(SKAGIT COUNTY)— The Skagit County Public Works Department says the 2010 Guemes Island Ferry haul-out will take place from Monday, October 4th, to Tuesday, October 19th.

The ferry’s last run will occur Sunday, October 3rd at 8:00 pm.

The vessel is scheduled to return to service Wednesday, October 20th, at 6:00 am.

During the haul-out, Skagit County will remove and replace one main engine, conduct ultrasound readings on the hull to determine hull thickness and life expectancy, paint void spaces and portions of the superstructure, perform other small maintenance items, and complete the USCG dry-dock credit.

Arrow Launch will provide a passenger-only service that will run on the regularly-scheduled sailing times.

The passenger-only boat accommodates 49 passengers and carries both bicycles and small motorbikes.

Skagit Transit will provide a bus on Guemes Island to provide transportation.

For more information, contact Rachel Beck at 333-1496 or at rachelb@co.skagit.wa.us.

“In general consumers seem to be stuck in uncertainty surrounding the world’s economic concerns, our lack of jobs and the rollercoaster of the stock market. They seem to be hunkering down despite the lowest interest rates in years,” said NWMLS director Frank Wilson.

On a more upbeat note, Wilson said the deadline extension for the tax credit is good news. “Congress has acknowledged the length of time it is taking banks to close a transaction by passing this extension,” he remarked. Without the extension, the National Association of Realtors estimates as many as 180,000 buyers wouldn’t have qualified for a tax credit of up to $8,000 because they couldn’t meet the June 30 deadline to close on their purchase.

The latest report from Northwest Multiple Listing Service shows mixed news across its 21-county market area, with arrows going in both directions. “The current market is not as bad as some people think, and not as good as some people would like it to be,” observed NWMLS director Pat Grimm. He also said the combination of low interest rates and affordable prices are the best he’s seen in his 25 years of experience in real estate.

The MLS summary statistics for June show:

• Pending sales of single family homes and condominiums (combined) fell 28 percent from a year ago, but rose 5.8 percent from May.
• Year-to-date (through June), pending sales are up 12.4 percent compared to midyear 2009.
• Closed sales for June outgained the same month a year ago by 617 transactions (up 12 percent), and rose 8.9 percent from May’s total.

“The economy is still recovering and that makes some consumers hesitant to buy,” Grimm stated, adding, “On the other hand, with prices down and mortgage rates at their lowest in 50 years, homes are more affordable now than they were before the tax credit went into effect.”

Grimm said the market has created its own incentive for buyers who missed out on the most recent tax credit. “Lower prices and lower interest rates more than offset the benefit of the tax credit. Homes are actually more affordable than they were three months ago, and that factors in the tax credit,” he emphasized. To illustrate his point, he said the purchaser of a $500,000 property this month with a $400,000 mortgage would save more than $250 per month as a result of the interest rate drop. “Do the math and you can see you are way ahead if you stay in the property for more than three years.”

House-hunters have plenty of choices. Brokers added 10,354 new listings to inventory last month, bringing the selection to 42,940 residences being offered for sale system-wide. That’s up about 4 percent from a year ago. Included in the current listings are 36,027 single family homes priced from $8,500 to $25 million, and 6,913 condominiums priced from $20,000 to $15.6 million.

Asked if now is the right time to buy, Grimm replied, “You can’t time the real estate market any more than you can time the stock market,” but added, “If you want to buy a home, and can afford it, I haven’t seen a better convergence of affordable prices and low interest rates in the 25 years I’ve been working in real estate.”

Last week’s benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.75 percent, according to the Bankrate.com national survey of large lenders. That’s the lowest rate for the 30-year fixed in the nearly 25-year history of Bankrate’s weekly survey. Freddie Mac reported an average of 4.58 percent, the lowest level in more than five decades.

Click to view large chart

Northwest Multiple Listing Service, owned by its member brokers, is the largest full-service MLS in the Northwest. Its membership includes more than 24,000 brokers and agents. The organization, based in Kirkland, currently serves 21 counties in Western and Central Washington.

Like owning waterfront & acreage without paying the price!  This charming 3-story nautically-themed home sits just above and next to the greenbelt and expansive community beach of Cook’s Cove.  Nothing will ever be built there!   It has a very private feel with woods on two sides and the beach directly in front.

The view from the 2-bedroom home & deck is to die for:  boats galore from sailboats to shipping traffic on the Guemes Channel.  Eagles and other water birds are a common site.  The saltbox-style home is full of nautical touches:  oars for handrails, porthole windows, anchors, ships wheels.  The bottom floor was recently remodeled as a guest suite.  

Call Coldwell Banker Island Living’s Karen Everett on Guemes Island to catch a peek:  360.202.7373 or e-mail Karen at karenguemes@aim.com for more information.

