Special offer

Port Townsend, WA Real Estate News

By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
                          This is a wonderful and amazing place here in Port Townsend.  It is  run by the Sheriff Dept. with the help of a lot of terrific volunteers.  People who go every week to walk the dogs, talk to the cats, clean cages, feed and water animals and look for new homes for them.  The Olympic Mountain Pet Pals also do a great deal of work for the shelter and it's members can be found there most any day. This shelter works very hard to place all animals and to be a "no kill" facility.  There is a memorial page on this website, a good place to put photos and information about your own pets who have passed away.  http://www.jeffersoncountyhumanesociety.org             There is a team of veterinarians who give much of their time to these little guys for healing and surgerie...
Comments 8
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
    Port Townsend is experiencing our first real spring weather this week, and just in time for our wonderful Rhody festival. It was started in 1935 when a local businessman contacted the Hearst News Organization with an idea to film the rhododendrons in bloom as a part of their "short subjects" popular in movie theaters in those days.  The business community then organized a Queen competition to have a group of young women in the photos.  The townspeople could vote by spending money at local participating merchants.  The following year the American Legion liked the enthusiasm generated by the event and decided to go forward with an annual event which became the Rhody Festival we enjoy today.   The festival has been going on ever since except for the war years of 1942-1945. In the 1950'...
Comments 5
By Charlie Arthur, CCIM
(RE/MAX FIRST, INC.)
Rhody festival in Port Townsend.  This weekend is one of the biggest events of the year for our little town.  Thousands of people flock to visit the carnival, parade, Rhody Run XXXI, pet parade, kids parade, bed races, trike races, live music in all the bars and restaraunts, alumni gatherings, Kiwanis fish fry, the list goes on. This weekend is the main event for locals.  Kind of a "mardi gras" of sorts.  Good food, good music and good friends.  If you are ever in the area the third weekend in May you need to check it out.
Comments 1
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
This is one of the most fun events of the Rhody Festival every May.  Those glorious blooms are out and we have a week of celebration, including a Rhody Parade with a queen and her court, Pet Parade, Fish Fry, Carnival, Bed Races, the annual Rhody Run ( and walk) and a pancake breakfast.  How much fun can you have.  There was speculation that we would not have much of a turnout this year due to the closure of the Hood Canal Bridge, but last I heard we had 97 entrants into the parade this Saturday. Today was the annual Pet Parade and it was as wonderful as ever.  People of all ages dress their pets in their finest or whackiest and parade them down Lawrence Ave.  There are biscuits for the pets and  cold drinks and cookies for their humans.         There was a boy and his duck, small mediu...
Comments 9
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
It is said that over 22,000 cars per day cross over to the North Olympic Peninsula on the Hood Canal Bridge which connects us to the mainland of Puget Sound and Kitsap Peninsula.  No amount of planning could prepare us for the inconvenience and loss of business the closing has cost. Our little city of Port Townsend has done a lot of publicity to remind our summer visitors that we are still here and accessible, but I hear from local business owners this is not working too well.  There is a one lane highway that will take you to the mainland, but it seems to be a 4-5 hour trip.  There is the possibility of taking a walk on ferry from point a to point b and then catching a bus or two into Seattle.  It now leaves at 4:30 am.  The other possibility is 2 ferries with about 2 hours of driving ...
Comments 8
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
I figure if I keep writing about Port Townsend and even 1% of you come to visit, it will be a tremendous boost to our economy.  This is a wonderful spot on the waterfront in Port Townsend with a very interesting history. Clam Cannery         This is a great old building that was used for clam canning dating back to the year 1885. Eventually and more than once,   Port Townsend had a big depression era when everyone moved away and the population was down in the 2000 range.  The cannery was in use again around the 30's and was next to the ferry dock.  Sometime later it fell into disrepair, and was home to lots of pigeons and sea gulls.  A very ambitious business man fell in love with Port Townsend and this wonderful old building and bought it with plans for renovation, including a restaura...
