Currently this week in Blaine/Birch Bay, WA the Pending Ratio is 8%, which is stable with last week’s pending ratio. The pending ratios are the percentage of homes listed that have pending offers on them.
Below is a graph to view the Blaine/Birch Bay Real Estate pending sales trend.
To view the pending ratios in numerical form click here
Currently this week in Ferndale, WA the Pending Ratio is 13%, which is up 3 points from the 10% ratio posted last week.The pending ratios are the percentage of homes listed that have pending offers on them.
Below is a graph to view the Ferndale Real Estate pending sales trend.
To view the pending ratios in numerical form click here
Currently this week in Lynden, WA the Pending Ratio is 14%, which is up 3 percentage points from last week’s pending ratio of 11%.. The pending ratios are the percentage of homes listed that have pending offers on them.
Below is a graph to view the Lynden Real Estate pending sales trend.
To view the pending ratios in numerical form click here
Currently this week in Sudden Valley, WA the Pending Ratio is 18%, which is up two percentage points from the 16% ratio posted last week. The pending ratios are the percentage of homes listed that have pending offers on them.
Below is a graph to view the Sudden Valley Real Estate pending sales trend.
To view the pending ratios in numerical form click here
Currently this week in Bellingham, WA the Pending Ratio is 14%, which is stable with last week’s pending ratio. The pending ratios are the percentage of homes listed that have pending offers on them.
Below is a graph to view the Bellingham Real Estate pending sales trend.
To view the pending ratios in numerical form click here
If you own real estate on Lummi Island, Lake Whatcom, SuddenValley, Geneva or south of Lakeway Drive in Bellingham, you recently received a notice from the Whatcom County Assessor that your property is worth more than it used to be. Since real estate in these areas was last assessed prior to 4 years of rising real estate prices, it’s not surprising that the Assessor says it is worth more today than it was in 2004. On the other hand, for the last few months you have been reading that real estate values in Bellingham and Whatcom County are falling, so why has your taxable value gone up 50%, 60%, 70% or more? The next big question is – does that mean your taxes will go up by the same percentage? And the last question is – what can you do about it?
Let’s start with the Why. The law requires counties to determine the “market value” of real estate on a regular basis for the purpose of levying taxes. In Whatcom County, ¼ of the county is assessed every year. This system means that if there have been major market shifts, the changes can be huge over a 4 year period. But values have gone down over the past year, right? Perhaps. Generally speaking, homes in the upper ranges and raw land have dropped over the past year. Have they dropped to 2005 levels? In some cases, yes. On the other hand, homes in the lower price ranges, particularly in some areas, may have maintained their gains. The number of homes sold has also dropped over the past year, giving assessors fewer choices of comparable sales for real estate that is somewhat atypical.
Next Question: How much will your taxes increase? At this point, no one knows. Taxes for things like bond issues, which are for specific amounts, will not increase as assessed value rises. The percentage collected will change so that the same amount is collected based on the new total assessed value of all real estate in Whatcom County. The general fund taxes are a bit more complicated. Counties are limited as to how much additional property tax they can collect in any year over the year before, not counting the additional taxes gathered from new construction and development. Theoretically, actual taxes should go up considerably less than assessed valuse, but my experience is that a jump in one typically brings a jump in the other.
Last Question: What can you do about it? You can appeal, and if you can show that comparable property sales do not support the new assessed value, it can be reduced. The first step is to call the Whatcom County Assessor’s office at 360-676-6790. If the assessor’s analysis of your property is incorrect, they may be able to resolve it immediately. If they can’t help, you need to file an appeal petition with the Board of Equalization. Appeals must be filed on forms available at either the Whatcom County Council office or the County Assessor’s office, both in the courthouse at 311 Grand Ave in Bellingham. Appeals must be filed no later than July 1 of this year or within 30 days of the date on the change of assessment notice. They must be returned to the County Council office – a phone call or letter does not constitute filing an appeal. You will be notified when your hearing date is set.
