Northwest Living | Bellingham Real Estate Market

Last week with the bad news out of Seattle about the fires in the Street of Dreams development, one of my real estate web sites called StreetofDream.com experienced very high traffic for that news day. You’ll notice that my web site domain there is missing the s, unlike the original StreetofDreams site.

It was amazing how much traffic my real estate website got from all the national news. I assume they either clicked on my site because It came up in the results a few pages back or they might have typed in the domain name and forgot the s. I can only imagine what the popular StreetofDreams.com web site had received over the last week. Anyways…it never ceases to amaze me how far the Internet has come in the last ten years and just seems to be growing more and more every day. 

My little Northwest WA Real Estate site is just a five page site that shows property listings up in my Northwest corner of Washington State with homes listed from $500k and up. It usually averages about 100 visitors a day, but that one day was quite a spike in traffic. Not exactly the way I would want to receive traffic, but never the less…it was interesting to see such a huge spike up.

Jerry Campbell - Muljat Group - Bellingham WA

Seattle WA - Cooking Light magazine named it’s top twenty cities in the country that provide the resources people need to live healthful lives, and topping that list was our own Seattle, Washington. The magazine ranked major metropolitan areas on 15 different criteria, including healthfulness and exercise data, restraurant ratings, farmers market listings, and parks and recreation data. The result of that study were the list of the top 20 American cities that best fit their philosophy to eat smart, be fit, and live well.

The magazine said with an abundance of fresh local foods, walker-friendly streets, and inclusive attitudes helps make Seattle America’s best city for healthy living. 

Whether seen from the vantage point of a peaceful kayak excursion on the waters of Puget Sound or a morning tour of bustling food lover’s mecca Pike Place Market, Seattle always appears to be a place where healthful living comes easily and naturally. In our year-long countdown of U.S. cities that epitomize the Cooking Light philosophy, Seattle ranked highest for dollars spent on parkland—$266 per person annually, according to the Trust for Public Land. The American Podiatric Medical Association ranked pedestrian-friendly Seattle a top spot for walking. Nearly 85 percent of city residents report exercising regularly and 89 percent say they are in good or better health, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. And when Seattleites are ready to indulge, they can do so in any of the city’s many top-rated restaurants—it’s home to both numerous James Beard Award-winning chefs and restaurants ranked “extraordinary to perfection” by culinary review, Zagat. If you love Cooking Light, we think you’ll love Seattle, too.

Portland, Oregon came in second on this list making the Pacific Northwest a must stop for travelor’s looking for quality light dining. Life is good in the second-ranked city, thanks to its seemingly endless supply of outdoor activities, cutting-edge restaurants, and vibrant environmental consciousness.

Portland is called the City of Roses for its proliferation of brightly hued blooms, but the color that best describes this city is green. Portland prides itself on being environmentally friendly, boasting an award-winning public transportation system, 277 miles of bike paths, and city planning that minimizes sprawl.

The soft seasonal drizzle that falls over the city (actually, there’s more annual rainfall in Atlanta) makes it literally green as well. Consequently, Portlanders enjoy 227 parks and 146 miles of lushly forested hiking trails, rain or shine. The climate also nurtures the fabulous food and wine produced here, helping make Portland fourth in the nation in per capita farmers’ markets and top for its number of organic restaurants.

Portland earned the second spot on the top 20 list of Cooking Light cities because it also ranked highly in the following categories: acres of parkland per capita; percent of population that reports to be in good or better health; percent of population that exercised in the last month; and its walkability. Read more about Portland, Oregon restaurants.

Jerry Campbell - The Muljat Group - Bellingham, WA - Whatcom County Real Estate

Puget Sound - It’s the kind of house that a year or two ago would have been snapped up in days: a refurbished rambler in a woodsy residential neighborhood minutes from downtown.

The asking price: $559,000.

But after seven weeks, the sellers had not received a single offer on their Wedgwood home.

The sellers really believed there would be no problem selling, But the whole feel of the market has changed. They might have to drop the price.

These Puget Sound sellers, along with local real estate agents and economists, wonder whether sluggish sales are part of the usual winter slump or a sign that Seattle, a perennial most-livable-city contender, is joining the rest of the country in declining home sales. The question has put many locals on edge.

Right now there’s not that urgency among buyers to pull the trigger, is the feeling among many local real estate agents. We should start to see what will happen early this year.

If sales are sluggish during the traditionally hot-selling months of February through April, then people will have a better idea whether Seattle has joined the national trend.

Of 20 major U.S. metropolitan areas, all but three markets; Seattle; Portland, Ore.; and Charlotte, N.C., experienced a decline in real estate values this October compared with last October, according to the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller composite price index.

Home prices have fallen most in the Midwest, Southwest, Florida and California. In Los Angeles, prices fell 8.8 percent; in New York, 4.1 percent.

Seattle prices increased 3.3 percent, but that was the smallest year-to-year rise for the city in more than a decade. The annual appreciation in Seattle has been slowing for more than a year and a half.

Some economists say it’s only a matter of time before Seattle joins the national slump. Although the city experienced a year-to-year increase, October prices fell 0.9 percent from September, the third consecutive monthly decline.

Gov. Chris Gregoire told residents not to be affected by the gloom. Bad news elsewhere, she said, doesn’t have to translate into bad news here.

“There’s no real reason for it to slow in our state, but for the fact that people are watching what’s going on around the national economy,” Gregoire said during the unveiling of a budget proposal in Olympia.

