Front Street Realty, Whidbey Island Real Estate

The Fourth of July has always been one of my favorite holidays, notwithstanding the time my brother launched sparklers into a dry hedge and created a little house fire, many years back. Watching the fireworks over City Beach park in Oak Harbor on the 4th, or over Holmes Harbor on the 3rd, is a treat I look forward to each year.

Part of what makes small town life on the Island so special is the fact that we cherish and commemorate holidays with very old school flourish. Parades down main street for Memorial Day and Halloween, crowds gathered around a big windmill to look up at a spectacular display of light and color in the dark sky, a red ticket drawing that brings hundreds of shoppers to the Historic Waterfront District of Coupeville to see who gets to win $1000 for having "shopped Local".

With so many nice Navy families on the Island, based at NAS Whidbey, patriotic traditions are cherished, and it will be nice to know that the sound of rockets blazing in the air will simply be to bring delight to those gathered to oooohhh and ahhhh.

Happy Independence Day to you all!

Janet

p.s. Here is the most red, white and blue house currently on the market here on

Whidbey. Right on the beach at Harrington Lagoon, perfect for living the Island Dream, wouldn't you say?

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Happy President's Day from Whidbey!

Posted on February 21, 2011

Today is a bit gray, but lots of folks are enjoying the holiday, and are wandering about Front Street looking for some art, framing, gifts, clothing, books, souvenirs or just a great late lunch. Mosquito Fleet was doing a brisk business today, full of contented locals as well as a few newcomers. Rita & Chris & family are simply the perfect restaurant family, with warm, friendly service, delicious homemade soups, salads, baked goods, quiches and more. The tide is coming back in, but the low tide and mussels carpeting the sand near the Wharf had gulls, heron and crows all busily feeding a bit earlier. Lots of comings and goings today next door at Whidbey's public radio station, found at 96.9 FM if you are lucky enough to be in range. Great interviews, local broadcasts of concerts, occasional live music performances, fun stuff. I keep them tuned in often! There's lots going on in the Whidbey Island Real Estate arena, too. With mortgage interest rates at about 4.75%, lots of good inventory, low prices and, as always, Whidbey Island's small town lifestyle and incredible scenic beauty, activity has picked up. One home I recently listed was under contract in 4 days, and another new listing seems to be poised for a similar happy fate. Captain Tack is celebrating the holiday today, as he stands at his point outside my office door. Nothing like balloons to make things festive!

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Penn Cove Mussel Festival!

Posted on February 16, 2011

Once again it is time for throngs of Mussel lovers to swoop into Coupeville's Historic Waterfront like hungry gulls, eager to indulge in our famous Penn Cove Mussels. 11 eateries will be competing for the crown in the annual Mussel Chowder competition, and the crowds sampling will determine the winner. There will be a boat heading over from Port Townsend to give rides to the Mussel rafts further down the Cove, Children's Activities, a Friday "Mussel Mingle" at the Rec Hall, and music and a beer tent on Saturday evening. Lots of delicious mussels will be prepared by local chefs.

Hope to see you!

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Amazing home prices on Whidbey!

Posted on January 27, 2011

Wow! Home prices on Whidbey Island, with our lovely stretches of coastline and farmland, have dropped to levels that have locals wishing they had some extra funds to invest in homes selling for prices of a nearly a decade ago. Bank-owned properties have set the tone, as they have in so many markets, and while lenders are much choosier about credit scores and debt ratios, interest rates are super low. I just read a study done by Harris research, that stated that most renters and nearly all home owners think home ownership is preferred. The same study pointed out that homeowners tend to feel more connected to their communities, know their neighbors better, and think the mortgage interest deduction is valuable.

It is the quiet season on the prairies, on the tourist-friendly streets in our little towns, and in the real estate market. Some properties are off the market, "resting" over the winter, but overall inventory is strong. It is definitely a "buyer's market", and sellers who want to move on for job reasons, Navy relocation, to move closer to grandchildren or to a one-level home, or to get more bedrooms for a growing family are stepping up with realistic pricing and "get 'er sold" mindsets. Some smart buyers are looking now, booking trips to the Island from other parts of the country, and checking out properties on the internet. Some of them are cash buyers, others need to sell their homes first, but all are intrigued by the dream of living on a beautiful Island in Puget Sound.

Coupeville has had some great new developments, with the old fire station next to the Rec Hall being beautifully renovated to make room for offices for the Chamber and the Visitors' Information Center as well as a vacation rental suite upstairs. Looks like completion will be any day now. Front Street Grill opened in their new building, and are doing very well, with a smashing view of Penn Cove, and also have an upstairs vacation rental suite. The old County Deli is being remodeled to become an Italian restaurant, and while the Mad Crab building is still vacant and on the market, it is certain to house a business fairly soon. Community-central Miriam's has closed, but again, a new operator is sure to welcome customers soon. The historic Ebey Bowl opened to hurrahs from Central Whidbey folks, with a cafe, 6 lanes and family fun!

School Superintendent Patty Page recently noted that the graduation rate for Coupeville High School is about 92%, and while budgets have grown leaner, our community has been supportive of schools, and our youth.

So, whether you are looking for a great place to retire, a new beginning, a first home or a getaway, come to Whidbey Island!

If you are looking for a caring, knowledgeable, client-first real estate broker who understands the market deeply, negotiates expertly, and delivers old-fashioned "service with a smile", give me a call at 360-678-6100 or drop me an email at frontstreetjb@aol.com. Taking great care of my clients is what I wake up each morning happy to do!

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Harvest & Halloween time!

Posted on October 19, 2010

Yes, it's harvest time here on Whidbey Island, with pumpkins ranging from huge Jack O'Lantern size to the small sweet ones perfect for pie making. Pioneer Farms just off Highway 20 in Coupeville has a great selection of locally grown beauties, as does the farm at Dugualla Bay, where you can wander the U-Pick area and get lost for a while in their corn maze.

Come Saturday, October 23rd, the Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association puts on their annual "Torchlight Halloween Parade", which starts at Town Park at Main & 9th at 5 pm and heads down Front Street to the Museum grounds. Firefighters will be handing on cute "torch" flashlights to the 1st 200 children under 10, and there are prizes to be awarded for best costumes in a variety of categories.

Kids big and small love the parade, and merchants will be tossing candy to the marchers along the route. Costumed families, little groups of preschool marchers, lots of elementary school children join in the fun. This year will feature an antique hearse! At the end of the route, candy bags from local favorite shop The Honeybear will be given out, once again. Fun! Prizes include gift certificates to Kapaw's Ice Cream, The HoneyBear, Hunter Art Gallery and Ebey Bowl.

Hope you can come join the fun or at least watch along the parade route.

Nothing beats a small town parade, where friends and neighbors gather to celebrate life where the crowds are smaller and traditions cherished.

1 Comment : Author: Janet Burchfield

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