Windermere Stanwood Camano: Under New Ownership!
Windermere Real Estate Stanwood Camano is officially under new ownership. Randy and Marla Heagle have owned the Stanwood and Camano Island Windermere branches for 18 years and have led their Realtors® and company with passion. Windermere Stanwood Camano (formerly known as Camano Island Realty and Dan Garrison Realtors) has been locally owned for 70 years and there are no plans to change that. As of January 1, 2023, longstanding members of the community, Jill and Jeff Vail are set to transition as the new owners.
“After nearly 18 years of owning our Windermere Real Estate offices, Randy and I have found the perfect team to continue the We Are Stanwood Camano legacy”, said current owner, Marla Heagle. “Huge congratulations to Jill and Jeff Vail as the upcoming owners of our local Windermere! Jill’s strong work ethic, love for the community and passion for helping others will navigate this company to new heights! We have loved this season in our lives and are thrilled to be transitioning over the next year to a new season at the Arrowhead Ranch!”
Jill and Jeff have been involved members of the Stanwood and Camano Island community for 22 years and have raised their kids here. Jeff attended Stanwood High School and Jill has been a Real Estate Agent in the Stanwood and Camano Island community for 20 years, specifically 11 years at Windermere.
“We look forward to continuing the culture of being involved in the community and our local events,” says Jill Vail, “The longstanding history of this company in the Stanwood and Camano Island area is one we are excited to continue. We look forward to working alongside our agents as the local experts, assisting our clients with their real estate needs.”
Windermere Stanwood Camano. We live here. We work here. We are All in, for you. We have over 40+ Brokers with decades of combined experience and local knowledge, you can be assured that you will receive only the best service and highest quality from this Windermere team.
5 Interior Design Trends for 2023
The interior design trends of 2022 included a renaissance of colorful decorating, a preference for sustainable materials, and incorporating nature throughout the home. They reflected the continued evolution of our lifestyles in recent years and showed an overall desire for our homes to be somewhere we can relax, decompress, and focus on our wellbeing.
With 2023 just around the corner, expect to see the latest design trends continue that trajectory of creating a home that’s vibrant yet soothing.
5 Interior Design Trends for 2023
1. Butler’s Pantries
There’s something endlessly fascinating about features throughout a home that tie spaces together and create harmony. A butler’s pantry is the perfect resource for homeowners who feel their kitchens are always running at capacity. Typically located adjacent to the kitchen or dining room, modern butler’s pantries are often concealed behind cabinets or pocket doors. An economical solution for food and kitchen item storage, they allow you to prep meals outside the kitchen, gather silverware, and prepare to set the table. Kitchens are the heart of the home, and this space has taken on even more significance in recent years. It’s no wonder these special home features are on the rise.

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: PC Photography
2. Colorful Kitchens
Color in the kitchen is back in style! The neutral-toned backdrop of farmhouse-style interiors that leapt to the forefront of home design in recent years is still popular, but homeowners can expect to see more bold colors in 2023. The kitchen island, cabinets, and backsplash are three target areas for adding color to your kitchen. These large surface areas are tailor-made for color splashes to lead the eye throughout the room. Experiment with complimentary tile designs, two-toned cabinets, and dark-stained wood to create a kitchen atmosphere that feels anything but bland.

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: JohnnyGreig
3. Organic Materials and Décor
In some ways, the design trends that defined 2022 will continue into next year. One such trend that will ring true in 2023 is a desire to fill the home with organic materials. Indoor plants will continue to be a popular decorative item throughout the home, both for their health benefits and their ability to mix and match with any décor style. In the living room, natural materials like stone, wood, and organic fabrics will help tie a home’s organic aesthetic together. And in the kitchen, stone and marble countertops add an earthy touch.

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: Tatiana Buzmakova
4. Earth Tones
While bold colors are making their return to the kitchen, earth tones will help to balance out homeowners’ interior design palettes next year. Many design leaders’ color of the year selections for 2023 are in, all showcasing unconventional takes on earthy colors. Whether it’s beige, magenta, cream, or forest green, you can use these shades throughout your home to create balance and ground your bolder color choices elsewhere. Looking to swap out your grey couch? Have you always wanted to paint your gallery wall something other than off-white? Now is the time!

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: FollowTheFlow
5. Intentional Spaces
Homeowners have made significant adjustments to their lifestyles in recent years. For many, that’s meant spending time on their hobbies, exercising, and working on passion projects at home, whereas previously they may have gone elsewhere. After a couple years of making do with whatever space was available, moving forward, we’ll see a more intentional approach to creating space at home for those activities. Whether it’s building out a home gym, setting up your home office, craft room, art studio, yoga sanctuary, etc., having a dedicated area allows for privacy and focus while doing the things you love.

