Here are the real estate sales statistics for the week for Whatcom County, particulary Bellingham, Blaine/Birch Bay, Ferndale, Lynden and Sudden Valley.

The pending ratio (percentage of homes listed that have a sale pending) for each of those cities is as follows:
Bellingham: 20%
Blaine/Birch Bay: 20%
Ferndale: 14%
Lynden: 13%
Sudden Valley: 19%

To view graphs of the real estate sales trends in Bellingham, Blaine/Birch Bay, Ferndale, Lynden and Sudden Valley over the past two years, click on Real Estate Sales Statistics Graphs for Whatcom County, Sept. 23 

To find out more about how we gather these statistics and what these numbers mean, click here.

Remember - we keep detailed statistics on all price ranges so if you would like information about a particular price range, let us know and we can graph it out for you.

Today’s tip is for buyers - make sure that you look into all your options with a mortgage. Definitely talk to your personal bank, but speak to other banks as well and look into the various mortgage products that are available. One thing to be careful of though - don’t have your credit checked too often as that can actually hurt your credit rating. Have it pulled once, find out what it is, then speak to other banks about what they offer you based upon the credit information that you give them. If you decide to go with that bank, they will need to do a credit check as well, but at least you won’t have done it at every bank that you spoke to!

So the figures are back from the economic analysis done by the Port and City of Bellingham: the “New Whatcom” aka former GP site development will cost the City of Bellingham $200 million in streets, bridges, parks, trails, utilities, etc and will cost the Port of Bellingham $137 million in clean-up, demolition and construction.

While those costs are projected over 20 years, that is still a lot of money for a community the size of Bellingham (aprox 80,000). The final project will be magnificent - no doubt about it. A new marina, parks, trails, clean water, condos, shops and businesses….almost sounds like another urban village. But can Bellingham afford this new project? I guess time will tell.

Today’s tip is for buyers and sellers: when interviewing agents ask them for references. Most good agents will have comments from previous clients who are willing to give them a reference. If they do not have references it probably means one of three things: they are really new in the business (not to say don’t give them a chance, just be aware that they are new), they don’t have anyone willing to be a reference for them (ouch! - probably not the best person to work with) or they are not organized enough to have that information available.

Today’s tips is for sellers - when getting your home ready to put on the market, look at the walls. Are there marks? fingerprints? holes from pictures? A fresh coat of paint can make all the difference!!!! Fresh paint covers all kinds of blemishes and gives the house a “newer” look. There is one provision to this - paint in neutral colors! As much as you might like a bright pink house, the general population probably won’t. So talk to the paint store and get their advice on some good neutral colors.

Today’s tip is for buyers - if you go to a house and you really just don’t like it when you walk in - MOVE ON!!!! It will save your time and your agents. If you walk in and have your doubts, wander through a bit more. If the doubts continue - MOVE ON! Particularly in today’s market, there is a lot to choose from so if you don’t like it, don’t waste your time with it.

The Boys and Girls club of Whatcom County will soon be receiving their biggest donation ever - the proceeds of a new house being built on Birch Street. Dick Skeers of Skeers Construction built the house and got over 30 venders to participate by donating or reducing the costs on materials and labor. This group effort will hopefully net $100,000 for the Boys and Girls Club and the money will be put in the endowment fund to help support the group over the coming years.Â

Today’s tip is for both buyers and sellers - ask about your closing costs. From the selling side, ask about what other fees and taxes you will have to pay on top of the commission. Buyers, talk to your agent and your bank about what fees & taxes you will be expected to pay. Make sure you know in advance what this will cost you and don’t get surprised by “hidden” or unexpected fees.

M & M Floral has recently finished remodeling their store and they are having an open house on Saturday to show it off! Drop by on Saturday, September 23 anytime from 12-4pm to look around and enjoy music, refreshments and get a free rose.

Also, enter to win a webkinz, the plush animal that you can hold like any other - but with a world online as well! M & M Floral will be giving away 1 Webkinz per hour.

Don’t miss out on all the fun! 5453 Guide Meridian. Questions? Call 800-238-4183

Today’s tip is for buyers - look at several homes before making an offer. When looking at homes, particularly in a new city or if you are a first time home buyer, you may walk into that first house and LOVE it! Even so, look at several other comparable homes that your agent has selected. It could be that there is something even better, but you don’t know it because you just grabbed the first one that you saw. You can always go back and see the first one again and make an offer on it. Just make sure you know what else is out there too.