Seattle, Portland and Charlotte have bucked the trend partly because each has a relatively healthy local economy and all three continue to draw newcomers, which keeps demand steady.

Seattle has three ingredients that work together to keep home prices high, according to Seattle-area real estate blogger Larry Cragun: “lakes, mountains and liberals.”

The lakes and mountains don’t need explaining. The liberals, Cragun said, have created such an anti-development atmosphere that available land for building homes is extremely limited.

“When you only have a certain amount of land to build on, the value of that land tends to run up,” said Cragun, who has been in the local real estate and mortgage business for three decades and blogs at Real­ Esta­teUndressed.com. But Seattle has “experienced the worst of it” already, he said, and will rebound soon.

As for the Dittmaiers, they continue to hold their front door open to prospective buyers.

The holidays have been rough. In addition to the usual hustle and bustle, the Dittmaiers and their two young children have been busy packing their belongings. They have already purchased a new house nearby.

The family has been moving to the new place little by little. But the transfer won’t be complete, Kristen Dittmaier said, until their old house sells. Not to mention that the couple soon will be forced to make two mortgage payments if the Wedgwood house remains unsold.

Meanwhile, Dittmaier said, she has not seen the latest home-price report in the newspaper. And it’s just as well: “I don’t need to read a report to know houses are not selling as quickly as they used to.” via Herald net

You don’t need a chairlift to have a good time in the snow this winter. In fact, some days, the lifts just get in the way. All that time spent riding the lift and waiting in line is time you could be playing. Craig Hill a reporter for the News Tribune in Tacoma put together his list of 25 things to do in the Northwest during the winter. So, if you’re looking to save a few bucks, get a better workout or just try something new, here are 25 ways to enjoy winter without a chairlift.

1. MOUNT TAHOMA TRAILS ASSOCIATION: There is no better bargain in winter recreation than an overnight cross-country trip on the Mount Tahoma Trails System near Ashford, Wash. The MTTA grooms more than 50 kilometers of trails and maintains three huts and one yurt. You can spend the night in the hut for $5 per person per night; www.skimtta.org.

2. NORDIC SKI JUMPING IN LEAVENWORTH: Whistler Blackcomb started installing its ski jump for the 2010 Olympics this summer, so Leavenworth’s modest ski hill no longer has the Northwest’s only ski jump. However, it’s the only one you can use. While nordic skis are ideal for this jump, many use alpine skis on the two hills; www.skileavenworth.com.

3. SPEED SKATING: If you like to go fast on the ice, Tacoma’s Puget Sound Speed Skating Club offers lessons at the Tacoma Hockey Club. The club offers short track skating, but some members are training for long-track racing; (253) 272-1757, www.pugetsoundspeedskating.org.

4. VISIT SUN MOUNTAIN LODGE: Tucked away in the Methow Valley, Sun Mountain Lodge is considered the ultimate base camp for a cross country skiing adventure. From the lodge you’ll find easy access to an ice rink, more than 200 kilometers of groomed cross-country trails and more than a dozen snowshoe trails; www.sunmountainlodge.com. 

5. GO TUBING: You don’t need to know how to ski to zip down a snowy slope. You can do the same with an inner tube from your local tire store. Summit at Snoqualmie has a tubing hill (you’ll have to use their tubes). You can find free tubing hills at Paradise and the Hyak Sno-P a r k; www.summitatsnoqualmie.com, www.parks.wa.gov/winter and www.nps.gov/mora.

6. TAKE A BIATHLON LESSON: You don’t have to go to Europe to try the biathlon. The Washington Biathlon Association, based at Stevens Pass, has events throughout the winter open to all skill levels, even gun-shy rookies; www.wabiathlon.org.

7. PARADISE: Whether you’re an alpine skier, nordic skier, snowshoer or tuber, Paradise, located on the south side of Mount Rainier, has places for you to play. Call ahead for road conditions; (360) 569-2211, www.nps.gov/mora.

8. PLAY HOCKEY: The Tacoma Hockey Club offers everything from hockey lessons and leagues for kids to adult leagues to lunch hour pickup games. The pick-up sessions are $5 and 90 minutes starting at noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; www.tacomahockeyclub.com.

9. POLAR BEAR SWIM: You might need to be a little off center — not to mention thick-skinned — to enjoy this New Year’s Day tradition. Olalla Lagoon is home to Washington state’s biggest Polar Bear Club. When a cannon signals, participants dash — bridge-jumping is no longer allowed — into the frigid water. Why? Who knows; Al’s Grocery Store, (253) 851-4955. 10. CRYSTAL’S DUMMY DOWNHILL: Enter Crystal Mountain’s Dummy Downhill race. You won’t have to race, but you’ll have to build a contraption that will. The dummy mounted on skis or a snowboard will have to be sturdy enough to survive a jump. Don’t worry, there are awards for the best crashes. This three-year-old event benefits the Crystal Mountain Fire Department; www.skicrystal.com.11. MOUNT SPOKANE: Two-time Olympic cross-country skier Torin Koos of Leavenworth lists Mount Spokane as one of his favorite ski areas in Washington. Mount Spokane has 25 kilometers of groomed trails that Koos says is worth the trip; www.mtspokane.com or www.parks.wa.gov/winter.Two-time Olympic cross-country skier Torin Koos of Leavenworth lists Mount Spokane as one of his favorite ski areas in Washington. Mount Spokane has 25 kilometers of groomed trails that Koos says is worth the trip; or

12. SKI ST. HELENS FOR MOM: One of the Northwest’s coolest traditions returned this year with the reopening of Mount St. Helen’s’ climbing routes. It is tradition to climb Monitor Ridge on Mother’s Day, then — boy or girl — ski down while wearing a dress. The limit of 100 climbers per day is lifted on mom’s day. Permits are $24 per climber; www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/mount-st-helens.