I have successfully argued before the Board and been granted a roll back in assessed value of a property. The key is to provide the Board with the tools they need to make the decision you want. They do not have the power to reduce the assessment for any reason other than evidence of real estate values which would support the value you are claiming. Comparable sales are the best because value was established by the sale. Evidence of real estate comparable to yours that is currently listed at a lower price than your assessed value could also be of help. Comparable properties need to be as close to yours geographically and in basic characteristics as possible. Your evidence needs to be in writing and to the Board at least 5 days before your hearing so that they have a chance to review it (it can be submitted separately from your appeal petition). This will be much more effective than just showing up and telling them all about it.
The Whatcom County Assessor’s office has an excellent website at http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/assessor/. It has complete instructions on how to go through the appeal process as well as explanations of how assessment values are established and taxes are determined. If you need information on properties currently for sale or sold, go to our website at www.JohnsonTeamRealEstate.com, choose Recent Home Sales, and map your neighborhood. There is even a calculator that will estimate the value of your property if you enter the address. If you still need some help in deciding whether to appeal or putting it together, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@JohnsonTeamRealEstate.com or 360-527-8766. We’ll do anything we can to help.
Elizabeth Park in the Columbia Park Neighborhood
The Columbia Neighborhood in the City of Bellingham is almost magical. Being one of the oldest Bellingham Neighborhoods, a visitor can find housing choices that date from the late 1800’s to the current year with the majority of homes built prior to 1940. Regardless of the year built, the size or the location in the Columbia Neighborhood, its residents are all proud to call it home. Aside from the wonderful selection of homes, the Columbia Neighborhood offers its residents & visitors some of the finest parks in the City of Bellingham, including:
Who can pass up a Thursday evening at Elizabeth Park with a concert in the gazebo & the pleasure of a treat from the local vendors - an ice cream cone from Mallards Ice Cream is enough reason in itself to attend a Summer’s event in Elizabeth Park.
Our sons, Chandler & Graham, & I have spent many hours at Carl Lobe & Lorraine Parks. Often, it was as though the parks were our own private domain. Often times we were the only ones there other than the resident squirrels & racoons.
Columbia Elementary School in the Columbia Neighborhood
For those parents who had, have or will have children of elementary school age, the Columbia Elementary School which was originally established in 1890 is outstanding & is certainly one of the institutions that makes the Columbia Neighborhood stand out. You can access the Columbia School Performance Report by clicking here.
If you have the opportunity, the Eldridge Historical Society usually will offer a tour of “Historical Homes” over the Holidays. It’s a trip back in time that is well worth the effort. You might be able to see such classics as
The list is endless of period homes that bring us back to the very beginnings of this City.
For those of you who have interest in the current inventory of Bellingham’s Columbia Neighborhood real estate, you can access it here on the Johnson Team web site.
If you currently own a home in the Columbia Neighborhood & would like to receive an on-line report of the value of your Columbia Neighborhood real estate, you can do so by clicking here.
If you’d care to see a current market report of recent real estate activity in the Columbia Neighborhood click here. This pdf report covers all activity through 11/10/08. As you can see from the report, there are currently (as of Nov 17, 2008) 12 homes listed for sale in the Columbia Neighborhod ranging in value from $239,900 to $2,295,000, & over the last 6 months, 25 homes have sold from a low of $172,560 to a high of $525,000. Homes in the Columbia Neighborhood on average in this analysis sold within 97.8% of their list price.
For me there is nothing much more enjoyable and thereputic than a day hike on one of Whatcom County’s many trails. This wonderful county offers more than 100 trails from the Chuckanut Mountain trails system, to Galbraith and beyond, to the many wonderful higher elevation excursions in the North Cascades foothills.
The Fall and Winter months tend to deter the more tentative outdoors people, as rain and cold weather make some trails all but unmanageable. If you are looking for an easy stroll, you can always revert to the standard favorite Lake Padden Loop. Quite honestly, this short 2.6 mile loop keeps me sane during the longer Winter months when other trails are unserviceable by snow and too much mud.
