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Windermere Real Estate | Orcas Island News
Welcome to the Windermere Real Estate Orcas Island News page. Here, we curate insightful articles about life on Orcas Island, offer expert advice for home buyers and sellers, and provide monthly updates on the real estate market on Orcas Island and the San Juan Islands. Stay informed and inspired as we bring you the latest and greatest in island living.
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
What’s In Store For The 2017 Seattle Housing Market?
2016 was another stellar year for the Seattle housing market, in which a surplus of buyers and a deficit of sellers drove home prices higher across the board. So, can we expect to see more of the same in 2017? Here are some of my thoughts on the Seattle/King […]
Investing in Rental Property: The Risks, Rewards, and Benefits of Owning Rental Property
One area of the real estate market that is thriving right now is rental property. All indications suggest that the rental market will continue to improve because of low vacancy rates and rising rents. In fact, the demand for rentals is predicted to far exceed supply through 2016, with […]
