My Favorite Indianola Homes on the Market! Just click on the link below.

Of the Indianola homes that are on the market - these are my favorite!   Check them out and if you want to view them in person - call me!  The above photo is our Indianola Beach!
http://www.matrix.nwmls.com/DE.asp?k=1318763XHN3U&p=DE-10495448-640

Check out my new Website!

Check out my new Windermere Website- it has so many great features - like current interest rates plus market updates on Kitsap homes, Kitsap waterfront homes and BI waterfront homes.  It also has tips on buying and selling homes as well as a financial calculator and a great property search feature.  

Also I just returned home from a Grand Teton Wildlife and Landscape Photography class - check out my photos at http://maryrichards.smugmug.com/Nature/The-Grand-Tetons/19659467_XHJVw7.  Plus there is a link on my website too!

Sea Lions on a Buoy! I was out boating with my husband - Jerry, and we saw this family of Sea Lions off of Bainbridge! You wonder how they got up there! Actually - I got of photo of that too!

Waterfront Homes Sales information in North Kitsap (Keyport to Hansville) and Bainbridge Island

Avg Price For Sale & Sold Median Price Sold

Curnt vs. Prev Month Curnt vs. Same Month 1 Yr Ago Curnt vs. Same Qtr 1 Yr Ago Aug. 11 Jul. 11 % Change Aug. 11 Aug. 10 % Change Jun. 11 to Aug. 11 Jun. 10 to Aug. 10 % Change Median 567 497 14.1% 567 520 9% 619 615 0.7%

Date 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10 1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 For Sale 168 183 174 154 147 128 102 102 102 115 136 153 166 176 186 New Listing 29 42 27 11 21 15 7 23 15 31 31 46 33 28 29 Sold 15 10 16 18 5 9 11 10 5 5 6 9 14 10 11 Pended 7 20 15 11 10 6 8 7 9 8 12 8 16 7 9 Months of Inventory (Closed Sales) 11.2 18.3 10.9 8.6 29.4 14.2 9.3 10.2 20.4 23 22.7 17 11.9 17.6 16.9 Months of Inventory (Pended Sales) 24 9.2 11.6 14 14.7 21.3 12.8 14.6 11.3 14.4 11.3 19.1 10.4 25.1 20.7 Absorption Rate (Closed Sales) % 8.9 5.5 9.2 11.7 3.4 7 10.8 9.8 4.9 4.3 4.4 5.9 8.4 5.7 5.9 Absorption Rate (Pended Sales) % 4.2 10.9 8.6 7.1 6.8 4.7 7.8 6.9 8.8 7 8.8 5.2 9.6 4 4.8 Avg. Active Price 1172 1161 1164 1145 1207 1216 1290 1136 1089 994 995 1131 1103 1068 1031 Avg. Sold Price 686 537 555 604 475 484 926 600 1067 882 1010 801 736 643 750 Avg. Sq. Ft. Price 233 242 224 231 219 241 315 223 275 269 376 285 258 286 299 Sold/List Diff. % 94 98 95 94 85 96 76 96 97 87 88 94 92 91 96 Sold/Orig LP Diff. % 89 93 88 84 69 87 72 87 89 84 84 89 85 88 95 Days on Market 88 86 69 120 273 135 121 147 234 226 121 80 137 115 47 Avg CDOM 124 107 82 173 258 252 224 315 232 388 203 80 171 109 116 Median 750 565 520 490 390 500 580 480 798 674 581 720 746 497 567

* All reports are published September 2011, based on data available at the end of August 2011. This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the NWMLS. Neither the Board or its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Board or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Report reflects activity by all brokers participated in the MLS.

30 Year Interest Rate Chart - A good time to buy!

Median Price of all North Kitsap Homes from 5/10 through 7/11

This graph and data is a from a search of North Kitsap home median prices (not including BI) since May 2010 through July 2011.  I have access to a powerful program called Trendgraphics, and can search a variety of parameters, i.e. waterfront sales, certain price ranges and types of homes.  If you would like to know more about sales in your area - please call me!
Note that the median price of a home in North Kitsap fell 14.3% from July of last year.  The chart below has an incredible amount of information!  CDOM - means cumulative days on market. 

Avg Price For Sale & Sold Median Price Sold

Curnt vs. Prev Month Curnt vs. Same Month 1 Yr Ago Curnt vs. Same Qtr 1 Yr Ago Jul. 11 Jun. 11 % Change Jul. 11 Jul. 10 % Change May. 11 to Jul. 11 May. 10 to Jul. 10 % Change Median 275 319 -13.8% 275 321 -14.3% 304 297 2.4%

