Q: If you were hosting guests from out of town,

I had this very opportunity last weekend, with two different couples who’d fallen in love with Bellingham on previous visits. They were both looking for their “retirement home” or maybe 2nd-to-last home, both in the $500K to $600K range. They didn’t know each other, hadn’t met, and still haven’t met. It was pure coincidence that I ended up showing them a few of the very same homes.

In their price range, these couples could get into any neighborhood in Bellingham, including Edgemoor, Eldridge, Parkhurst, South Hill, Geneva, North Shore, and everything in between. They could shop for panoramic views of the Bay and Islands, Lake Whatcom, the City, Mt. Baker and the Sisters, you name it. And we saw them all.

By the end of the tour, as with every buyer tour, I asked each couple: “If you had to choose a home today, of all the ones we saw, which one would it be?”

Both couples answered without hesitation, and both chose different homes in the exact same neighborhood, not 1/8th of a mile apart. Both homes had dramatic water views. One was built in the late 70’s, one in 2006.

Can you guess the ‘hood?

The York Neighborhood is one of the Bellingham’s “Core Neighborhoods.” It’s located entirely west of I-5 and is bordered by Samish Way to the south, Whatcom Creek to the north, and Forest, State and Holly Streets to the west.

York was founded in 1888, and is generally characterized by older Craftsman-style, Victorian, and Four-Square homes. Many of these homes have been restored to near-original condition by their loving owners, and the York Neighborhood Association plays an active (and activist) role in maintaining the historic look and feel of the homes. That is, you won’t find an abundance (or even a hint) of post-modern architecture in the York Neighborhood.

There are a few restaurants and businesses along York’s main thoroughfares, (including my favorite coffee kiosk in all of Bellingham, The Bean Stop, located 1115 E Maple) and a couple tucked in amidst the single family houses, such as Nelson’s Market — open since 1895!

At York’s center is the newly-and-completely-renovated Franklin Park. Check out the “NW Way of Life” photo gallery of Franklin Park HERE.

Although York is bisected by several relatively busy thoroughfares including Ellis, Holly (which becomes Lakeway Dr. as it heads east) and Samish Way, it’s also got plenty of sidewalks, bike lanes and alleys galore for easy, low speed, pedestrian traversing.

The York Neighborhood is served by the following schools:
Pre-school: The Loving Space
Elementary: Happy Valley Elementary (Until Lowell Elementary opens back up!)
Middle: Kulshan Middle School
High: Sehome High School
In York, you’re also a quick bike ride to the WWU campus.

York Neighborhood Real Estate…

As a micro-market in the greater Bellingham real estate market, York enjoys bustling sales activity. As of this writing (November 16, 2009), average time on market is 60 days, average price is $232,043.00, average sale price to list price ratio is 97.74%, and current pending ratio is 25%. There have been 14 sales in the past 6 months, with only 9 homes actively listed as of this writing. That would qualify York as a Seller’s Market.

If century-old, classic architecture and walk-to-downtown proximity are goals of yours, or if you’re looking for a solid rental investment, take a close look at the York Neighborhood.

Give me a shout and I’ll send you some current York listings or, better yet, I’ll give you an in-person, guided tour.