 The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that the vacation home market is showing signs of recovery, with sales up nearly 8% and increased prices (up nearly 13%) following three years of declines.

 A new trend in second homes and vacation homes sales is that one out of four second home buyers based their home purchase on the ability to rent the home to offset some of the costs.  Low prices, a large inventory of homes for sale, and low interest rates have stimulated this segment of the real estate market.

 There is also a shift in the demographics of the vacation home buyer.  While baby boomers have historically dominated vacation home purchases, nearly half (47%) of the buyers in 2009 were under 45 years of age, with a median income of $87,500. 

 This shift in demographics of the second home buyer has also caused the internet to have an increasingly important role in the marketing and buying of vacation homes.  As always, Coldwell Banker is on the leading edge of new marketing trends and is reaching out to this new market segment through On Location-the Coldwell Banker You Tube channel, a variety of phone aps including the ability to search for homes, home shopping cart recommendations based on past preferences, GPS interfaced interactive maps, and of course, old fashioned exceptional customer service. 

At Coldwell Banker Island Living we have specialists that can help you with your second home purchase whether you are looking for a quaint cabin or a luxury waterfront estate.  Email us IslandLiving@ColdwellBanker.com, or text us at 360.941.3734, call us at 3.293.4511, or drop by our office at 3110 Commercial Ave inAnacortes.  We serve Fidalgo Island including Anacortes, Skagit  County including  La Conner, Mt.Vernon, Burlington, and Sedro Woolley, Samish Island including Bow, North Whidbey Island including Oak Harbor, Guemes Island, and San Juan Island. 

We listen to your needs and communicate with you the way you would like us to.  Experience the difference in working with Coldwell Banker Island Living’s full time professional full service REALTORS®.

Here is a decription for the class from the website:

In this workshop, participants will learn the theory, design considerations and installation techniques necessary to install and maintain a solar domestic hot water system. Passive solar water heaters, drainback systems, antifreeze systems, and photovoltaic powered systems are all discussed in depth. Pool heating systems and an introduction to space heating systems are covered as well. Also included are safety considerations, code compliance, system sizing, and understanding solar collector performance in a variety of climates and applications.

Tours of working solar heating systems are also part of the program.

For more information visit http://www.architectureweek.com/cgi-bin/calendar.cgi?id=22667

Guemes Island is just a short 7 minute ferry ride from Anacortes, Wa.  Even if you don’t plan on going to the workshop, take time to visit Guemes Island this spring!

Have you ever wondered how assessed value relates to market price?  Should you use assessed value to determine how much to offer on a property or home you wish to purchase?

Many Skagit County homes and property were given new assessed values recently, causing property owners to wonder about the value of thier real estate.  Here are some statistics to consider for home sales in Anacortes for the first part of 2009.

Source: Skagit County Tax Records

As you can see, the percent of sold price to list price varies greatly for Anacortes homes!

Overall, assessed value usually falls with a range of market value, but here are just a few things that can affect the market value that might not be picked up by the assessor.

•                 Odor (Pet, cigarette, etc.)
•                 View (improved by trees removed or blocked by trees that have grown)
•                 Issues with neighboring properties, such as poor landscaping, poorly maintained property, noise…             
•                 Subject property remodeled, or new deck or addition
•                 Road construction
•                 Failed septic system
•                 Inventory of similar property on the market at time property is put up for sale
•                 Area economy and unemployment
•                 Staging- Two properties can be identical, yet the one that is properly staged will sell for more money in less time

If you would like to know how your home’s market valuecompares with the assessed value, call one of our Coldwell Banker Island Living agents at (360) 293-4511 or visit our website and use our home value estimator at www.CBIslandLiving.com.  Even if you are not currently thinking of selling our experienced real estate agents would be happy to discuss the current market value of your home or land.

The view from Guemes Mountain

“Wow, We Really Did It!”

That’s the phrase heard from Coldwell Banker Island Living REATLOR and Guemes Island resident Karen Everett, who was among three people honored at an awards banquet held at the Majestic Inn in Anacortes,WA Friday night to celebrate the official success of the “Save Guemes Mountain” campaign.
 
It’s also the phrase heard from the San Juan Preservation Trust, Skagit Land Trust, and other Save Guemes Mountain Campaign leaders and supporters who have succeeded in raising $2.2 million to purchase and permanently protect Guemes Mountain, 70 acres of rocky balds and conifer forest rising serenely over picturesque Guemes Island.

Funds to save Guemes Island were tracked by this sign posted by the Guemes Ferry.

