Every waterfront listing on Bainbridge Island uses one of three words to describe the shoreline. Low bank. High bank. No bank. These terms appear in every MLS description, every neighborhood guide, every agent conversation, and they carry more weight than almost any other feature in the listing. Get them wrong and you'll tour the wrong homes. Misread one and you might close on a property that doesn't give you what you came for.
Bainbridge Island, Washington, is known for its waterfront access, beautiful homes, quaint downtown area, and extensive trail system. For those who love to jog, walk their dogs, bike, or simply stroll the island, which is about 95% of us, understanding the trail system and knowing where you can walk is crucial. Let's take a deep dive into some of the waterfront trails in downtown Bainbridge Island, Eagle Harbor, the place where the ferry is coming from, and other Trail systems that are connected.
February may be one of the quieter months of the year, but Washington comes alive with culture, community gatherings, festivals, and activities for all ages. Whether you’re looking for a fun family outing, an immersive cultural experience, or something unexpected, here are some standout events happening around the state this February.
As the calendar turns to January, it’s a natural time to reflect, plan, and set intentions—especially when it comes to real estate. For buyers and sellers considering Bainbridge Island and broader Kitsap County, this month offers unique opportunities to start the year strategically and thoughtfully.
The holiday season is a magical time in Bainbridge Island and Kitsap County, where twinkling lights and festive decorations transform neighborhoods into winter wonderlands. Whether you’re taking a cozy evening drive, strolling through your favorite community, or bundling up for an outdoor adventure with the family, there’s no shortage of ways to experience the joy and warmth of the season.
Top Tips for Relocating to Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island is a Pacific Northwest paradise, with waterfront recreation, lush forests, and a small-town atmosphere, the island draws visitors from all over the world to its scenic shores. It’s no surprise that folks dream of owning a home on the island.
The Ultimate Guide to Staging Your Home for a Quick Sale
As you prepare to list your home for sale, one of the most important thoughts to keep front of mind is how your home will immediately appear to a potential buyer touring it or viewing photos of it through marketing materials. Regardless of location, square footage, or access to nearby amenities, the way your home simply looks has a powerful impact on buyers. Staging, which is the process of arranging furniture and décor (among other techniques), allows you to transport buyers to an imagined future in the home, helping them to envision their life in the property by providing a stylish, intentional design within it that highlights its best features and distracts from any of its less desirable traits. Continue reading for our guide on how to strategically stage your home to maximize its appeal so that it sells quicker and for the best possible price.
Investing in Fall Real Estate: Opportunities and Strategies
When is the best time to buy or sell real estate? This is often the question at the top of both first-time buyers and seasoned investors’ minds, but the answer is less about waiting for the perfect market conditions and more about making the market work for your situation. If you feel ready to make your real estate investment move but aren’t sure if this fall is the best time, first ask yourself the question if this fall is the right time for your goals—if it is, then do not hesitate and instead work with the conditions the market has presented you with. There are certain unique perks to capitalize on when buying in the upcoming months. Read on for the advantages of investing in real estate during the autumn season.
Homebuyer's Checklist: Your Comprehensive Guide to a Smooth Purchase
For most people, a home is the biggest purchase they will make in their lifetime. Beginning the homebuying journey is incredibly exciting and likely feels like the start of a brand-new chapter, but it is also one that can probably feel overwhelming at times, particularly for first-time homebuyers, when you consider how many factors are involved in making the purchase. However, with a little research—and an experienced real estate advisor at your side—you can adequately prepare yourself ahead of time. Read on for a step-by-step guide to take you through the process so that you can successfully navigate the intricacies of purchasing a property.
4 Reasons Pre-Inspections Are So Important
When it comes to purchasing a home, there are countless factors to consider and steps to take to ensure you’re making the best choice for yourself and your household. In a competitive market, sometimes buyers will feel pressured to waive certain rights or skip common protective measures in order to win over a seller and be able to buy a property they’re excited about. However, even in markets where buyer demand is high and inventory is low, pre-inspections, which are inspections carried out by a professional third party that identifies any issues or areas of concern on the premises before an offer is even made, can save buyers money, worry, and regret down the line. Read on for four of the main reasons why we recommend requesting a pre-inspection on your next homebuying search.
