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Fall Farms – Whatcom & Skagit County
It is finally MY favorite time of year!
As the leaves paint a kaleidoscope of colors and that delightful crispness fills the air, it’s time to unleash your inner autumn enthusiast. How, you ask? Well, what’s better than exploring the Fall Farms right here in Whatcom and Skagit counties? These farms are your one-way ticket to pumpkin-picking, apple-loving, and all-around autumn-vibing adventures- Let’s go!
1. Gordon Skagit Farms | Mount Vernon, Skagit County
October | Daily | 9AM-6PM
First up, is Gordon Skagit Farms! For over 50 years, they have cultivated pumpkins, becoming one of the prominent growers in the United States. People from across the Pacific Northwest and beyond are drawn to the farm every year to experience the stunning displays of pumpkins and squash tucked amongst hundred year old barns and gardens. The fields stretch out towards the horizon, the farm an island in a sea of pumpkins, dried corn stalks, and apple trees.
2. Bellewood Farms | Lynden, Whatcom County
October | Wednesday – Sunday | 9AM-4PM
BelleWood Farms is the go-to spot for apple adventures, with over 25 apple varieties to choose from. They also offer an array of pumpkins to choose from along with wagon rides for the kids and adults! Oh, and did we mention they make heavenly apple pie and cider doughnuts?
3. Schuh Farms | Mount Vernon, Skagit County
April – December | Daily | 9AM-6PM
Schuh Farms is a wonderland for fall fun for over 60 years! They have pumpkin patches, challenging corn mazes, and a farm market stocked with goodies for you to enjoy this season. It’s the ultimate destination for anyone seeking a dose of autumn excitement.
4. Willetta Farm | Everson, Whatcom County
October | Fridays(starting October 8th) 10AM-1PM | Saturday & Sunday 10AM-5PM
An experience you will never forget and memories that will last a lifetime. Let the kids check out the animals and activites around the farm while you enjoy a cup of carmel cider, hot chocolate or coffee paired with a pumpkin loaf or oliebollen treat. Then search for the perfect pumpkin or gourd together to carve or just use in your beutiful fall decor!
5. Stoney Ridge Farm | Everson, Whatcom County
Fridays October 13,20,27 from 12-5PM | Saturdays Oct 7,14,21,&28 from 10AM-5PM
Stoney Ridge Farm is all about crafting unforgettable fall memories. There, you’ll find pumpkin picking, hayrides, a petting zoo, food trucks and a mind-boggling corn maze. It’s where family fun meets autumn magic.
Before you embark on your autumn adventure, make sure to check out each farm’s website or give them a call for the 411 on hours, prices, and any special events they’ve got lined up. Remember to show some love to these and all our wonderful local farms this season – they’re the heart and soul of our communities.
Happy fall, y’all!
Meet The Team
The Power of Enneagrams in Our Team: Strengths that Serve You!
Meet our dynamic real estate team, each guided by their unique Enneagram numbers. Together, we create a formidable force that benefits not only our team but also our cherished clients:
🌟 Tracie (Enneagram 7 – The Enthusiast):
Strengths: Optimism, adaptability, and a knack for turning challenges into opportunities.
How it benefits the team: Tracie’s positivity and ability to embrace change keep us motivated and ready to face any real estate scenario with confidence.
How it benefits clients: Tracie’s optimism reassures clients during negotiations and uncertainties, making their real estate journey smoother and more enjoyable.
🌟 CJ (Enneagram 4 – The Individualist):
Strengths: Creativity, empathy, and a deep understanding of individual needs.
How it benefits the team: CJ’s creative perspective adds depth to our client interactions, helping us stay true to our goals.
How it benefits clients: CJ’s empathetic approach ensures that clients’ unique preferences and desires are acknowledged, resulting in personalized and fulfilling real estate experiences.
🌟 Cayla (Enneagram 2 – The Helper):
Strengths: Supporting and encouraging those around her, dedication to the task at hand.
How it benefits the team: Cayla’s nurturing nature fosters a supportive and harmonious work environment naturally recognizing the needs of others.
How it benefits clients: Cayla’s genuine care and attentiveness ensures clients are always informed of timelines and feeling valued.
🌟 Ciarra (Enneagram 5 – The Investigator):
Strengths: Perceptive and Innovative
How it benefits the team: Ciarra’s design expertise enhances our team’s creative professional image, ensuring that we always present ourselves in the best possible light.
