Water view property around Port Angeles and Sequim is a great attraction, especially to Californians and others where the same property is five times the price.  And then there is the privacy and the peace of living on the Olympic Peninsula.  Another day in Paradise. The water views here come in a variety of flavors, high bluff, back yard, long distance, and everything in between.  Do you want to be close to town?  Neighbors?  Privacy?  Acreage?  We pretty much have it all. Do you want to live quietly in peace, or are you looking forward to being involved in the community?  Do you have indoor hobbies, or is your thing to get outdoors and hike into the Olympic National Park?  Real estate is reasonably priced in Sequim and Port Angeles, and it's currently a buyer's market.  To learn more ... 08/13/2008

How much does it rain in Sequim, and how does that compare to Port Angeles?  The two are only 15 miles apart, so is there really a difference?  Yes, but Sequim has done a great job promoting the rain shadow concept,  but it  is real. Here is the actual rainfall in Sequim and in Port Angeles, and how you can compare that to where you live. Sequim Sequim (zip 98382), WA, gets 17 inches of rain per year. Seattle gets 38, and the US average is 37. To compare this with where you live now, go to http://www.citytowninfo.com/places, and enter your city.  Snowfall is 5 inches. The average US city gets 25 inches of snow per year. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 122. Port Angeles Port Angeles (zip 98362), WA, gets 25 inches of rain per year. Seattle gets 38, and the US aver... 08/04/2008

I enjoy a good cup of coffee in Port Angeles at the Bella Rosa.  This is not a paid advertisement of any kind, but I have to brag about what I call MY coffee shop. If you love a good cup of coffee in a great atmosphere, listen up. Outstanding gourmet coffee, of course.  That's required, or we go no further.  But they have comfortable chairs and sofas and tables,  free newspapers, and computer counters and outlets for the laptops, not to mention FREE Internet.  Yes!  [Starbucks is closing a lot of shops around the country.  I bet if they had free Internet, everything would be ok.  I joke.] I love Bella Rosa.  I guess part of it is their really good customer service.  Everyone who works there is absolutely wonderful.  Always kind and thoughtful, and always good with my double short lattes... 07/20/2008

      A general rule of thumb is when home inventory is strong, land sales are slow. While the home market may be slow, inventory levels remain high and consequently land is selling slowly. Since January, there have been eleven sales in under-one-acre lots, fifteen in land from one - six acres and four sales for properties six acres or larger. Last year by this time, sales in land had been eleven in lots under-one-acre, nineteen for lots from one- six acres, and five lots of six acres or better.      The year-to-date sales price average for under-one-acre pieces is $70,142; for one - six acre lots is $154,701 and for six acres or larger, $170,833. Last year by June 2nd, there were $4,786,900 in land sales. This year, eight fewer have sold for a total of $3,320,240.     06/06/2008

    As of June 2nd there were 350 homes on the market, up ten percent from the same time last year Homes priced at $199,900 and below have a 45% increase in inventory from 2007 with 66 available now versus 36 last year. Homes priced from $200,000 - $249,999 are up eight percent with 61 available now over the 56 last year.    Home sales are down almost 24% from last year. It is taking an average of 31% longer to sell a home, but they are selling. In 2007, 161 homes had sold by the beginning of June. So far, 123 homes have sold year-to-date. Of those, 85 (69% of the sales) have been homes priced under $250,000. Homes priced from $250,000 - $299,999 are in third place with fourteen sales this year. Eight homes in the $350,000 - $399,999 range have sold and homes priced from $300,000 - $349... 06/06/2008

The Elwha River Bridge just west of Port Angeles is still under construction, but progress is being made. The old bridge was a landmark and beautiful in its ancient construction, but it had become unsafe and in great need of maintenance. Click on photo to enlarge.This bridge spans the Elwha River on the Upper Elwha River Road, which connects Highway 112 and Edgewood Road. For bicyclists or joggers, watch for the day the bridge is completed, because there is a great loop if you park your vehicle at Laird's Corner at the public parking lot, bike or jog down Edgewood, down the Upper Elwha River Road to Highway 112, and back up Highway 112 to Laird's corner. Laird's corner is at the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 112.Courtesy Sequim & Port Angeles Real Estate, LLC and Photo by Chu... 05/31/2008

