Jan. 18 — No fears about finding housing

Sumner property continues to be in demand as more options become available

Andrew Hosford / of the Herald

Housing sales are expected to continue at a good pace this year in Sumner.

Opportunities for first time buyers and those looking to invest or renovate are not dwindling, even with the slowing population growth rate.

“The real estate market should be thriving,” said Karlyne McGinnis, owner/broker of Mountain View Properties in Sumner. “I think the outlook is very good.”

McGinnis said expectations for 2007 were discussed at a recent meeting of brokers and realtors in the area.

General consensus, she said, is that there should not be any drastic drop-off from 2006 and that the spring should be a good time to buy and sell.

These predictions come amid a market that is experiencing low interest rates and an abundance of homes in national markets, according to the Web site RealEstateJournal.com.

Stimulating the growth and a need for new construction are the young families moving into the Sumner, Lake Tapps and Bonney Lake areas, McGinnis said.

“We love working with them,” McGinnis said. “ Young families are anxious to obtain their first home.”

In addition to the new developments going up in the area, many older homes are hitting the market, she said.

According to RealEstateABC.com, homes currently on the market in Sumner are listed for just under $300,000.

They average three bedrooms and 1.5 baths with a square footage around 1,287.

For the beginning of the year, more than 100 single-family lots are in some stage of approval in Sumner.

“We are pretty heavily weighted on single family housing,” said Paul Rogerson, community development director.

For those building or adding to a home or property, there have been no major changes in the permitting process.

The city council has put regulations in place to specifically reduce the number of multi-family housing in the Sumner area.

In 2008, though, Rogerson said he expects more chances for condominiums in Sumner, especially at the old Red Apple site.

“Any downturn [in growth] would be small,” he said.

One factor slowing the market right now, though, is the inclement weather.

“Wind and rain is not very conducive to home shopping,” McGinnis said.

Warmer weather and clear skies should lead to more movement within the market, she explained.

“I look to the spring for people to act on pent-up demand,” she said. “That is when most people want to move.”

That time of year also means fewer issues with children transferring and missing school.

For now, the time seems to be right for people looking to invest and re-invest, in a home.

McGinnis remains optimistic about the opportunities in Sumner and the surrounding areas.

“Things look rosy for the near future in Sumner,” she said.