$100,000, Seems this is the magical price that buyers think will get a good deal. Without fail, I receive numerous calls for buyers looking for a home and even better, a home near the water or with a water view for $100,000. I suppose this would be an easy assumption based on the national news that weekly reports the fall of real estate prices in the U.S. and an increase of foreclosures. But, what’s happening on a national level is not what is happening here in Bellingham, WA. Real estate is hyper-local meaning each community has its own market that can and will differentiate from the national market. Another way to put it, what $100,000 will buy in say Phoenix, AZ or Detroit, MI is VERY different than what it will buy here in Bellingham,WA. Also, keep in mind that Bellingham is a waterfront city as well as a few of her suburbs (Blaine/Birch Bay). Waterfront or water view real estate, being in high demand, is pricey and therefore will hold its value.

Let’s take a look at what this price will fetch in a few markets across the nation:

Phoenix, AZ - a large variety to  choose from  (Trulia median sales price  is $109,000)
Los Angeles- will buy you a 2B/1B 860 sq.ft home in South LA or Condo ( Trulia median sales price $296,000)
Miami- a studio condo, 490 sq.ft or small home (Trulia median sales price $161,000)
Detroit- 3+ B/2+ B brand new home on large lot ( Trulia median sales price $62,000)
Tulsa, OK - Tulsa offers a large number of homes to choose from ( Trulia median sales price $198,000)

Here is a sampling of what $100,000 property looks like in Bellingham, WA:

Most of these are small 1-2Bed/1Bath and in need of repair. The one on the very right is a 3B but is on a very busy road here in Bellingham.  If you are serious about investing or purchasing property and are “handy” and know a thing or two about making repairs, then yes, I can find you something.   There are many a “fixer upper” in this price range. Or if you don’t want to be near the city and prefer to be way out in the county like Deming or Maple Falls, I know I can find you something here too.  But if you are looking for a rock bottom deal on a well constructed and well maintained home within the Metropolitan area of Bellingham or waterfront or water view, you’re going to have to up the ante.  The average price range for a modest home in Bellingham  ( 3B/2b 1500-2000 sq.ft) is 276,600..

The average price range for a waterfront home in Bellingham is $775,000.

And at $255,000 , this is one of Bellingham’s best waterfront buys.  It is out of the city limits, and needs much work.  What we call a ” tear down”.

So as you can see, $100,000 depends greatly on location and market.

If you would like more information on Bellingham Homes for Sale, Bellingham’s real estate market or if you are considering selling your home and would like additional information on what your property’s value is, contact me  direct at 360-303-3898.

I look forward to helping you whether you are looking for investment property or a residence for yourself.

Winding along Bellingham Bay and traveling between Fairhaven and Burlington is Chuckanut Drive.  A two-lane road lined with thick, lustrous forest of old growth cedar, maple, and the beautiful Madrone,to mention a few, plus hiking trails, a State Park and,of course, stunning Bellingham Bay views and views of the San Juan Islands.

This is truly a scenic route, that given the choice of taking I-5 or Chuckanut, hands down Chuckanut Drive. It will take you a tad longer, but believe me it’s well worth it and you’ll arrive at your destination more relaxed for it.  I actually made this drive about 3 times this week, two in the rain and one on a bright, sun filled day.  Every day was different and had its own unique beauty and I did not tire of the drive, rather I found myself marveling at how each day the scenery changed and I felt I was looking at a different landscape each time. That is what is so remarkable about this drive, whether you’re passing through the darkened, tunnel-like bends of the road or open bay view vistas,  Chuckanut Drive is an endless art masterpiece.

Many do call Chuckanut Drive home, as the area just south of Fairhaven is dotted with residential properties along the Drive itself, high up on Chuckanut Crest or waterfront properties down below on Cove Rd. or Pleasant Bay.  The current average sale price for Chuckanut homes is $990,000 and fourteen currently listed properties holding steady at an average of  $1.2mil..  When you make this drive you will see why the real estate here is high-end and there is not much fluctuation in these prices.

