Archive for the ‘Gig Harbor neighborhoods’ Category
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May
15
Posted by Matt Thomson
When you’re looking for properties online, it can often be difficult to tell much about the area. Many MLS photos don’t do a property justice, many make the property look way better than it really is, and you can never get a good feel for what the area looks like. One way to assist in that is to view www.maps.live.com, type in an address, and click on “Bird’s eye view”. This obviously isn’t a replacement for visiting Gig Harbor, but it sure helps you get a better visual of an area or one of Gig Harbor’s neighborhoods.
This is the bird’s eye view of the property I have listed at 1916 Lybecker Drive in Gig Harbor. If you searched for “waterfront” in Gig Harbor, this would come up at $750,000.
This property was also listed as
“waterfront” in Gig Harbor. I think it was an innocent mistake by the agent, but clearly it’s not waterfront. You can see the mud at the left…1/2 the day that’s a very nice bay full of water (when the tide’s in), but the home is obviously not waterfront.
Did you hear that Henderson Bay Estates was a great neighborhood in Gig Harbor? Take a look and see what the neighborhood looks like. Rotate the camera, zoom in and out, have fun while exploring what Gig Harbor looks like!
Want to see what kind of play fields the schools in Gig Harbor have? You can find that here too! This is a great tool to locate what you’re looking for and get a great idea for what Gig Harbor (or any area) looks like!
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Apr
28
Posted by Matt Thomson
It’s interesting when you live in an area how easy it is to forget what makes it special. You tend to get into your little routine, travelling the same routes, doing the same things, seeing the same people, and while it’s comfortable and nice, you can miss what else your town offers. When I lived in Park City, Ut, I took the skiing for granted. When I lived in Santa Barbara, Ca, the beach was just kind of there. Now, living in Gig Harbor, Wa, I can tend to miss the true beauty of our neighborhoods and the kindness of our residents.
I had the pleasure of touring Gig Harbor again this weekend, as I had some clients in from out of state. It was busy (we had 34 homes to tour, added 2 more to the list, eventually crossed 16 off the list, but saw 4 homes twice!) but it was a lot of fun for me (and my clients too, I hope!). 
I runjog or walk through Canterwood nearly every day, but driving through it and seeing it through the eyes of a potential resident, it just jumps out at you again how nice Canterwood is. I’ve loved the Millbrooke neighborhood off of Rosedale ever since it was built about 4 years ago, but visiting there with potential residents made me that much more aware of the impeccable condition of those homes and their yards. Driving through Cromwell Woods and Trillium Park, and so many other fantastic Gig Harbor neighborhoods just re-invigorated my love for the whole Gig Harbor area.
I also had some interesting interactions with several of our residents. How do you schedule appointments for 36 homes? How do you give ample notice and maintain minimal inconvenience? I guess I found out that you don’t. I cancelled 16 appts (and by cancelled I pretty much mean didn’t show up for) this weekend. 
With one exception, every seller whom I had requested a showing and then ended up not being able to make it was very gracious. That’s not an easy thing to do, as the process of getting your home ready to show, vacating the home for a period, and getting your hopes up that these might be the people who will want your house, is a very taxing process. I truly appreciate all of those sellers who made their homes available and accepted our inability to visit their homes. I apologize to the one seller who was angry…it’s just the way it goes.
In addition to getting to speak with gracious Gig Harbor residents, it is always fun to have conversations with amiable sellers as you schedule the appointments. Many ask about my business, some ask about the buyers, a few leave out candy or bake cookies. It’s really a fun way to “meet” the folks in our community. There’s one home in particular, in a great gated community in a very good location, that I really wish I could find a buyer for. The yard is fully fenced and huge, the house is spotless and very large, and the seller is just plain kind. She made a baby cap for some buyers of mine a few months back (my clients were pregnant at the time of showing), and she had fresh snicker-doodles made for us this time. I’ve never met her, she doesn’t know me, but she’s always fun to talk to and makes her home extremely inviting. Unfortunately it just hasn’t worked for either client to whom I’ve shown it.
As a resident of Gig Harbor I can tend to get stuck in my routine rut. Spending a weekend like this past one, driving through so many of Gig Harbor’s fine neighborhoods, seeing yards decorated for birthday parties, passing picnics in the City Park, watching the Gig Harbor Little League field covered with excited young future Mariners, speaking with residents whom I’ll most likely never meet but still feel as though I know, is a real treat. If you haven’t visited Gig Harbor recently, or if you’re a resident of Gig Harbor stuck in your routine, take a weekend and just tour the town. Maybe go to some open houses or call a Realtor and go view that home for sale that you’ve been wanting to see. It’s a great way to reconnect with our community!
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Apr
28
Posted by Matt Thomson
Each week I track the real estate market in Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, and the Key Peninsula. I like to look at how many homes were listed for sale, and how many homes received acceptable offers and are now pending sales. Gig Harbor’s homes for sale is pretty consistently outrunning the number of homes actually selling in the Harbor. Key Peninsula maintains a pretty steady line, not seeing much fluctuation but rather a steady increase of homes for sale.
Port Orchard seems to be the hot place to buy a home in our area. There are several potential reasons. Port Orchard is very close to Gig Harbor. 
The home I have listed in Southlake Ridgeis only 12 minutes from the Gig Harbor Costco, YMCA, Target, etc at Gig Harbor North. Port Orchard is also close to the ferry for those who work in Seattle. You’ll most likely get more for your money in Port Orchard. It obviously depends on the neighborhood, but I’d imagine that the Southlake Ridge home I have listed at $485,950 would be around $550,000 in a comparable Gig Harbor neighborhood. That’s obviously speculation, but basing it off of the size and year built, that’s a safe guess. Taxes in Port Orchard will be significantly lower than Gig Harbor as well (probably about $2000 per year less on a home such as the sample I’ve used).
