Are you willing? To get lost that is. With only one road in and out, a straight shot across the length of the island, it would be too easy to find your way back, but most of us come here to get lost.
If you like to drive, my chosen form of therapy, take an easy detour off 525 through Langley or Coupeville. Here, it’s always only one road to follow until you see a downtown. If you’re more adventurous or want to see what Island Life is like for the people who live here, take yourself down small roads unknown in Clinton and find quietude among the evergreens and in the wilderness.
Heggenes Road off of Dear Lake Road is a good ten-minute loop--fifteen if you’d like to leisurely drink in the scenery. There’s no rush on an unfrequented road. Plus, it spits you back out onto Holst Road, which is simply an extension of Deer Lake Road. From there it’s a straight shot back to the highway.
Often, the path less traveled is the one worth taking. If you’re inclined to step out of the comfort of your car and breathe the fresh cedar air, there are many walking and hiking trails. Winding seamlessly through the trees and open fields, the paths in the South Whidbey Sports Complex are just some of my favorites. For yet another uncomplicated detour from the main road-there are so many possibilities.
These trails in particular off Langley Road provide options and solace for the weary and the restless. Depending on which route you choose, the stamina you have, and what your goals are for getting outside, you can follow the longer trail that circles around the entirety of South Whidbey Community Park--weaving in and out of the forest--or opt for shorter loops that live and breathe among trees and stay within the sports complex area.
Wouldn't you love to live near all these glorious trails? -->
You can’t choose unwisely here, and each trail loops right back into the other. You can choose between five routes depending on your starting point (the park or the complex), and each one is under a mile. The park connector will take you between both parts of South Whidbey Community Park, and the Westling Loop will bring you right back to where you started in the complex.
The park connector, however, is a great place to start for would-be long haulers. It becomes a rather long loop if you take the Waterman Loop detour, giving you something new to look at each step of the way.
There is no end to each path nor the peace and solitude this place has to offer. Feel free to take a picture of the map posted at the beginning of the trails! There’s no getting lost… unless that was your goal for coming out here.
The dense wilderness is a different kind of captivating. For some more nature-immersive trails within the South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District jurisdiction, the Trustland Trails are a short distance up the road. With more than double the loops and dense vegetation, these trails are likewise suited for a wide range of endurance levels. Some run even shorter than the ones located at the Community Park, but don’t be fooled! If you put them all together you can get just as much exercise out of these wooded trails.
For some variety with optional beach views, head further up our beloved 525 toward Coupeville and discover Fort Ebey State Park. Of course, the whole place is a wonder, but Bluff and Kettles Trails are interestingly county-run despite their residence in a state park.
Click image to see properties in the Coupeville Area!
These two in particular model a true island-life marker for the curious visitor and the seasoned local. Be sure to visit the Bluff Trail to traverse the sprawling coastline! Part of this trail is actually privately owned but has been licensed to the county by the owner for hikers’ convenience. If you’re not up for a trail but want the view, take S Ebey Road by car all the way to the water. You can access the Bluff Trail right where the breathtaking overlook is located a couple stairways up from the beach.
For a longer route (nearly four miles round trip), enter through the Kettles Gate and take Kettles Trails through the heart of the reserve. It’s a straight shot to Bluff Overlook if you catch the very end of Campground Trail. If you decide to follow Kettles all the way through you’ll find a rest area and bathrooms. From that fork in the road the distance in either direction is under half a mile (roughly 0.06 or less). With so many options, the overlook is accessible for everyone!
And once you’ve traveled the not so beaten path, a good way to bookend your walk through the woods is a simple, graveled walk through Venture Out nursery. While Bayview Farm & Garden is one of our more traveled hotspots, this nursery offers just as much to folks who love to bring nature home. Amble down these interconnected paths at your leisure while admiring the kind of nature you can call your own. Any direction you walk carves an intentional path through various trees, flowers, and even custom raised flower beds. (The garden gift shop is a bonus!)
Looking to build your dream home near Bayview Corner on Whidbey Island?
Click image above to see properties near this delightful nursery.
