Neighborhood Spotlight: South Hill in Bellingham, WA

I can rattle off a half a dozen favorite neighborhoods in Bellingham but there is none closer to my heart than South Hill. Because it’s where I have chosen to live and raise my family! We love the schools, the proximity both downtown and Fairhaven, the historic homes, and the Bellingham Bay views.

A foggy morning over Bellingham Bay. This photo shows S Garden and S Forest Streets in the South Hill neighborhood.

Pros:

• South Hill is exactly that—a large hill. Therefore, bay views abound!

• South Hill boasts fantastic schools, including Lowell Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School and Sehome High School.

• South Hill has many beautiful historic character homes (I included photos of a couple of my favorites so you can get the vibe.)

• Many homes are very walkable to Fairhaven, a thriving retail/shopping district.

Cons:

• At an average of $374 per sq ft (in the last year—2019), South Hill is one of the more expensive neighborhoods in Bellingham.

• It’s difficult to find a large flat yard (again, the hill situation).

• Attached garages are harder to come by than in some neighborhoods.

• The condos in the South Hill neighborhood tend to be closer to busy streets.

That said, it’s a very desirable place to live. Homes are mostly owner-occupied and nicely maintained. The population is a healthy mix of busy working professionals, retirees, and families. In the areas that border Western Washington University, there are college students. There is an active neighborhood association.

If you are looking to get a better feel for the South Hill real estate market, I’ve put together a dynamic (automatically updated) collection of South Hill properties that are currently for sale, pending or have sold in the last 6 months. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or to view a home that’s currently for sale!

Sold on South Hill

It was truly an honor to represent and sell this stunningly stylish view home in the South Hill neighborhood this summer.

Originally built in the 50’s, 420 17th St was renovated to perfection by a builder/designer duo. It offered all the fun stuff: Ann Sacks and Statements Tile, Miele and Viking appliances, Terrazzo epoxied garage floors. Every single corner was cool and cute. And it had a fantastically landscaped large yard, rare on South Hill.

I called it a unicorn. Homes this dialed in — and set up for modern day living — rarely exist in this neighborhood. That was definitely a reason why this sale was so successful.

Listed at $1,175,000, it sold for $1,212,000 in six days. That’s 103% of list price, the highest of any $1 million+ home in the South Hill neighborhood in the last 10 years.

The house was a show stopper in and of itself, but we also did our marketing. I did two professional photoshoots, aerial drone photography, and a video. I also built a custom website for this one. In addition, I sent direct mail and launched multiple social media promotions. This listing had over 15,000 impressions on Facebook alone!

Some of you know that I live in the South Hill neighborhood of Bellingham. I love this neighborhood. Living here helps me really understand this unique neighborhood market. I feel lucky to raise my children here. It’s a special community where people stay a long time. This seller raised her family here too. She was involved in the Lowell Elementary School PTA just like I am now. Which is why it was really special that I got to use Coldwell Banker Bain’s Community Partnership Program, and donate 10 percent of commissions to the PTA.

All around…a truly magical sale!

Just listed: Stunningly stylish South Hill modern

This week, I had the opportunity to list a true unicorn of a property. Located in the coveted South Hill neighborhood of Bellingham, this sophisticated home is over 3,000 square feet with impeccable style and finishes throughout. 

THE STATS

• 4 beds
• 1 full bath, plus 2 .75 baths
• 3093 sq ft
• 1780 sq feet—including master suite—located on the main level
• Gourmet kitchen including Viking and Miele appliances
• Radiant heated floors in kitchen and baths
• High-end Euroline windows and doors
• Solar panels
• .25 acre property 

This beautiful home was renovated with supreme thoughtfulness and attention to detail. Not only is it fully set up for easy modern day living, but everywhere you look there's a wonderful surprise. Like the custom built-ins in the living and dining room (which happened to be milled using a cherry tree that had to be cut down in the yard). Or the custom-designed steel fences and railings. Or the modern custom paneling. Or the under-stair storage. Or the terrazzo-style epoxy floors in the garage. Altogether these details come together to make this home incredibly impressive.

