Whatcom County /WCRER/ 3rd Quarter Housing Market Data 2008

Whatcom County Housing Data

Here is some interesting and helpful housing data:

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Third Quarter Housing Analysis; Whatcom County home re-sales were down -6.0% from the previous quarter, and down -26.0% from the third quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -5.1% from the previous quarter and down -26.0% from the third quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Whatcom County are down -38.2% from the third quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -42.5% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Whatcom County is down to $275,000, below the statewide median of $281,500. The 2008 third quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 90.0 for Whatcom County, lower than the statewide index of 96.9.

See all WA county info: http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/2008Q3/Snapshot_q308.pdf

Skagit County WA/ WCRER 2008 3nd Quarter Housing Analysis

Skagit County Housing Data

Here is some interesting and helpful housing data:

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Third Quarter Housing Analysis; Skagit County home re-sales were down -12.7% from the previous quarter, and down -35.3 % from the third quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -5.1% from the previous quarter and down -26.0% from the third quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Skagit County are down -46.2% from the third quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -42.5% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Skagit County is down to $255,000, below the statewide median of $281,500. The 2008 third quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 96.1 for Skagit County, slightly lower than the statewide index of 96.9.

See all WA county info: http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/2008Q3/Snapshot_q308.pdf

Snohomish County WA/ WCRER Housing Market Analysis/ 3nd Quarter 2008

Snohomish County Housing Data

Here is some interesting and helpful housing data:

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Third Quarter Housing Analysis; Snohomish County home re-sales were down -6.2% from the previous quarter, and down -37.8% from the third quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -5.1% from the previous quarter and down -26.0% from the third quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Snohomish County are down -45.7% from the third quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -42.5% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Snohomish County is $340,000, above the statewide median of $281,500. The 2008 third quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 88.3 for Snohomish County, lower than the statewide index of 96.9.

See all WA county info: http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/2008Q3/Snapshot_q308.pdf

lsland County WA WCRER Housing Market Data 3rd Quarter 2008

Island County Housing Data

Here is some interesting and helpful housing data:

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Third Quarter Housing Analysis; Island County home re-sales were down -9.2% from the previous quarter, and down -31.4% from the third quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -5.1% from the previous quarter and down -26.0% from the third quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Island County are down -46.0% from the third quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -42.5% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Island County is down to $282,500, above the statewide median of $281,500. The 2008 third quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 87.3 for Island County, lower than the statewide index of 96.9.

See all WA county info: http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/2008Q3/Snapshot_q308.pdf

Keeing up with new technology in the housing /building sector.

There are so many innovations taking place in building technology, it is difficult to keep up!
Here are some interesting web sites with a ton of information:

Tool Base Services is the housing industry's resource for technical information on building products, materials, new technologies, business management, and housing systems. : http://www.toolbase.org/index.aspx

Path -The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) is dedicated to accelerating the development and use of technologies that radically improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency, environmental performance, and affordability of America's housing.
http://www.pathnet.org/index.asp

US Department of Energy: Residential Buildings: Energy Efficient Building Practices.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/residential

Belligham Mayor's Waterfront Connection Plan Info

Per City of Bellingham website: "Pike presented his Waterfront Connection Plan to the Bellingham City Council and community on Sept. 29, and expects to engage the public in considering its pros and cons.
Public open houses scheduled for Nov. 13 and Nov. 17 offer public opportunities to review the Waterfront Connections Plan and weigh in on options that will shape the look and feel of our downtown and waterfront for generations to come."
The PDF can be viewed here: http://www.cob.org/documents/issues/waterfront-connections-plan.pdf

Washington State's Financial Institution Information

With all of this scary financial news, it is difficult to keep up with all the latest developments! One place to gather information about Washington State Financial Institutions is the WA DFI: http://www.dfi.wa.gov/

This website has an excellent question and answer section that covers such current changes in the market such as; deposit safety, money market funds, AIG, mortgage payment issues, etc. here: http://www.dfi.wa.gov/consumers/economy.htm

Another helpful link (FDIC) on the financial health of your current baking institution can be found here: http://www2.fdic.gov/idasp/main_bankfind.asp

A helpful link o the finacial health of your credit union can be found here: http://www.ncua.gov/indexdata.html

Here is a set of links put together by the FDIC on the different bank and financial instituion ranking systems: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/bank/index.html

Energy Saving Shareware/ Check this out.

Just saw a news clip on this computer energy saving software and it looked pretty cool. Per the Edison website the program was "created by Verdiem's patented PC power-management technology, which is used by major corporations the world over, Edison is an innovative application that brings dramatic PC energy savings into homes like yours. Easy to download and install, Edison enables you to manage your PC's power usage, save on energy costs, and help preserve the environment."