Ultimately, no matter your level of experience in the wilderness, Whidbey Island holds space for anyone and everyone. It’s a safe yet exciting place to simply be. It’s easy to navigate, but more than willing to help you escape. It is a stronghold for all who wish to be a new person by the end of the day.
Moving Patterns for U.S. Homeowners and Renters in 2021
by Matthew Gardner
This video is the latest in our Monday with Matthew series with Windermere Chief Economist Matthew Gardner. Each month, he analyzes the most up-to-date U.S. housing data to keep you well-informed about what’s going on in the real estate market.
Hello there. I’m Windermere Real Estate’s Chief Economist Matthew Gardner and welcome to the latest episode of Monday with Matthew. Over the past few months, analysts like myself have been starting to get our hands on early numbers from the Census Bureau and, although we won’t get the bulk of the data for another several months, I thought it would be interesting to take a quick look at some of the information that the government has put out specifically as it relates to patterns.
This is a relevant topic given the pandemic, with many people wondering if we saw a mass shift in where we choose to live because of COVID-19. This belief that we packed up and moved because of the pandemic is, at face value, quite credible, especially given that home sales in 2021 were at levels we haven’t seen since 2006. But the reality, at least from the data we have received so far, actually tells a different story.
Moving Patterns for U.S. Homeowners and Renters in 2021
We Move More Infrequently
This first chart looks at people and not households and it shows that, contrary to popular belief, we’re actually moving less frequently now then we have done in decades, with the share of people not moving in a single year rising from just about 84% to over 91½%. Of course, we are having fewer children now than we did, but not to the degree that would change the trend.
Unsurprisingly, Renters Move More Often than Owners
And when we break this down between homeowners and renters there is quite the discrepancy between the two groups. Although the number of renters not moving has risen from 67½ percent up to 84% since 2000, the number of homeowners staying put has moved from almost 91% all the way up to 95% last year.
So, the data thus far is not suggesting that we saw any form of mass exodus following the pandemic, in fact we haven’t been moving as much for the past 2-decades, but people did move since COVID-19 hit and the reasons they did were fascinating. The following charts are broken up into four categories of movers: those who moved for family reasons; those who moved for employment related reasons; those that moved for housing related reasons; and finally, those that moved for other reasons.
Reasons to Move (1)
So, starting with family-related reasons, it was not surprising to see the major reason for both owners and renters to move was to establish a new household, nor was it surprising to see a greater share of renters headed out on their own than homeowners. Finally, the share of those moving because of a change in marital status was essentially the same between renters and homeowners. And when we look at employment related reasons for people moving last year, a greater share of renters moved because of a new job than homeowners, and more renters moved to be closer to their workplaces than did homeowners. Again, not really surprising, given that a large share of renters work in service-based industries and therefore proximity to their workplaces is important. You will also see that a greater share of homeowners than renters moved because they lost their jobs and, finally—and not at all surprisingly—far more homeowners moved because they chose to retire than renters.
Reasons to Move (2)
And when we look at housing related reasons that people moved, a large share of owners and renters moved from their current home or apartment and into a new, bigger, better house or apartment. A statistically significant share looked to move into a better neighborhood, and I do wonder whether owners were doing this because of the ability to work from home and possibly move to a better location further away from their workplaces. And even though renters tend to stay closer to their workplaces, I wonder whether these renters weren’t in white-collar industries and that the ability to work from home has led them to move into an area that they perceive to be better suited to them.
And finally, a significant share of renters moved because of the fact that rents have been skyrocketing over the past 18-months or so. This clearly impacted some homeowners, too. And finally, under the “other” category, more renters than owners moved because they were either entering or exiting a relationship with a domestic partner, and more renters left to either go to college or because they had completed their degrees.
Health-related reasons for moving had a significant impact on homeowners over renters, and I found it particularly interesting to see a lot of owners saying that “climate” was a reason for their move. Of course, I can only hypothesize as to whether people are simply looking to move to warmer climates or whether climate change is starting to have an increasingly large influence on where we choose to live. My gut tells me that climate change is becoming a far more important consideration for homeowners, although we can’t deny that a lot of people, specifically on the East Coast, moved South during the pandemic.