As I stated earlier, Chuckanut is an artistic masterpiece of its own and thus there are art galleries and shops along the Drive showcasing local artists attempts to recreate this beauty; oil paintings, watercolors, photography, and sculpture. It’s difficult to not want to take a piece of Chuckanut home with you!   Oh, and at the south end of the road you have to stop and enjoy a sunset dinner at the The Oyster Bar. Fine dining at its best or have a glass wine while taking in the view.

And at this time of year, it is even more spectacular with the autumn colors in full bloom, leaves adrift, a slight chill in the air, this calls for a romantic drive with top down and wind blowing through your hair……

For more information about Chuckanut Drive real estate or Bellingham Homes for Sale, feel free to contact me direct at 360-303-3898.

I look forward to speaking with you.

Here’s a quick idea for an afternoon hike in Bellingham.  The arboretum atop Sehome Hill comprises 180 acres and features over5 miles of walking trails that wind around the hill behind the campus of Western Washington University, culminating in an 80-foot observation tower at the top.  The picture above is of the view of downtown Bellingham and Bellingham Bay and, despite my sweet camera skills, fails to do the view justice. There is no place like this in town…the view is simply staggering.

The best part is that you can get here from just about anywhere. We walked from our house to the top of the hill, then back down to get some food downtown. It feels great to be able to go for a hike without ever having to get in the car.  There are access points at the top of Jersey Street, and along the eastern and southern edges of Western’s campus.  The hike is roughly 15-20 minutes between access points and the observation tower.

This post is part of the Facebook series ”365 Things to do in Bellingham”, produced by myself and Michael Eisenberg.

Thanks for reading! Please leave comments or suggestions below, e-mail me at rob.leroy@exprealty.com, or call me at 206.883.6668 …and yes, you CAN hire me as your real estate agent!

If you’re on Facebook, you can join my fan page for daily updates by clicking the banner below.

Originally published at www.TheRealEstateNovelist.com

Rob LeRoy is a Seattle real estate agent and social media marketing coach with eXp Realty.

Thanks to happy reader Sonia for submitting the following question, which made it really easy to come up with today’s post!

“We’re looking at moving there in the next two years and are curious about  things to do during the REAL rainy season. We live in Florida and have visited the area around Bellingham in the Summer, Winter and Fall.”

I’m glad you asked, Sonia. It is no secret that it rains in Washington. Sometimes it rains a lot…for days and days. That is just the way it is.  And while to some that may seem like a downside to living here, it is, in my opinion, a perfectly reasonable trade-off when you consider the lack of poisonous bugs, snakes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes,  locust swarms and dragons, etc. so prevalent elsewhere in the country.  The reward is reaped in the Spring, Summer and Fall, when the mild temperatures and unparalleled beauty of the natural landscape make life in the Northwest feel like a well-earned privilege. Still, it is important to know how to cope with those dreary, cloudy days, and so I give you….

Top 10 Ways to Beat the Rain…

(and how they’ve become the roots of our economy)

#1 Drink Coffee: It should go without saying that Washington State is known as a place where people appreciate coffee. Given the potential for rain-induced lethargy, it is no wonder that large coffee companies like Starbucks, Tully’s, Seattle’s Best Coffee (now a Starbucks subsidiary) Woods Coffee and Tony’s (my personal favorites) are based here.

#2 Drink Beer: When coffee just won’t do it, bring on the cavalry. Washington is home to hundreds of breweries, ranging from small, regional brewpubs like Bellingham’s Chuckanut and Boundary Bay breweries, medium-sized operations like Elysian and Lazy Boy, to full-scale production heavies like Pyramid and Redhook. Those are just the tip of the iceberg- there are at least 71 functioning micro-breweries in Washington State. In fact, the nation’s very first micro was based in Washington… We love our beer here.

#3 Go Shopping: When the clouds and rain weigh heavy and dark….why not go hide inside a giant, well-lit building and spend some money! Along with numerous malls, Washington State is home-base to retail titans like Costco, Nordstrom and REI.

