misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Bellingham Real Estate Market Absorption Trends - July 2011
- 07/10/11 11:29 AM
Here's an interesting way to look at the Bellingham Real Estate Market
If you’d like any information or want to see any Bellingham Real Estate feel free to email me at or give me a call at 360-739-6981
… (0 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: CITI quick on short sale response
- 07/10/11 11:14 AM
Wow, was I shocked when within 5 days of turning in my Short Sale package to CITI Mortgage, I got a call from them telling me they had received my package and assigned a negotiator. and the very next day I got a call from an agent who was wanting to do a BPO on the house.
When I spoke to the negotiator and thanked her for her timely response, she said CITI was trying to speed things up in their short sale department.
Well maybe the time has come, when short sales may actually be short in time, let's hope … (1 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Celebrate Independence Day
- 07/04/11 10:40 AM
Bellingham Fireworks Show
Zuanich Point Park is the place to celebrate the Fourth of July with a fireworks show, five bands and a Kids Zone, all for free at. Live music begins at 1 p.m. with the Clearbrook Dixie Band and finishes up with the Motown Cruisers. before the fireworks.
Vendors will offer food and crafts from 1 to 10 pm at the event. The Silver Reef Casino is hosting a beer garden featuring Boundary Bay brews from 5 to 11 pm and the big show, the Fireworks will start about 10:30 p.m.
Parking is limited but you can take … (2 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Elizabeth Park Concert Series Begins
- 06/23/11 07:40 AM
Elizabeth Park Concert Series begins tonight with Matt Audette and the Circle of Friends Band at 6 - pm, where else but at Bellingham's beautiful Elizabeth Park. The Series sponsored by the Eldridge Society for History and Preservation continues Thursday night through August 25th.
Here's the summer line up:
June 23 "Matt Audette and 'Circle of Friends' Band" June 30 "Stirred Not Shaken" July 7 "Kris Orlowski" July 14 "Clearbrook Dixie Band" July 21 "Juba Marimba" July 28 "bandZandt" August 4 "What the Chelm" August 11 "Armadilla Slim & the Jaded Lovers" August 18 "Prozac Mountain Boys" August 25 … (1 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Bellingham's Farmer's Market #1 in Sunset Magazines Top 10 Farmer's Market
- 06/21/11 04:12 PM
It's no wonder to me that Sunset Magazines chose Bellingham's Farmer's Market #1 in their list of top 10 farmer's markets.
The market has been a hit since it opened back in 1993 when a dedicated group of locals had the vision to see locally grown produce sold downtown. The market has expanded to be what it is today, a destination for locals and visitors alike to shop for fresh, local organic fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, as well as locally made crafts from pottery to hand made clothes,jewelry, art, even beautifully hand crafted wooden Peace Poles. Some folks just come for lunch from … (1 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Interest rates drop for 8th straight week
- 06/09/11 08:39 AM
If your thinking about buying a home consider this. Fixed rate mortgages have dropped for an eighth straight week! The average rate for a 30-year mortgage went to 4.49 percent from 4.55 percent, Freddie Mac said Thursday. The average rate on the 15-year fixed home loan, fell to 3.68 percent from 3.74 percent. These are both lows for the year. Rates tend to track the yield on the 10-year Treasury note. The 10-year yield has been dropping as investors have snapped up Treasurys over fears that the economy is slowing. These average mortgage rates are calculated by Freddie Mac, who collects … (0 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Fannie Mae's HomePath Mortgage can be a great deal for a buyer.
- 05/25/11 10:05 AM
HomePath Mortgage in Bellingham WA
The HomePath Mortgage is a home loan that will allow borrowers to purchase a Fannie Mae owned property with as little as 3% down and with no mortgage insurance, which is normally required with down payments of less than 20%. The buyer saves several hundred dollars compared to a regular purchase as the HomePath Mortgage guidelines state that there is no need for a lender requested appraisal.
The HomePath Mortgage offers just about any product that is available in the open market (Fixed rate, adjustable rate (ARM), and interest only products) with better terms.They also allow … (0 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Buy Now Vs Buy Later
- 05/21/11 09:00 AM
If your waiting or the market to decline some more before buying that new home, you might also want to consider what effect the interest rates will have on your payment. Take a look at this scenario for something to think about.
If you're sitting on the fence and thinking about whether to buy a house now or wait and see if the market keeps declining this might interest you. You see even as the market goes down and interest rates rise you may save money by buying now. Let's look at somebody buying a $300,000 home. Let's assume they're … (2 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Free Oil Tank Insurance – PLIA in WA State
- 04/02/11 07:23 AM
Thanks to Marybeth Cicirello from our Seattle office for this information. It is important for some homeowners with underground oil tanks to know about.
If you own a house with an oil tank make sure that you’re on file with WA state as having PLIA (Pollution Liability Insurance Program) insurance (which covers up to $60,000 in costs). It’s Free! Here's a link to an interesting flyer about the program.
Here's her story.
" I represented two wonderful buyers in a successful transaction on upper Queen Anne hill. They were wonderful people who were in a seemingly wonderful contract until the true … (0 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Whatcom County is the sixth healthiest county in Washington state
- 03/31/11 11:01 AM
According to 2011 report by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Whatcom County is the sixth healthiest county in Washington state which brings us up one spot from last year. San Juan County was at the top of the list.