Check out the link: http://www.verdiem.com/edison/

Tried itout and it doesnt seem to slow my computer at all:)

One (or Two) Click Search for County/ City Info in WA

There are many helpful websites in the quest for local information; here is a great wesite for finding all of a Washington State's city info, from Aberdeen to Zillah & county info as well! It is the Municiple Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC for short). Per their website: (MRSC) is a non-profit, independent organization created in 1969 to continue programs established in 1934 under the Bureau of Governmental Research at the University of Washington. In 1997, Washington counties joined cities in funding MRSC, and in 2007, special districts were added. Our mission is "working together for excellence in local government through professional consultation, research and information services."
This website is very helpful you can find out everything from a city's officials to its municiple code, very good site for those of us in WA real estate

City Info: http://www.mrsc.org/cityprofiles/citylist.aspx


County Info: http://www.mrsc.org/countyprofiles/profilesmenu.aspx

2nd Quarter 2008 WCRER Housing Analysis: Whatcom County WA

Here is some interesting and helpful housing data:

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Second Quarter Housing Analysis; Whatcom County home re-sales were down - 14.7% from the previous quarter, and down -26.5% from the second quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -8.5% from the previous quarter and down -31.7% from the second quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Whatcom County are down -42.9% from the second quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -29.7% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Whatcom County is $280,000, below the statewide average of $291,900. The 2008 second quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 90.9 for Whatcom County, slightly lower than the statewide index of 95.5.

See all county info: http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/2008Q2/Snapshot_2008Q2.pdf

Skagt County WA/ WCRER 2008 2nd Quarter Housing Analysis

Here is some helpful and interesting housing data for Skagit County WA


According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Second Quarter Housing Analysis; Skagit County home re-sales were down - 8.3% from the previous quarter, and down -33.5% from the second quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -8.5% from the previous quarter and down -31.7% from the second quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Skagit County are down -29.5% from the second quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -29.7% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Skagit County is $269,500, below the statewide average of $291,900. The 2008 second quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 93.5 for Skagit County, slightly lower than the statewide index of 95.5.


See all WA Counties: http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/2008Q2/Snapshot_2008Q2.pdf

Snohomish County WA/ WCRER Housing Market Analysis/ 2nd Quarter 2008

Here is some interesting/ helpful data on the Snohomish County Housing Market

Snohomish County home re-sales were down - 17.4% from the previous quarter, and down -44.4% from the second quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -8.5% from the previous quarter and down -31.7% from the second quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Snohomish County are down -41.5% from the second quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -29.7% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Snohomish County is $349,400, well above the statewide average of $291,900. The 2008 second quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 87.7 for Snohomish County, lower than the statewide index of 95.5.

See all county data: http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/2008Q2/Snapshot_2008Q2.pdf

Snohomish County WA/ WCRER Housing Market Analysis/ 2nd Quarter 2008

Here is some interesting/ helpful data on the Snohomish County Housing Market

Snohomish County home re-sales were down - 17.4% from the previous quarter, and down -44.4% from the second quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -8.5% from the previous quarter and down -31.7% from the second quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Snohomish County are down -41.5% from the second quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -29.7% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Snohomish County is $349,400, well above the statewide average of $291,900. The 2008 second quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 87.7 for Snohomish County, lower than the statewide index of 95.5.

See all county data: http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/2008Q2/Snapshot_2008Q2.pdf

WCRER Housing Analysis/ 2008 2nd Quarter/ Island County WA

Island County Housing Market

Here is some interesting Island County WA housing data:

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Second Quarter Housing Analysis; Island County home re-sales were down - 17.9% from the previous quarter, and down -30.7% from the second quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -8.5% from the previous quarter and down -31.7% from the second quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Island County are down -50% from the second quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -29.7% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Island County is $284,000, below the statewide average of $291,900. The 2008 second quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 88.9 for Island County, lower than the statewide index of 95.5.

See all county data: http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/2008Q2/Snapshot_2008Q2.pdf

Listing Appraisals in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and Island Counties WA

A listing appraisal supports your asking price

If you’re selling your home, how can you be sure the asking price is accurate? Did you take the advice of a real estate agent, ask around in the neighborhood, or even check the most current tax assessment? While all of these methods can be helpful, the only true way to know is to get a listing appraisal. A listing appraisal from Bennett Appraisals is a full appraisal of your property similar to one a buyer would receive on the purchase of your home, but with a few additional benefits for you:

You’ll have a valuable negotiating tool once you have a potential buyer

You’ll make yourself aware of any problems and eliminate last-minute repair hassles that might delay a closing.

Decrease the chances of unknown problems that cause sales to fall through

You'll have all the current market data with verified status of all the comparable sales so you can differentiate your property from other properties on the market And a listing appraisal from Bennett Appraisals gives you an expert opinion, an opinion that is unbiased, from a certified residential appraisal team like us. Our only job is providing customers with accurate property values. Banks and mortgage companies always use appraisers to value homes before they approve a loan. Why? Because they want to know what it’s worth.

Call us at (360) 746-0224 or visit our website at http://www.bennett4appraisals.com to learn more about our company and to place your order online. We look forward to doing business with you.

To order an appraisal online click here: http://www.bennett4appraisals.com/ClientLogin

Bennett Appraisals

1 Woodrush Ct

Bellingham, WA 98229

360-746-0224

bennettappraisals@comcast.net

http://www.bennett4appraisals.com/

Estate Appraisals/ Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish & Island Counties, WA

Call Bennett Appraisals.

Settling an estate usually requires an appraisal to establish Fair Market Value for the residential property involved. Often, the date of death differs from the date the appraisal is requested. We are familiar with the procedures and requirements necessary to perform a retroactive appraisal with an effective date and Fair Market Value estimate matching the date of death. The ethics provision within the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) binds us with confidentiality, ensuring the fullest degree of discretion.

Bennett Appraisals
(360) 746-0224
www.Bennett4Appraisals.com

Private Mortgage Insurance Elimination/ Bennett Appraisals

Are you paying for Private Mortgage Insurance unnecessarily?

