Whatcom County Transitions To a Annual Real Property Revaluation Program

Per the Whatcom County Assessor Webpage: "The Washington State Dept. of Revenue has approved the Assessor’s Office plan to transition to an Annual Real Property Revaluation program. Beginning in 2010 for property taxes due in 2011, one-sixth of the County will be inspected and all property will be statistically revalu...ed annually." See information/question and answers at link below.

http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/assessor/index.jsp

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

Free/Awsome Online Courses with the US SBA

Awesome & Free Online Courses with the U. S. Small Business Administration
The more we navigate around the U.S. Small Business Administration's website the more information we find! Don't waste money on all of those business model books...when there is so much free info out there! There are courses on the following:
Starting a business
Business Planning
Business Management
Financing & Accounting
Marketing and Advertising
Government Contracting
Risk Management and Cyber Security
E- Commerce
International Trade
Fedreal Tax Training
Small Business Retirement
There are some great online courses available online at the following website:
http://www.sba.gov/services/training/onlinecourses/index.html
P.S. You have to fill out a short form to proceed but it is painless and worth it