Whatcom County Housing Market, WCRER 2010 Fourth Quarter

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2010 Fourth Quarter Housing Analysis; Whatcom County home re-sales ( # of units sold) were up 20.3% from the previous quarter, and down -23.7% from the fourth quarter in 2009. Statewide home re-sales ( # of units sold) were up 17.7% from the previous quarter and down -21.5% from the fourth quarter in 2009. Overall building permits in Whatcom County were up 12.8% from the fourth quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the 16.4% increase statewide. The median re-sale home price in Whatcom County was $250,000 (down -1.0% from the fourth quarter in 2009), above the statewide median of $239,000 (down -2.0% from the fourth quarter of 2009). The 2010 Fourth Quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 130.6 for Whatcom County, lower than the statewide index of 149.3.

For more info: http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/WSHM.html

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.

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!!

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

Ferndale's (WA) Centennial Riverwalk

According to the latest E- Newsletter put out by the City of Ferndale (Spring 2007):
The "Riverview Plaza and Trail Plan", has been re-titled the "Centennial Riverwalk" and has moved from the planning stage to the building stage with the securing of funding to carry out the project. The project is anticipated to provide a long needed spark that will hopefully start a productive period of downtown re-development and revitalization.
See the plan:
Click on plan at the top of the page:http://www.ci.ferndale.wa.us/planning/planning.php
This link may take awhile to load: http://www.ci.ferndale.wa.us/planning/Riverview%20Plaza%20Plan.pdf