"Where we're doing really well is mortality. Our rate of premature death is below both the national benchmark and Washington state's rate," said Susan Sloan, health information specialist for the Whatcom County Health Department.
The County Health Rankings were broken into four categories: health behavior, clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment.
Adult obesity … (0 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Visit a Mom and Pop Business – 365 Things To Do In Bellingham, WA – Day 210
- 03/29/11 07:24 AM
March 29 is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day. The day is recognizes small business owners, especially married couple business owner teams that work and commune together.
The WWU Small Business Development Center , Sustainable Connections, Downtown Bellingham Partnership, Fools Onion Catering, The Upfront Theatre, North Fork Brewery and the Amadeus Project, have worked with local mom and pop businesses to organize the local festivities and recognize small business owners here in Bellingham.
A map and directory of Mom and Pop businesses is available starting at the Downtown Bellingham Partnership at 1304 Cornwall Ave.
Here are a few of our … (0 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Bellingham is a great place for Boats
- 03/29/11 07:21 AM
Bellingham is a great place for if your into boats. Bellingham residents and visitors can take advantage of all kinds of boats sailboats, power boats, row boats, canoes and kayaks and more.
We have convenient access to, the San Juan Islands and the Gulf Islands of British Columbia. For those into lake boating and sports like water skiing we have, Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish, and for human powered boats there's , Lake Padden, Emerald Lake, and Cain and Reed Lake's.
Squalicum Harbor is full service marina offering year around public moorage as well as visitor moorage facilities. Squalicum Harbor is … (0 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: More Accolades for Bellingham
- 01/22/11 02:14 PM
Whatcom County ranks No. 2 in US for vitality of independent businesses, in a new report about the vitality of independent retailers in the US. The Bellingham metro area - which includes all of Whatcom County ranked second out of 363 metro areas studied. The top spot went to Ocean City, N.J.; followed by Bellingham, Medford, Ore.; Carson City, Nev.; and San Jose, Calif.
Whatcom County residents have a regularly supported local, independent businesses.
The survey takes metro areas and looked at the amount of sales from major chain stores to determine market saturation. The less chain store saturation, the higher the ranking … (2 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Bellingham Wins $350,000 EPA Grant as Climate Showcase Community
- 03/01/10 08:16 AM
Bellingham has just been awarded an EPA grant as a Climate Showcase Community (CSC). The goal of the grant is to assist communities establish and implement climate change initiatives that will help reduce carbon emissions. 25 awards where given to 450 applicants. Bellingham will use the grant funds to provide outreach and education on the Community Energy Challenge project, a collaboration with Sustainable Connections, Opportunity Council, Puget Sound Energy and RE Sources for Sustainable Communities.
Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike said "The Community Energy Challenge will demonstrate a comprehensive approach to saving energy that combines community outreach, ‘one-stop shop' weatherization assistance for homes and businesses, and customer and classroom … (1 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Whatcom County Council Approves Septic Ispection by Homeowners
- 02/25/10 07:58 AM
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 … (1 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Olympic Torch Will Be at Blaine’s Peace Arch Park
- 02/08/10 07:46 AM
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 … (4 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Whatcom County and Lummi Nation Reach Deal on Lummi Island Ferry
- 02/05/10 08:09 AM
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 … (1 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Lummi Island Ferry's Test Run to Fairhaven
- 01/24/10 12:35 PM
Whatcom County officials have scheduled a test docking of the Whatcom Chief in Fairhaven for Tuesday, Jan. 26.
The reason for this unusual test is that the Lummi Island ferry dock lease with Lummi Nation expires Feb. 14. Negotiations are in progress, but the county wants to be prepared if no deal is reached. The county needs to make sure they have a backup plan in place for getting people and vehicles on and off the island.
Port of Bellingham and County engineers have been studying the feasibility of docking the ferry at the port's Bellingham Cruise Terminal, where presently an … (3 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Bellingham and Whatcom County Golf Courses
- 01/05/10 11:45 AM
Whatcom County has some of the best public and private golf courses in Western Washington. Many of the courses have earned praise from major golf magazines and travel publications and have hosted many pro and amateur tournaments. Western Washington's temperate climate offers year-round play, just be prepared for any kind of weather. Many of the courses provide stunning views of Mount Baker or the San Juan Islands.
Here is a comprehensive list of the Golf Courses throughout the county, starting in and around Bellingham.
Lake Padden Golf Course has been rated by Golf Digest as one of the best municipal courses … (4 comments)
|
misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Bellingham’s Polar Bear Plunge
- 01/01/10 05:24 AM
If your idea of starting the New Year off is with a cold swim, come on out to this year's Lake Padden Resolution Run & Polar Bear Dip. The run will begin at 11 a.m. on New Years Day, with a run or walk around Bellingham's Lake Padden. The official dip into the chilly lake is set for noon. Hot beverages, snacks and warm showers will be available for those brave souls who make the plunge.
Birch Bay will host their 27th annual Polar Bear Plunge this New Year's day. This year's theme is "Let the Games Begin" and costume and … (4 comments)
|
;)
;)
;)