These next few charts break down movers not just by whether they our owners or renters but also by ethnicity.
2021 Mobility by Ethnicity & Tenure: Owners vs Renters Movers and Non-Movers
Here you can see that homeowners across these three ethnicities were pretty much uniform in their desire to stay in their existing home with only 4 to 5% moving. And renters who, as we have already seen, did move more frequently last year than homeowners, were also in a very tight range at between 83 and 85%.
2021 Mobility by Ethnicity & Tenure: Owners vs Renters Movers and Non-Movers (2)
And the same can be said about Hispanic owners and mixed race families, with about 95% not moving last year. Now this is modestly lower than White, Black, or Asian households, but the difference is very marginal. As for renters, between 83 and almost 88% of them within these three ethnicities moved last year, but you will see a bigger share of Hispanic renters stayed put as opposed to all the other ethnicities shown here.
2021 Mobility by Ethnicity & Tenure: Moves In & Out of State
Looking closer now at those who did move, even though fewer Asian households moved when compared to all other ethnicities, far more left the state than stayed, and the same was true for Asian renters with over a quarter moving out of state.
2021 Mobility by Ethnicity & Tenure: Moves In & Out of State (2)
Again, a greater share of the Hispanic homeowners who did move last year stayed in the state where their old house was, and the share of mixed households was roughly at the average for all ethnicities. And the share of Hispanic and mixed-race renters who stayed in State was also about average.
What I see from the data is that the huge shift that many expected during COVID has not been affirmed—at least not by the numbers we have looked at. That said, we are sure to see numerous revisions because of the issues that COVID 19 has posed on Census takers, so we may get a different story as more data is released and revisions posted. What I found to be most interesting in the numbers we have looked at was the massive increase in renters moving in with their “significant others.” But I am not surprised, given that there are around 48½ million people aged between 20 and 30, and this is their time!
And I was also interested in the share of the population who moved due to climate. I will be doing some more digging around in the darkest recesses of the Census Bureau website to see if I can find out more about this. Although I can’t confirm it, my gut tells me that climate—and specifically climate change—will be a factor of growing importance when people are thinking about where they want to live.
And there you have it. As always, if you have any questions or comments about this particular topic, please do reach out to me but, in the meantime, stay safe out there and I look forward to visiting with you all again next month.
Bye now.
Blog Entry Originally Found on Windermere.com HERE
The Effects of Today's Mortgage Rates on Your Home Purchase
It's vital to understand the relationship between mortgage rates and your purchasing power if you're going to buy a property. The amount of housing you can afford to buy within your financial means is referred to as purchasing power. Mortgage rates have a direct impact on the monthly payment you'll make on your new house. As a result, as interest rates climb, so does the monthly payment you can lock in on your home loan. That could limit your future purchasing power in a rising-rate climate like the one we're in now.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is currently around 5%, and analysts predict that it will rise in the coming months. If you buy now, before the increase affects your purchasing power, you can get ahead of the game.
Mortgage Rates Have a Significant Impact on Your Purchasing Power.
The graph below shows the overall link between mortgage rates and a common monthly mortgage payment for various loan amounts. Let's say your finances allow for a $2,100-$2,200 monthly mortgage payment. The green in the graph represent a payment that is within that range, while the red represents a payment that is outside of that range (see graph below):
As the graph demonstrates, unless you pursue a smaller home loan amount, you're more likely to surpass your desired payment range as mortgage rates rise. If you're ready to buy a home, use this as encouragement to do it now, before interest rates rise and you have to decide whether or not to reduce the amount you borrow to keep inside your budget.
Consult with a Trusted Adviser to Understand Your Budget and Develop a Strategy
When looking for a property, it's vital to keep your budget in mind. The easiest way to express it is as follows,
Get preapproved with today's rates, but also think about what would happen if rates rose another quarter of a point,... Know what that would mean for your monthly bills and how comfortable you are with it so that if rates do rise, you'll already know how to adjust.
