“Whidbey Island is changing. Thousands have moved here and thousands more are headed this way. Demand for housing is increasing. Supply of homes for sale has been decreasing. Demand growing faster than supply means prices climb, which means affordable housing is decreasing – especially if wages don’t grow fast enough. Drop in for a talk about trends, possibilities, and realities. Let’s look at the data and talk about what to expect.“

That’s what the poster says. Three Sno-Isle Libraries are hosting the autumn edition of a presentation about real estate and affordability trends on Whidbey Island. (Click on the links for details about each event.)

• Tuesday, October 8, 2019 (Tuesday, not Thursday – there’s a typo on the poster.)
  Whidbey Is Changing – The Island’s Real Estate, Affordability, and Trends
  talk: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
  Langley Library
• Tuesday, October 15, 2019
  Whidbey Is Changing – The Island’s Real Estate, Affordability, and Trends
  talk: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
  Freeland Library
• Monday, October 28, 2019
  Whidbey Is Changing – The Island’s Real Estate, Affordability, and Trends
  talk: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
  Coupeville Library

Real estate and affordability are pertinent enough topics that a single presentation can’t cover everything, nor can a single presenter. These talks are based on the perspective on one resident who is a real estate broker (Tom Trimbath, me, a broker with Coldwell Banker Tara Properties). The emphasis is on the data. Anecdotes help tell the story, but sometimes anecdotes are only true for a slice of the story, or exist because their story is so pervasive. Looking at the data helps filter the uncommon from the common.

This is the third iteration of the story, updated roughly every six months. (See this search link for previous posts about the topic.)

Every month provides new data, thanks to the local listing service which compiles the data monthly. Somewhat by chance, the presentations bracket the tourist season and quiet season by showing up during the  shoulder seasons. The new data are in, are being sorted through, and are ready to present – almost.

Regardless of the details, at least one thing that is clear is that Whidbey Island is not Seattle, that the island situation varies from north to south, and each community has it’s own story. Drop in to hear what’s happening, and share stories about how the island is changing. The question has turned into an answer. Is Whidbey Changing? Whidbey Is Changing. What does that mean for and to you?