It is a great year so far for the Lake Chelan real estate market, particularly if you want to buy property.  There is a tri-fecta of low prices, great selection and record low interest rates. There are 307 active listings on the market today in just the active residential properties I track for my monthly report.  62 new listings were added in April. Average price for the year, due to an April without many higher priced sales, has dropped slightly from last year's number.  Only 5 home sales were closed in April compared to 11 in April 2008.  Dollar volume was even lower at 29% of last year's number.  But, we still haven't gotten to the busy part of the season and monthly numbers always fluctuate. Click for the complete Lake Chelan Residential Real Estate Sales Report! 05/14/2009

There were 5 home sales in April reported closed on the Lake Chelan MLS.  If you're wondering what is selling, here is an indication.  However, keep in mind in March we had some high end homes sell and we have some more higher end homes pending, so this is but the 5 that sold in April. 124 E. Chelan, Chelan, WA  98816 List Price: $169,000  Sold Price: $152,000 Days on Market: 188 2 bedroom | 1 bath | 775 s.f. | 0.10 acres Near Safeway, Low Density Commercial Zoning 329 Sayles Street, Chelan, WA  98816 List Price $235,000  Sold Price: $185,000 Days on Market: 184 3 bedroom | 1 bath | 970 s.f. | 0.23 acres Near Ball Fields&Library, zoned Multi-Family 355 Northshore Court, Manson, WA  98831 List Price $225,000 Sole Price $190,000 Days on Market: 2603 bedroom | 2 bath | 1250 s.f. | 0.15 acr... 05/14/2009

To the surprise of many urban dwellers, we have some fantastically "Walkable" neighborhoods in small towns too, like the City of Chelan!  In fact, Lake Chelan Real Estate is often very walkable and has areas that you could live your whole life and never have to go more than a few blocks! How walkable are neighborhoods in Lake Chelan?  According to WalkScore.com, many are great! Walkscore gives a numerical measure of the "walkability" of various neighborhoods for comparison.   Nearly any address near downtown Chelan scores right near the top.  I typed an address in on the third block of Wapato in Chelan, and it scored 97 out of 100! To read the rest, click on Walkable Lake Chelan Real Estate!  Contact Al for all your Lake Chelan Real Estate questions! 04/13/2009

I believe in custom real estate signs for Lake Chelan homes for sale.  Here is the picture of the sign at my listing, and property, at 6 Riverview Road in Chelan. The gray box at the top lights the sign for 3 hours each evening after dusk.  I'll let you know how well that box works out as this is the first time I've tried it. Brochures picked up have certainly increased since I put up the custom sign. This sign is designed to stop traffic and engage them in this property!  The pictures and small type encourage, O.K., they actually require, people to stop their cars and get out and read and pickup literature.  Instead of a typical sign that is just a billboard for a brokerage, this sign has information about the property for sale that they can use to see if they are actually interested i... 04/06/2009

Every month I put out a report on the performance of the Lake Chelan Real Estate Market.  With information through March, 2009, The Lake Chelan Residential Sales Summary is available from Criterion Properties, the Lake Chelan real estate specialists!  There were 4 residential transactions closed in March 2009 as compared to 6 for 2008.  For the 1st quarter of 2009, there were 14 transactions as compared to 21 last year making 2009 sales so far only 66% of 2008.  However, transaction volume increased from the 4th quarter of 2008 which only had 12 transactions for the quarter.  So, the news is mixed and depends a bunch on your perspective! There is also some good news on average sales price, which is $495,066 for the first quarter as compared to $474,995 in the first quarter of 2008.  Buy... 04/01/2009

I don't know about you, but I LOVE electricity.  I get all happy knowing it is there making my life easier.  I particularly like electricity with my Lake Chelan real estate!  So when I went out to tell folks about affordable acreage at Lake Chelan, I wanted to show folks properties with power!  There are more acreages, usually for even less money, that don't have electricity available.  But, these properties are for folks who want to be able to have power available.  These are all priced below $125,000 and start about $65,000 and are 5 acres or larger. Check out the spectacular views most of these properties have!  Lake Chelan, the Columbia River and Mountain Views that are incredible.  Many of these are 20 acres or more, so these are only significant acreages!  Click for these 28 affor... 03/25/2009

