About Whatcom County, WA

All right. Some of you probably think that this crazy blogger has a mis-spelling in the title above. Maybe you think that I mean "fracus" on the roof. But, nope, my spelling is exactly as was intended.

This is my story, and I am sticking to it. Today I was working with a fellow Active Rain member, one of the prominent realtors here in Whatcom County -- Chris Farkas from Exit Realty.

We home inspectors like a realtor who is pro-active for the clients and wants to understand the condition of a home and any issues that might be present. Hands-on and concerned is good. I was telling Chris about the roof, but she could not get at an angle to see it from the ground. Pretty soon, so she could have a first hand look, there she was looking me right in the eye from the eave. As you can see by the photo, this is a realtor who wants to know what is going on.

I decided that since she was up there on a ladder, not a sight that I see every day, that we ought to turn the photo-op it into an Active Rain moment. I think the photo turned out great. So here you go, this is an Active Rain moment.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

Event Details

Are you a REO or BPO Agent? Are you missing and being beaten out of new BPO orders because you aren't fast enough? Perhaps, you are curious about how you can streamline your BPO and REO orders. Come to our FREE 2-hour seminar where we will show you how you can Complete BPOs 3x Faster! Boost your revenue by automating 50% to 75% of your BPO data-entry with the leader in automation software!

The BPO Automation Group is a leader in BPO Automation software & support for BPO and REO professionals nationwide. We have a team of 11 people and are located in Ferndale, Washington.

At the seminar we will:

* Introduce you to the 'Ins and Outs' of using BPO form completion software.

* Share inside secrets about using Auto Accept software.

* Provide a live demonstration of both of the software suites, plus more!

As a free gift for those that attend the seminar, you will receive both a hard-copy and an eBook version of "The Essential BPO & REO Guide." This must-read guide was made especially for REO and BPO Agents and is written by a state-certified instructor and BPO Trainer, Nicole Ocean.

The Essential Guide contains 54-pages of tips, tricks, and insider secrets for growing your REO and BPO business , and it's a free, no-obligation gift!

Get the information you need to grow your REO and BPO business today!

_________________________________________

When

Wednesday, December 09, 2009 from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (PT)

_________________________________________

Where

Gateway Center
1313 East Maple Street
Bellingham, WA 98226

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Space is limited, reserve your seat right now by registering for the event.

Speakers: Nicole Ocean and Steve Lorimer of the BPO Automation Group

Call us with any questions or for more info: 360-223-2482

Maybe you have to be on an island to find this kind of trust. I have not seen anything like this since I was a kid back in the 1950's and early 1960's. My wife and I were visiting Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. It is an easy drive and ferry ride from Bellingham. We were going to the "cheese" factories on the island.

We found this one, on the map, that was called Moonstruck Cheese. We followed the winding country road and, before long, we were there. It was an attractive storefront.

As we got out of the car, to partake in the cheeses, this sign was on the door.

Honest to goodness. They trusted you to select your own cheeses and to actually pay for them and make change. There was a cash box there, with money inside, so we selected the items we wanted from their delicious products.

Then we wrote down our purchase, opened the cash box, paid, and drove away.

Bellingham, where I come from, is not a big place, but you sure do not see things like that around here anymore. In fact, I thought that this way of doing business was extinct in the year 2009. In so many places there are people who would ruin it for everyone -- steal the cheese and the money too.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

Sometimes it is funny how the mind works. As part of the home inspection training class at Bellingham Technical College, I maintain some online practice tests that help students prepare for various inspection related state or national exams. Here is the scoop.

I was at an inspection today and one sprinkler head was buried down in the soil.

And another sprinkler head nearby looked like this one.

Seeing the two heads made me think of a test question.

"Which of the following is most likely to lead to a cross-connection at a yard irrigation system?"

1. A sprinkler head that is 6 inches above grade.

2. PVC buried in soil

3. A sprinkler head buried 1 inch below grade

4. A system with a check-valve

Anybody care to guess? Of course, you have to know what a cross-connection is or it is no fun.

The following is a quick analysis of the Whatcom County real estate market.

• There are currently 1387 homes for sale
• Homes are priced from $12,000 - $4,500,000
• Average Asking Price $409,010 Days on Market: 139 days
• Median Asking Price $320,000 Days on Market: 102 days
• Homes sold in October: 183
• Average Listing Price $299,098
• Average Sold Price $289,807 Days on Market 94
• Median Listing Price $262,900
• Median Sold Price $258,000 Days on Market: 52
• Homes Pending this week: 91 Total Homes Pending: 431

• Average Sales Price October 2008: $301,847
• Median Sales Price October 2008: $275,395
• Sold in October 2008: 146

The Average Sales price is down 4.0% compared to October 08 and up 9.2% compared to last month.

The Median Sales prices is down 6.2% compared to October 08 and up 6.2% compared to last month.

The number of sales is up by 37 compared to October 08 and down by 16 compared to last month.

Condo Analysis for Whatcom County

• Currently Active Listings: 429
• Price range of active listings - $22,000 - $1,565,000
• Average List Price $248,926 Days on Market: 170
• Median List Price $194,566 Days on Market: 119
• Sold in October: 47
• Average Listing Price $210,852
• Average Sold Price $204,557 Days on Market: 147
• Median Listing Price $193,000
• Median Sold Price $190,000 Days on Market: 97
• Condos Pending (went under contract) last week: 12 Total Condos Pending: 79

• Average Sales Price October 2008: $247,208
• Median Sales Price October 2008: $177,000
• Sold in October 2008: 22

The Average Sales price is down 17.3% compared to October 08, and down by 1.0% compared to last month.

The Median Sales prices is up by 7.3% compared to October 08 and up by 8.5% compared to last month.

The number of sales is up by 25 compared to October 08 and up by 14 compared to last month.

Great news the First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit of $8,000 available to anyone who hasn't owned a home in the past 3 years has been extended until April 2010. The new program will also expand the tax credit to include existing home owners who have owned a home for at least five of the last 8 years will be able to apply for tax credits of up to $6,500 when they purchase their next home.

You might want to talk to your banker to see what you can afford. Meanwhile interest rates are still extremely low and there are some great values in the Bellingham market right now. You might want to take a look at what it would cost you to purchase one of these homes at today's rates. You might be surprised at what your monthly payments would be, maybe less than your paying for rent right now if you are renting a comparable sized house.

If you have any questions or want to see any Bellingham Property feel free to email me at or give me a call at 360-739-6981