Chris McNamara

Dear Client,

Just wanted to say, write, scream from the mountain tops: thanks. You’re the best client.

How are you the best client?

You’re knowledgeable about the market, you’ve got an open mind for opportunity, and you’ ve got a your financials together so that when we DO find the right property, we’re ready to move forward.

You’ve got market knowledge through:

• the auto search we’ve set up for you,
  
• and you’ve selected favorites on there, so I have an idea of what you’re looking for.
  
• If another property comes on the market that meets some of the criteria, I know it’s one to take a look at for you, based on your likes and dislikes.

You’ve got an open mind for opportunity because we’ve spoken about how easy it is to paint, put in new carpet, redo kitchens and bathrooms, and the costs associated with this, so when we find a home that’s not a perfect match, we know a $3,000 fix won’t eliminate a home off your list.

And you’ve got your financial situation clear and ready, from speaking with up to 3 lenders, finding which is the best candidate to help you through one of the largest decisions you’ll make.

You’ve talked about ways to improve your credit while we’re looking, you’ve looked at all the loan programs available to you to the point where you can remember them easily, and you’ve got a calculation of what your monthly payment should be so that you’re comfortable.

And we’re working together to make you the best client. I’m here to help, but wanted to say thank you for all the work you’re doing to become the best client possible.

Because it makes you a success story.

The Internet is no longer a fad, much to the chagrin of a good friend of mine who will remain nameless. His stock in Beta tapes, Laser Discs, and Pepsi Clear are hopefully rounding his portfolio out nicely, and it's from this perch that there are few squatters left.

The solution the Internet solved was the lack of Information Now!, a movement that swept across the nation with the such speed that there's not even an 80's Pop reference I can make to draw a close-enough comparison, though jams and break-dancing are close. It got you real estate information, whatever it was, when you wanted it, and when it didn't get there quick enough, they went to fiber-optics, cell phone towers, and a failed attempted bringing back carrier pigeons.

And it solved problems...but questions beget questions. And the one thing the ‘Innanet didn't do, was ask you why? Imagine the time saved?

Long tail searches have really fleshed out this trend, where your computer, or G-Mail can almost see where you're coming from, through algorithms but not really. "Live performances Final Countdown WAV" searched at 3:00AM doesn't need an explanation, it's just basic curiosity, but " Homes Bellingham Under $300,000″ can return, oh say, more than your share of sites. And you just have a simple question. That's where we come in.

You might get a call asking why, mainly because for every 5 billion people who are looking online at homes, there are a few that have valid questions to be answered, and are frustrated because drinking through a fire hose doesn't ever seem to quench thirst. No one's ever stood back up, and said "That hit the spot!" unless they were part of a very poorly written satire for the WB (that took a lot of time and effort to write, but did the execs call back? No). So here's why we're calling. Offering problems to solutions, and here's my list of how:

• Looking for a property online? You've got three thousand Bellingham real estate websites at your disposal, and yet all you'd like to do is see all the three bedroom, 2 bathroom homes under 1,500 square feet. You'd like to see them as soon as they come on the market if possible, because you've seen all the others, and they're starting to blend together! What if you only checked your e-mail, clicked on a link that showed you just these?

Researching the area?You're interested in waterfront, lakefront, mountain view property but don't know the area that well, the pricing for certain areas and why they might be higher than others, how close are the schools, are they any good? What if there was someone who's job it was to know all of these things, and keep you up to date with bulleted lists and photos?

Looking at homes based on what the listing price is? You're looking to either move here, downgrade your home size, check out second homes, or condos, but are amazed at the prices, and wonder if there are any hidden costs, association rules, or more importantly DUES? What if the home has been on the market for 900 days, with no price reductions and the seller is ravenous to take any offer? What if there was a contact you'd made that could get you this info on all properties?

• Looking at getting your feet wet by previewing a few homes? You've made your list of 19 homes that might meet what you're looking for, but looking at the list it's daunting. Some might have 3 bedrooms, some might have 3 bedrooms and an office that would fit what you're looking for, but you could cut down your tour by about 10 homes if someone had walked through these before after talking to you for a little bit, and got a sense of exactly what your tastes were?
• Looking online for a lender to give you the best rates? You've checked out homes online, and are ready to talk with a lender so you know which homes are in your realm , but you're afraid of just putting your information into any system. You want someone who knows the programs, who's done this a million times successfully without any hiccups, and is going to explain to you your options; the good ones, and the bad ones, and the ones you should just steer clear from, but you don't know how to find these people. What if there was someone who worked with lenders EVERYDAY, and knows the folks who follow through and have a great temperament for what you might be facing?
• Wondering what buying a home entails, start to finish? First-time home-buyers, haven't bought a home in a few years, or are just curious if there have been any changes? What if there were someone who does this everyday that can take 5 minutes and walk you through the process?
• Where to start if I want this to be a fairy tale, rather than a woe of caution? You've tossed and turned over whether or not this is a good idea for you, but have a zillion questions, and need a plan. A successful plan to get you where you need to go. What if there were one available, tailored to what you wish to accomplish?

