Artwood is a cooperative woodworking gallery that is in the heart the Bellingham’s Historic District of Fairhaven. There are 13 active members of the cooperative and over 70 other artists that show there work here, most of it is fine woodworking that are complemented by a variety of other media. You can find beautiful furniture, wooden instrument, toys and all sorts of useful and artistic pieces in the gallery.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Boulevard Park is truly one of Bellingham’s gems. Our waterfront playground! On a beautiful day like the one I took this video, it is a great place to go for a walk, ride a bike, throw a Frisbee, read a book, have a picnic or anything else you like to do in a park.

Click here to view the embedded video.

If your interested in the history of the park you can read about it in “Boulevard Park, and Taylor Avenue Dock on the Old Bellingham Waterfront.” by local historian, author, artist, and civil activist Brian Griffin.

Recently, I stopped by an open house on Chuckanut Drive. It was a gorgeous Sunday afternoon with clear blue skies and a cool 65 degrees.  My plan had been to drive down Chuckanut to Larrabee State Park to get some pictures of the San Juan Islands across the bay. I noticed the open house and decided to drop in.

The place looked very cool from the outside, obviously a custom design intended for its hillside perch overlooking  the dark blue waters of Chuckanut Bay.  At the very least, I figured, I could get some great pics of the bay from the deck, which looked to be a good 60 feet higher than the road, offering unobstructed views of the water and the islands beyond.

Once inside, I was so impressed with the creative custom design and the impressive flood of natural light, and of course the view, that I thought I’d better write about it.  The design does an impeccable job of maximizing the West-facing view by integrating several large windows with a large, entertainment-sized deck. The layout is open, with the kitchen and main living area flowing together nicely with the deck space wrapping around the North and Western sides of the house.

Click the thumbnails below for full-sized pictures. Click here to see the full collection.

View Map

This home sits just off of Chuckanut Drive about 5 minutes south of Bellingham’s Fairhaven neighborhood and features 2 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, with a total of 2200 square feet. The 2006 design is eco-friendly, featuring abundant natural light and radiant heat under the polished concrete and bamboo flooring. Just behind the home is the Bellingham inter-urban bike and walking trail that extends connects Fairhaven to Larrabee State Park. The current list price is $779,000.

For more information on this home, or other Chuckanut or Fairaven real estate, please give me, Rob LeRoy,  a call at 206.883.6668, or e-mail me at rob.leroy@exprealty.com.

Also, please take a look at my website, www.TheRealEstateNovelist.com, or find me on Facebook!

Chuckanut Drive is, hands down, my favorite place to drive in the World. Admittedly, I haven’t had the chance to take the James Bond chase-scene route into Monte Carlo, but I’m pretty sure it would only be a close second.

Chuckanut Drive

Chuckanut Drive’s winding roadway hugs the hills between Bellingham’s Fairhaven neighborhood South to the wide valley North of Mt. Vernon.  Regardless of the weather, the 30+ minute drive shows off the absolute best of Northwest Washington’s geographical character, including  incomparable views of Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands, and a peak at Mt. Baker at the Southern end.

Of course, words fail to capture the wondrous majesty of this truly unique highway. So, I took some pictures.  This past week, in spite of the fact that the Winter Olympics have been happening right up the road, has been unbelievably beautiful. With clear blue skies and temperatures in the mid 60’s, conditions were set to get some truly fabulous pictures.

Click on the thumbnails below to see full-size pictures. You can also click here to see the complete collection of pictures I took.

The pictures are in order from South to North, between Mt. Vernon and Bellingham.

Thanks for reading!

For more information on Chuckanut Drive or Chuckanut Drive real estate, please e-mail Rob LeRoy at rob.leroy@exprealty.com, or call me directly at 206.883.6668.

South of Bellingham, down the hill from the beautiful Chuckanut Drive, lies a small, cozy community of about two to three dozen homes perched on the cliffs above Bellingham Bay, overlooking the San Juans and the tiny Dot Island.  The setting is reminiscent of the cliffs of Malibu, California, mixed with the forest greens and cobalt blues of the Pacific Northwest.

Resting quietly at the center of this little community is a wonderfully updated 1960’s-era Cape Cod-style home with a commanding 180-degree SW facing view of the islands and the bay, with 103 feet of saltwater-frontage, complete with private dock.

The home itself contrasts perfectly with the breathtaking views by offering a refreshingly warm, intimate atmosphere, especially given it’s nearly 3200 square feet.  The main floor is comprised of a study, two living areas (one at each end) and dining area, surrounding a central kitchen.  A patio extends along the length of the house looking over the water. The layout is such that just about every room has a view of the islands.  There are a total of four bedrooms and three bathrooms.  Having received a face-lift in 2000, the home features Scandinavian-inspired character, with bright, vibrant colors, excellent natural light, and the best in modern appliances.  The decor is tasteful and inviting, carefully arranged by a loving owner with a true eye for design. Given the evident symmetry of home and decor, the owner’s are willing to include much of it with a sale.

Click on the pictures below for full-sized versions. Click here for a Virtual Tour.

Externally, this home and neighborhood have a lot to offer. In addition to the home’s 103 feet of private waterfront, there is a community boat launch nearby, as well as a  private beach available to owners.  The home itself has a private dock. The water is not deep for large vessels, though there is plenty of room for deep-water moorage out in the bay, with access by dinghy.  There is also a two-car garage, with guest parking available across the street.

View Larger Map

Priced at $1,595,000, this home is a real treasure.  It is quiet, private, and unquestionably special, perfect for anyone looking to live in understated luxury while enjoying the peaceful serenity offered by one of the most incredible natural settings in the World.

Owner financing is available at competitive rates to qualified buyers.

