Gig Harbor Undressed

Gig Harbor kids love Animal Crackers

Gig Harbor, WA, has proven itself to be a great community for people in all stages of life.  For those with young children, or perhaps young grandchildren, the Gig Harbor waterfront now has the perfect place for the little ones to shop.  In August of ‘06, Gig Harbor resident Sarah Piggott opened Animal Crackers, a kids’ consignment store stocked with clothes, shoes, toys, and everything else you’d need or want for your little ones.  Sarah and her boyfriend Eric run Animal Crackers, along with their 4 1/2 year-old daughter Schuyler. 

Animal Crackers carries many wonderful name brands of baby clothing and items, such as Melissa and Doug, specializing in hand crafted wooden puzzles, toys and games.  They have many boutique label clothing items, big-time baby clothing names from Baby Lulu, Hannah Banana, Mimi & Maggie, and more.  To protect your kids from the Northwest weather, they also carry Kidorable raincoats, boots, and umbrellas.  Animal Crackers is also excited to now carry a line of baby shoes called Robeez, a soft-soled leather shoe. 

All of these name brand items can be found at remarkable prices, thanks to the store’s consignment set up.  Animal Crackers’ consignment policy is pretty simple; people bring in their gently used clothing, toys, and other baby items (furniture, games, etc), and when those items sell the customer gets 40%-50% of the proceeds in the form of store credit or cash-out. 

My wife is a huge fan of the store.  Our nearly 4-month old daughter has been nicely outfitted at Animal Crackers, and it’s been a great place for us to get rid of all the clothes she’s so quickly grown out of.  What I find to be most exciting about Animal Crackers is that they really know what kids like…soon they’ll be serving a premium brand of ice cream called Umpqua.  Baby clothes, kids’ games, toys of all sorts, Gig Harbor’s beauty, and ice cream sounds like a winner to me!

Animal Crackers is located right in Gig Harbor’s downtown waterfront at 3026 Harborview Dr.  They are open 9-5 seven days a week, accepting consignment items any time.  Stop in to visit Sarah and Schuyler, enjoy their movie corner and play area, and shop for all of your baby’s needs.  You can contact them at 253-858-1795.

Remembering Joshua Oberhansli

I hesitated on whether or not to include this post.  I don’t want this in any way to come across as self promotion or promoting my office.  I decided that this is a community blog, and Joshua was a part of our community, and his story shows the greatness of our community.  So with permission from Dina Vodopich, I’ll simply cut and paste her version of Joshua Oberhansli’s story:

Hello All Fellow Agents, Friends & Family,

Wanted to pass along how wonderful our community is and how strong we all are together!  Yesterday I had the privilege of attending Joshua Francis Oberhansli’s funeral at Chapel Hill Church.  There wasn’t much for dry eyes during the slide show of his life and family. It was wonderful to be there in support of all the family and friends who attended.

The reason for my email is also to share the power of people sharing and caring when they get together.  On Tuesday January 15th I had to take a document up to Haven of Rest so that a large chunk of the funeral home costs were taken care of.  While I was there I met a few of the hospital ladies and their husbands who think that we, Keller Williams are such a great firm to do all that we have done together to help out the family.  Kim Osterman asked me specifically what the family would have to pay after the plot contribution.  I spoke with George Nelson from Haven of Rest and he said that the balance would be $800.31, I recalled the special Urn they wanted in their home for Joshua and George said that was paid in full by an  anonymous person.  The “anonymous” donations has been very strong from so many of you, and I just want to THANK YOU for all that you have done!  We were able to pay $500 that evening towards the funeral costs, which left a balance of $300.31.  Between the three couples there the balance was paid in full and they did it with such Joy.  It was truly a moving experience.  Then the question was asked of me “What do the Oberhansli’s owe for the service at Chapel Hill?”  I got into my secret squirrel mode and called around to get that answer, $2,800 or so.  I shared that answer with the ladies that evening.  Bringing you to the end of this story is that between 23 +/- Tacoma General, friends and family from that group collected in one day $2,800 to pay the fee in full!  After the service I was asked to speak with Kim and her group about a fund raiser they are holding at Joeseppi’s this coming Wednesday for the Oberhansli family to help with all the other mounding bills they have.  This is when they told me about the gift for the funeral service.  If you still would like to donate to the Oberhansli fund, I am making more than happy to do so for you at Columbia Bank.  I will be making a run today for our agents who have written checks to Columbia Bank with Oberhansli in the memo of the check.