#4 Work on your computer: Washington is one of the most tech-centric places in the world. In addition to Microsoft’s colossal home campus in Redmond ( it has its own MLS area code), the region features headquarters of tech giants like Zillow, Amazon, RealNetworks, and Expedia.

#5 Go shopping on your computer: For efficiency’s sake, why not combine a #3 and #4…or all of the above, for that matter.

#6 Go to a game: With Seattle being the home of professional* sports teams like the Mariners, Seahawks and the Sounders, hardcore fans have learned to suck it up and cheer on their teams regardless of the weather. In the case of the Mariners, Safeco Field’s retractable roof prevents the rain from harming the dainty threads and manicured coifs of visiting Yankees fans… while Seahawks and Sounders loyalists at Quest Field are tougher than Postal workers, having learned to drink their way through any kind of weather, be it rain, sleet, or snow.

* I use that term loosely

#7 Make a record: Garages and basements are great for hiding from the weather. Just ask Jimi Hendrix…and whoever is left alive from local bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, Modest Mouse, Death Cab For Cutie…etc.  The list goes on and on…Though Seattle’s music scene hasn’t been on the front page as much since the mid 90′s, there is still a strong and vibrant community of musicians throughout the region, boosted by local record companies like Sub-Pop and the World’s Greatest Radio Station, Seattle’s KEXP.

#8 Go diving: This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!”  If you’re gonna get wet, you might as well get REALLY wet. The Puget Sound area is known among the clinically insane as one of the best places to scuba dive in the world. There are dive shops everywhere…which is pretty much the extent of my knowledge…because I’m not a crazy person.

#9 Go to the gym: I find the rainy days to be great for getting a good work-out.  I don’t have a joke for this one…  It’s just a good, solid idea.

#10 Go somewhere else: When all else fails, it’s time to bail. The really rainy period (generally between February and January [sic]) is the time to consider an escape to some place warmer and drier. A little break is all it takes to clear your head and remember how much you love it here during the Spring and Summer. Is it any coincidence then that one of the World’s largest airplane manufacturers is based here?  I can just imagine the founders of Boeing sitting around drinking beer and coffee one fateful day saying,” You know what would be great? A vacation! But how are we gonna get there…?”

Special bonus answer: Write a blog! It happens to be raining today. So I am wrting this article at Woods Coffee in downtown Bellingham…So, obviously, I am doing numbers 1 and 4, and I have every intention of transitioning into  #2, possibly after #9. Let it never be said that I fail to practice what I preach!

Thanks for reading! Please leave comments or suggestions below, e-mail me at rob.leroy@exprealty.com, or call me at 206.883.6668 …and yes, you CAN hire me as your real estate agent!

If you’re on Facebook, you can join my fan page for daily updates by clicking the banner below.

Originally published at www.TheRealEstateNovelist.com

Rob LeRoy is a Seattle real estate agent and social media marketing coach with eXp Realty.

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 e-mail me at rob.leroy@exprealty.com, or call me at 206.883.6668 …and yes, you CAN hire me as your real estate agent!

If you’re on Facebook, you can join my fan page for daily updates by clicking the banner below.

Originally published at www.TheRealEstateNovelist.com

Rob LeRoy is a Seattle real estate agent and social media marketing coach with eXp Realty.

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, e-mail me at rob.leroy@exprealty.com, or call me at 206.883.6668 …and yes, you CAN hire me as your real estate agent!

If you’re on Facebook, you can join my fan page for daily updates by clicking the banner below.

Rob LeRoy is a Seattle real estate agent and social media marketing coach with eXp Realty.

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 comments or suggestions below, e-mail me at rob.leroy@exprealty.com, or call me at 206.883.6668 …and yes, you CAN hire me as your real estate agent!

If you’re on Facebook, you can join my fan page for daily updates by clicking the banner below.

Rob LeRoy is a Seattle real estate agent and social media marketing coach with eXp Realty.

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

“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

Rob LeRoy is a Seattle real estate agent and social media marketing coach with eXp Realty.

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

Rob LeRoy is a Seattle real estate agent and social media marketing coach with eXp Realty.