All posts by Jerry Blankers

Whatcom County Weekend Sports Schedule

Real Estate
WHATCOM COUNTY WEEKEND SPORTS SCHEDULE

Friday Jan. 27

High school boys’ basketball

Blaine at Bellingham, 7:30 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Sehome, 7:30 p.m.
Meridian at Burlington-Edison, 7:30 p.m.
Squalicum at Mount Baker, 7:30 p.m.
Sedro-Woolley at Anacortes, 7:30 p.m.
Lummi at Grace Academy, 7:30 p.m.

High school girls’ basketball

Lummi at Grace Academy, 6 p.m.
Ferndale at Mount Vernon, 7:30 p.m.
Anacortes at Lynden, 7:30 p.m.
Nooksack Valley at Sedro-Woolley, 7:30 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Meridian, 7:30 p.m.
Mount Baker at Squalicum, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday Jan. 28

High school boys’ basketball

Nooksack Valley at Mount Vernon, noon
Meridian at Lynden Christian, 7:30 p.m.

High school girls’ basketball

Lynden at Burlington-Edison, 7:30 p.m.
Mount Baker at Sedro-Woolley, 7:30 p.m.

High school wrestling

Girls: Bellingham, Burlington-Edison, Lynden, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley at Lady Wolfpack Tournament (at Jackson High School), TBD
Friday Harbor vs. Meridian (at Nooksack Valley), TBD
Friday Harbor at Nooksack Valley, 7 p.m.

College basketball

Women: WCC at Seattle, 4 p.m.
Men: WCC at Seattle, 6 p.m.
Women: WWU at Simon Fraser, 7 p.m.
Men: Simon Fraser at WWU, 7 p.m.

Rise of Rental Rates

Real Estate
Rental Rates are on the Rise

With housing affordability the best it has ever been, but with tighter lending conditions, many buyers are renting instead of purchasing homes, causing demand for rentals to increase and rental rates to rise. Many investors are purchasing homes with cash to use properties as rental homes. According to Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, there is no reason to believe the rental growth will cool as more young adults need a place to live. The decline in construction of apartment complexes will also increase the demand. If annual rental rates continue to increase 3.5%, rents will double in the next 20 years. If they annual rental rate increases at 5%, rents will double in the next 14 years. Yun also predicts solid home price appreciateion over the long haul, which will be a double win for investors with monthly rental income and appreciation for the future.
Information courtesy of Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, Realtor Magazine

Contact me with questions about investing in real estate, now is a great time to buy!

New Construction Market

Real Estate
The Lynden real estate market has a surprisingly high number of new construction homes being sold. Of homes constructed in 2010-2011 (between $200,000 and $350,000), 31 have sold in the last year with 10 currently active.
In the much larger city of Bellingham, of homes constructed in 2010-2011 (between $200,000 and $350,000), only 19 new construction homes have sold in the last year with 5 currently active.
This is a positive sign for Lynden, for contractors and buyers looking for new homes. The selection is best in Lynden!

5 Ways To Improve Your Credit Score

Real Estate
5 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score

In today’s world, your credit score can have a significant effect on the financial aspects of your life. Your credit history determines loan and credit card interest rates, can raise your insurance premiums, and can even be a determining factor for getting a job.

Therefore, it’s very important to take steps to achieve and maintain a healthy credit score, and to check up on it frequently to ensure that it is accurate.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

Jerry Blankers | Muljat Group North | 505 Front Street | Lynden, WA | (360) 410-1297

New York Pizza

Real Estate
New York Pizza & Bar
I had lunch at the New York Pizza at Bender Plaza in Lynden.
The 4 of us had a combo 2 small Pizza’s with 4 different toppings and a blue cheese salad with Shrimp. The salad was fresh and crisp and all four pizza topping were great.
If you want good New York style Pizza with a great atmosphere and service stop by Bender plaza and check out New York Pizza
you won’t be disappointed.

Rental History Helps Credit Score

Real Estate

Rental History: More Important in Getting a Mortgage?

“Borrowers who have a history of paying rent on time may see a boost to their credit score.
Experian, a leading credit report company, added a section to its credit reports last year that reflected on-time rent payments, which helped give a boost in the credit scores to some on-time rent payers. Now the two other major credit reporting companies are following suit.”

Real Estate Outlook 2012

Real Estate

2012 Home Sales: Positives on Many Fronts

On January 3, 2012, in Breaking News, Economics, by Robert Freedman

NAR released its latest pending home sales index figure last week and for the second month in a row the index is up. But more than that, the index has broken 100. This is significant because the only time since the housing boom collapsed that the index has broken 100 is when the home owner tax credit was in effect. The fact that the index has returned to that level a year since the credit has been in effect means the housing market is strengthening completely on its own, without any stimulus.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun is upbeat about 2012 because in a number of areas indicators are pointing upward. Not only are home sales up but housing starts are up and home prices are stabilizing in many markets and heading up in some. In areas where they�re still down, the declines aren�t that great. More fundamentally, broader U.S. economic signs are looking positive, including the all-important jobs picture. About 100,000 job are being created a month, and that could rise to 150,000�still not a quick enough pace to get us back to where we were before the downturn but the headwinds are in the right direction.
Click on heading at top of post to connect to interview with NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.

Just Listed- Building for Lease

Real Estate
Top of the line classy building! Many possible uses include salon/spa, coffee shop with drive up window, retail, medical/dental offices and more! Bring your ideas! Previously used as salon/spa with vaulted ceilings, lovely finishes, loads of natural light, numerous hair stations, 2 private treatment rooms, kitchen area with washer/dryer, manicure and pedicure stations. Excellent location! Asking $2100 per month.
Click here for more photos and details.

READY FOR 2012

Real Estate

2012 is a time for a fresh start and many new beginings. If you are thinking about buying your first home or looking to expand your family and upgrade to a larger home NOW IS THE TIME! Please call or email me with any of your questions and continue to follow my blog as I hope to bring you even more useful information in the next year.