What’s the recipe for a perfect place to live? For those who call Bainbridge Island home, it would be this: a close-knit community surrounded by water and the scenic beauty of two mountain ranges, just a short ferry ride to a fantastic city. Some of the elements that make Bainbridge special are easily defined: a top school system, numerous parks, great health care, a variety of shopping and restaurants and an active arts community. Other things are less tangible: community events like summer concerts in the park and the 4th of July parade, being on a first name basis with your postal carrier, and spending time catching up with friends in the aisles in the hub of the community, the Town & Country market.
Whether you are thinking of making Bainbridge your home or you are already living the dream, Bainbridgeagent.com (along with me, the Bainbridge Agent!) is your resource for real estate information.
January 25th, 2012
Interest Rate News
Today the Fed made an unusual statement by making a long-term prediction for short-term interest rates. Click here for the New York Times article.
June 1st, 2011
Life is Grand
I just listed this fantastic home for sale today. There are so many reasons I love this house, I hardly know where to start.
First, let’s talk location. Having lived just a few doors north on Grand Avenue, I can vouch for the neighborhood. my husband and I used to say, “Life is grand on Grand.” At the time we lived there, he was commuting to Seattle and was able to walk or hop on a bus to the ferry. He loved the convenience and our entire family was happy at how short his commute was. I liked being able to get into town easily. Imagine trying to make enchiladas and finding yourself without tortillas. No problem. A quick trip to the grocery store and back and keep in rolling. Living close to town really does have benefits.
Next, the flexibility of the spaces is in this home is amazing. The current owners did a thoughtful renovation a few years back that included changing some spaces to make the house more functional for their family. The house was built with a main floor master ensuite. It now functions as a family room that can be returned to a private space with the closing of double pocket doors. A five-piece bath still adjoins the room so that it could be converted back to a main floor master and can also double as guest space.
Upstairs you will find two generously sized secondary bedrooms plus a master suite that is the envy of every… well, the envy of me. The space is just beautiful. The bedroom has vaulted ceilings and balcony. There is a sitting room with fireplace, and a walk-in closet decked out with custom shelving and storage. The bathroom is lovely. The suite is like a retreat within your own home.
Have I mentioned the closet space? Linen closets, storage closets, pantry, and more. A signature of the builder is the effective use of space. Nothing is wasted so go ahead, have too many linens. There is room to store them, and more.
There are plenty of in-town craftsman-style homes on small lots, but finding a generous lot along with the great house is tricky. This is it. On 0.43 acre, there is room to garden and play. Or, just enjoy the scenery. Part of life on Bainbridge is connecting with natural surroundings. With this property, you don’t have to sacrifice natural outdoor beauty to live in town.
If all of this wasn’t enough, there is also a guest suite above the detached garage. This property really does have it all.
Click here for listing details and a full photo gallery.
April 12th, 2011
Spring is in the Air
This is the first time in several years that I have felt like I am working in a normal spring market. There is a buzz in the air, and it’s not just the bees. People are out looking for houses, homeowners are sprucing things up and putting beautifully prepared houses on the market, and deals are being made. As I write this, I have not “run the numbers” to see if the statistics match my intuition. Here goes…
Through the first quarter of this year, there were 56 single family home sales. That is a 14% increase for the same period in 2010, and 51% more than 2009 for the same period.
It’s still early in the year, but it sure does seem like a good trend. And, it’s nice to see some happy clients out there!
March 29th, 2011
Spring Break at the Aquatic Center
This is spring break week for Bainbridge Island schools. If you are on a “staycation” like me, you look to local resources to make the week fun. Luckily, Bainbridge is packed with good things to do. Today we ventured to the Aquatics Center. Just to make sure that could give a detailed review on my blog tonight I made sure to try out some of the pool’s best features.
Rope Swing: This is so fun I waited in line twice, towering over children who must have been wondering who the crazy lady was. The rope swing rocks, and is not just for kids. EVERY adult resident of Bainbridge should be required to try it once.
Diving Board: There is a low diving board and a high diving board. As I watched my daughter’s friend Aidan jump with glee from the high board, I moved over to the line for the lower diving board. That was fun enough for me!