Island Events to Create a Memorable Summer
The days are long, the weather is warm, and Bainbridge Island is at its best with beautiful seasonal flowers blooming and plenty of fun community events on the horizon. It’s the loveliest time of year in the PNW, with residents spending more time out and about to soak in the gorgeous sunshine and infectious cheerful energy on the island. We’re digging into some of the best events this summer, from a classic car show to the ever-popular First Friday Art Walk, we’ll give you all the details on our favorite upcoming must-visits. We hope to see you out and about because the best part about attending is the gift of connecting with our remarkable community!
The Allure of Waterfront Living
There are few locales more alluring than the waterfront—whether it’s the sound of crashing ocean waves or brilliant sunsets over a calm, clear lake, there’s nothing like having a beautiful waterfront right in your own yard. For the entertainer, outdoor soirees in the fresh air as guests admire the views elevate any gathering. For the adventurer, waking up as the sun rises to go on a paddleboard ride or set sail on your boat is the perfect start to any day. Wildlife enthusiasts or birders are treated to front-row seats of bald eagle, whale, and seal sightings, and ocean explorers have tide pools and seashell collecting to entertain them for hours on end. Waterfront homes encourage residents to stop and appreciate the beauty surrounding them.
Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty proudly presents the 2023 Waterfront Report. The fifth annual report features 12 counties and 18 communities, exploring market trends over the past five years. This comprehensive report is designed to help buyers and sellers interested in waterfront properties, as well as provide waterfront homeowners with a snapshot of their niche market, whether they are preparing to list soon, or are keeping an eye on the market for years to come.
Typically, the real estate market slows down over the holiday season. Buyers take a break from their home search, whether from fatigue or just the hustle and bustle of the holidays. And sellers tend to focus on gathering with loved ones instead of preparing to list. But, 2021 has proved to be anything but typical: What little inventory there was in the fourth quarter of the year was scooped up by eager buyers, closing out a huge year for real estate.
With our collection of esteemed advertising partners who made this guide possible, we’re thrilled to not only show you the best of the Puget Sound, but also how to make that home your very own. From the Emerald City to island living or the snowcapped peaks of the Cascades and beyond, find out what it means to call the Northwest home.
The beautiful landscapes of the Pacific Northwest aren’t complete without our water views. From in-city waterfronts along our lakes and the majesty of the Puget Sound to island living and vistas along with Washington’s scenic port towns, there’s nothing like finding a piece of shoreline to call your own. Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty has observed over two years of waterfront transactions, from January 2019 through March 2021 across Western Washington’s most sought-after destinations.
This year, Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty presents two reports to inform buyers and sellers in the Puget Sound real estate market. First, the 2021 Exclusive Report looks at how Seattle’s booming and diverse economy has spurred unprecedented development and population growth with a clear urbanization trend.
When the clock struck midnight on December 31, few were disappointed to see 2020 end. But despite the difficulties endured over the last year, the real estate market remained resilient. It powered forward boasting median home prices that had continued to rise since the initial lockdown last March, more closed home sales than this time last year, and low inventory in nearly all the market areas.
The number of waterfront sales on Bainbridge Island dropped from 58 in 2018 to 43 in 2019. There are a few waterfront condominium units on the island, with modest but steady sales over the past two years. Excluding these sales reveals a sharper decline in waterfront residential sales, from 51 to 37 transactions. However, high-end sales moved in the opposite direction. There were 17 sales over $2.0 million in 2019, compared with nine such sales in 2018.
The first quarter of 2020 boasted a seller’s market on Bainbridge Island. The COVID-19 pandemic likely had an impact on the real estate market, it's not yet evident in data from the first three months of the year. Since this time last year, the area has been trending towards a seller’s market, with less inventory available. Median sales prices are up year-over-year as well, by almost 12 percent. While homes spent an average of 77 days on market, up 10 days from the first quarter in 2019, sellers were more likely to see more value in their homes, as the average price per square foot was up 23 percent.
