to pick up the tab. Program it into your cell phone address book for easy access.
… (7 comments)
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Maplandia - Find your town - 06/15/07 01:54 PM
Here is an interesting take on Google maps. This free service is Maplandia.com http://www.maplandia.com This new service organizes Google maps site maps and satellite images by country and continent. Maplandia will creatke an HTML link you can paste into your blog so folks dropping by can see the map with one click.
… (0 comments)
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The American Museum of Radio and Electricity - Bellingham - 06/14/07 11:14 PM
The American Museum of Radio and Electricity, located at 1312 Bay Street in downtown Bellingham is a nique museum that houses a collection of nationally recognized vintage radios and other electronic devices. All of the ancestors of the cell phone, high-speed internet and cable television.
The museum is dedicated to the history of the scientific exploration of electricity, and the the preservation of antique radios, the golden age of radio, and the dawning of the wireless age. It began in 1985 as "The Bellingham Antique Radio Museum" with Jonathan Winter as it's founder. It was his collection of over 800 vintage radios, dating from the early … (2 comments)
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Zillow to have automatic listing uploads for Brokers - 06/14/07 04:17 PM
From Jeff Somers at Zillow Blog:
"Soon, we will be launching the capability for brokers to automatically upload their active listings for free to Zillow, reaching the more than 4 million people who come to the site every month - more than half of whom are in the market to buy or sell.
Even when we first launched the ability for listing agents and brokers to add their listings for free to Zillow last December, we knew we wanted to find ways to make the process even easier. We have talked with numerous agents and brokers around the country - and we … (4 comments)
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How green is your town - driving hybrids - 06/13/07 07:37 PM
I ran across an interesting website today about Hybrid Cars. One of the things of interest is the Hybrid Market Dashboard where there are ratings for states and cities witih the most hybrids. We are doing well in Washington ranking #5 in States with the highest hybrid sales and States where hybrids are most popular. Where does your city stand? Also great info if your in the market for a new car and are thinking Hybrid. … (5 comments)
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The Whatcom Museum of History & Art - 06/13/07 07:28 PM
The Whatcom Museum of History & Art is one of the most interesting and unusual buildings in Bellingham. The red brick Victorian building is trimmed with Chuckanut sandstone. It houses some permanent exhibits of cultural and natural artifacts that trace Bellingham's early history as well as a vast collection of images of local historical value. Temporary exhibits vary widely from things of local significance and artists to international shows like the recent Rodin Exhibit. The beautiful old building that is home to the museum was built in 1892 as the City Hall. By 1939, a new city hall was built and the old building … (1 comments)
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Sehome Neighborhood - Bellingham, WA - 06/13/07 01:05 PM
The Sehome neighborhood is located northeast of Western Washington University, and the Arboretum on Sehome Hill which tops out at 650 feet above Bellingham Bay. It is one of Bellingham's older neighborhoods and it's history adds alot to Bellingham, it is once a town on its own and one of the 4 towns that combined to become Bellingham. Sehome became New Whatcom and joined Whatcom and later Fairhaven and Bellingham to be the city we know today .
The Sehome Hill Arboretum is 165-acres of open space that is owned and managed jointly by Western Washington University and the City of Bellingham … (0 comments)
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The Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood - Bellingham - 06/09/07 08:11 PM
The Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood is one of the fastest growing and most popular areas of the city. It was annexed to Bellingham in the 1990s The Cordata portion of the neighborhood was originally developed as a suburban business park, with greenbelts and tree-lined streets. Over time, the area has changed to include a significant residential and condominium component. It is also a major retail neighborhood including Bellis Fair Mall and several other smaller shopping centers with many national chain stores including Walmart, Costco, Best Buy, Home Depot and lots of smaller stores as well. There are plenty of restaurants and hotels … (0 comments)
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Foreclosures - everybody wants one - 06/09/07 07:05 PM
I stopped in at the courthouse the other day to see what was being auctioned off at the foreclosure sale. Four properties were on the list for auction, each one postponed until further notice. So I thought I would take that experience to task and write a bit about foreclosure investing as there is lots of talk about it foreclosures due to the suprime mortgage news. Investors often look at foreclosure as a 3 step process.
First is the pre-foreclosure stage where the homeowner is being in their mortgage payments and the the bank has started the process of foreclosure, this … (5 comments)
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Giveaway of the Day - Free Software - 06/08/07 07:36 PM
For those of you tech oriented folks out there, here is an interesting site I recently ran across I would like to share with you. Giveaway of the Day - Free Software Everyday they offer a different downlosd of some software for free that you would normaly have to pay for, but only for one day If you miss it today you have to pay, but there will be a free download tomorrow. They have had some interesting titles like converting RSS feeds to voice so your cmputer will read them to you, and Power point presntations to video.
You never know … (0 comments)
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What are the schools like? - 06/07/07 10:12 PM
What are the schools like? A pretty common question from relocating buyers with kids. Everyone wants what's best for their chidren. And a good education is at the top of the list.
Here are some good resources to get that information:
If you are interested in Bellingham Schools visit their website as well as checking these other sites which all rate schools nationwide
http://www.localschooldirectory.com/
http://www.greatschools.net/
http://www.publicschoolreview.com/
… (2 comments)
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The Deming Logging Show - June 9 & 10 - 06/07/07 09:44 PM
The Deming Logging Show is happening this weekend June 9 & 10. The show is a fundraiser to help injured loggers and their families in times of need, by sending them a disability check.