Whatever the case may be, the ideal method is to collaborate with your real estate agent and a reputable lender to develop a strategy that takes rising mortgage rates into account. Together, you may examine your budget in light of current rates and devise a strategy for adjusting when rates change.
In Conclusion
Even minor increases in mortgage rates can have an effect on your purchasing power. If you're in the market for a home, having a solid plan is more important than ever. Work with a trusted real estate advisor and lender to plan your strategy for achieving your dream of homeownership this spring.
Q1 2022 Western Washington Real Estate Market Update
The following analysis of select counties of the Western Washington real estate market is provided by Windermere Real Estate Chief Economist Matthew Gardner. We hope that this information may assist you with making better-informed real estate decisions. For further information about the housing market in your area, please don’t hesitate to contact your Windermere Real Estate agent.
Regional Economic Overview
The post-COVID job recovery continues. Though data showed the number of jobs dropped in January, February saw gains that almost offset the jobs lost the prior month. As of February (March data is not yet available), the region had recovered all but 47,000 of the more than 300,000 jobs lost due to the pandemic. Of note is that employment levels in Grays Harbor, Thurston, San Juan, and Clallam counties are now above their pre-pandemic levels. In February, the regional unemployment rate rose to 4.1% from 3.7% in December. Although this may be disconcerting, an improving economy has led more unemployed persons to start looking for a job, which has pushed the jobless rate higher. I expect the regional economy to continue expanding as we move into the spring and summer, with a full job recovery not far away.
Western Washington Home Sales
❱ In the first quarter of 2022, 15,134 homes sold, representing a drop of 5.8% from the same period a year ago, and down 31.7% from the fourth quarter.
❱ Yet again, supply-side constraints limited sales. Every county except Snohomish showed lower inventory levels than a year ago.
❱ Sales grew in five counties across the region but were lower across the balance of the counties contained in this report. Compared to the fourth quarter, sales were lower across all market areas.
❱ The ratio of pending sales (demand) to active listings (supply) showed pending sales outpacing listings by a factor of 6.7. Clearly, the significant jump in mortgage rates in the first quarter has not yet impacted demand. Rather it appears to have stimulated buyers partly due to FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)!
Western Washington Home Prices
❱ Although financing costs have jumped, this has yet to prove to be an obstacle to buyers, as prices rose 16.4% year-over-year to an average of $738,152. Naturally, there is a lag between rates rising and any impact on market prices. It will be interesting to see what, if any, effect this has in the next quarter’s report.
❱ Compared to the same period a year ago, price growth was again strongest in San Juan County, but all markets saw prices rising more than 10% from a year ago.
❱ Relative to the final quarter of 2021, all but Kitsap (-2.7%), Mason (-1.5%), Skagit (-1.8%), Jefferson (-6.3%), and Clallam (-0.1%) counties saw home prices rise.
❱ The market remains supply starved. While increases in “new” listings suggest that more choice is coming to market, it remains insufficient to meet demand.
Mortgage Rates
Average rates for a 30-year conforming mortgage were 3.11% at the end of 2021, but since then have jumped over 1.5%—the largest increase since 1987. The surge in rates is because the market is anticipating a seven- to eight-point increase from the Federal Reserve later this year.
Because the mortgage market has priced this into the rates they are offering today, my forecast suggests that we are getting close to a ceiling in rates, and it is my belief that they will rise modestly in the second quarter before stabilizing for the balance of the year.
Western Washington Days on Market
❱ It took an average of 25 days for a home to go pending in the first quarter of 2022. This was 4 fewer days than in the same quarter of 2020, but 2 days more than in the fourth quarter of 2021.
❱ Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties were the tightest markets in Western Washington, with homes taking an average of 11 to 15 days to sell. The greatest drop in market time compared to a year ago was in San Juan County, where it took 23 fewer days for homes to sell.
❱ All but five counties saw average time on market drop from the same period a year ago, but the markets where it took longer to sell a home saw the length of time increase only marginally.
❱ Quarter over quarter, market time dropped in Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties. Jefferson and Clallam counties also saw modest improvement. In the balance of the region the length of time a home was on the market rose, but seasonality undoubtedly played a part.