PMI, also known as Private Mortgage Insurance, is a supplemental insurance policy you may pay for to protect your mortgage lender in the event of your default. PMI is provided by private (non-government) companies and is usually required when your loan-to-value ratio - the amount of your mortgage loan divided by the value of your home - is greater than 80 percent. PMI isn't a bad thing - it allows lenders to accept lower down payments on homes than they would normally be comfortable with. But you may be paying it unnecessarily!

How is PMI calculated?

PMI is calculated by your mortgage lender and covers the lender for a percentage they think will make them whole if they have to sell your property in foreclosure. Your PMI premium is fixed based on plan type (loan-to-value ratio, loan type, loan term, etc.) and is not related to your particular credit history or other individual characteristics. PMI typically amounts to about one-half of one percent of your mortgage amount, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, and the premium payment is usually rolled into your monthly mortgage payment. On a $200,000 mortgage, you may be paying $1,000 per year for PMI.

How can you eliminate your PMI insurance?

For loans made after July 1999, lenders are required by federal law to automatically cancel PMI when the loan balance falls below 78 percent of your purchase price not when you achieve 22 percent equity, which will happen much more quickly with rising property values. (Certain "higher risk" loans are excluded.) But you have the right to cancel PMI (for loans made after July 1999) once your equity reaches 20 percent, irrespective of the original purchase price.
Keep track of your principal payments. And keep track of what other homes are selling for in your neighborhood. If your loan is under five years old, chances are you haven't paid down much principal - it's been mostly interest. But property values in many parts of the country have gone through the roof lately. And that can earn you 20 percent equity even if you haven't paid down much principal.

When you think you've reached 20 percent equity in your home, you can begin the process of freeing yourself from PMI payments! You will need to notify your mortgage lender that you want to cancel PMI payments and you'll need to submit proof that you have at least 20 percent equity. A state certified appraisal on the appropriate form (URAR uniform residential appraisal report for single family homes) is the best proof there is - and most lenders require one before they'll cancel PMI.

We can help you eliminate PMI!

If you think you've got at least 20 percent equity in your home by now, you can call or send me an e-mail and I'll be happy to schedule an appointment to appraise your home. If you'd like more information about the appraisal process, or if you'd like to order an appraisal for your property to see if you can eliminate your PMI insurance, please visit our website at

www.Bennett4Appraisals.com.

Or you can always contact us at the e-mail address or the phone number below. Don't delay! If you can avoid paying hundreds of dollars a year to insure someone else's risk, it's worth starting right away.

Bennett Appraisals
1 Woodrush CourtBellingham, WA 98229
(360) 746-0224 (360) 990-7296
bennettappraisals@comcast.net
http://www.bennett4appraisals.com/?CertContactID=0&CampElementID=0

FHA Approved Appraisal Services

Bennett Appraisals is on the FHA Roster of approved residential appraisers in Washington State. That means we're approved to do appraisals for FHA loans. Our certified residential appraisal team is trained on the rules and procedures in FHA's guidance and policy documents. We've met FHA's eligibility requirements and FHA has approved us to do appraisals for FHA insured loans. Remember, the FHA is different from the VA appraiser panel in that the lender can choose the appraiser.We provide residential appraisal services to all of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and Island Counties (including the Point Roberts WA area via the Canadian Border). If you're in need of an appraisal for an FHA loan, please contact us and we'll be able to help you right away.

Bennett Appraisals
(360) 746-0224
bennettappraisals@comcast.net
Website: http://www.bennett4appraisals.com/

Bennett Appraisals serves the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Camano Island, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, Whidbey Island, and all of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish & Island Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts via the Canadian Border

Whatcom County WA Recorded Document Available Online

According to Whatcom County (http://www.whatcomcounty.us/ ) recorded documents are now available online.
"Whatcom County Auditor Shirley Forslof announces that documents recorded at the Whatcom County Auditor's Office are now available on the internet. These public records have always been available at the Auditor's Office, now they're available on the internet"
Go to Whatcom County Recorded Documents here: http://www2.co.whatcom.wa.us/paris/

Bennett Appraisals provides residential appraisals services/ FHA appraisals to the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Camano Island, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, Whidbey Island, and all of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish & Island Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts via the Canadian Border

City of Bellingham's June "Neighborhood News" PDF cover Samish Way Urban Village Info.

The City of Bellingham has been putting out a very informative "Neighborhood News" pdf ( http://www.cob.org/documents/mayor/boards-commissions/neighborhood/2008-06-neighborhood-news.pdf ) almost every month this year, it covers issues such as neighborhood planning, park development, restorative projects, etc. This month the newsletter covers the Samish Way Urban Village project ( More information can be found here on the project: http://www.cob.org/services/neighborhoods/community-planning/urban-villages-planning/samish-way-urban-village.aspx ).
The meetings concerning the project started on June 5, 2008, and more are scheduled over the following Thrusdays:
Meeting Location: Elks Lodge, 710 S. Samish Way
Meeting Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
June 5: Introduction & Character (Including transition areas and plan boundaries)June 12: Public Realm: Streets, Trails, & PlazasJune 19: Development Character: Permitted Uses, Design, and ScaleJuly 10: Summary of Input and Discussion of Alternatives

First Quarter Snapshot: Statewide, Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, & Island Counties, WA

According to the WCRER (Washington Center for Real Estate Reaserch) First Quarter 2008 Housing Market Snapshot:

WA Statewide: Home re-sales are down (-) 3.6% from last quarter, and down (-) 29.7% from a year ago. Building permits are down (-) 46.7% from a year ago. The median re-sale price is down (-) 2.4% from a year ago.

