Bridget and Zay McShane
The McShane Team at Misty Mountains Realty, LLC
Direct Phone: (360) 927-9678 :: Email: BridgetMcShane@me.com
Your House As Seen By:
Posted on March 26, 2010
Your House As Seen By:
Yourself...
Your Buyer...
Your Lender...
Your Appraiser...
And...
Your County's Tax Assessor...
Your County's Tax Assessor...
1 Comment : Author: Bridget McShane
#1 Real Estate Misconception
Posted on March 25, 2010
#1 Real Estate Misconception
The number one common misconception regarding real estate is that you have to use the listing agent to buy the home that they have listed. While a listing agent can enter into what is called a duel agent role (this is when the agent represents both the buyer and the seller) it is rare.
As an agent for the seller, one of my jobs is to get you the best price for your home (and some owners would consider this the most important aspect of my job). As an agent for the buyer, one of my jobs is to assist you in buying a home for the best price. As a duel agent these two goals seem to work against one another. It is possible to do both, but again it is rare.
So if you are thinking about buying a home, my advice is to find an agent who is going to look out for your best interest; your buyers agent.
1 Comment : Author: Bridget McShane
City of Bellingham Neighborhoods--South Hill Neighborhood
Posted on November 3, 2009
City of Bellingham Neighborhoods
South Hill Neighborhood
Located on Bellingham Bay, South Hill is a unique, pleasant neighborhood with several interrelated design characteristics that are appealing to its more than 3,000 residents. The neighborhood has a number of areas with distinguishing characteristics. The Ridgeway area, south of the university on the highest elevations of the hill, has been developed since World War II. In the area below 17th Street, many of the homes were built in the early 1900's. Homes vary widely in size, architectural detail, and finish materials, and nearly all are very well kept.
Excellent views of Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands, and the Canadian coastal range mountains are widely distributed and highly valued, making South Hill one of Bellingham's most popular neighborhoods. Views of Mt. Baker and the Olympic Mountains, while less widely distributed are equally highly valued.
Boulevard Park on Bellingham Bay is on of the most popular parks in the city. The newly constructed Taylor Street Dock, south of Boulevard Park, provides an opportunity for strolling and viewing harbor activity for the South Hill Neighborhood residents who have indicated high values for these activities. The highly valued Lowell Elementary School is also an attractive location for neighborhood activity.
This gorgeous home just sold at the end of October. Almost one half of an acre (6 lots) with direct southern exposure and views of Chuckanut Mountain and southern San Juan Islands. Rare brick English Tudor home with all the charm and character you would hope for. This South Hill 3 bedroom, 2.25 bath home was constructed in 1929 but tastefully updated (incl. gourmet kitchen remodel). Exquisite garden w/small orchard, max. privacy.
This is a typical view of the neighborhood and bay. I do love this neighborhood. It is just one of those places in Bellingham that makes me happy that I moved here.
Post a Comment : Author: Bridget McShane
City of Bellingham Neighborhoods--WWU
Posted on October 21, 2009
City of Bellingham Neighborhoods
WWU
Since its beginning in 1893, WWU has grown into a comprehensive university of approximately 11,470 (10,200 Full Time Equivalent) students according to 1997 fall enrollment figures. WWU is home to unique environmental and economic research programs, award-winning experimental vehicle design, and highly regarded manufacturing, plastics, and electrical engineering technology programs. Citizens of Bellingham enjoy access to Western's facilities and open space, including its acclaimed outdoor sculpture as well as popular offerings in theater, music and sports.
The Western Washington University Neighborhood contains open space, which is easily accessible to students, staff and visitors. Formal open spaces owned and operated by Western include the Old Main Quad, Red Square, the Fairhaven Courtyard, the Performing Arts Center Plaza, and the Haskell Plaza. Natural open spaces include the Outback Wetland south of Fairhaven College, Sehome Hill Arboretum, and the Bird Sanctuary knoll between Old Main and the Viking Union. Sehome Hill Arboretum provides areas for academic study, trails for recreation and commuting, and a major green/open space which serves the broader community. Active recreational and educational open spaces include numerous sports playfields, experimental gardens and environmental study areas. General open spaces include buffers and wooded hillsides throughout campus which are valuable for their informal/natural qualities, their buffering characteristics, and as green backdrops.