Conclusions
This speedometer reflects the state of the region’s real estate market using housing inventory, price gains, home sales, interest rates, and larger economic factors.
The numbers have yet to indicate that demand is waning amid rising interest rates, but this is sure to become a greater factor as we move into the spring. A leading indicator I pay attention to is changes to list prices and, in most counties, these continue to increase. This suggests that sellers remain confident they will be able to find a buyer even in the face of higher borrowing costs. If this pace of increase starts to soften, it may be an indication of an inflection point, but it does not appear to be that way yet.
Given all the factors discussed above, I have decided to leave the needle in the same position as the last quarter. The market still heavily favors sellers, but if rates rise much further, headwinds will likely increase.
About Matthew Gardner
As Chief Economist for Windermere Real Estate, Matthew Gardner is responsible for analyzing and interpreting economic data and its impact on the real estate market on both a local and national level. Matthew has over 30 years of professional experience both in the U.S. and U.K.
In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities, Matthew sits on the Washington State Governors Council of Economic Advisors; chairs the Board of Trustees at the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at the University of Washington; and is an Advisory Board Member at the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of Washington where he also lectures in real estate economics.
If you have always dreamed of building your own home, choosing your own layout, selecting dream finishes, and want all your desires in a home met then you will be looking for vacant land. This is a completely different world than buying a preexisting home where there is complete certainty when it comes to electricity, water, sewage, and condition. Uncertainty is not comfortable for everyone so let’s make sure you feel prepared and empowered.
First and foremost, if you ask anyone who has built their own home, they will tell you that even if you build a home from scratch you will not end up with a 100% perfect house. There are always compromises and unforeseen issues with layout, etc. Remember, vacant land is scarce and becoming scarcer, so if you find the perfect property with an imperfect house, perhaps you can consider a major remodel.
When buying vacant land, it is all about the level of certainty a parcel can provide you. A parcel that already has a water source, septic system, access/driveway, building site laid out, and electrical nearby is going to be extremely rare. Such a parcel will cost more because of the time and expenses already invested by the seller. There is also inherent value in the confidence you as a buyer can have that you will not run into complications that may make the land unsuitable for development.
Below are our TOP 5 recommendations when considering buying vacant land:
Find a vacant land purchasing specialist.
Complex is the word that comes to mind when thinking about vacant land purchases. Having a trusted guide who loves the complexity that comes with purchasing land is something you really want. Many brokers groan when they think about helping buyers with vacant land but there are a special few who just dig it! Find them! It will make all the difference. If you need a recommendation just call (360) 675-5953 and ask for a recommendation on a vacant land specialist from the manager.
Know your corners.
In the best-case scenario, there has been a survey done and the corners are clearly marked with modern official survey markers however, this is rare. You may need to negotiate to have this done by the Seller. There are other signs that can give an idea of where property lines fall though. One of the coolest technologies that most agents have nowadays is an app that uses geo-spatial technology to locate your position on a map in relation to property lines. An old-fashioned surveyor’s tape measure can help as well if you have a marker of some sort to start from. Fence lines, survey tape marking trees or branches, driveways, and other identifiers can give clues. Nothing beats a proper survey though and you are going to want that when it comes time to build.
Get as certain as possible on the big 5.
Water, sewage, electricity, access, and building envelope. These are the big 5 mysteries when you first look at a raw and overgrown piece of land. The more that these 5 things have been figured out and addressed by the Seller, the more valuable the property is. You are buying risk when these 5 are unknown. You cannot avoid risk completely but figuring out as much as you can about these 5 will help you move forward more confidently.
Work with a local builder.
Get the local builder to the lot sooner than later. Reputable builders on Whidbey will be able to help you through the feasibility process, have a great instinct for what is possible, contacts to get specialists out to the property, and experience working with Island County’s Building department. Here are 5 builders we recommend in no particular order…
Shorelines, native American artifacts, endangered animals and plants, steep slopes and bluffs, wetlands, and streams will affect the property in big ways. There are large set-back requirements for structures, wells, and septic systems around critical areas. You may get into a situation where you do not have much of a choice about where you can position your building site. These unknowns must be understood before you decide to close on the lot. Your Realtor can help you navigate this maze.
