Certified Residential Appraisal Team @ Bennett Appraisals

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Fourth Quarter Housing Analysis; Skagit County home re-sales were down -24.2% from the previous quarter, and down -46.8% from the fourth quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -15.8% from the previous quarter and down -29.1% from the fourth quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Skagit County are down -60.6% from the fourth quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -53.4% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Skagit County is down to $263,700, (down -2.0% from the fourth quarter in 2007), below the statewide median of $266,700 (down -9.3% from the fourth quarter in 2007). The 2008 fourth quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 96.9 for Skagit County, slightly lower than the statewide index of 107.5

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Fourth Quarter Housing Analysis; Whatcom County home re-sales were down -15.5% from the previous quarter, and down -36.6% from the fourth quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -15.8% from the previous quarter and down -29.1% from the fourth quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Whatcom County are down -48.7% from the fourth quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -53.4% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Whatcom County is down to $264,000 (down -7.4% from the fourth quarter in 2007), below the statewide median of $266,700 (down -9.3% from the fourth quarter of 2007). The 2008 fourth quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 97.9 for Whatcom County, lower than the statewide index of 107.5.

We recently found a very interesting website that we thought was woth sharing History Link. Org

http://www.washington.historylink.org/index.cfm

It is an online enclyclopedia of state and local history in Washington state.

Here is a little bit of info per their website:

"HistoryLink.org is an evolving online encyclopedia of HistoryLink.org provides a free, authoritative, and easily accessible history reference for the benefit of students, teachers, journalists, scholars, researchers, and the general public. With a few noted exceptions, all essays and features on this site are original works prepared exclusively for HistoryLink.org by staff, contract writers, volunteers, and consulting experts. The encyclopedia contains more than 5,000 essays as of September 2008. It is constantly expanding, with new essays added every week."

Great website definetly worth a look.

Island County Housing Data

Here is some interesting and helpful housing data:

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Third Quarter Housing Analysis; Island County home re-sales were down -9.2% from the previous quarter, and down -31.4% from the third quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -5.1% from the previous quarter and down -26.0% from the third quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Island County are down -46.0% from the third quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -42.5% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Island County is down to $282,500, above the statewide median of $281,500. The 2008 third quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 87.3 for Island County, lower than the statewide index of 96.9.

See all WA county info: http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/2008Q3/Snapshot_q308.pdf

Snohomish County Housing Data

Here is some interesting and helpful housing data:

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Third Quarter Housing Analysis; Snohomish County home re-sales were down -6.2% from the previous quarter, and down -37.8% from the third quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -5.1% from the previous quarter and down -26.0% from the third quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Snohomish County are down -45.7% from the third quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -42.5% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Snohomish County is $340,000, above the statewide median of $281,500. The 2008 third quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 88.3 for Snohomish County, lower than the statewide index of 96.9.

See all WA county info: http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/2008Q3/Snapshot_q308.pdf