The years teach much which the days never knew. -Ralph Waldo EmersonAnd wow, what a year it has been... To me it felt like Gig Harbor real estate versus the news media! There's so much to brag about- A new bridge with an easy drive across the Narrows, a new Costco, Gig Harbor North, Uptown GH, and St. Anthony Hospital just for starters. And yet all we hear is the housing/sky is falling; nobody's buying homes, prices are plunging; things will get worse before they get better...Well, people are buying and in fact according to the MLS statistic reports; closed residentual sales YTD for the entire Gig Harbor/ Key Peninsula areas are down only 12% from 2006. And some pockets of GH real estate are thriving-- Have you tried to buy an affordable waterfront home lately? Sold Key Peninsula waterf... 12/28/2007

Supposedly, home sales pretty much dry up around the holidays then kick back in to gear at the start of the new year.  But take at look at these Gig Harbor home sales.  I'm going to run a 3 month consecutive to make the numbers make a bit more sense.  In December of 2005, 62 homes sold in Gig Harbor.  In January of ‘06, 34 homes sold, and 48 sold in Feb of ‘06.  December of ‘06 saw 53 homes sell in Gig Harbor, followed by 24 in January of ‘07 and 54 in Feb of ‘07. One thing to keep in mind with these numbers is that many of the homes sold in December probably were written under contract in October or November.  Homes sold in January were written up end of November or December, most likely, and February home sales were probably seen by the buyers around Christmas time or early in the new... 12/26/2007

Recently one of the readers of my other blog made mention of all of the new construction that is taking place in Gig Harbor.  I thought I'd take a look at what has been happening in new home sales in Gig Harbor this year. There are currently 124 homes on the market that list 2007 as their year built.  These homes have an average list price of $833,503.  6 homes built in ‘07 are currently pending a sale, with an average price of $646,698.  Only 20 homes built in ‘07 have sold in Gig Harbor this year (that number jumps to 81 if you count houses built in 2006).  Of the homes built in ‘07 that have sold, their average sales price has been $664,835 (those same houses had an average list price of $685,313).  When you look at both ‘06 and ‘07 built homes that have sold during 2007, those numbe... 12/21/2007

As our beloved Gig Harbor finally gets dragged into this country's 100 year mortgage crisis I can't resist the urge to point out a few positives. Heck, maybe it's just hopeless real estate agent optimism, but I feel pretty darn lucky to be hunkered down in South Puget Sound observing the nation's drama.Gig Harbor resisted the media enhanced real estate/ mortgage disaster from day one. True things have slowed, but there are still plenty of local transactions progressing daily. Gig Harbor is a great place to live and the business of mortgage is not going to change that. Interest rates are very low, sensible loans are easily had.Sales are down but the good stuff is still selling quickly. Good Stuff?  Here's an example:We parked at the gate and walked a 1/2 mile of paved driveway to discove... 12/19/2007

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 31, 2007SEATTLE, WA. - Washington State based nwRealty.Net, Inc. today announced the addition of Premier Northwest Properties to its marketing network of real estate brokers, agents and affiliates.  The internet marketing for Premier Northwest Properties (www.premiernwp.com), Mishal Brown (www.mishalbrown.com), Katy & Jan Bruusgaard (www.katyandjan.com), Broker Mike Stewart (www.mikestewartrealestate.com) and the "Promotional Spotlight" of their listings and services is now fully integrated with over 64,000 NWMLS-IDX listings on www.nwRealty.com.  Their websites at now have the competitive advantage of reaching an additional 365,000 real estate buyers and sellers specifically looking for real estate in Gig Harbor, Washington.About Premier Northwest Propertie... 09/10/2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 31, 2007SEATTLE, WA. - nwRealty.Net, Inc. announces the addition of Paul Redal, real estate professional with Premier Northwest Properties, to its marketing network of Washington real estate brokers, agents and affiliates.  Paul Redal's on-line advertising and the "Promotional Spotlight" of his listings is now fully integrated with over 64,000 NWMLS-IDX listings on http://www.nwrealty.com/ and his website at http://www.paulredal.com/ has the important competitive advantage of reaching an additional 365,000 on-line real estate buyers and sellers specifically looking for Washington real estate.About Paul RedalPaul Redal has over 30 years experience with Premier Northwest Properties and has received the following awards and recognition ... Lifetime-Plus Member R... 09/05/2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 31, 2007SEATTLE, WA. - Washington State based nwRealty.Net, Inc. today announced the addition of LuAnn Frans, real estate professional with Premier Northwest Properties, to its marketing network of real estate brokers, agents and affiliates.  LuAnn Frans' internet marketing and the "Promotional Spotlight" of her listings and services is now fully integrated with over 64,000 NWMLS-IDX listings on http://www.nwrealty.com/.  Her website at http://www.luannfrans.com/ now has the competitive advantage of reaching an additional 365,000 real estate buyers and sellers specifically looking for Washington real estate.About LuAnn FransLuAnn Frans has been recognized by the Tacoma Pierce County Association of REALTORS as a top producer for consecutive years.  "I go the e... 09/05/2007

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 5, 2007SEATTLE, WA. - Washington State based nwRealty.Net, Inc. today announced the addition of Gig Harbor Realty, Inc. to its marketing network of real estate brokers, agents and affiliates.  The internet marketing of Gig Harbor Realty, Inc. and the "Promotional Spotlight" of their listings and services is now fully integrated with over 64,000 NWMLS-IDX listings on http://www.nwrealty.com/.  Their site at http://www.gigharborrealty.com/ now has the competitive advantage of reaching an additional 365,000 real estate buyers and sellers specifically looking for Washington real estate.About Gig Harbor Realty, Inc.Gig Harbor Realty Inc. has proudly served Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Fox Island and the surrounding communities of Pierce County and Kitsap County for ove... 09/05/2007

Over the past several months I have observed that the major newspaper for our county has run articles weekly, and sometimes even more frequently, with a very negative bent on living in my town, on the real estate market in my area, and everything that could possibly affect someone's decision on moving to this location.  Consequently, all of the surrounding counties are still strong market activity; whereas, our county--and my town specifically--has a glut of homes on the market.  Our unemployment rate is the same or lower as the other counties, many companies and industries are currently expanding to our town--bringing with them an additional 5,000+ jobs (our population is under 7,000), we no longer have major traffic backups as our new bridge is working splendidly--giving us quick acce... 08/15/2007

Greetings to all,I went to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge ceremony yesterday, and what a marvel!  Not only is it the largest suspension bridge built since 1964, but it is a beauty to look at up close.  But the best part was the drive into Tacoma today.Four lanes going East with an HOV lane?  Get out of here!  What a dream commute, and the project is not even complete.  Watch out Gig Harbor Real Estate.  It may take 6 months to a year for everyone to figure it out, but this part of the globe is now part of the modern world.  I am excited by the changes that will happen in the real estate market as a result of the second bridge.  When you can drive 55 mph without slowing down, the area will become a bedroom community to virtually anywhere you want to work.  The toll?  Worth every penny.  With ... 07/16/2007