Yup, that headline is already old, after just two uses. But it is still descriptive of what’s going on over on Bainbridge Island, where the condo building craze is being described as a “gold rush.” Some call it coincidence; others say it’s by design. At least six condominium projects simultaneously under construction in Winslow will…
Month: January 2006
Bellingham Building Bonanza
This story is a bit outside of my normal geographical range, plus it was covered by Ben on Saturday, but I wanted to at least touch on it here. Up in Bellingham building is far outpacing population growth: It has become almost conventional wisdom that Bellingham and Whatcom County have been growing fast in recent…
Affordable Homes Vanishing In Olympia
Think you can move outside the Seattle area to find a reasonably priced home, but still stick around the Puget Sound? Think again. South Sound’s supply of affordable homes is vanishing. Last year, home sales priced at between $140,000 and $200,000 dropped an average of 42 percent compared with the year before, while home sales…
Economy-watcher: "Yes and No" Seattle Bubble
Here’s yet another blue-sky prediction for 2006 that takes the “our prices haven’t risen as fast/much as other areas, so therefore we’re not in a bubble” angle: Economy-watcher Michael Parks suggests that people worried about a housing bubble in the Puget Sound region get a little perspective. Sure, house prices have climbed a healthy 14.5…
Taxing Condos For "Affordable Housing"
Local blogging star Stefan Sharkansky points out an interesting disconnect between the city of Seattle’s stated goal of “making housing more affordable” and their actions, which are apparently to give a little and take a lot: Seattle City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck wants to inspire more people to live downtown by “making housing more affordable“ How…