About Bremerton's Manette

During the month of November there were 55 homes that sold in Bremerton. [zip codes: 98310, 98311, 98312, 98314, 98337]. These Bremerton homes actually had a transfer of home ownership. Contracts complete and Lender funds available the home buyer and seller signed all of their documents as escrow prepared the closing packages. Once all the I’s were dotted and the T’s crossed there where deeds recorded at the Kitsap County courthouse that transferred the property into the new home owner’s name!

If you want to learn more about how we transfer property in Washington State a really great site to visit is the Escrow Association of Washington site. There you can find definitions and explanations of the home buying process for Bremerton Washington.

Let’s look at those 55 [up 12 from October] Bremerton homes -

Average List Price

• $209,333 [October - $208,038 - September - $213,497 - August $225,931 - July - $229,322 - June- $217,283 -May- $199,895 -April- $197,429 - March -$202,739 - February -$220,258 - January -$203,640 December -$224,396]
• $117 per square foot

Average Sold Price

• $187,842 [$187,906 - October - September - $207,218 - August - $219,630 - July - $207,610 - June - $209,182 - May-$195,044 - April -$192,860 - March -$198,231 - February -$213,465 - January -$201,166 - December -$218,171 ]
• $105 per square foot

The average sq ft of these 55 Bremerton homes was 1792 sq ft. These homes spent an average of 84 days on the market (DOM).

The list to sale ratio for these homes was 89.73 percent. What that meas is that buyers offered 89.73% of what the seller requested. This is the first time this year there has been a real different in list to sale ratio.

What do these numbers mean? Is it a good time to buy? Is it a good time to sell. It all depends on your individual situation. I would rather buy in a buyers market and I would rather sell in a buyers market if I have to buy another home with the proceeds. I am a fan of the NORMAL market – everyone can feel more comfortable and real estate transactions are not as stressful.

If you would like to find out the value of your home please feel free to contact me via phone or email. I would be more than happy to supply you with a FREE Market Analysis.

If you would like to purchase a home in the Kitsap County Real Estate Area please give me a call or contact me via email. We can discuss your future plans and I can set you up on an email campaign to receive the hot new listings quicker than YOU can find them.

“Statistics not compiled or published by NWMLS.” Equal Opportunity Housing All information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed”

During the month of October there were 43 homes that sold in Bremerton. [zip codes: 98310, 98311, 98312, 98314, 98337]. These Bremerton homes actually had a transfer of home ownership. Contracts complete and Lender funds available the home buyer and seller signed all of their documents as escrow prepared the closing packages. Once all the I’s were dotted and the T’s crossed there where deeds recorded at the Kitsap County courthouse that transferred the property into the new home owner’s name!

If you want to learn more about how we transfer property in Washington State a really great site to visit is the Escrow Association of Washington site. There you can find definitions and explanations of the home buying process for Bremerton Washington.

Let’s look at those 43 [down 14 from September] Bremerton homes -

Average List Price

• $208,038 [September - $213,497 - August $225,931 - July - $229,322 - June- $217,283 -May- $199,895 -April- $197,429 - March -$202,739 - February -$220,258 - January -$203,640 December -$224,396]
• $116 per square foot

Average Sold Price

• $187,906 [September - $207,218 - August - $219,630 - July - $207,610 - June - $209,182 - May-$195,044 - April -$192,860 - March -$198,231 - February -$213,465 - January -$201,166 - December -$218,171 ]
• $105 per square foot

The average sq ft of these 43 Bremerton homes was 1796 sq ft. These homes spent an average of 109 days on the market (DOM).

The list to sale ratio for these homes was 90.32 percent. What that meas is that buyers offered 90.32% of what the seller requested. This is the first time this year there has been a real different in list to sale ratio.

What do these numbers mean? Is it a good time to buy? Is it a good time to sell. It all depends on your individual situation. I would rather buy in a buyers market and I would rather sell in a buyers market if I have to buy another home with the proceeds. I am a fan of the NORMAL market – everyone can feel more comfortable and real estate transactions are not as stressful.

If you would like to find out the value of your home please feel free to contact me via phone or email. I would be more than happy to supply you with a FREE Market Analysis.

If you would like to purchase a home in the Kitsap County Real Estate Area please give me a call or contact me via email. We can discuss your future plans and I can set you up on an email campaign to receive the hot new listings quicker than YOU can find them.

“Statistics not compiled or published by NWMLS.” Equal Opportunity Housing All information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed”

Over the last couple of days there have been a couple of blog articles written about family photos and the "should they stay or should they go" controversy. Tanya Nouwens writes 3 Common Home Staging Myths which is a really nice article and gives her reason why she likes to leave some photos. I agreed with her reasons. I also understand why some agents and staggers might disagree. It is all up to the seller and their real estate team I suppose.

Then yesterday I came across Donald Tepper's article Family Photos In Staged Homes: Are We Ignoring The Elephant In The Room?

Donald's article really got me thinking. I never think about race or ethnicity in my business. I see everyone as equal and can't even imagine a buyer not buying a home based on the photos they see or an agent for a seller using the seller's race as a reason to remove photos. I just don't think that way. There are no "elephants" in my business.

But, it did get me to thinking. Thinking about some showings I had this past spring. My market area is surrounded by two Navy bases. Naval Base Kitsap - Bangor and Naval Base Kitsap - Bremerton. The Navy can be very small at times. Being a Navy spouse I have seen this. Move cross country and find out the military member is being assigned to a unit where they know several members from prior duty stations.

On showings of a military member transferring (PCS'ing) here from Georgia we went into a home that had all of it's owners personal belongings around. The home had not been staged and nothing seemed to be packed away. As we went from room to room we knew that the sailor was a submariner and stationed at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor. We even read on a plauqe what his name was and what his rank and rate were.

The name sounded familiar to my buyer so he got on his cell and called someone he knew here. Sure enough it was a person he "knew of". He chatted away with someone on base who gave up lots of detailed information. The person on the other end knew that the seller was retiring and had already left the area. The wife and kids were still living here until school was out and then they wanted to move quick. The house was going to cause a problem if it didn't sell and close by June.

So here with one phone call we found out the motivation of the seller all because of some photos and personal belongings.

This was information that my buyer talked about. I could see the wheels turning as he made comments about how aggressive he could be in his offer if he chose this home. The seller showed his cards and I thought for sure my buyer was going "all in" if he made the offer.

So, yeah now I have changed my mind about photos and personal belongings - they should go. At least I have a story to tell my future sellers if they have objections on removing photos. This will help them understand how important some staging is.

With permission from WestSoundlive.com

I am already looking to the spring home selling market. For some reason the Fall Season brings me those thoughts.

Fall is the beginning of the end to some of our most gorgeous weather here in the West Sound.

Those gorgeous colors of fall remind me of spring and what I need to do to make my yard and home "pop" for spring. If you are thinking of selling in the spring start the process now.

THE LIST

1. Get those bulbs in the ground. (This will start your "curb appeal")
2. Rake those leaves now! (They will kill your grass if you leave them)
3. Trim those bushes, chop back those trees. (We want to SEE the house!)
4. Dig up any plants that won't be surviving the winter. (Do it now - not "in the Spring")
5. Do your "Spring Clean" in January. (When you are taking down the entire Holiday affair)
6. February is "Paint what needs to be painted" Month. (Yep, it's on a calendar somewhere!)


Just remember Spring is Spring and not June. If you don't get your home ready now you will miss the buyers that want to close on a home at the beginning of June so they can enjoy their new home in the summer.