Whatcom County - WCRER Housing Market Data - Third Quarter 2009

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2009 Third Quarter Housing Analysis; Whatcom County home re-sales (# of units sold) were up 11.1% from the previous quarter, and up 0.9% from the third quarter in 2008. Statewide home re-sales ( # of units sold) were up 15.6% from the previous quarter and up 2.6% from the third quarter in 2008. Overall building permits in Whatcom County are down -33.3% from the third quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -39.1% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Whatcom County is up to $255,300 (down -7.2% from the third quarter in 2008), slightly below the statewide median of $260,000 (down -7.6% from the third quarter of 2008). The 2009 third quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 111.5 for Whatcom County, lower than the statewide index of 122.8.

Skagit County- WCRER Housing Market Data- Third Quarter 2009

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2009 Third Quarter Housing Analysis; Skagit County home re-sales ( # of Units sold) were up 14.6% from the previous quarter, and down -9.7% from the third quarter in 2008. Statewide home re-sales ( # of units sold) were up 15.6% from the previous quarter and up 2.6% from the third quarter in 2008. Overall building permits in Skagit County are down -16.5% from the third quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -39.1% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Skagit County is down to $233,600 (down -8.4% from the third quarter in 2008), below the statewide median of $260,000 (down -7.6% from the third quarter of 2008). The 2009 third quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 121.7for Skagit County, slightly lower than the statewide index of 122.8.

See full data: http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/WSHM.html

City of Bellingham to Launch an Updated GIS system

According to the City of Bellingham website:

"In celebration of geographic information systems (GIS) Day, the City of Bellingham is hosting a GIS Day Open House on Wednesday, Nov. 18. This free community event takes place 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the lobby of Bellingham City Hall at 210 Lottie Street.

The open house will showcase CityIQ, a new software developed by City GIS staff that incorporates the City's GIS mapping and document search functions. CityIQ allows users to access zoning and neighborhood information, park and landmark locations, utility data, and high resolution aerial photos. GIS Day will introduce this powerful tool to the public, and everyone is invited to stop by, try it out and provide feedback. The city plans to make the application available on the city’s website near the end of 2009".

More information can be found here: http://www.cob.org/services/maps/gis/index.aspx

WCRER Housing Analysis/ 2009 2nd Quarter/ Whatcom County WA

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2009 Second Quarter Housing Analysis; Whatcom County home re-sales were up 10.0% from the previous quarter, and down -15.7% from the second quarter in 2008. Statewide home re-sales were up 11.6% from the previous quarter and down -15.6% from the second quarter in 2008. Overall building permits in Whatcom County are down -51.1% from the second quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -55.5% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Whatcom County is up to $265,000 (down -5.4% from the second quarter in 2008), slightly below the statewide median of $265,100 (down -9.2% from the second quarter of 2008). The 2009 second quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 110.3 for Whatcom County, lower than the statewide index of 123.2

WCRER Housing Analysis/ 2009 1st Quarter/ Whatcom County WA

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2009 First Quarter Housing Analysis; Whatcom County home re-sales were down -4.3% from the previous quarter, and down -32.8% from the first quarter in 2008. Statewide home re-sales were down -8.6% from the previous quarter and down -30.6% from the first quarter in 2008. Overall building permits in Whatcom County are down -53.8% from the first quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -53.3% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Whatcom County is down to $259,900 (down -7.2% from the first quarter in 2008), above the statewide median of $253,500 (down -13.7% from the first quarter of 2008). The 2009 first quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 109.6 for Whatcom County, lower than the statewide index of 125.5

WCRER Housing Analysis/ 2009 1st Quarter/ Skagit County WA

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2009 First Quarter Housing Analysis; Skagit County home re-sales were down +1.6% from the previous quarter, and down -37.6% from the first quarter in 2008. Statewide home re-sales were down -8.6% from the previous quarter and down -30.6% from the first quarter in 2008. Overall building permits in Skagit County are down -62.0% from the first quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -53.3% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Skagit County is down to $245,900 (down -14.0% from the first quarter in 2008), below the statewide median of $253,500 (down -13.7% from the first quarter of 2008). The 2009 first quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 114.9 for Skagit County, lower than the statewide index of 125.5

WCRER Housing Analysis/ 2009 1st Quarter/ Snohomish County WA

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2009 First Quarter Housing Analysis; Snohomish County home re-sales were down -2.3% from the previous quarter, and down -37.0% from the first quarter in 2008. Statewide home re-sales were down -8.6% from the previous quarter and down -30.6% from the first quarter in 2008. Overall building permits in Snohomish County are down -39.3% from the first quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -53.3% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Snohomish County is down to $311,800 (down -11.6% from the first quarter in 2008), above the statewide median of $253,500 (down -13.7% from the first quarter of 2008). The 2009 first quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 112.4 for Snohomish County, lower than the statewide index of 125.5

