Blog - Susan Grosten

Bainbridge Island Adventures, Susan's Favorite Island places

Blakely Rock Bainbridge Island

BLAKELY ROCK BAINBRIDGE ISLAND I have sailed around Blakely Rock many times over the years, but never explored it. Recently I pulled our son’s run-a-bout boat up on to the beach, on the west side of the rock. I was amazed at how much there was to see! Blakely Rock Bainbridge Island. MARINE […]
Bainbridge Island Neighborhoods

Bainbridge Neighborhood: Rockaway Beach

Rockaway Beach Bainbridge Island Rockaway Beach is a premier waterfront residential neighborhood on the eastern shore of Bainbridge Island. Homes here enjoy no bank waterfront and spectacular views; the sparkling Seattle skyline, Puget Sound, Cascade mountains, and ferries. Once filled with summer homes, Rockaway Beach is now home to an eclectic mix of elegant homes […]
Bainbridge Island Neighborhoods

Bainbridge Neighborhood: North Town Woods

North Town Woods Bainbridge Island The Neighborhood North Town Woods is a small community of Craftsman homes. It is a charming neighborhood in a prime Bainbridge Island location. Classic architectural details include large, covered porches, gabled dormers, and carriage house garages with living spaces above. Several playgrounds are sprinkled throughout, including an open […]
Bainbridge Island Neighborhoods

Bainbridge Neighborhood: Point Monroe

Point Monroe | Bainbridge Island At the northeast point of Bainbridge is a sand spit called Point Monroe. Known locally as The Spit, it is a unique piece of the island’s real estate and much more charming than it sounds. Point Monroe offers sea-to-sky, waterfront living with nothing between you and the water, except […]

Bainbridge Island Adventures Blakely Rock Bainbridge Island BLAKELY ROCK BAINBRIDGE ISLAND I have sailed around Blakely Rock many times over the years, but never explored it. Recently I pulled our son’s run-a-bout boat up on to the beach, on the west side of the rock. I was amazed at how much there was to see! Blakely Rock Bainbridge Island. MARINE […]

Bainbridge Island Neighborhoods Bainbridge Neighborhood: Rockaway Beach Rockaway Beach Bainbridge Island Rockaway Beach is a premier waterfront residential neighborhood on the eastern shore of Bainbridge Island. Homes here enjoy no bank waterfront and spectacular views; the sparkling Seattle skyline, Puget Sound, Cascade mountains, and ferries. Once filled with summer homes, Rockaway Beach is now home to an eclectic mix of elegant homes […]

Bainbridge Island Neighborhoods Bainbridge Neighborhood: North Town Woods North Town Woods Bainbridge Island The Neighborhood North Town Woods is a small community of Craftsman homes. It is a charming neighborhood in a prime Bainbridge Island location. Classic architectural details include large, covered porches, gabled dormers, and carriage house garages with living spaces above. Several playgrounds are sprinkled throughout, including an open […]

Bainbridge Island Neighborhoods Bainbridge Neighborhood: Point Monroe Point Monroe | Bainbridge Island At the northeast point of Bainbridge is a sand spit called Point Monroe. Known locally as The Spit, it is a unique piece of the island’s real estate and much more charming than it sounds. Point Monroe offers sea-to-sky, waterfront living with nothing between you and the water, except […]

Susan's Favorite Island places Bloedel Reserve Bloedel Reserve Bainbridge Island Tucked away on the north end of the island, lies a botanical treasure called Bloedel Reserve. It continues to amaze me year after year, season after season that this spectacular Nature Reserve is right here in my little community. The History Purchased by Prentice and Virginia Bloedel in 1951, the 150-acre […]

Bainbridge Island Neighborhoods Bainbridge Neighborhood: Fort Ward Fort Ward Bainbridge Island Fort Ward is a historical neighborhood with lots of fun places to explore. Located at the southern end of Bainbridge Island, the elevation and openness make it particularly sunny. The local school is Captain Blakely Elementary School. A lovely feature for the waterfront or waterview homes in Ft Ward is […]

Bainbridge Island Neighborhoods Bainbridge Neighborhood: Rolling Bay Rolling Bay Bainbridge Island The Rolling Bay Neighborhood is north of Manitou Beach and on the east side of the Island. The main thoroughfare is Valley Road, where you will find the commercial services in this quaint area. Rolling Bay is a mix of older farm homes on larger lots and new, modern homes in […]

