Oak Harbor

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 […]
Timothy Haslet Mural

Have you driven down SE Pioneer Street recently? Perhaps the stunning new artwork by Timothy Haslet captured your eye. Changing Downtown Over the past five years, programs like the Allgire Project, Oak Harbor Main Street Association commissions, and fire hydrant painting projects have led to an increase in art downtown. For years though, a deteriorating […]
Annual Report 2021
Maylor Point

In this amazing shot by Willie Shaw at Team Shaw Photography, you can see the actual harbor of Oak Harbor, the marina, Maylor Point with its iconic white radar dome, the spit to Polnell Point, and the snow-covered Cascade Mountains. Phenomenal views like this one can be seen while driving all over Whidbey Island. Winter […]

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 […]

Timothy Haslet Mural Have you driven down SE Pioneer Street recently? Perhaps the stunning new artwork by Timothy Haslet captured your eye. Changing Downtown Over the past five years, programs like the Allgire Project, Oak Harbor Main Street Association commissions, and fire hydrant painting projects have led to an increase in art downtown. For years though, a deteriorating […]

Annual Report 2021

Maylor Point In this amazing shot by Willie Shaw at Team Shaw Photography, you can see the actual harbor of Oak Harbor, the marina, Maylor Point with its iconic white radar dome, the spit to Polnell Point, and the snow-covered Cascade Mountains. Phenomenal views like this one can be seen while driving all over Whidbey Island. Winter […]

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

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Deception Pass Washington’s most visited park can be attributed to its prominent historical landmark, the Deception Pass Bridge. Thoughts of the landscape without this icon are unimaginable yet only 100 years ago the barren Pass was simply a deep and turbulent channel of water connecting the Strait of Juan de Fuca with the Saratoga Passage. After years […]

Bird Watching on Whidbey Island 50 miles South of the U.S./Canada border and 25 miles North of Seattle lies Whidbey Island, an incomparable destination for nature lovers and bird enthusiasts. On Whidbey, you can get lost for hours and find yourself mesmerized not only by incredible views but by a breathtaking variety of birds. Whidbey Boasts 148 miles of winding […]

What is Your Go-to for Managing Stress Since the Pandemic? For some, it might be a nice glass of wine from Vails Wine Shop in Coupeville in the evening. Perhaps calming music, a soak in a deep tub with bubbles, or a good book. But for many, it is turning to nature. While there are various ways to find peace, internal healing, and reduce the […]

Everything You Need to Know About Riding Bikes on Whidbey Island Whether you are a serious road cyclist; an avid mountain biker or just someone who enjoys a scenic bike ride every now and then, Whidbey Island has got you covered. Not only are we home to miles and miles of gorgeous; low-traffic backroads and off-road trails to explore, we also have an active biking community […]

Preparing to List in the Whidbey Island Real Estate Market Right Now Today’s housing market is full of exceptional opportunities for sellers. The large buyer demand combined with record-low housing inventory has created an optimal sellers’ market. This means that it can be a great time to sell your house if you are thinking about selling. However, one misconception is that sellers are guaranteed success no matter what. We […]

10 Questions you should ask a builder when interviewing them for your custom home build Written By Clay Miller What kind of homes do you really love to build? Can you help me with my feasibility study as I look for a lot? How long are permits taking? How long does it take to build a new home right now and when could we break ground? Can I get a […]

Old Growth Tree Near Cranberry Lake What You Will Find During a typical trip to Cranberry Lake, at Deception State Park it would not be uncommon to see kayaks floating atop the still waters, fisherman sitting along the winding edges of the lake, and kids splashing in the shallow waters while their parent’s BBQ. Have You Seen It […]

5 Most Affordable Neighborhoods Near Oak Harbor & NAS Whidbey Watching today’s housing market is like reliving a supply and demand lesson straight out of your High School Macroeconomics class. Home prices continue to rise due to the sheer lack of homes for sale on Whidbey Island. Especially in the lower price points $400,000 and below. Here are 5 of the most affordable neighborhoods within […]

Welcome to Whidbey Each month we release a new beautiful image of Whidbey Island. We mail these gorgeous photos in conjunction with interesting tidbits and little-known facts about each image or location to our clients, friends, and family. Follow along. Don’t want to miss out? Subscribe below for updates or become part of the family and receive your […]

Best Places to Whale Watch on Whidbey Discover the Best Places to Whale Watch When it comes to natural wonders, Whidbey Island is unbelievably blessed. With expansive undeveloped areas, nine state parks, and views that take your breath away, it’s hard to imagine it could get any better. But it does! In addition to our incredible outdoor opportunities for explorers, we are […]