Anacortes Homes for Sale: Anacortes Market Update There are 303 active listings on the MLS today in Anacortes.  There are 30 penindg sales and 137 sales in the last 6 months.  The average list price is $547,634 with the average selling price at $404,384.  Those homes that sold within 30 days sold at 97.87% of the asking price, while those homes that sold 120 days after being listed averaged 94.22% of the last asking price.  Price right to get the most equity!   To find out what your home is worth go to www.JeanGroesbeck.com www.CBIslandLiving.comwww.AnacortesHomesBlog.comwww.AnacortesHomeTeam.com Jean Groesbeck  (360) 941-3734 Jean Groesbeck & Assoc. LLC     Coldwell Banker Island Living   08/25/2008

Oracle unveils 90 foot America's Cup Boat in Anacortes, WA Anacortes is known for building multi-million dollar luxury yachts, but now there is another event to place us on the map with mariners. The approx. 90' trimaran to be used in the America's Cup race in Valencia, Spain was unveiled (although there is a controversy around the location of the next race).  You can see photos of it at http://valenciasailing.blogspot.com/2008/08/bmw-oracle-trimaran-taken-out-of-her.html The 90-foot trimaran is made of carbon fiber will soon be tested in the water. Jean GroesbeckColdwell Banker Island Living www.JeanGroesbeck.com www.CBIslandLiving.comwww.AnacortesHomesBlog.comwww.AnacortesHomeTeam.com   08/24/2008

Though it's more well-known for the Port of Anacortes and the expansive natural beauty of Fidalgo Island, the city of Anacortes also has a rich history, great shopping and dining and a burgeoning cultural scene. Anacortes is situated in a community that has a small-town feel, but with amenities that rival those offered by bigger cities. Anacortes Homes located in Anacortes Old Town are expecially popular among Anacortes homeowner who like historic homes.Downtown Anacortes with its tree-lined streets and historic buildings is easy to navigate by bike, wheel chair and walking.  Anacortes is charming, and the appeal of Anacortes is  enhanced by more than a hundred life-sized murals by resident artist Bill Mitchell. The arts are flourishing in Anacortes. Anacortes Art Galleries display artw... 08/24/2008

The Anacortes Jazz Festival in Anacortes, WA is this Labor Day weekend! Anacortes is just 70 miles from Seattle and is accessible by 3 bridges to Fidalgo Island where it is located. Tha Anacortes Jazz Festival attracts incredible talent. Here is the schedule: Friday, August 29, 2008 - On Tesoro Stage Curtis Wharf Time: Artist / Event: 6PM Gala & Concert at the Port Warehouse: Featuring Kevin Mahogany 9 PM - Midnight Jazz Walk Saturday, August 30, 2008 - On Tesoro Stage Curtis Wharf Time: Artist / Event: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM Trish Hatley 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Doug Wamble Group 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM Kevin Mahogany 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Community Swing Dance: Featuring Pony Boy - Star Mini Big Band Playing the Breaks on the food court stage, Curti... 08/24/2008

      Thank you Island Adventures - Anacortes, WA!    Yesterday a friend had a family member in town that is loosing his battle with cancer.  Even though he feels very ill these days, one of the things he wanted to do was to see the whales before it was too late.  Thanks to Island Adventures, he was able to see the whales and had one of the best days of his life!   If you ever visit Anacortes, make sure you go whale watching with Island Adventures!  These are great people that run a great business! To see a video of the whales click here http://www.island-adventures.com/media/video1.mov You can learn more about all of the trips that they offer at their website http://www.island-adventures.com/  This might sound like an ad for Island Adventures, but they have done so much for the whales,... 08/24/2008

Date 7-May 7-Jun 7-Jul 7-Aug 7-Sep 7-Oct 7-Nov 7-Dec 8-Jan 8-Feb 8-Mar 8-Apr 8-May 8-Jun 8-Jul For Sale 239 261 295 285 267 257 236 229 219 240 267 267 273 296 319 Sold 35 42 29 31 23 32 20 21 7 21 20 20 35 28 18 Pended 40 26 28 36 27 26 18 14 19 24 15 31 24 27 25 Months of Inventory based on Closed Sales 6.8 6.2 10.2 9.2 11.6 8 11.8 10.9 31.3 11.4 13.4 13.4 7.8 10.6 17.7 Avg. Active Price 677 657 655 643 644 664 662 663 637 637 651 665 675 657 651 Avg. Sld Price 467 444 410 456 496 415 447 383 463 431 415 457 395 432 379 Days on Market 91 131 72 82 83 93 98 142 157 126 116 123 124 104 105 Sales are steady but new listings are keeping inventory high.  Professional Real Estate Services are key in a soft market! Jean Groesbeck      360 941 3734 www.JeanGroesbeck.comwww.CBIslandLiving.com... 08/19/2008

