Olympic Peninsula Realtors Say the Worst is Over
There have been more foreclosures in Clallam and Jefferson Counties this year than last year, but the Peninsula is still below the state and national average in foreclosure activity. And local realtors are saying the worst is over.
Michelle Sandoval, Mayor of Port Townsend and owner of Windermere Real Estate Port Townsend, said:
"Certainly the market is stabilizing here. We hit bottom a long time ago. We're doing much better. We saw a great deal more activity in the last quarter. I think it will continue to get better."
Dan Blevins, Port Angeles Association of Realtors president, said:
"I'm optimistic it's going to pass. It's going to take time. I think it's going to be a year or two. It boils back down to jobs. In Port Angeles and Clallam County, it's jobs. I don't care how you cut it. We have to be on the lookout for places to come in, that want to move here and do business. Hopefully it's manufacturing. That's what we need."
Michelle Sandoval, Mayor of Port Townsend and owner of Windermere Real Estate Port Townsend, said:
"Certainly the market is stabilizing here. We hit bottom a long time ago. We're doing much better. We saw a great deal more activity in the last quarter. I think it will continue to get better."
Dan Blevins, Port Angeles Association of Realtors president, said:
"I'm optimistic it's going to pass. It's going to take time. I think it's going to be a year or two. It boils back down to jobs. In Port Angeles and Clallam County, it's jobs. I don't care how you cut it. We have to be on the lookout for places to come in, that want to move here and do business. Hopefully it's manufacturing. That's what we need."
posted by Tom Harper at 7:25 PM
7 Comments:
What else do you expect the realtors to say? "There is no reason to believe the local market is going to improve any time soon, but com'on into my offices, and buy real estate, anyways. I need the business." ??
Part of the current problems resulted (as the article states)from people buying over priced real estate, convinced that it was a good "investment", and that the value of that property would only increase. Now, as the article points out, people owe more for these properties than they are worth.
No skin off the realtors, though..they got their commissions.
Nice sales pitch by realtors.
Anyone wanting more people coming here after reading the news is just plain stupid.
In thinking about what was said in this article, that property values have dropped by 25 percent.. I wondered why the Port wants to RAISE property taxes.
Then, I wondered if ALL property owners in Clallam/Jefferson are getting a 25 percent reduction in their property taxes. If not, why not?
And then I wondered if property owners understand they can appeal their property tax assessments.
What would happen if a large number of Clallam/Jefferson county property owners challenged their current tax assessments, based upon what the real estate professionals in these articles have stated?
"Dan Blevins, Port Angeles Association of Realtors president, said: '...It boils back down to jobs. In Port Angeles and Clallam County, it's jobs. I don't care how you cut it.' "
Yes. Yes it is. And good jobs too, not part time minimum wage tourist trinket store counter jockey type jobs. Jobs that will actually let people afford to live in this over priced town.
Local US Dept. of Homeland Security news:
Sentries unable to prevent lone bumbler from penetrating US Coast Guard base & helping himself to the COs quarters aboard 210-foot cutter Active:
http://tinyurl.com/2g5f88f
This event took place in the same town where the US Border Patrol is looking to expand to a 50 agent station:
http://tinyurl.com/23tvubr
Listening to the election returns, I'm struck with this thought:
If you can, move/sell from Port Angeles as fast as you can. Listening to all the new Republican/Tea Party members of our government with their "mandate" to "reduce the size of government", with one quote being " Government does not create jobs, small business does", I'm thinking they probably are not aware that Port Angeles is reliant so heavily on government spending/jobs.
More than 50% of jobs in Port Angeles are directly "government jobs". DSHS, health programes, social services, dental clinics, and much more. Cut back, or eliminate these jobs and their funding?
And, with the new Walmart syphoning off where local consumers spend what they can?
The news is NOT good for Port Angeles.
Bail out?
Yes, if you have not already.
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