Spring – 2018 (Article #1) In the heart of Green Bluff there is a farm deeply rooted in the traditions of old, yet its owners are branching out with new ideas too. A day trip to 9807 E Day Rd will lead you to Walters’ Fruit Ranch. The owners, Jason and Morghan Morrell, are stewards of the farm, a “working museum” as Jason calls it. Some trees are 110 years old, long outliving Continue Reading
Market Report – March 2018
High tide or low tide? Have you heard the saying, “A rising tide lifts all ships”? Well, does it? On the water, yes. How about real estate? Rising property values may raise home equity and may tempt more to sell, hoping to pocket this potential equity. The Spokane market has “lifted” a lot recently, including a lift in mortgage interest rates. Does this “rising tide” still lift all? Not really. Continue Reading
Market Report – February 2018
The Heat is On! Even though it’s still cold outside, this winter in Spokane is one of the hottest on record. The real estate market is red hot right now in price ranges under $350,000. Inventory is still very low, and with housing demand continuing to rise, it has created a buying frenzy. Buyers are submitting offers on homes, sometimes competing against 5, 10, even up to 15 other offers, as some Continue Reading
Real Estate Market 2017 – Year End Review
Winter/Spring – 2018 (Article #2) 2017 was a great year for the Spokane real estate market. Normally, values decline at the end of the year. Looking at the average sale price graph, in 2015 and 2016, fall values were lower than summer values. At the end of December 2017, values held steady at an average sale price of $234,352, roughly the same as summer values when selling activity was highest. Continue Reading
Water, Water Everywhere – LOT of drops to drill!
Winter/Spring – 2018 (Article #1) Relief from the restrictions of the Hirst ruling in October 2016 has finally come! This Washington Supreme Court decision dammed the flow of water from new wells, but it’s time to bathe in the refreshing good news from recent events. In my winter newsletter of 2017, I wrote an article called “Water, water everywhere – not a drop to drill” and highlighted the Continue Reading
Farmer Feature – Pine for Something More?
Fall/Winter – 2017 (Article) Do you pine for something more than presents this holiday season? Perhaps the best gift this year is simply time with family, friends, and your local farmers. Meet Mike & Lisa Beckman, owners of Legacy Farm and 238 Brewing located in the heart of GreenBluff. They offer a great family experience, and you can even get your gift fix there if you want. Legacy Farm Continue Reading
Spokane Real Estate Market: Hot or Not?
Summer/Fall – 2017 (Article #2) Many people are saying that it’s a seller’s market, but is that accurate? Yes and no. It depends on different factors. At the base of it all is supply and demand. If a lot of people want something, but there isn’t much of that something available, well, you’re going to pay a higher price. Remember the Tickle-me-Elmo Christmas craze years ago? There weren’t many Continue Reading
What’s Eating Gilbert’s Grape?
Summer/Fall – 2017 (Article #1) Have you ever gone out to the garden or orchard only to find that someone or something other than you is eating the fruit of your labor? Maybe it’s a sneaky neighbor, or maybe it was that squirrel that stole my peaches when I went on vacation a few years ago and left me feeling like the pits. But, could it also be something else? Whether you’re farming Continue Reading
Farmer Feature – Hidden Acres Farm
Winter/Spring – 2017 (Article #2) Though it may not be on the way from point A to B, finding Hidden Acres farm is a matter of seeking, just as the saying goes, “Seek and you shall find.” Meet the Simchuks – Nick, Caitlin, and their daughter Ariana. Nick is a 3rd generation Green Bluff farmer, and his family works hard to provide the community with quality food based upon their farm Continue Reading
Water, Water Everywhere – Not a Drop to Drill!
Winter/Spring - 2017 (Article #1) Getting a building permit has become more complicated as a result of a Whatcom County court case called the Hirst decision, which has statewide effects. It basically used to be ‘if you’ve got it, use it’, but it now appears to be ‘if you’ve got it, prove it’ – water, that is. Before this case, an applicant Continue Reading
