If you are planning to head out to Lummi Island this week you will be sure to want to plan around the scheduled ferry down time.  The Whatcom Chief, the ferry that services Lummi Island will be out of service from 10:30am to 3pm on Wednesday, Oct. 26th.During the ferry down time maintenance is scheduled to be done on the ferry approach spans.

If you have never been to Lummi Island before, it’s a great little island and well worth a visit to learn more about Lummi Island you can visit the Lummi Island FAQ page on The Johnson Team’s website.

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!

 If you are thinking about getting out to Lummi Island to enjoy this gorgeous weather we have been having you might want to change your plans or plan ahead. The Whatcom Chief the ferry that runs between Lummi Island and Gooseberry Point is going to be on dry dock  Wednesday, Sept. 7, to Oct. 1, for annual repairs. During the dry dock period there will be a passenger only ferry running the scheduled runs.

On the Gooseberry Point side of the ferry there will be free parking available in designated areas.  On the Lummi Island side of the ferry there will be a Shuttle service offered. The shuttle will run from 5:55am to 11:50 am and then then again from 3:55pm to 10:50pm.

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!

Crews from the Whatcom County Public Works Department will be inspecting the ferry and performing routine maintenance to ensure the boat is in proper working condition.

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!

The Lummi Island ferry, the Whatcom Chief usually goes for dry dock once a year in September. Due to a leak found on the boat in June they are dry docking the boat now for repairs and the usual yearly maintenance. There will be no planned September dry dock for the ferry this year as all maintenance will be covered during this repair period.

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!

According to the Bellingham Herald repairs will likely take between 10 days and 2 weeks to complete. Until the Whatcom Chief is back up and running the county is working to get a passenger ferry in place to help with the emergency. Whatcom County spokesperson Joe Bates stated, ” The goal is to have a passenger ferry in place by 8pm Tuesday.” The hope is that the passenger only ferry schedule would remain the same as the Whatcom Chief schedule. The county will also be opening up additional parking on the Gooseberry Point side of the island for those wishing to travel to Lummi Island.  Check back to updates!

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!

Most of these items should be checked before a storm but also after to evaluate possible damage caused by the storm. Often the initial damage caused by the storm becomes much more significant if not quickly repaired. Many of these items should be corrected or inspected by a licensed professional as doing so can be hazardous. Work with reputable contractors & ask for references.

 -Block your foundations vents but be sure to remove blocks after freezing weather ends.

- Keep water running slightly at sinks to help prevent freezing pipes.

-If you have a vacant home keep the temperature above 55 degrees & cupboard doors open to help prevent freezing pipes.

-Collect any loose items in yard such as toys or lawn chairs that may be blown against a home. Even larger items such as detached sheds or storage buildings may need to be strapped down or anchored.

-Review your fence for loose panels or boards. The wind can further damage these or potentially blow them into the home.

-Have a licensed inspector or contractor check to see that your skylights are properly secured to help avoid having them blow off.

-Have a licensed home inspector or contractor check flue caps & other items on the roof that may come loose during a storm. (Damaged flues can allow carbon monoxide to enter the home which can be deadly)

-Have trees & branches professionally trimmed back from the home & power lines at least six feet to help prevent them from causing damage.

-Have trees around home & other structures evaluated by a licensed arborist to be sure they are healthy & do not pose a threat to the home. (Trees may sometimes appear healthy but have significant rot or disease that may result in fallen branches or entire trees.)

-Have at least a 72 hour supply of food, water, flashlights, batteries, medicine & etc in case of power outages & the potential inability to leave your home due to blocked roads or other issues.(Go to www.redcross.org for more information)

-With a pair of binoculars evaluate the roof for loose or missing shingles. One loose shingle can create a weak spot allowing more damage in future storms not to mention potential leaks.

-Have your chimney professionally reviewed before & after the storm for loose mortar & bricks. Bricks can be blown off damaging more than just your chimney.

-Evaluate your windows for cracks that may grow or possibly lead to shattered windows during a storm. If damaged during the storm cover broken windows or other holes in the home immediately to avoid water damage.

-Be sure all drains & gutters etc are clear to help prevent leaking or flooding.

-After the storm visually check for loose power lines. Do not, under any circumstances, go near downed power lines. Be aware that the ground near downed power lines may also be electrified.

-After the storm, be sure all drains, gutters, & roofing are cleared of debris as this could lead to structural damage. This should be completed by a qualified contractor.

-Remove debris from yard as this can attract insects.

-After the storm check to see that garage doors are not damaged and are safely on their tracks.

Thanks Jefferson for the helpful tips and hints! Stay safe in the wind.

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!

Yesterday I looked at 22 houses currently for sale on Lummi Island. 

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On the spot reporting is great, but looking at the history a bit gives a more balanced picture of a market.  The table below compares the number of residences sold on Lummi Island for the past 6 months in 2007, 2008 and 2009.  It also compares the number of homes currently under contract to the number sold in 2007 and 2008 in the coming 3 months.  Based on these numbers, it is entirely possible that sales for the next 3 months could meet or surpass the number for 2007, which would be a step toward a possible market recovery.

We track a lot of numbers relative to Whatcom County Real Estate, so if you have a particular interest, just leave a comment or question and I can probably get you what you want…or you can share your perspective.  I’d love to hear from you, and another point of view can help us all to better understand what is happening in this sometimes wacky world of real estate.

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!

Lummi Island’s Whatcom Chief

Whatcom Chief Service Outage August 12th

Lummi Island’s ferry, the Whatcom Chief, will be out of service for maintenance to both approach spans on Wednesday, August 12th, from 10:30 AM to approximately 3:00 PM.  The work is weather dependent, so the time and date could be changed as a result.

The ferry schedule will remain normal on the 12th with the exception of the above time period.

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!

View of Lummi Island from Sinclair Island

Living in the  area there are so many natural hidden treasures at your finger tips. So many natural retreats to take in the beautiful scenery this area has to offer.

One of my personal favorite Bellingham area get a aways is Sinclair Island. Sinclair Island is part of the San Juan Islands located off the coast of Skagit and Whatcom Counties. Sinclair Island is a small island only 1.586 square miles in size and home to only a handful of residents.

Cruise Ship in the San Juans

First discovered between 1838-1842 by the Wilkes Expeditionthe Island was named after Authur Sinclair a captain of a naval ship during the War of 1812. Sinclair has served as home to farmers, homesteaders,fir trappers and today is home to a small group of mostly seasonal residents and visitors who come to the island to enjoy the peaceful waterfront beauty it has to offer.

View from the plane ride to Sinclair Island

Sinclair Island is located 5 miles north of Anacortes off the tip of Cypress Island and is accessed only by plane or boat. There is a 45 ft public day dock located on the island’s East shore and the  airstrip is located on the Island’s Northwest side. While most of the Island is privately owned it’s a great place for a day trip to walk the local road and check out a remote San Juan Island away from the traffic, and hustle of the city. 

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!

We have just listed a sweetheart of a home on Lummi Island.   This private hideaway has been lovingly crafted and features fir floors, fun tile work, a huge loft and cozy fireplace, all on a huge lot tucked into the trees with a filtered view of Hales Passage below.  There is even a Marina with a dock – your own access to adventure in the Puget Sound.

If you’d like to preview this home or simply have questions about it, we’d be delighted to help you anyway that we can. If you have questions about Lummi Island, I think you’ll find our Lummi Web Site useful.  For those of you who are not sure where Lummi Island is,

our map will  be useful.

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!