13. SKI ICICLE RIVER TRAILS: While Methow Valley has the reputation as a nordic mecca, Leavenworth’s trail system also draws cross-country skiers from around the Northwest. The town has trails along the Icicle River, on the golf course, at Waterfront Park and the Leavenworth Ski Hill. A $10 pass gets you access to all 26 kilometers of trails; www.skileavenworth.com. Two-time Olympic cross-country skier Torin Koos of Leavenworth lists Mount Spokane as one of his favorite ski areas in Washington. Mount Spokane has 25 kilometers of groomed trails that Koos says is worth the trip; or One of the Northwest’s coolest traditions returned this year with the reopening of Mount St. Helen’s’ climbing routes. It is tradition to climb Monitor Ridge on Mother’s Day, then — boy or girl — ski down while wearing a dress. The limit of 100 climbers per day is lifted on mom’s day. Permits are $24 per climber;While Methow Valley has the reputation as a nordic mecca, Leavenworth’s trail system also draws cross-country skiers from around the Northwest. The town has trails along the Icicle River, on the golf course, at Waterfront Park and the Leavenworth Ski Hill. A $10 pass gets you access to all 26 kilometers of trails; Two-time Olympic cross-country skier Torin Koos of Leavenworth lists Mount Spokane as one of his favorite ski areas in Washington. Mount Spokane has 25 kilometers of groomed trails that Koos says is worth the trip; or One of the Northwest’s coolest traditions returned this year with the reopening of Mount St. Helen’s’ climbing routes. It is tradition to climb Monitor Ridge on Mother’s Day, then — boy or girl — ski down while wearing a dress. The limit of 100 climbers per day is lifted on mom’s day. Permits are $24 per climber;While Methow Valley has the reputation as a nordic mecca, Leavenworth’s trail system also draws cross-country skiers from around the Northwest. The town has trails along the Icicle River, on the golf course, at Waterfront Park and the Leavenworth Ski Hill. A $10 pass gets you access to all 26 kilometers of trails;Two-time Olympic cross-country skier Torin Koos of Leavenworth lists Mount Spokane as one of his favorite ski areas in Washington. Mount Spokane has 25 kilometers of groomed trails that Koos says is worth the trip; or One of the Northwest’s coolest traditions returned this year with the reopening of Mount St. Helen’s’ climbing routes. It is tradition to climb Monitor Ridge on Mother’s Day, then — boy or girl — ski down while wearing a dress. The limit of 100 climbers per day is lifted on mom’s day. Permits are $24 per climber;While Methow Valley has the reputation as a nordic mecca, Leavenworth’s trail system also draws cross-country skiers from around the Northwest. The town has trails along the Icicle River, on the golf course, at Waterfront Park and the Leavenworth Ski Hill. A $10 pass gets you access to all 26 kilometers of trails;Two-time Olympic cross-country skier Torin Koos of Leavenworth lists Mount Spokane as one of his favorite ski areas in Washington. Mount Spokane has 25 kilometers of groomed trails that Koos says is worth the trip; or One of the Northwest’s coolest traditions returned this year with the reopening of Mount St. Helen’s’ climbing routes. It is tradition to climb Monitor Ridge on Mother’s Day, then — boy or girl — ski down while wearing a dress. The limit of 100 climbers per day is lifted on mom’s day. Permits are $24 per climber;While Methow Valley has the reputation as a nordic mecca, Leavenworth’s trail system also draws cross-country skiers from around the Northwest. The town has trails along the Icicle River, on the golf course, at Waterfront Park and the Leavenworth Ski Hill. A $10 pass gets you access to all 26 kilometers of trails;14. SCOTTISH LAKES HIGH CAMP: You can ski or snowshoe five miles into the back country at Stevens Pass to stay in one of nine private cabins, or you can hire a snowmobile driver for $60 per person. Cabins are $70-80 per person per night; www.scottishlakes.com.

Two-time Olympic cross-country skier Torin Koos of Leavenworth lists Mount Spokane as one of his favorite ski areas in Washington. Mount Spokane has 25 kilometers of groomed trails that Koos says is worth the trip; or One of the Northwest’s coolest traditions returned this year with the reopening of Mount St. Helen’s’ climbing routes. It is tradition to climb Monitor Ridge on Mother’s Day, then — boy or girl — ski down while wearing a dress. The limit of 100 climbers per day is lifted on mom’s day. Permits are $24 per climber;While Methow Valley has the reputation as a nordic mecca, Leavenworth’s trail system also draws cross-country skiers from around the Northwest. The town has trails along the Icicle River, on the golf course, at Waterfront Park and the Leavenworth Ski Hill. A $10 pass gets you access to all 26 kilometers of trails; You can ski or snowshoe five miles into the back country at Stevens Pass to stay in one of nine private cabins, or you can hire a snowmobile driver for $60 per person. Cabins are $70-80 per person per night;15. FREE SNOWSHOE TOURS: You can join free snowshoe tours at Hurricane Ridge and Paradise each winter. While it costs $15 per vehicle to enter the national parks, the free tours include snowshoe rentals. Check the national park Web sites for schedules; www.nps.gov/mora or www.nps.gov/olym.You can join free snowshoe tours at Hurricane Ridge and Paradise each winter. While it costs $15 per vehicle to enter the national parks, the free tours include snowshoe rentals. Check the national park Web sites for schedules;or

16. SNOWMOBILE: Western Washington has 80 snowmobile snow parks, most of which are in the Cascades. Some of the more popular destinations include Pyramid Creek, Gold Creek, Skate Creek and Marble Mountain; www.parks.wa.gov/winter.