Water Slide: This is 180′ of sliding excitement. Seriously, how many public pools have indoor water slides? I give this a “two thumbs up” and no water up the nose.
Happy Spring Break
February 27th, 2011
Buyer’s Dilemma
A common theme for people in the market to buy these days is that they cannot find a property that is the right fit. I think there are two contributing factors: high expectations and low inventory.
Expectations
In the past two to three years, I have noticed a distinct shift in my buying clients behavior. People are getting back to the basics when it comes to buying. Location, of course, is paramount. In addition to location, a buyer in today’s market wants to know that they can re-sell a house in the future. Is a house cosmetically challenged? That might be okay, but if it is functionally obsolete forget it.
Low Inventory
At the time of this post, there are 153 single family homes for sale on Bainbridge Island. Seven of these are pre-sale properties, meaning that they are not completed and in most cases at the moment ground has not been broken yet. Of the available inventory, once you have identified the homes that fit into a particular set of criteria (price, size, bedroom count, etc.) the inventory is feeling a little slim. Here is a chart showing the distribution of available inventory (single family homes only) on Bainbridge.
What’s a buyer to do in these circumstances? The answer is always “it depends.” I always encourage my clients to wait, if they can, until the right property presents itself. Also, sometimes we are able to go out and find it which I have done recently with two clients. If it is not possible to wait, then a buyer should, in conjunction with their agent, make the best decision they can with what is available.
If you are still waiting for just the right place, watch for March to be a good month for new listings. Personally, I will be bringing two great homes in the 300s, one in the 400s, and a condominium in the low 300s on the market in the next 3-4 weeks.
December 13th, 2010
Happy Holidays!
My older daughter came home from school very excited about something her teacher had shown the class on the web. One thing I like about her teacher, and many of the teachers I have interacted with on Bainbridge, is that they bring a sense of humor to the classroom. With so much pressure for children to perform, they need some fun in their lives, too. Here is what she learned to do and we applied it to our family. Click to watch my family holiday movie card.
November 19th, 2010
Exciting News for Bainbridge Island Parks
Two former state waterfront parks, one on the south end and the other on the north, are now part of the Bainbridge Island Parks and Recreation. For anyone who has visited Fay Bainbridge or Fort Ward Parks, this is exciting news! Along with its waterfront access that includes a boat ramp, Fort Ward Park includes tons of wooded trails and is a great place to pick blackberries. On the northeast portion of the island is Fay Bainbridge, with a great beach, playground, camping spots and a shelter that can be rented for parties. An article written by Tristan Baurick in The Bainbridge Islander has more details.
November 3rd, 2010
Autumn Sun
Sixty-two degrees, sunny, and a half day of school. A great day at Battle Point Park! This has been a tough year for weather, but one day like today can make me forget it all. My little one (pink pants) took the opportunity to take a shower in a water bubbler. Why do we like Bainbridge? Days like this! We ran into and played with friends, threw the ball for the dog, and pretty much had a perfect day. Hope you did, too.
October 14th, 2010
Open House Sunday, October 17th 1-4pm
Picture-perfect home in ideal location. What more could you ask for?
Set on a small cul-de-sac (just three homes) just a block from 90-acre Battle Point Park. Also down the street is the Fairy Dell Trail that takes you along a wooded trail to to the waterfront on Manzanita Bay.
The house itself has so many recent updates that it is in turnkey condition. New: siding and paint, interior paint, carpet and kitchen countertops. The colors inside and out are natural and warm.
In additon to having the park of all parks in your neighborhood, this homes yard is nothing to sneeze at. A large rear deck is perfect for warm-weather meals and entertaining. Mature trees in the sunny yard are big enough to support a cool treehouse - don’t miss checkin it out if you come to the open house!
Open House Details:
October 17th 1-4 pm
11698 Kirk Avenue NE
Directions: From Miller Road, go west on Arrow Point Drive. Drive past Battle Point Park and turn left onto Frey. Turn right onto Kirk Avenue and follow directional arrow to cul-de-sac on right. Home is on left.
September 21st, 2010
Zukes, NOT Cukes!
One of the rules for the Annual Zucchini Race sponsored by Bainbridge Island Downtown Association is “No Cucumbers.” For an article re-capping this years festivities click here.