Here’s a look at the total homes for sale and the total homes pending sales in a week by week comparison for 2008.
You can see that Port Orchard has seen a recent decline in the number of homes on the market, and a steep jump in the number of homes pending sales. Bottom line? This looks like a great time to get in on the Gig Harbor market if you are thinking of buying. Inventory is rising, buyers have more options, sellers are needing to meet the buyers more on their terms. If you’re selling in Gig Harbor, you need to make sure you’re in tip top showing shape, and you’ll probably want to be priced 5%-10% lower than homes that are comparable to yours. For folks looking to move to the area and maybe wanting more of a deal, Port Orchard has some great options. Port Orchard is a different school district, it’s not as convenient to Tacoma as is Gig Harbor, and doesn’t quite seem to have the same small community feel as Gig Harbor, but that is certainly up for debate and a matter of personal opinion. With all of the new growth, there’s not much distinction between south Port Orchard and north Gig Harbor anymore.
For more detailed information on home sale activity in your area, just email me or give me a call.
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Apr
20
Posted by Matt Thomson
I’ve just listed this great new home in Southlake Ridge. Located only 15 minutes from Gig Harbor North (Target, Costco, YMCA, Pier 1, etc), only 5 minutes from HWY 16, a stone’s throw away from Long Lake recreation area, this home is central to everything you need. The Port Orchard address means better value and lower taxes than a Gig Harbor address, too!
2792sf, 3bd, 2.5ba, office, bonus room, beautiful great room, 3 car garage, and a huge back yard. Perched atop the highest point of the cul-de-sac, you are offered privacy and great views of both the Olympic Mountains and Mt Rainier! All for only $485,950! Click on the photo below for more details.
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Apr
16
Posted by Matt Thomson
I just listed this gorgeous waterfront property in Gig Harbor, WA. 1.14 acres, 129′ of sandy beach, views that extend forever. A savvy buyer will grab this property in today’s buyer’s market and turn it into an amazing waterfront estate.
Click on the photo for full details.
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Feb
27
Posted by Matt Thomson
Are you looking to move to Gig Harbor? Want a home that’s in a neighborhood, but still private? You want to be close in to downtown Gig Harbor? Do you need a large house? Maybe you like gardening, playing in the yard, or just lounging in your hot tub. Pretty sure you can’t get all of this for a decent price?
I have the home for you! How about a nearly 2700 square foot, 4 bedroom, 3 full bath home that sits on 1.15 acres? There’s also an office, a photo dark room, and a bonus room currently set up as a weight room. There’s an outdoor spa, tons of vegetable beds, kiwi vines, and Wollochet Creek running through the bottom of the property. All of this sits in fabulous Terri Hills, a quiet neighborhood located just minutes from Downtown Gig Harbor. One of the perks of a shift in a real estate market is the appearance of homes such as this one, listed at only $475,000!
For more photos, full information, and a visual tour, click on the photo of the home. If you or somebody you know would be excited to make this their next home, please give me a call right away!
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Jan
22
Posted by Matt Thomson
It’s been cold here the past two days. Not cold like it is in Minnesota, but that’s partly why I don’t live in Minnesota. Cold like 25 degrees, warming up to 40. It’s been really sunny too. I mean REALLY sunny. Deep blue skies that look like it’s been photo-shopped, but then you remember it’s not a photo, it’s real life. Intense blue skies, deep green trees, sparkling water that requires you to wear sunglasses to even look at. Our technology is good, but no photo-shopped image can match what God does all on His own.
We took a family walk through Canterwood Country Club this afternoon, and I took this picture, saddened by what I saw:
When I got home I enlarged the picture and realized it wasn’t a duck frozen out in the pond, but rather a duck decoy. Maybe the decoys are there to attract ducks flying overhead. Maybe they’re there to try and deter them. I don’t know. Here’s the blown up image:
Canterwood has some beautiful homes, with beautiful views, and beautiful landscaping. I used to not like it in there. I thought it must be snobby and elitist. Now I’d love to live in Canterwood. I’ve met several families who live there, through church, through work, families of kids whom my wife taught…and all the people whom I’ve met there are really nice, wonderful people who happen to live in a really nice, wonderful neighborhood.
If you have ever wanted to live in a premier gated community, now is a great time to look. Canterwood real estate is as diverse now as I’ve ever seen. Small homes under $500,000, bank-owned properties for tens of thousands less than appraised value, new construction homes that will knock your socks off, million dollar homes, multi-million dollar homes with swimming pools, you name it and Canterwood probably has it (unless you’re looking for homes under $400,000!).
I’d be happy to give you a tour of Canterwood, and explore some of the homes for sale in there. It’s my job, and I love doing it. Here are some other photos I took of the frozen golf course community.
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Jan
17
Posted by Matt Thomson
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.
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Jan
11
Posted by Matt Thomson
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).
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Jan
05
Posted by Matt Thomson
There are hundreds of great homes for sale in Gig Harbor right now. Real estate in the Gig Harbor area continues to sell despite what the news may try to tell you. This particular home, listed by a partner at my Keller Williams office, may just be Gig Harbor’s best real estate value. Built in ‘03, given some upgrades in ‘06, this nearly 2600 square foot home sits in Henderson Bay Heights, a highly sought after view neighborhood in Gig Harbor North. This beautiful view home is listed for only $487,500! For more details on the home, or to request a private viewing, please email me at mthomson@kw.com or call me at 253-226-7595.
