Archive for December, 2007
December 30, 2007 at 12:28 pm · Filed under Bites of Washington, Sparks from Sparky, Business Bites
Well, according to the latest census study, Seattle has once again garnered the Top Spot as the Smartest City in the US.
Data collected shows that 52.7 percent of the residents of the Emerald City aged 25-and over hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Seattle is followed by the City by the Bay, San Francisco; then Raleigh, North Carolina; Washington, D.C.; and Austin, Texas, rounding out the Top Five.
So, how does this affect us here on the Kitsap Peninsula? Can we simply claim intelligence by virtue of proximity? Are we able to absorb the Seattlite’s collective brain power through some cosmic process of osmosis?
Or maybe, instead of telling people that I’m from Silverdale WA, I’ll just say “Seattle” and they’ll automatically think I’m a Smarty Pants!
Oh, Thank You, Wizard of Oz!
census 2007, most educated cities, seattle real estate blog, smartest us city, soundbiteblog.com washington real estate blogBookmark this article to:
December 20, 2007 at 12:15 am · Filed under Bites of Washington, Bites of Kitsap, Bremerton Real Estate, Silverdale Real Estate, Real Estate Bites, Buyers, SoundBite Bites
Okay, so what if we just had over 12″ of torrential rain swamp us in a 24 hour period, causing sinkholes and washed-out roadways. And forget that we have a huge stockpile of nuclear warheads just down the street at Bangor Subase (at least once a year the tree-hugging Al Gore global warmers protest at the front gate). 
Regardless, the Silverdale WA and Bremerton WA area just recently made the No. 10 spot on a list of the Safest Mid-Sized Cities across the US with populations of 150,000 to 500,000.
The list is from a report compiled by Farmer’s Insurance. The rankings take into account variables such as crime statistics, weather, life expectancy, and terrorist threat levels.
Two other Washington State cities were ranked - Olympia (the State Capitol) came in at 1st place, and Bellingham was 5th.
To read more about the Most Secure US Places, go HERE.
best housing markets, bremerton wa real estate, kitsap county wa real estate, safest us cities silverdale wa real estateBookmark this article to:
December 17, 2007 at 1:55 pm · Filed under Bites of Kitsap, Sparks from Sparky
As Christmas Eve quickly approaches, my heart and mind is filled with excited anticipation. Our daughter, Emily, will be home with us at long last. And our beloved Aunt Nancy from Chicago will be spending the holidays with us as well. It promises to be a wonderfully cherished family time together as we celebrate the birth of Immanuel, the Christ child - God with Us.
One of the many things I enjoy about living here in scenic Kitsap County WA is being part of a very large military community. The Kitsap Peninsula is home to Naval Base Kitsap, comprised of the installations at Bremerton, Bangor, and Keyport, including the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bangor Subase, and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center.
Having been a proud member myself of the US Navy as a radioman onboard the nuclear ballistic submarine, USS George Washington (SSBN598), I have a special affinity towards those who faithfully and selflessly serve in our armed forces. Especially now, during the Holiday Season.
Regardless of our own personal opinions or attitudes regarding the war in Iraq, we owe a tremendous debt to all the people in uniform who sacrifice so very much to ensure our freedom and liberties. A good many of these vigilant protectors are spending their Christmas holidays far away from home and loved ones, so that the rest of us may have the good fortune to do so.
So to all of those in our Armed Forces who serve our nation with such strong devotion and dedication, a very heartfelt ”Thank You!”
Have a very Merry Christmas, and God Bless Us, everyone!
armed forces, bangor subase, bremerton wa, christmas, keyport, Kitsap County WA, military installations, naval base kitsap, naval undersea warfare center, puget sound naval shipyard war in iraqBookmark this article to:
December 7, 2007 at 11:35 am · Filed under Bites of Kitsap, Bremerton Real Estate, Silverdale Real Estate, Port Orchard Real Estate, Bainbridge Island Real Estate, Poulsbo Real Estate, Real Estate Bites, Buyers, Sellers, Mortgage Bites, Sparks from Sparky, Gig Harbor Real Estate, Kitsap Market Reports
Real Estate Market Report/Conditions in Kitsap County WA for 12/06/2007
The following is a brief analysis of the combined single-family home and condo market within Kitsap County, Washington for December 2007, provided by Rich Jacobson of Windermere Real Estate, in Silverdale, WA (Data for Bainbridge Island WA is included below)
- Properties currently active on the market: 1989
- Properties closed in the last 180 days: 1561
- Average Sales Price: $335,174
- Average List Price: $342,303
- Ratio of List Price to Sales Price: 98%
- Average Days on Market: 88
- Sales Pending this Week: 35
Current Market Conditions: Area 141 (South Kitsap West of Hwy. 16) still has the highest ratio of List Price vs. Sale Price with 102%. The lowest ratio was 95% for Area 161 (Hansville). Shortest Days on Market (DOM) was Area 166 (Poulsbo) at 63, and Area 150 (E. Central Kitsap) coming in 2nd with 69. Longest DOM goes to Area 163 (Port Gamble) with 133, followed by Area 161 (Hansville) at 106. Inventory levels dropped by nearly 10%, with many Sellers electing to remove their homes from market over the Christmas Holidays. Overall, prices continue to hold fairly steady, as do the days on market.