Comments 6
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
 New Stats for Western Washington According to our Northwest Multiple Listing Service there has been a significant increase in pending sales for April, up 11.4% compared to a year ago and up 21.3 % from March figures.  The NWMLS encompasses 19 counties. In the Puget Sound area (King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties) pending sales were up 26% from March.    According to the data, the inventory is less, and prices are stabilizing.    The median price for April's closed sales was $270,000 for homes and condominiums, down 12.9 percent for the one year period but was the same for March. Inventory is down 18.3% from last years levels.  This good news is credited to lower prices, lower interest rates which means higher affordability and improving consumer confidence and of course the fir...
Comments 7
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
Cindo de Mayo  is not as much fun here as it was in California.  There, people are always  happy for the excuse to have Margaritas, and act crazy.  Oh well, they would never have a Rhodie Festival with a bed race and a pet parade, like we have here in Port Townsend,  so there are trade-offs. Here is what Wayne (Dyer) has for you today.  If things are not working, ask yourself,"In what way am I creating this? In what way can I change?
Comments 3
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
    Where I live we are surrounded by water and a fair amount of rain.  However, the state of Washington is planning to regulate its use in our area of Jefferson County to benefit the salmon habitat.  The resulting limits on water usage could seriously  affect our small farms and some believe it is a plan to limit growth in the state.  There are local farm bureaus that are lobbying against the limits, and many public forums take place with the Department of Ecology and the Department of Natural Resources. There have been many realtors working to defeat the regulations. Possible new rules would limit the number of  new wells, denying some land owners development of their own land, metering existing wells and  limiting the amount of water to a maximum of 500 gallons per day, or an average...
Comments 5
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
According to my company stats this is the foreclosure rate in the Pacific Northwest : Number of Homes in foreclosure: 2008                                                             2009 WA  1/1194                                                   1/908 OR  1/984                                                     1/446 ID   1/774                                                     1/358 US 1/557                                                       1/440 We are a bit behind the rest of the country, so maybe our worst numbers are yet to come.  Wayne Dywer Wisdom for May 4th: You are in a partnership with all other human beings; not a contest to be judged better than some and worse than others. I think real estate causes us to judge ourselves based more on production, than what we have ...
Comments 6
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
I hope your Sunday is as beautiful as ours.  Here is Dr. Wayne Dyers proclamtion for today: Every obstacle that comes along on this planet is either an opportunity to grow and transcend our form and think differently,  or to use it as an excuse to believe we are stuck. 
Comments 1
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
This was a wonderful event sponsored by our tiny 25 bed hospital, Jefferson Healthcare  and would be a terrific idea for any town no matter the size.  The first all day symposium on preventing and living with cardiovascular disease.  There were several doctors, mine included, RN's, nutritionists, and exercise experts to give panel discussions, break out sessions on various topics,  and testing.  The one physician I was able to listen to ( was a working day for me) was a cardiologist from Virginia Mason in Seattle, a large hospital with excellent staff and equipment.  They did testing that gave you instant lab results on cholesterol, hdl, and ldl levels , triglicerides, sugar levels, and blood pressure.  That must have been about a $400 test, all done for free, with experienced RNs to i...
Comments 0
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
$265,000 Bedroom: 1 Bath: 1 945 CALHOUN ST  Port Townsend, WA 98368 MLS# 29017384www.johnlscott.com/45891 Wonderful 40's Cottage in good Uptown location, close to library,restaurants and theater. Corner lot with Olympic Mountain views. Very comfortable interior with hardwood floors in living room, French Doors to deck, bedroom with full bath, and nice additional room for guests or office. Inside laundry room. Leased until October, 2009. http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/  
Comments 0
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
  Happening this weekend, May 2nd and 3rd at the fairgrounds in Port Townsend.  This is a great event for all homeowners, and those that want to be in the future.   Sponsored by the Jefferson County Homebuilder's Association with other sponsors including,  Puget Sound Energy  First Federal Bank  Built Green  Mountain Propane  Penquin Windows  This event will help connect members of this small local trade organization with consumers, who will benefit from demonstrations, exhibits, booths, and seminars.  Promoting remodeling and new construction as well, with ideas on building green, power saving tips, passive solar exhibit.  Attendees will be able to see and feel products.  The event will provide networking for builders, suppliers, vendors and consumers.    Last year there were over 70 ...