Yes you can afford  Lake Chelan waterfront lots for less than $200,000! These are Lake Chelan community waterfront, Columbia River community waterfront and Lake Chelan waterfront lots and they are gorgeous! This group starts at only $124,900 for a lot in Chelan Hills Division 2. You can get 2.8 acres, with about 107 feet of Lake Chelan waterfront and dock for only $155,000!  There is another Lake Chelan waterfront lot for $139,000 that includes a boat!  The former lot has boat or walking access (approx 1 mile walk) and the latter is not buildable, but they both provide ways to get access to Lake Chelan real estate.  A lot in Stehekin is listed at $175,000. The community waterfront lots are in stellar neighborhoods like Chelan Hills, Crystal View Estates and Beebe Ranch.  Affordable Lake... 03/24/2009

If low interest rates, abundant inventory and low prices aren't good enough reasons to buy real estate right now, there is one other reason that most people aren't thinking of.  The increasing money supply!  The dollars you have today will be worth something like $.50 tomorrow, but the money you borrow today will be worth $2.00!  The post with the link has graphs showing the increase in money supply.  Think about inflation, and all the places you could be putting your money. Click to read why to buy Lake Chelan Real Estate Right Now!  If you're ready, just click for Lake Chelan Real Estate! 03/23/2009

Call me spoiled, but there aren't really any homes that aren't pretty special in the whole Lake Chelan Valley for over $2 million.  But, I'm in a waterfront homes for sale way of thinking today and did not want to ignore the high end of the market. Again, I'm only looking at Lake Chelan water frontage today.  There are a couple of homes that are pretty spectacular, in great neighborhoods and are good values and of a style that I really like.  I admit that I like traditional homes, that are warm and friendly. With that said, here is a link to a posting on Lake Chelan waterfront homes for sale over $2 million! On a beautiful sunny day like this, what better place is there to be! 03/19/2009

You may have heard me saying at the Chelan Real Estate Blog that I think there are some great deals on Lake Chelan waterfront homes for sale right now.  Since I've had folks asking me what my favorites are, I'm going to share them! There are 43 Lake Chelan waterfront homes for under $2,000,000!  There are some beautiful homes for under $1,000,000. I have 9 favorites in this bunch that start as low as $799,000!  Check out these Affordable Lake Chelan Waterfront Home for Sale!  03/19/2009

Yes, we do have affordable homes in Lake Chelan.  These 28 homes include community waterfront, acreage properties and view properties.  All are priced below $200,000! The lowest price home starts at just over $160,000!  If you have heard Lake Chelan is expensive, maybe some of these homes might change your mind. Click to see the posting on these 28 affordable Lake Chelan homes for sale!  Let me know if you want to see them in person! 03/19/2009

I started another Lake Chelan Real Estate Blog.  I wanted something for Lake Chelan Home Buyers and Sellers that is very current on the market and is covering day to day changes in available properties. I added a real estate blog to cover different types of things to my Criterion Properties web site.  This is a blog very specific to transactions, specific properties and home and property buying and selling at Lake Chelan. My first real posting there is about a sale last week, of a little home in Chelan that had extensive upgrades.  I mention things like sale price, listing price and days on market.  I hope to be able to give folks who want to know a day to day view of what is happening in Lake Chelan real estate. Please, if real estate is something you follow, check it out and feel free... 03/19/2009

The residents and property owners around Lake Chelan are having an issue with taxes.  The county only revalues property every 4 years, and valuations skyrocketed last year.  Values going up by a factor of 5 was not uncommon. The bills came this month and there are some whoppers.  Many property tax bills tripled. Here's an example of the state part of the property tax: Those new Chelan area valuations increased the whole county's share of the state tax.  But, guess what, the Chelan area is the only part of the county that even had increased valuations last year (excepting new construction county wide).  The levy rate for the state portion actually decreased, from $2.64/$1000 valuation to $2.44/$1000 valuation.  That still contributed to the 17% increase in the Chelan area.  But guess wha... 03/19/2009

