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The Pros and Cons of ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units)

According to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, homes with ADUs comprised 2.3% of total residential properties sold by NWMLS brokers in 2023. The majority of these sales occurred in King County (462 listings), followed by Pierce (167), Snohomish (150), Kitsap (78), Thurston (60), Island (51), and Whatcom (54) counties. Additionally, over 300 homes with ADUs were sold across other counties covered by Northwest MLS.

Homes with ADUs tend to attract a specific type of buyer, as indicated by NWMLS data showing that, on average, these homes remained on the market longer than those without ADUs in most counties.

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) offer a fantastic opportunity to expand living space for family members, generate additional income, or boost the value of your property. If you're considering buying a home with an attached or detached ADU, NWMLS brokers are available to assist you every step of the way. With advanced search tools tailored to your preferences and needs, they can locate homes in your desired location and filter results based on ADU square footage, number of bedrooms, and bathrooms, ensuring you find the perfect fit for your requirements.

Are you thinking about adding an ADU to your home? I’d love to help!

Striving for Exceptional Service

Sold in 4 Days

Sold at $485,000 | Over Asking Price

From the Sellers:

“We recently had the pleasure of working with Karen Keefe for the sale of our house, and we couldn't be more impressed! Karen's charming personality and deep knowledge of the real estate market made the entire process a breeze. From the beginning, Karen provided us with invaluable insights and walked us through every step, ensuring we were well-informed and confident in our decisions.

Her proactive approach in preparing our home for sale, including recommendations for painting and speedy solutions for repairs, reflected her dedication to presenting our property in the best light possible. What sets Karen apart is her commitment to her clients. She went above and beyond to address any potential concerns, recommending specific work to ensure transparency during inspections.

Karen's guidance didn't stop with the sale—she took the time to educate us on what to look for in our next home, showcasing her commitment to our long-term satisfaction. Having worked with Karen eight years ago to find our first home, there was no doubt in our minds that she was the right choice for selling as well. Her genuine care for her clients makes her not just a realtor but a trusted partner in one of life's significant transitions. If you're looking for a dedicated, knowledgeable, and personable realtor, we wholeheartedly recommend Karen Keefe.

Thank you, Karen, for your exceptional service.

-Nick and Miriam Sebring

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Bainbridge Island Waterfront Real Estate | Q3 2023

A Note from Karen

Living on the waters of Puget Sound for more than 20-years has been a privilege for me.  Waking on the eastern shores of Bainbridge Island I have enjoyed many cups of coffee watching the sun rise. Beach combing, beach walking, crabbing, kayaking have been a great part of my island lifestyle.

A native Washingtonian, with 40+years of my life on Bainbridge Island has taught me  how important our natural resources are. Bainbridge Is relatively a small island with 12-miles of shoreline, much has been developed and what has not is under strict management by the States’s Shoreline Management guides and the City of Bainbridge Island. Living on the water has been a privilege but I also feel like I am one of it’s guardians.

Bainbridge Real Estate Recap

Bainbridge Island’s real estate market remains a strong seller’s market. In our third quarter, we continued to see homes sell above the asking price. We also saw a similar increase in average sale price when compared to this time last year. We’ve compiled key highlights to keep you in the know about our local market.

SOLD IN 4 DAYS: Exceptional Waterfront Estate

SOLD IN 4 DAYS!

12960 Sunrise Drive NE
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

3 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms / 3,531 Sqft

Sold at $2,500,000

Exceptional waterfront estate on Bainbridge Island with views of Puget Sound to Mt. Rainier. Filled with character, warmth and custom touches, this home will captivate you. This beauty sits on 1 acre with curated gardens. A stone walkway leads you to a covered porch and you are struck by the water view, a large fireplace in living room, a Chef’s kitchen with high end appliances, and eating nook. Additionally, the main floor offers a dining room, a media room, covered deck, utility room, bedroom and guest bath. Upstairs find 2 suites, full baths, and a primary bedroom with vaulted ceilings, walk-in closet (with built-ins) an office, and a deck with water views. An estate sale sold “AS=IS”. A Bainbridge Island classic Craftsman home.

Sold in 3 Days: Poulsbo Mini Farm

28746 State Highway 3 NE
Poulsbo, WA 98370

3 Bedrooms / 1.75 Bathrooms / 1,284 Sqft

Sold in 3 Days at $625,000

Mini-farm with cozy house and everything imaginable for livestock. 5.27 level acres and 5 outbuildings in fenced pasture: hay, buck barn, pony barn with stalls, chicken coop. Carport/RV parking, shed with workshop, barn, yoga studio plus paddocks with gates and partial electric fencing. Mostly wood floors and wood paneling in home with generous kitchen outfitted in pine cabinetry. Open floor plan, heat pump and electrostatic air filtration system. If you love the country life, come make it your plot of heaven today.

