About San Juan County, WA

San Juan Island Real Estate Results for the 3^rd Quarter of 2009. Third quarter real estate sales on San Juan Island continued to show a modest recovery over the same period a year ago. While the later part of 2008 sales slowed dramatically over 2007, the July-September period this year was up noticeably over last year. There were 27 closed residential sales compared to just 16 in '08. Those numbers also beat the figures for '07 when there were 21 residential sales. Dollar volume was also up from $10.2 million in Q3 '08 to $14.3 million this year. Condo sales also increased from 2 to 5 for the period year over year. Only land sales slipped in the third quarter with 7 closed sales compared to 11 in '08.

Countywide residential sales were down slightly with the gains on San Juan being offset by slower activity on both Orcas and Lopez from the year before. There were 46 residential sales in the county this quarter compared to 50 in '08. County sales of vacant land were down from 30 to 25 for the quarter.

Please feel free to contact me by cell phone or e-mail if you would like any additional information on our current market.

Michael Linehan, Windermere San Juan Island

michael@windermeresji.com 360-298-0914 www.michaellinehan.com

San Juan Island Real Estate Report, Summer 2009. Real estate activity on San Juan Island and throughout the county remained sluggish through the first half of the year. Sales of single family homes on San Juan slipped in '09 to 23 from 28 sales in the same period last year. Both average house price and median house price also declined significantly. Average price fell from $731,854 in the first half of '08 to $537,661 this year. Median price was off from $501,250 last year to $385,000 in the same period this year. These numbers are skewed to a degree by the fact that activity in the upper end of the market has been the hardest hit. In the first two quarters of last year there was one sale over $3.5 million and another at just under $3 million as well as two others over the $1 million dollar mark. This year there are five sales over $1 million but the highest is just $1.35 million. First half condominium sales slipped from three in '08 to one in '09 although vacant land sales were up slightly from 8 last year to 10 this year.

One bit of good news is that activity in the third quarter so far is well ahead of last year. Since July 1^st there have been 21 residential sales on San Juan compared to just 13 in the same period of '08. That puts the total sales year to date slightly ahead of last year, 44 to 41. Total dollar volume is about $6 million dollars lower this year, again due to the lack of upper end activity.

Other parts of the county have been hit harder than San Juan. Orcas Island year to date sales are off by half with only 16 homes sold, down from 33 in '08. Activity on Lopez is off nearly two thirds, from 19 homes in '08 to just 7 so far this year. Vacant land activity has also been slower on both islands this year.

The number of foreclosures locally continues to increase as does the number of short sales (sales where a bank agrees to accept a sales price that is lower than the amount owed on a mortgage). In general the Pacific Northwest has lagged behind much of the country in experiencing the overall recession and we very likely will see foreclosures worsen for a while, even as they appear to be leveling off in California and other hard hit areas. Nationally existing homes sales have finally increased year over year for the first time in four years.

Though the economy continues to struggle, and unemployment is up, public sentiment is improving. Where a year ago the financial system was just starting to unravel, today it appears things have started to stabilize. Mortgage rates remain low although it is tougher to qualify for a loan, larger down payments are necessary and income verification is required for virtually all loans.

For buyers who can qualify and have an adequate down payment it is definitely a time of opportunity. Though the amount of activity and number of sales may be slow, many buyers are finding very good deals compared to several years ago. Price reductions are widespread and sellers have to be willing to negotiate with buyers on their price if they want their homes to sell. The average "days on market" here is now almost 300 and many overpriced homes have been for sale far longer than that.

Please feel free to contact me by cell phone or e-mail if you would like any additional information on our current market.

Michael Linehan, Windermere San Juan Island

michael@windermeresji.com 360-298-0914 www.michaellinehan.com

Dateline Asheville, North Carolina, June, 2009
News and Views from Asheville's Greenolina, Real Estate Eco-Steward

Over 20 years ago I had the good fortune to meet and begin working with and learning from Dr. Mike Cohen.

But Dr. Mike Cohen had been an educator and leader in the field of sustainable innovation long before I met him. In fact, this summer we celebrate 50 yearsof a program he founded and still directs, ECHN. UNESCO approved, this sensory art and science curriculum educating, counseling and healing with Nature (ECHN), from Project NatureConnect includes advanced degrees at Akamai and Portland State Universities .

In those 50 years, and in the 20 years I have known and respected Dr. Cohen, ECHN has conclusively demonstrated three things:

1) that the process actually enables participants to interlace their thinking with nature's renewing and regenerative ways and that this produces very positive results

2) that, at the same time, this process successfully enlistis nature's grace to help support mindfulness so that participants again benefit in most positive ways

3) that those who work within the program are rewarded with wellness and peaceful balance

Pretty impressive wouldn't you say? Possibly something every real estate professional and our clients can appreciate...whether we are in Asheville, NC or Anchorage.... My hat is off to Dr. Michael Cohen. He created and continues to steward ECHN ...50 years of nature's self-correcting powers to address the source of personal and community challenges. 50 years of energizing individuals and communities. This is sustainable innovation in action...

Resource: Website www.ecopsych.com

_____________________________________________________________________________

__~o
-\_<,
(*)/'(*) .......... ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable world you can create today and tomorrow!. ......................... .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.Serving Asheville's First Time and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.

Asheville First Time Home Buyers - "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants! Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

___________________________________________________________________________

The power outage on Orcas Island has disrupted ferry service. The biggest issue is that it is taking longer to load and unload. Also the high winds are slowing the boat travel a bit so just plan on a wait. But sitting at the terminal watching this beautiful winter storm is fun in itself!

Stock up on batteries now. Be careful of using candles!!! Get your wood supply close to the house, and cover it up as snow is fore-casted for tonight. We don't expect much, but you never know.

It's a good time to snuggle by the fire, play board games, or read a book. There are also som great cookie recipes taht do not require baking that you can make!

The storm is really fun to watch, and even winter storms are beautiful in our area of the country.

www.AnacortesRealEstateBlog.com

www.AnacortesHomeTeam.com