Ft. Nuggent Park Oak Harbor, Wa

Ft. Nugent Park, Oak Harbor, WA. is located on beautiful Whidbey Island. This 40 acre Community Park is located at 2075 SW Ft. Nugent Street. What you'll find at Fort Nugent Park: • a large community built playground • 5 soccer fields • 2 football / soccer fields • 1 baseball / football field • 1 full basketball court • 2 volleyball courts • an 18 hole disk golf course • restrooms / concession building • walking trails • a wetland / natural area • a public art display • over 350 parking spaces Ft. Nugent Park is located across the street from the beautiful, gated development of Whidbey Links Estates and the residential neighborhood of Fireside. Next to Ft. Nugent Park are the neighborhoods of Ft. Nugent Highlands and East Park. It is also located close to town and the waterfront trails of Windjammer Park. We hope that when you are visiting Whidbey Island that you will enjoy Ft. Nugent Park, Oak Harbor, WA. Whidbey Island Real Estate and Oak Harbor Homes For Sale

Free List of Whidbey Island Homes for Sale

Oak Harbor Homes for Sale Search All Homes For Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale Search Homes for Rent What is your home worth? Client Services Coldwell Banker Koetje Real Estate 360-675-5915 info@cbkoetje.com

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Gets Good News

This is really exciting news for Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island and all surrounding areas. We appreciate our military and we rejoice that it looks like NAS Whidbey Island is secure for a long time and that the new P-8 Poseidons will be stationed here. This is also great news for the local economy and for the Oak Harbor and Whidbey Island real estate market.

Whidbey Island Real Estate and Oak Harbor Homes for Sale

Whidbey Island Real Estate Market Update 12/27/2011

As we approach the end of 2011, we wanted to give you a Whidbey Island Real Estate update. Since we are still in December, the final results won't be available  to be posted for a few weeks, but I thought I would give you a taste of the real estate market here on beautiful Whidbey Island.  I will show you a snapshot of total sales and median prices for the three areas of Whidbey Island; North, Middle, and South.  In my next post I will include graphs and explanations for the total 2011 sales.

• North Whidbey Island, which includes every sale north of Libbey Rd, was down both in total transactions and median sales price. Sales were down approximately 6% from 2010 and the median sales prices was down approximately 5%.
• Central Whidbey Island saw a year where the sales increased approximately 6% but the  median sales price remained about the same as 2010.
• South Whidbey Island experienced an increase in sales of approximately 1.5% but declined in median sales price of close to 13%.

As we have always been told, real estate is very local. These few statistics only give a snapshot of the overall market in these areas. Individual homes and locations can vary by quite a large differential. Your Coldwell Banker Koetje Real Estate professional can help you with your particular property's value and ability to be sold. I will be posting a much more in-depth Whidbey Island Real Estate market report in a few weeks.

Whidbey Island Real Estate and Oak Harbor Homes For Sale

Coldwell Banker Real Estate Survey Finds Spike in Gas Prices is Impacting Where Home Buyers Choose to Live

Rising Gas Prices Drive Desire for Shorter Commutes and Home Offices

 The high cost of gasoline is not just emptying wallets; it is also impacting where consumers choose to buy a home. According to a new Coldwell Banker survey among its network of real estate professionals, 75 percent said that the recent spike in gas prices has influenced their clients’ decisions on where to live, and 93 percent said if gas prices continue to rise, more home buyers will choose to live somewhere that allows for a closer commute to their work.


The Desire to Be Close to Work, or Work from Home

Out of those who said gas prices affect where consumers want to live, being closer to work was the leading consideration.

• Drive time and racking up miles en-route to the office caused 89 percent to say buyers look for homes closer to work. Forty-five (45) percent are seeing buyers choose homes closer to shops and services as a result of increasing gas prices.*

Some buyers are skipping the commute altogether.

• More than three quarters of the real estate professionals surveyed (77 percent) said more buyers today are interested in having a home office compared to five years ago, and 68 percent of those respondents said that they believe the high cost of gas contributes to this new work from home trend.

• Currently, there are more than 25,000 homes available on coldwellbanker.com that include “office” as part of the listing description.

“The decision to buy a home has always been tailored around the personal, multi-faceted lifestyle needs of each buyer,” said Jim Gillespie, CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate. “Today, rising fuel costs and a person’s decision to commute or perhaps work remotely are additional factors of the decision home buyers must consider.”

