In the 1950s, people moved out of the cities in pursuit of the ideal suburban life. Fast forward 50 years and we are starting to do the opposite, although the motives remain similar.

Family and leisure activities are two driving forces bringing people back to the cities. It’s hard to have quality family time and leisure time when you are spending 3 hours a day commuting. Enter the downtown condo.

Previously marketed as an affordable alternative to single family homes, condos are getting bigger and more luxurious in order to attract families. The hour and a half morning commute is traded for a ten minute walk down the street (15 minutes if they stop at the coffee shop). That extra time is then funneled into people’s priorities.

However, with increased demand for in town condos and limited land, prices for condos are on the rise. In 2005, Miami, Florida ranked 10th highest in the country for condo prices. The average price: $443,750.

In Bellingham, we have seen a dramatic rise in condo development. We have also seen the city’s attempts to be very intentional about where those condos go in order to foster community and the urban village concept. Downtown condos are great, but if they are not within walking distance to the necessary amenities, they really don’t help that much with the commute and traffic problems.

For more information on Bellingham Real Estate or to search for homes in the Bellingham and Whatcom County area visit www.JohnsonTeamRealEstate.com, your one stop Bellingham real estate and community information resource!