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“Honey, I Shrunk the Lots” Coming to the Lincoln Theatre on Tuesday, February 15, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

January 26th, 2011

“Honey I Shrunk the Lots,” an engaging presentation by noted Seattle architect Bill Kreager, FAIA, demonstrates how innovative site planning and high-quality, small-lot development can contribute to highly livable and sustainable communities.

Kreager first performed “Honey, I Shrunk the Lots” for a Skagit Valley audience in 2005.  That presentation, to a large crowd at the Lincoln Theatre, was highly acclaimed.  The upcoming presentation has been updated and will include examples from Skagit communities.  

A local panel will follow Kreager’s presentation, identifying opportunities and obstacles for “shrinking the lots” in Skagit communities:

  • Jan Ellingson, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate (moderator)
  • Brian Gentry, Landed Gentry Development
  • John Doyle, Town of LaConner
  • Ellen Gray, Washington Sustainable Food &  Farming Network

A reception will follow, from approximately 8:00 – 8:30 pm, allowing audience members to ask questions of the presenters, talk with each other, and share their thoughts with Envision Skagit citizen committee members and staff. 

This event is free and open to the public.  No ticket is required; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.  Please let others know who might be interested in attending the event!

Envision Skagit thanks the following financial cosponsors for their generous support:

  • Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland
  • Northwest Washington Chapter – American Planning Association
  • Economic Development Association of Skagit County
  • Futurewise

Staying in Style in the “New Economy”

November 2nd, 2010

Economic hard times or not, new homes are still being built across the country and in our community. But housing industry and new-home style ‘experts’ have noted a change in how people are approaching those projects. The trend seems to be toward more conservative and value-oriented choices.

We’ve been paying attention to those trends. We are committed to be responsive to the needs of our homebuyers by being prepared to help make design selections or suggestions for their new home.

As you read this list, keep in mind that our clients’ specific and unique wants and desires trump any trend. Consider the following as observations. They are not intended as mandates.

A few of the primary themes we’ve noticed include:

  • People are looking for American made finishes and quality products that will last longer and reduce energy and resource use. Homeowners want to lessen ongoing maintenance and replacement costs.
  • Given that higher-quality and resource-efficient materials and products may cost more, consumers are gravitating toward “minimalist” design schemes and a conservative color palette accented with a few bright, bold accessories.
  • We like our technology! New homes are a great way to accommodate greater and more convenient access to it — namely, by providing an ample amount of wiring and cable (and multiple outlets) to plug in and recharge mobile gadgets.
  • Regardless of square footage, we see a call for greater storage capacity. Modular organizing systems for closets and garages expand the usable space of those areas. We’ve also investigated the need for an electronic “clutter closet” near the most-used entry door (sometimes from the garage) to hold — and perhaps recharge — a variety of electronic devices in a convenient, central location.
  • Grey is the new white … at least according to some style experts. Grey-stained wood and fabrics represents the “back to basics” trend of the new economy.
  • Though not as opulent or outfitted as they were a few years back, outdoor areas remain a popular way to extend usable living space.
  • Home offices continue to be in demand, accommodating in-home businesses or telecommuting trends.
  • One thing that seems to be on the decline: a home theater, at least as a dedicated room within a house.

Reports indicate that buyers of new homes and other consumer goods have altered their value systems toward more conservative, durable and space and resource-efficient products. We’re keeping close tabs on those trends to meet our clients’ needs.

10 Reasons To Buy A Home, Now

October 26th, 2010

I read a positive housing article that was passed on to me, it lists “10 Reasons To Buy A Home, Now.”  I don’t understand why this message isn’t on every homebuilder’s website, I guess it’s now on Landed Gentry’s website and that is what matters. For the millions of American’s homeownership is a positive thing, here are some meaningful things to consider as you consider your new home.  Please take a few minutes to read and feel free to share it with others. 
 
1.  You can get a good deal.  This is a buyers’ market.  Prices on average have come down about 30% from their peak according to the Case-Shiller Index.
 
2.  Mortgages are cheap.  You can get a 30-year loan for around 4.3%. As recently as two years ago, they were about 6.3%.  That drops your monthly payment by 25% or more.  When inflation picks up, and it will, you won’t see these mortgage rates again in your lifetime.

3. You’ll save on taxes.  You can deduct the mortgage interest rate from your income taxes and you’ll get a tax break on capital gains when you sell.

4.  The home will be yours. You can have the kitchen and bathrooms as you want. You can move the walls, build an extension or paint everything bright orange. These types of changes are impossible for renters.

5.  You’ll get a better home.  In many parts of the country it is really hard to find a good rental.  Many of the best places have been sold as condos.  Generally speaking, if you want the best home, in the best neighborhood, you’re better off buying.

6.  It offers some inflation protection.  Studies by the Case-Shiller Index suggest that, over the long term, housing has beaten inflation by a couple of percentage points a year.

7.  It is risk capital.  No, your home isn’t the stock market and you shouldn’t view it as the way to get rich.  Sooner or later the economy is going to grow and real estate prices will head up again, too.

8.  It is a forced savings.  Part of a mortgage payment goes towards the principle repayment.  You are just paying yourself by building equity.  As a forced monthly savings, it is a good discipline.

9.  There is a lot to choose from.  Builders are sitting with inventory.  They have also introduced new model homes that are more energy efficient, and in many cases more affordable to own.  That means great choices, as well as great prices.

10.  Sooner or later, the market will clear.  Demand and supply will meet. As hard as it may be to believe, demand will exceed supply, the price of labor and materials will increase leading to higher prices.

Now is the perfect time to buy if you qualify for a mortgage, especially if you don’t have a home to sell.

Brian Gentry – Landed Gentry Homes and Communities

Collective Wisdom

September 27th, 2010

A few weeks ago I was searching for a statistic to incorporate into a discussion with a group I was facilitating for a leadership development program I work with.  As I searched Google and other search engines for the specific statistic, I was not coming up with the information I was looking for.  So I grabbed the next best, related statistic that I could find.  Close enough, right?

A few days later I was with the group discussing what I information I had found.  Not entirely satisfied, I decided that I was going to be straight forward and discuss loosely what I was really looking for with the group.  I elected for transparency and choose to share my information struggle with the 32 participants. An interesting discussion ensued about the importance of the topic continued and the main point of the exercise happened as our facilitation team intended.  Then, this last week I got an email from one of the group members, they found the statistic I was looking for!  My recollection was somewhat accurate and the information I was looking for did exist!  Vindication!  Maybe?

What really struck me was not to underestimate what a group of thoughtful human beings can come up with.  Our best work is often not done in isolation.  We kid ourselves into thinking we can do it all ourselves.  Wikipedia, Google, Bing, etc.; all of these great resources at our finger tips tend of make us forget the benefits that come from the collective wisdom that we gain by working with others.  Friends, colleagues, family and other trusted advisors; they have perspective and insights to share that are different than ours as we face questions, challenges and decisions that inevitably come up in life.   We need each other more than we think. 

How do you tap into the collective wisdom around you?

 

Brian Gentry – Landed Gentry Homes & Communities 

Stewardship

September 23rd, 2010

Brian Gentry – Landed Gentry Homes & Communities

This morning I went to the Skagit Land Trust (SLT) – Conservation Breakfast.  They are a great organization that buys or is donated conservation easements or properties and is an organization that Landed Gentry has contributed toward for many years.  Currently, they protect 5,968 acres of land in Skagit County, including 26 miles of shoreline.  SLT holds some amazing places in the area, from mountain tops in the islands of Puget Sound to highland pastures in North Cascades.   Because they hold these properties as conservation lands in perpetuity, and as one board member noted “forever is a long time”, the word “stewardship” came up several times during this morning’s program. 

What is stewardship all about?  The SLT Stewardship Director (yes they have directors of such things), Michael Kirshenbaum, described it as “taking care of the special places”.  What a simple, yet profound statement.  The special places…  Are those spectacular places only found in nature?  What other special places are there in our lives that need to be stewarded? 

The first special place I think of is the home, not the building, but the place.  Who is there, what happens there, what does it need from me? Our companies, our team, our customers, the organizations we are a part of all need some degree of stewardship.

What special places do you need to take care of?

The Cost Question – What’s Your Price Per Square Foot?

August 3rd, 2010

Brian Gentry ~ Landed Gentry Homes and Communities

A question we get all the time is “what’s your price per square foot?” The perception (or presumption), we assume, is that if you wanted to add or subtract a few square feet for whatever reason, you simply add or subtract that amount per foot from the price or cost of the house.

Simply, in our business, it doesn’t work that way. For us, it’s an impossible question to answer without a lot more information and detail, and one that can only be derived once the house is finished and all costs have been accounted for. Before that, it’s akin to asking, “How much does a vacation cost?” without first knowing where and for how long you plan to go, and by what mode of transportation, among other considerations.

The fact is, the details (and therefore cost) of every house — even those built on speculation by large-volume builders — is different, and the cost of your house is entirely up to you, not your builder. Only you know how much you can afford and what you want in your new home. It’s our job to apply our expertise and experience to finely detail your wants and needs and then build a home that meets (or ideally exceeds) those expectations while remaining within your budget.

That’s why it is so important to determine and then share your budget with us from the first moment you select us to build your home. Budget information should precede any talk of contracts or actual construction. Using the vacation analogy, we are like a travel agent working with you to plan a trip.

Still, the square-foot cost question persists. So, it might be helpful to understand what goes into or affects the cost (or ultimate price) of a new home to gain a better perspective on the question.

For instance, the costs of similarly sized homes can vary considerably due to their location (and even size and shape of the lot within the same neighborhood), the outline of the building, the type of and complexity of the foundation and roof, and many other construction and design characteristics that are not directly related to the square footage of the house.

In addition, costs including development impact fees and permits, or state and municipality mandated code requirements, can add from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars to the ultimate cost of a new home, regardless of size. Labor and material costs also can vary substantially based upon the time of year, availability and demand of building materials and workers, weather conditions, and the complexity of the project.

The list of variables goes on, and we’re happy to discuss them with you and explain how they might impact the cost of your new home. But, in our view, it’s short-sighted to ask us up-front what our homes cost per square foot, and certainly to base one of the most important decisions of your life on that metric alone.

Better, we think, to get a full understanding of our process and expertise and marry those skills with what you can afford and want and need in a new home to achieve your goals.

Risk

July 26th, 2010

Finally you begin to realize that the safest thing you can do feels risky and the riskiest thing you can do is play it safe. – Seth Godin / Tribes

I recently completed reading the book Tribes by Seth Godin. A unique, but practical look at the world we live in and the need for leadership. The citation above has stuck with me since I read it last week. It just won’t go away.

This reality is that we need to realize that “playing it safe” is in and of its self risky. There is no sure thing. The world we live is subject to rapid change, much faster then we even realize and is often out of our control. To expect the status quo to remain isn’t very realistic. It’s in fact safer to expect and plan for change and embrace it.

Most all of us have felt some discomfort, particularly in the past year or two. Over the years I’ve had people approach me and ask my input on issues they are facing in their lives. Some are entrepreneurs who have felt the sting of a shifting economy and the challenges of a struggling business. A few have been at a crossroads in their personal lives.

For some of us, continuing on the road we are on feels risky, when maybe staying the course makes the most sense. For others, we are stuck in a spot, paralyzed by fear, unsure what to do, even though we know we need to do something. We see that from time to time with our home buyers. Some of them know they need to make a move, but a move feels risky. For others, they recognize the riskiest thing is to do nothing.

Expect change, expect some risk, really it’s OK. Embracing a certain level of risk maybe the new security? I’m interested in what you think, is playing it safe really safe?

Brian Gentry ~ Landed Gentry Homes & Communities

Finish the Race

June 19th, 2010

Brian Gentry  – Landed Gentry Homes & Communities

So this past weekend, my family and I participated in the Tesoro Refining March Point Run.  It’s a great event in the Skagit County and Whidbey Island area.  Inexpensive, healthy fun for the whole family, all the proceeds go to the United Way, plus they feed you! 

The first thing we did was the Kids ½ Mile, which I ran with my 4 year old daughter Bella Kate (BK).  Her first distance race!  I think her parents were more excited for her then she was, but she was enthusiastic and doing well.   Then as we rounded the corner toward the finish line, BK told me she was “done”.  Really?  We were a mere few hundred feet from the finish line!  This must be time for a fatherly pep talk… so ensued the classic discussion about how we “finish what we start”.  So with a little encouragement, a few cheers from the sidelines, off she went and finished in a respectable 6th place in the 5 and under category.

The Finisher!

So then it was time for Dad (Me) to run in the 10k race.   I’m a recreational runner, not hard core, but over the past couple years I’ve ran some road events, including a few half marathons.  So a 10k should really be pretty straight forward.  Off I go, feeling pretty good, coming up to the first hill, then less than two miles into a 6 plus mile run, my heart rate shoots up… I actually felt like I might pass out…  I had hit the wall.

I stopped and started walking.  Feeling a bit dejected, my ego a bit tarnished, trying to figure out what was wrong with me, then all of a sudden I actually found myself thinking about quitting the race.  Quit?  Reasonable thought, I didn’t feel well, we had bit fighting a bit of a stomach bug during the week, may have contributed to my current condition.  There were plenty of good reasons to quit, to give up, try it another day.   In fact some might call that decision an act in sound judgment.

Then I thought back to a conversation that I had with a little 4 year old girl just a half hour earlier.  “We finish what we start”.  How could I look BK in the eyes and say Daddy didn’t feel well so he quit?  I just keep walking all the way to the next water station.  Took in some water and walked a little more, realizing that I’ve got to finish this race one way or the other…  so I started running again.  I’d love to say I ran the rest of the way, came in first, went home with the big trophy!  What really happened is that  I ended up walking a few other times as well, but in the in the end, I ran across the finish line with BK running out to meet me and cross the finish line with me. 

It was a terrible run time, but an amazing lesson.   Finish what you start… no matter what I’m doing, I find it feels the sweetest when I finish.  It may not be the prettiest finish, there may be a few bumps, scrapes along the way, detours, maybe you’ve got to come up with a “Plan B” or “Plan C” but get it done.   

Personally and professionally, there have been quite a few times over the years where “getting it done” seems nearly impossible, quitting seemed like the most prudent option.  Collectively as a family and as a company we have had to make some adjustments to “get it done”, but we are resolute in finishing what we have started.  As we endure, endeavor to overcome, it’s amazing how you begin to see the rewards beginning to appear.  I’m grateful that my little girl reminded me of this key principal… finish what you start.  I am excited to see what is going to be meeting me at the finish line.

The Coach – A Tribute to John Wooden

June 8th, 2010

Brian Gentry ~ Landed Gentry Homes & Communities

I’m sure this is one of the thousands of blog posts honoring the great John Wooden, who passed away at the ripe age of 99 this past Friday, June 4th.  Coach Wooden was a man who left a legacy that has spanned generations, I think it could be safe to say that his life impacted millions of people in the US and around the world.

I wasn’t even alive when Coach Wooden led some of the great UCLA championship basketball teams in 1960’s and early ‘70’s, in fact he coached his last game a few months before I was born.  That said, his influence is peppered throughout dozens of books and articles I have read over the past decade, and most of these readings had nothing to do with sports.  The business, management, leadership and faith world found John Wooden because he taught timeless principals. 

He was a teacher at heart, a man who got his professional start educating high school boys in the 1930’s and  continued teaching and influencing others through the first decade of the 21st century.  He was a part of writing several books, even in his late 90’s!  A true teacher is a lifelong learner and he was no exception, as he put it: “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts”.  Building value in himself and others was instilled in him from a young age.  When he graduated from grammar school his father, Joshua Wooden, gave young John what has become known as:  

John Wooden’s Seven Point Creed

  • Be true to yourself.
  • Make each day your masterpiece.
  • Help others.
  • Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
  • Make friendship a fine art.
  • Build a shelter against a rainy day.
  • Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.

Legend is that he carried the Creed on a slip of paper in his pocket and referenced it daily.   Imagine building your life on values such as these, in a focused, on purpose way?  If he was 13 when his father shared these nuggets of wisdom with him, Coach Wooden would have based his life on these principals for approximately 86 years, much longer than the average person in the US will even live. It is no wonder success followed John Wooden wherever he went.

There is so much more to say, but what strikes me the most is how he lived.   He lived a simple, humble life, focused on relationships, faith and contributing to others.   A man who poured out wisdom and encouraged character in the people he came in contact with whether in person or through his writings.   I aspire to live a meaningful life, an impactful life with my family, my relationship and in our daily activities as Landed Gentry.  As a people and as a nation we have been blessed to have had a leader such as John Wooden as part of our national fabric.

Coach you have made a difference, far greater than you may have ever known.  John Wooden has not left us, his impact will always be with us, he simply got called up to the pro’s.

John Robert Wooden   (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010)

Link to New York Times Obituary: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/sports/ncaabasketball/05wooden.html

Choices

June 2nd, 2010

“Sometimes the right thing and the hard thing are the same thing. I read that on a tea bag.” – Liz Lemon

Life is full of hard decisions.  We all face hard challenges at some point, honestly those hard choices are probably more regularly then we would like.  Tom Peters put it this way “If you’re not scared you’re not growing”.  That said I know a lot of us are growing, maybe more often then we would care for.

It seems as though life’s choices really don’t get any easier.  Sure sometimes, certain decisions are clearer than others, but in today’s environment, uncertainty seems to prevail.  Yet there are people who are making decisions now.  What is the difference? What has allowed them the clarity they need to move ahead?

So what is the right decision for you? Maybe it’s time to weigh out the pros and cons and decide what you really want. What do you need to be doing to make your life better?  Hard questions, but needed questions.  I know Kendra, myself and others at Landed Gentry have been seeing this from some our customers theses past few weeks.  There is a bit of anxiety, but they are making the changes they need to, to make their life better for themselves and their family.  Living in indecision can in and of it’s self be a decision, but I’m finding that ultimately we all really know what we want.  Now we just need to have the courage to make it happen, one decision at a time.  Because most of often, the right choice and hard choice are in fact the same thing.