Whatcom County: Home re-sales are down (-)6.5% from last quarter, and down (-) 12.8% from a year ago. Building permits are down (-) 57.8% from a year ago. The median re-sale price is down (-)3.4% from a year ago.

Skagit County: Home re-sales are down (-)12.3% from last quarter, and down (-) 32.5% from a year ago. Building permits are down (-) 28.9% from a year ago. The median re-sale price is up (+)10.1% from a year ago!

Snohomish County: Home re-sales are down (-) 5.1 % from last quarter, and down (-) 34.8% from a year ago. Building permits are down (-) 46.7% from a year ago. The median re-sale price is down (-) 4.7% from a year ago.

Island County: Home re-sales are up (+) 21.8% from last quarter, and down (-) 30.2% from a year ago. Building permits are down (-) 44.1% from a year ago. The median re-sale price is down (-)1.2% from a year ago.

For Full State of Washington and Counties PDF Info:
http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/2008Q1/Snapshot_08Q1.pdf

Press Release: Chantale at Bennett Appraisals Receives FHA Qualification

Chantale Merrick, a Certified Residential Appraiser at Bennett Appraisals has received her FHA appraisal qualification. Appraisers accepting FHA appraisal assignments must be registered under HUD, and comply with HUD guidelines as well as USPAP guidelines.

Use the below link to check if an appraiser is qualified. https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/apprlook.cfm


You should always be sure your appraisal service provider is licensed and in good standing. The Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) maintains a national database of appraisers and their license/certification status. It is available publicly at this link.


We currently provide FHA appraisal services to the Greater Bellingham area, as well as all of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, and Island Counties. (Including the Point Roberts area via the Canadian Border).


Bennett Appraisals provides FHA residential appraisal services to the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts and certain areas of Island County.

City of Ferndale, WA (Whatcom County ) Announces New Online Mapping Function

The City of Ferndale WA announced its new online mapping function today via an email:
"The City of Ferndale is pleased to announce the implementation of an online mapping function that allows users to view overhead photos, parcel lines, zoning information, as well as create and print maps directly from our webpage! We encourage you to use this new online feature found by clicking on the GIS/Mapping icons"

http://www.cityofferndale.org/GIS/GIS.php

Very good real estate info!!

Getting Rid of Junk Mail/ Opt Out for the Environment!

Everyday as a business owner, real estate industry participant and everyday consumer we are bombarded with junk mail and catalogs! Per information at http://www.catalogchoice.org/environmental-facts

According to estimates at the Catalog Choice Project; approximately 53 million tons of trees are havested each year to produce 19 billion catalogs! And that is just the catalogs! The energy expended in catalog production is enough to power 1.2 million homes for a year and produces the emmissions of approximately 2 million cars!

Opt out legistlation now provides websites and phone numbers to opt out:

Credit card inquiries:http://www.optoutprescreen.com/

Direct Marketing Association: https://www.dmachoice.org/ 1-888-5OPTOUT

Catalog opt out:
http://www.abacusoptout.com/
http://www.catalogchoice.org/

Residential Appraisal; Seller Services Provided in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish & Island Counties, WA

HOME SELLER SERVICES

If you are planning to sell your home, it might be a wise decision to make a small investment in a professional appraisal. Unless you study real estate values on a day to day basis, like a professional appraiser does, it's difficult for you to get a handle on real estate values. We aren't talking about how much you have invested in your home, how much you paid for it, or how much you want for it. We're talking about the true market value of your home, which could really pay off for you in the long run!

SELLING YOUR HOME FSBO

More and more homeowners today are choosing to sell their homes FSBO (For Sale By Owner) and foregoing the help of a real estate agent. Selling your home by this method can end up saving you a potential "hefty" commission (industry average is 5-7% of the home's selling price). Plus many FSBO sellers feel that they have more control in the process of selling their home since they're in essence making all the rules. But selling your home on your own will require a significant amount of "homework" if you're going to do it right. One piece of advice that is consistently given by the experts in selling your home FSBO....Do NOT "Overprice" Your Home! It's very hard to be objective about your own home because of your emotional attachment to it. A professional appraiser is objective and will tell you what you need to know, not just what you want to hear.

PRE-LISTING APPRAISAL

If you're working with a real estate agent to list your property, more than likely they'll provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) that lists selected sales in your area as one of the first steps in determining what to set as the "Listing Price". This step is vital if you're going to maximize your profit and minimize the home's time on the market.

But even if you're working with the most experienced real estate agent, it's probably in your best interest to have an "objective" third-party's opinion of value prior to signing a Listing Agreement. And that's where we come in. We can provide you with a pre-listing appraisal so both you and your agent have an accurate description of your home's features and a detailed analysis of the most recent and similar "comparable sales" or as they're commonly called, "Comps". In addition to helping you set a realistic selling price so your home will attract buyers, a professional appraisal can:

Be a very valuable negotiating tool once you have a potential buyer
Impress buyer's with written proof of your home's condition inside and out
Make you aware of problems and eliminate last-minute repair hassles that might delay a closing
Decrease the chances of unknown problems that cause sales to fall through
Eliminate the wait for the buyer or their mortgage company to get the appraisal done on their own

Many people are surprised when they find out that the market value of their home is much more than they thought, so investing in a professional appraisal actually allowed these people to receive several thousand more dollars than they thought they would when their home was sold. Others have an inflated opinion of their home's value and an appraisal helped them to realistically price their home in order for it to sell. An overpriced home will not attract buyers, which means no offers and no closing and that you have wasted valuable time, money, and efforts.