If you are looking for a more challenging trip, head east towards Mt. Baker and hike the Heliotrope Ridge Trail. This in-and-out jaunt is only 4.5 miles roundtrip, but is quite strenous due to the 2,000 foot gain in elevation. You’ll begin in an old growth forest at the trailhead but will travel upwards to enjoy one of the greatest Mt. Baker views to be had. This trail is only serviceable during the Summer and Fall months, but is well worth the drive!
If you are a mountain biker, look no further than Galbraith Mountain, said to be one of the best locations for mountain biking in the country. Since I am a novice biker, I don’t venture into this big kid’s playground, but for intermediate and advanced riders this mountain is a playground unlike any other. The massive trail system is also a superb spot for avid trail runners. Get lost a bit and romp around in the mud after a solid Fall rain. We promise you’ll return home a kid again!
Bellingham Museum
The Central Business District in Bellingham, Washington is probably the most diverse neighborhood in Bellingham. The area includes a smorgasboard of businesses, services, activities and living choices.
Squalicum Harbor - Fisherman' Memorial
Bellingham’s waterfront includes
For those interested in housing available in the Bellingham Central Business District or Downtown Bellingham, you can access the downtown Bellingham real estate opportunities offered by the Johnson Team by clicking here.
There is a photo gallery & a virtual tour of the Bellingham Central Business District & Downtown Bellingham on The Johnson Team web site.
For those of you who own real estate in the Bellingham Central Business District & would like a quick on-line evaluation of value for your property, click here.
Whatcom Creek as it spills into Bellingham Bay.
This is the former site of the Roeder & Peabody saw mill built in the early 1850's. A slice of Bellingham’s history that comes from the Central Business District's past would include the following chain of events that resulted in Henry Roeder & Russell Peabody building a saw mill. The site of the mill was on the east side of Whatcom Creek where the creek spilled over a water fall into Bellingham Bay. You might think it strange that these two entrepreneurs would choose an undeveloped site in a spot primarily known only by the local Indian tribes, but it just so happened that at this time the sailing fleet needed the perfectly formed fir trees found in Whatcom County. The fleet that supplying the California gold fields with everything from gold pans to bacon was being battered as it rounded the Horn of Africa & as a result needed a local supply of timber to re-fit the masts, spars & planking that was damaged during the trip. Roeder & Peabody supplied that need with their saw mill at Whatcom Creek, which is now the home of the Maritime Heritage Park. For those of you who would care to contribute to the section of our blog “Whatcom County Remembered“, by including your memories of the area, I’d encourage you to contact us. Too many of the stories of Whatcom County history are being lost. It would be nice to create an informal forum for those past thoughts & memories to be recorded for all to share. We’d love to include your articles & photos.
From the City of Bellingham’s web site you can access the Central Business Neighborhood Base map, the Bellingham Central Business District Neighborhood Circulation map, the Bellingham Central Business District Neighborhood Land Use map, the Bellingham Central Business District Current Use map & finally the Bellingham Downtown Neighborhood Zoning map.
The City of Bellingham describes the Central Business District Neighborhood in the following manner:
Are you looking for a one of a kind opportunity? Well look no further with this charming update of the quintessential Bellingham craftsman located in the Lettered Streets. We just love this home and know you will to. It is close to Bellingham schools and all city amenities and just a stones throw from Cornwall Park and other area green spaces. Come visit us at an open house on Sunday, November 16 from 12 - 2 and we’ll show you this adorable home in one of the most sought after neighborhoods in town. Check out the virtual tour below and see for yourself!
The Johnson Team at the Muljat Group South has historically held open-houses throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County every week on Sunday afternoons. For you, The Johnson Team’s valued clients, these Bellingham / Whatcom County open houses will provide not only the opportunity to view a home “live” but also to meet one of four dedicated agents. Our agents understand that our clients are as busy as we are, and may not be able to make it to a particular open house during our standard showing days, so if you are interested in viewing any home in Whatcom County, please give us a call at (360) 527-8766 and we’ll work to accomodate your schedule.
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