Vancouver Washington Real Estate

Vancouver Washington lies on the north shore of the Colombia River, and is the county seat of Clark County. Vancouver's neighboring city, Portland Oregon, lies on the river's opposite side.

Vancouver's proximity to Portland – Vancouver is considered part of the Portland metropolitan area – has created a symbiotic relationship beneficial to both cities. A considerable percentage of Vancouver's working populace hold jobs or have established businesses in Portland, commuting between cities via I-15 and the Interstate Bridge, or I-205 and the Glen Jackson Bridge. Those preferring not to drive can access C-Tran, the area's mass transit system, which operates buses, vanpools and paratransit vehicles.

Additionally, Vancouver residents have easy access to Portland's wide variety of shopping choices, and can benefit from the fact that Portland has no sales tax..

The well-regarded Vancouver School District, and the equally highly rated Evergreen School District have jurisdiction over the area elementary, middle schools, and high schools, as well as the Vacouver School of Arts and Academics.

Vancouver enjoys generally mild weather. Summer temperatures rarely exceed the mid- 80s and winter temperatures average in the mid to high 30s. Annual rainfall averages about 41 inches, snowfall approximately 6 inches.

Vancouver's climate is conducive to a lush, green landscape, and outdoor activities can be enjoyed year-round. A center of outdoor recreational activity is beautiful Vancouver Lake, all at once a wildlife habitat and wetlands. And the lake and its surrounding areas offer ideal opportunities for bird watching, hiking, hunting, boating, fishing and swimming.

The real estate picture in Vancouver offers a similar scenario to what is occurring pretty much nation-wide as the Fed continues to increase interest rates as a bulwark against the threat of inflation, changing what was until recent months, a hot, fast moving sellers market, into a slower moving buyers market.

Accordingly, new listings have increased as pending and closed sales have dropped which is an expected occurrence in reaction to the Fed's anti-inflation agenda.

Currently, (as of June, 2006), median single-family pre-owned home prices in Vancouver are averaging in the mid-two hundred thousands, whereas average sale prices are in the high two hundred thousands.

Understandably, the time it takes to sell a home has increased due to the multitude of choices now available to buyers. In 2005 the average time a home spent on the market before selling was 44 days. In 2006, market time as of this writing has been averaging 56 days.

Of course, in real estate, nothing is “set in stone” so to speak. There are picture-perfect homes that sell quickly, and at asking or near to asking price, and unrealistically priced homes that won't sell. That is why an experienced real estate agent who has successfully negotiated many home sales in the area can be an invaluable guide to buyer or seller.

As an example, many sellers may not be cognizant of current market trends, and may price their home in accordance to what the property would sell for in a so-called sellers market, and then wonder why the house remains unsold.

Had these sellers consulted with a knowledgeable real estate agent they would have been made aware of what similar homes in the area are selling for, and thus would be able to price their home competitively.