CONSULTATION

Maybe you feel like you don't need an "appraisal" but you'd still like some help gathering local property and sales data. Our reports help you to make an informed buying decision. We understand the complexities of buying a home and know what you are going through and will do our best to make it easier for you by giving you a high quality, professional appraisal that you can depend on!

When you order an appraisal report from us, you can expect. . . .

Prompt response to your initial inquiry:

We will give you personalized information for your particular appraisal need. Just tell us your situation and we will make suggestions.

Quick turnaround time:

Typically one week or less from the date the request is received. If you've chosen to receive a copy of your appraisal or consulting report via the Internet (EDI), you'll receive it within MINUTES of its completion.

Appraisal and consulting reports formats to suit YOUR needs:

When it comes to appraisal and consulting, "One size does NOT fit all!" We offer a variety of report types and delivery methods. Express mail too slow? We can deliver your report attached to a standard email, or notify you of an Internet site to download your report, the MINUTE it's completed!

Quick response to follow-up questions: Our reports are clearly written, understandable, and meet or exceed the Uniform Standards of Professional Practice that governs the appraisal practice. If you have any questions regarding your appraisal, after you've read the report, we encourage you to email or call us!

http://www.bennett4appraisals.com

Bennett Appraisals
1 Woodrush Ct, Bellingham WA 98229
Phone: 360-746-0224
Fax: 360-838-0634
Email: bennettappraisals@comcast.net


Bennett Appraisals provides appraisal services to the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Camano Island, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, Whidbey Island, and all of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish & Island Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts via the Canadian Border.

Bennett Appraisals Expands to Island County Washington

The Certified Residential Appraisal Team at Bennett Appraisals is proud to announce their business expansion into Island County, Washington! In addition to providing residential appraisal services to all of Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish Counties the appraisal team is looking forward to their expansion of appraisal services into Island County.

Bennett Appraisals provides the following residential appraisal services.

Primary and Secondary Mortgages
Mortgage Refinancing
FHA
Reverse Mortgages
REO/ Forclosure
Employee Relocation
Private Mortgage Insurance Removal
Estate Planning
Divorce Settlement
Complex Properties
Waterfront/ Acreage

Bennett Appraisals serves the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Camano IslandCain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, Whidbey Island, and all of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish & Island Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts.

http://www.bennett4appraisals.com

Bennett Appraisals
1 Woodrush Ct, Bellingham WA 98229
Phone: 360-746-0224
Fax: 360-838-0634
Email: bennettappraisals@comcast.net

Homeowner Appraisal Services

Homeowners need appraisals or appraisal reviews for a variety of reasons, including a mortgage refinance, home equity loans, Pre-listing services, and PMI removal. When you order an appraisal or review from us, you can rest assured that you will get the best in professional service, courtesy, and quality.

Refinance / Home Equity

Be sure that you request us if your lender asks you for YOUR choice of appraisal firms. More than likely we are already on their "approved list", and if not we will quickly provide your lender with the necessary documentation to become approved.

For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) / Pre-Listing Services

It's very hard to be objective about your own home because of your emotional attachment to it. A Professional Appraiser is objective and will tell you what you need to know, not just what you want to hear. In addition to helping you set a realistic selling price so your home will attract buyers, a professional appraisal is very valuable as a negotiating tool once you have a potential buyer. It gives you something concrete to show your buyer. It's an independent third party's opinion of your home's value, and not just you saying how much your home is worth. Potential buyers know you have an emotional attachment to your home and will be far more likely to give credibility to a professional appraiser's value opinion than yours.

PMI Removal Appraisals
A popular money saver for homeowners in the last few years is to get the PMI removed from their mortgage loan, thus saving them money on their monthly payments. PMI stands for "Private Mortgage Insurance". Once your mortgage loan amount is down below 80% of the value of your home, in most cases you can apply to the lender to have the PMI removed from your loan, which will make your monthly payments go down. We are experienced in helping folks just like you rid themselves of unneeded and unwanted PMI insurance.

Field and Desktop Appraisal Review Services

Have you just received a copy of your appraisal and youd like to have a professional "double-check" it for accuracy or do you need a second opinion without the expense and delay of waiting for a whole new appraisal?
Appraisal Field Reviews: Well check your appraisal for accuracy and provide exterior "field inspections" of the subject and comparable properties for maximum appraisal certainty. Perfect for any situation demanding a second opinion on value.
Appraisal Desk Reviews: In a hurry and just want to "double-check" the facts? Well use our extensive Internet research capabilities and office files to deliver reviews with the highest degree of precision in the industry.

Bennett Appraisals serves the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts.

Informative Quarterly Newsletter: City of Anacortes, Planning Department

The City of Anarcortes planning department puts out a very informative quarterly pdf newsletter concerning upcoming talks and changes in the community. April 2008 subjects include: Old Town design standards, updating development standards, the city's focus on transprotation (with maps of areas arterials), and promoting green building standards.

Check out the link here:
http://www.cityofanacortes.org/Planning/Newsletters/2006/file.asp?ID=11

Bennett Appraisals residential appraisal services to the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts.

