San Juan Island Real Estate Market Summary In reviewing the year-end results for 2019, the sales dollar volume for the real estate market in San Juan County per the Northwest Multiple Listing Service was $299,854,773 which reflects a small decrease in volume of 2.3% as compared to 2018 when the volume was $306,903,509. The County  Continue Reading

San Juan County Department of Community Development (DCD) is now accepting eligibility applications for detached ADU permits proposed outside of urban growth areas and activity centers. ADU eligibility applications must be received no later than 4:30 pm February 10, 2020.   In 2020, six eligibility slots are allowed for the construction of new ADUs and  Continue Reading

The Cattle Point Estates Owners Association opposes BLM’s proposed changes to the San Juan Islands Monument. See their letter to the BLM below… To: Bureau of Land Management Director Re: San Juan Island National Monument RMP for Cattle Point , San Juan Island, WA From: Cattle Point Estates Owners Association PO Box 644 San Juan  Continue Reading

Ornaments now available by donation at the Home Trust Office Being able to participate at the Farmers’ Markets throughout the year and at the Holiday Market in December has been a wonderful means of outreach to our entire community for the San Juan Community Home Trust.  Not only have these Market interactions led to new  Continue Reading

Merri Ann Simonson is back with more real estate tips and information for you… Custom Construction or Buy Existing and Remodel? In the current market it is much more affordable to buy an existing home than it is to purchase new or custom construction.  Why is that?  The costs of materials and labor did not  Continue Reading

Merri Ann Simonson shares another video in her San Juan Island Lifestyle series… This video features our Chardonnay Shopping event. Shop local!

Come see the San Juan Community Home Trust at the Brickworks Old Fashioned Christmas Market! We will have a table with information about what we do PLUS we have ornaments for your Holiday Tree. These are decorations, made by Justin Ha and Mathew Vogel of Friday Harbor High School, in the shapes of our moved  Continue Reading

Thanks to Merri Ann Simonson for this informative article… During the real estate boom years of 2005 through 2007, waterfront homes on San Juan Island appreciated around 8- 10% per year and homes with docks appreciated around 13%. Docks have always been a coveted property amenity as they truly allow easy access to boating; the  Continue Reading

Here’s a San Juan Island Real Estate Market Summary from Merri Ann Simonson… The third quarter results for San Juan Island and the County were consistent with the first and second quarter results.   Per the NWMLS, the dollar volume year-to-date on San Juan Island was $84,048,800 with a total of 135 transactions. This reflects a  Continue Reading

The San Juan Community Home Trust has been awarded a $2000 Grant for its Operations! Jamie Cier, Branch Manager of Washington Federal Bank (soon to be known as WaFD) on Orcas, notified Home Trust Executive Director, David Gow of the award in late September. Coincidentally, Jamie was on San Juan Island on the date of  Continue Reading

The Matching Grant opportunity at the Fair was a real boon to the San Juan Community Home Trust as we plan for our next project on Price Street in Friday Harbor. Our permanently affordable homes are critical to the health of our island community. As we wrap up our third neighborhood, Sun Rise II, we  Continue Reading

Merri Ann Simonson checks in with another article covering real estate news… Excise Tax Increase, Decrease and Shift There will be a major change in real estate excise tax taking effect January 1, 2020 for the State of Washington.  I have provided a link below to the Senate Bill which created this change to a  Continue Reading

Merri Ann Simonson checks in again with real estate news and tips… Vacation Rental Versus Long Term Rental Now would be a good time to purchase property held for investment and due to market conditions, a rental home in the San Juans would be the best investment. We are not like the metropolitan areas nearby  Continue Reading

Once again the San Juan Community Home Trust will have a booth in the main exhibition hall at the East Entrance of the building. We will have news about the completion of our latest neighborhood, and can tell you about plans for our next projects. Board members, staff and new homeowners will be on hand  Continue Reading

Merri Ann Simonson checks in again with another in her San Juan Island Lifestyle Video series. This time, she’s throwing herself under the bus…

On July 18th, thirteen regional and district managers of Wells Fargo Bank from around the state of Washington, descended on San Juan Island for a day of volunteering at the San Juan Community Home Trust’s Sun Rise II neighborhood. All wearing red Wells Fargo T Shirts, the group came ready to help wherever needed. The  Continue Reading

Merri Ann Simonson checks in with her 2nd Quarter, 2019 Real Estate Report… The second quarter results which complete the first half of the year for San Juan Island were similar to the first quarter. Per the NWMLS, the dollar volume on San Juan Island was $54,508,838 with a total of 81 transactions. The numbers  Continue Reading

The Home Trust has a new Homeowner! Debbie Lawson, a long-time San Juan Islander purchased a home in the Sun Rise neighborhood this month. Saying that it has been quite a while since she had a proper kitchen, she now looks forward to her granddaughter being able to walk to “Nana’s” so that they may  Continue Reading

Merri Ann Simonson shares another video in her San Juan Island Lifestyle series. This one is about how to celebrate the 4th of July

At the invitation of David Gow, Executive Director of the San Juan Community Home Trust, Senator Liz Lovelett, 40th LD, and her Legislative Aide, Jordan Kronen visited Home Trust properties on June 14, 2019. They discussed various hurdles in our state which impede rapid development of affordable housing and possible remedies to those hurdles. The  Continue Reading

Merri Ann Simonson shares the most recent video in her San Juan Islands Lifestyle video series. This one has tips on holding a garage sale.

Merri Ann Simonson shares more Real Estate tips… Update to Our Internet Connection Rock Island has been busy for the last 4 years installing the base structure for our fiber and other internet connection options throughout the County. I decided to write this article as a layperson so that the options for our Internet service  Continue Reading