Bellingham Real Estate Market Stats

0-299k Single Family Residental Excluding Sudden Valley

The 0-299k real estate market in Bellingham (aka first time buyer market) is holding strong with a 33% increase vs this time a year ago. The inventory was about the same, meaning the same about of houses were for sale.  Based on the stats the average sales price is down at the same time the home solds are up.

This price range and market is going to be a safe bet if you are thinking about purchasing.  This is the entry level market, where first time home buyers buy.  There is always a fresh batch every year of new buyers.

When looking at housing market stats it is very important to look at different price points.  You cannot merely rely on the…

Top Ways to Boost Your Homes Value

Selling your home is a major life event; buyers and agents will come and go on a regular basis. Getting top dollar for your home takes a little know-how and insight on the little things that just might “make or break” a sale. Listed below are a few things you can do to boost the value of your home; believe us—buyers and agents will notice these things!!

Get your home “white glove” clean; this may mean wiping down windowsills, baseboards, around the faucets and switch plates. This might seem like a painstaking task, however a spotless homes sells quicker than a dirty one. Hiring a housekeeper for a one time super-spot clean may make the difference between three months on the market and nine

Get rid of…

Benefits of using a buyers agent to purchase a home

Your agent will enter into the multiple listing service system your requirements for a home. They will be notified any time a property meets your specific criteria and report those findings to you. The agent will then arrange a personal showing of those homes. 

A Buyers agent will arrange to get you pre-approved with a lender (if you haven’t already done so). With pre-approval, your offer will be stronger because you have the ability to perform. You will also know the maximum dollar amount that you can purchase.

Thinking About Floors

When preparing your home for sale in any market, sellers need to do something for their home that sets it apart from the other homes listed locally. One great way to catch the eye of buyers is with new floors. Floors are one of the major design aspects of a home and every other element of a room has to mesh with the floor of the room just looks plain wrong. For instance checkerboard flooring + polka dot wallpaper = big mistake. Flooring plays a huge role in how a room is presented and has the ability to be a real focal point for a room if chosen properly. The right floors make a room, badly chosen or installed flooring sticks out like a sore thumb.

There is a huge and diverse selection of floors to choose from. Everything…

Saving Energy In The Home

At a time where there is a growing energy shortage and with the rising costs of the energy that is available home owners are seeking ways to keep their monthly energy bills down. Energy conservation is not nearly as expensive as some people might think. In fact, the process is fairly simple and takes little time and effort. It is simply a matter of knowing where to start.

• Lighting - This is one of the best ways to reduce your monthly energy bills. Compact fluorescent lights provide the same light as the older standard light bulbs while using significantly less power.
• Energy Star Appliances - Appliances that meet the "Energy Star" requirements utilize less power through intelligent design and production. Good…

So you are selling your home and need a little guidance on getting it ready for the droves of interested buyers that will be coming to see what you have to offer? No problem. Getting a home ready for shows is a pretty simple thing. All it really takes is some planning and careful execution, a bit of time, and maybe a few bucks but the end result is amazing when done properly. You may even wonder why you are selling the home in the first place! It funny, some people are amazed at how different their home looks when all is said and done.

All right, let's get down to business. The first thing that you will have to consider is cleanliness. Now, you may say "but my home is already clean!" This might be true, but go and have a look at a new construction…

Perhaps the most important aspect of any home sale is how the home is priced. As this is a fairly big claim, allow me to explain. Virtually ANY home can be sold if it is priced correctly. Now, proper pricing is not always the number that the owner has in mind as they undoubtedly have an emotional tie to the home and will tend to price a home with their heart instead of their head. Home pricing is a skillful combination of knowledge of what is happening in the local real estate market, comparable homes that have sold recently or are currently listed for sale. An agent has to consider all of these aspects in addition to the assets of the home itself in order to come up with a price that is fair and attractive to buyers and to the seller.

As a seller…

So you are selling your home and need a little guidance on getting it ready for the droves of interested buyers that will be coming to see what you have to offer? No problem. Getting a home ready for shows is a pretty simple thing. All it really takes is some planning and careful execution, a bit of time, and maybe a few bucks but the end result is amazing when done properly. You may even wonder why you are selling the home in the first place! It funny, some people are amazed at how different their home looks when all is said and done.

All right, let's get down to business. The first thing that you will have to consider is cleanliness. Now, you may say "but my home is already clean!" This might be true, but go and have a look at a new construction…

Word on the street is that the market is crashing. How much truth is actually in that statement?

So what exactly is going on? Rates have fluctuated, prices have leveled and homes are taking longer to sell. The market has switched from a sellers market to a buyers market. Why? In one word: inventory. There are more homes on the market today then two years ago, giving buyers many options to choose from. New construction is everywhere: single family homes, condominiums, townhomes! You name it, it’s out there.

Home sales were up nearly 4% during the month of August and nearly 7% during the month of July compared to 2006 sales.  According to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service the average number of available homes in Whatcom County during the month…

A Powerful Resource! Presenting a formal  pre-approval letter with an offer gives the buyer credibility and power. It says to a seller “I am willing and able to purchase your home—RIGHT NOW!” Pre-approval will also cut your search time to a minimal. Knowing how much you can afford will assist your buyers agent in narrowing down the search, allowing you more freedom to live your life outside of the home purchase.