Video Posts

What is the $8000 Tax Credit?

My two cents:

The tax credit has it’s pros, cons, and far-reaching economic consequences that are unknown and hotly contested. However, there is little doubt that it is of great benefit to the individual buyers to whom it is offered.  My #1 job as a Realtor is representing prospective buyers and getting them into homes they will be happy with. I don’t get involved in their finances, except to the extent that I need to in order to help them through the transaction. However, it is tremendously important to me to make sure that buyers are as educated as possible before they begin the process.

• Update: Congress has voted to extend the tax credit to include transactions written by April 30th and closed by June 30th, 2010. They credit applies to individuals who make up to $150k/year and couples who make up to $250k.  The maximum purchase price is $800k. They’ve also added a $6500 tax credit for those buyers who’ve owned and lived in a home for at least 5 out of the past 7 years.

This post simultaneously published by Rob LeRoy at theRealEstateNovelist.com

Bellingham’s Dog Parks Prove Popular for Area Dogs

If you’re a Bellingham area dog, and you enjoy the freedom of running around and sniffing the butts of other dogs without the encumbrance of a leash, then you will enjoy this post. If, instead, you are the owner of a Bellingham area dog, and you enjoy letting your dog sniff said butts without the awkwardness of being tied to said dog, you, too, will enjoy this post. If you are a person who enjoys sniffing the butts of dogs or other people, you have some serious issues to deal with on your own, and may or may not enjoy this post.

Though there are several parks in Bellingham with off-leash dog areas, my personal favorite is the Post Point park in Fairhaven, which is a beautiful, secure place to let your dogs run free and chit-chat with their peers. To find it, head West on Harris Ave. and turn left at 4th St. across from the Alaska ferry terminal. Parking is on the right, just before the trail that heads down to the park. Once there, you can also walk the short trail to the shores of Bellingham Bay for a change of scenery.

My other favorite is Lake Padden’s off-leash area, which is great because it happens to be situated at the East end of the lake, right where the off-leash trails begin, so you have the choice of sitting down and letting your dog play with others, or letting her/him/it run alongside you through the hills above the lake. To find it, head South on Samish Way to the east entrance to Lake Padden. Follow the road to the end, past the baseball fields.

For details on Bellingham off-leash dog parks, click here to see the official City of Bellingham list, including specific rules and regulations. Please note the part prohibiting hunting. I’m not sure what year it was when they made that law, but it seems, at least to me, more than slightly absurd to think someone would consider hunting at a dog park. I mean, it’s not like this is Texas!

For more information on Bellingham area dog parks, please feel free to call me at 206.883.6668, or email me at rob.leroy@exprealty.com

This post simultaneously published by Rob LeRoy at theRealEstateNovelist.com

Be Prepared: 5 Things to bring when you’re home shopping

With your first day of home visits comes a little preparation on your part. Here’s a beginning list that should put you in the right direction when searching for Bellingham Real Estate.

This list includes:

• Water
• Something Sweet
• Slip-On Shoes
• Digital Camera
• Positive Attitude

Love what you do. Do what you love. Love, love me do.

Movin’ Out or in? Trash Removal Suggestions in Bellingham, WA

Whether you’re moving in or out of Bellingham real estate, you leave behind more than memories and old friends. Paint cans, carpet fragments, old boxes, whatever the case may be, removal’s not as hard or as costly as you might think.

You’ve got enough to worry about. Here’s to taking away some of the worry. Interested in what other clients have done? Give us a call, or drop me a quick e-mail.

Read more about what I do at www.realestate.bellingham.net or check out my other videos.

Fairhaven’s Eatery’s

Fairhaven Video Tour

The Fairhaven Historical District is in the south of Bellingham, It was founded in 1880 and is well-known for it’s architecture dating back to the late 1800s. It is one of Bellingham’s most desirable neighborhoods, with its proximity to the water and it’s quaint historic district. It features Marine Park with access to the Bay for kayakers and awesome views of the San Juan Islands.

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Fairhaven is also the site of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal which is home to the Alaska Ferry, and considered the southern end of the Alaska Marine Highway System. The Cruise terminal is also the departure point for summer passenger ferry service to the San Juan Islands and Victoria, British Columbia. Nearby Fairhaven Station is home to the Amtack Cascade that runs between Seattle and Vancouver and the Greyhound bus terminal.

