Gig Harbor Undressed

Tides Fest and more this weekend

Christmas gets its official unofficial start in Gig Harbor this weekend.  The always popular Tides Fest at Gig Harbor High School will be held Saturday 10-5, and Sun 11-4.  This is a great opportunity to see some great crafts, beautiful sculptures and photos, and get your Christmas shopping done.  You will also be entertained by some of GHHS’ top musicians and singers, as well as get the chance to eat some great food.  For only $5 admission, this is a truly great event.

We also have our City Christmas Tree lighting Saturday night from 5-7pm at Skanskie Brothers Park in downtown Gig Harbor.  Santa pulls in on a firetruck, lights the tree, and kids have a great time (under 35 years old still qualifies as a kid, right?). 

Other fun events include:

• Fresh Wreath making at Rosedale Gardens on Saturday (253-851-7333)
• Photos with Santa from Noon-3pm at St. Nicholas Church on Rosedale (Sunday)
• Fox Island Tree Lighting and craft fair Sunday 5-8pm (253-549-2701)

Snow day in Gig Harbor! (Maybe)

Several years ago, when I was a 6th grade teacher, I hated it when the weather man called for snow.  Nothing hypes up a 12 year old kid in this part of the nation like the promise of snow.  Now that I’m not teaching, however…

The weatherman is calling for our first snowfall of the year tomorrow night!  The photo above was taken in January of ‘07.  Having grown up in Park City, UT, I am fully aware that this is not a lot of snow.  Yet it’s tough to find a more beautiful sight than Gig Harbor, the water slightly iced over, with a dusting of snow. 

If the weatherman is right, and we do get snow, it’ll make a wonderful backdrop for the Gig Harbor Tree Lighting ceremony.  The ceremony will take place tomorrow night from 5-7pm at Skanskie Brothers Park in downtown Gig Harbor. 

What do Australia’s Gold Coast and Gig Harbor, Washington have in common?

Firstly, let me emphasize that I love writing this blog.  I’ve been amazed at how many people, all across the nation, have been reading it and commenting and emailing me.  I’ve loved meeting some of the incredible people that make up our incredible community.  Recently, though, I’ve been getting panicky because I can’t possibly think of something relevant to write about each day, and although I’ve asked (and am asking again) so far none of my readers have emailed me any suggestions.  Fortunately, I read a blog yesterday by the Queen Blogger of our network, where she wrote about not having anything to write about.   That gave me all the confidence I needed to just write, so…

Clearly none of these pictures were taken in Gig Harbor.  They are from one of my trips to the Gold Coast of Australia with a group of Washington High School cross country runners.  This past year I was unable to make the trip due to an injury my wife suffered while boating on the Puget Sound shortly before we were to have left (her head is fine now, as is my elbow…thanks for asking!).  A Gig Harbor resident and Peninsula Seahawk runner made the trip, as did a runner from a little further north in Port Townsend.  Great times had by all.

So what do these two areas have in common?  Well, nothing really, other than they’re both indescribably beautiful areas by the water.  I just love that a teenager from our little community, as well as my wife and I, have had the opportunity to visit there and take in the gorgeous sights you see in the collage!

Selling your home during the Holidays–Good idea or bad?

I’ve recently been a part of some very good conversations, both in person and in some online blogs, regarding home sales during the holiday seasons.  There are seemingly two camps in this discussion; those who say it’s a great time because you’re competing with fewer other homes, and those who say it’s a terrible time because there are no buyers.

One argument that was given online by another area real estate agent was that it’s a great time because so many people are taking their homes off the market.  I wanted to take a look at that, and here are the numbers for Gig Harbor according to the NWMLS.

*2007 Oct-Dec is projected (There have been 90 cancellations MTD)

Looking at these numbers, it’s tough for me to agree that the holidays have a significant impact on sellers cancelling their listings.  In 2006, the summer months of July-Sept saw the largest number of cancellations.  It is possible that the same will hold true for 2007.

So what about selling during the holidays?  My thoughts are to sell when you need to sell.  There are ALWAYS buyers looking for homes.  You never know when the buyer who is looking for your home will come by.  If having your home on the market during the holidays doesn’t pose a major inconvenience to you and your family, I say stick it out.  Do you gain an advantage over those who cancel?  Only in the sense that your home is for sale and theirs isn’t. 

There are certainly some real trends in terms of “hot” and “cold” times to sell, but the numbers will tell you that homes sell at any time of year.  Looking at this chart of home sales in Gig Harbor, you can see that there is clearly a drop off of sales in the winter months. 

*Projected number:  Currently 62 homes have sold MTD

As I said, sell when it’s convenient for you.  A good realtor will price your home correctly and market your home appropriately at any time of year and get your home sold!

Salmon run at Ray Nash

This photo is courtesy of my friend and client John Pleau.  I sold the Pleaus a waterfront home in Gig Harbor this summer, and this salmon run is just down the street from their home.   The two photos below are from the deck of their new home.

