Ryan Martin - Bellingham Real Estate Agent

I was recently introduced to Roger Hutchison of WebVideoDesigner.com. Although Roger and I both live in Bellingham, we actually met on Twitter. Over the last several months Roger and I have had several tweets go back and forth. At one point he referred one of his friends to list their home with me. The referral ended up not working out as the friend was able to get their former agent to reduce their commission. To no surprise I am pretty sure that their house is still on the market.

Getting back on subject, Roger had been producing a lot of long distance web videos, but was interested in doing more local video projects. Specifically he wanted to launch a new product for local businesses. I have always had a fascination with web video, so Roger and I ended up creating the following video. I think the video turned out great. Had KC and I been better public speakers, this could have turned out even better, but Roger truly did a great job.

Follow Roger on Twitter - Follow Ryan on Twitter

How much does it cost to buy a house in Skagit County? When a buyer purchases a property (land, house, condo, etc.) in Skagit County using the standard real estate forms the buyer is required to pay half of the escrow fee and provide a title insurance policy insuring the lenders interest in the exact amount borrowed. The following are the cost associated with both buying and selling a $300,000 house in Skagit County.

$300k house purchase the buyer's costs would be:

$750 escrow charge

$865 title insurance if buyer puts $50,000 down ($0 if buyer pays cash).

$50 recording fee

Plus any lending fees associated with the purchase

$300k house purchase the seller's costs would be:

$750 escrow charge

$965 title insurance in favor of the buyer for the full purchase price

$50 recording fee

$5,340 excise tax to the State of Washington

$9,000 buyer's agent commission (3%)*

$9,000 listing agent commission (3%)*

*All commissions in the State of Washington are negotiable, but in life you usually get what you pay for.

Start you Skagit County Real Estate search today.

Ryan Martin, Windermere Real Estate

Your Bellingham real estate agent

A catalyst for homes, public facilities, schools and businesses, achieving environmental sustainability is being driven by a common goal to move cities and states to a green form of living. While human beings use energy to drive daily chores and activities, many take eco-friendly methods of construction and living for granted.

For a large part of the 20th century, corrosive and hazardous forms of insulation were used in homes, buildings and military applications. An older prominent building material that has plagued homeowners is asbestos. The use of this fibrous mineral became widespread due to the variety of industries stationed in Bellingham. Industries such as chemical plants, paper mills, shipyards and oil refiners used the material because of its fire resistant and ultra durable qualities.

Environmental awareness for citizens of Bellingham is on rise partially due to the rise in technology and green methods that will not only produce a healthier home, but can save homeowners on annual energy costs.

Tax breaks are being offered through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. This package extends energy efficiency tax incentives first enacted in 2005 and even creates some new ones for those who remodel their homes using eco-friendly materials.

This is good news for people looking to remodel their homes. Some of the measures eligible for tax credits include: Replacement windows and skylights which are equal or below a 0.30 U factor, window films certified by the manufacturer that the product meets the requirements of a green insulation system, pigmented metal or asphalt roofs that meet Energy Star requirements and added insulation to walls or any part of a structure that meets the 2009 IECC specifications.

It is important to remember that any home built before 1980 could likely contain asbestos. When undisturbed, asbestos is fine. Most experts suggest leaving it un-disturbed, as this can allow its fibers to become airborne. Consistent exposure to asbestos can lead to many illnesses, such as pleural mesothelioma. Due to the fact many mesothelioma symptoms are similar to less serious ailments, diagnosis of this asbestos ailment is one of the more difficult tasks mesothelioma doctors encounter.

Citizens and organizations in Washington are doing their part in nurturing and prospering their mountains, natural springs and fresh air. The Washington Foundation for the Environment is a nonprofit corporation striving to provide projects and education focusing on environmental awareness. It also provides detailed information to citizens, schools and public facilities about the health hazards of asbestos.

Replacing the asbestos with healthy forms of insulation such as cotton fiber, lycnene foam or cellulose is more energy efficient and reduces the risk of asbestos exposure. Many locations throughout the United States are swiftly.

Ryan Martin Windermere Real Estate/Whatcom, Inc.

Your Bellingham real estate professional

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I am often asked about Bellingham’s job market. The most common two questions are “Are there any jobs in Bellingham?” and “Where do people work in Bellingham?” . The answer to these two questions are yes and there are jobs available in many different sectors in Bellingham.

Click here for a list of the current top employers in Bellingham. I have also provided a list of links below to places where current, available jobs are posted for Bellingham and the surrounding vicinity.

Worksource is a popular place for businesses to post available jobs. Worksource is a joint venture of organizations that provide resources for both employers and perspective employees. Along with job postings for all of Whatcom County, in a variety of professions, the Worksource website also provides an array of tools to help job-seekers find and get the job that they are looking for. BP, Western Washington University, and Peacehealth (St. Joseph Hospital) are just a few of the employers who post job openings on this site.

Craigslist is another popular source for finding jobs in Bellingham. Many local employers are using Craigslist to post both full time and piece work jobs. Craigslist does a great job of categorizing their job postings, however, you will need to scroll down the page a bit to find older postings. Sometimes there are still open postings that have been pushed down the page because they are a few days old.

Another place to search for jobs is on the local paper’s website. The Bellingham Herald’s job classifieds is powered by Career Builder and allows you to search for new job postings by keywords. I have not found this to be the best place to find local employment opportunities, but it is another place to expand your search.

If all else fails, another great way to find the job you are looking for is to simply ask around. If you are interested in a particular line of work, let people know. The beauty of a small town lies in the connections you find. If you are a go-getter with a positive attitude and a drive for success, someone may be willing to create a position just for you.

There are jobs available in Bellingham and in Whatcom County, you just have to know where to look, and sometimes you need to do a little digging, but I guarantee that there are some awesome opportunities just waiting for people like yourself. We need more workers! If you are looking for a new place to hang your hat from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, and if you are looking to relocate, browse these links – your dream career may be in Bellingham Washington! See Bellingham Wa Jobs

Ryan Martin - Windermere Real Estate/Whatcom, Inc.

Your Bellingham Real Estate Agent

Search for Bellingham Washington homes for sale now

Two Hour Train Rides from Bellingham Washington

Are you looking for a fun weekend trip from Bellingham? Consider taking the Amtrak train along the Pacific shoreline to Seattle or Vancouver, BC. Trips to Vancouver, BC and Seattle are both about an hour from Bellingham via the train. The Amtrak schedule runs daily and the rates are pretty reasonable.

A roundtrip for 2 from Bellingham to Seattle runs about $84. The train takes a little over two hours to reach Seattle from Bellingham, WA.

A roundtrip for 2 from Bellingham to Vancouver, BC runs about $56. The train takes a little less two hours to reach Vancouver, BC from Bellingham, WA.

If you are looking to get a little further out of town, consider a trip to Portland, OR. Portland is a beautiful town and only 6 hours south of Bellingham.

A roundtrip for 2 from Bellingham to Portland, OR runs about $120. The train takes a little over 6 hours to reach Portland, OR from Bellingham, WA.

Bellingham Amtrak

401 Harris Avenue

Bellingham, WA 98225

Hours 8:00am to 9:00pm

Ryan Martin - Realtor®, e-Pro®

Your Bellingham Washington real estate agent

Keeping you informed about Bellingham WA

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*Amtrak image via creative commons license jpmueller @Flickr