Your answer could be a real estate agent. Yes, you can do it yourself. You can build a house yourself. My Dad fixed the sink by himself, and watered his forehead and Chuck Norris T-shirt every time he went to get a glass of water, before they called a professional to come in and do the job correctly, quickly, and at minimal cost. And no round house kicks for disrespect.

Click to chat below, if you've got any questions, and I'm available!

And a lot of folks have asked me, "What's great about Bellingham?"

Well, there are a ton of things to do, starting south on Chuckanut Drive there is a place called 1) Clayton beach, a sandy beach to get a nice morning ocean swim in, then a light hike back up to the car....if you like oysters, 2) there is a little place on Chuckanut to grab lunch, or you can stop at 3) Taylor's Oyster Farm and pick up a bag of your own and shuck them right there on shore....

Then you can head north to 4) Fairhaven, a littering of shops, boutiques, and great restaurants like Flats ( a tapas bar , mainly small dishes), Mambo Italiano's, the Fool's Onion (thanks Court!) or The Black Cat! Or, if fine dining is on the docket for the night, the Oyster Bar is a great place, as well as Fino's, a fantastic restaurant in the same building as the 6) Chrysalis Day spa..

7) Head north to Bellingham on the interurban trail that takes about 45 minutes to walk from Downtown Fairhaven, along the bay, and 8) get great ice cream at Mallard's, or for the older kids, 9) a beer at Boundary Bay, Bellingham's own micro brew (you'll see their t-shirts all over town), and 10) enjoy shopping in downtown Bellingham, check out the 11) Kids Museum, or the 12) Public Library, or a 13) great lunch Burrito at Bandito Burrito, or Casa Que Pasa.

14) You can drive or walk down to Zuanich Point, and 15) relax at the park right on the point of the marina, about 2 acres of lawn to 16) fly a kite, play frisbee, or watch the boats head out to the San Juan Islands. 17) Or hop on a boat going out for Whale Watching, or check out the rates on chartering or 18) buying a boat of your own! (make some guy's day, I bet).

20) Then there's the Mall if that's something you'd ve interested in, 21) a couple golf courses in town, one of which being in Sudden Valley, a great course, and 23) hiking trails all over. Or you can go swimming in 24) Lake Whatcom, Lake Padden, head up and 25) swim in the glacially cooled waters of the Nooksack...

26) Nightlife? We've got night life! Three movie theatres, bowling alleys, bars, a couple "nightclubs", a very musically infused town, or just a nice walk downtown, to try another one of the home-made ice cream shops.....

Hope this is a good start!

This weekend was a rough one on the trail around Lake Padden, as the weather doesn't seem to be coinciding with the date (snow last weekend). With each morning, getting out of the car, looking at my MP3 player, and wondering why I didn't sleep in, I wonder when this feeling will start to dissipate.

My main motivation still ignites from getting beat by the woman in the Bumble Bee costume at the Jingle Bell run this year. It was a huge costume. And she beat me by a couple of lengths. I think she was running to Clay Aiken, and you can't beat that.

I vowed never to get beaten again by someone in a costume, after the "push-up" contest debacle against Goofy at Disney World this year (look at the size of his head, you can almost smell the Human Growth Hormone). But each day at Padden, I tap the Dr. Pepper machine, start my watch, and cruise past the tennis courts, the horse trails, and into the woods. Depending on the direction you run in, it varies in what you're workout will be. Could be flats for a while if you run clockwise, or immediately into the hills, and want to stay out of the winds that whip across the lake, and run counterclockwise.

Lake Padden is a gift, wrapped in a 2.6 mile loop (still trying to break 19 mins), about 5 minutes from the Sehome Haggen's. Surrounded by parks, fields, access to Galbraith and a couple great lengths of single track, you're only problem could be finding parking during the summer. And a lifeguard, as budgeting cuts have taken their toll on staff there. But barbecue, bring your dog (leashed here, unleashed there), and as long as you keep the two mutually exclusive, you can get an idea of why parks were created in the first place; to bring folks together in the Great Outdoors.

And yet, alone, on the morning of April 2nd (afternoon sun wasn't going to help much), I decided it was time to start swimming again, and waded into the Lake for a length across and back. I got to about my calves, then dove in, and after the Lady of the Lake stole the breath right out of me, I got right out. On the list of Bad Decisions I've made this year, this one hit the top ten. But we'll get there.

The location of Padden, off of Samish Way, makes the swims deviate from commonplace; high winds can produce an ocean-like chop, fog can set in, and by the time you're halfway across the lake, you can get pretty disoriented. And then there are the mornings where it's coffee table of glass, and the sun rises as you make your way back to the beach, and the chill of the water can't even knock the smile off your face. But it tries it's best, and this year, got the jump on me.

Sticking to a couple runs in the Chuckanut area for the next weeks will make my list for good decisions this year, and before I try to tap the Dr. Pepper machine at 18:59, give the Lake another go in May.

Advantage, Lake Padden.