A splash of color in the gray . . .

Yes, this year we made it to the pumpkin patch and I actually remembered my camera. Suyematsu Pumpkin Patch with its vineyard, water tower, and horse drawn carriage, is a must do every year for islanders and visitors.

These were taken before Halloween, but in today's gray, wet weather, I was looking for a little color, and I thought these fit the bill.

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended and Expanded

Update as of 11/06/09

President Obama signed the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 into law today. The legislation greatly expands the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit by making more first time homebuyers eligible for the credit and now includes homebuyers that are not first time homebuyers. This new legislation is a huge victory for you, the Washington REALTORS and the National Association of REALTORS.

First Time Homebuyers

The current law is extended until April 30, 2010. Buyers have until that date to have a signed purchase agreement. There is an additional 60 day grace period to complete the financing. More first time homebuyers are eligible because the new law raises the annual income limits from $75,000 to $125,000 for singles and from $150,000 to $225,000 for married couples.

Current Home Owners

Over 60 percent of current home owners will be eligible for a tax credit of up to $6,500 if they purchase a home by April 30, 2010. These homebuyers must have lived in their home for five consecutive years over the previous eight years to qualify. Qualified homebuyers can get the credit if they purchase a home for $800,000 or less as their primary residence between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010. The income limits are the same as the First Time Homebuyer listed above.

Please see the links below for details regarding the new legislation:

Frequently asked questions regarding the new Homebuyer Tax Credit.

A chart comparing the original Tax Credit with the new, expanded Tax Credit.

Info Courtesy of Washington Realtors

Hillandale Neighborhood - another in-town neighborhood

A custom weather vane on a Hillandale Home, their trademark.

Each home has an original, from rabbits to orcas, no two are alike.

One of 36 charming homes in the Hillandale Neighborhood on Bainbridge Island.

Nestled behind Weaver Creek on the corner of Weaver Road and Wyatt Way is the Award Winning Hillandale Neighborhood. Hillandale is a neighborhood of 36 homes that all line a circle and share a grassy, central open space. Built Between 1999 and 2005, Hillandale homes have Nantucket Style charm and are all personalized with their own custom weather vanes. The homes were built by local builder Dick Allen and are popular for their timeless appeal and quality finishes. Clever touches like built-in bookcases, main floor masters, and storage nooks big enough for a play space, make these homes inviting and easy to live in. Beyond the charm of the homes themselves, their proximity to downtown Winslow and the ferry terminal make them very popular. Homes in Hillandale range in size from 2100 square feet to 4300 square feet, most between 2300 and 3300. Lot sizes average about .20 acres. The last sale was in September of 2009, a 2700 square foot home for $625K. There is currently only one home for sale in Hillandale (updated as of 11/09/09), contact me if you'd like more information.

One of 36 homes in Hillandale.

The shared open space in the heart of the Hillandale Neighborhood.

Picnic tables, grass, and trees, make it an inviting and attractive amenity.

This was the last home sold in Hillandale, in September of 2009 for $625K.

Commodore & Commodore West

An 1980's era Ranch style home in Commodore. Love the fall colors, trees are abundant in this neighborhood.

Another ranch style home in Commodore. Well manicured lawns and mature native landscaping enhance the neighborhoods.

And another Commodore home. This is an updated custom home built in the 1970's. Many of the homes have large daylight basements and homes can range in size from 1500 square feet to 3500 square feet.

Now, moving into Commodore West, this is an early Chaffey home (above), built in the 1990's, as is the home below. Further down you can see a typical cul-de-sac in the neighborhoods. With the larger .30 lots, home spacing is not as tight as some of the other in-town neighborhoods.

Moving further into the Commodore West neighborhood, the homes get newer, this one built in the 2000's.

And, a brand new home by Chaffey, still for sale in Commodore West.

Commodore and Commodore West

Between the two connected neighborhoods of Commodore and Commodore West, there are about 130 homes. The neighborhoods are connected by a foot path and the distinctive difference between the two are the age of the homes. Commodore (known to locals as Old Commodore) is just that, primarily homes built in the 70's and 80's and the homes line the West end of the high school. At the end of the 80's Chaffey, a prominent builder in the North West, started developing in some empty lots and then expanded the neighborhood and created Commodore West. Homes were built in the 90's-2007 in Commodore West, all but one by Chaffey. Two main roads, with no outlet, encompass the neighborhoods and cul-de sacs branch off the main roads, creating less traffic, which is good for small kids playing or riding bikes. Another appealing thing about Commodore is that it is adjacent to several schools. By foot, even on trails, kids can access Ordway and Odyssey, two of the elementary schools, Sakai (5th and 6th Grade), Woodward (7th and 8th grade), and the High School (9-12). This also means that soccer and baseball fields, the aquatic center, the library, and Safeway are walking distance too.

