Whatcom County, how do we compare?

Dear Friends, By now you know that I don't buy into the doom and gloom you see on the national news. Just because some areas of the country have foreclosure rates skyrocketing and prices falling like a rock, does nothing to help you understand your LOCAL market. What you do need is to get real and relevant information about the area where you own property, or are thinking of buying.

You see, real estate is a LOCAL business. Sure, things like lumber prices and interest rates can affect the entire country, but they are far outweighed by local population and employment growth, just as one example.

Another factor in Whatcom County is that we are a desireable destination for recreation and retirement, which will most likely help us outperform many parts of the country for the forseeable future. Look, real estate is a cyclical business. It has ups and downs, and we are in a "down". However, just as Whatcom County appreciated faster than the national average during our recent "up", more importantly, we fell less in the "down". So yes, we're down a bit (about 5% in the last year in Bellingham), but we're looking better than most areas, and we're still up over 100% from 2000 to 2008, ($146,500 to $297,500 Bellingham median prices).

Ok great, you say, another optimistic, pie-in-the-sky story from a local Realtor claiming that his crysal ball says our area is special. No. I can back it up. Check out this recent article from the Seattle Times with statistics for our local market. Believe me now? Don't forget interest rates are still around 5% on a 30 year fixed mortgage, which won't last forever. It's a great time to buy a home or a rental, so get in touch if you'd like to see what's out there. I can run a custom search and email you properties meeting your specific criteria.

Thanks for reading, and please call any time if you'd like to talk real estate or even if you just need the number of a good handyman etc.

Sincerely,

Dan O'Donnell, REALTOR

P.S. Honesty and service are the foundation of my business. And the highest compliment I can receive is a referral to help your friends, family, or coworkers with their real estate needs. Whether they are in Washington State, or anywhere else, I can help get them moving in the right direction. You have my word they will get great service. Thank you.

Dan O'Donnell, 360-220-7157

www.HelpInWhatcom.com

RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc.