We’re another week closer and in my excitement to get the post out last week, I omitted a few facts. I was also asked by a few people to fill in my own history with this truly fun event!

First, here’s the omitted fact: It’s 10 clams… or I mean… bucks, to get in. $10. For some serious yummy-ness and anything-but-serious fun!

Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off 4-1-1

Who: you, me, cooks, musicians, artists, & hungry Camano Island community members/guests/visitors
What: Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off — $10 entry — plus beer and wine
When: November 12th, 2011 from 3:00pm to 7:00pm
Where: Camano Island Senior & Community Center, 606 Arrowhead Rd. Camano Island

Why: To build our Camano Island community, listen to great music, get inspired by art, win prizes and eat some darn good Camano Island-inspired chili and chowder!

Say Hi To Me, "Janna White" at the Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off!

Jan Mather + Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off — History

I really love this event and I’ve been more involved in the past, including making the announcements and organizing the whole crazy raffle production. Heck, I even donated the raffle spinner to the Chamber of Commerce to use in events such as this.

This year I’m stepping back just a little bit, I’m going to spend some more time eating chili & chowder! I am going to turn over the microphone and enjoy the festivities.

But I will still be helping out, I’ll be following in the role of celebrity Vanna White — being seen and not heard (no easy task for me I’ll be having fun holding the raffle prizes up! So make sure you look for me, I’ll be up there — just call me “Janna White” from now on!

More Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off Fun & Info

Click here to get ready for the Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off by learning about the history of Chili & Chowder

Click here to vote for your favorite – chili or chowder – and see what other will be digging into at the Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off!

Every six months, we look back at the details of the homes sold on Camano Island. We use this data to determine some very interesting facts. Here are our findings from April 1 through September 30, 2011:

There are two markets – those properties that sell without a price drop and those with price changes. It is about a 30/70 percent split. Listings without price drops were on the market for a median of 37 days and sold for 97% of original list price. Those with price drops were on the market for 180 days and sold for 74% of original list price. While the original list price is important it is also acknowledged that pricing a home in today’s market is extremely difficult.

The other information we found is, the longer a house is on the market, the lower the selling price in relation to the original asking price.

*1 Sold means residential properties with a sold status date between April 1 and September 30, 2011 located on Camano Island. There were 131 total properties matching the above criteria. 34 had no price changes, 95 had price reductions and 2 had price increases.
*2 Total days on market is the NWMLS cumulative days on market.
*3 Original list price is the original list price of the earliest listing price during the cumulative days on market period.
*4 The median number of price changes was 3 and the median price drop before the sale was 7.0%.

For information on these or other Camano Island or Stanwood real estate statistics, please contact me at marlaheagle@windermere.com or 360-387-HOME.

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New Technology is great but it seems to be advancing so fast that the average person can’t keep up!!  What good is all this “good” stuff if we don’t have the training, time or energy to learn what it’s all about?!  We don’t really!  Relax!  We just need to do our best to keep up with what our own particular needs and environment request!   Some of us need to know more than others and some of don’t need to know any at all.   That is, we don’t all have to know the latest and the greatest but just those things that can keep “our” everyday business, life and families up-to-date and current with the technological world.  The more I learn the more I see how it can benefit almost anyone in any profession.  It does seem a little overwhelming with everything from: I-phone, X Box, Wii, W 7, QR codes, GPS, Blackberry, Droid, Web, Blog, Bluetooth, MP3 and things I can’t even imagine or comprehend!  Windermere just updated all the personal agent websites last week!  A majority of us don’t like change and the websites are a little more difficult than they were presented to be but we are figuring them out!  Of course, at first we like to whine and complain a little but in the long run, these new sites are going to be great!  Next Windermere will change their main Home Page and search Website to be more user friendly and combine some of the most popular attributes from other sites that clients are demanding.  The best of all worlds!  Before the end of the year our franchise Windermere/CIR for Camano Island and Stanwood will hopefully be reorganized with a type of “cloud” web sharing for our agents which will be another change!  A lot of changes coming before the end of the year to get up and running for a great start to 2012!  It seems like a lot of things all at once but we just have to take them as they come, do what we can, learn as much as we can in the time we have, move on and keep going.  In addition to last week’s blog of staying positive, it is much easier to embrace the new ideas, technology and changes coming our way.  Real Estate has and is changing as well.  We can now be at home or any hot spot on our computers and look at every entire property For Sale in any State or City, we can use our I-phones, Blackberry’s or Droids and the QR codes to go to any listed property and shop for exactly what we want. We can drive around and use our GPS on our phones or handhelds and know where all the listings are located, then use the QR codes again to get either agent information and/or home information.  We can get our I-Pads or Notebooks to go “On Line” as well and get all the information we are looking for from almost anywhere.  Another reason why we as agents need to keep up with as much technology as possible to keep up with our technologically driven clients and the world!

One of Camano Island’s most popular events is just around the corner!

November 12th 2011 from 3:00pm to 7:00pm is the annual Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off.

Come out and join in the festivities, eat some amazing chili and chowder — Camano Island style — and vote for your favorite!

There will be live music, a raffle, and art auction to follow.

This is a great event, so much fun every year and I hope you can all come out for this fun event.

Camano Island Chili Chowder Cookoff Location

Come join us at the Camano Island Senior & Community Center, 606 Arrowhead Rd. If it’s sunny well that’s great; if not well then we have the warm hospitality of the Camano Center and lots of chili and chowder to keep us toasty!

To help us all prepare for the Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off next month, here’s a quick history of what we’ll be enjoying:

Chili – a History

Although it is commonly held that chili originated from Mexico, historians have confirmed that this is not the case. Mexico has deep traditions, dating back hundreds and even thousands of years. If chili came from Mexico, it would still be there! With the exception of a few places that cater to tourists, there really is no chili found in Mexico. Instead of Mexico, Spain is often credited with its creation by popular legend and story.

Chili powder, on the other hand, is a very hot topic! There are a number of people who take credit for creating chili powder, many of them from Texas. In fact, one of the main sources of this story supporting the Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off and History of Chili and Chowder says they all were!

Chowder – a History

For chowder, the Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off heats up quite well also in this “History of Chowder” article on what’scookingamerica.net. France gets the nod this time — and decidedly so — for the creation of chowder. Technically, chowder is anything cooked in a “calderia” which is latin and basically means cauldron. The original chowders were likely made of fish, vegetables, anything that could be thrown together. Sailors often ate chowder with biscuits, which have been replaced with crackers these days.

In one sense, the Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off celebrates our country’s early beginnings as the United States served as the ‘calderia’ for the world and people from all walks of life came together to partake of the new world’s bounty. Let’s all join together again as this fun, festive and tasty annual event serves up piping hot stews of pure yummy-ness!

See you there! – Jan Mather, Camano Island Expert – (360) 507-4133

Positively Positive!  We should all want to be happy, energetic people with optimistic attitudes!  Everyone likes to be around people that are smiling, laughing and enjoying just being healthy and living life.  How do feel when your are around someone that has that positive energy?  You don’t have to be a comedian or the center of the conversation but ‘genuinely” and “sincerely” positive! What happens to us, our physical health and those around us when we are concentrating on the negative?  Stressing on the everyday, unchangeable events that our less than our expectations?  It is a very well known fact that negativity and stress severely toll on your health and well-being.  Everything in our lives hinges on staying positive or at least on the upside of our attitudes.  We obviously can’t change things that have passed, so putting undue stress on ourselves for past concerns is unnecessary. What is currently happening we have a little more control over but only slightly few more options to put a good spin on the outcome.  Our futures are what we really have the most influence on currently and by keeping ourselves at least a little upbeat and happy about our good health, family, friends and the possibility of the good to come will give us a fighting chance to make it happen.  We have got to take the glass as half full and not half empty.

It is exactly the same situation, as in the glass (and not always a good one) but how we view it and act about it changes everything!  It is very difficult sometimes and I have not always been the shining star by example.  It also doesn’t mean being an “ostrich” or “oblivious” to what is going on in the world and our own lives but just facing it in a way that will give us the most advantage.