Date 5/10 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10 1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 For Sale 426 419 421 414 377 372 347 319 322 320 343 383 388 408 431 New Listing 76 85 103 79 63 78 82 51 80 59 82 95 92 94 100 Sold 52 55 47 49 54 40 36 50 27 28 36 31 40 51 37 Pended 40 48 53 50 44 41 41 34 36 33 39 44 43 49 45 Months of Inventory (Closed Sales) 8.2 7.6 9 8.4 7 9.3 9.6 6.4 11.9 11.4 9.5 12.4 9.7 8 11.6 Months of Inventory (Pended Sales) 10.7 8.7 7.9 8.3 8.6 9.1 8.5 9.4 8.9 9.7 8.8 8.7 9 8.3 9.6 Absorption Rate (Closed Sales) % 12.2 13.1 11.2 11.8 14.3 10.8 10.4 15.7 8.4 8.8 10.5 8.1 10.3 12.5 8.6 Absorption Rate (Pended Sales) % 9.4 11.5 12.6 12.1 11.7 11 11.8 10.7 11.2 10.3 11.4 11.5 11.1 12 10.4 Avg. Active Price 440 433 432 431 417 413 415 400 395 401 390 389 403 401 403 Avg. Sold Price 334 328 342 376 310 311 323 267 341 300 275 298 311 325 282 Avg. Sq. Ft. Price 173 160 156 165 150 150 166 142 147 144 130 142 148 145 152 Sold/List Diff. % 97 97 97 96 96 94 96 97 97 97 97 96 96 97 96 Sold/Orig LP Diff. % 96 95 93 91 90 86 88 90 90 90 90 91 93 90 91 Days on Market 85 71 108 77 94 106 140 96 131 130 123 86 113 107 97 Avg CDOM 130 108 120 103 129 104 191 128 193 156 149 119 126 128 98 Median 282 292 321 350 261 281 291 244 335 268 267 269 312 319 275

* All reports are published August 2011, based on data available at the end of July 2011. This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the NWMLS. Neither the Board or its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Board or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Report reflects activity by all brokers participated in the MLS.

Carnival!!

Looking for some entertainment this weekend? It's your last chance to see BPA's performance of Carnival! It's rollicking fun with colorful costumes and outstanding performances. Especially by the ringmaster, my friend Pete Simpson. The director agrees: "Pete has a big, huge voice, and a big personality that's right for that part. I never really had eyes for anyone else. Pete's very jovial." You can catch the show Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 3:00. Enjoy! 

House History Fun

Obviously, I love houses. Each one is unique and has something to offer, yet no one house can be all things to all people. And what characteristics and styles are valued one year are completely different a few years later. Kinda like people!


Here's a fun-facts website that shows housing styles from the 1776 colonial to today's off-grid green homes. Just for fun :)

It takes a weekend to celebrate freedom

Looking outside, it's hard to believe the 4th of July is upon us, but it is! Landing on a Monday means you can spend all weekend celebrating our nation's independence. 


Start on Saturday at Indianola's Strawberry Festival at Indianola Church from 11 to 4 p.m. At the corner of Midway and Division you'll strawberry shortcake, strawberry scones, strawberry muffins, strawberry smoothies, and you might even find fresh strawberries!


On Sunday Poulsbo will be holding its annual 3rd of July celebration from noon to 11 p.m. There will food and fun all day long, topped off by a fantastic fireworks display at 10:15. Always a crowd pleaser.


There's several Kitsap celebrations on the 4th, and you can find them at the events calendar at the Kitsap Sun. As for me, I'll be on the beach in Indianola with my family and neighborhood friends as we revel in our good fortune.


(For this post I tried to find a picture with both a flag and a cookie but failed. But have I mentioned my wild blackberry pie fetish?)

Cost vs. Value

Your home is the perfect place to express yourself. Grecian columns in the bathroom? Go for it. Pepto-Bismol pink exterior? Why not.


But some of us see our house not just as a home, but as an investment as well. We want to see the money we spend fixing/remodeling adding to the house's value, especially if we plan to sell within the next few years.


If you're one of those people who wants to maximize the return on your remodeling dollars, try this web site from Remodeling Magazine called Cost vs. Value. You'll find easy-to-understand graphs, like the one above, and specific information about what pays for itself, what doesn't, and what percentage of cost you can expect to recoup.


You can also see trends. For instance, exterior curb appeal is gaining over kitchen face lifts as the most common type of remodel. In that vein, currently popular are new entry and garage doors. Both pack a bang for (relatively) few bucks.


Maybe you're thinking of selling and don't know how to best apply your resources. If you'd like to discuss ideas about your home, what needs to be taken care of and what isn't worth the time or money, give me a call. Together we can make your house a home anyone would be proud to own.

Open House

It's supposed to be 77 and sunny this Sunday in Indianola, and I couldn't image a better way to spend it than on the beach. From 1:00 to 4:00 I'll be on Seaview Ave hoping to meet you and, of course, offer you a cookie. Check it out.

Time to Share

It didn't take long for me to notice how often I mention cookies on my blog. During the 17 years I owned an espresso bar (see my first post), I baked/sold/consumed more cookies that I could count, but I still haven't lost my love for those tasty treats.


After years baking I've devised what I think is the best recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies, which can easily morph into oatmeal chocolate chip walnut, or oatmeal coconut butterscotch, depending on your inclination. I thought it was time to share.