Green Buildings/Project Map in Bellingham

The City of Bellingham has a PDF map of all the green buildings and projects being planned, as of the end of 2007. It is pretty interesting, here is the (large) PDF:

http://www.cob.org/documents/planning/maps/2007-12-green-building-in-bellingham.pdf

City of Bellingham's Green Team

Per city website: The Green Team was created to promote a sustainable community with public and private partnerships, through efficient use of land and building resources, protection of the environment, support of the local economy, and fostering social equity. For information on programs or sustainable building practices, contact the Green Team via email: greenteam@cob.org or visit the Planning Division at 210 Lottie Street.
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Bennett Appraisals works hard to conserve in our office with paperless/ virtual file storage, recycling, low watt high efficiency light bulbs. and driving trip plans to save on fuel.
Bennett Appraisals provides residential appraisal services to the following areas:Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts, via the Canadian Border.

Bellingham WA Drivers Beware, I-5 Construction April May 08'

According to WSDOT, drivers in Bellingham, WA can expect many delays on the I-5 corridor April/ May 2008

according to the published article approximately 80,000 drivers use I-5 every day through Bellingham.

The first weekend-long closure is scheduled for April 11 through April 14. I-5 will be reduced to one lane in each direction for three miles. Lanes will close at 10 p.m. Friday and reopen at 6 a.m. Monday.

For full article go to: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2008/03/27_i5constructiondrawsnear.htm

Bellingham drivers can check traffic conditions online @ http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/bellingham/

Bennett Appraisals Provides residential appraisal services to the following areas:Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts, via the Canadian Border.

New Shade of "Green" For Whatcom County Courthouse

Congratulations to the folks down at the Whatcom County Courthouse, who are now certified green. One of the few courthouses to do so in the nation!
Per Whatcom County Website News:

"March 26th, 2008 - The Whatcom County Courthouse in Bellingham has been awarded LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification, an award for high-performance, green operational strategies that is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Whatcom County Courthouse is only the third one in the nation to be certified through LEED® in the Existing Buildings category, and only the sixth existing building of any kind to be certified in Washington State."

For more info on LEED go to: www.usgbc.org/LEED

Bennett Appraisals Provides residential appraisal services to the following areas:Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts, via the Canadian Border.

City of Bellingham, seeks imput on North Bellingham Park

If you live or work in the North Bellingham area, here is your opportunity to voice your opinion about the park being planned in the area

Per the city of Bellingham Website:

"City officials continue to seek input in the master planning for a recently acquired 20-acre park in north Bellingham known as "Cordata Park." More than 30 people participated in the first of a series of meetings to discuss the park and its amenities.

Interested residents are invited to participate in steering committee meetings held on the 2nd Thursday of every month from March through August. Discussion topics will include design elements of the park, naming the park, and trail alignment through the park.
Meetings will continue to be held in the Chapel Room of the Birchwood Community Presbyterian Church, 400 Meadowbrook Court, from 7-8:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month as follows:

Thursday, April 10, 2008Thursday, May 8, 2008 Thursday, June 12, 2008Thursday, July 10, 2008Thursday, August 14, 2008 "

For information on the North Bellingham Park and trails go to:
http://www.cob.org/documents/parks/development/projects/north-bellingham-trail-plan-draft.pdf

The City of Bellingham puts out a neighborhood newletter that covers all of the important changes going on in the various 23 neighborhoods. Very good information to keep up to date! See it here at:

http://www.cob.org/documents/mayor/boards-commissions/neighborhood/2008-03-neighborhood-news.pdf

Bennett Appraisals Provides residential appraisal services to the following areas:Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts, via the Canadian Border.

Faster Appraisals, Online Ordering & Some Helpful Hints.

If you worked with appraisers ten years ago, you know how much technology has changed since then. What you might not realize is that there have been many developments in technology and e-commerce that have improved turnaround times on appraisal assignments. We're taking advantage of them. Are you taking advantage of every opportunity you have to speed up the process? Here are some suggestions.

1. Are you ordering appraisals online? With online ordering, you can recieve automatic e-mail acknowledgements that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. It's the single biggest time saver available to both of us! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the order.

2. Are you providing complete and accurate information about the subject property? There's nothing like being one number off on the street address to add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. And if you have a tax parcel number, plat map number, subdivision name or anything else that uniquely identifies the property

3. Are you letting us know up front any details about the property that might make it unique? . What takes time is analyzing how unique features contribute to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when you order your report if there are unique features of the home or surrounding area — for example, it's had a recent addition put on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's prone to flooding.

4. Are you making the occupants of the home aware of what to expect? One of the most time consuming parts of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the occupants of the home. Some homeowners are understandably uncomfortable with the fact a stranger wants to come in their house and look around and make notes. Some think they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes by, thinking that will make the house appraise higher. So they put off the appointment until they can get around to cleaning. Encourage them to call us if they want to familiarize themselves with our staff and services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment as quickly as possible!

5. Are you using our website as a resource to keep track of your report's status? Phone and fax tag are a thing of the past with up to the minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7. As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information is available to you online. It's never been easier and faster to keep track of your report's status.

Bennett Appraisals Provides residential appraisal services to the following areas:

Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts, via the Canadian Border.

Bennett Appraisals Providing Residential Appraisal Services For Attorneys

Attorneys and Accountants rely on our values when calculating real property values for estates, divorces, or other disputes requiring a value being placed on real property. We understand their needs and are used to dealing with all parties involved. We provide appraisal reports that meet the requirements of the courts and various agencies.

