Kim Thompson, Broker
Windermere Real Estate
360-296-3431
bellinghamlifestyle@gmail.com

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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Market condition in Bellingham

I get a lot of questions about the market condition. The following graph shows what is going on in Bellingham market.
To sum it all, we have less inventory but more Sold than last year. Less supply and more demand will move the price up eventually. We have seen small rise this year already. Historically low interest rate makes homes more affordable for sure. (WECU's today's posted 30 year Fixed rate for a primary home purchase is 3.125% without points. ) You can find investment homes that will cash flow easily with this interest rate.



                   Curnt vs. Prev Month      Curnt vs. Same Month 1 Yr Ago    Curnt vs. Same Qtr 1 Yr Ago
For Sale               -5.7%                             -13.7%                                     -13.9% 
Sold                     -5.8%                             21%                                         19.8% 
Pended                -2.7%                             22.2%                                       14.6% 

Fall/Winter Check List

Are you ready for winter?
Ready for winter?


Here are a few helpful hints on preparing your home for the fall & winter months.
Courtesy of Pillar to post
P2P Logo

Roof Structure

  • Remove moss from roof. (Avoid pressure washing as this often causes more damage than good. Solutions & instructions can be found at most home improvement centers.)
  • Check condition of flashing & repair any loose or damaged shingles.
  • Clean gutters. (Even small amounts of debris can clog downspouts)
  • Keep trees & branches trimmed 6 feet from roof & off power lines.

Exterior Items

  • Trim all vegetation 12 inches away from siding.
  • Keep earth 6 inches below/away from siding & all other wood while maintaining a gentle slope away from the home.
  • Remove all debris away from home such as leafs to help keep pests away.
  • Store firewood at least ten feet from home to help avoid pest infestation
  • To help protect your home from water keep all gaps and joints in siding, even around doors & windows, caulked and keep well painted and sealed.
  • Add storm windows in older homes for better heat efficiency.

Crawl Space

  • Insulate plumbing lines to help protect them from freezing.
  • Keep all foundation vents unblocked year round, except during freezing weather, to provide adequate ventilation especially in the winter months when it is most damp. (Measure & purchase correct size vent plugs before freezing weather arrives.)

Fireplace

  • Have chimneys & flues professionally cleaned before use. (Soot build-up can lead to flue fires which often cause house fires.)

Furnace

  • Gas/propane furnaces should be serviced on an annual basis.
  • Replace/clean filters.
  • Have heat registers professionally cleaned (or vacuum out as far as possible) to cut down on dust or other impurities in the air.

Interior

  • Check weather stripping around doors & windows. (If you can see light around a closed door improvement is needed.)
  • Replace smoke alarm batteries.
  • Add carbon monoxide monitors if your home uses gas or propane for any appliances or has an attached garage. (They are also needed if you burn wood)
  • Add UV lights where desired to help cope with the not so bright NW winter.

Plumbing

  • If you do have "frost free" hose faucets turn water to facets off or insulate them at interior & exterior.
  • Remove all hoses. Even if you have "frost free"faucets freezing water from hose can damage lines.

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