My Top 10 Homes on Bainbridge Island | 2016

The 2017 market is slowly beginning to take hold, so before it does I wanted to make sure I crafted one of my favorite blog posts, my top 10 homes on the island for 2016. Last year 369 homes sold on the island.  I am proud to say I personally toured most of them and these are ten of my favorite homes. The list actually spans the island geographically from north to south and represents the various price ranges.  The sales prices have shifted as prices have moved up, however. Although the top sales number on my list is almost $3M, only two on the list are waterfront homes, which shows the value, beauty, and desirability throughout our island; from inland rural settings, to in-town neighborhoods, to views, to waterfront.

The lack of inventory continued to be the dominate theme in 2016, which is why you will see some multiple offers noted below.  Last year the multiple offer situation even crept up over the $1M mark, in several cases, which is a bit different from years past.

This is my 9th annual list.  To get a feel of the homes I like personally and see all nine of my lists in one place, click here.  Enjoy!

#10 | Toe Jam Hill Road.  Listed by Windermere RE Bainbridge and sold by Windermere RE Bainbridge.

#10

Original List Price $528,000

Sale Price $662,500 (multiple offers)

Days on Market – 8

Date Sold 6/30/2016

For #10 we start on the extreme south end of the island on Toe Jam Hill Road.  This home came on the market in the frenzy of the summer market and I believe had six offers.  The home is perched high above a ravine and the interior style is beautiful, yet simple. Cork floors, Paperstone counters, floating walls, and built-in desks sum up the style.  The design style seems to run parallel to Sarah Susanka’s Not So Big House concept.  At just over 2,000 square feet the home still lives large, making use of every inch.  My clients were the successful buyers in the multiple offer situation and love the unique property they now call home.

#9 | Village Circle. Listed by Windermere RE Bainbridge and sold by Windermere RE Bainbridge.

#9

Original List Price $749,000

Sale Price $749,000

Days on Market – 5

Date Sold 8/8/2016

For #9 we move into Winslow to Village Circle. In-town homes were in high demand last year (I don’t see that changing in 2017).  Price per square foot is highest in Winslow, where you trade lot size for the convenience of walking to Winslow and the ferry.  Hillandale (Village Circle) is one of my favorite in-town neighborhoods and this home has some of the best curb appeal in the hood.  Fabulous gardens and a meticulously cared for home.  The neighborhood was designed by Dick Allen, a developer who put care and thought into building a small community, not just a house.  The neighborhood has shared open space and trails that connect to town. This home is also just over 2,ooo square feet and was listed at the end of the summer and quickly acquired one great offer.  The timeless Colonial style of all the homes in the neighborhood and the creative weather vanes on each home have made it a favorite for buyers since it was developed back in 1999.

#8 | Rose Avenue. Listed by Windermere RE Bainbridge and sold by Coldwell Banker Bain Bellevue. 

#8

Original List Price $918,000

Sale Price $918,000

Days on Market –  12

Date Sold 1/29/2016

For #8 we move back down south to Rose Avenue in the Eagle Dale Neighborhood of the island.  This charming Craftsman struck a cord with me because of the bucolic acre it sits on and because of the stylistic interior the talented home owner created.  I loved the Carrera marble counters in the kitchen and the striking wallpaper throughout.  I also loved how the owners mixed mid-century modern decor into a Craftsman home.  I thought it worked well.  The vaulted ceilings upstairs make for interesting spaces for the bedrooms and the guest suite over the garage adds to the package.  This home came on early into the new year and a few of us felt it was priced a bit high, but after only 12 days on the market they found a happy buyer.

#7 | Palomino Drive. Listed by John L. Scott, Inc. B.I. and sold by Windermere RE Bainbridge. 

#7

Original List Price $865,000

Sale Price $962,000 (multiple offers)

Days on Market – 6

Date Sold 3/11/2016

For #7 we stay on the south end, but move over to the west side, to Palomino Drive, which sits above the Crystal Springs Neighborhood. This home was priced low (in my educated opinion) and saw 4 or 5 offers and as you can see escalated almost $100,000. This home has a solid feel with lots of woodwork inside and  a classic cedar shingle exterior, but most importantly to me anyway, it has a very nice west facing view of the Sound. Oh those colorful sunsets! The home is over 3,600 square feet, has four bedrooms and a supreme shop in the basement.  I thought back to this home a lot in 2016 as one of the better values for the year.

#6 | Summer Hill Lane. Listed by Windermere RE Bainbridge and sold by Windermere RE Bainbridge.

#6

Original List Price $980,000

Sale Price $1,150,000 (multiple offers)

Days on Market – 7

Date Sold 10/31/2016

For #6 we move to the center of the island for Summer Hill Lane.  This home oozes charm.  It is a rare package in that it is a small home on a large piece of land, 1,715 square feet home on 2.5 flat acres.  And the main home is all on one level, plus a guest suite over the garage.  The lovely sunny garden setting, vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, Saltillo tiles, and classic white kitchen made me want to move right in – I really do love a white farmhouse.   I have said before that charm can be hard to find on the island.  When this home was listed said charm brought many buyers looking and five put forth offers.  The resulting escalation in price was dramatic at $170,000 over asking price.