I Thank You all for everything you have contributed to this family in a time of need.  We are an awesome company and I have heard this time and time again from the nurses, family members and friends who I have spoken with in these past few days.   

Joshua Francis Oberhansli Joshua Francis Oberhansli died peacefully at his home on Fox Island on January 9, 2008 surrounded by family and friends. Joshua celebrated his 2nd birthday just three days prior; he was born January 6, 2006 in Tacoma, WA. Joshua battled a rare childhood cancer for 17 months leading up to his passing. He was a vivacious boy who was always found smiling despite cancer treatments and side effects. Joshua defined love and togetherness; his spirit will forever bring people together in the face of love. His nurse at Children’s was quoted as saying, “let us base Josh(y)’s life not on how old he was, but by how much he was loved and how much he loved life. To me, that makes him a very old man.” Beloved son of Ron and Dawn Oberhansli, Jr and cherished little brother of Zachary and Lauren, Joshua adored playing with his family and having fun. He especially delighted in dancing, vacuuming, and playing on the beach. To forever cherish his memory, he also leaves grandparents Ron and Autumn Oberhansli, Jan Barker, Darrel and Arlynn Gunderson; great grandmothers Virginia Purkey, and Linda Armour. He is further survived by many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. 

 www.caringbridge.org/visit/joshuao .

Thank You,

Dina Vodopich

Today’s sign that the Apocalypse is upon us

Sports Illustrated used to do a feature (maybe they still do, I haven’t read it in over 2 years) called this week’s sign that the Apocalypse is upon us.  It was some funny story about a crazy, non-sensical thing that happened in the world of sports.

Well, I had a funny thing happen this morning, and I’m not creative enough to come up with my own title, so I’m stealing SI’s.  Sebastian and I went for a nice walk in the downtown Gig Harbor waterfront area this morning, and stopped by the Gig Harbor North Starbuck’s on our way home to pick up a chai and a scone for my wife.  Generally, I prefer to support the smaller local shops like Kimball Espresso and Java and Clay, but my wife likes Starbucks and it was convenient.

The two guys in front of me ordered “coffee.”  The barista (that’s French for person who pours the coffee, I think) called back over her shoulder, “We’re all out!”  Maybe it’s not that funny, but to be in Starbucks at 8:15 in the morning and hear that they’re out of coffee cracked me up.  They had a mochianno (that’s French for fancy coffee, I think) for the lady behind me and my chai ready in a hurry, but no regular coffee.  Okay, maybe it’s a slow day for me…I thought it was funny, though.

Gig Harbor Sunset

I thought you might enjoy a few photos I took last night.  These are taken from Canterwood Blvd in North Gig Harbor.

These photos would be your view if you lived in the McCormick Ridge Condos.   There are currently 6 units available for sale, ranging from $448,000 to $659,000.  These are luxury condos with attached garages, built between 2004-2007.  If you’re interested in getting a complete list of the McCormick Ridge Condos (one of the few condominiums in Gig Harbor), or if you’d like to tour the available units, please contact me via phone, email, or reply to this post.

How’s the weather in Gig Harbor?

A question that I hear all the time…”How’s the weather in Gig Harbor?”  People email me about the weather, they call me and ask about the weather, I was even waiting to confirm an online payment the other day and the operator asked me about the weather.  I told him it was sunny and beautiful.  “Aren’t you near Seattle?” he asked.  “I thought it was always rainy there.”