This 1890 Victorian has been converted to eight individual units to take advantage of the with-in walking distance to Western Washington University. On the corner of N Garden and Chestnut, this stately home is also with-in walking distance to all that downtown has to offer.
Post a Comment : Author: Bridget McShane
City of Bellingham Neighborhoods --Sehome
Posted on October 16, 2009
City of Bellingham Neighborhoods
Sehome
Its physical location on Sehome Hill is a big part of the Sehome Neighborhood's character. Sehome Hill is a steep bedrock formation rising 650 feet from Bellingham Bay with a northeasterly bearing series of ridges reflecting the underlying rock formations. Much of this neighborhood has excellent views of Bellingham to the north, over Bellingham Bay, or toward Mount Baker in the east. Sehome is also one of Bellingham's older neighborhoods. Much of the area is within the former Town of Sehome, one of several towns, which consolidated near the turn of the century to become the City of Bellingham. Over 80 percent of the housing in the Sehome Neighborhood is over 20 years old, and much of it is at least 50 years old.
There are many large, architecturally impressive houses of historical value in the older residential part of the neighborhood. The Sehome Hill National Historic District encompasses older homes south of Maple, north of the Sehome Hill Arboretum. All residential areas have mature landscaping and there are several tree-lined arterials, which are highly valued by the residents. Being one of the City's older and more centrally located residential neighborhoods, approximately 90 percent of the neighborhood is developed, and the population density is among the highest of the city's neighborhoods. Over 3,500 people reside in the neighborhood in a mix of single and multi-family structures.
The 165-acre Sehome Hill Arboretum is a prominent open space/natural area that defines the southern and western borders of the neighborhood. It is owned and managed jointly by Western Washington University and the City of Bellingham and includes walking trails and dramatic views of Bellingham Bay. Both are neighborhood parks which feature playgrounds, half court basketball, and open lawn areas for informal play. 
Classic Sehome Craftsman with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. Original old-growth fir trim, panels, built-ins, and box beams. Fir floors, tile baths, leaded glass windows, window seat. Original door hardware, 2 staircases, woodwork everywhere you look. No painted trim except in kitchen, baths, sun room. Vintage from 1911 light fixtures, amazing built-in china cab. 1-1/2 lots professionally landscaped, fenced backyard.
Post a Comment : Author: Bridget McShane
City of Bellingham Neighborhoods--Whatcom Falls
Posted on August 29, 2009
City of Bellingham Neighborhoods
Whatcom Falls
Located at the eastern edge of the city south of Whatcom Creek, the Whatcom Falls neighborhood is home to over 2,000 Bellingham residents. The neighborhood is bisected by Lakeway Drive, separating Bayview Cemetery and Whatcom Falls Park from the residential areas of the neighborhood south of Lakeway. Most of the development in the neighborhood is residential in nature, typically developed at about four units per acre density. Large tracts of undeveloped land remain at the southern and eastern portions of the neighborhood.
Bayview Cemetery, Whatcom Falls Park, and Kulshan Middle School site make up the publicly owned portion of the neighborhood. Bloedel-Donovan Park is easily accessed by the neighborhood. The City and County worked together to preserve 60 acres for future park and trailhead development at the end of Birch Street, known as "Lookout Mountain."
While this home is not necessarily the quintessential home for the neighborhood, the background is. The copy for all homes in the Whatcom Falls neighborhood invariably will say something about how the home is within walking distance to Whatcom Falls Park. This park is truly the gem of Bellingham. It was literally pictures of this park and it's falls that got me to move from California to Washington. So I cannot resist including a picture of it as well.
2 Comments : Author: Bridget McShane
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