Whatcom County Real Estate & Homes
Mt. Baker Land & Real Estate - Area Profile

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Location:
Located in Washington state, beautiful Mt. Baker is the northern most mountain of the rugged and wild Pacific Northwest Cascade range. About an hour northwest of Bellingham WA, Mt. Baker has become a premier destination for recreational adventure and nature enthusiasts world wide. Mount Baker (elevation 10,778 feet, 3,285 m) is a heavily glaciated Mountain in the Cascades of Washington State, about 30 miles due east of the city of Bellingham, in Whatcom County. Easily visible from great distances up and down I-5, Mt. Baker is the last of it's kind ... pristine and relatively untouched, with a long history of true mountain living, all only 2 hours from Seattle, WA. The mountain is named for 3rd Lieutenant Joseph Baker of the HMS Discovery, who on April 30, 1792 became the first European to see it. The volume of snow and ice on Mount Baker (0.43 cubic miles, 1.8 cubic kilometers) is greater than that of all the other Cascades volcanoes (except Rainier) combined. It receives one of the heaviest snowfalls of any place in the world: in 1999, Mount Baker Ski Area, located on a subsidiary peak, set the world record for snowfall in a single season. (1140 inches/95 feet/2896 cm) [1].
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Recreation & Amenities:
From Winter Skiing, to summer time eagle watching, to the Blue Ribbon Steel Head rivers, Mt. Baker is rated as one of the nations hottest and fastest  growing real estate markets, with gated communities and river front homes at a fraction of the prices more populated areas command. The best value in Real Estate, for your personal estate or for your business, surrounds this remarkable national treasure.

Weather:
he volume of snow and ice on Mount Baker (0.43 cubic miles, 1.8 cubic kilometers) is greater than that of all the other Cascades volcanoes (except Rainier) combined. It receives one of the heaviest snowfalls of any place in the world: in 1999, Mount Baker Ski Area, located on a subsidiary peak, set the world record for snowfall in a single season. (1140 inches/95 feet/2896 cm) [1]. Beautiful and sunny in the summer, with temperatures in the mid 80's to enjoy the wonderful Nooksack River. Spring is mild and vibrant, with all of Mother Nature's wonders to enjoy.

Towns:
 - Bellingham, WA is 30 miles to the west, on the beautiful Puget Sound Inlet. Population approximately 75,000.
 - Blaine / Birch Bay, WA is 45 miles to the northwest, and is home to the world famous Semi-ah-moo Golf & Country Club Resort and Peace Arch border crossing to British Columbia Canada.. Population approximately 10,000.
 - Seattle, WA and Sea-Tac / King County metroplex is 2 hours south.

Industry:
 - Tourism
 - Recreation
 - High Tech
 - Retail / Service
 - Farming / Agriculture
 - Natural Resources (Timber, Water, Seafood)

Recent Real Estate News

A reprint from Samuel L. Anderson who is the executive officer of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties .

The media have been all abuzz over the past year about the softening in the housing market. So much so that in a recent Associated Press survey, U.S. newspaper and broadcast editors voted the slowdown in home sales, home construction and home prices the top business story of 2006. At the same time, local analysts point out that even though home sales in the greater Puget Sound region have slowed, now is still a good time to buy a home, particularly in our area.
What does this slowdown really mean for consumers? Is it wise to sit back and wait for a home in the hopes that prices may drop? Most real-estate experts in our region say don't bet on it.

One reason we have not experienced the steep decline seen in other markets is that while other parts of the country face an oversupply of housing, we do not. Here in Washington state, the Growth Management Act (GMA) actually limits the supply of new housing entering the market by directing where new development can occur. As long as GMA is in place, we are very unlikely to find ourselves in a housing glut.
Another key factor is that the area in and around Seattle has a healthy supply of jobs and a strong regional economy — factors most experts agree help keep prices from falling.

While it is true housing prices fell nationwide last quarter, median prices are still on the rise throughout our region. In November, prices for all home sales were up 12.7 percent in Snohomish County , 13.6 percent in King County and 10 percent in Pierce County from a year ago. Housing appreciation rates vary significantly from one market to another.
The reality is that in a softer real-estate market, buyers are now in the driver's seat. Prices are competitive and interest rates have held steady at near-record lows. Today's low rates give first-time homebuyers a golden opportunity to begin building household wealth. Not to be overlooked are the tremendous tax benefits received by homeowners as they accumulate equity in their homes.

Of course, no one can accurately predict the peaks and valleys of the housing market. But we do know that, thanks to the GMA, our region will continue to balance housing starts with market demand. Sitting on the fence waiting for the absolute best deal is a gamble that prevents consumers from taking advantage of buying a home, while prices are moderating.
Though local housing markets periodically adjust according to overall economic conditions, over the long term, real estate has consistently appreciated. Nationally, home appreciation has historically risen 5 to 6 percent annually. At that rate, the value of a home doubles every 13 years.

In today's housing market, the real risk is in waiting to buy a home. We know that interest rates are low now. We know that inventory is good, and many builders are offering move-in incentives. Boom real-estate periods tend to be known as seller's markets because inventory is tighter and most of the advantages are with sellers, not buyers. Slower real-estate markets, on the other hand, are buyer's markets.
Here, homes are still selling, but within a more normal range of time. Unlike some cities where the real-estate market is in a slump, the Seattle area is healthy and analysts feel certain it will stay that way. As a result, the deep discounted prices some consumers have been hoping for simply won't be happening here.

For consumers sitting on the sidelines, the bottom line is simple. Homeownership is always attractive. Besides being a stepping-stone to a future of financial security, homeownership provides a sense of community and personal satisfaction. In fact, studies show that homeowners are more content with their lives, enjoying a stronger sense of belonging and increased activity in community groups. The equation is simple: Since housing is always a smart investment and interest rates are still near 40-year lows, savvy consumers know this is a great time to buy a home.