The first Deming Logging Show took place in 1962 in a field outside of Deming. The need for the Deming Logging Show became apparent, when severely injured loggers needed help. Six years later, the Deming Logging Show moved a few miles to it's new home .
There are more things to do and see today than in the past. From new events and logging exhibits, to machinery and logging … (0 comments)
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Fairhaven Wednesday Market Began Today - 06/06/07 08:18 PM
Today is the start of the Wednesday Fairhaven Farmer's Market. The market will run every Wednesday through th end of September at the Village Green between the hours of 3 pm - 7 pm. It is a smaller version of the Bellingham Saturday market, with some of the same farmers and vendors, and some that are only here. A few farmers with fresh veggies, a few of the usual food vendors, today there was East Indian food, baked goods, pretzels and an assortment of crafts from home made soap to creative magnets, colorful scarves and lots of banners that give the … (1 comments)
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7044 Austin Pass Rd Glacier, WA - 06/06/07 07:58 PM
Put your finishing touches into this 2BR charming chalet with full bath on main floor & large loft area with 3/4BA. Light pours into the great room through large windows, cozy propane fireplace in cultured stone hearth, open kitchen with maple cabinets. Marble countertops, Maytag stainless appliances & commercial gas range. Tile floors in baths & main living areas, loft, fir interior doors, recessed lighting. High tech cabling. Sunny lot in Snowline with pool, tennis, clubhouse & play area. HOD $560/yr.
… (0 comments)
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Dual Blogging - 06/06/07 03:03 PM
This AR is an interesting place, unlike other blogs that we do, or anyone else does we have dual audiences here, It's actually more like 2 places in 1, or dual blogs.
1. We are blogging to the general public to try and gain recognition and earn their trust to create some business or Blogging for dollars
2. We are blogging to our peers in the real estate community, for some other kind of recognition, sharing knowledge, points, possibility of referals, popularity contests.
Your posts to the real estate community have been very helpful to me and I look forward to reading lots of them. There are … (2 comments)
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The Columbia Neighborhood - Bellingham, WA - 06/05/07 10:35 PM
The Columbia Neighborhood is one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. The overwhelming majority of homes within this neighborhood are single family sitting on narrow tree-lined streets with mature landscaping and large old trees.. The southernmost portion of the neighborhood, near the bay is identified as the Eldridge Historical District, it contains many large, historically significant homes recognized by the Eldridge Historical Society. Many of these turn of the centuty homes bear plaques with the names of original owners and years the homes were built near their front doors. The northern portion of the neighborhood has wider streets and newer developments built … (0 comments)
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Where does your city stand in terms of appreciation - 06/03/07 01:36 PM
Are you interested in finding out where your city stands in terms of real estate appreciation. Check out thre Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight's house price index website.
Washington state (11.6 percent), continues to be among the leaders in terms of highest price appreciation, along with Utah (17 percent), Idaho (12.3 percent), Montana (11.7 percent) and Wyoming (11.7 percent). Massachusetts and Michigan actually experienced declines, the first time any state has had that happen in seven years, said OFHEO Chief Economist Patrick Lawler
The report takes into acount mortgage refinances as well as just purchases, so I believe it is not … (7 comments)
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Whatcom County real estate appreciates 8.2% in First quarter 2007 - 06/03/07 01:17 PM
According to the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight's house price index, Whatcom County's housing prices have appreciated 8.2% higher in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the fourth quarter of 2006, home prices appreciated 1.85%. This data put Bellingham in 49th place at 265 metropolitan areas that were surveyed in terms of home appreciation. Washington State continues to be one of the nation's leaders with 11.6% increase behind Utah (17%), Idaho (12.3 %), Montana (11.7 %) and Wyoming (11.7 %). Wenatchee (25.6 % increase) was number one in the nation,
Check out the graphs for Bellingham Real residential real … (1 comments)
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Google PR - anyone have any ideas how it works and how to get yours higher - 06/01/07 02:46 PM
Not only do we have rank and points here in AR, but our webpages are ranked by the all powerful Google.
I know they think it is the pages importance and how many people are linking to it, but there is obviouly more to it than that, and I just wonder if anyone has figured out the secret to getting higher PR. I have been fortunate to have my page come up usually in 3rd position in search for Bellingham Real Estate. But just this week the PR on several of my sites decreased, Links are the same, I seem to be … (2 comments)
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May Condo Sales Graph for Bellingham - 06/01/07 02:20 PM
Here is a graphical view of May's condo Sales for Bellingham as compared to last year. Looks like we had a sizeable decrease in average sales price this is very interesting as Residential sales prices continue to rise. 4 fewer condo sold this year in May of 2007 as compared to May of 2006 and they took close to the same time to sell. Looks like a 7% decrease in average Bellingham Condo sales prices so far this year as compared to last. So Looks like Berllingham Condos might be a good buy right now.
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May Residential Sales Graph for Bellingham - 06/01/07 01:28 PM
Here is a graphical view of Mays residential Real Estate Sales for Bellingham as compared to last year.
It seems like there was a slight increases in average price and median price, once again this month the number of units sold is down and days on the market is up. We still seem to be bucking the national trend here in the Northwest with prices creeping up instead of falling as a lot of the rest of the country. Values have increased almost 2.5% for 2007 as compared to 2006 so far this year.
… (0 comments)
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