My favorite mini-waterfall along Lake Crescent

The Sauer Kraut restaurant is gone!

Just heard that the Sauer Kraut restaurant has closed its doors... very sad.

I hate it when local businesses close up shop, as it's an indication of how tough things are for everyone right now.

Sequim Real Estate Prices Leveling Off?

Could it be that we've finally seen the bottom of the decline in real estate prices in Sequim?

I've been doing some research in the last few days, and it seems that average sales prices for site-built homes are down approximately 12% for 2009 YTD vs 2008, and the median price is down approximately 8% from 2008 levels. I've sliced this data a couple of different ways, and it appears that we're holding steady at these levels.

From an appraisal perspective, it means that I may finally be able to check the 'stable' box again under the 'neighborhood trends' section. Woo hoo!

It's still a great time to buy in Sequim, so contact me if you'd like more info, or to arrange a meeting and/or showing.

You can search all of the Sequim 'active' listings from my website: MartiWinkler.com or through the Windermere website.

Enjoy the stormy weather... it's exciting!

Sequim Real Estate Update for 2009 YTD

At the end of July, I updated my Excel spreadsheet with the latest stats for Sequim (exciting stuff, I know...), and I thought I'd share them with you, in a nutshell, of course.

Per data in OLS - Olympic Listing Service, the local MLS - for site-built homes, Area 300, Sequim address only:

100 closed sales as of 7/31/2009 = 14.3 sales per month vs
255 closed sales for all of 2008 = 21.25 sales per month, which is a 33% decline in sales volume.

For 2009 YTD, Average sales price is $293,955 vs
For 2008, Average sales price was $329,103, which is an 11% decline.

For 2009 YTD, Median sales price is $256,500 vs
For 2008, Median sales price was $290,000, which is a 12% decline.

Current Average DOM (Days on market) is 148 for 2009 YTD.

For the 2009 YTD overall market, including condos and manufactured homes on lots (non-leased land), we have averaged around 20 sales/month, and sales volume is down 30% from 2008.

For 2009 YTD overall market, Average sales price is down 8% vs 2008, and Median sales price is down 9% vs 2008.

So what does this mean? The numbers are actually improving slowly, and it appears that the declines have slowed, and we may be getting near to stabilizing.

Based on current active listings of site-built homes, we still have about 26 months of supply on the market, which is improving slightly, but still not great. So if you live in Sequim and you don't have to sell, then don't! There's way too much competition out there, and if you can wait, do it.

On the other hand, if you are looking to buy, it's a great time, as there is so much to choose from, and prices are down.

In the future, I will only be working with buyers, so if you are seriously interested in buying in Sequim, please contact me, and I'd be happy to help you find a great place for you.

Sequim Lavender Festival - July 2009

The 13th Annual Sequim Lavender Festival, is scheduled for July 17-19, 2009.

It's the largest lavender festival in North America, with farm tours, a street fair with lots of local vendors, great local food, live entertainment and more!

This year the lavender will actually be blooming during the Festival, as last year, due to the cold summer weather, the lavender wasn't blooming until 2 weeks AFTER the festival, and that was a bummer.

Click on the link above for all the info on purchasing tickets, events calendar and the bus schedules.

I'll see you there!

114th Annual Sequim Irrigation Festival

It's that time of year again, time for one of Sequim's biggest annual celebrations: the 114th Annual Irrigation Festival, May 2nd - 9th, 2009.

The theme remains: Where Water is Wealth, and is a celebration of the visionaries that brought the irrigation ditches to Sequim, which essentially transformed prairie lands into the lovely farmlands and town we have today.

Yes, Sequim takes the Irrigation Festival seriously, so if you'd like to get in on the fun, here's the link for the schedule of events: Irrigation Festival website.

Maybe I'll see you there! :)

Olympic Peninsula Wine & Cheese Event

Last weekend was the Olympic Peninsula Wine & Cheese Event, and it featured 7 local wineries with paired locally made cheese and other goodies.

Fred, Amanda, Lee and I made it to 3 of them on Saturday, and Amanda and I finished up with 3 more on Sunday.

Here's pics of a few of them:

First up is Harbinger Winery on Hwy 101 on the far side of Port Angeles. Good wines, fun atmosphere, good people. Sarah is the wine maker and she's usually there, happy to talk wine.

This is the tasting room at Cameraderie Cellars, off Benson Road in Port Angeles. Good wines, great outdoor sitting areas to enjoy a snack with your wine. They also have a large outdoor fire pit to keep you warm on chilly days.

Below is Olympic Cellars, home of the 'Working Girl' wines, a women-owned winery, on Hwy 101 between Port Angeles and Sequim. Good wines, great atmosphere with a covered outdoor seating area for summer concerts and events. They also have a nice selection of gifts and goodies in the barn.

Sequim Real Estate Market Update for Q1 2009

Congratulations potential Sequim real estate buyers... you now have one of the largest selections and some of the lowest home prices in years! It's a great time to buy in Sequim, so get on it!

According to OLS - our local MLS - based on current 2009 YTD sales volume, we now have a whopping 27.54 months worth of site-built homes in inventory to choose from!

Sales of site-built homes so far this year are closing at a blistering speed of 11 per month.

The average sales price for site-built homes is now $299,420 vs $329,203 for 2008. That's a 9% drop, and again, wow! Your dream home in Sequim is now even more affordable.

OK, Sequim homeowners and potential sellers, stop the sob fest... it's just me trying to put a positive spin on our less than stellar sales numbers.

It's all relative anyway... the market goes up, the market goes down, and isn't that just part of the fun of owning a home?

Moon setting over the Olympic mountains

Fred was up early to go fishing and captured this beautiful shot of the moon setting behind the Olympic mountains.

We truly live in one of the most beautiful spots on earth, so take some time to reflect and enjoy these few, brief peaceful moments.

Enjoy your day!

Chuck & Gomez

This is Chuck & Gomez.

They are 'Little Uglys' made by Ugly Dolls that I got here in Sequim from The Cottage Company, 129 S 2nd Avenue, Sequim, WA 98382.

Chuck's real name is Chuckanucka, but he likes to be called Chuck. He live's at my sister Amanda's house in Sequim.

Gomez lives with me and Fred in Sequim.

Gomez is really an 'Ugly Worm', and he has a comb over and is named after Gomez from the Addams Family.

Chuck and Gomez are cousins, actually, and they get along pretty well. I just knitted a blue scarf for Gomez... I'll have to take his picture and show you. It came out really nice.