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.

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!

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

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.

For a full description and contact information click here. This property is only available to view by appointment.

With gorgeous design by Peter Brachvogel and built by Bill Corbin, it is a masterpiece. At the same time, it is truly a livable house. Sophistication and comfort are the two words to best describe the home, if I had to choose just two. A great example is the master bathroom. It has heated stone floors, custom built cabinetry and a walk-in shower with two shower heads. It is the type of bathroom that makes me think, “this was designed with the user in mind.” Personally, I am always in a rush to get through my morning bathroom routine because I have lunches to make, children to shuttle to school and myself to get out the door to work. The bathroom in this lovely listing would make me want to linger. Whether the heated floors or the view from the window into the garden, there would be no rushing through the morning routine. 

The kitchen/dining/living areas have great flow and are wonderful for family connectivity or entertaining. At the same time, each space is distinct.

One of my favorite design features is the gracefully curved west-facing deck that is connect to the house by two sets of French doors. The deep deck is another great entertaining space or extension of everyday living.

The detached garage not only has space for two cars, but also space for hobbies, home office, or artist studio. There is a decent-sized shop room on the main level. Upstairs is a recently finished bonus room with solid-surface floors and a deck. Both the shop and bonus room are heated.

For more information and a full photo gallery click here.