Right.  Gig Harbor’s weather is always gray and depressing.  I thought I would post some photos here, the first taken this afternoon off of my deck, that show our winter weather.  I guess there’s no way for you to check on me, but these are all taken in the winter, and none are touched up.  Is it like this always?  No.  It rains a lot here.  But the photos with the clouds and sun…that’s the most typical.

Okay, fine…one without sun.

Great life lesson

I was listening to the radio this morning, and the DJ’s were interviewing Lee Thomas.  Lee is a TV journalist who is battling vitiligo, an odd disorder that is turning his black skin to white.  Lee’s website, www.turningwhite.com, has far more information on the man and the disorder.

He said something in the interview that struck me.  He said when you love your job, you really are loving the people who help you do your job.  How true.  I’ve said many times that I love being a Realtor, I love being a real estate agent in Gig Harbor, I love helping people move to Gig Harbor, I love writing this blog and helping people discover Gig Harbor.  I love my job.  I believe the reason why is that I love the people whom I’ve met through real estate and through blogging.  My wife and I have made new friends, we’ve introduced people to our church, even our newborn daughter has met some potential future boyfriends all through real estate (Ben, Henry, the competition’s on!).  I do enjoy taking pictures, I do enjoy writing, and I am fascinated by all the different homes I enter.  None of these things provide the enjoyment that the people I meet provide.

How about you?  Do you love your job?  Has it opened up opportunities for you that you wouldn’t have had otherwise?

Swimming through Flood Insurance

The following is some great information provided to me by Mitchell Smee of Bratrud Middleton Insurance to share with you all:

 FAQ About Flood Insurance

Why do I need flood insurance?  I don’t live near water.

People who live near water are not the only ones who experience flooding.  Floods move and can spread for miles.  They can have strong currents that, in a few moments, can sweep away everything, leaving a thick residue of mud and debris behind.  In Washington State, we also have a considerable amount of ground water flooding and ponding that comes about when the ground becomes super saturated with water and has no place to go.  Homes, even those on high ground, may be many miles from a river, lake or other body of water and still have damage because of groundwater flooding or ponding.  It’s not just the high-risk areas that are flooded.  Between 20-25% of flood insurance claims come from a medium or low flood risk area. 

Doesn’t my homeowner’s insurance cover flood damage?

Typically, homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover such things as flooding, landslides, and earthquakes.  A special policy or rider is needed to cover damage from these as well as other special hazards.

Won’t the Federal Government assist me with flood damages?

Yes, but probably not quite the way you would expect.  Federal disaster assistance is only available if the president of the United States declares a disaster.  When available, federal assistance is often in the form of a loan–repayable in full–with interest!  In contrast, if you have a flood insurance policy, you can be reimbursed for all of your covered losses, even if the president does not declare a disaster.

Isn’t flood insurance expensive?

It depends on your perspective.  Consider the alternatives.  Paying back a $50,000 disaster loan, for example, will cost an average of $300 per month for approximately 20 years, while the average flood insurance premium is a little over $300 per year for an average of $100,000 of coverage.  For most people, a home is by far their most valuable possession.  Why risk the financial loss from flood damage when you can protect it with flood insurance?

Is flood insurance ever required?

If you buy a house in a designated high-risk area, and receive a mortgage loan from a federally regulated lender, your lender must, by law, require that you buy flood insurance.

Does my community participate in the NFIP?

The good news is that most communities in Washington State participate in the NFIP, so the chances are good that flood insurance is available to you.  Contact your local planning or emergency management office to see if NFIP insurance is available in your community.

Who can purchase flood insurance?

Coverage is available for residential and commercial buildings and contents, and can be purchased by renters:

• Up to $250,000 for single-family, two to four family, and other residential buildings.
• Up to $500,000 for non-residential buildings, including small businesses.
• Up to $100,000 for content coverage for residences for owners and/or renters.
• Up to $500,000 for content coverage for businesses.

Where can I purchase a flood insurance policy?

