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

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.

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/ 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.

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

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