Seabeck WA Real Estate :: SoundBiteBlog.com

The following is a brief overview of the combined single-family home market within Seabeck, Washington (NWMLS Area 145) for the week of July 17, 2011, provided by Rich Jacobson of Windermere Real Estate, in Silverdale, WA.

• Properties currently active on the market:  98
• Properties closed in the last 180 days:  42
• Average Sales Price:  $ 250,538
• Average List Price:  $ 259,410
• Ratio of List Price to Sales Price: 97%
• Average Days on Market: 154
• Sales Pending this Week: 1

To view a map of Northwest MLS Area 145 (Seabeck-Holly), go HERE.

3425 That A Way Rd NW, Bremerton 98312 / MLS# 228120 / $159,950

This recently remodeled home in the desireable Lake Symington area near Seabeck WA is the perfect starter home for 1st Time Buyers or a great retirement property. You’ll enjoy the quiet, peaceful rural setting with easy access to nearby Lake Symington and the recreational waterways of The Hood Canal. This neighborhood is served by Green Mountain Elementary, part of the award-winning Central Kitsap School District. The Lake Symington residential development is very popular with many active-duty service members and their families.

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For more information on this property, go to 3425 That A Way Road NW, Bremerton WA 98312

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional with Windermere Real Estate, providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, ActiveRain, and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

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Tags: hood canal wa waterfront homes, seabeck wa homes, seabeck wa real estate, seabeck wa real estate market stats

After what has seemed like an eternity, the wait is finally over.

After persevering through an extremely long and drawn-out 3-year permitting process, the developers of the Olympic View Marina (a new proposed 200-slip marina to replace the dilapidated Seabeck WA marina) are finally on-track to move forward with the project.

County commissioners met towards the end of 2008 and approved a limited amendment to the county’s shoreline master plan that changed the zoning designation from conservancy status to rural status.

The current zoning designation of conservancy, which had been in place for the past 30 years, was an anomaly of sorts. The conservancy zoning statute does not allow for marinas, but at the time the shoreline was zoned, the Seabeck Marina was already in place.

According to Central Kitsap Commissioner, Josh Brown, the zoning just didn’t make any sense.

The partnership of Olympic View LLC, lead by area resident Eric Bentzen, developed an extremely detailed proposal that far exceeded all local, State, and Federal requirements, and took into careful consideration the potential impact the project would have on area tidelands and residential properties.

The need for a modern-day marina and related services is highly pronounced on the east side of Hood Canal. There are currently no public mooring facilities available on the North end of Hood Canal. Construction of the new marina will no doubt have a very positive impact on the local economy and further improve real estate property valuations in the region.

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com and Crabbing in the Hood.

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Last week I was going through our local MLS (Northwest Multiple Listing Service), checking up on some newly listed properties out in Seabeck WA, when I came across the following description another Agent had used for a home she was marketing:

“Adventures await in the plushly landscaped backyard. Indiana Jones-type bridge spans adjoining creek“

Okay, so what the heck is an ‘Indiana Jones-type’ bridge? And is this something that I would necessarily want to promote as a valued feature? As I seem to recall, the bridge in “Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom” was highly unstable and hazardous!

Here on the picturesque Kitsap Peninsula, surrounded by the scenic waterways of the Puget Sound, views can be a critical feature of a home and impact a home’s valuation significantly. One of the common phrases you’ll encounter as you read through the various listing data sheets on the NWMLS is the term ‘peek-a-boo‘ view.

Now just what exactly constitutes a ‘peek-a-boo’ view?

Translation:   “If you stand tipee toe on a 10 foot ladder in the dead of Winter when all the leaves are gone, and strain your eyes, you just might possibly see something that remotely resembles water.”

Many of the homes in the Seabeck WA area have stunning views of the Olympic Mountain Range or Hood Canal. Once I found a photo on the MLS of a home for sale in Seabeck that had an expansive view of Hood Canal and the Olympics. But when I looked at the location address, I knew that the potential for the view in the photo was highly suspect. When I actually toured the property firsthand, my suspicions were confirmed. The only way you could replicate the view from the photo was to rent a cherry picker and snap a shot from on top a 50 foot boom!

I am a firm believer in telling the truth about my listings – good, bad, or indifferent. I want the pictures that I take and use to market my Seller’s home to be an accurate representation of what you’ll actually see when you tour the home. What you see is what you get.

Gee, what a concept!

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Tags: peek-a-boo view, seabeck wa real estate, view properties, waterfront properties

Local Fishing and Boating Enthusiasts breathed a collective sigh of relief recently as the announcement was made that the seemingly ill-fated Olympic View Marina Project was revived from it’s death throes. According to reports in the Kitsap Sun, The WA State Department of Ecology formally approved the permit which allows the long-delayed demolition and construction work to finally commence. However, the ultimate extent and scope of the project is still in question, pending a required amendment to the Kitsap County’s shorelines plan. Evidently, back in 1976, for reasons no one seems to know, the surrounding shorelines were designated a ‘conservancy,’ and as such, prevents any expansion beyond the existing borders of the previous marina. The current development calls for a larger marina footprint and a much needed breakwater. Fortunately, wiser and cooler heads at the Dept. of Ecology have prevailed. As quoted in the Kitsap Sun, Jeannie Summerhays, Director the the NW Region, stated, “Ecology has seen the benefits of this project from the time we first become aware of it. We thought a solution was possible, and I am pleased to we have arrived at one.” When questioned about the pending amendment, Geoff Tallent, Manager of Ecology’s Regional Shorelines Section said, “We think an amendment makes sense and is consistent with the goals of the state Shoreline Management Act.” To read the full story, go HERE.

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Tags: hood canal, olympic view marina LLC, seabeck marina

This coming Friday could be Doomsday for the long awaited and much-anticipated Olympic View Marina Project out in Seabeck. How this has remained under my radar, I have no idea. Tonight, while taking a walk with my wife, I ran across fellow RE agent, Nick Blickhan (Nick and I had worked together at the Windermere office here in Silverdale). As a waterfront resident of Seabeck WA, Nick has been keeping close tabs on the progress, or lack thereof, of the Olympic View LLC Marina Project. Four partners purchased the fledging property a few years ago, and put together a very detailed development plan. At considerable expense, they effectively jumped through each and every hoop that the County and State required, and in most instances, went way beyond what was necessary. From every indication, it appeared that things were moving forward, and the much needed marina would become a reality. Unfortunately, due in large part to one lone, dissenting squeaky wheel, the ear of the WA Department of Ecology has been effectively bent, and it appears that the project is headed to a devastating demise. Evidently, the neighborhood squeaky wheel is one of these types who defines/measures ‘Smart’ growth by how far you can bury your head in the sand. Nevermind that the dire needs of the many clearly outweighs the preferences of the few, or, in this case, the one. Nevermind that the partners paid exceptionally close attention to detail in their plans towards maintaining and even enhancing the existing environmental integrity of the areas impacted by the proposed marina development. Nevermind that the marina would have a very positive impact on the financial stability of existing Seabeck merchants/businesses, and long-term residential property values. Nevermind that area boat owners would finally have badly needed basic marina services and mooring space available. The closest marina is Pleasant Harbor, over on the western side of Hood Canal, just south of Brinnon. You can moor your boat there, but it takes nearly an hour by car to get there. The Olympic View Marina Project should make complete sense – ecologically, or otherwise. While it could be argued that some commercial developments are not necessarily environmental-friendly, this project clearly fulfills the demand for highest and best use. Although Kitsap County Commissioner, Josh Brown, has voiced his full support for this project, but his influence may not be enough to affect the outcome. The WA State Department of Ecology is issuing their final verdict on the project this Friday. In my humble opinion, the Dept needs to step up and display some backbone. Rather than buckling under the incessant whining of one solitary voice, the project should be measured and approved on the merits of the significant positive impact it will have on the environment/habitat, and the true value that quality marina services will offer to our community.

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Tags: Josh Brown, Kitsap County WA, olympic view marina LLC, seabeck marina, WA Dept of Ecology