Fairhaven’s beginnings are linked to the legendary “Dirty Dan Harris” who is said to have platted Fairhaven in 1883 and given it a name. At the end of the 1800’s, Fairhaven was a booming city where the small town was working growing itiself into the next hub city of the west, hoping to become the nortwest terminus for the railroad . Building was really booming, railroad tracks, commercial buildings, and hotels were all pupping up. When Seattle became the main transportation hub, the residents of Fairhaven were crushed and the city went into a depression for a short period of time. Within 10 years the Pacific American Fisheries, would build the largest structure in the state, a huge cannery to process the area’s bountiful salmon. Fairhaven was booming again.

Fairhaven was once an independent town, along with Whatcom & Sehome, they all merged with Bellingham in 1903 to become. the city we know today. Fairhaven has blossomed in recent years with growth of new retail space and businesses as well as lots of condos and the beautiful Village Green in its center where many local events are held as well as a Wednesday Farmer’s Market from June through September and the Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema on summer Saturday nights.

Fairhaven’s old charm comes from it’s many old brick buildings remaining from the 1800’s. Many of them have been restored and the newer building in the historical district have been built of brick keeping the oldtime character.
There are lots of walking trails and Fairhaven Park close by as well as the northern end of the scenic Chuckanut Drive, with it’s access to Larabee State Park, as well as Padden Creek meandering through the neighborhood

Big Rock Garden on top of Alabama Hill in Bellingham

  I’m almost ashamed to admit that it took me 13 years living in the Bellingham area before experiencing this tranquil oasis known as the Big Rock Garden.  Located at the top of Alabama Hill nestled among some of Bellingham’s premier Real Estate and walking distance to Lake Whatcom. 

Current home prices for the 17 listed properties in the immediate area range from $240k for a 3 bedroom rambler up to $565k for a 4 bedroom, 3000 sqft view home. 

Here’s me talking about the garden…

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Turn up the volume to fully enjoy the experience…

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Coming to town?  Let me give you a personal tour of the area including Samish Hill area and the Columbia neighborhood to name a few. 

Call me anytime…Dale Kreiser at 360-319-6365 or click on the link below to IM me.  It’s a good life!

Sandy Point – A Waterfront Community

Sandy Point is a waterfront community that is situated on a small peninula south west of Ferndale. Sandy Point has many waterfront homes on it’s west side with outstanding bay and island views looking west to the Straits of Georgia, and the San Juan and Gulf Islands, these homes offer gorgeous sunset views. On the east side of peninsula there are many homes with awesome water views and fantastic views of Mt. Baker.Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Viddler video.

Boaters here at Sandy Point have easy access to the San Juan Islands.  Sandy Point has it’s own boat moorage that is well protected by an inside canal system. There are many homes that sit along the canal and have docks with private moorage.

Sandy Point has it’s own Marina which has secure moorage for about 60 boats as well as a launch ramp and gas dock for it’s members. They have a clubhouse with meeting rooms and a covered BBQ area and secure storage facility for boats and trailers.

The  Sandy Point community has a golf course for it’s members with great views of Lummi Bay, Mt. Baker and the San Juan Islands.

The Sandy Point Clubhouse has a large outdoor heated pool for Summertime use.

If your looking for a waterfront home you might want to consider Sandy Point.

Here are the Sandy Point homes on the market right now.

If you would like any information about these homes or to make an appointment to see them give me a call at 360-739-6981 or send me an email.

Bloedel Donovan Park

One of Bellingham’ s most popular parks is Bloedel Donovan Park.  It is at the northwest end of Lake Whatcom.  On any sunny summer day, the place is a small sea of humanity,  lots of folks with their blankets spread out on the grass and the  kids swimming and playing in the water. Picnicker’s abound and the boat parking lot is full of boat trailers. Water skiers, share the lake with kayakers and jet skis. In the winter it’s on off leash area for dogs.

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There are many great Lake front and Lake View homes around the lake. If your intersted in seeing any give me a call

Tulip Time in the Skagit Valley

One of the great things about living in Bellingham is the close proximity to lots of great things to see and do.

The Skagit Valley tulip fields are a short drive south, a drive down Chuckanut Drive to get there makes for a great trip.  The tulips have finally arrived in the Skagit Valley, it has been a bit of a cold spring so the tulips have been a bit slow in blooming this year.

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There is plenty of color in the valley, and lots of fields just starting to show color, so there is still at least another week to be able to see a great show of whole field covered in color.  The 3 acre display garden at Roozengaarde is just awesome as usual.

Enjoy the colorful display and Chris’s great description of it.

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