1206 L Avenue Anacortes WA 98221

3 bedroom rambler, situated on a big lot. Right across the street from Whitney Elementary School and playground. Filtered views of Cap Sante and the Marina. Currently rented, so great investor potential or great starter home.

This home is being listed at $245,000.00. MLS # 29013207

Contact Andrew Culp for showings and Information
Andrew Culp
Realtor
John L. Scott Anacortes
Fax: (360)293-5605
Cell: (360)391-9342
E-mail: andrewculp@johnlscott.com
Website http://www.andrewculp.com/

Oyster Run 2008

The bikers are coming! The Bikers are Coming!

September 28th 2008 the bikes will hit the road and wind up in Anacortes for what is always a fantastic event. Everyone in attendance, young and old are bound to have a great time. Visit their website to get a complete run down of the events. http://www.oysterrun.org/ I look forward to seeing you there.

2202 19th St. Anacortes

Price Reduced!!!!!!!!!!

Now offered at $497,565.00

Roomy 5 bedroom home in Windward Village. Daylight rambler with Baker and Island views. Open concept main floor has hardwood floors with cherry accents,crown moulding,vaulted ceilings,and big windows to let in lots of natural light. Efficient gourmet kitchen has granite counters,gas range,double oven,and pantry. Master suite has 3/4bath with tavertine elevated counter and walk in closet. Downstairs has 2 beds,full bath and a rec/media room,and lots of unfinished storage.
Contact Andrew Culp with John L. Scott Anacortes:
Andrew Culp
Realtor
John L. Scott Anacortes
(360)391-9342Fax: (360)293-5605
andrewculp@johnlscott.com
http://www.andrewculp.com/

Anacortes View Home

Brand new home overlooking Fidalgo Bay and Cap Sante. Main level open floorplan with fireplace,and a den/bedroom with its own fireplace. Beautiful granite countertops,tile backsplash,tile floors,and stainless appliances in the spacious kitchen. Water views from the Master Suite and an enormous walk-in closet. The Master Bath has granite counters,double sink,big tile shower and extra linen closets. Two lower bedrooms and full bath share a large family/media room with other bonus rooms.

Anacortes Real Estate

Well now that it's oficially spring, things are begining to happen around here. The Real Estate market is begining to take it's annual upturn in activity. Western Washington is coming out of its winter slumber and people are very optimistic about the prospects of buying a home in Anacortes. Go to my website http://www.andrewculp.com for all of your Real Estate questions and answers. I also have lots of local business information to provide the resources for any questions you may have regarding Anacortes Washington.

Real Estate Profitability

I'm really optimistic about 2007. I think that a lot of the buyers that were holding back around the holidays are starting to re-enter the market. Mortgage applications are up in my area and prices seem to have stabilized. Of course it is more important now to price a home right the first time. The homes that are priced right are percieved as the cream of the crop and outsell their competition. I work with my sellers to achieve the highest realistic price for their home, and I impress upon them that it's the market that sets their price, not their need or greed.
Oh, and another thing. I used to counter low ball offers in a sarcastic tone. If they came in at $20K below the asking price, I would counter back at $20K over the asking price, and let the selling agent know that my sellers were deeply insulted. Since our market has cooled since 2005, I have a different tone. I look at any offer and think, "well,here's a starting point, let's put this together". That strategy has paid off for me. Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches.

More Power to You

What a weekend we had in Western Washington! 90 mph winds, sideways rain, power outages, and cold weather. I'm grateful for good friends who let us use their shower. We had to cancel a dinner party on Sunday due to the lack of power, and water. That's nothing compared to people who still haven't got any power or heat and don't look like they'll get any relief for several more days. I take my hat off to those work crews that have been working their asses off so that we can be comfortable. To everybody braving the cold to cut down trees and re-establish power to all the residences in Western Washington a huge THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Anacortes Condominium 1710 Skyline Way #204

Close to Whidbey Island NAS and ready to move in, 2bedrooms 2 full baths condominium in Anacortes Washington. Two balconies, one has a private access from one of the bedrooms. Two seperate entrances make this a unique set up for a flexible living situation. This condo was recently updated in the kitchen and has new flooring throughout the home. Call your helpful listing agent Andrew Culp (360)391-9342 for showings and additional information.

Snowed In

Real Estate in winter is challenging. Only the most motivated buyers and sellers get involved in transactions when it's snowing and blowing. In my corner of the world we are challenged with icy roads, power outages, and school closures. Thankfully it only lasts for a couple of weeks every year. I don't know how Realtors in the midwest do it when they have a solid three months of winter.

