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Samish Island is a beautiful island! Samish Island is not very well known because there are only 300 homes on the island, very few properties come for sale each year. Many first time visitors become aware of Samish Island because of Camp Kirby, a children's camp founded in 1923 that is owned and operated by Camp Fire USA.
Originally the Skagit River entered Puget Sound through Padilla Bay, and at that time, Samish Island was an truly an island. It took from 1871 to 1932 to build the series of dikes which connect Samish Island to the mainland - and the more accurate name would be Samish Peninsula instead of Samish Island as the island is connected by a "land bridge".
Along with Guemes Island, Samish Island is considered part of the Inner San Juan Islands. The island is mostly residential with only a few businesses and cottage industries. Although there is not a commercial center on the island, everything you need is available from the surrounding towns of Edison, Burlington, Anacortes, and Bellingham.
The area was originally inhabited by the 1,000 members of the Samish Tribe who enjoyed abundant food from the sea and tide flats. In 1791 the Spanish arrived and the diseases that they brought had devastating effects on the Samish Tribe. Samish Island is pristine with breathtaking beauty, and is still a favorite clamming, crabbing and fishing location.
Samish Island has some of the best birdwatching in North America, and I always see bald eagles on the island, although they are more prevalent in the winter. It is not uncommon to see dozens of Bald Eagles and Great Blue Heron.
Both Seattle and Vancouver B.C. are only 90 minutes away providing a wide diversity of cultural and culinary entertainment. Click here to see a rainfall map. (Samish Island gets much less than Seattle or Bellingham!) ©Jean Groesbeck 2008
January 9th, 2012
PASSION—IN EDISON, WA! If you share my passion, for delicious, hearty and nutritious artisan bread, stop at the Breadfarm in Edison for your own taste of heaven. The staff there describes themselves as " A PASSIONATE BUNCH OF MIXERS, SHAPERS, BAKERS, AND DRIVERS WITH ONE COMMON GOAL—TO PRODUCE THE FINEST …
December 15th, 2011
This morning as I made the drive from Anacortes to a waterfront home I recently sold on Samish Island, there was free entertainment in abundance. One of the highlights was watching one of our shore birds, probably Dunlins, flock together and take to flight, swooping in synchronized waves alongside the road. I had to …
November 11th, 2011
November 3rd, 2011
Several of our clients have been misinformed that there is going to be a tax on real estate transactions beginning in 2013. That is not true. Beginning January 1, 2013 a new 3.8% tax on some investment income will take effect, but it WILL NOT be imposed on all real estate transactions. What will be taxed is a 3.8% …
June 30th, 2011
Pending homes sales are up according to the National Association of REALTORS as home buyers take advantage of great home values. May statistics for home sales were up higher than anticipated. You can view home sales statistics on our website for Skagit County, La Conner, Oak Harbor, Guemes Island, Samish Island, and …
June 24th, 2011
June 8th, 2011
The following is a guest blog post from Jeanne Youngquist a past SWAN (Skagit Women Alliance and Network) Woman of the Year Nominee. "Encouragement to accept a Nomination" It is an honor to be Woman of the Year, Yes, but also to be a nominee or a finalist. Several years ago I resisted a nomination and was again …
November 26th, 2010
Higher maximum conforming mortgage loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be extended through September 2011, the housing finance entities' regulator said on Friday. The Federal Housing Finance Agency said the maximum for the conforming loans ... generally $417,000 for a single-family home but up to $729,750 in …
July 6th, 2010
KIRKLAND, Wash. (July 6, 2010) ... Home sales around Western and Central Washington remained sluggish, but not all the numbers were down. June's pending sales (mutually accepted offers) outgained the total for May by 5.8 percent. Closed sales were up from both a year ago and the previous month. Brokers also applauded …
July 2nd, 2010
We Need Your Votes For BlueScape as The People's Choice Innovator Award You can't spell innovation without "C and B!" Inman has announced the finalists for the 2010 Inman Innovator Awards and Coldwell Banker is the only national real estate brand with multiple finalist entries for both the new BlueScape search and our …