Sandra White: Washington: Port Townsend

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. 

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 to Anacortes via highway 20 and travel on either to the San Juan Islands via ferry boat or continue east to Mount Vernon and interstate 5.

However most travellers will be heading south to the Clinton / Mulkiteo ferry to get to Seattle.

Updates will also be available on my website:

http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

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 natural resources. 

There is a checklist to guide builders with a baseline for minimun thresholds, to accomplish cost-effective, resource -effiecient homebuilding.  Some homes will be more green than  but the goal is conservation of materials, energy efficiency and good site planning. 

When enough of these requirements are met, the project and/or the builder can be certified as Built Green.  Various levels of certification are possible, depending on the local program.  Higher levels require the project to be inspected and documented by a third party verifier to ensure accuracy. 

There is also a campaign to educate the consumer.  Money has been donated by our local electric company, Puget Sound Energy.  They list these advantages for the Buyer:

1. Less expensive to operate.  Energy and water efficient features save on utility bills
2. Healthier and more comfortable.. less toxic materials, well designed isulation and efficient heating and cooling, with a well insulated building envelope can mean you breathe fresher air with fewer drafts.
3. More durable and lower maintenance.  Careful selection of a buildings materirals, its design, and its placemnet on its site can mean fewer replacement costs and effort. 
4. A smart investment.  Real estate data is showing that certified homes sell faster and for more money than comparable homes, and they hold their value longer. 

A McGraw Hill survey published in October 2008 found that 60 percent of builders said buyers were willing to pay more for green homes.  Builder Magazine reported that 80 percent of homebuyers said they would choose one home over another based on its energy efficiency. 

The Built Green program is also being applied to renovations and remodels in Washington State, as well as multifamily home projects. 

A local Built Green project:

Spring Valley Cottages, Port Townend

 Designed by Ross Chapin, built by Kimball and Landes 2007-2008

 Approx. 830 Sq. ft. , asking price $265,000 and up.  10 built, 5 sold.

 Common House shared by all homeowners. 

                                                                                              Built Green Floor Trusses

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 adding oil drain off any extra oil.  Add liquid mixture to dry ingredients and blend with electric beater until well mixed.  Form the dough into a ball and let the dough rest for 10 minutes.  On floured board, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thick.  Cut dough with cookie cutte4r.  Bake for 20 min. at 400, then turn off the oven and let the biscuits cool.

If you have a dog cuter than Lulu and Teddy, send me a picture.

Our city council is discussing banning sandwich board signs in town.  I wonder, how will I do an open house without them?  I was taking a walk downtown yesterday morning before the stores were open and I took a look at the sandwich board signs and was a bit surprised. 

There were more, but you get the idea.  They are spread out on various corners, and all are wonderful locally owned business who have to attract the foot traffic from the ferries, but when you really start thinking about how many there are, it begins to look a bit tacky. 

Most of our store owners are really hurting, and we have a Downtown organization that is very active in promoting the area.  We even have a small cruise ship that stops one week-end a month in the summer. It is full of very interesting and innovative shops, great restaurants and good entertainment.  It is totally dependent on visitors to survive.  We are beginning to see more and more vacancies, but also there are still new businesses popping up.  More on that later.

We have at least 5 large commericial/mixed used buildings for sale on our main street.  Grand old buildings dating back to the late 1800's, with water views, 3 and 4 floors with retail and residential suites.

It seems the ordinance will go into effect in the fall.  What's going on in your town?

DOGS-A-FOOT         One of the most popular lunch sites in Port Townsend, Dogs A Foot has been going strong for 22 years, most of it at current location on Water Street near city hall.    It is the harbinger of spring in PT when it opens and the beginning of our winter when it closes. 

This winter we all said goodbye to the owners, John and Sai Sheehan who were leaving for Thailand for the winter.  All hot dogs were free that last closing day.  John and his wife had sold the business and planned to retire.  They had been putting the trailer which houses the stand into storage and spending their winters in Thailand. 

I had heard the sale fell through, and this morning on my walk I saw John outside, setting up and getting ready for business.  I asked him if the business was for sale again and if I could take his picture.  He said yes, and yes.

Sorry for John that his deal fell through, but so glad to see it open again and look like it always has for the 10 years I have been eating his hot dogs.  My favorite is the veggie dog, with sauerkraut piled high.  My dogs Teddy and Lulu like the big water pan he keeps filled in front of the stand. 

Housing is a very important industry in Washington State,  with new housing construction creating a big impact on the state's economy.   There is the job creation directly from building new homes, plus all the linked suppliers of goods and services.  There is also the real estate brokerage involved, plus jobs in maintenance, repairs, additions, alterations, homeowner expenditures. 

In my county of Jefferson building permits in 2008 were 1/2 the number in 2007.  Statewide the 2008 total building permits were down approximately 34% over 2007.  I agree with the BIAW (Building Industry Association of Washington) that  we cannot afford the  new regulations being considered by the state legislature.   

According to the BIAW our builder's are highly over-regulated, which is accounting for a cost per home of up to 45%.  New bills being considered by the state to aid in green house emission would add an additional $5000 to $8000 per home. 

Retrofit Vs. New Regulations:

California has an almost identical energy code to Washington and they discovered that retrofitting existing homes would be better for climate change than new regulations on new construction.  Retrofitting a 1960's home would prevent 8.5 tons of carbon emission per year at a cost of $10,000.  Building a new home with a 35% stricter energy code would reduce  by 1.1 tons per year at a cost of $5000.  It seems the real energy savings are in retrofitting, not new regulations. 

The  Association of University Women and the University Women's Foundation of Jefferson County are sponsoring their 12th annual Kitchen Tour in Port Townsend.  The money raised will go to support education and scholerships.  This year it will be held in the community of Kala Point from 10 am to 4pm.  This is a wonderful opportunity to get some ideas on great kitchens, as well as get a better look at a wonderful area of Port Townsend. 

Ten private homes will open their kitchens to paying guests ($14 or $18 on Sat.)  with hotesses to give you the details.  This is a great opportunity for realtors with listings in the area for open house tours.  I believe our office has 5-6 on tour tomorrow.  Check it out if you are in the area.

Raffle Prizes include:

        s

9th Annual JeffCo EXPO
April 25, 2009 - April 26, 2009
STARTS: 9:30 a.m.
LOCATION: Jefferson County Fairgrounds

4x4/ATV events, Car Shows, Bike Show, Armwrestling Tournament,Performance Horse Shows, vendors,Food, Mechanical Bull Riding.

 Sounds like fun for everyone.  We have the Jefferson County Fairgrounds here in town which is used for a lot of events.  There are corrals and stadiums, and lots of buildings for 4H events and of course the county fair.

My career began in Palm Springs, CA which is a small resort town.  Lots of second homes and sellers you never see, just unload their properties for them. I started in 1980.  Thats a whole nother story.    Then on to So. Orange County in CA where the emphasis was on investment.  Not is this the right home for my family, but how much can I make when I sell!  Oh yeah, and how soon after closing can I start my law suit.

Port Townsend been a refreshing change for me.  In the 10 years I have been involved in selling here, I have heard of only 1 lawsuit threatened, and not sure if there have been any in my office the whole time I have been here.  I have dodged that bullet for 30 years, maybe because I am a goodie two shoes and like to make sure there are no grey areas.  All of the clients I have encountered in Port Townsend have been very nice people, looking for a real home and no plans to flip in the future.  Makes the job seem a lot more pleasant and worth while.

So how are we doing.  Last I heard we went from 130 agents in Jefferson Countcory down to around 100 for 2009.  Pace of sales over 2008 has slowed dramatically, but values have held pretty steady.   For the quarter ending in March, sales were down 40%: 40 closed sales compared to 70 in the same quarter last year. That is a very small sample to draw from.  The median price of all homes sold in the county was $247,500( down 22% from a year ago) the median price dropped just 5% in Port Ludlow, a small neighboring community and acturally rose 5% in Port Townsend.   According to report I read in the Port Townsend Leader Newspaper, the median closed sale was $337,000 in Port Townsend.  We have mostly been on a plateau price wise since 2006. 

Offers are being accepted at about 93% of the asking price, which used to be around 96-98% in the hottest market a couple of years ago.  And of course there are consistent price reductions.  Fortunately you can count on one hand the number of foreclosures in our little town. 

Wishing you all a great spring season with renewed energy and passion for your business.