Call local agent Mitchell Smee (Bratrud Middleton Insurance Broker) 360-824-4954

Mitchell is a Gig Harbor resident with several years of insurance experience.  My family has insured both our home and our cars with Mitchell for the past 3 years.

Charting Gig Harbor’s Home sales

Last week I began a weekly segment showing the home sales activity in Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, and the Key Peninsula.  I like to compare homes that have come active on the market versus homes that have gone to “Pending,” meaning they have a signed around contract between buyer and seller that is simply pending a close.  I believe that these comparisons give a good glimpse into Gig Harbor real estate (as well as Port Orchard real estate and Key Peninsula real estate).

The numbers from week 2 of 2008 are almost identical to week 1’s numbers, with one notable exception.  Port Orchard saw 16 homes go to Pending this week, compared to only 2 in week 1.  Both Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula only had 2 homes go Pending in week 2.  Gig Harbor had 33 new homes come active on the market, while KPN only saw 12, and Port Orchard had 40.

Keep in mind that some of these numbers can be a bit skewed.  For example, a home that has been on the market for 6 months may “Expire,” then re-list, thus showing as a “New listing.”  It’s always a good idea to ask your Realtor what a home’s property history is.   How long has it been on the market, any price reductions, etc.

For full reports on the Gig Harbor area real estate market, please email me at mthomson@kw.com or call me at the number listed at the top of this site.

Mt. Saint Helens

Okay, this has very little…okay, nothing…to do with Gig Harbor, but I love these pictures and wanted to showcase them.  I drove a group of middle school students from Tacoma to Mt St. Helens in April of ‘06, and got this view.  We didn’t go up the mountain, only to the visitor center and museum a ways away.  Still kind of fun and some really pretty photos.

Enjoying Gig Harbor’s Beaches

Recently, one of this blog’s readers lamented losing access to the Gig Harbor Lighthouse, and mentioned that there isn’t much waterfront access left to those of us without a boat.  He’s right.  Being surrounded by the Puget Sound is one of the things that draws people to Gig Harbor, but getting in and enjoying the water can be tricky.  There are three beaches that I like to visit with my family…any others that you’ve visited?

Narrows Beach Park

The Narrows Park is located on the south east side of Gig Harbor, and was recently upgraded to provide a place for residents to observe the construction of the 2nd Narrows Bridge.  Parking is fairly limited, maybe 20 spaces or so, but the beach and the view are spectacular.  It is very common to find fishermen lining the beach, as well as dog owners and their dogs.  There is a telescope to view the bridge, and a small grassy area as well.  Check the tides before you go.  At a low tide, you can walk seemingly forever (including walking under the bridges).  When the tide comes back, it can come in quickly and the entire beach disappears.

Kopachuck State Park

Kopachuck State Park is located on the west side of Gig Harbor, and offers a fantastic view of the Olympic Mountains.  Being a state park, Kopachuck offers camping, picnic sites, multiple trails, and beach access.  Not only are you able to be at the beach, but Kopachuck Park is a beautiful forest with huge trees and ferns everywhere.  The only drawback that I can think of for Kopachuck is that it is a fairly long, steep walk down to the beach (which in turn creates a long, steep walk back to your car). 

Purdy Spit

Located on the north side of Gig Harbor, the Purdy Spit offers a fun place for kids to play, dogs to run, and people to boat, kayak, and occasionally wind surf.  The Purdy Spit is the smallest of the three beaches, and probably the least accommodating as well.  Parking is a bit treacherous, as you park on the side of a heavily trafficked highway.  This also means that you better keep a close eye on kids and animals at all times.  The Purdy Spit does have some great shells and sea creatures. 

So if you don’t have a boat and you don’t live on the water, these three beaches may be a good option for some recreation.  Keep in mind that the waters near Gig Harbor tend to be cold, so there’s not a lot of swimming going on.  In the summer months, however, a dip in the Puget Sound can feel pretty nice (it does get up to 90 in Gig Harbor on occasion).