On St. Patrick's day, or the Saturday near it, Chelan holds its Top Dog parade.  It is a hoot, and doesn't take much time out of the day. Here are some of the fun things from this year's Kelly's Hardware Top Dog Parade: It seems like nearly everybody comes out and either is in the parade, or watches it! You can see your picture in the paper, the web, on video or all of the above! If the show Cheers was fun because "everybody knows your name" small town America has that bar in Boston beat every time! You get to see people you know, and their dogs! C'mon, there was even a propsal! All that fun, and it really doesn't take very long! To hear more, go to the Chelan Real Estate Blog 03/19/2009

 The Lord Acres Subarea Plan was approved.  Comments from Mark Peterson, an attorney representing one or more property owners, Mark McNaughton, a property owner and Dan Beardslee, of Erlandsen Engineering, were all positive of the plan and in support of its passage.  There was concern expressed by Dan Beardslee and Mark Peterson that the work in the area really isn't complete until the City has a Capital Facilities plan that supports provision of the backbone infrastructure in the area, including a proposed lift station #12.  The concerns were that it was impractical for any developer to build the backbone infrastructure needed to support the plan in the entire area.  With connection fees to sewer and water being "among the highest in the state" according to Mark Peterson, it was felt t... 01/22/2009

Both GoLakeChelan.com and the Wenatchee World have coverage on this issues between the City of Chelan and the Tuscan Village developers on the south shore of Lake Chelan that can be found here.  One aspect of the issue that hasn't been discussed in the media,  is what happens to the other property owners in the Urban Growth Boundary if the Tuscan Village does not connect to water and sewer from the city. With the Tuscan development being a 273 acre proposed development of almost 1000 residential units, they are the largest potential development in that area.  If they do not connect to city sewer and water, it is very unlikely that other developers could afford to extend those services without the major portion of the property in the area connecting.  That outcome could potentially make ... 01/22/2009

The Seattle PI just posted this article about buyers getting off the fence in the Seattle market.  I've talked to a couple of Wenatchee brokers who feel they are seeing things picking up a bit.  The Chelan market only does well when the Seattle market is doing well.  Is a "thaw" in Chelan pending? According to the Seattle PI, low interest rates coupled with depressed prices are bringing some buyers to the table.  They mention a perception that the Seattle market still has a relatively strong economy and does not have the extreme glut of homes found in some markets.  That would make the Seattle market an area that should come out of the housing slump before harder hit locales. Mary Flood, at Windermere in Chelan, said they have seen an uptick in activity so far in January.  Rhett Crow at... 01/22/2009

The 2008 sales results from my Chelan Residential Sales Summary are in. Four residential sales were recorded in the report area in December. The most startling number is that the Average Sale Price for the 4th quarter is less than half of the average for the other three quarters of the year! All in all, 108 properties sold of the 544 (19.8%) listed in 2008. That compares to 192 sales in 2007 of 284 (67.6%) listed. The volume of homes sold (108) dropped in 2008 to only 56% of the 2007 number. In dollar volume, things were a bit better with $51.6 million in sales in 2008 versus $82.9 million in 2007 making 2008 62% of the dollar volume in sales of 2007. The fourth quarter reflects the turmoil in the credit markets, uncertainty due to the election and general economic meltdown that occurre... 01/08/2009

At Bear Mountain resort, Cass Hania is marketing a fractional share golf-course home overlooking sunny Lake Chelan.  This is the first fractional share residence available in the State of Washington!  This structure allows deeded ownership of a vacation home at a fraction of the price of full ownership.  It sounds like it makes sense for a vacation home which would usually only be used a small portion of the time anyway. To read all about this spectacular vacation home opportunity at a very attractive price, please go to the Chelan Real Estate Blog at: Shall we say the Chelan Residential Real Estate Market is officially in Recession? 12/15/2008

Actually, on my usual residential sales report, sales were down to only two for the month!  That is down from 12 in November of 2007.  By dollar volume, the decline is a steep 96.5% by dollar volume!  Actually, the market in November was basically stalled with all the turmoil in the financial markets.  So, even if it is a cold winter, the market will thaw.  It always does. You can get the full report here: Shall we say the Chelan Residential Real Estate Market is officially in Recession? 12/15/2008