The Olympic National Park is near Port Angeles, and has beautiful hiking trails. This is a photo I took many miles in the mountains. It was serene and a peace of heaven. If you love nature, if you love hiking, if you love the outdoors, you'll love the Olympic National Park. Did you know that the Olympic National Park protects the largest unmanaged herd of Roosevelt elk in the world? Want to see more? Go to Olympic National Park photos and hiking trails. 05/17/2008

They say there really is no "good market" or "bad market," only that the market is a dynamic where there is always opportunity.  But for sellers trying to move quickly, this is a frustrating market.      Inventory is up with 331 homes available at the end of April, compared to 308 last year Properties are taking an average of 25% longer to sell and sales are down 21%.       Is that bad news?  It depends on how you look at it.  There are 65 homes priced under $199,900.  Last year there were 39.    Homes for sale between $200,000 and $249,900 number 55 versus 49 in ‘07.  There were 65 homes in the $250,000 - $299,900 range last year.  There are 64 now.  In the $300,000 - $349,900 segment, we have 46 homes, down four from last year; while the $350,000 - $399,900 range has four more than la... 05/16/2008

Listen to an audio segment of Sequim and Port Angeles Short Sales and Foreclosures by retired real estate attorney and now Broker/Owner/Realtor Chuck Marunde.What should you do if your home mortgage is currently in default?  Get help, but get it from someone who has experience dealing with foreclosures, short sales, real estate marketing and sales, and the legal issues you face.     05/03/2008

As of the end of March, inventory of homes in the Port Angeles area had risen in the last month with the strongest increase being in homes priced above $300,000.     There were 281 homes available as of April 1st with 53 priced under $200,000.  Thirty-nine were available between $200,000 - $249,999 and 56 were priced at $250,000 - $299,999.     Overall inventory over the previous month was up by 30 homes with 21 of them priced in the mid to upper range.  Homes priced from $300,000 - $349,999 saw an increase of seven for a total of 45.  Those running from $350,000 - $399,999 added three.  There are now 22 available.     In the $400,000 - $499,999 range, three more homes came on, giving buyers 18 to choose from.  Three were also added in the $500,000 - $599,999 segment raising the availab... 04/28/2008

Homes come on and off the inventory every day.  Last week 22 new listings came on and 27 expired or were taken off the market.  As of March third, 254 are currently on the market.  Last month there were 264. Rather than more, there are different homes to see.      In the most affordable range (under $200,000) there are 48.  Ten came off, six went on.  Priced from $200,000 - $249,999 there are 38, with three leaving and seven added. The next segment ($250,000 - $299,999) had four go off market and four come on for a total of 53 available.  Looking at the $300,000 - $349,999 priced homes we have 38 available with two taken off and one added.      In the top half of the market segments, inventory is down strongly from last year and movement is much less dynamic.  For homes priced from $350... 04/28/2008

Land sales in Sequim and Port Angeles for the calendar years 2006 and 2007 are represented in this graphic. The chart is fairly self explanatory. I've compared calendar year 2006 with 2007 in both Sequim and Port Angeles for the various lot sizes that have sold. The two noticeable decreases from 2006 to 2007 would be Sequim land sales for lots above 6 acres, which shows a drop of 23 lots sold in 2006 to 9 lots sold in 2007, and lots under 1 acre in size in Port Angeles, which shows 86 sales in 2006 and only 30 in 2007. Very interesting. Source of Data: Local MLS Olympic Listing Service 03/27/2008

News Release! New Real Estate Brokerage Hits Town!There's a new Sequim Real Estate Broker and Port Angeles Real Estate Broker in town. In both towns! It is an established name in Sequim and Port Angeles. The owner and broker is Chuck Marunde. Many know Chuck as a Real Estate Attorney, some know him as a Realtor, and others know him as the father of famous athletes.Blog Manager: Chuck, in this interview I want to take a more personal approach to an interview such as this. I'll ask about the new brokerage and your experience, because that will be important to people, but I think people also want to know who you are. Chuck, give us a brief vignette of who Chuck Marunde is, your business and real estate background generally, your connection here and your family.Chuck: I'd be glad to. I star... 03/01/2008

     Last year at the end of January there were 259 homes on the market in Port Angeles.  This year there were 264.     The inventory of homes priced at $199,999 or under number 57, versus last year's supply of 34, an increase of 57%.  There are 42 homes priced between $200,000 - $249,999.  Last year there were 37.  The number of  homes priced from $250,000 to $299,999 is at 49.  Last year there were 46.     Shifting to homes ranging from $300,000 - $349,999, the  numbers are almost identical with 34 on the market now, versus 35 in 2007.  The number in the range from $350,000 - $399,999 is down from 43 last year to 23 now and homes priced from $400,000 - $499,999 show 26 to choose from.  Last year there were 21.  While the number of homes priced from $500,000 - $599,999 has shrunk from ... 02/07/2008