Each property is unique, and we could share a lot more with you on the topic of buying vacant land on Whidbey, but the truth is that the best thing you can do is find yourself an excellent guide who will help you assess what it is you are really looking for and how to narrow down the search. Good luck and do not forget your muck boots!
PHOTOS BY: Kelsey Kurtis
We all know moving can be stressful…
but have you stopped to consider how a move can affect your pets?
Here are a couple of suggestions to consider while moving to help make the transition easier on both you and your pets.
Contact Your Vet:
Let your pets’ vet know that you will be moving. Your vet can provide you good information for the best way to move with your pet and make sure you have enough medications for the duration of the trip. They can answer any questions you have and they might even be able to help you find a good vet in your new location if you are moving out of the area. Do not forget to get your pet’s records before you move.
Gather supplies to keep your pet comfortable during the travel and supplies on hand for the first several days of unpacking.
Pet food
Food, Water, and Bowls
Medication
Grooming tools
Toys
Blanket
Poop Bags
Leash
Treats
Documentation and a picture
The Day of Packing:
Our pets feel anxieties, just like we do when things change around them. It is best during a move if you can keep them away from all the action. A simple option is often putting them in a kennel or letting them stay with a friend. If you cannot or do not want to do either of those; try making a quiet room in the house where they can safely stay away from all the hustle and bustle. It is also important to check on them often and try to walk them when you normally would.
Things to remember:
Make sure they have enough ventilation
Make sure they are not too hot or too cold
Make sure they have enough food and water
Let them have some toys
Taking Your Pet With You:
When possible, it’s best to travel with your pet to curb their anxiety. There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding the best way to transport your pet such as their age, temperament, size, and species. Regardless, it’s always important to ensure your pet’s safety when traveling which is why we have included a few links below with helpful pet gadgets.
Remember that new locations mean unfamiliar areas. If your pet gets out while traveling they might get lost. Additionally, when you get to your new home it is important that you take the time to be with your pet to discover the new area so they don’t get lost and can find there way back to their new home. This is also an important reason to bring documentation and a picture of your pet with you in case they get lost.
Introduce One Room at a Time with Familiar Items:
Consider setting up one room first with familiar items for your pet to stay in while you prepare the rest of the house. Give your pet a lot of attention and slowly introduce them to each new room giving them plenty of time to adjust to their new surroundings and familiarize themselves with the new setting. You also might consider crating them when you leave them alone for the first few weeks. New environments can cause pets to break house training.
Many people think of real estate as a cutthroat competitive sales business akin to the dynamics that are portrayed on a TV show like Million Dollar Listing. The world is always pitting competition vs. collaboration against each other as if these two things are completely exclusive from one another.
This is why it is so darn refreshing when you see collaboration amongst “competitors,” and it’s something we see at Windermere all the time.
One of Windermere’s core values is that we are all better together, and we are huge believers in the very different way Windermere real estate agents operate. But what does “better together” really mean? How does this play out in the day-to-day?
Of course, “better together” in part refers to the collaboration aspect in real estate. No one doubts two heads are better than one when it comes to problem-solving, and how about ten heads or a whole brokerage full of knowledgeable professionals to draw from? In our brokerage, a seasoned agent or a total newbie who comes up against something unusual (which happens more often than you would think) can easily pick the brains of agents representing 100’s of years of experience. From in-person conversations to our Facebook group page; we encourage ideas, questions, new information, resources, and sometimes just funny memes. Real estate is about being creative, not taking no for an answer and problem solving like a maniac. Having a support group you can rely on results in miracles for your clients other agents can’t produce.
“Better together” also means we have a lot of pride in the standard Windermere sets in the real estate industry. This translates to holding each other accountable when a colleague is delivering less than their best. For those of us who thoroughly understand the benefits of holding the real estate industry to a high standard, it literally hurts our hearts when we see agents acting in ways that are embarrassing for our profession and even worse, harmful to the client. This is why we believe in continually raising the bar on this industry so others have to stretch themselves just to keep up.