17. BLUEWOOD BASH: Bluewood, a small resort near Walla Walla, throws a huge party every year called the BASH. You won’t need a lift ticket to try pond skimming, body bowling and polar swimming. The BASH, held the final day of the season, also includes a barbecue and beer garden; www.bluewood.com.You can join free snowshoe tours at Hurricane Ridge and Paradise each winter. While it costs $15 per vehicle to enter the national parks, the free tours include snowshoe rentals. Check the national park Web sites for schedules;or Western Washington has 80 snowmobile snow parks, most of which are in the Cascades. Some of the more popular destinations include Pyramid Creek, Gold Creek, Skate Creek and Marble Mountain; Bluewood, a small resort near Walla Walla, throws a huge party every year called the BASH. You won’t need a lift ticket to try pond skimming, body bowling and polar swimming. The BASH, held the final day of the season, also includes a barbecue and beer garden;You can join free snowshoe tours at Hurricane Ridge and Paradise each winter. While it costs $15 per vehicle to enter the national parks, the free tours include snowshoe rentals. Check the national park Web sites for schedules;or Western Washington has 80 snowmobile snow parks, most of which are in the Cascades. Some of the more popular destinations include Pyramid Creek, Gold Creek, Skate Creek and Marble Mountain; Bluewood, a small resort near Walla Walla, throws a huge party every year called the BASH. You won’t need a lift ticket to try pond skimming, body bowling and polar swimming. The BASH, held the final day of the season, also includes a barbecue and beer garden;You can join free snowshoe tours at Hurricane Ridge and Paradise each winter. While it costs $15 per vehicle to enter the national parks, the free tours include snowshoe rentals. Check the national park Web sites for schedules;or Western Washington has 80 snowmobile snow parks, most of which are in the Cascades. Some of the more popular destinations include Pyramid Creek, Gold Creek, Skate Creek and Marble Mountain; Bluewood, a small resort near Walla Walla, throws a huge party every year called the BASH. You won’t need a lift ticket to try pond skimming, body bowling and polar swimming. The BASH, held the final day of the season, also includes a barbecue and beer garden;You can join free snowshoe tours at Hurricane Ridge and Paradise each winter. While it costs $15 per vehicle to enter the national parks, the free tours include snowshoe rentals. Check the national park Web sites for schedules;or Western Washington has 80 snowmobile snow parks, most of which are in the Cascades. Some of the more popular destinations include Pyramid Creek, Gold Creek, Skate Creek and Marble Mountain; Bluewood, a small resort near Walla Walla, throws a huge party every year called the BASH. You won’t need a lift ticket to try pond skimming, body bowling and polar swimming. The BASH, held the final day of the season, also includes a barbecue and beer garden;18. CATT CREEK ROAD: This Forest Service road outside of Ashford is closed to vehicle traffic in the winter, leaving a snowy playground for families. When Mount Rainier National Park was closed last year, the road still lured people to Ashford; www.mt-rainier.com.

You can join free snowshoe tours at Hurricane Ridge and Paradise each winter. While it costs $15 per vehicle to enter the national parks, the free tours include snowshoe rentals. Check the national park Web sites for schedules;or Western Washington has 80 snowmobile snow parks, most of which are in the Cascades. Some of the more popular destinations include Pyramid Creek, Gold Creek, Skate Creek and Marble Mountain; Bluewood, a small resort near Walla Walla, throws a huge party every year called the BASH. You won’t need a lift ticket to try pond skimming, body bowling and polar swimming. The BASH, held the final day of the season, also includes a barbecue and beer garden; This Forest Service road outside of Ashford is closed to vehicle traffic in the winter, leaving a snowy playground for families. When Mount Rainier National Park was closed last year, the road still lured people to Ashford;19. SKI THE LIFTLESS HILLS: Martin Volken, a native of Switzerland, loves skiing on Snoqualmie Pass, but he isn’t a big fan of waiting in lift lines. So Volken carves his own runs. In 2001, he decided to share his secrets in a guidebook called “Backcountry Skiing Snoqualmie Pass” (The Globe Pequot Press, $16.95).Martin Volken, a native of Switzerland, loves skiing on Snoqualmie Pass, but he isn’t a big fan of waiting in lift lines. So Volken carves his own runs. In 2001, he decided to share his secrets in a guidebook called “Backcountry Skiing Snoqualmie Pass” (The Globe Pequot Press, $16.95).

20. ICE SKATING: If making leisurely laps on the ice in rental skates is your thing, there are two places in Pierce County that offer open skating Sprinker Recreation Center and the Tacoma Hockey Club; tacomahockeyclub.com and www.sprinker.org.