Bainbridge Island Stats: (Area 170)
- Properties currently Active on the market: 288
- Properties closed in last 180 days: 235
- Average Sales Price: $ 732,699
- Average List Price: $ 754,554
- Ratio of List Price to Sales Price: 97%
- Average Days on Market: 125
- Sales Pending this week: 6
For Buyers: There is no better time than ‘NOW’ to consider purchasing a home here in Kitsap County WA. Be sure to work very closely with your Mortgage Loan Officer throughout all stages of the transaction. Loan programs are changing constantly, and underwriters are imposing more and more conditions. A good Loan Officer will stay on top of these issues, and help to keep your loan process moving along smoothly.
For Sellers: Many Sellers are waiting until the market picks up again in the early Spring to put their home up for sale. You may want to consider an earlier launch date (early January) to give yourself a ‘jump’ on the competition.
For 1st Time Buyers: You might want to consider one of my listings, the Gorman Condominiums, near beautiful Kitsap Lake in Bremerton WA. For only $ 129,950 your dream of home ownership can come true!
For more additional information and resources concerning real estate in Kitsap County WA and the Western Puget Sound, access my website, Kitsap Life.
1st time home buyers, bainbridge island wa real estate, bremerton wa real estate, condos kitsap county, gig harbor wa real estate, kingston wa real estate, kitsap county, kitsap county wa real estate, kitsap market dynamics, kitsap peninsula wa, kitsap real estate news, market report, market report kitsap real estate, port orchard wa real estate, poulsbo wa real estate, seabeck wa real estate, seattle real estate blog, silverdale wa real estate, soundbiteblog washington real estate blogBookmark this article to:
December 5, 2007 at 12:45 pm · Filed under Bites of Washington, Bites of Kitsap, Sparks from Sparky
Well, to say we’ve had some unruly weather of late here on the Kitsap Peninsula WA would be an understatement!
The record-shattering two-day rainfall amount of 12.57 inches was measured at the Bremerton Airport.
We’ve received numerous calls by friends and family wanting to make sure we hadn’t floated away downstream. Fortunately for us, the recent deluge didn’t cause any major problems.
But in other parts of Kitsap County WA, the massive rainfall wreaked havoc on homes and area roadways. Most significant were washouts on Illahee Road (near Varsity), Chico Way, Miami Beach Road, Hite Center Road, Seabeck-Holly Road in Seabeck, and a large sinkhole on Bethel Avenue in Port Orchard.
Central Kitsap Schools were closed yesterday due to the number of road closures. Brownsville Elementary remains closed to students today due to a number of blocked access roads.
Philip Weatherby (one of the Brownsville Elementary staff) and his family went out to view the damage on Illahee Road. His wife, Mary, commented that the washed out road looked like the Grand Canyon!
Our local newspaper, the Kitsap Sun, has provided a very helpful resource map showing all of the road closures in Kitsap and Mason Counties. To access the map, go HERE.
Drive safe out there!
Kitsap County WA, kitsap peninsula wa, kitsap sun, record rainfall, road closures soundbiteblog.comBookmark this article to:
December 3, 2007 at 10:14 am · Filed under Bites of Washington, Bites of Kitsap, Bremerton Real Estate, Silverdale Real Estate, Port Orchard Real Estate, Bainbridge Island Real Estate, Poulsbo Real Estate, Sparks from Sparky, Business Bites, Gig Harbor Real Estate
One of our family’s annual Holiday traditions is venturing out the weekend after Thanksgiving, and cutting down our Yuletide Christmas Tree.
In addition to the usual multitude of ‘pre-cut’ tree lots, there are a number of excellent ‘live’ tree farms located throughout Kitsap County WA.
Our first year here, we purchased a ‘pre-cut’ tree from Olmstead’s Christmas Trees here in Silverdale WA. They were close and convenient, just down the street from Clear Creek Elementary on Sunde Road.
For the proceeding couple of years, we went out to Kuney’s Christmas Trees, on Pioneer Road out in Seabeck WA. For a flat fee, you can select any tree on their property, regardless of size. Definitely a good bargain!
The last 3 years, we’ve cut out trees out at Hubert’s Noble Ridge Christmas Tree Farm, off Seabeck Hwy. in Bremerton WA. Although somewhat pricey, compared to other area lots, they have a wide selection of numerous evergreen varieties, including Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Noble Fir, Shasta Fir, Western White Pine, and Southwest Alpine. They also offer the ”Noble House,” a place to snuggle up to a cozy fire and enjoy a cup of hot cider.
Our local newspaper, the Kitsap Sun, published a fairly comprehensive list of Christmas Tree farms throughout the West Sound area. Go HERE to access the list.
Another great National resource directory for finding Christmas Tree Farms throughout the US is www.PickYourOwnChristmasTree.org
To all of our SoundBiteBlog readers, have a very Merry Christmas Holidays, and a most prosperous New Year!
bremerton wa, Christmas tree farms, Huberts Noble Ridge Christmas Tree Farm, kitsap county business, Kitsap County WA, kitsap peninsula wa, local kitsap business, real estate blog, soundbiteblog.com washington real estate blogBookmark this article to:
