Blog - Whidbey Island

The Benefits of Putting 20% Down on a House

If you read our, “How Long Does it Take to Save For a Down Payment?” article back in October, you know you don’t need a 20% downpayment to purchase a home because there are many alternative options available to you. However, while there are a plethora of options that you might qualify for, let’s look […]
Goss Lake Langley

Located between Freeland and Langley on the southern end of Whidbey, Goss Lake is the perfect spot for relaxing and taking in the fresh PNW air. Enjoy the beautiful greenery and waterfront view with a hike around Goss Lake Loop or (on the warmer days) take a dip in the freshwaters. During the colder seasons, […]
Thinking the Housing Market is Going to Slow down this Winter? Think Again!

Last week’s article, Why You Should NOT Wait to List Your House Right Now couldn’t have been more TRUE! Americans have more motivation than ever to buy a home. Whether buyers are taking advantage of today’s low mortgage rates or they feel the increased need for flexibility of working from home, we have seen an […]
Ebey’s Landing

In 1850, local history was made on the shores of Whidbey Island when Isaac Ebey landed on a rocky westside beach and became the first official white settler on the island. With an entire island to choose from, Ebey couldn’t have done much better than the pristine pastureland of what is now known as Ebey’s […]

The Benefits of Putting 20% Down on a House If you read our, “How Long Does it Take to Save For a Down Payment?” article back in October, you know you don’t need a 20% downpayment to purchase a home because there are many alternative options available to you. However, while there are a plethora of options that you might qualify for, let’s look […]

Goss Lake Langley Located between Freeland and Langley on the southern end of Whidbey, Goss Lake is the perfect spot for relaxing and taking in the fresh PNW air. Enjoy the beautiful greenery and waterfront view with a hike around Goss Lake Loop or (on the warmer days) take a dip in the freshwaters. During the colder seasons, […]

Thinking the Housing Market is Going to Slow down this Winter? Think Again! Last week’s article, Why You Should NOT Wait to List Your House Right Now couldn’t have been more TRUE! Americans have more motivation than ever to buy a home. Whether buyers are taking advantage of today’s low mortgage rates or they feel the increased need for flexibility of working from home, we have seen an […]

Ebey’s Landing In 1850, local history was made on the shores of Whidbey Island when Isaac Ebey landed on a rocky westside beach and became the first official white settler on the island. With an entire island to choose from, Ebey couldn’t have done much better than the pristine pastureland of what is now known as Ebey’s […]

Why you should NOT wait to list your house right now As the year comes to an end, we recognize a trend where homeowners are motivated to make the move and finally get into a home that complements their changing lifestyles. It is clear that homeowners have begun to understand the benefits of today’s sellers’ market. With record-breaking home price appreciation, growing equity, low inventory, and competitive mortgage […]

The Search for Equestrian Property Buying property suitable for horses is no small task. It is certainly not the typical home buying experience. There is so much to consider from what kind of property best meets the needs of your horses to what kind of home will best meet your wants and needs. Speaking from experience, the horses’ needs are […]

Fort Casey Forts Standing tall along the western coast of Whidbey Island, these 10” barrel guns tell the story of a relationship to the United States Department of Defense that began long before any plane took flight. At the time of its construction in the late 1800s, Fort Casey was a military marvel. Part of the “Triangle of […]

Things to do Today to make you a Homeowner Tomorrow As the gap between the cost of rent and the cost of a mortgage continues to close, we see an increasing number of renters interested in buying. But how can renters make the transition to owners? The purpose of this article is to help renters implement three critical changes today to help them successfully purchase […]

Q3, 2021 Gardner Report | Western Washington

Q3, 2021 Quarterly Stats Q3, 2021 – Quarterly Stats by Windermere Whidbey Island

Langley Village Langley is known for its unique specialty shops and galleries, showcasing amazing local artisan talent. From the lovely greenery of Bayview Farm & Garden to seaside-inspired jewelry and home décor at Foamy Wader, Langley has something for everyone! Want to try your own hand at some specialty art? Visit Callahan’s Firehouse for a cup of […]

Natures Halloween Decorations Dun dun. Dun dun. Dun dun…. They’re here….. nature’s Halloween decoration… It’s Spider Season! It comes without fail every year. In what feels like a blink of an eye every tree, bush, and building corner is covered in shiny interwoven silk with a beady-eyed creature lurking somewhere nearby. If you’re like most people, this is probably […]

Ebeys Landing In 1850, local history was made on the shores of Whidbey Island when Isaac Ebey landed on a rocky westside beach and became the first official white settler on the island. With an entire island to choose from, Ebey couldn’t have done much better than the pristine pastureland of what is now known as Ebey’s […]

How Long Does it Take to Save For a Down Payment? Saving enough money for a down payment on your first home can be one of the biggest obstacles to homeownership. Depending on your circumstance you might need anywhere from 3% – 20%. Speaking with a reputable local lender will help you find out exactly what your percentage will be. But how long should it take, […]

Downtown Langley On the southern side of Whidbey Island along the Saratoga Passage lies the lovely little town of Langley. With a population of just over 1,000, this quaint town is home to a creative culture and endless entertainment. Established in 1891, Langley served as South Whidbey’s trading center for all types of goods with the wharf […]

4 Online Resources That will Blow Your Mind! …and help when buying vacant land on Whidbey Island. ICGeo This is a sophisticated GIS mapping tool for Island County that can show layers and layers of geographically specific data overlaid on a map. Just turn on the layers of data you are interested in and search till your heart is content! Island County Public […]

Is the Oak Harbor Housing Market Getting Squishy? Written by: Kristen Stavros 16 September 2021 There is a general feeling amongst brokers that the Oak Harbor market has softened up just a bit. As Branch Manager and Co-owner of Windermere Whidbey Island I pay close attention to what my brokers are seeing and feeling out there in the market. When I begin to […]

Rainy Days: A Whole New Perspective Do you find that these rainy days bring you down? Or do you find the excitement of your day “rained” on? We’ve made some suggestions below that may have you looking forward to the next rainy day we have on Whidbey Island! Don’t worry, these activities cater to everyone. Give them a chance and you […]

Must Watch Movies and Shows Filmed on Whidbey Perhaps the chill in the air has you finding yourself spending more time in doors these days now that summer is over and you are wondering what there is to do? ‌ ‌ By‌ ‌far‌ ‌the‌ ‌most‌ ‌common‌ ‌entertainment‌ ‌strategy‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌finding‌ ‌shows‌ ‌and‌ ‌movies‌ ‌to‌ ‌watch!‌ ‌ Online‌ ‌streaming‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌a‌ ‌lifesaver‌ ‌for‌ […]

Bowman Bay Although not technically on Whidbey, Bowman Bay is a large part of our island’s local culture. This bay, which is located on the Fidalgo Island side of Deception Pass, has a rich history spanning back to the late 1800s. Originally a settlement to a large Samish village, the bay has since served several purposes including […]