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Drop in Mortgage Rates, What that Means for You

Mortgage rates rise and fall in response to varying inflation. If 7% was too high for you, it is likely now a better time to connect with your lender to see if the current rates better align with your monthly housing allowance goals, as mortgage rates have begun to decline. Keeping an eye on inflation […]
Improving Lifestyles While Reinforcing Independence

Did you know that our North Whidbey Help House offers more than just food? Part of their mission is to, “offer the best assistance possible and assist wherever possible in not only improving lifestyles but striving towards independence from the need for assistance.” WHERE DOES THE ASSISTANCE COME FROM They work in combination with other […]
Q3 Gardner Report
Fall Season: Apple Pie Recipe

Fall has finally arrived! Many people have their own way of celebrating the changes of the season, whether it be the pumpkin spice latte in place of their usual, the apple cider wax melts in their burners or the purchase of the burnt orange coats and warm fussy socks. For us… one of our all-time […]

Drop in Mortgage Rates, What that Means for You Mortgage rates rise and fall in response to varying inflation. If 7% was too high for you, it is likely now a better time to connect with your lender to see if the current rates better align with your monthly housing allowance goals, as mortgage rates have begun to decline. Keeping an eye on inflation […]

Improving Lifestyles While Reinforcing Independence Did you know that our North Whidbey Help House offers more than just food? Part of their mission is to, “offer the best assistance possible and assist wherever possible in not only improving lifestyles but striving towards independence from the need for assistance.” WHERE DOES THE ASSISTANCE COME FROM They work in combination with other […]

Q3 Gardner Report

Fall Season: Apple Pie Recipe Fall has finally arrived! Many people have their own way of celebrating the changes of the season, whether it be the pumpkin spice latte in place of their usual, the apple cider wax melts in their burners or the purchase of the burnt orange coats and warm fussy socks. For us… one of our all-time […]

Another Successful Community Service Day Every year since 1984, Windermere offices everywhere have dedicated a day of service to the community. Each office closes its doors for a day to join together and complete projects that improve our local neighborhoods and community. The hands-on projects are chosen by brokers and staff. Projects vary widely from area to area. Some examples […]

Spruce up your Space this Spring With spring upon us and gardening on the top of our minds lets discuss 5 simple landscaping ideas to spruce up your space this spring before you rush out and use your 20% off plants at Mailliards Landing Nursery coupon during the month of April. Don’t have one but want one? Request yours here! Do […]

The Whidbey Island Guide and Neighborhood Deep Dive! When you are preparing to move to a new location or to buy a home for the first time, you are likely eager to learn literally EVERYTHING from the home buying process to everything about the area and what it has to offer when you arrive. Whether from pure excitement or overwhelming nerves you are […]

Avoid These 9 Tax Filing Errors There are people that stay organized all year long and file their taxes as early as humanly possible while others will wait till the very last minute. Some people tackle the task themselves while others hire out to relieve them of the stressor. Regardless of which side of the spectrum you are on, the deadline […]

Best ways to increase curb appeal for under $100 this spring Even in the hottest seller’s market Whidbey Island has ever seen, it’s obvious that curb appeal is still fetching top dollar. In fact, now more than ever a phenomenal home that is attractively presented is able to create such a stir that buyers are battling over who will get it. If you are selling soon […]

We are NOT in a Housing Bubble: Here’s Why! Home buyers are beginning to believe we are heading into a housing bubble. It is easy to acknowledge this premonition, as year-after-year home price appreciation has continued to remain in the double digits. However, we are here to put your mind at ease as this market is very different than it was during the housing […]

Annual Report 2021

The Gardner Report: Q4 2021

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

Staging a Home Should You Stage Your Home? Every home is changed by those who live in it even under the care of the most vigilant homeowners. Staging a home for sale is one tactic that may take the attention away from less than stellar paint, flooring, or kitchen cabinets and convince the buyer that they can make […]

What View is Best on Whidbey Island? Whidbey Island straddles the 47 to 48th parallel. This means the summer brings gluttony of sun, so much that black-out shades are a staple in Pacific Northwest homes. Although, this abundance of light is sometimes hard to remember during the darkest days of winter when the sun only passes by at a shallow 45 degrees […]

Set Yourself up for Success by Doing These 7 Things When Buying Your First Home Buying your first home can be easy when you are adequately prepared and you have a good agent on your side. But where to start and what actions are most important? We will get you pointed in the right direction. Let’s get started! Know your credit score. Many first-time homebuyers fail to recognize that one […]

The Importance of Shredding During or after the purchase or sale of a home you find a lot of paperwork that may have sensitive personal information. What do you do with all of that paperwork?! Throwing it in the trash could mean it falling in the wrong hands and used against you. The safest way to deal with old […]