We could say that we “only” have 40 Pending sales on Camano or we could say we have 250% more Pending sales currently on Camano than last year!  We could speak of the down economy or slow sales or we could say that the current interest rates are at an all time low!  We might stress about property values and home prices being lower than ever or what “awesome” values there are right now for buyers and investors! It is OK to not be happy all the time but it is not OK to be not happy all the time.  I take it from experience, I have been there and I don’t like the other side so I am going to try to be Positively Positive!!

Wow – Immaculate – Cutie! You will love this home as the french doors welcome you to this full time living or getaway home.

Fabulous views of the Cascade mountains, Port Susan & Mt. Baker.

Beach rights to 3 different beaches just blocks away and also great beach rights to the lagoon, bring your kayaks!

Two bedrooms plus another room and 2 full baths makes this a spacious & fun home. Updated kitchen has a breakfast bar, living room with a propane fireplace that heats the entire living area with vaulted ceilings.

A huge wrap around deck is plumbed for your propane heaters and BBQ. Lower level offers a den/office, large & deep garage for storing a boat. Low maintenance on everything, fully landscaped with a low maintenance yard and plenty of parking. Come and go, enjoy and have fun, great price for an Island home.

This home has friends, family and fun written all over it.

For the full listing details, check out this camano island view and beach rights home here

Ready to see it for yourself? Call me today! Jan Mather, Camano Island Expert – (360) 507-4133

Priced too good to be true! Beautiful estate-like view home with a guest cottage.

The main home is 4233 square feet with 4 spacious bedrooms featuring a hardwood floors, formal living room & dining room, den, rec rooms, chef’s kitchen & breakfast nook.

The detached cottage is 1,025 square feet with a 2 car garage & an updated living room, kitchen, bedroom, den & sliding doors leading to the new trex deck.

The 1+ acre lot is complete with a gated entry, beautiful English gardens, gazebo, waterfall, fabulous views of the mountains, water & awesome sunsets.

Home features many custom upgrades including built-in vac system, wired for generator, circular driveway, security system.

Large home plus a guest home for a rental or investment. Super Duper Price!

Want more details? Check out this Camano Island estate-like home here!

Ready to see it for yourself? Call me today! Jan Mather, Camano Island Expert – (360) 507-4133

Persistent Perseverance!    The act of persisting, tenacity, The state or quality of being persistent; persistency,  Continuance of an effect after the cause is removed;  Steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness, continued steady belief or efforts, withstanding discouragement or difficulty; persistence.  These are the two dictionary definitions of the first two words.  In life, work, school, love these could be two of the most important words!  Sort of like “Try, try again”, we have all heard this and this very historic statement culminates in persistence!  As in “Where there is a will, there is a way” and “Survival of the fittest”, these two even older phrases could be summed up in the one word of perseverance!  Put them together and you have an unstoppable, undeniable will and spirit to overcome all obstacles and roadblocks.  “Hang in there”, “don’t give up”, “never say die”, are all very highly used sayings of encouragement and support.  As one of my clients and I found out this week! We had started our listing nearly one year ago on October 22, 2010.  I scrutinized the price and the Sold Comparables and came up with a great list price(or so I thought).  I had done the usual and more advertising with the office tour, Brokers Open House, Public Open House, NWMLS, Windermere website listing, Google, Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com and more.  We had wonderful showings and quite interested buyers but no offers.  We started to lower the price.  We did two large price reductions after the first six months.  We had a few more showings but they were slowing tremendously.  Most of the other comparables had already sold.  We were experiencing one showing every 3-4 weeks.  Finally, coming up on nearly a year we were due to expire at the end of September 2011.  I thought I had no chance to convince my client to continue the listing.  They called that day and surprisingly wanted to keep the listing going for a few more months.  The very next week; an offer!!!  This just goes to show me that even in the overall down economy, the Stanwood and Camano Island Real Estate markets are still healthy.  Clients are buying and homes are selling.  There are currently 38 Pending Sales on Camano alone.  We are still getting new inventory and new buyers!  It doesn’t matter how long a property has been on the market, don’t discount it.  Don’t wait until the home you wants is Pending with another buyer. A property is worth how much a buyer is willing to pay! We can do it!!