Home sizes vary greatly and range from 1500-3500 square feet. Lots sizes are a big reason the Commodore neighborhoods are so popular. Most lot sizes are a third of an acre, putting a comfortable distance between you and your neighbors. In the past year, homes have sold between $490K and $635K in the combined neighborhoods. There are currently two homes for sale in Commodore and one for sale in Commodore West (updated as of 11/09/09), contact me if you'd like more information about those homes.

North Town Woods - a closer look at an in-town neighborhood

The open space in the center of North Town Woods. Many, but not all, of the homes back to the large open space.

Before I moved here, I had a hard time visualizing what the island was like (even after a week long visit). I wasn't sure if there were many actual "neighborhoods," and I was not clear as to where they were in relation to Winslow (or the ferry terminal). There are in fact a number of neighborhoods on the island, the kind where kids can ride their bikes and play in the street - some even have common open space and playgrounds. Some of the in-town neighborhoods have lots that average .30 acres, some have lots that are more like .15 acres.

Today I am going to focus on North Town Woods and continue in upcoming posts with a look at two other in-town neighborhoods: Commodore/Commodore West and Hillandale.

North Town Woods

About a mile North of Winslow is North Town Woods, a neighborhood

of 80 Craftsman style homes. Eight different builders, including Jerry Reese and Kitsap Trident built homes in this neighborhood between the years 2000-2007. Homes vary in size from 1800 square feet up to 3300 square feet. In the past year homes have sold between $499K and $595K. North Town Wood's homes are known for classic charm and their colorful Craftsman Style. The 80 homes line a loop that also has shared open space and shared play grounds. Inside, the homes follow in the Craftsman/Mission style vein with warm wood work and smart use of space with functional built-ins. Many of the homes have detached garages with guest spaces above the garage, a popular feature. North Town Woods is very close to schools, being directly adjacent to Sakai Intermediate and Woodward Middle School. North Town Woods also has easy access to 305 and is still walking distance to groceries, aquatic center, etc. There are currently four homes for sale in North Town Woods (as of 11/09/09), contact me if you'd like more information on those homes.

One of two playgrounds. This playground is adjacent to the central open space.

How Do Real Estate Offices Stack Up On Bainbridge Island?

The market is getting swifter. The peak season is seeing strong numbers. Which Real Estate Office on Bainbridge Island is attracting the most buyers and selling the most listings?

1. Coldwell Banker, McKenzie & Assoc. with 98 transactions

2. Windermere Bainbridge with 85 transactions

3. John L. Scott Bainbridge with 48 transactions

It is nice to be where the action is. If you are a seller you want to work with the office that attracts the most buyers. If you are a buyer, you want to work with an agent in the office with the most listings. Because - the good stuff goes fast, even in a slower market.

Numbers are year to date transactions brokered through each office - data from NWMLS.

Summer Can't Be Over . . . but since it is, make yourself some muffins

School has started, Labor day has passed, my tomatoes are finally ripening and the blackberry crop is thinning. Unfortunately (since summer here is always way too brief), all signs point towards fall. However, we are fortunate to live across the street from an easement that is loaded with blackberries. This time of year, the picking is good and I force myself to flash freeze them for the winter. Our favorite concoction for the berries is a muffin recipe that has become a staple for our weekend breakfasts. I think it is the sour cream that makes them so moist and yummy. And even though I love the sour cream, when out, we have used yogurt instead and it still tastes swell.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon milk
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 8 Tbsp warm melted butter (1 stick)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 11 oz of fresh blackberries, cut in half (often available at Trader Joe's) (You can use frozen blackberries if fresh are not available, defrost and drain them first.)

Method

1 Position rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a standard 12 muffin pan or line with paper muffin cups. (Actually, with the berries you'll have more batter than just for 12 muffins. This batch made 18 muffins.)

2 Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.

3 In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, sour cream, milk, sugar, butter and vanilla.

4 Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and mix together with a few light strokes, just until the dry ingredients are moistened. Add the berries. (If you are using frozen berries, defrost them first, then drain the excess liquid, then coat them lightly in flour.) Do not overmix! Overmixing will cause the muffins to be dense, not fluffy. The batter should not be smooth.

5 Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle of 1 or 2 of the muffins comes out clean, 17-20 minutes (or longer). Let cool for 2 to 3 minutes before removing from the pan. If not serving hot, let cool on a rack.

Serve as soon as possible, preferably within a few hours of baking.

This amazing recipe is from Elise who owns and manages Simply Recipes. A very cool website I am sure you've seen before. I am happy to say she is from my old Sacramento stomping grounds - she is a very smart cookie - her site has won several awards and I love using it.