WCRER Housing Analysis/ 2009 1st Quarter/ Island County WA

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2009 First Quarter Housing Analysis; Island County home re-sales were down +4.7% from the previous quarter, and down -28.3% from the first quarter in 2008. Statewide home re-sales were down -8.6% from the previous quarter and down -30.6% from the first quarter in 2008. Overall building permits in Island County are down -61.5% from the first quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -53.3% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Island County is down to $248,000 (down -14.3% from the first quarter in 2008), below the statewide median of $253,500 (down -13.7% from the first quarter of 2008). The 2009 first quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 115.6 for Island County, lower than the statewide index of 125.5

Project Updates Bellingham's Waterfront Redevelopment

Here s some interesting information about Bellingham's Future Waterfront development:

Per the Port of Bellingham Spring Newsletter "In March 2009, a group of local volunteer architects made a presentation to the Council and Commissioners regarding waterfront redevelopment concepts. Since that time, City, Port, Western Washington University, members of the local volunteer architect group and others have discussed priorities and options that would support finalizing a waterfront master planning process."

See the pdf report here:

http://www.portofbellingham.com/library/files/Waterfront_Redevelopment/2009-03-04-waterfront-architects-report.pdf

For more information meetings on the subject will be held:

6:30 - 8:30 p.m. April 29 Port & City Waterfront Public Information Meeting, Update on Planning Framework & Planning Assumptions, Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris Avenue.

6-8 p.m., May 13 Port & City Waterfront Advisory Group Regular Meeting, Harbor Center Conference Room, 1801 Roeder Avenue.

For all project updates see:

http://www.portofbellingham.com/content/ArchivesItem_147_1657_v

WCRER Housing Analysis/ 2008 4th Quarter/ Whatcom County WA

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Fourth Quarter Housing Analysis; Whatcom County home re-sales were down -15.5% from the previous quarter, and down -36.6% from the fourth quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -15.8% from the previous quarter and down -29.1% from the fourth quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Whatcom County are down -48.7% from the fourth quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -53.4% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Whatcom County is down to $264,000 (down -7.4% from the fourth quarter in 2007), below the statewide median of $266,700 (down -9.3% from the fourth quarter of 2007). The 2008 fourth quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 97.9 for Whatcom County, lower than the statewide index of 107.5.

WCRER Housing Analysis/ 2008 4th Quarter/ Skagit County WA

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Fourth Quarter Housing Analysis; Skagit County home re-sales were down -24.2% from the previous quarter, and down -46.8% from the fourth quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -15.8% from the previous quarter and down -29.1% from the fourth quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Skagit County are down -60.6% from the fourth quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -53.4% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Skagit County is down to $263,700, (down -2.0% from the fourth quarter in 2007), below the statewide median of $266,700 (down -9.3% from the fourth quarter in 2007). The 2008 fourth quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 96.9 for Skagit County, slightly lower than the statewide index of 107.5

WCRER Housing Analysis/ 2008 4th Quarter/ Snohomish County WA

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 fourth Quarter Housing Analysis; Snohomish County home re-sales were down -20.1% from the previous quarter, and down -41.3% from the fourth quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -15.8% from the previous quarter and down -29.1% from the fourth quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Snohomish County are down -50.5% from the fourth quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -53.4% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Snohomish County is $325,000, (down -10.6% from the fourth quarter in 2007), above the statewide median of $266,700 (down -9.3% from the fourth quarter in 2007). The 2008 fourth quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 97.1 for Snohomish County, lower than the statewide index of 107.5

WCRER Housing Analysis/ 2008 4th Quarter/ Island County WA

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Fourth Quarter Housing Analysis; Island County home re-sales were down -13.4% from the previous quarter, and down -21.4% from the fourth quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -15.8% from the previous quarter and down -29.1% from the fourth quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Island County are down -58.8% from the fourth quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -53.4% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Island County is down to $298,000, (down -1.0% from the fourth quarter in 2007), above the statewide median of $266,700, (down -9.3% from the fourth quarter in 2007),. The 2008 fourth quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 86.8 for Island County, lower than the statewide index of 107.5.

Website: State & Local History in Washington State-- Worth Checking Out.

We recently found a very interesting website that we thought was woth sharing History Link. Org.

http://www.washington.historylink.org/index.cfm

It is an online enclyclopedia of state and local history in Washington state.

Here is a little bit of info per their website:

"HistoryLink.org is an evolving online encyclopedia of HistoryLink.org provides a free, authoritative, and easily accessible history reference for the benefit of students, teachers, journalists, scholars, researchers, and the general public. With a few noted exceptions, all essays and features on this site are original works prepared exclusively for HistoryLink.org by staff, contract writers, volunteers, and consulting experts. The encyclopedia contains more than 5,000 essays as of September 2008. It is constantly expanding, with new essays added every week."

Great website definetly worth a look.