This is a great time to go on vacation, or just spend some quality time with the family. I can't believe I spent thirty dollars for a cheap plastic sled at the hardware store. It was well worth the price watching my four year old bombing down the hills. He had no desire to go back in the house even though his face was beet red and numb. I think he thouroughly enjoyed himself.

This can be a challenging time for the housing market, but showing homes can be a lot of fun when the family has the house all dressed up for Christmas, with the lights and the tree and all of the decorations. The prospective buyers don't have to use their imagination to wonder what the house would look like with holiday decorations.

Some homes look really good with a good layer of snow around. It's also nice to publish pictures and market homes with the contrast of the snow bringing out the colors of the home and trim. With view property there are fewer obstructions this time of year without the leaves on the trees. I'm going out today to get a few snowy shots on a couple listings just for additional marketing pictures.

I wish the snow would last longer but in the Pacific Northwest this is just a temporary condition. It's going to melt away soon and be replaced by rain as usual.

Winter whale watching

Well, here it is mid-November and I am already missing summer. I usually don't get this way until around the begining of February, but we have had the rainiest November (it's about to break the record) and it's looking pretty gray today.
I was just thinking back on how wonderful this summer was, and how much fun whale watching can be. I feel so fortunate to be in a place that has such easy access to boating, the ocean, and a vast array of marine wildlife. I have only had one opportunity to whale watch from my house. It was June of 2002 when my son pointed out the spray of a surfacing Orca. The small group passed by Deception Island and skirted the western coast of Whidbey Island by the Naval Air Station. I'm not sure if it is fact, but I was told that the whales won't go through Deception Pass, because that was where their ancestors were caught for the water-theme parks back in the seventies.
There are a couple of whale watching businesses out of Seattle, as well as Anacortes and other San Juan Islands. The companies I have dealt with have really gone out of their way to run a first class operation, and have proven over time that eco-tourism is a valuable resource to be respected and protected. They keep their distance from the animals, and they don't waste a lot of time searching around because they have a wonderful network of spotters that keep them informed as to the current locatoins of the different pods. The staff on board are well informed about the whales as well as other wildlife that one might encounter on any trip.
It's not a bad idea to go whale watching in winter. There are fewer runs, and yes it can get cold and wet, but dress for the Northwest and find a whale watch boat with a big cabin. I have a links to Some of the services that Anacortes has to offer, check them out and let me know what you think.

Benefit Tonight

Tonia Radke has some huge medical bills to pay with no insurance (bartenders rarely have insurance) Come in and support her by participating in our silent auction, raffle or just buy a burger, Anacortes Amber, Absolut, Jim Beam or Sauza! Procedes go to the Tonia Radke Melanoma Fund.Silent auction begins Sunday morning. Come in and fill out a bid form and re-bid as often as you like and we will contact you if you win such items as an ipod nano, 2hrs of limousine service, full car detailing, local restaurant gift certificates, massages, salon product and service, art work and much more. At 9pm there will be a $3 joint cover with the Watertown (100% donated) at the Brown- Mouseheart Factor performs followed by Red Note and DJ Funkin' A. In between MC AC Murry will be giving away some fantastic raffle prizes. At the Watertown To Spite Mike performs followd by Thin the Herd. See you there!

Covenants Codes and Restrictions

Anyone who lives in a neighborhood with a homeowners association, architectural committee, or any local governing board has run into some form of resistance when it comes to change. Change, be it good, bad, or indifferent is difficult when a consensus is required.
What are CC&Rs? The covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) are the governing documents that dictate how the homeowners association operates and what rules the owners -- and their tenants and guests -- must obey. These legal documents might also be called the bylaws, the master deed, the houses rules or another name. These documents and rules are legally enforceable by the homeowners association, unless a specific provision conflicts with federal, state or local laws.
I pulled that definition off of Realtor.com. It seemed to be the most comprehensive (and shortest) definition I could find.
I look at CC&Rs as a double edged sword. They are established to maintain a certain level of integrity and uniformity to the neighborhood or condo. However, they also restrict one of the fundamentals that makes us all proud to be Americans, FREEDOM.
I have sold homes to clients that expressed to me that they would absolutely not live in a neighborhood with and HOA, and I have sold homes to people that liked the idea of an association looking out for the neighborhood. As an agent, I find myself riding the fence in this debate. It's really easy to do a Comparative Market Analysis in a neighborhood that has conformed to the original design and maintained the sameness for all of the houses. I find myself scrathing my head sometimes in an area that has gone unchecked, and there are very few similar homes from which to draw any comparisons.
That's what makes this job unique. If every home were the same we all would be doing something else for a living.