And there's just so much style everywhere you look. I'm completely in love with the tile choices (all from Statements, Ann Sacks and Pental). 

This house also features So. Much. Storage. And look at this office of my dreams...

Last but not least, at 10,890 sq ft, this property has an enviable yard. Not only is it super private, but it's also fully terrace and usable, which is so rare on South Hill.

And of course, the sunsets are spectacular. 

Homes like this—so impeccable with so much style—just don't come around on South Hill very often.

Listed at $1,175,000. MLS #: 1326216. 

You can view more at https://www.420-17th.com/ 

Just listed: mid-century marvel on South Hill

I've recently listed a mid-century dream home, loaded with original charm and style. Please join me on a tour of 400 17th St.—starting with this awesome video that we created to showcase the home in its best light.

This home features large windows in every room. There's a wading pool with a spraying fountain in the back, plus a swimming pool deep enough for diving! 

The large, light and bright living room features beamed ceilings and a wall of windows. The sliding doors lead to a large covered patio.

A gorgeous stone entry way leads to large living area with parquet flooring. Original light fixtures and decorative iron paneling give a Hollywood Regency vibe.

The dining room boasts a view of Bellingham Bay, and opens to a covered patio with recently updated slate floor and aluminum/glass panels.

The eat-in kitchen has charming original fixtures including globe light fixtures and Heywood-Wakefield style cabinets.

Original working sound and intercomm system with pull-out wall devices including a functional record player. Original scalloped pink anodized aluminum range hood. Immaculately maintained time capsule home...these are what mid-century dreams are made of!

A spacious, light-filled main floor master bedroom with vaulted ceilings. Door leads to a room with dual cedar-lined closets and a built-in marble topped vanity, and then to the master bathroom.

The blush pink drapes are so epic!

Gorgeous views from the master bedroom.

Master suite perks include a marble-topped vanity and built-in armoires!

Dual sinks, marble countertops, and crystal fixtures combine to make a luxuriously retro master bath.

Lower level bedroom. Wake up to an everyday vacation!

Lower level bathroom. Light, neutral colors. Once again, just immaculately maintained.

The lower level has a three bedrooms -- and this one below was used as a craft room. I just love the original globe fixtures.

Pink bathroom on the lower level.  #millenialpink! It's back in style, you guys!

Lower level bedroom or office which opens up to the pool area.

Covered outdoor grilling area. The original speakers and sound system are functional.

Imagine the pool parties, everybody! (And please invite me!)

One of the biggest perks of this property is its sheer size -- rare on South Hill! The sprawling home sits on two parcels, and there's an additional parcel the right that's full of mature, flowering trees. 

The additional lot offers beauty and privacy, and the opportunity for cozy outdoor fires!

All in all, this home is a total dream. Offered at $1,100,000. I created a property website which gives more details. 

See Instagram for more #40017thSt

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Making it Work in Bellingham: Lisa Staton, interior designer

I grew up in Whatcom County but have lived the majority of my adult life in Seattle. Three years ago, we moved to Bellingham for a better pace of life. My husband is a creative director and product designer in the tech industry, so as you can imagine, more job opportunities for him exist in Seattle. However, Seattle developed just a bit of a frenzy that just didn't jive with our lifestyle after having kids. I know a lot of people must feel this way because lately when I do open houses, the majority of people are people trying to leave Seattle. 

What do people do for work in Bellingham?

That's the big question, am I right? Since moving to Bellingham, I've met so many interesting professionals who have built amazing careers for themselves in Bellingham. A lot of people have finagled remote work opportunities, and many also work for themselves. I love learning about creative and entrepreneurial people in this small town, so I'm starting a blog series called Making it Work in Bellingham. I'll be interviewing inspiring people who love Bellingham and have made beautiful lives and homes here in our community. I hope these stories inspire people that you can work where you love to live!

