Blog - Windermere Orcas

Articles, Lifestyle

Thanksgiving Planner

We have reached that time of the year again that is all about getting together with family and sitting down to big, elaborate meals. And while we are supposed to be happy and celebrating, many people are simply thankful to get through the holidays in one piece. Why must the holidays be so stressful? […]
Articles, Home Improvement, Maintenance

Real News – Article 5

WINTER PREPARATION FOR YOUR HOME With the early onset of winter weather, it seems an appropriate time revisit some home maintenance tasks. Though we go through these changes every year, sometimes it is nice to have a reminder of what needs to be examined before the temperatures changes too dramatically. First off, since our heating […]
Housing Market, San Juan Islands

Real News – Article 4

AFFORDABLE HOUSING — WHAT COULD BE DONE This column is the second on the affordable housing issue. We all know what is needed, but it seems we don’t have a clear vision of how to accomplish it. Last time I mentioned an affordable housing solution on San Juan Island that appears to have served that […]
Lifestyle, San Juan Islands

We’ve Got You Covered on Orcas Island

With the weather changing and winter rapidly approaching, Windermere Real Estate offices in Snohomish and King Counties are participating in the “We’ve Got You Covered” campaign; collecting cold weather gear for homeless youth in the city. While we are lucky to not have a large homeless population here on Orcas, there are still many people […]

Articles Thanksgiving Planner We have reached that time of the year again that is all about getting together with family and sitting down to big, elaborate meals. And while we are supposed to be happy and celebrating, many people are simply thankful to get through the holidays in one piece. Why must the holidays be so stressful? […]

Articles Real News – Article 5 WINTER PREPARATION FOR YOUR HOME With the early onset of winter weather, it seems an appropriate time revisit some home maintenance tasks. Though we go through these changes every year, sometimes it is nice to have a reminder of what needs to be examined before the temperatures changes too dramatically. First off, since our heating […]

Housing Market Real News – Article 4 AFFORDABLE HOUSING — WHAT COULD BE DONE This column is the second on the affordable housing issue. We all know what is needed, but it seems we don’t have a clear vision of how to accomplish it. Last time I mentioned an affordable housing solution on San Juan Island that appears to have served that […]

Lifestyle We’ve Got You Covered on Orcas Island With the weather changing and winter rapidly approaching, Windermere Real Estate offices in Snohomish and King Counties are participating in the “We’ve Got You Covered” campaign; collecting cold weather gear for homeless youth in the city. While we are lucky to not have a large homeless population here on Orcas, there are still many people […]

Articles What is the Windermere Foundation? The Windermere Foundation was started in 1989 by the owners of Windermere Real Estate, which is based in Seattle. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised more than $33 million to support it’s mission: helping low income and homeless families. The Foundation began in Washington, but now has grown to serve the 10 western states. […]

Articles Autumn has arrived on Orcas There is nothing like stepping outside, taking a deep breath, and pulling your jacket just a little closer around yourself. I haven’t worn a jacket in months – oh the joys of summer. But I can’t resist the smile that emerges on my face as the goose bumps rise. Maybe it has to do with […]

Articles Real News – Article 3 In a past article I discussed where our Buyers are coming from, but in this article, I think you might like to see how our 2017 sales market stacks up against last year at this same time…. The total number of Orcas sales has increased from 42 in 2016 to 53 this year to date. […]

Articles Real News – Article 2 A few months ago, the Wall Street Journal published an article stating that the San Juan Islands are the fastest growing luxury home market in the country. This article has created many discussions in the local real estate world all revolving around the question: “What does this statistic mean?”. It also asks the question: “Who […]

Articles Real News As the owner of the Windermere agency on Orcas, I am often asked; How’s the market? The answer is that the market is continuing to improve, and we are grateful to be past the challenging times of 2009 – 2012. But, this answer warrants further comment. We have come a long way from 2009, when […]

Articles The Gardner Report – Q2 2017 ECONOMIC OVERVIEW The Washington State economy has been expanding at a rapid pace but we are seeing a slowdown as the state grows closer to full employment. Given the solid growth, I would expect to see income growth move markedly higher, though this has yet to materialize. I anticipate that we will see faster […]

Articles Putting your home into “Vacation Mode” We made it past July 5th and summer is in full swing here in the Pacific Northwest! For many of us, this is the time when we not only get out of the house, but get out of the town where we live to enjoy a summer vacation. While I am a big proponent of […]

Articles Fourth of July weekend on Orcas Island – Wow what a show! Orcas may not be a big island, but it sure celebrates like one. Although July 4th falls on a Tuesday this year, this island will be rocking all weekend long leading up to the big day. Whether you are into shopping, eating, or just enjoying the festivities, there is plenty to keep everyone busy. Here’s […]

Articles Island Support – GiveOrcas Month It’s GiveOrcas month here on the island and everyone is feeling the love. Locals skip through the streets of Eastsound hugging, laughing, and catching up on the latest gossip. Okay, so maybe it’s not quite as cheesy as one of those quaint villages from your childhood storybooks; life is not all sunshine and rainbows after […]

Articles The Gardner Report – Q1 2017 ECONOMIC OVERVIEW I’m happy to report that Washington State continues to add jobs at a steady rate. While the rate of growth is tapering, this is because many markets are getting close to “full employment”, during which time growth naturally slows. That said, I believe that the state will add around 70,000 jobs in […]

Articles Elevation Certificates One of the greatest things about owning property on Orcas Island is that you are, well, on an island. Let’s face it, who doesn’t like being surrounded by water on all sides? Okay, so maybe it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you are into the whole water thing, purchasing land here can be […]

Articles 5 Reasons to Love Orcas Island in the Winter Seattleites love to come to the San Juan Islands in the summer. Although right in their backyard, it can feel like a whole world away. With everyone wanting to come when it’s sunny and warm(-ish), the island population on Orcas easily triples in the high season. While summer is definitely fun, for those wanting to […]

Articles Windermere Foundation Raises $2,246,829 in 2016 The Windermere Foundation had another banner year in 2016, thanks to the continued support of Windermere franchise owners, agents, staff, and the community. Over $2.2 million was raised in 2016, which is an increase of seven percent over the previous year. This brings our total to over $33 million raised since the start of […]

Articles How the Neighborhood Impacts a Home’s Value Whether you’re buying or selling, accurately pricing a home requires professional assistance from someone who knows the neighborhood. The “estimated” home prices you see posted online can be off by tens of thousands of dollars—not because they are dishonest, but because the computer programs generating these guesstimates don’t take into account the current condition of […]

Articles The Clock's Ticking: Here's Why You Should Use HARP to Refinance, Pronto Hey, homeowners: If you’ve been batting around the possibility of refinancing your home through HARP, now’s the time to make a move. Perhaps you thought you had missed the boat. After all, HARP—the Home Affordable Refinance Program created by the federal government after the housing crash—was set to expire in December 2016. But the Federal […]

Articles First Time Buyers, Millennials, and What to Expect in 2017 I believe that the big story for the coming year will be first-time home buyers. Since they don’t need to sell before purchasing, their reemergence into the market ensures that sales will continue to increase, even while inventory is limited. Thirty-one percent of buyers currently in the real estate market are first-time buyers, but […]