Another popular avenue for funding a real estate investment is utilizing a 1031 tax deferred exchange. During the recession when appreciation was non-existent there were no gains for buyers and sellers to defer but in the current market, the use of the 1031 has made a strong return.
Below is our November 2022 Market Snap Shot for San Juan Island. The median price for homes has yet to adjust to the lower volume. It may take a few more months to reflect our current market as the data in pricing lags. Days on market, number of closed and pending sales, and percentage off list price are already tracking to the market correction.
Dear Editor
I don’t have a lot in common with Andrew Carnegie except for our common desire to support education and reading. Andrew Carnegie was the richest person in the world in 1901 and wanted to support good causes. One of his causes was to establish free public libraries in over 1,600 libraries in our country. I can’t do anything as ambitious as Andrew Carnegie but I can do my part in supporting education, reading and other needs in our island community which is why I’m voting to support our Library.
(NOTE: This piece should have been posted a week ago, but it took a while to finish, thanks to the unwanted souvenir of Rhinovirus. I will have to admit that I was unprepared for the crowds we encountered throughout the trip. And so were many of the Italians who had time enough to share with us. I had always considered myself an experienced international traveler, but this time around I felt like a neophyte, as you will read in the whiny diatribe that follows. MV)
Coming in on final approach at London’s Heathrow airport, we were treated to this view of Windsor Castle. Photo by Rebecca Smith
Because we care about our community, we are voting for Eric Peter for sheriff. These are some of the reasons we have decided to vote for Eric. While the other side is spreading false rumors about Eric, Eric rises above that and focuses instead on what he plans to do to improve the sheriff’s department.
While Eric’s political signs are being stolen with seemingly little investigation by the sheriff’s office, Eric stays focused on getting out there to meet folks and let them know who he is.
Like many islanders (and especially property owners), I experienced some pretty intense sticker shock at the $20,000,000 estimated cost of the new Library on Spring Street. It was enough to stop me in my tracks, despite being someone who consistently votes progressive. Does a small rural community really need such an expensive new facility, especially when it will increase our property taxes during what is already a harsh economic time? After some serious consideration, and with help from the Library’s very informative Building Project page (https://www.sjlib.org/library-building-project/), I have decided to vote yes on the library.
The slogan 'Experience Matters' is showing up in our Sheriff’s race. Having been with our Sheriff's Department for over 30 years, first as a Deputy then as Sergeant, I would like to offer my opinion on what 'experience' really matters.
On your ballot right now is the years-long campaign to build a new Library. The issue is shrouded in rumors and misinformation.
Many wonder why the Library itself has not done more to respond and answer people’s questions? The answer is simple: public agencies are highly constrained in their ability to campaign, and the Library is acting within the law. The Library has documents and facts on its website but must leave it to outside volunteers to campaign and advocate.
A dedicated group of volunteers has been trying to get the facts in front of voters with an extensive FAQ page and letters to the editor, as well as personal letters to friends and neighbors. Our site clarifies and guides you through the documents you see on the Library’s website. Visit https://voteyesforoursjlibrary.com/faq.
We understand that the new Library represents expensive public construction. Our group believes that the right time for our community to improve civic infrastructure is now. By building it now, we’ll do it at a time where interest rates for public entities are at very reasonable levels – between 4 and 5 percent (a far cry from some of the misinformation floating around!).
We believe that we are doing the right thing for the community, for this generation and the next, in voting YES for the Library. And we ask you, our friends and neighbors, to do so as well.
- The volunteers of VoteYesForOurSJLibrary
To live in a community that makes miracles happen” is how I would describe living on San Juan Island.
Throughout my life, I have continued to try to make a difference. I have come up with ideas and ways to help our community, and the response has always been exceptional. As a person with mobility issues, I have always had to rely on friends to get around. Those friends have been great about fitting my wheelchair in tight spaces to get me to different places. The idea that our community needed a wheelchair-compatible transport van is something I experienced firsthand.
Every community deserves a first-rate public library, and I hope that we will all embrace this opportunity to build one. The existing structure is bursting at the seams, with no room to expand in its current location. Through years of work and study, our library board has created a vision for a facility that can serve the island for decades.
To the citizens of San Juan County, please join us in voting for Eric Peter for Sheriff. Eric Peter is well-prepared to lead this county's law enforcement in today's rapidly evolving world. He respects this community by reaching out and listening to a wide range of community members. As Sergeant, he identifies deputies' strengths and areas for growth and seeks to provide them with the guidance and training they need to better serve this community.
Dear Editor:
Last week the CDC’s advisory committee recommended adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the schoolchildren vaccine schedule. I believe this is a mistake. This controversy over childhood COVID-19 vaccination has become bigger than the concern of publishing vaccine misinformation.
There are a number of important differences between Sheriff Ron Krebs and his opponent, but one of those differences is critical. Ron is the only candidate who understands what's required to be the sheriff in a small rural county.
Hello, my name is Rick Hughes, and I live on Orcas Island. My wife and I operate Ray’s General Store and Pharmacy, Con’s Pit Stop and Island Life on Orcas and I served for eight years as the San Juan County Council member from district #2, Orcas and Waldron Islands. I have known Sheriff Krebs for over a decade, consider him a good friend and was a great partner in operating San Juan County for the 6 years we served together as elected officials.