My first interview is with Lisa Staton, who lives right down the street from me on South Hill. I first met Lisa through our kids who both go to the same elementary school. I was excited to learn that she also moved to Bellingham from Seattle in the last few years. I've since learned that Lisa is a sought after interior designer who has garnered quite a reputation in Seattle and beyond.

The first time I went to her home, I just about fainted from pure minimalist delight. She's completely reworked a gorgeous Tudor home that I remember touring and falling in love with for its potential – and to see it now after her refresh is quite inspiring. If I could describe her home's aesthetic, I would say modern meets comfortable, natural meets refined, traditional meets unexpected. Enjoy this first interview in an ongoing series!

Coming from Seattle and other urban places, what do you love most about Bellingham?

I grew up on the East Coast and spent my summers in Maine.  The ocean, the islands, the rocky coast. It reminds me a lot of Maine.  The pace here is different. Bellingham slows me down, reminds me to take a deep breath, and get out and enjoy nature. But I am also very much a "city girl" at heart, and so the quick access to Seattle and Vancouver satisfies that "fix."  

We also loved the idea of the kids growing up in a "college town" with the cultural and educational influences that a school like Western brings to a community.  

Did anything surprise you about this town?

We had made a quick trip to Bellingham before moving here, and of course I knew it was on the water, but the days we visited before moving happened to be especially rainy and foggy (even by Northwest standards).  So I did not fully grasp just how amazing the natural surroundings are.  This sounds dorky, but I literally feel taken by surprise often by the scenic views...and those sunsets! 

What do you love about the South Hill neighborhood? Did you consider any other neighborhoods when you moved here?

My husband is a professor at WWU, and so we really wanted to live on South Hill so he could walk to campus. We also loved that the neighborhood  elementary school is tucked in amongst the houses, and that our children could walk to school through high school.  (That is one of the things I really love about Bellingham, there is not a big private school culture here. And I feel that means families of all backgrounds and interests stay involved and engaged in the public school system which keeps it strong and well supported both fiscally and at the grass roots level with the PTA and lots of parental involvement and volunteering.) 

I often tell my clients that there's a certain feeling when you're in the right home. Did you immediately see the vision with your home?

I agree. We all start with a list of number of bedrooms, size of yard, garage, etc. But there is a certain emotion that can't be quantified when house shopping. That said, for myself, I am actually pretty pragmatic when buying a house. It's my job to solve the "puzzle" of making a home live well and be beautiful on a daily basis. I work in a range of styles (both modern and traditional). But the bones must be good. I would much rather take on a house that has not yet been renovated but has good bones than one that has had a poorly planned renovation or cheaply added on layers.  

We have moved many times and renovated many old houses. When this house came on the market we were in the planning stages of adding on to an old Victorian home two blocks down the street. My husband gets full credit for our buying this house. He loved it the day it went on the market, but I knew the amount of work that had to be done and was hesitant to take it on until the price dropped to a point where it made sense. It's good to remember that sometimes it's time to buy another house then try to make a current house more than it can easily (or fiscally) be. 

As an interior designer (and someone with an obvious touch for making a home what I like to call a "heart home") what would you advise a home shopper to focus on when looking? 

Location, location location first!  And then be really clear on the parts of the home where you spend most of your time and shop for a house that meets those needs. Many clients think they need big huge houses, when the majority of families only really actively live in smaller percentage of their house, even if the house is much bigger. Also, don't be afraid of renovating, and also doing it in stages. As long as you have a "plan," it can be done over time. If the basics are in good shape (foundation, roof, electrical and plumbing), all the rest can happen over time. 

Thank you to Lisa Staton for the fun interview, and to the Seattle-duo Belathée Photography for the beautiful photography.

If you need help finding your perfect home in Bellingham, please reach out!

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