Homebuyer's Guide

POSTED: Friday, Jul. 13, 2007

Housing facts for the area

MEDIAN HOME PRICES

The median single-family home price in 1995 was $127,000. By 2005, the median price had grown to $259,900.

SOURCE: WHATCOM COUNTY REAL ESTATE RESEARCH COMMITTEE, 2005

AFFORDABLE HOMES

In the affordable-housing market, 514 homes sold for $200,000 or less in 2006, down from 1,031 in 2005.

SOURCE: THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

LANDFILL WASTE

In the state of Washington, 55 percent of all waste going into landfills is construction waste.

SOURCE: SUSTAINABLE CONNECTIONS

TOP-TIER HOMES

In 2005, 10.7% of owner-occupied dwellings in Bellingham were valued at more than a half a million dollars.

SOURCE: THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY

BUILDING COSTS

Actual building costs for a two-story, 2,283-square-foot, two-car garage home in 2005, excluding builder profit: $109,237. Includes everything from the foundation to fixtures.

SOURCE: WHATCOM COUNTY REAL ESTATE RESEARCH REPORT

CONDO SALES

2006 was a record year for condo sales, with 835 units being sold for an average price of $225,149 and a median price of $202,000.

SOURCE: THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

AVERAGE HOME SALES

In the first quarter of 2007, Bellingham homes averaged $364,141. Homes sold during this period spent an average of 100 days on the market.

SOURCE: THE BELLINGHAM HERALD