For more information on this luxury Bellingham home, please e-mail Rob LeRoy at rob.leroy@exprealty.com, or call me directly at 206.883.6668.

Please visit my website, www.TheRealEsateNovelist.com



I love Fairhaven. It is such a cool place… The classic brick architecture, boutique pubs and restaurants, open community space, and of course the beautiful setting overlooking Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands.  I’ve lived just about everywhere in the Northwestern U.S., from San Francisco to Boise to Seattle, and I have to say that Fairhaven is in the top 5 neighborhoods in any of those cities.

Today, February 6th, 2010, was an absolutely gorgeous 65 degrees.  I seized the opportunity to get some pictures of some of Fairhaven’s most unique buildings and locations.  Click on the thumbnails for full-sized pictures. Click here for the full gallery of the 89 shots I took on this amazing day.  For those of you out there who still think the Northwest is all rain and no shine..let me I offer you a very different perspective.

Thanks for reading!  Please leave your comments below. If you have any questions about Bellingham, WA or real estate, in general, please feel free to email Rob LeRoy directly at rob.leroy@exprealty.com or call me at 206.883.6668

Originally published on my website, www.TheRealEstateNovelist.com

If you are thinking about selling your house this year, you might want to get ready sooner, rather than later. With the impending expiration of the First-Time-Buyer tax credit, many experts in the industry are nervous about the potential market adjustment to follow. Given that first-time buyers accounted for an astounding 47% of all home sales last year, it stands to reason that there is the risk of a slump in sales following the expiration of the tax credit.  At the very least, it looks clear that there are a whole lot of would-be buyers running around scooping up whatever they can find while there’s still time. With the expiration of the tax credit set for June 1st, time is of the essence, and I’m here to help.

How About  a Free Home Staging consultation?

From now until April 30th, I will be teaming up with Bellingham Home Staging to provide complimentary home staging consultations on all new listings.  The fabulous Kimberly Lee of Bellingham Home Staging will give your home the makeover it needs to sell quickly for a great price.  So yes, you will have to lose the fuzzy tapestry of dogs playing poker ( I really miss mine from college…), and she’ll probably make you hide any self-portraits from past vacations (sorry, but buyers don’t need to see you in a thong…), but it will be worth it. Don’t worry, we won’t mock you for having bad taste (at least I won’t)…it’s not your fault. Some people just have a gift for design…just like some people have a gift for writing humorous real estate articles…ahem… I should clarify that Kimberly will be telling you what to do…not me. I’m too nice to tell you that you have bad taste. I will, however, bring donuts. What is Home Staging?

Click the thumbnails below for some before-and-after staging shots

Thanks for reading!  Please leave your comments below. If you have any questions or want to schedule a listing consultation, please feel free to email Rob LeRoy directly at rob.leroy@exprealty.com or call me at 206.883.6668

Here are some of the nice things my past clients have had to say about working with me.

“You are heads above any of the other realtors we have worked with!” – Shelley T., Bellingham, WA

“As soon as I requested info on real estate in the Bellingham area, you were the first to respond.  Then you asked the right questions to learn what we wanted and sent me not only relevant listings, but also information about the area and other activities that helped convince us NW Washington was where we wanted to live. So when we arrived for our area tour, we were already pretty sure we wanted to live here.

Of course our wish list evolved as we actually toured the area and homes, and certainly your candid assessment of the different areas helped us more quickly focus on the areas that were right for us.   We saw a lot of homes, and you helped us screen well over a hundred before eventually buying one in an area you led us to.  The search was intense for several days, and we appreciated your energy, positive attitude, and daily research to help us reach our goal.

It was a pleasure to work with you!”  - Carl L. Anacortes, WA

“Rob made our home buying experience so easy. Buying a home sight unseen could have turned out very badly. However, he understood our needs and desires and was able to help us find the perfect home for us from across the country.” - Matt and Allison E., Bellingham, WA

Whatcom County officials have scheduled a test docking of the Whatcom Chief in Fairhaven for Tuesday, Jan. 26.

The reason for this unusual test is that the Lummi Island ferry dock lease with Lummi Nation expires Feb. 14. Negotiations are in progress, but the county wants to be prepared if no deal is reached. The county needs to make sure they have a backup plan in place for getting people and vehicles on and off the island.

Port of Bellingham and County engineers have been studying the feasibility of docking the ferry at the port’s Bellingham Cruise Terminal, where presently an Alaska state ferry docks every Friday.

The run to Fairhaven would be 50 minutes compared to the 10 minute trip to the present site. There are also issues about getting children to school who go to Ferndale schools.

A new group of island residents has formed called Protect Lummi Island Community, they would prefer to see efforts focus on a long-term agreement with the Lummi’s to keep the ferry dock at it’s present location.

The City of Bellingham is well known for encouraging and cultivating a vibrant artistic community. Venues like the Mount Baker Theater and Western Washington University host world-class speakers and performers, while small galleries, bars and restaurants display works from the many talented local artists.  However, some of the best works are actually to be found outside, adorning the walls of some of Bellingham’s most beautiful historic buildings. The walls of the city are host to a unique and varied collection of impressive, sometimes eccentric murals, some of which date back to the 19th century.  The wall art tradition in Bellingham is beloved and ongoing, with older classics carefully protected, and new works anticipated and encouraged.

Click on the thumbnails below to see the full-size versions. Click here for more full-size pictures from my gallery.

Follow these links to read Part 1: Breakfast, Part 2: Lunch, Part 3: Dinner, Part 4: Dive Bars, Part 5: Live Bars, Part 6: Classy Pubs, Part 7: Hotels

Thanks for reading!  Please leave your comments below. If you have any questions about Bellingham, WA or real estate, in general, please feel free to email Rob LeRoy directly at rob.leroy@exprealty.com or call me at 206.883.6668