21. SKI WHITE PASS: The White Pass Nordic Center has one of the best cross-country ski area among Northwest resorts with 18 kilometers of groomed trails; skiwww.whitepass.com. Martin Volken, a native of Switzerland, loves skiing on Snoqualmie Pass, but he isn’t a big fan of waiting in lift lines. So Volken carves his own runs. In 2001, he decided to share his secrets in a guidebook called “Backcountry Skiing Snoqualmie Pass” (The Globe Pequot Press, $16.95). If making leisurely laps on the ice in rental skates is your thing, there are two places in Pierce County that offer open skating Sprinker Recreation Center and the Tacoma Hockey Club; tacomahockeyclub.com and The White Pass Nordic Center has one of the best cross-country ski area among Northwest resorts with 18 kilometers of groomed trails;Martin Volken, a native of Switzerland, loves skiing on Snoqualmie Pass, but he isn’t a big fan of waiting in lift lines. So Volken carves his own runs. In 2001, he decided to share his secrets in a guidebook called “Backcountry Skiing Snoqualmie Pass” (The Globe Pequot Press, $16.95). If making leisurely laps on the ice in rental skates is your thing, there are two places in Pierce County that offer open skating Sprinker Recreation Center and the Tacoma Hockey Club; tacomahockeyclub.com and The White Pass Nordic Center has one of the best cross-country ski area among Northwest resorts with 18 kilometers of groomed trails;Martin Volken, a native of Switzerland, loves skiing on Snoqualmie Pass, but he isn’t a big fan of waiting in lift lines. So Volken carves his own runs. In 2001, he decided to share his secrets in a guidebook called “Backcountry Skiing Snoqualmie Pass” (The Globe Pequot Press, $16.95). If making leisurely laps on the ice in rental skates is your thing, there are two places in Pierce County that offer open skating Sprinker Recreation Center and the Tacoma Hockey Club; tacomahockeyclub.com and The White Pass Nordic Center has one of the best cross-country ski area among Northwest resorts with 18 kilometers of groomed trails;Martin Volken, a native of Switzerland, loves skiing on Snoqualmie Pass, but he isn’t a big fan of waiting in lift lines. So Volken carves his own runs. In 2001, he decided to share his secrets in a guidebook called “Backcountry Skiing Snoqualmie Pass” (The Globe Pequot Press, $16.95). If making leisurely laps on the ice in rental skates is your thing, there are two places in Pierce County that offer open skating Sprinker Recreation Center and the Tacoma Hockey Club; tacomahockeyclub.com and The White Pass Nordic Center has one of the best cross-country ski area among Northwest resorts with 18 kilometers of groomed trails;22. BUILD AN IGLOO: There’s something cool about spending the night in an igloo. You can do this any place where there is ample snow and winter camping is permitted. Olympic National Park is a popular destination for igloo campers. Check out this Web site for some good igloo construction instructions; www.primitiveways.com/igloo.html.

Martin Volken, a native of Switzerland, loves skiing on Snoqualmie Pass, but he isn’t a big fan of waiting in lift lines. So Volken carves his own runs. In 2001, he decided to share his secrets in a guidebook called “Backcountry Skiing Snoqualmie Pass” (The Globe Pequot Press, $16.95). If making leisurely laps on the ice in rental skates is your thing, there are two places in Pierce County that offer open skating Sprinker Recreation Center and the Tacoma Hockey Club; tacomahockeyclub.com and The White Pass Nordic Center has one of the best cross-country ski area among Northwest resorts with 18 kilometers of groomed trails; There’s something cool about spending the night in an igloo. You can do this any place where there is ample snow and winter camping is permitted. Olympic National Park is a popular destination for igloo campers. Check out this Web site for some good igloo construction instructions;23. TRY CURLING: Curling might look like shuffleboard on ice, but you might be surprised how fun the Scottish game can be. The Granite Curling Club, the Northwest’s only curling club, is in Seattle and offers open houses Nov. 17, Dec. 1 and March 8 and 22 for $10 per person or $25 per family; www.curlingseattle.org. Curling might look like shuffleboard on ice, but you might be surprised how fun the Scottish game can be. The Granite Curling Club, the Northwest’s only curling club, is in Seattle and offers open houses Nov. 17, Dec. 1 and March 8 and 22 for $10 per person or $25 per family;

24. TAKE A LESSON: Ed Strauss offers two-hour cross-country lessons for $16 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and younger. He’ll also guide you on a four-hour tour of Rainier for $80 and $20 for each additional hour; www.mashell.com/~mtrretail/Skiing.htm. 

25. WATCH THE BEST: Get a look at future Winter Olympic athletes at future Olympic venues in February. The World Cup Freestyle circuit makes a stop at Vancouver, B.C.’s Cypress Mountain on Feb. 9-10. Whistler Blackcomb hosts World Cup alpine racing Feb. 18-24; www.cypressmountain.com,www.whistlerblackcomb.com. Get a look at future Winter Olympic athletes at future Olympic venues in February. The World Cup Freestyle circuit makes a stop at Vancouver, B.C.’s Cypress Mountain on Feb. 9-10. Whistler Blackcomb hosts World Cup alpine racing Feb. 18-24;Get a look at future Winter Olympic athletes at future Olympic venues in February. The World Cup Freestyle circuit makes a stop at Vancouver, B.C.’s Cypress Mountain on Feb. 9-10. Whistler Blackcomb hosts World Cup alpine racing Feb. 18-24;Get a look at future Winter Olympic athletes at future Olympic venues in February. The World Cup Freestyle circuit makes a stop at Vancouver, B.C.’s Cypress Mountain on Feb. 9-10. Whistler Blackcomb hosts World Cup alpine racing Feb. 18-24;Get a look at future Winter Olympic athletes at future Olympic venues in February. The World Cup Freestyle circuit makes a stop at Vancouver, B.C.’s Cypress Mountain on Feb. 9-10. Whistler Blackcomb hosts World Cup alpine racing Feb. 18-24;Get a look at future Winter Olympic athletes at future Olympic venues in February. The World Cup Freestyle circuit makes a stop at Vancouver, B.C.’s Cypress Mountain on Feb. 9-10. Whistler Blackcomb hosts World Cup alpine racing Feb. 18-24;