Buying and Selling Tips Bainbridge Island Real Estate Market Report | 2018 Year in Review Getting Real Let’s put it on the table right away: Our real estate market did not perform at the same level in 2018 as it did in 2017. That does not mean we had an unsuccessful market in 2018; nor does it mean we should brace for a difficult market in 2019. We need a […]

Windermere and the Bainbridge Community Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2018 Donations Windermere Bainbridge 2018 Donations The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $56,550 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2018. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island. Bainbridge Schools […]

Market updates Bainbridge Island Real Estate Market Report: 2018 Third Quarter Review AUTUMN TEMPERATURES Checking the Thermometer No, Chicken Little, the sky is not falling. It has just shifted from clouds skittering past to a more mellow and peaceful sky. Every day, we hear news about the cooling real estate market but it’s important to consider all the factors that go into those reports. Yes, our market […]

Market updates Bainbridge Island Real Estate Market Report: 2018 Second Quarter Review A WARM REAL ESTATE CLIMATE FLAG-WAVING SEASON Summer has come to Bainbridge, and with it our traditional celebratory activities. We had an energetic Third of July street dance, a festive Fourth of July parade, and a successful Rotary Auction that grossed more than $600,000. When we move our attention to local real estate statistics, everything […]

Buying and Selling Tips 5 Thoughtful Staging Tips I usually recommend staging to my sellers. Most of us do not live in our homes the way we present them on the market. To be honest, we are creating an illusion of peace and calm – the way we all wish we lived! My husband and I sold a home on Bainbridge when our […]

Bainbridge by the Seasons Easy Landscaping Tips for Curb Appeal – and Perhaps a Quick Sale Easy Landscaping Ideas Landscaping is the first thing buyers see when they consider purchasing your home. It extends either an invitation or a warning. If the outside of your home is neat and well maintained, it is safe to assume that the inside of the house will reflect that same care. Conversely if the outside […]

Market updates Bainbridge Island Real Estate Market Report | 2018 1st Quarter in Review THE SPRING BOARD Things We Know Are True In the real estate business, we know never to count our proverbial chickens. Offers aren’t made until directed by a client, offers aren’t successful until they are accepted, inspections aren’t completed until everyone is satisfied, and we never take a transaction closing for granted. Every step forward […]

Market updates Bainbridge Island Real Estate Market Report: 2017 Year In Review CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR As we welcome a new year, let’s explore some dynamics that played out while we marched through the 2017 calendar. Our market saw a decline in the total number of residential sales for each year between 2013 and the start of 2017. Despite healthy buyer demand, the lack of inventory caused […]

Windermere and the Bainbridge Community Windermere Bainbridge Foundation | 2017 Donations Windermere Bainbridge Foundation 2017 The Windermere Foundation of Bainbridge Island donated a total of $57,050 to the community of Bainbridge Island in 2017. The list below is of each of the vital community service organizations of Bainbridge Island to receive funding, due to their consistent and strong contributions to our island. Bainbridge Schools […]

Market updates Bainbridge Island Real Estate Market Report: 2017 Third Quarter Leaves Fall as the Bainbridge Island Real Estate Market Rises The Big Picture To paint an accurate portrait of the Bainbridge Island real estate market during this autumn season, it’s important to put it in the context of the broader regional economy. Through that lens, things are looking very good. Estimates for September 2016 through […]

Market updates Bainbridge Island Real Estate Market Report: 2017 Second Quarter Review MID-WAY THROUGH A GOOD YEAR A Bustling Springtime Even though the first quarter of 2017 didn’t start that slowly, it sure felt like it did. But the second quarter was a different story. We were flat-out busy between April and June. There were 141 home sales on Bainbridge during Q2, which was a 31.8% increase […]

Buying and Selling Tips 5 Lessons Home Renovations Can Teach You About Yourself 5 Lessons Home Renovations Can Teach You About Yourself I could spend ages talking about everything there is to learn from remodeling your house: the best types of tile for a shower floor, little details that you shouldn’t overlook when remodeling, tips and tricks for finishing a project on time — you name it. […]

Buying and Selling Tips How to Avoid the Most Common Buying and Selling Mistakes Posted in Buying and Selling by Tara Sharp There’s nothing more exciting, rewarding, and fulfilling than buying a home. However, it’s a complex transaction, and there are a number of steps along the path that can confuse, betwixt, and befuddle even the most seasoned buyers and sellers. How can you avoid those potential pitfalls […]