We take the idea of “better together” seriously but that doesn’t mean we don’t like to have fun doing it!
The video below was envisioned, orchestrated, and paid for by the agents. It is a pure collaboration amongst some of the most successful agents at Windermere in Oak Harbor who have intense respect for one another and understand that being better together helps everyone.
If you enjoyed this, you might also like:
Pristine 2-Bedroom End-Unit Condo Awaits in Premium Mariner’s Ridge Community in Anacortes
Offering the opportunity for low-maintenance living and completely move-in ready, this 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo in the premium Mariner’s Ridge community presents a fantastic opportunity! Not only has this spacious 1,114-square-foot home been lovingly cared for over the years, but the community association keeps your surroundings looking pristine. $220/month covers common area maintenance, garbage, and lawn service, meaning you have more time to spend on the things you love!
Located at 3614 Portage Lane 100 Anacortes, WA 98221 on the eastern hillside of Anacortes and close to NAS Whidbey, Anacortes Community Forest North, grocery shopping, restaurants, and more. This condo is listed for $329,000.
Featuring a captivating blend of modern nautical exterior architecture and northwest craftsman interior finishes, this condo is sure to inspire pride in ownership each time you arrive home. Picturesque mature landscaping leads you right to your front door, and the end-unit location ensures you have a peaceful, quiet atmosphere and extra privacy. Gorgeous hardwoods guide you into the main living area, an open-concept space where abundant natural light cascades in through tall windows.
The well-appointed kitchen shows off a smart layout replete with generous cabinetry storage, shimmering granite counters, and sleek stainless steel appliances. Several electrical outlets make it easy to put appliances to work while you whip up home-cooked meals or spend the day baking, and the breakfast bar allows you to entertain with ease. The dining area is just steps away and overlooks the living room, a bright and airy haven designed with entertaining in mind. From here, sliding glass doors lead to a private patio and a lush lawn that extends your living space even more, and you can relax out here all summer long!
This condo’s 2 bedrooms and 2 baths provide flexibility, and the master suite is especially not to miss. In addition to a spacious bedroom layout where large windows fill the retreat with rejuvenating natural light, there’s also a walk-in closet and a sumptuous 5-piece ensuite bath. Spa-inspired amenities rest alongside a palette of neutral-hued finishes that make indulgent bubble baths and wellness routines all the more luxurious.
Living in Anacortes
At 3614 Portage Lane 100 Anacortes, WA 98221, you’re tucked away in Homestead Northwest’s premium Mariner’s Ridge Community. Located on the eastern hillside overlooking Fidalgo Bay, this community not only offers the possibility for an easy “lock up and go” lifestyle, but you’re also merely minutes from local conveniences. From here you’re only about a 17-minute drive to Naval Air Station Whidbey, and you’ll find schools, grocery stores, the library, restaurants, medical services, the marina, and much more no more than a 10-minute drive away.
For those who love adventuring outdoors, you’re also surrounded by opportunities to spend time out in the fresh air! Just around the corner, you’ll find the 2,800-acre Anacortes Community Forest North, an expansive park network that includes lakes for fishing, well-marked and maintained trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, as well as scenic wetlands, meadows, and old-growth forests.
When it comes to the struggle of entertaining quarantined kids, Windermere moms get it!
Like many of you, we have spent the last few weeks cooped up in our homes with our families and have been trying desperately to keep entertained. Through the weeks our “Windermoms” have discovered their favorite activities to do with their kids and want to share them with you!