Estate Appraisals

Settling an estate usually requires an appraisal to establish Fair Market Value for the residential property involved. Often, the date of death differs from the date the appraisal is requested. We are familiar with the procedures and requirements necessary to perform a retroactive appraisal with an effective date and Fair Market Value estimate matching the date of death. The ethics provision within the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) binds us with confidentiality, ensuring the fullest degree of discretion.

Divorce Appraisals

As an attorney handling a divorce, your needs oftentimes include an appraisal to establish fair market value for the residential real estate involved. Often the divorce date differs from the date you order the appraisal. We are familiar with the procedures and requirements necessary to perform a retroactive appraisal with an effective date and Fair Market Value estimate matching the date of divorce. The ethics provision within the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) binds us with confidentiality, ensuring the fullest degree of discretion.

Forclosure

For a property in foreclosure, you may need to know the difference between fair market value and "quick disposition" value, to know your potential charge-off liability. At Bennett Appraisals, we have experience in both providing snapshots of fair market value for our mortgage lending and servicing clients as well as "quick sale" forecasts that understand your timeline.
For a list of all our servicies for attorneys go to:

www.bennett4appraisals.com

Interesting Video on Mortgage Guidelines & How They Affect Everyone.

Check out this link to a very interesting video. Dan Green who puts together the website http://www.themortgagereports.com/ has put together a very helpful and basic video presentation explaining how mortgage guidelines can affect everyone in the real estate industry as well as anyone who has a mortgage. It explains in very common terms (stick figure drawings!) what is happening in the mortgage industry today. Interesting stuff for those of us in the real estate industry!
Link to video: http://www.wellcomemat.com/video/38BAC1820B

Bennett Appraisals Adds New Certified Residential Appraiser To Staff

Bennett Appraisals Gets A New Certified Residential Appraiser (edit/delete)
Merrick passes Washington Certified Residential Appraiser exam
Chantale Merrick of Bennett Appraisals passed the Washington Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser Exam. She had to complete over 2500 hours of on-site appraisal experience and 200 hours of appraisal education before she was permitted to take the rigorous examination. A state certified residential appraiser can appraise one to four residential unit properties without regard to value or complexity.

Interesting Online presentation, WA Energy Star

If you live in washington and you are interested in energy efficient homes there is a website that you might find very interesting. Energy Star homes are designed, built and performance tested to offer enhanced comfort, healthier indoor air, energy savings and peace of mind. These homes are as much as 30% more efficient than homes simply built to code standards, making them some of the most energy efficient homes on the market today.
Homes that earn the Enegy Star qualification must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Energy Star Washington Home Tour: http://www.northwestenergystar.com/neea_web/index_WA.html
US Environmental Agency Energy Star Brochure: http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/downloads/consumer_brochure.pdf

Bennett Appraisals provides residential appraisal services to the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts

Recycling What You Cannot Use A Great Idea

A few counties in Washington state are participating in a program that recycles items that are too good to throw away. This is an excellent idea unfortunately not all of Washington's counties are participating ( good on ya, participating Counties!).
Per website info: "2good2toss.com is Washington's online exchange for reusable building materials and household items. The objective of the site is to facilitate the recycling and repurposing of materials and items that would otherwise be disposed at Washington state landfills and waste to energy facilities, in addition to promoting an important environmental ethic."
This is a website where you can place an add to look for or get rid of a perfectly good item many things are free or set at very reasonable prices. No illegal materials. No hazardous materials. Buyer beware. Check out this website: http://www.2good2toss.com/

Bennett Appraisals provides residential appraisal service to the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts

Green Building & Valuation

There has been very little information and or training in the field of "Green Home" valuation and things are starting to change! In Vancouver BC this year an international conference was held on building sustainablity and its effect on valuation. While this pertains primarily to commercial buildings it would hard to imagine that this movement would not funnel down to all aspect of building including residential.
According to the Vancouver Valuation Accord's Website: "The Vancouver Valuation Accord is a response to the evolving importance of sustainability and the need for its implications to be understood in valuations and appraisals. It is a commitment to review sustainability and valuation, including education, standards and practices, with the aim of improving understanding of their relationship. The Accord will be developed and managed through this web site"
If you are interested in all of the aspects of Green Building check out:

http://www.vancouveraccord.org/about.html

Bennett Appraisals provides residential appraisal services to the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts

City of Mount Vernon's Historic Downtown & Waterfront Redevelopment plan
The City of Mount Vernon WA has started a redevelopment plan for its historic downtown & riverfront area. One of the main goals of this re-development plan is to provide the city's downtown area with 100 year flood protection. Flooding probability has been a big barrier to the investment and business sector in the downtown area in the past. Here is the the latest power point presentation outlining the master plan:

http://www.ci.mount-vernon.wa.us/imageuploads/Media-2110.pdf

For the webpage on City of Mount Vernon's Historic Downtown & Waterfront Redevelopment plan go to:

http://www.ci.mount-vernon.wa.us/page.asp_Q_navigationid_E_652

Bennett Appraisals provides residential appraisal services to the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts

City of Bellingham; Research Your Home's Past

Via the City of Bellingham's wonderful (new edition) website; the Whatcom museum of History & Art has put out a four page pdf on how to research the history of your historic home. It shows you where to look to get the pertinent information and it mentions some of the publications that may be handy to your Bellingham specific search ex. R. L. Polk Bellingham City Directories, which date back to the late 1890s and, list the names and occupations of Bellingham residents.
Whatcom Museum of History & Art Tracing the Past Owners of Your Home PDF:

http://www.cob.org/documents/planning/cd/historic/house-hist-research.pdf

For the Whatcom Museum of History & Art Photo Archive Info:

http://www.whatcommuseum.org/pages/archives/archives.htm

Bennett Appraisals provides residential appraisal service to the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts

Point Roberts, WA Unique In Its Isolation & Beauty

Point Roberts, Whatcom County WA, is an approximately 5-square-mile area located twenty miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. What makes it unique is that it shares an international border with Tsawwassen, a southern suburb of Vancouver BC. The geographic isolation of Point Roberts from the rest of the United States is the result of a 19th century boundary dispute between the United States and Great Britain. The dispute was finally resolved with a 1846 Treaty, which established the 49th parallel as the international boundary on the western North American mainland. To reach Point Roberts by land from the main body of Washington State first requires driving twenty-three miles from Blaine, Washington across southwestern British Columbia. The trip to Point Roberts requires the customs formalities of passing through two international borders! Thank goodness for Nexus!
Point Roberts Interesting Links

http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/pds/planning/PointRoberts.htm http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/pds/planning/documents/pt_roberts_char.pdf http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/parks/lighthouse/lighthouse.jsp http://www.pointrobertschamber.com/ http://www.pointrobertsmarina.com/ http://www.allpointbulletin.com/

Per the Whatcom County Website; "Point Roberts is a unique area of Whatcom County because of its relatively small size, its mixed development character, its relative isolation, and the constraints on normal growth patterns caused by the international border. This geographic isolation from the remainder of Whatcom County complicates the direct application of other zone districts within Title 20"

See Pdf: http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/pds/pdf/planning/landuse_brochures/lubroch-H.pdf

For Point Roberts Residential Appraisal call Bennett Appraisals 360-746-0224
www.bennett4appraisals.com

Foreclosure REO Appraisals in Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties

Foreclosure/REO appraisal

Homes in foreclosure and homes that have reverted to your institution's ownership present special appraisal challenges. At Bennett Appraisals, we're more than ready and able to help.
For a property in foreclosure, you may need to know the difference between fair market value and "quick disposition" value, to know your potential charge-off liability. At Bennett Appraisals, we have experience in both providing snapshots of fair market value for our mortgage lending and servicing clients as well as "quick sale" forecasts that understand your timeline.
Owners of property in foreclosure, of course, present special challenges. They may be unwilling to allow an inspection of the property. If they have abandoned the property already, they may have neglected care of the home for some time -- or worse, caused damage. We have the experience and training to deal with the special dynamics of a foreclosure appraisal, and you should not hesitate to rely on us.

For a property that has already reverted to Real Estate Owned, you likewise will be interested in a quick disposition. But you may want to know and compare three values: As-is, as repaired, and "quick sale." These represent the value of the property without any work done to it, with the work required to make the property marketable to full market value commensurate with competing properties in the area, and, somewhere in-between, with minimal investment in repairs -- selling the property quickly, probably as a "fixer-upper." Again, we understand your timeline and the unique circumstances of an REO property, as well as the special information you'll need -- competing listings, market trends, and the like.

Please browse our website to learn more about our qualifications, expertise and services offered:

http://www.bennett4appraisals.com/

Bennett Appraisals serves the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts.

Homeowner Appraisal Services in Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties

Homeowner Appraisal Services

Homeowners need appraisals or appraisal reviews for a variety of reasons, including a mortgage refinance, home equity loans, Pre-listing services, and PMI removal. When you order an appraisal or review from us, you can rest assured that you will get the best in professional service, courtesy, and quality.

Refinance / Home Equity
Be sure that you request us if your lender asks you for YOUR choice of appraisal firms. More than likely we are already on their "approved list", and if not we will quickly provide your lender with the necessary documentation to become approved.

For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) / Pre-Listing Services
It's very hard to be objective about your own home because of your emotional attachment to it. A Professional Appraiser is objective and will tell you what you need to know, not just what you want to hear. In addition to helping you set a realistic selling price so your home will attract buyers, a professional appraisal is very valuable as a negotiating tool once you have a potential buyer. It gives you something concrete to show your buyer. It's an independent third party's opinion of your home's value, and not just you saying how much your home is worth. Potential buyers know you have an emotional attachment to your home and will be far more likely to give credibility to a professional appraiser's value opinion than yours.

PMI Removal Appraisals
A popular money saver for homeowners in the last few years is to get the PMI removed from their mortgage loan, thus saving them money on their monthly payments. PMI stands for "Private Mortgage Insurance". Once your mortgage loan amount is down below 80% of the value of your home, in most cases you can apply to the lender to have the PMI removed from your loan, which will make your monthly payments go down. We are experienced in helping folks just like you rid themselves of unneeded and unwanted PMI insurance.

Field and Desktop Appraisal Review Services
Have you just received a copy of your appraisal and youd like to have a professional "double-check" it for accuracy or do you need a second opinion without the expense and delay of waiting for a whole new appraisal?

Appraisal Field Reviews: Well check your appraisal for accuracy and provide exterior "field inspections" of the subject and comparable properties for maximum appraisal certainty. Perfect for any situation demanding a second opinion on value.

Appraisal Desk Reviews: In a hurry and just want to "double-check" the facts? Well use our extensive Internet research capabilities and office files to deliver reviews with the highest degree of precision in the industry.

Bennett Appraisals provides residential appraisal services to the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit & Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts and certain areas of Island County.