Page not found – Sarah and Morgan Jones https://msjonesrealestate.com Real Estate Tue, 07 Feb 2023 23:16:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Should I Jump In or Wait? https://msjonesrealestate.com/2023/02/07/should-i-jump-in-or-wait https://msjonesrealestate.com/2023/02/07/should-i-jump-in-or-wait#respond Tue, 07 Feb 2023 23:16:32 +0000 https://msjonesrealestate.com/?p=2359 Is this a good time to be a Buyer? YES, we feel it is. Why do we say that? Because inventory is twice as high as it was a year ago and there are fewer buyers at this time of year. You have a much better chance of negotiating a good price and potentially better […]

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Is this a good time to be a Buyer?

YES, we feel it is.

Why do we say that?

Because inventory is twice as high as it was a year ago and there are fewer buyers at this time of year. You have a much better chance of negotiating a good price and potentially better terms.

This graph shows the current market in Skagit County compared to a year ago…

 

 

You may feel that you need to wait until interest rates drop. Many buyers are choosing to do the same thing. Waiting may get you a better interest rate but the more buyers competing for the existing inventory, the higher the prices will go. You may save on interest but pay more for your property.

Sometimes it’s smarter to do the opposite of what everyone else is doing. Many lenders are offering low-cost refinancing options to encourage buyers to go ahead and buy now and re-finance in a year or so when rates potentially drop.

We’d love to discuss your options with you! Give us a call….

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Is This April? https://msjonesrealestate.com/2023/01/11/is-this-april https://msjonesrealestate.com/2023/01/11/is-this-april#respond Wed, 11 Jan 2023 00:26:28 +0000 https://msjonesrealestate.com/?p=2147 If you check the calendar, it says January 10th, but it sure doesn’t feel like it! For a gardener like me, this is like being offered a German Chocolate Cake when you’re on a KETO diet! It took all my self-control to keep from running out there and planting seeds. Many years in the Pacific […]

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If you check the calendar, it says January 10th, but it sure doesn’t feel like it!

For a gardener like me, this is like being offered a German Chocolate Cake when you’re on a KETO diet! It took all my self-control to keep from running out there and planting seeds.

Many years in the Pacific Northwest has taught me that our weather is fickle and can quickly go from temperatures like this to snow and 30 degrees.Snow covered garden sign

 

Instead, I spent the day calling people who’ve previously expressed interest to me in selling their properties. Our market in the islands typically moves into “high gear” around March 1st, so I’m starting to get ready. There are a lot of “behind the scenes” things that need to be done to set my sellers up for success.

CMAs need to be updated, site visits to see if there are items to be fixed prior to listing, setting up pre-inspections, checking on status of permits and utilities and ordering preliminary title reports. As the listing date gets closer, paperwork needs to be signed and pictures ordered.

Hopefully the sellers I work with realize how important they are to me. Their successful transition into the next stage of their journey, is my top priority. Proper preparation is KEY!

We don’t want any last-minute surprises!

If you or someone you know is thinking about selling this year, we’d love to hear from you!

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Sunday Musings…. https://msjonesrealestate.com/2022/11/21/sunday-musings https://msjonesrealestate.com/2022/11/21/sunday-musings#respond Mon, 21 Nov 2022 22:19:40 +0000 https://msjonesrealestate.com/?p=2093 If trees could talk, what would they say? I often wonder that when I’m out on my walk and see them looking at me. Do they enjoy watching us live our lives in their midst? Do they fear our interference? Are they pleased to sacrifice themselves so we can build homes that we love?   […]

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If trees could talk, what would they say? I often wonder that when I’m out on my walk and see them looking at me.

Do they enjoy watching us live our lives in their midst? Do they fear our interference? Are they pleased to sacrifice themselves so we can build homes that we love?

 

Years ago, a carpenter I know pointed out the faces he could see in the wood he was using to create cabinets. Once I saw them, I realized they were everywhere, as well as other symbols. In my bedroom, I have a perfect heart over my window. It speaks to me of love and really like that!

 

This cluster of trees is on Center Island and every time I walk by them, I wonder if they are OK with their obvious irregularity, or do they take pride in the fact they’re different? I like to think they like being unique. Scientists don’t know what causes trees to form burls so it’s interesting to find them in a cluster like this. I like imagining that they are a group of girls giggling at me as I walk by.

Cluster of trees covered in burls

Trees are valuable to us in so many ways! I feel very blessed to live where I am so often surrounded by these noble firs, alders, madronas and cedars!

Their wisdom may be something I can learn from. Possibly they’re just like us, a little imperfect, vulnerable, struggling to adapt and often perplexed by the world that’s quickly changing around them…

Perplexed tree

 

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ISLAND CARS https://msjonesrealestate.com/2022/11/20/island-cars https://msjonesrealestate.com/2022/11/20/island-cars#respond Sun, 20 Nov 2022 20:53:09 +0000 https://msjonesrealestate.com/?p=2065 Island Cars-The ultimate in Re-purposing and Recycling When visiting the islands, it’s easy to differentiate between the locals and the vacationers by their cars. Locals have an “island car” and part-timers have those pretty SUVs that are clean and don’t have a scratch on them. An island car is a vehicle that someone probably bought […]

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Island Cars-The ultimate in Re-purposing and Recycling

Abandoned vintage automobile

When visiting the islands, it’s easy to differentiate between the locals and the vacationers by their cars. Locals have an “island car” and part-timers have those pretty SUVs that are clean and don’t have a scratch on them.

An island car is a vehicle that someone probably bought cheap on the island or brought over from the mainland. Mine is a 2000 GMC Suburban that I bought from a neighbor for $500. They’d gotten it from a friend in Bellingham after it had been “totaled” by their insurance company. It still ran, despite the smashed door panel, so why not bring it to the island?

My old island car was an F150 that started having transmission problems and I thought was a “goner”. A friend from the adjacent island offered me $500 for it because he was willing to operate it with one gear only. He’s been driving it for years!

Repairing an island car

Eventually, island cars do die but given the expense of taking them off the island, sometimes they stay and are re-incarnated as moss-covered dwellings in the forest eco-system or local artistic landmarks. Occasionally, the county will schedule a barge to haul the dead island cars to the mainland for recycling but that doesn’t happen too often.Abandoned island truck with bright paint job

The other thing about island cars is they learn to operate at the bottom of the tank. I’ve often thought that I only need a simple gas gauge with and E on it. If the needle sits slightly above E, I’m good! If it drops below E, I’ve got a couple of days and then I better start looking for some fuel.Gas gauge showing almost empty

An island car usually has its keys in it and may smell like dogs. The trunk might have jumper cables, motor oil, a rope or chain and maybe a chain saw if winds are predicted. It probably has some rust and maybe a ding or three but it’s ready for anything!

Have you got an “island car” and just need a property to go with it?

If so, give us a call. We’d love to give you a tour in our “island car”.

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I Love the Water Taxis https://msjonesrealestate.com/2022/06/27/i-love-the-water-taxis https://msjonesrealestate.com/2022/06/27/i-love-the-water-taxis#respond Mon, 27 Jun 2022 15:55:01 +0000 https://msjonesrealestate.com/?p=2021 When I started real estate in 1988, we only had small planes to provide us with transportation between the islands. San Juan Airlines was very busy and provided great service! In the early 1990’s, we got the Can Do….a small 6 passenger boat operating out of Anacortes once or twice a day, weather dependent. Now, […]

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When I started real estate in 1988, we only had small planes to provide us with transportation between the islands. San Juan Airlines was very busy and provided great service! In the early 1990’s, we got the Can Do….a small 6 passenger boat operating out of Anacortes once or twice a day, weather dependent. Now, we have two great companies that have boats on the water all day long. Often, there are at least 6 options daily for catching a west-bound boat! I love it!!

I’m often asked, “how do you get things to the island?”

Dock loaded with items to be loaded onto water taxi

Paraclete Charters ready to be loaded up with camp gear

As this picture shows, the water taxis are used a lot, by all of us, for carrying our basic necessities back and forth from the mainland.  I’ve seen golf carts, lawn mowers, appliances, mattresses, woodstoves, gas cans, building materials, hay, groceries and more stacked on the bow of the boat. The crew of Paraclete Charters and Island Express Charters are AWESOME and so helpful!! Without the water taxis, many of us wouldn’t be able to enjoy the lifestyle of the non-ferry served islands as we do now.

Island Express arriving at Decatur Island

Island Express Charters arriving at Decatur Island

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Coastal Grandma https://msjonesrealestate.com/2022/05/26/coastal-grandma https://msjonesrealestate.com/2022/05/26/coastal-grandma#respond Thu, 26 May 2022 18:59:07 +0000 https://msjonesrealestate.com/?p=1971  I’ve just found out I’m a “coastal grandma”!  Who knew such a thing exists? My kids announced to me last weekend, that I was doing it… Yep, it seems that the style icons have come up with a new label and decorative style called the “Coastal Grandma Style.” I find it hilarious to think that […]

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 I’ve just found out I’m a “coastal grandma”! 

Who knew such a thing exists? My kids announced to me last weekend, that I was doing it…

Yep, it seems that the style icons have come up with a new label and decorative style called the “Coastal Grandma Style.” I find it hilarious to think that the way I dress and live is now the “in” thing.

So, what is the Coastal Grandma Style you ask?

It sounds like if you like wearing hats in the summer, sporting linen or cotton clothing, enjoy playing in the garden and drinking coffee in the sunshine on your porch; you’re doing it! I never knew being stylish could be so easy! Cooking and eating healthy food, having fresh flowers in the house and the occasional glass of wine with friends also fits into the stereotype.

They use Diane Keaton in “Somethings Gotta Give” as an example of this style or Meryl Streep in “Its Complicated” so I guess, if you’re like me, we’re in pretty good company. I think I’m more of the Pacific NW rustic island version. At least this spring I am! It’s been way too cool to sport much light-weight linen and with three horses and a dog, I can’t get away with wearing white clothing.

I guess for now I’m just going to bask in glory of being on trend for the first time in my life! If you’re looking for a couple of style-conscious real estate agents, give Morgan and I a call!

Sarah as coastal grandma

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Horse Heaven https://msjonesrealestate.com/2022/05/26/horse-heaven https://msjonesrealestate.com/2022/05/26/horse-heaven#respond Thu, 26 May 2022 18:04:59 +0000 https://msjonesrealestate.com/?p=1949 As I sit here and look over my pastures to my three horses happily grazing, I’m thinking that this place is “horse heaven”! The islands have such amazing locations for horses and humans alike! Beautiful vistas, gentle rolling terrain, quiet tree-lined roads and photo opportunities everywhere you look…. When I moved from Portland, OR to […]

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As I sit here and look over my pastures to my three horses happily grazing, I’m thinking that this place is “horse heaven”!

The islands have such amazing locations for horses and humans alike! Beautiful vistas, gentle rolling terrain, quiet tree-lined roads and photo opportunities everywhere you look….

When I moved from Portland, OR to Orcas Island in 1980, I was totally blown away by the incredible beauty of this place!  As a real estate agent, I get a chance to see some lovely properties and have a real weakness for the ones with acreage and set up for animals.

Lopez Island is probably the island that feels the most agricultural with historic farms and lots of sheep. San Juan Island has some beautiful horse properties in the center of the island and is the home of the San Juan County Fair, where the 4-H students from all the islands show their livestock and compete for ribbons.

Orcas Island has a big cattle ranch between the ferry landing and Eastsound, that was built by Charlie Arndt, an American film actor from the 30’s through the 60’s. Most of Orcas is forest land and there are a few small horse farms in the picturesque valleys off the main road that crosses the island. One of my favorite areas is Crow Valley. There’s a beautiful drive you can take after leaving the ferry, that starts by turning left at Pinneo Rd and driving along West Sound past the marina and turn right onto Crow Valley Road. The Kingfish is located on that corner and is a great place for dinner!  This road is the “insiders” back way to Eastsound and is really lovely!

If you’re interested in finding a home that’s set up for horses or other animals, give us a call! We’d love to help you find the perfect property!

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Double the Service https://msjonesrealestate.com/2022/04/12/double-the-service https://msjonesrealestate.com/2022/04/12/double-the-service#respond Tue, 12 Apr 2022 19:42:19 +0000 https://sarahjonesrealestate.com/?p=1909 I am so excited to announce that my daughter, Morgan, is joining me in my real estate business! Early on, I was impressed by how much Morgan seemed to enjoy real estate. Regularly monitoring the market to question me about new listings and bringing special properties to my attention, she was a real estate “shopaholic” […]

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I am so excited to announce that my daughter, Morgan, is joining me in my real estate business!
Early on, I was impressed by how much Morgan seemed to enjoy real estate. Regularly monitoring the market to question me about new listings and bringing special properties to my attention, she was a real estate “shopaholic” and I thought, “this girl is missing her calling”! In late 2021 she got her real estate license and in March joined my team. She brings to the business the element of youth, social media savvy and incredible knowledge of the local area!
Morgan grew up on Decatur Island, going to the one-room school before transferring to Anacortes High School and then on the University of Washington, graduating with a degree in Resource Management. In her mid-twenties she bought her first house in Tucson before moving to Burlington, WA and buying her second home with her partner.  Four years ago, they added a third property….5 undeveloped acres on Decatur Island. With a lot of sweat equity and a little Bobcat, they are clearing the land and creating a sweet homestead to enjoy on the weekends.

