Woods Creek Preserve

Green living thrives in communes, eco-villages

2010-08-23T16:37:00.000-07:00

I've been promoting this piece of property for sale known as Woods Creek Preserve as a great location for a housing cooperative (co-op), or cohousing, location in Snohomish County. Since there is a spring and creek frontage on the property it provides its own water for any community that decides to locate here. Rather than parceling up this property into individual 5 acre lots the current owners have proceeded with their green community ideas and preliminary plat, and now have building plans in hand for what would be a green community of 8 homes with lots of preserved green space (while providing enough private space at the same time).

I am passing along a blog post from the Green House blog by Wendy Koch on USA Today.com.

Photo: Alex Gibbs, 9, left, and his brother Austin Gibbs, 8, ride a pony cart on the grounds of Lake Village Homestead in Kalamazoo, Mich., in July 2007. By Eileen Blass, USAT

Shared eco-friendly living is becoming increasingly popular in places that range from communes to co-housing, eco-villages or intentional communities.

These are not the hippy, free-love communes of the 1960s, but living arrangements that focus on organic farming, green building, communal spaces and other aspects of sustainability.

"The future of housing, in general, is sustainable communities,"

Read the Full Story

Please contact me at 206.686.HOME or wendyhj@greenspacesrealestate.com for more information or to arrange a property tour while the weather is still nice!

Building Permits Approved

2010-06-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

During a recent phone call with the property owner he informed me that the county has approved the building plans! Yay!

It's spring in the country and everything smells so fine.

2010-05-17T13:25:00.001-07:00

We hope to be doing a property tour soon, so stay tuned and/or let me know if you are interested in going.

We also intend to do a video tour of the property for those further away.

It's World Water Week

2010-03-25T12:49:00.001-07:00

Remember the "Story of Stuff"? It opened a lot of people's eyes. Now Annie Leanord has produced the "Story of Bottled Water".

If you agree that all of those plastic bottles are wasteful, my personal recommendation is Klean Kanteens. We own several and take water with us from home. You will too after you watch this video.

If you'd like to know more about the video's creator, check out this blog post at Green House on USA Today.

A quick visit to Woods Creek Preserve (Monroe, WA)

2009-11-19T13:54:00.000-08:00

Wendy takes a drive out to one of her listings, a 37.8 acre preliminary plat in unincorporated Snohomish county, 8 miles outside of Monroe, Wendy's hometown. Wendy gives an update on Woods Creek after a few days of rain in the Pacific Northwest.

These parcels are adjacent to public land owned by the Department of Natural Resources. There is a lot of wildlife here, open field, and woods. The seller will consider selling individual parcels, and also will consider financing on approval of credit with a certain amount down. Be sure to check out this property's blog at woodscreekpreserve.blogspot.com

Price: $1,095,000
NWMLS listing #29098469

Video Tour of Woods Creek Preserve - a proposed sustainable community outside of Monroe, Washington

2009-10-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

Wendy and her husband Stephen (with Italian greyhound Sophia in tow) visit one of Wendy's listings, a 37.8 acre preliminary plat in unincorporated Snohomish county, 8 miles outside of Monroe, Wendy's homrtown. They try hiking in to give a really good visual of the field and woods as Wendy was able to see it last May with the property owner, but they are stopped by a bog and lack of knowledge of where to really walk to avoid the wet area near the creek. (Keep in mind current water flow would be managed during the low-impact development of this property.)

There are several video segments and Wendy tries to give you an idea of this large piece of property for sale adjacent to land owned by the Department of Natural Resources. There is a lot of wildlife here, open field, and woods. The plat map shows the 8 parcels radiating out from a cul-de-sac and the open land surrounding the homes would be owned in some form of common ownership.

The owner really would like to find a co-housing community looking for a site, or individuals to purchase the 8 parcels in what is intended as a green community. 7 of the parcels are currently listed for sale for a combined $1,095,000. The 8th parcel has a spring with water rights and has not been properly valued yet. The seller will consider selling individual parcels, and also will consider financing on approval of credit with a certain amount down.

Watch the video below or in a larger format on YouTube

This property qualifies! USDA Loosens Income Limits on No-PMI Loans

2009-09-17T02:41:00.000-07:00

I've been referring and working with Steve since 2006. He has many very happy clients, including myself!

Guest Blogger, Stephen Hochhalter, of Sound Mortgage

USDA Loosens Income Limits on No-PMI Loans

Zero-down programs are few and far between these days, but one stalwart just got an upgrade!

USDA Guaranteed Rural Development loans offer 100% financing with no monthly Private Mortgage Insurance. Seriously, did you hear me? I said NO monthly PMI. While there are some geographic limitations on this program, if you have your eye on a piece of property that would qualify, you need to take notice.

Although income restrictions for this program are determined based on the number of people living in a household, these limits were loosened beginning April 20. As a result, more buyers may now qualify and be able to afford higher value homes under this program.

Previously, the income limitations were based on the exact number of people living in the home. For example, the limit for two people was different from the limit for one person; the limit for three people was different from the limit for two people, etc.