 Hurricane Ridge is one of the Pacific Northwest's premier tourist spots.  Located in the Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge is 5,240 feet above sea level and boasts some of the most beautiful views in the nation.     Olympic National Park is a natural playground for locals and visitors alike.  Hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, and skiing are just a few of the many things a person can do in the park.   Yes, I said skiing. Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area is one of 3 remaining ski lift operations in national parks.  The courses are groomed and perfect for the beginner as well as the advanced skier.  It is a small family oriented ski operation that won't hurt the pocketbook.  Hurricane Ridge boasts 1 poma lift and 2 rope tows.  Lift tickets may be purchased at the ski trail... 02/01/2008

What did 2007 home sales look like in Port Angeles? Here is a graphic summary of home sales in Port Angeles categorized by price range. [Click on graphic to enlarge.]The majority of sales in Port Angeles were in the price range of $175,000 to $300,000, and there were more single family homes sold in the lower price range than the upper price range. Over 50% of the houses sold are in three price ranges from $175,000 to $300,000--not a surprise. The more interesting statistic is that houses sold in 2007 in Port Angeles over the price of $400,000 accounted for only 9% of the market.Sellers with homes priced above $400,000 will only sell to 9% of the entire buyer population! That will have implications for how a home is priced and marketed from day one. This is another major reason that ove... 01/16/2008

     As of  December 31st, home sales for the Port Angeles market were down fourteen from 2006's figures with 425 transactions closed against the previous year's 439.  Dollar volume was down seven percent with total sales for 2007 at $103,727,802 versus $111,866,666 for last year.      As the year comes to the end, we have 268 active listings with 26 having come on and 34 having left the market due to listing expiration or withdrawal in December.  Over 50% of the homes available are priced below $300,000.      There are 59 homes priced to $199,999 and 43 priced from $200,000 - $249,999.  In the $250,000 - $299,999 segment there are 50 homes available.     There are 35 properties priced from $300,000 - $349,999 and 26 priced from $350,000 - $399,999.  Moving up to the $400,000 - $499,999... 01/14/2008

Even though the year is winding down, inventory has increased with eleven new homes coming on the market during the week of Thanksgiving, bringing the total homes available to 292. The most sought after segment of the market is also the largest area of the market. In the last two weeks of November the inventory of homes priced at $199,999 and below has grown to 64. The $200,000 - $249,999 segment still holds 46 homes with one being added and one sold in the last month.Homes priced from $250,000 - $299,999 have dropped slightly in number from 55 at last report to 52 currently available, while homes in the next bracket ($300,000 - $349,999) have increased from 27 to 32. there are also 32 homes priced from $350,000 - $399,999, down from 34 at the end of October.In looking at the upper segm... 01/01/2008

One of the best ways to visit Canada from Washington State is by boat.  The most well known ship that provides this service is the MV Coho.  She is a vehicle/passenger ferry that plies the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Port Angeles, WA and Victoria, BC.  The Coho was built in 1959 and named for the beautiful silver salmon that can be found in the waters all around Washington.  She is 341.6 feet long, 72 feet wide, and has a draft of 12.6 feet.  She is operated by Black Ball Transport, Inc and can carry 1000 passengers and up to 110 vehicles.  Her clearance is 14 feet which allows semis to travel between countries easily.    Traveling to Victoria from Port Angeles is a grand adventure.  If you planning a day trip, the best way is to go is to walk.  No, I don't mean walk across the water... 12/20/2007

Port Angeles, Washington is home to an unusual land formation.  There is an island within the city limits.  How can this be?    The Tumwater Creek and the Valley Creek form a boundary around a small piece of land that is about 2 blocks wide and 13 blocks long.  The residents of this small strip of land have four ways to enter or exit this area of the city.  There are two bridges on 8th street from the east and west as well as the south entrance from Hwy 101 and the north entrance from Marine Drive.        The island has been created because the two wood trestle bridges on 8th street have been demolished and removed to be replaced in the next year by new concrete bridges that span the creeks.The old trestle bridges were 70 years old and though they looked sturdy to the average Joe, they ... 11/29/2007