Real Estate

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 […]
Coupeville Waterfront

Long before European Explorers discovered Whidbey Island, Penn Cove hosted one of the largest native populations in the region. The Coast Salish People used the well-protected cove with easy access to the rest of Puget Sound for ample trading opportunities while the nearby prairie produced bountiful crops. As settlers came, Coupeville remained the central trading […]
Buying a Home When You Are Self-Employed

If you are self-employed or thinking about becoming self-employed you are not alone. Did you know that roughly one-third of the American workforce is comprised of people who are self-employed and the number continues to rise? Self-employment allows people the flexibility to bring in an income when their life might otherwise not allow them to […]
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 […]

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 […]

Coupeville Waterfront Long before European Explorers discovered Whidbey Island, Penn Cove hosted one of the largest native populations in the region. The Coast Salish People used the well-protected cove with easy access to the rest of Puget Sound for ample trading opportunities while the nearby prairie produced bountiful crops. As settlers came, Coupeville remained the central trading […]

Buying a Home When You Are Self-Employed If you are self-employed or thinking about becoming self-employed you are not alone. Did you know that roughly one-third of the American workforce is comprised of people who are self-employed and the number continues to rise? Self-employment allows people the flexibility to bring in an income when their life might otherwise not allow them to […]

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

Racial Discrimination in Real Estate This room might seem simple to you, but to me, it marks the saddest day in my career. 💔 This picture was taken shortly after I had finished staging one of my client’s homes. I wanted to show the owners all I had done – admittedly looking for a pat on the back. Although I […]

The Gardner Report: Q4 2021

7 Tips for New Horse Owners Horses have been a prominent animal throughout history, dedicated to their human’s side. Many would go as far as to suggest that horses, just as dogs, cats, and other pets can be man’s best friend. Like other pets, horses can contribute to the health, wellbeing, and happiness of their humans so much so that there […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]