Whether you’re looking to buy your first home, develop a piece of vacant land, buy or sell island property or “in town” residential: Morgan and I can help you! We are also very knowledgeable about rural and equestrian properties so give us a call if you’re looking for a good team to help you with all of your real estate needs!

 

 

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Getting Ready for Spring https://msjonesrealestate.com/2022/02/18/getting-ready-for-spring https://msjonesrealestate.com/2022/02/18/getting-ready-for-spring#respond Fri, 18 Feb 2022 20:21:39 +0000 https://sarahjonesrealestate.com/?p=1855 I don’t know about you but all I need is a few days of sun this time of year to get my “gardening juices” start to flow… I’ve decided to share a little bit about what I’ll be doing in my garden to get ready for Spring so…. here are this week’s goals: Starting some […]

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I don’t know about you but all I need is a few days of sun this time of year to get my “gardening juices” start to flow…

I’ve decided to share a little bit about what I’ll be doing in my garden to get ready for Spring so…. here are this week’s goals:

  • Starting some seeds for planting out as soon as we get our last frost. Yesterday, I planted beets, lettuce, kale, brocollini for vegies and calendula, cosmos, zinnias and alyssum. I’ve planted these in seed trays that I’ve placed in a room that is about 60 degrees. In the past, I’ve either bought plant starts or sown directly in the ground. This year I’m hoping to step up my game and do a better job of keeping a nice flow of vegetables and flowers coming.
  • Creating a no-dig garden bed that should be ready for planting mid-summer.  My goal is to eventually eliminate all the grass in my garden and using the “no dig” method is the best way I’ve found to do this, without all the back-breaking work it would take to remove all the sod to create no beds the traditional way.
  • Using my Garden Planner app, I’m creating an actual plan for successive crop rotation. It’s really a fun way to monitor what I’m doing when and where.
  • Cleaning up my tools and garden shed so I can be a little more efficient.
  • Planting out some lettuce starts that have been in my unheated greenhouse all winter. So far, they seem very happy out in the garden.
  • A neighbor also brought by some wood she cut and shaped for a nice trellis for my clematis and wysteria and we installed that this week too. I love it!

What are you working on? I’d love to hear about it!

Sarah’s Garden on Vimeo

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Modular/Prefab Construction for Island Properties https://msjonesrealestate.com/2021/10/11/modular-prefab-construction-for-island-properties https://msjonesrealestate.com/2021/10/11/modular-prefab-construction-for-island-properties#respond Mon, 11 Oct 2021 19:26:01 +0000 http://sarahjonesrealestate.com/?p=1835   One of the things that seems most daunting to buyers of unimproved properties in the islands is trying to envision the actual building process. How long will it take? Who does that kind of work in the islands? Is it going to cost me a lot? What is the permit process? Where do I […]

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Imagine some fun cabin like this on your island property…

 

One of the things that seems most daunting to buyers of unimproved properties in the islands is trying to envision the actual building process.

  • How long will it take?

  • Who does that kind of work in the islands?

  • Is it going to cost me a lot?

  • What is the permit process?

  • Where do I begin?

The home above was built in a parking lot in Seattle and brought up to Anacortes on a semi-truck and put on a barge and taken to Decatur Island. Per the owner’s design it was built in three parts, with two bedroom units and main living/dining space. Each building has it’s own deck and a central deck across the back links them all together….very fun!

As a former co-owner of an island construction company, I understand what you might be going through, thinking about building something from scratch on a bare piece of ground. I did it and my daughters are currently doing their own building projects but it’s not for the “faint of heart”. That’s why I’m really intrigued and excited about some of the modular/prefab home companies that are designing fresh and innovative home solutions. Making the decision about what you want in your home, and where you want it to sit on your property are the fun parts of the building process. Once you make those choices, wouldn’t it be nice to put in your order and wait for it to be delivered?

Yes, you will need to hire someone to prepare your site and bring in the utilities but that can be done while your home is being built in some dry warehouse where weather isn’t a factor.

If this sounds like something you’d like to explore further, check out some of these companies. There are more like these out there, at all price points and some will even take your design and build the modular from it.

Happy imagining!

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