The project was initiated in 2006 by Everett and fellow Guemes Island resident and Guemes Island resort manager Mark Linnemann.  Everett noticed the 70-acre property was on the market and decided, along with Linnemann, to approach the Skagit Land Trust about getting them involved.   “It took a few years to get everyone on board, but we did it!”  Everett and fellow co-chairs of the Save Guemes Mountain Steering Committee, Paul Beaudet, Joost Businger and Marianne Kooiman, were honored with framed photos presenting to them “Guemes Mountain.”
 
An amazing outpouring of support from the Guemes community and beyond (including more than 550 donations from individuals, families, foundations, and businesses), made this campaign a success. In addition to donations, volunteers gladly stepped to the plate to host or assist with many varied events– from house parties to the rollicking “Picnic in the Park”– helping raise awareness of this special piece of land and encourage people to invest in their own backyard.
 
So…what’s next for the Mountain, now that it has been saved from development? Skagit Land Trust will own the property, while the San Juan Preservation Trust will hold a conservation easement on the land.
 
Stewardship funds still needed …

The Boeing Charitable Fund has granted $50,000 towards stewardship of the property. A neighbor of the property has agreed to donate a trail easement allowing access to the mountain, and both land trusts will work together to establish walking trails to favorite view sites. While we are very grateful to the Boeing Charitable Fund and to the Anacortes Parks Foundation (who also granted funds for stewardship) we are continuing to seek donations for long-term care of the property.

Karen Everett was honored for "inspiration, vision and leadership that helped protect Guemes Mountain".

For more information on the campaign, to make a stewardship donation, or to view public access details, please visit  www.SaveGuemesMountain.com.  To learn more about Guemes Island contact Karen Everett at Karen.Everett@ColdwellBanker.com or at (360) 293-4511.

A Live and Silent Auction in support of  “Save the Mountain” is slated for 7-9pm this Friday, September 18^th, at the Depot Arts Center in Anacortes. We’ve already raised more than $2 million but the closing date of October 1^st is getting near and we still need to close the gap to the needed $2.2 million.

 Come support this important project AND buy art by local artists… or services (like  Italian dinner for two, cooked by me and served on my beach)…. and other items (like trips to Whistler).  My neighbor and nationally recognized artist Philip McCracken has made a generous donation of his bronze “Night Journey.”

 Other examples are: the sculpture “Salmon Woman” by Leo Osborne; prints by Becky Killorin; a wood carving by Bob Rainwater; mouthwatering desserts by Diane Murray; stays in guest houses and the Guemes Resort; gardening consults, and more than can be mentioned.  Learn to kayak and then enjoy a reviving massage or have a lesson in how better to use your computer. The limited edition “Peregrine over Guemes Mountain” prints will be sold for $25 fixed price as long as they are available. 

 We are planning a fun evening with the Guemes Girls hosting the party in costume, free snacks and a no-host bar. Bud Ashbachwill be the auctioneer for the live auction.  Because the Depot has a limited capacity, we are selling 150 tickets at $5.00 for people (over 21 years of age, please) who are interested in participating in this fund-raising event.  Tickets are available at the Watermark Book Co in Anacortes. You may also reserve a place by contacting Joost Businger at 293-5815.  Doors will open at 6:45.

 Karen Everett  202.7373

Coldwell Banker Island Living

www.KarenEverett.com

 Karen Everett is a founding member of The Campaign to Save Guemes Mountain and a Co-Chair of the Steering Committee.

Karen Everett Third generation Guemes Island resident

      Join your friends and neighbors at Schoolhouse Park on Guemes Island in a celebration of the Mountain and the community spirit working to preserve it for the public to enjoy.

     The festivities run from 10:00a.m. to 4 p.m. and include live local music and a wine and beer garden. 

      The garden opens at noon, and all proceeds will go to the Save Guemes Mountain campaign. 

 Come and sample some of the tons of FREE food prepared by Island chefs, including Crab Alfredo, Penne Pasta with Meatball Marinara, local greens, Guemes Rhubarb bars, 600 oysters on the half shell grilled with a garlic lemon herb butter!  Plus lots more.  Lunch will be served from noon to 1:30.

 There will be guided hikes up the mountain in the morning and afternoon….(call 360.428.7878 to schedule a hike). 

 Activities for kids of all ages:  solar-oven S’mores, “wild weaving” with natural materials, mural painting, board games, an eco-scavenger hunt, storytelling… and much more.

 Tons of information will be available about the mountain, including it’s flora and fauna, hydrology, and much much more.

It will be a fun and informative day of celebration!   Hope for a sunny day!   (Free transportation will be provided from the Guemes ferry dock to the park). 

 Karen Everett is a founding member of the Save Guemes Mountain campaign and also a Co-Chair of the Steering Committee.

  If you would like to learn more about the Save Guemes Mountain campaign or about life on Guemes Island contact Karen Everett at 360 202-7373

Karent Everett is also an award winning real estate agent for Coldwell Banker Island Living

www.KarenEverett.com