Rock Painting
One of my daughter’s favorite things to do is painting. And she loves to paint anything and everything! So I introduced her to painting rocks! We love to look for painted rocks when we are out and about and she wanted to make some for us to hide when we are at parks and on trails. During this time where parks and trails have been closed, we have enjoyed painting them and talking about all the fun we will have hiding them in the near future. This is an especially great activity for a rainy day. – Rachel Bennett
Cooking Together
My family has really enjoyed cooking together. My kids pick a theme, research the recipe they want to make, and they each are responsible for a portion of dinner. It’s been great together time and they are loving being challenged with recipes we’ve never made. – Marissa Evans
I was born and raised in Italy and food has always been a profound part of my life. In everyday life, families gather around the table and enjoy each other’s company over the delicious homemade meals prepared. For most of us, it’s like an art and I find joy when I’m able to recreate for my son those traditional dishes my mom prepared for me when I was little. I always find comfort and relief in cooking, especially baking. The smell of freshly baked bread always brings back memories of me and my mom baking several loaves of bread in our country home. Sliced with homemade olive oil, oregano, salt, and crushed red pepper flakes … yum! Fresh ingredients, colorful dishes, great company, and a bit of wine. What’s not to love? – Simona Groves
Our favorite activity since we’ve been in quarantine has been cooking. We’ve made everything from coffee drinks, pizza, cookies, scones, macaroons and my daughter picked out a recipe and made Teriyaki chicken for dinner. A lot of times we will think of things to make and be like “oh, we do not have time,” well now we’ve found the time to make or try all kinds of different cooking and baking. She FaceTimed a friend who was guiding her through making macaroons. I’ve always loved to cook and bake, so sharing that with her is fun! I feel like cooking together helps her to learn to cook and cooking is an activity the whole family can benefit from. – Kate Hauter
Hatching Chickens and Starting a Garden
During this stay home with my daughters (16 and 19) it’s been such a change for our family with no sports or school. We decided to do something we have always wanted to do but never had the time. Hatching chickens from eggs and starting a huge vegetable garden. The quarantine made the 21 day wait time for babies go quickly and we even decided to do another round. 🐣 Working together to plan and plant our garden was a big and rewarding task! Loving my time with my girls. – Konni Smith
Getting Outside
Play Outside! Embracing your inner child during this stressful time can be so uplifting! Jump-rope, laugh, play, kick the ball around, collect rocks, or just go on walks with your kids! Being outside makes it all better; from taking turns doing tricks on the trampoline with photos-ops to just laying on the grass or on the bow of a boat watching cloud formations… it’s all an innocent diversion to the daily stresses of working/schooling from home and the constant bombardment of news. Enjoy! – Jennifer Wynn
I absolutely enjoy outside time with my son! Since he was an itty-bitty infant being outdoors has been an integral part of our relationship. Outdoor space was what brought us to Washington state and Whidbey Island. I wouldn’t give up my son or my lifestyle here for anything. – Anita Johnston
My littles and I are soaking up the sun while running and playing tennis! We especially enjoyed building a backyard fire pit, roasting marshmallows, and backyard camping together. – Kareena Gonzalez
We have created a challenge for our kids to walk every bit of trail in the Fort Ebey/Kettles Trail system. We downloaded and laminated a map for each of them from the Island County Website (CLICK HERE).
They are planning out the day’s walk, learning to navigate, reading a map, collaborating, and getting physical activity. They are also finding new species of plants and trees on their walks and bringing home samples to ID and glue to our big poster board for us to refer too and quiz the kids on. It might sound serious but it’s actually super fun and has been a neat challenge! – Kristen Stavros
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Serious Buyers
For those buyers who are actively searching for a home be prepared to follow local, state and the National Association of Realtors offers guidelines for looking at homes safely with tips like:
Buyers wash their hands or use an alcohol-based sanitizer before entering the home and again after leaving.
Cover shoes with booties.
Wear facemasks.
Clean all surfaces prior to entrance and again after.
Sellers will hopefully open doors and turn on lights prior to potential buyers entering to reduce the need for them to touch surfaces.
These requirements may stay in effect for some time so if you are ready and willing to buy a home with a trusted professional who has your best interest in mind and are taking the lead on this new eras, approach to home buying then let’s connect so we can help you navigate your move through this uncertain time.
but have you stopped to consider how a move can affect your pets?
for a home be prepared to follow local, state and the National Association of Realtors offers guidelines for looking at homes safely with tips like:
or use an alcohol-based sanitizer 
before entering the home and again after leaving.
all surfaces prior to entrance and again after.
and turn on lights 
prior to potential buyers entering to reduce the need for them to touch surfaces.