Get a look at future Winter Olympic athletes at future Olympic venues in February. The World Cup Freestyle circuit makes a stop at Vancouver, B.C.’s Cypress Mountain on Feb. 9-10. Whistler Blackcomb hosts World Cup alpine racing Feb. 18-24;

Bellingham, WA - A local non-profit network of local, independently owned Whatcom  County businesses and supporters are going strong with the idea of Sustainable Connections.  The local group, in it’s fifth year of existence, promotes the idea of local consumers thinking local, buy local, and be local when it comes to buying decisions. It’s a great concept to support local community businesses and to strengthen the local Bellingham and Whatcom County communities as a whole.

The group of local businesses has coalesced under the banner of Sustainable Connections and put that idea to rest. Chris Webb of 2020 Engineering was one of the founders of the group about ten years ago.  Despite attracting 50-60 people to a number of events, the group lost momentum when some of its members had to put more energy into running their businesses.

Rick Dubrow of A-1 Builders met Michelle & Derek Long at a state forum on sustainable business practices.  They discovered a mutual interest in the environment, strong communities, and a “local living economy.”  Their discussions resulted in a renaissance for Sustainable Connections, an influx of new members, and a determination to keep the momentum going.  Sustainable Connections has a great article on their site written by Whatcom County Businesses Pulse, called Whatcom Group Makes Sustainable Connections that really gives an understanding of how this movement was developed.

I really hope someday that Whatcom County awards Rick Dubrow, A-1 Builders, the lifetime achievement award for all the valuable time he has donated to this county towards the green movement.  When I think about Green in Whatcom County, my first thought is Rick Dubrow.

Their membership currently stands at over 600 business, affiliate and supporter members. In the past five years they have had some heavy hitters join their ranks to include Brown & Cole’s Cost Cutter Foods, Barkley Company, People’s Bank, Samuel’s Furniture, Pioneer Ford, WECU, and so many more. Here’s a complete list of Sustainable Connections members.  Their list of local board members and advisers looks more like the who’s who of Whatcom County with the likes of: Pete Kremen, Whatcom County Executive; Dan Pike, Mayor of Bellingham; Craig Cole, CEO, Brown & Cole; Kelli Linville, State Representative, WA State; and Mark Asmundson, Director, Northwest Clean Air Agency.

To demonstrate how much their message has gotten out…after finishing some business with WECU yesterday, I was enjoying lunch at Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro and while reading Cascadia Weekly noticed the Sustainable Connections twelve page insert. I ended up taking both the Weekly and insert home with me.  On my way home I stopped in to Cost Cutter in Ferndale and got a few groceries.  I then noticed all the plastic bags were covered in Sustainable Connections information and the Buy Local logo.  All four businesses I dealt with in a span of two hours were current partners with Sustainable Connections.  Id say their getting the message out there pretty good.

The Green movement seems to have really taken off nationally in the past couple of years, but to veterans like Webb, Dubrow, and the Long’s, they have been practicing this movement way before the idea even had a name. The sustainable concept is a way of life for a lot of local Bellingham businesses and residents now, and has propelled Bellingham to the epic center of a new economic model for other areas to follow.

From their own mission statement, Sustainable Connections provides support to our local community of innovators in green building, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, supporting independent businesses in town centers, and mentoring a new breed of entrepreneurs that have designed their business with a sustainable vision.

Their goal is to educate local businesses and government entities and to help them participate in the opportunities of a sustainable economy. They try to Connect businesses to each other, and to the local marketplace so they can grow the local economy.

It’s a great concept that has really taken hold locally on a grassroots basis, and has so much to gain once more and more people are educated on how easy it is to participate.  I think the current popularity of the green movement will really help the project blossom over the coming years and hopefully it becomes a standard in the way we all live our lives.

 I encourage anyone that wants to learn about making a difference, where ever you happen to live, to visit the local Bellingham Sustainable Connections site and learn how you to can make a difference in your local community as well.

Brought to you by Jerry Campbell - Muljat Group - Bellingham WA - Northwest Living

 Over the last eight years I’ve accumulated the total homes sales on a monthly basis and have been using them in my own bellingham real estate business in order to watch monitor the local Whatcom County housing market trends.  The chart below shows the total number of sales for the first ten months of each year since 2000. At the end of the year I’ll post the final sales for 2007 compared to 2006 and subsequent years back to 2000.

The graph below shows sales numbers in four different Whatcom County sales groups.  The top line shows the number of sales of resale homes in the Bellingham, Washington market for the first ten months of each year back to 2000. The next line shows the number of sales for resale in the Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, WA real estate markets.

The bottom two graph lines show the total number of new homes that sold in Bellingham with the blue line and in yellow for the Ferndale, Lynden, and Blaine markets.