#5 | Point Monroe Drive. Listed by Windermere RE Bainbridge and sold by Buckley and Buckley Real Estate. 

#5

Original List Price $1,289,000

Sale Price $1,289,000

Days on Market – 6

Date Sold 7/7/2016

For #5 we move to the northeast side of the island on Point Monroe Drive, commonly known here on the island as the Sand Spit. This waterfront home indeed sits on a narrow spit of land that juts out from Fay Bainbridge Park.  Here’s a link to a good aerial image of the spit.  This particular home is at the beginning of the U, closer to Fay Bainbridge.  The lot spans the entire spit and has waterfront on both side – one side the lagoon on the inside of the loop and the other the open waters of the Sound. The views of Mt. Baker and Seattle are crisp and stunning.  This home is bathed in beachy white tones and coastal coolness.  This home is also the rare low bank waterfront home – think sand and driftwood – available for sale under $1.5M. Wow. Not, a large house at just under 2,300 square feet but it has all the required spaces, three bedrooms and open concept living spaces. My favorite room is the large master suite upstairs that captures the primo views.

#4 | Watch Hill Drive. Listed by Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty Bainbridge and sold by Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty Bainbridge.

#4

Original List Price $1,450,000

Sale Price $1,360,000

Days on Market – 30

Date Sold 6/24/2016

For #4 we stop at Watch Hill Drive on the very south end of the island above South Beach Drive.  This unique home wowed me from the photos and I was not disappointed in person.  I was also not surprised to learn that this home was once on the island’s garden tour, Bainbridge In Bloom.  Lovely landscaping and traditional beds all overlook a southwest vista of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Plus terrific sun!  It is no wonder a wedding has been hosted here. The large 4,700 square foot home is separated into a master suite wing and a “kid” wing.  With two older kids I loved that, but some clients I showed it to with younger kids did not love that separation.  James Cutler designed the classic northwest style of the home.  I love the wood beams and rich, yet comfortable feel of the entire home.  I still think about this one a lot . . .

#3 | Knight Road. Listed by Bainbridge Homes Real Estate and sold by Windermere RE Bainbridge. 

#3

Original List Price $1,425,000

Sale Price $1,385,000

Days on Market – 7

Date Sold 10/31/2016

For #3 we go back up north to Knight Road where this home makes its second appearance on my list.  This home was built by popular home builder Jefferson Fine Homes and designed by the highly sought after architect Peter Brachvogel.  Sited on over three private acres, this 3,700 square foot home exudes high quality craftsmanship inside and out.  Walls of windows, tall ceilings, and an open floor plan piqued the interest of many buyers again in 2016, just like it did in 2013.   The architect, Peter Brachvogel, created thoughtful spaces like a cozy media room set just off the kitchen, a large mudroom/laundry room with built-in lockers (my favorite space), and a remote full guest suite on the main level plus convenient bonus space over the garage.  The current owners fenced and defined the garden spaces and appeared to have taken fantastic care of the home.  It remains in excellent condition and sold for $283,000 more than it did in 2013.

#2 | Watch Hill Drive. Listed by Windermere RE Bainbridge and sold by Windermere RE Bainbridge. 

#2

Original List Price $1,598,000

Sale Price $1,750,000 (multiple offers)

Days on Market – 6

Date Sold 6/14/2016

For #2 we go back to the the south end and back to Watch Hill Drive.  There are only five homes on Watch Hill Drive and two of them sold last year and they both made my list.  This second home was designed by architect Bob Maloney and its classic Colonial style is not one you see too often here on our island – although there seem to be a few on my list.  So, it too saw multiple offers.  Five.  The 4,300 square foot floorplan with all bedrooms upstairs, open living spaces on the main level and a guest suite and family room in the walk out basement made so much sense for so many buyers.  Not to mention that it has a striking view of Puget Sound and the Olympics, lightly filtered by interesting Madrona trees all on over 2.6 acres of gated property.  My clients were thrilled to prevail in this multiple offer situation and have already made some fantastic improvements to make this fine house their home.

#1 | South Beach Drive. Listed by  Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty Bainbridge  and sold by Windermere RE Bainbridge. 

#1

Original List Price $2,995,000

Sale Price $2,900,000

Days on Market – 31

Date Sold 5/3/2016

For #1 we don’t go far, just down to South Beach Drive.  I love a home built by Jerry Reese and I seem to sell a few of his every year.  This one is indeed one of my very favorites.  I love the light on the south end and I love the walking trails along the water in Fort Ward Park. This home is right in the heart of the good things on the south end – one of my favorite stretches of the island for walking and jogging and taking in Mt. Rainer views. The 3,900 square foot home is reminiscent of homes in the Hamptons.  Again, not something you see a lot of here in the Pacific Northwest, so very appealing to buyers when available.  A large white kitchen is sited to take in the best views and a detached guest house is almost more charming than the main home.  The entire package is on low bank waterfront on the south end, a pretty amazing find for my lucky buyers who are now thrilled to be calling this home.

Again, to get a feel of the homes I like personally and see all nine of my lists in one place, click here.