Gig Harbor resident provides SPECTACULAR area photos

Gig Harbor resident Jim Nelson’s career was in education for more than forty years, with picture-taking as a lifetime hobby. Now in his mid-seventies, photography has become his fun passion. Gig Harbor has been home since retirement, and it’s the natural primary focus of Jim’s images. But his portfolio also holds dramatic shots of animals, flowers, nature and scenes from all over the United States, Europe and Africa.

After graduating from the University of Puget Sound, Jim taught in the public schools two years, and returned to UPS where he served as Director of Admissions. He married his Stadium High School sweetheart, Jan, and focused his camera on their four children - all born in Tacoma. The family then moved East where Jim became a Vice President of the College Entrance Examination Board in New York City - where he served for more than twenty years.

In recent years, Jim has won many awards as a photographer and there has been an increasing demand for his work - including large-sized prints for many homes and businesses. Several tourism and visitor’s bureaus show his scenic photography of Gig Harbor (see the opening panoramic photo of Gig Harbor at www.gigharborguide.com) and Washington State, and more than a dozen local businesses use his images on their Internet sites and in their ads. He was named last month as the featured artist at WatersEdge Gallery in downtown Gig Harbor, where many of his photographs are on display.

Jim’s Photos can be viewed on the Internet through links at his web site - http://jnels.org - or at - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimspics/sets/ .

Cold day in Gig Harbor

Okay,  I know I have regular readers in Minnesota, Chicago, and Utah, so you guys won’t have any sympathy for me here, but for my readers locally and in Southern California, this is for your benefit.  I woke up this morning to find my dog’s outside water bowls frozen solid (don’t worry, he’s an inside dog with inside water as well).  We dropped below 30 last night, which qualifies as a cold November day in Western Washington.  Below is a nice shot of the public dock in Gig Harbor on a nice frosty morning.

Gig Harbor Uptown Center taking shape

Gig Harbor’s Uptown Center, located on Point Fosdick drive just south of the Safeway shopping mall, is really starting to take shape.  The new Borders Bookstore has been open for a few weeks now, and it has been joined now by Chico’s clothing store, Coldwater Creek clothing, and Panera Bread.  Jamba Juice is very close to being open, and the rest of this outdoor mall is rapidly taking shape. 

Perhaps most exciting will be the opening of the new Galaxy Theaters, set to open in March of ‘08.  This 10-screen complex is much needed in Gig Harbor, which currently only has a 3 screen complex that is quite outdated. 

Approximately 35 stores are set to be housed in the Uptown Center when it is completed.  Imagine, dinner at Panera, a movie at the theater, then dessert at Ben and Jerry’s.  Sounds like a great evening out in Gig Harbor!

Driving through Gig Harbor–A Roundabout approach

Gig Harbor North is growing.  It’s growing quickly.  We have numerous new amenities that the community is buzzing about, such as Costco, YMCA, new homes, and a hospital in another year or so.  With all of this growth comes a problem…traffic.  Roundabouts were installed as the solution to this traffic problem.  Really, they’re not a bad solution when used properly, but there seems to be some confusion on how to navigate our roundabouts.

The city has placed multiple signs around the traffic circles in an attempt to clear up the confusion, and they’ve repainted the lane lines to try and make it clear where drivers should be.  Still, there seems to be traffic back ups almost daily.  I’d like to chime in with my two cents worth to try and simplify our circles.  One, stay in the correct lane.  Nobody is benefited when a vehicle takes an inside lane simply to choose the lane with the fewer number of cars when the intent is to exit to an outside exit.  Secondly, please use your turn signal when EXITING the circles.  It is highly frustrating when a car is waiting to enter the circle, pauses for oncoming traffic,  only to see the car exit the circle without a turn signal, causing the incoming cars to wait longer for no reason.  Signalling your exit will help the incoming traffic flow more smoothly, and lessen the chance of accidents.

The city has a website with full information on how to drive properly in our roundabouts.  They really can be a good solution!

Gig Harbor’s Wellington Ridge–A Great Value

Wellington Ridge is, in my opinion, one of Gig Harbor’s best neighborhoods in terms of value.  For those not familiar with Gig Harbor, we like to divide the entire town into mini subdivisions, Wellington Ridge being one of those.  Located in Gig Harbor’s booming North section, this neighborhood gives the small town, close-knit feeling that so many families are looking for.  Several tree-lined streets meander through this neighborhood, and many small cul-de-sacs branch off to form little communities within a community.

Wellington Ridge is just a quick shot up the road from Purdy Elementary School and Peninsula High School, it is mere minutes from the Gig Harbor North Shopping Center (Target, Albertson’s, YMCA, Costco, Home Depot, Office Depot, etc), and is a straight shot to get to HWY 16 for commuters.  There are currently 6 homes for sale in Wellington Ridge ranging from $339,900 to $455,000, with a median price of $381,950.  There are not many places in Gig Harbor where you can find a clean, quiet community of well kept homes in a great location for this price range.  For full details on home sales in Wellington Ridge or any other Gig Harbor home reports, please email me at mthomson@kw.com.