It’s very clear that the resale market was displaying some big numbers around Whatcom County from 2001 through the end of 2004.  It’s my belief that as the prices within the Bellingham WA area started to get to high for most buyers, they started to look more at markets like Ferndale, Lynden, and Blaine because home prices were more affordable at the time.  That’s why if you look at the graph above, the up market extended into 2005 for most of the county markets outside of Bellingham. 

The market peaked over all for Whatcom County around August - September of 2005.  That’s about when we started this big change and a downward trend in sales numbers. We have shifted to more of a buyers market during the last two plus years, but it appears that the Bellingham market might have finally hit a low.  If you look at the two Bellingham graphs, we have slightly out performed 2006 sales numbers through the same time period of 2007.  We will need to look at the November and December 2007 numbers to really get a much better idea of where were at in this market.

I think the biggest thing thats affecting us currently is all the negative chatter over sub-prime loans from that boom period.  Even though most of those type of loans are no longer being marketed by the banks and mortgage companies, the fallout from foreclosures can still have an effect on the market place.  The Northwest really came out pretty well from the sub-prime mortgages.  I say this because if you look at the US map in the post on Northwest Counties With Highest Subprime Loans we have one of the lowest amount of loans in sub-prime loans compared to many areas of the country.

So, we should be able to come out of this period better than areas in California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, and the Southern states.  The Northwest economic conditions are pretty good with low unemployment rates, Interest rates are historically low, retail sales numbers are strong, and we live in a very desirable area of the country.  For us up in Whatcom County we also are enjoying good retail, tourism, and travel spending from our Canadian neighbors due to the parity between the US Dollar and the Canadian Looney.

I will post several more in depth articles on the housing market in January 2008, once I receive the final Whatcom County sales numbers for November and December 2007.  I tend to not look at average sales price of homes because those numbers can be manipulated way too much.  I like to look at total sales numbers in the market, because it’s much better way to get a feel for where our local markets are heading.  In most cases you really don’t know your in a down market or up market until your well into it.  That’s why having complete sales numbers over a long period of time, allows one to clearly study the over all Whatcom County real estate market and have better capabilities to forecast trends more accurately.

Jerry Campbell - Muljat Group Realtors - Bellingham, WA 98225 - Whatcom County Real Estate

It seems like more and more these days I’m getting questions about buyers wanting to purchase foreclosure homes. So I did some research the other day and found a few web sites and blogs that had some very useful information on the subject of foreclosures.  One of the best sources I found was on the Austin real estate blog which had a lot of useful information.  Ki Gray is the owner of the site and he’s using a map that he found on the New York Times showing county by county where the highest percentage of the subprime loans were taken out.

click the map below to open a new window with the full interactive version and our Northwest viewers can checkout the areas in the Northwest with the highest subprime loans.  That will give one an idea where you could pretty much predict where one would expect to find loans going into foreclosure.

subprime mortgage map

The interactive map showed that for the Northwest corner of Washington State, Skagit County showed that 27% of all mortgages are in subprime lending, 19% in Whatcom County, 18% in Island County, and only 10% in San Juan County. As high as those numbers might seem at first glance, those numbers are not to bad when compared to many of the other counties in the State of Washington.  Most of the other counties range from 25% to 35% overall.

This map is a good indication why the Northwest has done so well versus the rest of the country.  The light shade areas are the areas in the US that have the lowest subprime loans per county, and the darker areas are the worse hit by these tough loans. Looking at that map it appears that many areas in the midwest and especially the south and southwest have really been the hardest hit.

Click that link above the map and you can really zoom in and get a good idea of whats going on across the united states.  I really think if buyers and sellers in the Northwest could see this scenario, it would give a much more positive attitude towards are market here.  Especially when one factors the low interest rates under 6%, low unemployment rates (down to 3.8% in Whatcom County), and pretty good retail numbers.  In Whatcom County we also have the benefit of having almost three million citizens of British Columbia just over our border and with the parity of the Dollar and the Looney, Canadians are shopping here more. 

Next week I’m going to post the sales numbers for the Whatcom County housing market and it will show that the Bellingham WA housing numbers for the first ten months of 2007 vs 2006 are actually up year over year. I have the total sales numbers for the last eight years on a monthly basis and I’m going to start sharing them here on my Northwest real estate blog.  Look for the stats next week. I tend to look at the number of sales instead of prices, because I feel its one part of statistics that can not be easily manipulated. Price increases only tell you about what properties are selling for, but what about the homes that tested the market and didn’t sell.  That’s why I look at sales numbers comparisons instead. Tells a more true story.

Jerry Campbell - Muljat Group - 510 Lakeway Dr - Bellingham, WA 98225 - Northwest Living

 The countdown to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games has already begun. A digital clock in downtown Vancouver shows the remaining time to the opening ceremony by day, hour, minute and second.

A new highway entrance signs have been added to promote the Olympics.

The arena housing a new ice rink has gone up in Richmond near the Vancouver International Airport. Light-rail lines are being added. And the Vancouver Convention Center is being expanded to serve as the main media center for the games, which will take place February 12 to 28, 2010 and will be followed by the Paralympic Winter Games in March.

“This is a big year for construction in Vancouver,” Raymond Chan, spokesman for Tourism British Columbia, said this week.

Organizers expect about a million people to visit British Columbia during the Olympics in which about 5,000 athletes and officials from 80 countries are set to participate, Chan said. An estimated 10,000 accredited media members will report on the games and three billion television viewers are expected to watch them around the world.

