Sequim, WA

Homes for sale do not always sell for the original listing price, but how much less do they actually sell for in this market? This graphic represents the original listing price (in total dollar volume) and the actual selling price (in total dollar volume) in Port Angeles and Sequim (site built and condos and townhouses only) .

What did 2007 home sales look like in Sequim? Here is a graphic summary of home sales in Sequim categorized by price range. [Click on graphic to enlarge.]

Seattle is a substantially different market than the Olympic Peninsula, but the price history has been similar. Since 2000 home prices in the Seattle area have appreciated 189.86%, and even in the last year, Seattle prices have increased 3.3%. The winter months always slow down on the Olympic Peninsula, and the spring months will tell us how 2008 will turn out for home sellers in the area.

Inventory is up as expected in this market, but we simply have not seen a crashing of prices by any measure in Sequim and Port Angeles. We are on a plateau for home prices, and we're seeing an increase in inventory, especially of lots, and greater competition among developers and builders. It is normal for developers to catch the first rogue wave, because developers must plan ahead for many years. To get a project to market is the culmination of a lot of hard work by the captain and deck hands, several years, and a hull full of money. When a market starts to slow, projects must be completed even if it takes longer to sell them out. There's no turning back. That's how it works.

As with many things, timing is everything if you're selling, but for individual home owners, pricing your home at true fair market value (FMV) is a major key to get a buyer to sit down and make a written offer in any market.

In difficult times wisdom becomes a precious commodity in deciding what to do and how to do it. I would recommend home buyers and sellers select their professional Realtor very carefully. Wisdom is not common. It comes from many years of diligence, education, experience, and the school of hard knocks. Search for it like buried treasure, because only by making wise decisions will you rest in the comfort of knowing you got the best price at the right time in the right place.