How it benefits clients: Ciarra’s keen eye for aesthetics creates visually appealing and professional marketing materials, leaving a lasting impression on our people.
The synergy of these four Enneagram types – creates a well-rounded team that excels in adaptability, creativity, compassion, and design. Together, we are ready to cater to your real estate needs no matter your Enneagram type.
August Real Local Feature
Sand By Me – Seabrook, WA
CLICK HERE FOR RESERVATIONS AND FOR MORE INFORMATION
5 Bed | 4.25 Bath | Sleeps 12
Welcome to Sand By Me at Seabrook – a brand new, beautifully furnished, 5 bedroom home perfectly located in Seabrook’s South Farm District. Just steps from the new Barn Hill Park, featuring the largest fire pit and surrounding seating area in all of Seabrook. Enjoy the views of the park and watch the horses play at the barn while sitting by the outdoor fireplace on the wraparound porch. A quick 10 minute walk through the trails in the forest, on the oyster shells, or 5 minute bike ride to the shops and restaurants or the beach, the South Farm location is perfect to enjoy all things Seabrook has to offer.
Sleeps 12. Bring the whole gang as you celebrate, vacation, and enjoy the slower pace of the beach. We have brought all the conveniences and comfort of home to our beach house and hope that your family and friends enjoy it as much as we do! There are three levels and enough space for everyone to spread out and have room to relax any time of year!
Burnt Side Down – Bellingham, WA
Location: Stemma Brewing
2039 Moore St, Bellingham 98229
www.burntsidedown.com
IG: @burnt.side.down
We are Kim and Mike. We are foodies. By that we mean, we love EATING food! One of our all-time favorite comfort foods is a good grilled cheese. It’s timeless and dynamic! Grilled cheese is typically something you make on your own at home. We have made plenty! Making the perfect grilled cheese though can be a timely process. Kim seemed to think she could speed it up by placing a grilled cheese sandwich in a pan and turning it on high and walking away. Kim likes to multitask. She would return once she smelled the smoke, flip the grilled cheese over, and turn it down to medium until it got to a beautiful golden brown. She would then serve that sandwich, lovingly and proudly to Mike…BURNT SIDE DOWN. Buying our food truck, we felt this name was meant to be!
Opening June 17th, we didn’t know what to expect. We have careers in healthcare that we’ve had for over 25 years! Although that’s a form of a service industry, quite different from a food truck parked at a brewery! Our customers are happy and here for a good time!! We strive to provide the best product we can, offering consistently delicious results served on Avenue Bread and always with a smile. We keep track of our repeat customers and are humbled by how this number keeps growing! We have punch cards and gift cards and both are quickly becoming popular. Who wouldn’t love the gift of comfort food? A grilled cheese paired with a cup of tomato soup feels like a hug, especially with the weather about to turn.
We have our menu on our webpage www.burntsidedown.com where we have online ordering as well! Our Instagram page @burnt.side.down is the best place to keep up with us. Stemma Brewery has offered us the perfect home for our family friendly meals and the atmosphere has proven perfect for a hangout amongst friends, kids and dogs! We offer a kids meal which has become a bestseller and comes with a drink and a snack.
We’re excited to serve you up a gourmet grilled cheese in the near future. I know you’re tempted to look… I promise you, it’s not burnt 🙂
Bon Appétit friends. Enjoy Bellingham’s new Grilled Cheese Experience!
~Kim and Mike, BSD
The Decision Is Up To You
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from June 2022 to January 2023, since then prices have started to grow again despite the rates hovering in the 6-7% range. This is a sign of price stabilization. Historically, the impact rising rates have on prices year-over-year is not negative. We are in the midst of proving that same theory.
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Believe it or not, the higher rates are keeping prices stable because it is limiting the available inventory for sale. You see, there are plenty of buyers out looking for homes right now, and inventory levels are tight because potential sellers are waiting to make a move because they are holding on to their low rate. Our job market is strong, we have people moving to our area from other parts of the country and the millennials are out in full force searching for their first homes.
