Is it the time to buy? Whatcom County home prices are down 5-10%
Whatcom County had a major decrease in home prices, dropping “by their largest percentage since the second quarter of 2023,” according to a local real estate report.
“The median price of a Whatcom County home sold in the third quarter declined 4.3% from a year ago to $623,995 in comparison to the third quarter of 2024,” according to Adrik Brashear, a broker for Bellingham-based The Muljat Group.
“Historically fall/winter are slower months in our industry but if rates continue to stay ideal for homebuyers, I predict these next 3-6 months will stay relatively steady,” Brashear said in the report.
“The median price of a Whatcom County home sold in the second quarter was $634,000, a minimal 0.1% increase in comparison to the second quarter of 2024. The number of county homes sold in the second quarter likewise barely budged from a year ago, up 0.4% to 685,” Peter Ahn, co-owner of Bellingham’s The Muljat Group, stated in an August report.
As prices dropped, the number of homes sold also increased compared to last quarter, with 724 sold in Whatcom County.
“The number of homes sold was the most notable statistic in the third quarter for many communities, Brashear said. Sales soared by 66.7% in Nooksack Valley and increased 9.5% in Birch Bay. However, double-digit drops were seen in Ferndale (18.6%) and Mount Baker (15.9%),” the report states.
In Bellingham, the median home sale price decreased 5% quarter to quarter to $755,000, and the number of units sold increased 4.4% to reach 239, according to the report.
Here’s how median home prices for the third quarter varied by town, compared to 3Q 2024:
- Nooksack Valley: $525,000, up 5.0%
- Ferndale: $626,245, down 7.9%
- Sudden Valley: $600,000, up 2.6%
- Blaine/Birch Bay: $584,259, down 10.1%
- Bellingham: $755,000, down 5.0%
- Mount Baker: $385,000, down 5.8%
- Lynden: $640,000, down 8.6%