Are you looking for a place to take your family, either on a day trip or for some early autumn camping? You could be like most people and head up into the mountains, but why not blaze a new trail and come to Camano Island! From nature’s quiet majesty to vibrant fall festivities, our friendly community will make you feel welcome – so much so that I hope you want to stay forever!

1. Camano Island Colors

With autumn in the air for well, some time now this year, the leaves are changing from their emerald coloring into the warm reds and yellows of fall. Camano Island has an abundance of trees, both evergreen and dec…. decidu…. um, NOT evergreen, to dazzle all ages of nature lovers. Whether you take a leisurely drive down a tree-lined road or spend the night telling stories by a campfire at Camano Island State Park, the great outdoors of Camano Island is a welcoming place.

2. Festival Fun

Fall is the season for harvest festivals all across the country. Camano Island residents don’t disappoint in this avenue, either! We just finished the Harvest Jubilee, and one of the biggest fall festivals is the Stanwood-Camano Chili & Chowder Cookoff coming up in November. The streets are filled with happy people and delicious smells, and everyone visiting Camano Island goes home with a full belly and a happy memory.

3. Shop ‘Til You Drop

One of the best things about living on Camano Island is the creativity of the residents. Many locals are artisans, and their beautiful hand-crafted pieces can be purchased at many of the shops around the area. When you visit Camano Island during the fall, you can take a few people off your holiday gift list by finding a beautiful and unique gift like a handblown snow globe by Camano Island area resident Mark Ellinger – and support a local artist, too!
Whether you spend a few hours shopping or all day hiking, you won’t be disappointed from the variety and beauty that Camano Island brings to you. Come visit us soon!

REALLY??!!  October??!!  Yikes!!  To me this all means the end of summer and start of the real Fall/Winter Holiday season.  Although one of my most favorite times of the year, the slow and moderate Spring/Summer we had makes the transition a little less than historically exciting.  Not the summer has been lazy by any means but now it is time to pick up the pace with ourselves and our families and gear up to get involved with all the exciting events and year-end.  We have already noticed the change in scenery; the maple leaves falling, the chill in the night air and the gorgeous, cool sunrises over the Cascades.  The fall colors of lemon, mustard, pumpkin, burnt sienna, hunter, oak and mahogany are all my favorites!  Of course, first we have Halloween this month with decorating, baking, making costumes and the culmination of the “Big Night”!!  The children’s treasure trove usually last until they can restock at Christmas!  The smells of those outdoors fires, fall stews, hot ovens, pumpkin pie spice, apple cider, cobblers and wood burning fireplaces bring childhood memories as well as more recent.  Then after Halloween, gratefully, Thanksgiving has not become as commercial as the previous and post holidays to it, so it brings a family togetherness and a time to relax, enjoy, prepare and actually plan the big doings of December.  I love Thanksgiving for that very reason; it has stayed less retail and I can enjoy cozy weekends watching movies, playing board games and just spending time with my family!  No sooner do you get that Turkey out of the oven it seems as if overnight, “tis the season,” so to speak with the countdown to Christmas!!  With kids it’s kind of hard not to get caught up in it all; more decorating, baking, parties, shopping, friends and family!!  Christmas Day and the week following is the last breather prior to another New Year!  Hopefully it will be a good year to come!  As for the Real Estate market in Stanwood and Camano Island as well as the rest of the country, this all means the start of our fourth and final quarter for the year.  For our own sakes and the down economy, we need to continue and increase our Pending sales and finish out the sales year strong.  We need to set up and prepare those coming listings for the start of the New Year as well!  We have been on an upward trend in the third quarter and if we can continue strong, we should have a year-end result better than that of 2010!   Continued low-interest rates and low home prices give hope to the finish of a great year!