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There are two interesting phenomena going on with potential home sellers right now. First, according to
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come down? Experts across the board predict that rates will recede as inflation gains control. This will be a gradual process over the next 12-18 months. The biggest indicator will be inflation reaching the 2% year-over-year mark. Once we hit this point, which we are close to, experts predict the Fed will be comfortable easing off the higher rates. This will cause more homes to come to market as the delta between the rate a homeowner currently holds and what they are willing to take on to indulge their desire to move, will become more attainable. Plus, as rates recede it will increase buyer demand. 
We find ourselves in a delicate dance with inflation, rates, inventory, and prices. Someone who desires a move has to consider the impact the rates can have on their payment. Many of these buyers are taking the leap and finding creative ways to offset the rate such as ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) financing, rate buy downs, or they are prepared to re-finance their purchase when rates come down. This way they will have secured a good price which is the basis of their loan.Women Outpace Men in Homeownership
Women earn $0.83 to every $1.00 a man makes, but they are dominating the market!
Prior to 1974 it was not legal for a women to secure a mortgage without a male cosigner. Once that barrier was broken, women have outpaced males as homebuyers since the NAR started tracking the data in 1981. In 2022 single women made up 17% of recent buyers compared to 9% of men. Single women own about 10.76 million homes, while single men own about 8.12 million.
At Windermere, we are all about homeownership for everyone, however ya’ll know how much I have a heart for everyone OTHER THAN white men being homeowners. I thought this recent study from Lending Tree about the increase in women owning real estate was worth sharing. Owning real estate is a powerful wealth-builder and the single strongest investment one can make. It’s pretty cool that so many single women are hip to the wealth-building cheat code of homeownership! If you are curious about how owning a home can help you expand your nest egg, please reach out!
July Real Local Feature
Stay Between the Pines – North Bend, WA
CLICK HERE TO ORDER AND FOR MORE INFORMATION
Welcome to the Riverbend Retreat! This dog-friendly, cozy A-Frame cabin is nestled in the foothills of the Cascades right on the river, just 30 minutes to Seattle and 25 minutes to Snoqualmie Pass. The cabin features an open floorplan, indoor fireplace & sunroom with views of the river. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy a romantic getaway or host a wedding elopement– the Riverbend Retreat is it.
- 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Outdoor firepit & picnic table
- Right on the Snoqualmie River
Graze & Gather – Gourmet Charcuterie – Lynden, WA
grazeandgatherwa@gmail.com
360.820.5792
grazeandgatherwa.com
Graze and Gather takes pride in taking care of all the details from start to finish. We carefully select the best products and source local as often as possible. Your boxes and boards are then carefully designed and constructed in a commercial kitchen where our customers safety is our top priority. We deliver to most locations within Whatcom County. Anyone outside these areas can always arrange a pick up time or be charged an extra delivery fee. Then it’s time to relax and enjoy with family and friends ❤️
*Our products are available for pick up Wed – Sat in Lynden, and delivery within Whatcom County Wed-Sat
Clarity Through Chaos: Using the Data to Drive Decisions
I think we can all agree that we have been on a bit of a wild ride over the last 12 months in the real estate market. When the Fed decided to change its trajectory on interest rates in mid-2022, it created some chaos and confusion.
When big changes happen, it is a natural reaction to pause and wait for some certainty of how things will land. This happened when the pandemic hit, too. People paused in March and April of 2020 and once May settled in, the market went bonkers. I have found that gathering data, whether it’s real-time data or studying historical trends, in order to make sense of it all is incredibly helpful to create clarity and empower strong decisions.I am committed to studying the data on behalf of my clients and I am also fortunate to have Matthew Gardner, Windermere’s Chief Economist as a source to help guide this research. He speaks to the predictions that were made at the beginning of this year by several industry experts and breaks down their varied theories in this recent article. As a testament to the importance of gathering the data and applying knowledgeable analysis are the now renewed predictions from all of these sources. They are now very much more aligned with one another and in agreement that prices are not headed in a downward spiral, but are in fact on the rise year-over-year. Data is powerful!
Below is a chart I created with hyper-local data reflecting both Whatcom and Skagit counties’ median prices over the last 18 months in relationship to the rising interest rates. While we are off the peak of 2022 when rates were at 5%, we are only slightly lower and up quite significantly from the bottom when rates hit 7%. Proof that the market is sustaining the higher rates is that we have found ourselves back near the 7% this summer and prices have not faltered.
Would the market welcome a drop in the rate? Absolutely! When this happens, which is predicted, we will see buyer demand increase. What we will also see is additional inventory come to market as would-be home sellers will be more comfortable relinquishing their low rate to indulge their need or want for a different home. The high rates are keeping inventory low in a high-rate environment, which is supporting price stabilization and growth. Simply put, the sky is not falling.The market continues to churn, we are not in a free fall, and prices are stable. If you’ve thought about a move, consider the data and please ask me to help you gain understanding. I can adjust the graph featured here with your local zip code or city to give you an even more thorough look at your investment.
Real estate moves are most often a result of life changes. If you have found yourself questioning whether your four walls currently meet your needs, let’s talk! I will assess your goals and apply the data in an understandable way to help guide the best decision for you today or down the road.
Exploring Bellingham: Volunteer Opportunities
Bellingham offers a diverse range of volunteer opportunities. From assisting at local food banks and shelters to participating in environmental conservation efforts, there are numerous ways for individuals to contribute and make a positive impact.
Parks Volunteer Program
Help make the parks better for everyone. This program will help you learn new skills, meet new people, and help local wildlife.
Boards & Commission
Volunteer boards, commissions, committees, and task forces serve our community by advising policy makers and providing essential support to City programs and activities. These groups are required by the City Charter, City Ordinance or enabled by state law.
Public Library System
Multiple volunteer opportunities are available through the library including tech helper to work with citizens to understand the library technology to helping keep the library clean and organized for younger readers.
Volunteer Chores Program
The Volunteer Chore Program assists seniors and people with disabilities with transportation to essential medical appointments.
VIEW MORE PROGRAMS HERE:
https://www.whatcomvolunteer.org/
https://cob.org/gov/public/volunteer
June Real Local Feature
Welcome to a new series where each month I will feature a friend or client’s local business or service AND a friend’s Vacation Rental!
These will be mostly “stay-cation” locations, but sometimes we might venture outside of a LOCAL location and feature a LOCAL person’s vacation rental somewhere else! If you have a business, service or AIRBNB you’d like to see featured, please reach out!
THE HERONS NEST – Blaine, WA
CLICK HERE FOR RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION
One of my bestest Real Estate buddies is the proud owner of this cutie- hyper- local cottage! How fun would it be to have a stay-cation in Birch Bay?!
The sea breeze hits you the moment you step out of your car at The Heron’s Nest. Centrally located, this cozy cottage is just one block East of the beach. After a day of exploring, prepare your meals in the fully equipped kitchen. The table is ideal for connection and conversation. Pull out a board game or puzzle, stream Netflix or Disney + and finally, crawl into the luxurious bedding. We encourage all of our guests to unwind, relax and enjoy each others company, we will take care of the rest.
BEACH CAT PRINTING – Birch Bay, WA
beachcatprints@gmail.com
360.393.3062
www.beachcatprints.com
Beach Cat Prints was established in partnership with Beach Cat Brewing in 2023. We recognized a need for locally sourced, high quality, on demand merchandise and were built to do just that. We pride ourselves on being locally owned, woman operated and are committed to providing honest, transparent, quick service for all of our customers. We’ve invested in the latest technology and are ecstatic to offer the highest level of quality custom goods. Whether it be labels, design help, ready to press prints or gear for your entire business, we are here to help.
Matthew Gardner Mid-Year Update
In the video recap below, he covers the trajectory of home prices, interest rates, inventory levels, the shift of the work-from-home trend, zoning changes, and affordability. All of these factors play into people making informed decisions about their real estate. He is certainly an asset that I can rely upon to help me guide my clients.
Overall, it is important to note that prices are heading in a positive direction, interest rates may take a bit longer to settle and inventory remains tight. I am seeing buyer demand return to the market and prices have grown since the first of the year. In fact, the median price in Whatcom County peaked in June 2022 at $559,000 and hit bottom in October 2022 at $556,000. Since October 2022, the median price has grown by 5% to $586,000 according to May 2023 numbers. In Skagit County, the median price peaked in April 2022 at $595,000, bottomed out in January 2023 $484,000, and in May 2023 returned to peak levels at $600,000.
He also mentions that real estate is local and that trends can vary by location. That is where I can help you. I am deeply invested in understanding the market in the communities and neighborhoods that surround us. If you are curious about how the trends relate to your real estate goals, please reach out. It is always my goal to help keep my clients informed and empower strong decisions.