Mary's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Mix
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
Stir in
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Mix together than add
2 cup flour
2 1/2 cups regular oatmeal
1 tsp baking pwdr
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Stir in
2 cups raisins or choc chips or whatever
Bake
at 350 for 10 to 15 minutes


Share and Enjoy!

A Little Slice of Heaven

Kitsap County has miles and miles of waterfront, but being on the beach is anything but commonplace. This waterfront lot in Indianola offers you 85 feet of beach and 400 feet of depth, giving you ample space for a beautiful home, privacy, and woods. As you can see, in this case, a picture truly is worth a thousand words.

Have a Cookie, Enjoy the View

Every home will add something different to your life, especially when it sits on the beach watching over Puget Sound each day, marking the changes in weather, wildlife and current. If you'd like to view such a home, come see me this Saturday, May 28, between 1:00 and 4:00 at Seaview Drive in Indianola. You can enjoy the view, try on this unique lifestyle and -- as always -- have a cookie.

Saturday Success

Thanks to Leslie (right) and everyone else who made Windermere's free disposal day last Saturday a success! We shredded 2200 pounds of information-sensitive paper and sent countless computers, monitors, faxes, and TVs to be properly detoxified and disposed.

After a day spent outdoors, with a steady stream of clients, friends, and new faces, after directing, unloading, and stacking, I drove home with the sense that all was right in the world. The cookies didn't hurt.

Why Can't a House Be Like Ice Cream?

I love Cold Stone Creamery. I start with coffee ice cream (naturally), add pecans, blueberries, and crunch bar tidbits. Throw in some yellow cake for structure. No topping. That's exactly how I like it. Yum.

If only buying a house could be like that! I’ll take two stories, three bedrooms, a den away from the traffic, and a small workshop, please.

What “mix-in’s” are to Cold Stone Creamery, amenities are to house hunting. What kind of kitchen, how many bedrooms, location to work/schools, neighborhood, floor plan, all those things add up to a house that works for you and your lifestyle. 

My husband Jerry grew up in Indianola looking across Puget Sound to Seattle. For him, seeing water out his windows was number one. He had other things on his list, too, but nothing came close to that one amenity. Other people have more of a mix, a give-and-take kind of approach.

It’s a good idea before you start your search to list the things that matter most to you so you can be sure to end up in the right place. Here’s an article to help you with the process of identifying what amenities mean to you:

http://tinyarticle.com/Art/88318/28/How-To-Choose-Your-Perfect-Home-In-500-Words.html

Here’s an article about how to evaluate those amenities, along with some very nice pictures.

http://freshome.com/2011/03/25/10-amenities-to-look-for-when-buying-a-home/

Happy hunting!

What's On Your List Today?

Amenities are what sets one house apart from another. When you know which amenities mean the most to you, you can start to focus your search. Maybe the blend of view, workshop, and neighborhood of my newest listing is just what you or someone you know has been looking for. Check it out:

• Stunning Olympic Mts and Hood Canal view
• Upscale neighborhood of custom homes
• Dead-end street
• Workshop/art studio w/separate entrance
• Sunny garden 

Drive by 24431 Mt. Washington Vw Ln in Poulsbo to see this unique offering for yourself. 
Happy hunting!

Spring Cleaning Anyone?

Moving isn't the only time to rid your home of used-up electronics. Or to purge your files of long-expired paperwork. But disposing of toxic hardware and information-filled documents isn't like tossing out last night's pizza box.

Join me on Saturday, May 14, when my Windermere office in Poulsbo will host a FREE disposal day for computers and paper. Bring your old computers, laptops, monitors and TVs and we'll dispose of them properly through Secure Data Destruction. The company All Shred will be there, too, to destroy your personal documents.

Come hungry and feast on our hot dog lunch to benefit the Windermere Foundation. It's a nonprofit organization that works to
help homeless and low-income families.
You can follow their blog at http://foundation.windermere.com/.

Knock-Knock

What do real estate and an espresso bar have in common? You’d be surprised.

I started my portable espresso bar in 1990, long before Starbucks became a household name. I pitched my idea to arts & crafts fairs, horse shows, garden tours, and the like. They’d never heard of such a thing. It took some convincing that, yes, in fact, people spending a weekend day outdoors would welcome a double latte or Italian soda.

17 years later – the longest running espresso bar in Kitsap County – I was ready to move on. I wondered where I could find the same variety, the people contact, the hands-on creativity? The answer came from across the street.

I live in Indianola. My husband Jerry grew up here, as did his father. My kids jumped off the same rock into the Sound as their grandfather. They took the same bus to school as their father. And today directly across the street from us lives my mother-in-law.

“You should go into real estate. You’re a natural,” Peg suggested. She’d never steered me wrong. So I did.

That was 2005. Since then I’ve had not one second of boredom. Every client, every transaction, and every day is different. An open house with few visitors? There’s always the plate of cookies.

What do real estate and an espresso bar have in common? They bring into my life my most favorite part of any job. They bring you!