A few price reductions have surfaced in the midst of this holiday season:

9657 North Town Loop NE

4 br, 2.75 ba; 2,660 sq. ft.

nwmls#27185073

on Redfin: 64 days

was: $634,500

now: $615,000

price dropped: 3%

7373 Springridge Road NE

4 br, 2.25 ba

3,452 sq. ft.

nwmls#27145742

on Redfin: 127 days

was $769,000

now $729,000

price dropped 5%

This next property has apparently been on Redfin for 612 days.

I see that $10,000 has been shaved off of the original asking price.

10482 NE Quiet Valley Lane

4 br, 2.5 ba

3,596 sq. ft.

nwmls#26052250

on Redfin: 612 days

was: $830,000

now: $820,000

price dropped 1%

Doorbusters? You be the judge.

*all information from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

For beach lovers who commute to the city, here’s a sweet alternative to Bainbridge Island:

Indianola is a little burg on the sound between Bainbridge Island and Kingston. Once a summer vacation community accessible only by a small foot ferry, Indianola now has a couple of roads but looks and feels pretty much the same as it did when it was settled in 1916.

The center of town has a country store, a big dock, beach access, a post office and a community hall. It’s a ten minute, stress free trip to the Kingston ferry and a 20 minute trip to the Bainbridge boat.

Besides a few beach cabins, there’s some new construction worth taking a look at.

Here is a sampling of view properties built in 2007 currently on the market in Indianola:

This first house was designed and built by Marc Bjorklund, whose natural, site-based Northwest projects includes Dale Chihuly’s Lake Union apartment/gallery and various other waterfront dwellings on Whidbey Island, Bainbridge Island and around the Seattle area.

8030 Evergreen Ave NE

4 br, 2.5 ba

3,200 sq. ft.

nwmls# 27200332

$712,000

7205 NE William Rogers Rd 

3 br, 3.25 ba

4,620 sq. ft.

nwmls#27193718

$1,199,000

21080 Indianola Rd NE 

4 br, 3.5 ba

3,375 sq. ft.

nwmls# 27187322

$759,500
 
 8059 Midway NE

3 br, 2.5 ba 

3,100 sq. ft.

nwmls#27092128

$587,000

All in all, Indianola is a great little spot. 

Don’t forget to stop into my favorite pizza place Bella Luna when you take a trip out there.

*all information from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Some of you know I’m a real estate junkie and I’ve probably looked at something like a thousand houses on this island during my 14 years here.

And I still…haven’t found…what I’m looking for…as the song goes.

But this one came c-l-o-s-e, and in all seriousness, we would–in an ideal world–like to have one more bedroom, in town, close to the schools, on a quiet street.

When the craftsman bungalow initially went on the market last summer, I felt it was priced too high  for the neighborhood at $859,000.  $150-200K higher than anything else round these parts had gone for–I waited patiently for the price to come down.

When it finally dropped under $800,000 as summer waned–I decided to have a look-see. I loved the classic elements of the house even though one of my criteria is lots of natural light and the main living area is on the darker east side of the house.It has a unique floor plan, but I liked it–with one master bedroom downstairs and three more bedrooms upstairs that opened onto a great playroom/family room in the center.Though someone owns the property behind the house and it looks as though some dwellings could go in back there some day, the yard is big enough to keep a decent buffer happening.

I’m not one of those cool people who has overcome engaging in a big flurry of holiday shopping in an effort to please my huge family and all my friends.

I’m simply not above it, okay?

And my favorite way to accomplish my holiday personal shopping mission is by hitting these local, homegrown Bainbridge Island shows because both shows feature island artists and craftspeople…and both shows have a ton of great stuff to offer…it’s a happy way to enjoy a day on Bainbridge Island:                                                                                                                           

Bainbridge Island Studio Tour: 60 artists in 9 studios

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

10am-6pm

Christmas in the Country

Friday and Saturday 10am-5pm

Sunday 11am-5pm

Enjoy!

*all information from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

I was reminded of this when my toddler became ill on Thanksgiving (For the record, it wasn’t my cooking that made him sick.)

If one is in need of Urgent Care, one must hope the Virginia Mason Clinic in Winslow (which has some fine features, and yet, is not open on say–Thanksgiving) can see you–which they are kind about doing–even though you may not be their patient.

Your second alternative is Kitsap Urgent Care  in Pouslbo, which has potential when one is desperate to be seen, and yet, it is not open on say–Thanksgiving.

Then the choice becomes Harrison emergency in Bremerton which is about 40 minutes away? Or a Seattle hospital? Or stay home and hope for the best?

In a true emergency over here you call 911 and they helicopter you over to the appropriate Seattle hospital quicker than you would probably get there by ambulance if you lived down the street from the ER, but when it comes to sore throats or high fevers, it’s a crap shoot.

In a late breaking news story (it broke October 30 and I’m late finding it) I’ve come to find out that someone has applied to the city to build what could potentially become an Urgent Care facility up here near the Madison fire station.

My urgent question: will they be open on Thanksgiving?

*all information from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

One  is in the Winslow Mews, a condo development up the road from Town and Country Market…easy walk to ferry:

362 NE Wyatt Way

3 br, 2.75 ba

Nwmls#27198692

$485,000

Open 1-3

…and this 3-Star Built Green home:

9156 NE Briar Rose Lane

4 br, 2.5 ba

3,837 sq. ft.

Nwmls#27115544

$895,000

Open 1-4

*all information from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

245 Shepard Way NW

2 br, 1.5 ba

1,008 sq. ft.

Nwmls#27175520

$267,000

350 Grow Avenue #A-5

2 br, 1.75 ba

1,167 sq. ft.

Nwmls#27164396

$275,000

And two nineties-era places in Grow Village, have recently hit the market:

206 Grow Ave NW

2 br, 1.75 ba

1,165 sq. ft.

Built 1997

Nwmls#27201942

$375,000

224 Grow Ave NW

2 br, 1.75 ba

930 sq. ft.

Built 1993

Nwmls#27193694

$365,000

*All information from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Several people have commented to me about such a sizzle.

And yet… I’m seeing a whole lotta condos sitting on the back burner.

The western side of Winslow Way looks a little bit like a deserted set for a spaghetti western…minus the tumbleweeds.

Looks as though some of the new condo complexes have a lot available.  I found 17 condos at Madrone Village listed on Redfin at the moment—some of them have been on Redfin for between 500 and 600 days—many in the 400 range.

Interestingly, the prices haven’t budged downward in a year despite sluggish sales—I’m looking at a price list dated 11/28/06.

Across the street, this condo in the 8 unit Corner House development—the downstairs version of one that sold for $389,000 nearly 2 years ago, just dropped 20K in price—with homeowners dues at about $260 per month.

343 Winslow Way W #102

2 bedroom, 1 bath
884 sq. ft.
On Redfin for 286 days
Was: $359,000
Now: $339,000

*all information from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed

1220 Weaver Road

2 br, 2.5 ba

1,120 sq. ft.

nwmls#27111713

$359,000

open 1-4

11735 Kirk Avenue

4 br, 3.5 ba

2,256 sq. ft.

nwmls#27198109

open 1-4

9657 North Town Loop NE

4 br, 2.75 ba; 2,660 sq. ft.

nwmls#27185073

$634,500

Open 1-4

*all information from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

A family-sized home in family-friendly Fort Ward recently sold:

9647 Radio School Road Listed at $680 in Spring of 2007Sold for $631,000 on 10/18/07A Bill Point view home I was partial to sold as well: