Sometimes I roam the county just to observe.  I see the little children playing on the beaches in Ephraim and Fish Creek, still with shovels and buckets of sand—not much changes through the generations at that age.  Families spend afternoons playing mini-golf in Sister Bay and Egg Harbor in response to plaintive “What can we do today, Dad?”  Peninsula State Park is full of campers—some actually “camping” in tents and others enjoying the park in comfort from their motor homes and camping trailers.  The many other campgrounds throughout Door County are full as well.  We’ve had little rain so no campers at the laundromat drying their sleeping bags.  Happy campers!

One of the places I personally discovered this year is in Fish Creek, and it’s called Hand’s On Studio.  Apparently everyone else knew about it but me, but now I’ve found it and think it’s magical.  It’s a collection of old barns transformed into studios where anyone can go—children and adults—to participate in “art”—Hand’s On.  They have studios for pottery, for jewelry making, for metal-smithing, for working with glass in various forms, for ceramics—all quite casual, slow-paced, and relaxing.  Adults become children and children discover their creativity.  And all the while exotic varieties of chickens delightfully wander free and roosters crow with regularity.  Quite an atmosphere! 

Almost every evening there is a free concert to be found somewhere—at the parks in Egg Harbor or Sister Bay or Baileys Harbor.  Laughter rings through the woods in the evenings from the nightly plays performed by the American Folklore Theater in Peninsula State Park.  Old-fashioned sing-a-longs draw people to the Ephraim Village Hall and afterwards to Wilson’s for ice cream. 

And all leads to the end of the day and a wonderful midsummer’s night dream.

Do you know what?  I think you, the buyers and sellers of this world can handle the truth, so here is it.  Real estate sales here in Door County are not great.  In particular, sales in my little part of the world — that part of Door County north of “the bridges” — are down to a fraction of what they were just 3 years ago. This is my 30th year selling real estate in Door County, and I’ve never seen worse. 

So here is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  In northern Door County we primarily sell vacation properties — second homes, shorefront properties, condominiums — properties intended for recreational use, luxury properties.  In hard times, people stop buying luxuries.  At the same time, many people find they can no longer afford their vacation property, so put it on the market.  The resulting high numbers of properties for sale drives down values.

Is is all bad news?  No.  First of all, real estate values probably rose too high too fast.  A market correction was in order, and that is what we are getting.  A dose of reality is a good thing, and the vast majority of Door County property owners will not lose money on their investments.   They just won’t make quite as much.  It’s good news that people who did invest in Door County real estate are finding it a more stable investment than many others.  It’s good news for buyers right now because, if they buy now, they will be buying at yesterday’s prices.  More good news for buyers is that the interest rates are still very low, making it an even better time to buy. 

So, if you are selling Door County property, you will not get the price you may have gotten three or four years ago; but, you will still receive a fair price.  If you are buying Door County property, you may find a real treasure at a great price.

And that’s the truth.

I wish I could figure out how to post photos on this blog.  I’ve tried repeatedly, but only end up with boxes with an “X” in them where the photo should be.  I’d love to post some of the photos I’ve taken of the spring flowers which were especially beautiful this year.  In many areas, the forest floor was a solid white carpet of trillium, the lilacs flourished, and one crabapple tree in the yard here at my office was a solid ball of white blossoms.  We have a chestnut tree that looks like it is covered with candles.  If you’ve never seen that particular tree, the blossoms are Christmas tree-shaped stalks about a foot high covered with small orchid-like white flowers.  You can pick one, put it in a vase, and have an instant flower arrangement! 

Well, if anyone can tell enlighten me as to how to post photos, I’d welcome the help.

But, you ask, how can there be such great values for sale while at the same time property values are holding strong?  It is an idiosyncrasy of a recreational property market.  Most sellers in this market are financially stable enough to hold out for the price they want, so they can wait out a bad market until someone buys at the price they want.  On the other hand, some sellers are not in such a good position, so in order to sell the property they are reducing asking prices to what is sometimes actually below market value.  They need buyers now. A good Realtor (such as those at my company) can help you find those properties.

This is a quiet time in Door County.  Real estate sales are slow in spite of the fact that there are some fantastic values available, especially in condos, vacant shore homes and lots, and water-view properties.  After all is taken into consideration, this is the best time in decades to buy any type of Door County property.

So what would be an ideal retirement destination?  Somewhere safe.  Somewhere where there is a great selection of homes and condominiums for sale in all price ranges.  Somewhere where there are indoor and outdoor activities in which to participate.  Somewhere appealing enough to cause your friends and family to visit you.  Somewhere where the cost of living is reasonable.  Somewhere where good health care is available. That sounds like Door County to me!

You can tell you are in a safe community when all the crimes are printed in one small column in the local newspaper that is only printed twice a week.  That includes traffic violations!  That’s Door County!

Imagine a place where a $150,000 home might be right across the road from a $1,000,000 home.  Imagine not having “good” or “bad” neighborhoods—every neighborhood is a good neighborhood!  Imagine having a choice of shorefront homes, country homes, village homes, no-maintenance condominiums, or buying land and building your own home.  That’s Door County! 

Door County is known for its scenic beauty, being a haven for the arts, its shop and galleries, state and county parks, boating and water sports, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, recreational facilities, superior retirement facilities, golf courses, cultural events and festivals—all on a peninsula surrounded by the waters of Lake Michigan and Green Bay!  For decades it has been a major mid-western vacation spot, but now more and more people have decided to make it their home.  So whether it is the small maritime town of Sturgeon Bay, the quaint shoreline villages, or the beautiful rural countryside that captures your heart, retirement life in Door County can be your dream come true!  There is no better time than now to implement your retirement plan!

     Plenty!  Most people do not realize that almost all real estate agents are self-employed independent contractors.  They are affiliated with their real estate company, but are not employees and therefore are not covered by company paid health insurance.  Like every self-employed person, they are left to their own devices to navigate the treacherous waters of health care. 

     Americans need to get over their phobia of the word “socialized” as in “socialized medicine.“  It just means that health care for all citizens is provided to them by their government as a basic human right. Most of the rest of the developed free world has it, and they are appalled that America is so backward!  When it comes to health care, we are a third-world country—not in the level of health care available but in the availability of that health care to all our citizens.  Through a comprehensive campaign, the medical, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries have convinced Americans that if our government provides health care the quality will be diminished.  Rubbish!!! To the contrary, nothing—nothing—would be better for our citizens or be a bigger boon for our economy.  As as for the cost to our government, we can afford senseless wars but cannot afford to pay for health care?

     So what would happen if we had “Medicare” for all Americans?  We could each pay a nominal monthly premium plus an affordable co-pay for doctors’ office visits and drugs.  But the bulk of the costs would be covered by the government plan.  Yes, it would mean higher income taxes, but so what??!!!  We would all get  more than what we pay for, and the increased taxes would be far less than health care is costing us now.  And, yes, we are all paying right now in one way or another.  More importantly though, everyone would receive the care they need including preventative care.  Prescription drug costs would be regulated, so the government would not be paying the exorbitant prices we citizens now pay.  Right now, Americans are paying far higher prices for prescription drugs than people in other countries, another gross inequity. 

     But why would it be such a boon for the economy?  Well, think about it. The billions of dollars that is now being spent by corporations, small businesses, and individuals on health insurance and health care would be redirected into our economy.   Corporations and businesses large and small could be more competitive with those overseas, so more jobs would stay in this country. It’s as simply as that. Consider this.  If General Motors was not burdened with horrendous costs of providing health insurance for all its workers, would they have needed a bail-out?  The cost of health care is a huge part of the cost of manufacturing every automobile made in America.  Automobile makers in other countries do not have that cost and therefore have a competitive advantage.  Consider my little real estate company.  There are two employees, me and my office manager.  Last year health insurance for just the two of us (not our families, just two people) totaled $18,400.  Every small business in this country is struggling with this tremendous burden because the smaller the business the higher the cost per employee.  Personally, since my company-paid insurance only covered me, my husband and I also paid for his Medicare supplement (Blue Cross/Blue Shield) which totaled just under $4,000 for the year plus nearly $7,000 for prescription drugs (not covered under the Medicare drug plan) plus the premium for Medicare of $1,400 deducted from his social security plus the monthly premium for the Medicare drug plan! 

     So, please, please people, start talking about this.  Contact your Senators and Congressmen and Congresswomen.  Demand the basic right of being healthy and being cared for when you are not.  Our tax dollars pay for health care for all our elected representatives.  Don’t we deserve the same?

AS FOR REAL ESTATE IN DOOR COUNTY—

Real estate sales are slow these days, even here in gorgeous Door County, Wisconsin.  And it is cold—-10 degrees below zero at my home in Fish Creek this morning and 12 degrees now at my office in Ephraim.  This is not normal weather for Door County—winter temperatures are usually higher than that—but this has been an unusually cold winter all over the midwest.  On the plus side, it is a great year for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling!  If you are so inclined, ice conditions for ice fishing are ideal as well.  If you are just in the mood for a mid-winter get-away, there are cozy motel rooms available (many with fireplaces) and the scenery is spectacular!  You could even check out the real estate for sale while you are here!

Now we all have a great opportunity.  No matter where you are, who you are, what your beliefs are, you have an opportunity.  Focus on your sphere of influence—your piece of the world—and make it better and know it will get better. 

Focusing in on my world, my home, my job, I am experiencing tough times.  The Door County real estate market, my portion of which is primarily a second home market, has almost come to a standstill.  People worried about maintaining their primary residences and their jobs are not thinking about purchasing second homes.  However, there are people facing retirement, and that is the opportunity I see for this real estate market.  There are many wonderful homes and condominiums for sale in Door County that are ideal for retirees, and it is truly a buyer’s market.  In addition to that are very low interest rates and availability of mortgage loans to qualified individuals. 

Sales of real estate may not seem like a huge contribution to the economy to some, but the sale of every Door County home means business and income for a home inspector, a surveyor, a plumber, a title insurance agency, a home insurance agency, one or more real estate agents, and a bank (wouldn’t you rather give the banks business than bailouts?). 

Every American must make a personal commitment to help get our country back on track.  Together, we can!

In this small part of the world, Door County, Wisconsin, I can hardly say that our troubles even begin to compare with other places in the U.S. not to mention the world!  Here we are blessed with a true community in the best sense of the word—a place where people still care and look out for one another especially in time of need.  It’s a great place to live.

Because of my many years in the Door County real estate business, I’m constantly being asked about the state of this market and what I think the outlook is for 2009.  2008 was a bad year for sales, down considerably from 2007.  However, values are holding relatively firm, and I believe sales will improve next year.  After seeing what can happen with investments in the stock market, people will take another look at investing in real estate.  Door County shore-front property and water view property will again be recognized for the excellent long-term investments they are.  People retiring will see Door County as a beautiful, safe, clean, and affordable option.  Condominiums are especially attractive to retirees, and the selection and price range available makes them a good choice for almost everyone.  There are countless other real estate options for full time residency and vacation use in every price range including homes of every size and style, vacant land from small lots to large acreage, shore front homes and land, bluff-top water view properties, farmland, hotel condominium suites, and commercial opportunities.  You name it—it’s here!  If I sound biased, I am, and I have a good basis for comparison.  I’ve lived in Michigan, Florida, New York, Illinois, and Tennessee and can truly say Door County beats them all in my opinion!

True, it is a hard time for real estate companies and agents everywhere, even here.  Some companies may go out of business, many agents may look for other work, but those of us who are firmly established and experienced will weather this storm and see sunny days again.  My company, Wilson-Shaffer, Inc., has been here in Ephraim since 1929; and I’ve been here longer than I care to reveal!  I have a great staff who have seen me through a year of personal tragedy.  

Our country will have a new president next month, and I am determined to go into 2009 with optimism and faith that our economy, our country, and the world will get better.  So, I wish happiness to all, whatever holiday you may be celebrating!