Everyone knows that real estate has seasonality, however you might be surprised to learn that the seasonality differs by price range!  To illustrate this example, we charted listings and pending sales by month for Anacortes homes.  If you would like a copy of the chart please call or email me.  It doesn't transfer well to a blog format! Anacortes sellers tend to list their houses at the same time regardless of price range and all price ranges tend to peak at the same time in terms of new listings coming on the Anacortes market. If you would like more information on the seasonality of Anacortes homes for a particular area or price range please call or email us!  We can tell you what is happening in the Anacortes real estate market based on price, neighborhood, or even floor plan!  Info@J... 08/19/2008

Anacortes is A Great Place to Live!  Anacortes, WA   Anacortes is located on Fidalgo Island which is the most eastern of the San Juan Islands.  Fidalgo Island has only one town...Anacortes, just 90 minutes north of Seattle and 90 minutes south of British Columbia, Canada.  Fidalgo Island is accessible by 3 bridges and provides ferry, water taxi, and land plane service to the San Juan Islands. Located in the rain shadow, the average rainfall in of the Islands is 30%-50% less than Seattle. Fishing and crabbing is excellent in Anacortes, with boat charters readily available.  Whale watching tours, kayaking tours, and biking tours are available in downtown Anacortes.  The Islands also boast some of the best bird watching in the Northwest. The natural beauty  is captivating and abundant fore... 08/18/2008

Anacortes Jazz Festival  Only 11 more days until the Anacortes Jazz Festival!  Purchase your tickets now at http://www.jeangroesbeck.com/neighborhood_frameset.php?urlID=1 Ticket sales are going fast so don't miss your chance to see these star performers.  Jean Groesbeck www.JeanGroesbeck.comwww.CBIslandLiving.comwww.AnacortesHomesBlog.comwww.AnacortesHomeTeam.com 360 941-3734 Coldwell Banker Island Living 08/18/2008

Whether you live in Anacortes, La Conner, Samish Island, Whidbey Island or Guemes Island, when you purchased your home, you selected it based on your specific requirements for space, including the number of bedrooms and baths and amenities that fit your lifestyle. As you live in your home, you stamp your own personality on it through decorating, improvements and other enhancements. How about adding value to your home at the same time that you personalize it? Here are the four most common ways to add real value to your property, for your comfort and enjoyment today-and for resale down the road. * Maintenance: When left untreated, many small problems can blossom into major repairs. By spending a little time and money on the problem up front, you'll save major repair bills over time. A goo... 08/17/2008

Here are some the things happening around Anacortes: Cap Sante International, an Anacortes company that specialized in life boat maintenance, will be offering classes next month to professional seafarers. Adult sailing lessons are offered Aug 16-17 at the Seafarer's Memorial Park in Anacortes at 9 AM.   Anacortes is a Great Place to Live! Jean Groesbeck   360-941-3734 www.Jean Groesbeck.com www.CBIslandLiving.comwww.AnacortesHomesBlog.comwww.AnacortesHomeTeam.com Coldwell Banker Island Living 08/16/2008

Anacortes Homes for Sale and a Summary of Anacortes Real Estate Transaction Last Month For The Month Of: February 2008       Price New Listings New Pendings New Solds  New PND DOM Solds YTD '07 100-200k 2 0 0 \ 1 201-300k 14 1 0 14 3 301-400k 13 1 1 20 1 401-500k 7 0 0 \ 1 501-600k 2 0 0 \ 0 601-700k 7 0 1 \ 1 701-800k 2 0 0 \ 0 801-900k 4 0 0 \ 0 901-1m 1 0 0 \ 0 1m+ 3 0 0 \ 0                         Avg. List Price This Month: $544,637        Avg. Sold Price This Month: $ 517,500                       2008 2007     Avg. Sold Price YTD:   $398,400 $448,609     Sold DOM this month    10 126       Anacortes is a Great Place to Live! Jean Groesbeck   360-941-3734 www.Jean Groesbeck.comwww.CBIslandLiving.comwww.AnacortesHomesBlog.comwww.AnacortesHomeTeam.com Coldwell Banker Island Living 08/16/2008

Homes for Sale in Anacortes, WA Anacortes WA Real Estate: Anacortes homes for sale are ideal for those who enjoy the outdoors. Anacortes is surrounded by the waters of the North Puget Sound and the Swinomish Channel, with Guemes Island and the other San Juan Islands scattered around it. Anacortes is located on Fidalgo Island which is part of the San Juan Islands. Fidalgo Island has three bridges off of the island. One connects Fidalgo Island with I-5 via HWY 20, one bridge allows Anacortes home owners to take the back roads to La Conner, and the third bridge to Fidalgo Island allows Anacortes home owners to go to Whidbey Island. Within Anacortes, there are almost 2,800 acres of forest, lakes, wetlands and meadows enjoyed by visitors and Anacortes home owners. These are the Anacortes Com... 08/13/2008