Comments 0
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
May Day! I hope the weather is as beautiful in your town as it is in Port Townsend, WA this morning.  Here is your Wayne Dyer wisdon for this morning: No one knows enough to be a pessimist.  No one!  Hope you are full of optimism this morning....Have a beautiful  day.  
Comments 2
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
Every year, Port Townsend home owners experience accidents in their house that could have been avoided. These, include electric and kitchen fires, gas leaks, smoke, and carbon monoxide injuries, scalding from hot water, and falling down stairs. Below are seven easy, cost effective ways for reducing your chances of facing such a household calamity. 1. Have you replaced your smoke detector (s) in the last 10 years? As of 1997, 94% of all homes have smoke detectors. In fact, a working smoke detector can reduce your risk of dying in a house fire by nearly 50%. Batteries should be changed every 6 months and smoke detectors every 10 years. 2. Does your family have an escape plan if a fire should occur? Only 16% households have developed and practiced a fire escape plan. Always have at least 2...
Comments 1
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
As promised, Wayne Dyer thought from "Everyday Wisdom Calendar: April 30 From the Prince of Peace:"As ye think, so shall ye be". I have noticed at his website you can navigate to free downloads for your i-pod.  Worth doing to get some inspiration while you exercise. 
Comments 4
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
The Hood Canal Bridge is located between Kitsap and Jefferson counties at the mouth of the Hood Canal. It serves as a vital economic and social link between the greater Puget Sound and the Olympic Peninsula.I will be providing useful updates on my blog with original information, interviews and photos as well as links to maps services and information until the bridge re-opens in 4 - 6 weeks. Here is a link to a wadot map of ways to get around during the closure http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E89F9CE6-E417-4580-8592-1D6A69578AC8/54004/HCBmapUPDATEprint.pdf There will be a dramatic increase in vehicle traffic travelling through Port Townsend to use the ferry boat to Keystone on Whidbey Island. After arriving on Whidbey Island, travellers can opt to travel North or South. North leads ...
Comments 2
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
  Built Green I had to really look into this earlier this week when a Buyer asked what exactly did this Built Green sign in the window  mean and I realized I had only a vague notion and no real answers.  For all you people who are already knowledgeable in this stuff, just skip to the next blog. For the rest of you....I researched this through the Jefferson County Home Builder's Association and also looked into a new  home project in our city.  Built Green is an organization that is receiving funding in the county by a Washington State Department of Ecology grant, Jefferson County Environmental Health Department partnered with the Jefferson County Home Builder's Association.  The purpose is to work with local experts to create a program emphasising energy efficiency and protection of our...
Comments 5
By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
I noticed a lot of you responded to my blog about Rudy, my son's dog,so  I know you have dogs you love and care for.  Just for fun today, I am sending on a good recipe that was just given to me for dog cookies.  I have 2 very spoiled Shit Zhu's who don't like most dog biscuits, but really like these.   What a good way to relax after a hard day at the office.  Also a thoughtful gift for your clients with dogs of their own or a useful skill to teach to your children. Peanut Butter Dog Cookies 1 1/4 C water 1/4  C Canola oil 2 med. eggs 3 tbls. peanut butter 2 tbls vanilla 1 1/2 C whole wheat flour 3/4 C corn meal 1/2 C rolled oats Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In large bowl combine dry ingredients.  Beat the liquid ingredients and peanut butter together in a separate bowl.  NOTE:  Before ...
Comments 3