“For us, it’s really a great opportunity to showcase our region to the world,” Chan said.

Business owners are working with Olympic organizers to reap economic benefits from the event, said Greg Holmes, director of sales at the popular Vancouver Aquarium. “We will create significant exposure,” Holmes said.

Area residents are gearing up for the big event as well. Organizers have already secured about 25,000 volunteers needed for the Olympics, Chan said. More and more people continue to show interest in volunteering.

Volunteers and businesses are receiving training to welcome athletes, officials and tourists to British Columbia, Chan said. “We are really looking at ensuring all the volunteers and businesses are well-trained to treat visitors,” he said.

The Olympics will also benefit and affect the Pacific Northwest on the US side.  With Whatcom County being right on the border with British Columbia, they should see a lot of tourism benefits.

Some visitors will fly in to Washington airports. Snohomish County has created its own group, SnoGold 2010, to help local businesses and organizations be ready for the opportunities created by the Olympics. It’s trying to bid for skating or skiing teams to establishing training camps in the county.

Organizers expect many residents of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho to take the drive upto Vancouver spending time and money with our Northwest neighbor during the winter games.

The U.S. government is set to start a new border crossing requirement in summer 2008. The new rule requires passports for all travelers, including drivers when they re-enter the United States after a few hours of shopping in Canada. A driver’s license now suffices.

Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell are trying to streamline the crossings in preparation for the Olympics. State officials plan to authorize new enhanced driver’s licenses, which will allow drivers to cross the border without presenting passports.

The new passport rule could hinder traffic during the Olympics and send a chill through tourism and trade on both sides of the border, critics say. There is some concern by the tourism industry.  Partially via HeraldNet

For all your Whatcom County real estate needs visit Bellingham WA Homes.

 One year ago today we started the Northwest Living - Bellingham real estate blog to provide useful information about our corner of Washington state with helpful posts on topics relating to housing, real estate, travel, outdoors, relocation and much more. 

May the next year and years to come be just as exciting as this past year has been for us.  We look forward to bringing stories on Whatcom County and the surrounding counties of Skagit, Island, and San Juan.  We will also discuss interesting topics about the Puget Sound region, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest in general.

One thing that’s been very enjoyable about posting information and things to do in our Northwest corner is going out an experiencing the things we write about. The Northwest area of Washington State is truly one of the most beautiful areas in the country.  Before you travel to our area, check out our blog and information as your guide to the Northwest corner.  As always, what ever you do, be safe and have fun.

If anyone has a topic they would like us to look into and post about it, feel free to contact us and let us know.

 The second Monday in October may not mean much to most Americans, beside the fact that Halloween is less than three weeks away. However, Canadians will be wishing family and friends across Canada a happy Thanksgiving.

 Most Canadians view Thanksgiving as a celebration of a successful harvest, which happens a little earlier than in the U.S., hence the earlier date. The biggest difference between Thanksgiving in Canada and in the United States is the time of year it is celebrated. Thanksgiving in Canada is further away from Christmas than it is in the United States. 

In the U.S., it feels like one holiday season. In Canada, they are completely separate.  Canadians also don’t have worry about a big shopping rush the day after Thanksgiving for all the Christmas sales.

A similarity between Thanksgiving in the United States and Thanksgiving in Canada is the type of food that is served.  I really don’t think there is any differences in food since we really come from the same base culture. Canada enjoys turkey, ham, potatoes and the familiar fixings we do in the US.  However, I hear that sweet potatoes and yams are not a very common side dish like they are here in that states. Rather, Canadians eat a lot of brussel sprouts.

Not only is the food similar, but the décor used to add festivity to tables, homes and businesses is much the same as what’s used in the United States.  It’s typically with the beautiful fall colors and theme with the occasional turkey thrown in for good measure.

Post-feasting activities in America often include watching a football game on TV.  Most Americans relax after their thanksgiving meal while watching football games on television. Traditionally, two National Football League teams, the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys, host games on Thanksgiving Day. High viewership of these holiday games has made football an American Thanksgiving tradition.

Since the feast is on the second monday of October every year…there’s probably no football games on. Many Canadians, however, choose to watch hockey rather than football after having their big feast. 

Unlike the United States’ traditional fourth Thursday in November, Canada celebrates its Thanksgiving holiday on the second Monday in October. According to the Web site Canadian Thanksgiving, the first Canadian Thanksgiving, as a country, was celebrated on April 15, 1872 in thanks for the recovery of the future King Edward VII from a serious illness. The next Thanksgiving wasn’t held until 1879.

Over the next 70 plus years, Canada had a difficult time deciding on an exact date Thanksgiving should be held. On Jan. 31, 1957, Parliament issued a proclamation to permanently fix the second Monday in October as “a day of general Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.”

If one were to go even farther back though the web site made this interesting reference:  The history of Thanksgiving in Canada is related to Martin Frobisher, who was an English navigator. He made a lot of efforts to find a northern passage to the Orient. Though he did not succeed in his efforts but he was able to establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now known as Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Martin Frobisher was later knighted and an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada was named as ‘ Frobisher Bay‘ after him. When other settlers arrived here they continued this ceremony of giving thanks.

In finishing…I’m looking at my calender for this date and it just happens to be Columbus Day here in America.  Hmmmm…maybe our good friends to the north do have this thing right after all.  Happy Thanksgiving Canada.

For all of our Canadian friends contact Jerry for your Bellingham real estate needs.