NEW TO MARKET: Exceptional Waterfront Estate

OPEN HOUSE:

Saturday, August 19th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm &
Sunday, August 20th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm

12960 Sunrise Drive NE
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

3 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms / 3,531 Sqft

Offered at $2,825,000

Exceptional waterfront estate on Bainbridge Island with views of Puget Sound to Mt. Rainier. Filled with character, warmth and custom touches, this home will captivate you. This beauty sits on 1 acre with curated gardens. A stone walkway leads you to a covered porch and you are struck by the water view, a large fireplace in living room, a Chef’s kitchen with high end appliances, and eating nook. Additionally, the main floor offers a dining room, a media room, covered deck, utility room, bedroom and guest bath. Upstairs find 2 suites, full baths, and a primary bedroom with vaulted ceilings, walk-in closet (with built-ins) an office, and a deck with water views. An estate sale sold “AS=IS”. A Bainbridge Island classic Craftsman home.

Prepping Your Garden for Fall

As the leaves change color, signaling the winding down of the growing season, it's time to ensure your garden finishes strong and gets ready for winter. Take the necessary steps to prepare all areas of your landscape for the colder months. This comprehensive checklist covers essential fall outdoor chores that will leave your plants, lawns, and gardens well-prepared.

Start by giving some tender loving care to your permanent plantings, including trees, shrubs, and perennials. Clean up your vegetable garden, and make sure everything is set for the winter ahead. Take the time to winterize your lawn to protect it during the colder months.

By completing these fall gardening tasks, you'll free up more time in the spring for planting vibrant vegetables and colorful blooms. Instead of being overwhelmed with cleanup tasks and searching for garden tools, you can leisurely browse seed catalogs while you plan next year's garden. Follow this fall gardening tips and checklist, tackling a couple of tasks each day, and you'll have your yard ready for winter in no time.

The Seattle Times: Creative & Personal Mailboxes of Bainbridge Island

Nestled amidst the solemn solidarity of old-growth cedars, cypress, and Douglas fir, a captivating assortment of creatively designed mailboxes adorns the evergreen landscape of Bainbridge Island, infusing it with grassroots artistry, charm, and whimsy.

Mailboxes hold a special significance on Bainbridge, where ordinary mail receptacles are transformed into objects of exuberant personal expression. Utility gracefully gives way to uniqueness, and the once mundane blossoms into an extraordinary communal flora. These standard flag, box, and post structures, though highly visible, often go unnoticed, yet they have sparked the islanders' imagination, inspiring them to leave their distinctive mark on these everyday objects.

From tinkerers to fine artists, those who craft these mailboxes hold a sincere desire to brighten someone's day, inject joy into a morning stroll, or playfully amuse passersby. The diverse range of artistic disciplines and offbeat ingenuity represented in these creations aptly qualifies them as remarkable examples of folk art.

Waterfront By the Numbers

The pandemic sparked significant growth in the values of waterfront properties, but in the middle of 2022, this niche sector of the Bainbridge Island housing market encountered a perfect storm of economic headwinds, causing a slowdown.

June 2023: Inventory on Bainbridge Island

Between 2020 and 2021, the average sale price of waterfront homes surged by approximately 20%. However, from 2021 to 2022, the increase was notably lower, at just 6%. The most significant year-on-year difference in this market was the number of pending sales, which declined by more than a third compared to the previous year. Another noteworthy trend was the abundance of sales over four million dollars in 2020 and 2021, a record-breaking figure. Yet, during the latter half of 2022, the number of homes listed at that price point dwindled to almost zero, and eight homes listed in that range were taken off the market.

Bainbridge Island boasts nearly 60 miles of shoreline, which means a multitude of variables contribute to the market value of each property. Nuances like privacy, quality of view, accessibility to the beach, and the overall quality of the home play crucial roles. If you wish to delve into these details and stay updated on the latest insights into the waterfront housing market on the island, feel free to reach out to me.

Visiting Charming Bainbridge Island

Bainbridge Island, located less than 10 miles from downtown Seattle, offers the perfect setting for outdoor enthusiasts and those seeking a charming small-town experience right by the ferry dock. The island provides ample opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and delightful explorations.

Renowned as one of the finest ferry rides in the region, the journey to Bainbridge takes a mere 35 minutes. During the ride, you can enjoy stunning views of the city skyline from the water, catch glimpses of marine wildlife, and relish the serene waters of Eagle Harbor.

Bainbridge Island encompasses not only the island itself but also the main town situated southwest of the ferry terminal. Interestingly, some locals still refer to the town by its former name, Winslow.