Sequim Council approved impact fees for new home builders

Welcome back to Sequim Town Vacation blog,

Decision is made by Sequim council: Building a new house in Sequim will soon cost Sequim home builders more money. We discussed the issue of impact fees as a means for Sequim town to make some extra money to maintain streets, parks etc. in our recent post 'What is new for Sequim home owners?'

On March 222 Sequim city council and its manager Steve Burkett voted to adopt new impact fees in order to keep Sequim's infrastructure up-to-date. Starting in July 2010 new home builders in Sequim will have to pay for each single-family home an extra $4,868 in impact fees. Those charges will be added on the current $15,800 cost of a building permit.

We are happy that we did not postpone the building of our new Sequim home after we had bought our new town lot with those wonderful views of the Olympic Mountains. Building in 2007 saved us in hindsight a lot of money. Well, we don't know how much money the City of Sequim can rake in with that new impact fee, if the applications for building permits stay the same low as in 2009.

We have been talking and are still talking to quite a number of people who found Sequim Town Vacation blog on the Internet and have serious plans to move to Sequim for good. Most of them, don't want to go through the hassle of building a new home - who does when being retired and looking for an easy relaxed life. The majority wants to buy a house in Sequim which fits best their budget and expectations.

Also read our post about 'Sunland Golf Course'.

Tags: Sequim real estate, impact fees for new Sequim home builders

Sequim Golf Course Sunland

Dear Sequim lovers,

We noticed that the early spring on the Olympic Peninsula also attracted Sequim home buyers back to the area. Alas, the top bargain price of the 'Best Sequim Home for Sale' is still to high for potential home buyers. It was the same for us when we went house hunting on our Sequim vacation in October 2005. As retired people, we needed to stick with a Sequim home within our budget. Honestly, I loved the peace, the privacy and the beautiful green scenery at Sunland - though we are not golfers - but at that time, sellers still had the edge and prices were just not matching for us.

So, what's new at Sunland for current homeowners and what should future Sunland homeowners know? A couple months ago, the Sunland golf club membership had fallen below what would support keeping the course open. Sunland golfers have attemped to enlist new members even opening it to outside players, but it seems to have come down to having the homeowners vote on whether to increase the homeowners fees to support the golf course. There are 180 homeowners but not all are golfers. It would be interesting to know how many of the Sunland homeowners are active golfers. Bottom line, the non-playing golf homeowners don't seem to care to pay, so others can push the ball around the grass.

The big argument is that the value of Sunland homes benefits from keeping this private golf course well maintained. The entire Sunland Golf Course issue has become a big 'dispute' and 'The Peninsula Daily News' gets frequently letters concerning this topic. Even though, it's none of my concerns, I've found it quite interesting that members and investors of Sunland Golf & Country Club demand that all Sunland homeowners unilaterally be mandated to contribute $300 per year to support the golf course. And if homeowners wouldn't comply, a lien could be placed on their home. Can they do that?

Another letter to the editor claimed that the sole purpose of the $300/yr is to recover the money that a group of club members invested in a new 1-million dollar sprinkler system. They could do so with the assessed payment for 5 years. Nothing has been finalized yet, last I read in letters to the editor they are planning a vote but no date has been set. If they vote not to support the golf course, the home values could go down and of course the other way the Sunland homeowners' fees would go up. Something to think about when looking at homes for sale in Sunland.

Tags: Sequim Golf Course, Sequim Sunland Golf Community

Best Price Sequim Home for Sale

Dear Sequim town visitors,

We are so happy to hear from people who found our SequimTown blog and appreciate all the information we post here for future retirees to read about our life in sunny Sequim.

We received a number of emails about our recent post 'What is new for Sequim homeowners?'. Believe me the discussion about the new impact fees to keep Sequim's infrastructure maintained is not letting up and is still going on. We will have to wait for final result till March 22 when the City Council will make its decision.

If you follow our Sequim blog regularly - easy to do just click the link on the side bar where it says 'Subscribe by email' - you know that Sequim Real Estate always attracts my attention, even though we are no realtors. But hey Sequim is a retirement town and people from all of the nation want to move here, just as we did from Hawaii.

We wrote in the past about houses for sale in Sequim and want to continue that tradition today. This Sequim Luxury Home of our friends is back on the market with the biggest price drop we've seen so far ever the housing bubble burst in Sequim! Our friends want to move on with their lives and move back to CA, where all their 3 children and families live.