Anacortes in Winter

I just remembered one of the many reasons Why I love Anacortes. Even though it's a little cold and rainy today, We still know how to have fun.
My wife and I went for a ride yesterday just to storm-watch. The wind and rain were unstoppable. We drove up and down the coastline stopping at various places to watch mother nature do her thing. The leaves were blowing off of the trees, branches were all over the roads, birds were having a hard time getting to where they wanted to go. At a couple of shoreline stops we watched the surf throw fifty foot logs around like they were tinkertoys.
Anacortes beaches are the best for storm watching. I always feel for the folks braving the weather in boats as they journey through Deception Pass. The currents are dangerous and mix in some 50 mile an hour winds and you've got yourself a rodeo. Our house is on a high bank at Rosario Beach and from our living room we can watch the boats go by and watch the high energy beach action when the storms come in. Living there is not without its problems. With the high winds come the occasional power outages. Good for flashlight tag, but not so hot when it comes to showers(no water).
The power outages don't usually last for more than a day or so. It's a small price to pay for living in paradise.

Deferred maintenance

Recently I had the opportunity to sell a home in Anacortes that had quite a lot of growth around it. I made the call to my buyers that first and foremost this home needed to be groomed. The plant material was overgrown and in direct contact with the siding and the roof. There were even places where the plants were growing into the siding. The mature landscaping was not ugly, but did threaten the well being of the home.
Undeterred, my clients went ahead and made an offer on the home. After a little haggling it was accepted and we pressed on toward inspections. The home inspector came to the same conclusions as I did. Trim back the shrubs!!! Now here's where things got wierd. We called for the sellers to cut back all of the vegetation a minimum of six inches from the home. Sellers agreed, but warned of a few plants that might suffer permanent damage from the pruning. Buyers got anxious and were no longer keen on trimming things back. Sellers did the bare minimum, buyers checked it out and were satisfied.
Now, I am not a botanist, arborist, or gardener. These matters are like trying to understand why my wife needs so many shoes. I drove by the house the other day. The new owners not only trimmed things back, but it looked like they completely removed the plants that they previously had been so concerned about preserving. Ah, the rights and pleasures of home ownership.
I can even recall a deal where the sellers insisted on writing up an addenda that allowed them to come back to the property after closing, and harvest their green beans from their garden. And they say that we don't deserve or earn our commissions.

Anacortes Real Estate

Get there any way you can.

The process of moving doesn't have to be this involved. I have all of the resources that it takes to make your next move a smooth one. Go to my website and start your transition today. www.andrewculp.com

The Crest

This is my hangout every Thursday (if it's sunny) and some weekends. I'm part of a team that sits the condo's model. There are only five units still available. One Penthouse, one second floor, and three groundfloor units. The views out here are incredible. I sit and watch the boat traffic all day, while working on my laptop. Thank God for wireless internet.
I know what you're thinking......What's the pricetag? For a 2900 square foot condo the price range is $699,000-$969,000 depending on views and of course upgrades are additional. If you're ever in the area, stop by and visit one of the team. We'll be happy to show you around the model, and if you're real nice, we'll take you around in the construction areas. You have to sign a release form first. Injury liability and all that.
Go to the web site for more information. http://www.thecrestatsunsetcove.com/

Inspection,Who's Responsible?

My training taught me quite a lot about contracts, and customer service. My training also taught me about liability. Here's a little annecdotal information. An agent and client were present together with the home inspector during an inspection. The new agent, eager to be helpful and diligent, went everywhere with the client and the inspector around the house. Taking care to note any deficiencies that the inspector points out. It's a newer home, so no laundry list of problems. Except, they couldn't get the gas range and oven to work. After a few attempts they moved on. End of story......right? Later that evening the seller comes home to a gas filled home, rescues the family pet and ventilates the house. Whew!!!! No harm done, everyone's OK.
Flip that story around to a not so happy ending. Consider the liabilities for the inspector, and the agent. We operate with the best intentions. We do our best for our clients. All it takes is one small slip and the lawyers and insurance companies are on us like a cheap suit. They always look for the deepest pockets. The agent may or may not be loaded, but you can be damn sure the brokerage has got some coin, and who cares who goes down in the process.
I'm not too keen on the verbage on listing agreements. The liability coverage of homeowners' insurance policies is supposed to cover damage of real and personal property. What about personal injury? Who is responsible for clients and their pets, and their friends, and their neighbors, and their kids, and their cousins, and their parents, and their cars, should something go wrong at a listed property?