An Increased Interest in Urban Living

One trend continuing to rise in popularity, partly because of the gas price phenomenon, is the interest in urban living.

• Fifty-six (56) percent of the real estate professionals surveyed said that they are seeing more home buyers interested in urban living compared to five years ago.

• Of the subset that recognized this trend, 93 percent strongly agreed or agreed that one reason is an increased interest in shorter commutes.

• Eighty-one (81) percent of these respondents also strongly agreed or agreed that the desire to reduce spending on gas is a factor.

According to those who have seen an increased interest in urban living, other reasons behind this trend are:

• Having everything at your fingertips (91 percent strongly agreed or agreed)

• Being able to walk to places (76 percent strongly agreed or agreed)

• Being near public transportation (52 percent strongly agreed or agreed)

Methodology: Coldwell Banker Real Estate conducted an online survey among 1,188 Coldwell Banker real estate professionals across the United States about the impact of gas prices on home buying decisions and trends surrounding urban living. The survey was fielded between April 28, 2011 and May 3, 2011.

Coldwell Banker Koetje Real Estate is a full service brokerage in Oak Harbor, WA. Serving the real estate needs of Oak Harbor, Anacortes, and Whidbey Island for over 60 years. We are VA and Military Relocation Specialists.

*Some answer percentages in the above may not total 100 percent, if only the most popular responses are listed. In other cases, respondents had the option to check all that apply, which may mean that percentages total more than 100 percent.

Oak Harbor, WA. What a Great Place to Live and Work

Oak Harbor, WA. What a Great Place to Live and Work

What's it like around our town, the city of Oak Harbor, WA. We are a Navy community with a Naval Air Station (NAS Whidbey Island), which we are very proud of, a bar-b-que joint that is fantastic, a Dutch heritage that permeates our town, and just all-around good people. I think it you watch this video, produced locally in Oak Harbor, you will get a taste of what our town has to offer. Come visit and stay awhile. I think you will be glad you did. You may wonder why a real estate broker would be writing a blog like this. It's because we love living here and are very proud of our home town. Why do I love it? Oak Harbor, WA. What a Great Place to Live and Work

How's The Oak Harbor Real Estate Market (Part 1)

I am often asked, "How's The Real Estate Market in Oak Harbor?"

I was recently asked to speak at the Rotary Luncheon about the state of the real estate market in Oak Harbor. My speaking engagement was postponed for a few weeks, but I thought I would share some of the information in this blog. I will continue with a second blog that will address another area that affects the real estate market, Short Sales and Bank Owned Properties.

The first answer that I have after someone asks me about the real estate market is, "It depends". Now I am not trying to be flippant with that statement, but my answer really does depend on if you are a buyer, a seller, when you bought your home, etc.

• If you are a buyer, the question is a no brainer. The Oak Harbor Real Estate Market is fantastic. In fact, I just helped my niece and her family make a purchase of a home. Interest rates are at all time lows (though they are starting to creep up). There is a large supply of inventory on the market for sale right now and sellers are being very generous in their negotiations.

• If you are a seller and you have owned your home for at least 10 years, than it is a good market. As you can see from the chart, home prices have appreciated 3-4% average over the last 10 years. So if you need to sell, than from an investment perspective, you have made a good decision and the Real Estate Market is good. 

• If you are a seller and you haven't owned your home for more than 5 years, than the value of your home is probably equal to or less than your original purchase price and you might want to consider other alternatives to selling, such as rent, or not moving. If you are in this situation than the Oak Harbor Real Estate Market is not so good but is getting better.

A large component of the Oak Harbor Real Estate Market is Short Sales and Bank Owned Properties. In my next post, I will explain the statistics for these sales and how they are affecting our market.

Contributed By: Rick Schutte
Owner/Designated Broker Coldwell Banker Koetje Real Estate

Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce Interview

Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with Jill Johnson, the executive director of the Oak Harbor, Wa. Chamber of Commerce. We were able to discuss the exciting year in front of us and what the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce was anticipating for 2011. In our interview, Jill mentions the updating of Pioneer Way in Downtown Oak Harbor as well as the need for all of the local businesses and Oak Harbor residents to be involved in the community.




If you would like more information about our beautiful city of Oak Harbor, please email us or contact the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

Buying a Home Now Is A No-Brainer

Is now the right time to invest in a house?
Trick question. Actually, it's two questions.
Question No. 1: Is now the time to buy?
Question No. 2: Is buying a house a good investment?



The first answer is easy: With a few exceptions, if you have 20% to put down and good credit, now is a great time to buy. That's been the case all year, and I'd argue that we're probably closer to the end than to the beginning of the really great time. Let me explain.

Back in January home prices had dropped 28% from their peak. More important, interest rates were at historical lows. By locking in a mortgage for 15 or 30 years on a value-priced home, you were getting an incredible deal, even if home prices decreased.

At the time, I thought that prices and rates were more likely to rise than fall. I was half right: Home values have been inching up since the spring, but mortgage rates, incredibly, dropped further.

By August (the latest numbers available) the median home price had risen 1% over a year ago, but 30-year rates had dropped a half-point to 4.5%. Assuming 20% down and a 30-year mortgage, the total cost of owning a median-priced home is now down $16,000 from a year ago.

Home values may waffle over the coming year, but because Americans take out such large, long mortgages, rates are what really matter. And I am more likely to grow hair than see 30-year mortgage rates drop below 4%. It's far more likely that rates (and the cost of ownership) will rise.

Now for question No. 2: Is a house a good investment?

First, it depends on what you mean by investment. If your definition is strictly about dollars returned, a house probably won't be a great use of your capital. If you bought the median-priced house today with 20% down, to recoup your total costs (and I'm not including property taxes and maintenance here) over three decades, the home's value would have to rise about 3% a year.

That's likely, but you'll almost certainly (we all hope) do much better than that in the stock market. The fact is, however, that that's the normal case for housing; the booms that began after World War II and in the late 1990s were the exceptions.

That said, the key point to remember is this: Buying a fairly priced home at today's rates may be the best deal you will ever get. And who knows? It may even turn out to be a good investment.



Courtesy of CNNMoney

Whidbey Island Campgrounds & Parks

We would like to introduce to you some of the awesome parks on beautiful Whidbey Island. Whidbey Island has parks for every interest and includes dry camping, partial and full hookups. Some with a water view and some in woodsy areas, you get to pick. We've included some other fun events and activities you may want to partake in while you are camping in the surrounding areas of the parks. Whidbey Island has some of the best dungeness crab, all types of clams, mussels, and fishing found anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, especially salmon.

If you ever decide to take a trip to Washington state, Whidbey Island should be on your list of places to visit. If you are going to come experience Whidbey be sure to do it during June through September, for the best weather. Fortunately we do not have as much rain as Seattle does because we are in a rain shadow, but we do have a few gray days. The temperature during those months is very mild and ranges from 60 to 80 degrees in the warmer months of July and August. Whidbey Island is approximately 2-1/2 hours drive north of Seattle.

It's a pretty drive that will bring you to Deception Pass Bridge, where your eyes will not be able to fully take in the spectacular views from the top of this bridge. Whidbey Island is approximately 50 miles in length and has many quaint small towns. The summers on Whidbey Island are so pleasurable and pleasant - as you will find out for yourself.

When you complete the drive all along Whidbey Island, you will reach the town of Clinton which is the southern most town. This is where you can take the Mukilteo ferry which will take you to Mukilteo on the mainland, and then onto I-5 towards Seattle. Those are the only two ways to drive onto Whidbey Island, unless you have your own boat or fly in on a small plane. There is a small air strip which allows small planes to come and go to Whidbey.
Our goal in this blog is to bring you as much information about our beautiful parks, areas of interest, events and other places to stay. Each article features a different park with a link to more information online for reservations and pricing. We hope you find it helpful. Happy camping to you all!

Entrance to Deception Pass State Park

1st Park - Deception Pass State Park
Deception Pass State Park has to be the most popular state park in the state of Washington. It features a very large camping area for RV's and for tents some with dry camping and full hook ups. There are 167 tent sites and 143 utility spaces. 5 hiker/biker sites, two dump stations, 7 restrooms and 6 showers. These sites are spread out in three different locations in the park. The maximum campsite length is 60 feet.


Deception pass bridge as seen from the
state park beach area below.



In the park you can walk to Cranberry lake, go for a swim in the warmer summer months or fish right off the edge of the lake. There is also a walking beach area where your view of the bridge is amazing. Take a picnic lunch and sit on the picnic tables and just have a fun day where the kids can play along the shoreline. You can also fish for salmon right off the shore under the bridge. This is an area where salmon are in abundance when the salmon are running.

At Deception Pass State Park you are close to Fidalgo Island which is just north of the bridge, yet just a few minutes drive to Oak Harbor. Whatever it is you decide to do at this park for relaxation and pleasure - it has it all.

Information & Photos contributed by: Mary Gaines

Oak Harbor Gated Community

Since I’ve been working with a family in Whidbey Links Estates, an Oak Harbor gated community in the heart of town, I’ve really come to understand why they love their neighborhood so much. Bill & Gina have a 2.5 year old son and another one on the way. Safety and convenience are really important since they both work in Oak Harbor and value their time with family. Who wants to spend an hour+ in the car commuting if they can spend that time with family instead? Since they live about 15 minutes from NAS Whidbey and about 5 minutes from many of the stores in Oak Harbor, life is easier and they spend more time doing fun stuff like playing with their son, cooking, golfing, photography and building model trains.
to view home click photo


Whidbey Links Estates is one of the few gated communities in Oak Harbor and the residents enjoy the added security of a gate and safety of living on a cul-de-sac. Many of the homes have a view of Oak Harbor’s golf course, Whidbey Golf & Country Club, and everyone has private access to the 6th hole via a gravel path from the end of their street. All that said, one of my FAVORITE features is the less than 5 minutes it takes Bill & Gina to walk to the park across the street. Ft. Nugent park is a 40 acre community park complete with 5 soccer fields, 2 football/soccer fields, a baseball field, basketball court, 2 volleyball courts, an 18 hold disc golf course, walking trails, a large community built playground and even a concession stand. This is the place to be if you’re a kid (or kid at heart).





If you’re interested in learning more about this Oak Harbor Gated Community, Ft. Nugent Park or the surrounding area please give me a call, email or visit my fanpage at: The Good Life on Whidbey Island. To see listings in this area go to: http://www.whidbeyrealestate.com/


Theresa Jones, Realtor. jones@whidbeyrealestate.com 360-969-6141

First-Time homebuyers stoke demand for smaller homes

First-time homebuyers are contributing to an increase in demand for smaller and less expensive new homes, according to research from economists at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Delving into data from the most recent biennial American Housing Survey, which was conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Census Bureau in 2009, the study, "Characteristics of New and First-Time Home Buyers," finds that 41 percent of the 8.4 million households who bought a home between 2007 and 2009 were first-time buyers.

The market share of first-timers was up from 35 percent in both 2005 and 2007. Although some of the demand was fueled by the initial version of the home buyer tax credit in mid-2008, which was specifically targeted to those buying a home for the first time, the upward trend is expected to continue as children of baby boomers - members of a generation that is larger than their parents' - move into their household formation years in the period ahead.

First-time buyers for the two years of the study had an average age of 34, compared to 46 for those trading up. The average income of first-timers was over $67,000, about 30 percent below the average household income of trade-up buyers of $97,000. About half of the first-time buyers earned less than $60,000.

The household size of both first-time and trade-up buyers has been declining, while single-person households have been on the rise. First-timers bought homes with an average market value of about $184,000, compared to more than $297,000 for trade-up buyers. First-time buyers bought homes averaging 1,874 square feet, significantly below the 2,549-square-foot home purchased on average by those trading up. Forty-six percent of first-timers bought homes smaller than 1,500 square feet.

The full report is available here.

Whidbey Island, Island County, Washington Information

Island County is a unique area, well known for its exceptional quality of life. Island residents and tourists alike marvel at the fantastic views of the snow-covered Cascade and Olympic mountains as they relax in this pastoral setting. The islands comprising Island County are Whidbey Island, Camano, Ben Ure, Smith Deception, Strawberry, Baby, Minor and Kalamut.

The two settled islands, Whidbey Island and Camano Island, are favorite destinations for weekend visitors with easy access via State Route 20 over Deception Pass, State Route 532 to Camano, and the State Ferry System routes accessed off-island at Mukilteo and Port Townsend.

Whidbey Island is the longest island in the contiguous United States - 45 miles long with 148 miles of shoreline. Camano is 16 miles long and has 52 miles of shoreline. Whidbey Island is located 27 miles north of Seattle and 50 miles south of the Canadian border. Island County has a total land area of 208 square miles (Whidbey - 168 sq. mi; Camano -40 sq. mi).

European settlements were first established in the early 1850's in the Penn Cove-Coupeville area. The rich history of this area has been preserved through the establishment of the Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve. The small communities that were established along these sheltered shorelines in the 1850's are today highly regarded as locations for permanent homes and summer residences as well as small but successful businesses.

Information provided by Island County Economic Development Council

Whidbey Island Short Sales

Whidbey Island, Wa. is home to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Many of our homeowners are active military members and must relocate every 3-4 years. During normal economic times, purchasing a home, living in it for 3 years and selling when needed is not a problem. With a normal 3% - 5% yearly appreciation, selling costs are absorbed and a small profit can be made if the owner needs to sell after 3 years of home ownership. They have experienced the tax benefits, as well as all of the other benefits of owning a home on Whidbey Island during that time.

During today's economic times though, most of our homeowners that purchased a home in the last 3 -4 years are upside down with their mortgage. There is more money owed than the house can sell for thus creating a predicament for the homeowner. One of the solutions is to allow the bank to foreclose on the home, drastically affecting credit ratings, etc. Another possible solution is to work out a compromise with the lender and sell the home for less than what is owed. These are commonly known as a short sales.

On Whidbey Island today, we are experiencing quite a few short sales. It is a large segment of our real estate market at this time. Anyone considering purchasing a home would want to consider short sales. There are some unusual circumstances and time lines required with short sales and they should be entered into only with a knowledgeable agent as your guide.

View a list of Whidbey Island Short Sales and contact a qualified agent today.

Whidbey Island Real Estate Update

The summer selling season is upon us. With good Whidbey Island weather, squadrons coming home, and a great real estate buying environment (low interest rates, plenty of homes for sale, tax credit availability for some of our military members) the real estate market is looking up.

Below are some statistics from Trulia.com for Whidbey Island and the surrounding areas. You may also search all homes for sale on our local website, http://www.whidbeyrealestate.com/

98277, Oak Harbor Homes For Sale

98277, Oak Harbor Homes For Sale

Military Tax Credit Extension

Whidbey Island's Real Estate Company of Choice presents a short video explaining the Home Buyer's Tax Credit Extension for qualified military members. Please forward to any military member that you might know who is considering purchasing a home. We want to get this word out. Thanks.

Whidbey Island Insights

Whidbey Island from the view of a Whidbey Island Real Estate Broker.

Thirty five years ago, when I first arrived on Whidbey Island, I thought I would only be here for 2-3 years. I came here via the Navy and as a California boy, planned to return to the big city. Once I was here though, as many of you have also discovered, I found Whidbey Island to be a beautiful place to call home. I have thoroughly enjoyed living, working and playing here. I believe that I have added years to my life by living in this less-stressful environment.

For enjoyment, Whidbey Island and surrounding areas, have so much to offer. From outside activities like golf, fishing, hiking, and biking to wonderful indoor activities like our community college, fantastic senior centers, indoor swimming pool, and numerous hobby clubs.

If you are new to Whidbey Island, or considering moving here or having a second home here, I would encourage you to stop by our Chamber of Commerce (they are full of outstanding information) or give us a call (360-675-5915). We would be more than happy to share information and experiences with you. There are many great local links for Whidbey Island information on our website.



When you are on Whidbey Island, please feel free to stop by either of our two offices in Oak Harbor. The coffee is always on.

Whidbey Island Habitat for Humanity News

Habitat for Humanity of Whidbey Island will have a "Blitz Build" lead by Jon Roberts of Cascade Custom Homes and Design of Oak Harbor. The home will be completed in three weeks after the foundation is completed. Thank you Jon for putting together such a great team to do this fantastic job for a Whidbey Island family. For further information regarding Island County Habitat for Humanity go to www.islandcountyhabitat.org

Thinking about a career in Real Estate

North Whidbey Real Estate Update

by Hal Hovey

There was some good news for our local real estate market in April: Home sales for the month of April on North Whidbey Island were up 18% from a year ago, and median prices were up almost 2% from a year ago! Some of the increase in sales may be due to a last-minute scramble to take advantage of the First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit before it expired on April 30th, so it is too early to declare that the real estate market is in full recovery. But this good local news follows on the heels of positive state news as well. Home sales in Washington State were up 32% for the first quarter of 2010 compared to 2009, and Island County as a whole has seen a 39% increase in sales for the year-to-date ending April 30, 2010. We’ll continue to watch for signs of market movement and let you know what we see!