Q: My wife and I just wanted to let you know how happy we are to be back looking at real estate on Vashon.

We know that we're in the lowest price range for the Island, and had just about given up on finding anything. Last year there were so few homes available in our price range that it was very disappointing to look. Also, we didn't really like any of the few places we saw. Now there are many nice homes we can afford and the loan rates are very good too! We look forward to finally finding the right home for us on the Island.
A: Thanks for your note. I'm so delighted to finally see that some folks are catching on to the great market we have now. We have more than the usual selection of homes, plus great loan rates.
September and early October are a great time to buy. It's beautiful this time of year, so looking for a home is pleasant and comfortable. The summer rush is over and the tourists have gone home. That makes the pace slower and more laid back. This is the perfect time to get out and see everything on the market.
There are currently 30 homes on Vashon Island listed with the Multiple Listing Service under $400,000. That's remarkable. That is well under the average price for Vashon and even for King County. The average sale price of a home in all of King County was $478,000 as of the end of last month according to the Multiple Listing Service. The average figures for Vashon are even higher.
Of course some of those 30 homes are very small, and a few are fixers. However, many are very nice homes in excellent condition and in great locations. So, this is a good time to invest.
Be sure to get pre-approved for your loan and be prepared to move quickly once you find the right home. Even in our slower market this year there have been "bidding wars" over special places, and some home have sold in just a few days.