Though it’s more well-known for the Port of Anacortes and the expansive natural beauty of Fidalgo Island, the city of Anacortes also has a rich history, great shopping and dining and a burgeoning cultural scene. Anacortes is situated in a community that has a small-town feel, but with amenities that rival those offered by bigger cities. Anacortes Homes located in Anacortes Old Town are expecially popular among Anacortes homeowner who like historic homes. Downtown Anacortes with its tree-lined streets and historic buildings is easy to navigate by bike, wheel chair and walking. Anacortes is charming, and the appeal of Anacortes is enhanced by more than a hundred life-sized murals by resident artist Bill Mitchell. The arts are flourishing in Anacortes. Anacortes Art Galleries display artwo... 08/12/2008

  Anacortes         Through 8-9-08 2008 2007 %LY # Transactions 153 207 73.9% Lowest Sale $150,000 $135,000 111.1% Highest Sale $1,550,000 $1,560,000 99.4% Median Price $366,000 $385,000 95.1% Average Price $413,330 $444,915 92.9% % List Price 95.63 96.62 99.0% Avg. SF 2056 2167 94.9% Avg. $/SF $202.63 $207.39 97.7% DOM 149 136 109.6%   www.JeanGroesbeck.com www.CBIslandLiving.comwww.AnacortesHomesBlog.comwww.AnacortesHomeTeam.com Coldwell Banker Island Living 08/11/2008

Whether you are moving with 2 Anacortes homes or from Seattle to La Conner there are a few simple things to do to make the move easier. * Choose a real estate agent ( I suggest a Jean Groesbeck & Assoc. LLC!) who communicates clearly and frequently, keeping you up to speed on every step of the process. * Price your home accurately for current market conditions. Competitive inventory is more important than past sales!  * Decide whether you want to move yourself or have professional movers handle the job. If you hire a moving company, make sure to book well in advance.  Moving companies are busy this time of year! *  After everything is packed and moved is a great time to have someone come in and clean...you have enough to do! * At least two weeks in advance, arrange to have utilities and... 08/11/2008

With soft home sales and the rising cost of materials it might make more sense to move rather than remodel and put more money into your current home. Before you remodel, find out what amenities will add value to your home, and which ones won't. If you would like to find out what your home is worth in today's market, please call for a no obligation market analysis. We work Anacortes and La Conner plus luxury properties in Island, Skagit and San Juan Counties. www.JeanGroesbeck www.CBIslandLiving.com www.AnacortesHomesBlog.com www.AnacortesHomeTeam.com Coldwell Banker Island Living 08/11/2008

Don't Miss the Anacortes Jazz Festival in Anacortes, WA. Anacortes is just 70 miles from Seattle and is accessible by 3 bridges to Fidalgo Island where it is located. Tha Anacortes Jazz Festival attracts incredible talent. Here is the schedule: Friday, August 29, 2008 - On Tesoro Stage Curtis Wharf Time: Artist / Event: 6PM Gala & Concert at the Port Warehouse: Featuring Kevin Mahogany 9 PM - Midnight Jazz Walk Saturday, August 30, 2008 - On Tesoro Stage Curtis Wharf Time: Artist / Event: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM Trish Hatley 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Doug Wamble Group 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM Kevin Mahogany 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Community Swing Dance: Featuring Pony Boy - Star Mini Big Band Playing the Breaks on the food court stage, Curtis Wharf Dilling... 08/11/2008

  The number of Anacortes homes for sale for June 2008 is higher than last year but the days on market is about the same.  These number are gathered from the NW MLS and reflect the Anacortes Real Estate Market.   Date 7-Apr 7-May 7-Jun 7-Jul 7-Aug 7-Sep 7-Oct 7-Nov 7-Dec 8-Jan 8-Feb 8-Mar 8-Apr 8-May 8-Jun For Sale 212 224 248 280 270 258 249 229 222 214 235 260 257 264 283 Sold 29 35 41 27 30 20 30 19 21 6 21 20 19 34 27 Pended 28 40 25 26 35 21 26 18 13 19 24 14 31 22 27 Months of Inventory based on Closed Sales 7.3 6.4 6 10.4 9 12.9 8.3 12.1 10.6 35.7 11.2 13 13.5 7.8 10.5 Months of Inventory based on Pended Sales 7.6 5.6 9.9 10.8 7.7 12.3 9.6 12.7 17.1 11.3 9.8 18.6 8.3 12 10.5 Avg. Active Price 656 656 640 643 631 631 652 648 648 644 641 636 645 658 629 Avg. Sld Price 403 467 435 3... 08/10/2008

Why Anacortes,WA Will Be Featured in Coastal Living Magazine Anacortes, WA was featured last month in Sunset Magazine and this month will be in Coastal Living!  Anacorte is accessible by car without a ferry and is about an hours and 15 minutes from Seattle.  It is a great destination to live, although many folks from Seattle are buying Anacortes homes as vacation property. The city of Anacortes is located on Fidalgo Island and is surrounded by the waters of the North Puget Sound and the Swinomish Channel, with Guemes Island and the other San Juan Islandsscattered around it. Anacortes has stunning natural beauty and an endless list of things to do.  Fidalgo Living is great!Within Anacortes itself, the are almost 2,800 acres of forest, lakes, wetlands and meadows. These are the Anacortes... 08/08/2008