Luxury Sequim Home for Sale with spectacular Water and Mountain Views

Best price Sequim Home for Sale New Asking Price $449,000


Architect designed modern Victorian home built in 1999 on two lovely quiet acres affords magnificent views from every room of the Olympic Mountains, San Juan Islands, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Mount Baker, Sequim Lighthouse and Victoria. This Sequim home is 3588 square feet with multiple levels filled with light and openness. There are three bedrooms, one office/den, three full bathrooms, one 3/4 bathroom, large family room, dining room with cathedral ceiling, balcony overlooking dining room, formal living room with octagon, large recreational room, utility room with handicap shower, wine cellar, indoor shop, 2+car garage and garden shed. Wrap around front porch and back patio built with Timbertec deck.

When we visited this home, we got a exciting tour of the Sequim house by the owners and couldn't believe what a special place they have created over many years. Please, also read more about and see more photos of this Luxury Sequim Home for Sale. I tell you what, no words can do justice to the the real house experience.

So please, if you are interested in buying this Sequim home, send us an email and we will connect you with the owners and Sequim realtor for setting up a viewing appointment. For those who don't qualify but still would love to see this magnificent house, there will be an 'Open House' soon. We will post the date and time here on our SequimTown blog. Remember it is a buyer's market in Sequim!

Tags: Best price Sequim home for sale, Luxury Sequim home for sale, biggest price drop Sequim home

What's new for Sequim home owners?

Well, the 'Economic Slowdown" did not go around the city of Sequim, as Sequim home owners might have hoped for. Sequim City struggles to make ends meet just like the rest of the nation. The big question is where to get the money from for improvements of streets, parks, public transportation, police etc.

Financial means for education seems to be taken care of after a recent vote for Sequim Schools where 61% of Sequim residents voted for a higher property tax for Sequim home owners to generate some extra money for Sequim education. The votes included Sequim residents who don't own a home and won't be affected by the higher taxes, at least not at first glance. Eventually, home owners who rent out a second home will try to get some money back from their tenants by raising their rent!

We were actually quite happy when we noticed that our high Sequim property tax had gone down for 2010 but that 'saving's evaporated with the recent vote approval for raising the taxes for schools which meant another $200 more property tax on a Sequim estimated home value of $250,000. Quite a steep raise, we think.

Still there remains the question where to get the money from for keeping Sequim's infrastructure updated and in good shape. Well, the solution seems to be very easy, at least according to a consultant the City of Sequim hired. The 'magic word' is introducing 'impact fees' to new home owners and builders. If the City of Sequim approves the new impact fees, then new Sequim home owners will have to pay an additional $9036, whether they build a new home for $1million or $200,000! The new impact fees would cover Sequim town's future expenses for improvements of infrustructure, parks, transportation, general government and police.

This will be a tough decision to be made by the City Council and Sequim City's new manager Steven Burkett. Naturally, the new impact fees find strong opponents among Sequim builders and realtors. Imagine in 2005 about 190 new building permits were issued for Sequim and area, whereas in 2009, it was only 11 building permits. Sequim builders and realtors believe that those steep impact fees in a slowed-down economy, will have further negative effects and might turn off potential home builders from building in Sequim. The Sequim consultant argues that better parks and infrastructure will attract new home builders to Sequim. What do you think?

Tags: Sequim town, impact fees Sequim, Sequim home owners

Hurricane Ridge reopened for March 2010

Hello Sequim visitors,

Yes, our Sequim weather is still amazing. Spring is two months early. All our cherry blossom trees are in full bloom as most of the daffodils are. No tulips opened yet but they are getting there. With all the reports from the East Coast with another blizzard and electricity blackouts, we Sequim residents really feel very blessed. I just hope that we won't get any late frost in April killing the real Cherry blossoms that would be a bummer.

Anyways, here is more good news for Sequim residents and visitors who love skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing or just enjoy some wonderful time in the snow. Hurricane Ridge Rd and Hurricane Ridge facilities reopened last weekend. A group of about 50 visitors enjoyed their first time visit on Sunday up on Hurricane Ridge - Olympic Park entry fee was waived -, after the road had to be closed over a month ago due to a huge washout of the road. Construction was finished sooner than expected.

March is actually a wonderful month for a visit in the snow on the mountain. Remember Hurricane Ridge is open on the weekends depending on conditions. Make sure to call Olympic National Park for Hurricane Ridge weather update before you get on the road 360-565-3131. This is an automated service which gets updated frequently during the day. Have fun in the snow on Hurricane Ridge.