As of April 20, however, the household income limitations are grouped into two categories: 1-4 Person Households and 5-8 Person Households. This is great news!

It means that higher income earners with fewer people in the household may be more likely to qualify.

In non high-cost counties, where 1-4 people reside in a home, the income limit will now be $70,750. In homes where 5-8 people reside, the limit is $93,400. While these figures serve as a guide, there are certain formulas to arrive at these numbers where people can earn more and still qualify.

Now just because you see the word "rural" in the program name, it doesn't mean we're talking farmland here. No, you don't have to raise cattle or chickens to qualify. Rural generally is defined as areas that are not densely populated and have fewer neighborhoods – but you might be surprised at how many neighborhoods qualify. To check if a property qualifies, email me or click the link below.

Is my property eligible for USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing financing?

I'm very excited about what this can represent to your business. More buyers will have the ability to buy a home without a down payment. Also, when it comes to USDA Rural Housing loans, the seller can pay closing costs up to 6%. When you combine these benefits with the available tax credit of up to $8,000 for first time home buyers, helping more people get into the home of their dreams is suddenly a lot easier.

If you have questions about this update, give Wendy or myself a call. We can show you how waiting for the lowest price could really cost you more in the long run.

Sincerely,
Stephen Hochhalter
425.228.5300
Sound Mortgage

The sign is still standing!

2009-09-14T05:26:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to my marketing support, Allison Mesa, for doing a drive-by and confirming the arm sign marking the entry point to this planned community is still standing.

We have prelim plat plans available, just drop me a line and I can send them over to you.

Site sign is back up, please let me know if you have any questions!

2009-09-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

Real Estate Flyer Delivery Service installed a new arm sign on August 21st, and my site support marketing person, Allison Mesa (okay, my sister...she lives in Sultan) verified it was there and put in the flyers. I''ll be having her check on the flyer supply every couple of weeks - and I guess checking to be sure the sign is still standing!

The owner continues to work with the Snohomish County Sustainable Development Task Force and other independent green professionals to plan a small sustainable community of only 7 homes (8 once Lot 8 is released for sale) in a rural cluster, preserving the majority of the land as open space. Lots can be sold individually - if you are interested in a single lot as opposed to the entire parcel as it is being market now, please contact me directly.

New arm sign will be up this week...

2009-08-18T12:24:00.001-07:00

In the meantime, if you are interested in taking a look at the property contact me at 206.686.HOME (4663) and I will give you verbal directions to where the gated entry is!!

Have a great day!

Wendy Hughes-Jelen

I know, the sign has gone missing!

2009-08-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

We've had a report that the real estate sign marking the entrance "road" for Woods Creek Preserve has gone missing! Sure enough, the evidence is there - a nice little hole in the ground but the sign is gone! Hijacked for a FSBO perhaps? I checked with the Snohomich County Sheriff's department and also the Public Works Road Maintenance crew and none of them have it (imagine our sign in the Evidence Room in Everett? haha)

We will be getting a new sign installed in the next week. In the meantime, if you need help finding the location, it is about 150 feet past the mailbox with the street address on it: 5115 Woods Creek Road / Monroe, WA 98272. Feel free to call me.

For fun, if you are in the neighborhood, be on the lookout for a nice cedar post sign that does not have a GreenWorks Realty sign hanging on it. The sign was handmade by one of our company's owners.

Whoever has it, if they're smart, they'll paint it white like the others so I won't know it's mine as I drive past it when I next come out to visit the property!

Slide show created using Postlets.com

2009-08-05T15:25:00.001-07:00

Room for your green dream home here - cohousing opportunity

2009-07-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

NEWLY LISTED: 5115 Woods Creek Road / Monroe, Washington
Previously referred to as "Sykes Ranch Estates". Now marketed as "Woods Creek Preserve".

Perfect for co-housing communities (see Links on sidebar) seeking pristine land for their new home, or families wanting to build a healthy home in a healthy environment for their kids to grow up in.

37.8 acres, 8 lot rural cluster w/ preliminary plat approved (lots 1-7 in this price, lot 8 is excluded from this offering). Over 1,000 feet of Woods Creek frontage, beautiful forested area and open fields.

Intended as a sustainable community development of thoughtfully designed and environmentally certified homes with common open space, forested areas, buffers, wetland, creek and meadows. Borders state wilderness area, great recreational space for hiking, fishing, and equestrian pleasure. Owner financing available with 10 - 30% down on proof of credit worthiness.

Monroe is my home town (MHS class of '88). The property is located 8 miles outside of town (northeast towards Granite Falls). Monroe is a lot more town than it was in my day, but it still is small town America with a love for Friday night high school football games, community theater, and other local events.

Choice of schools here include Sultan (bus service), Monroe, or Snohomish school districts (would need to provide own transportation).

Preliminary plat map available
Offered at $1,095,000.00
NWMLS #29098469 - Vacant Land

Contact me for more information.
Wendy Hughes-Jelen, 206.686.HOME (4663)

Property Location: 5115 Woods Creek Road / Monroe, Washington 98272 USA