Hackney's Houses

The Christmas countdown is nearing it's frantic end and this weekend I'm sure will be a true mad rush for those final stocking stuffers. 

I just wanted to wish you all a very happy holiday season.  Wherever you are and however you chose to celebrate, I hope that 2007 was one of personal success and growth. 

I'm excited about the next two montly Client Appreciation Pieces.  In your mailbox now is a fantastic piece on Resolutions & Goal Setting, and coming in just a few short weeks is another piece on the true reality of our real estate market.  I'll share some insights in blog entries to come, but I think you'll agree with me after reading this article that our real estate market is healthy and is offering tons of opportunity. 

Did you know that since they started recording real estate data in 1952, that in terms of volume, 2007 will end as either the 4th or 5th best year ever!!!  Not too bad for a market that is supposedly in the tank!!!

Until then....Cheers to the culmination of another year under our belts.

Bellingham hit another national top list!!  This was in today's Bellingham Herald.

BELLINGHAM — The city has made it onto yet another "top" list, earning fifth place in a recent ranking of the safest mid-sized cities in the United States.

The fourth annual Farmers Insurance study also ranked Washington cities Olympia and Bremerton-Silverdale in the top 10.

The study, compiled by bestplaces.net, took into consideration crime statistics, extreme weather, risk of natural disasters, environmental hazards, terrorism threats, air quality, life expectancy and job loss numbers in 379 U.S. municipalities.

Here are the 20 most secure cities to live, as ranked by Farmers Insurance:

1. Olympia

2. Rockingham County-Strafford County, N.H.

3. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Calif.

4. Sioux Falls, S.D.

5. Bellingham

6. Fargo, N.D.

7. Naples-Marco Island, Fla.

8. Las Cruces, N.M.

9. Lancaster, Pa.

10. Bremerton-Silverdale