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: Petar Chernaev
Interior design trends continue to evolve with our lifestyles and needs as homeowners. For more information on interior design, architecture, remodeling tips, and more, head to the Design page on our blog:
Windermere Blog – Design
Written by Sandy Dodge
Market Insights: November 2022
November 2022 in Stanwood and Camano Island was kicked off with an early seasonal holiday slowdown. This seasonal pause, combined with local weather, interest rates, economic news, and a volatile stock and crypto market made it easier for buyers and sellers to place large decisions on hold.
New Listings: Camano Island had only 18 new listings hit the market in November, a 45% decrease from last year. Stanwood experienced a 32% decline in new listings from last November with 30 new listings compared to 44 last year. However, on November 30, our inventory count was up 186% over this same time last year, with 111 active listings in our two zip codes.
Pending Sales: Stanwood and Camano Island both saw fewer pending sales compared to last year, with 32 Sellers accepting offers on their homes, compared to 78 last November (down 59%).
Homes Sold: There were 36 homes sold in zip codes 98282 and 98292 in November. 20 sales on Camano and 16 sales in Stanwood. This is a 53% year-over-year decrease. Despite the fewer sales, the average sale price still rose by 13%.
SELLERS – You will most likely need to compete with other sellers to gain buyer’s attention. Today’s offers may include terms such as an inspection, requests for repairs, seller paid closing costs, interest rate buy downs, etc. It is technically still a seller’s market, but the market is normalizing.
BUYERS – December is usually a slower time of year with fewer listings added to the market. The good news is that interest rates are lower than they were a month ago! Talk with your lender about financing options specifically tailored to today’s buyer.


Marla Heagle
Windermere Real Estate Designated Broker | REALTOR®
Owner, Windermere Stanwood & Camano Island
360-387-HOME
Real Estate Terminology: Contingent, Pending, Under Contract, and More
Different real estate transactions have different conditions based on the status of the listing. The following information is meant to clarify some common real estate terms that describe a home for sale and its position in the closing process.
For sellers, understanding this terminology will inform your conversations with your agent when it comes time to sell. And for buyers, it helps to be familiar with these terms when searching for your next home and how they factor into making an offer.
What is the difference between pending and under contract?
Pending: When a home is listed as “pending” it means the seller has accepted the buyer’s offer and the sale will most likely be finalized after a successful final inspection and the buyer securing financing. For sellers, reaching the pending stage means the finish line is within reach, but your home is still not officially off the market.
Buyers who notice homes listed as pending should know that an agreement between the seller and another buyer has already been reached and that they are headed for closing. However, even though the chances are unlikely, it is still possible that the buyer backs out and the deal falls through.
Under Contract: A home that’s listed as “under contract” is not as far along in the selling process as a home that’s pending. It means the seller has accepted a buyer’s offer, but there are certain contingencies that must be met before the deal goes final.
Buyers who see a home listed as “under contract” may still reach out to the seller’s listing agent to make a backup offer, unless the contract that’s already in place contains a clause preventing it.

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: xavierarnau
What does contingent mean in real estate?
- Selling – Common Real Estate Contingencies
- Buying – Making a Contingent Offer: Common Real Estate Contingencies
Contingencies dictate what must happen in a real estate transaction for the contract to become legally binding, giving the buyer or seller the right to back out of the contract if their conditions aren’t met. A property listed as “contingent” means that the seller has accepted an offer, but the deal still hinges on the buyer satisfying certain contingencies to continue. And once those contingencies have been met, the sale can go through as planned.
There are a variety of contingencies that protect buyers and sellers against the bumps in the road along their journey of buying or selling a home. A home sale contingency, for example, allows a buyer to tie their offer on a new home to the successful sale of their existing one. This contingency is beneficial to those who are buying and selling a home at the same time. It’s important for buyers to work with their agent to determine the strongest offer considering the market conditions in the area.
What is closing in real estate?
Closing refers to the homestretch of a real estate agreement between a buyer and seller, leading to the transfer of ownership. Both parties agree on a closing date and see the deal through to its completion. During closing, the buyer will deposit their earnest money in an escrow account, a home inspection is performed, the buyer secures financing to purchase the home, and both parties pay their respective closing costs. For more information on what to do while your home is on the market, visit our Home Selling Guide:
Written by Sandy Dodge
Local Holiday Events
Ah, the holiday season. The perfect time to cozy up, drink warm beverages, and spend more time with friends and family. These are the few weeks of the year when we feel life slows down and we’re able to create memories with all our close ones.
Attending fun holiday events with your family is a great way to make the most of your time together, and luckily, the Stanwood and Camano Island area has multiple events to pick from. Keep reading to learn about five great events that will help you end the year on a joyous note.
Afternoon with Santa
This free community event at Arrowhead Ranch will be held on December 13th from 2 to 5 pm. Afternoon with Santa is being put on by Arrowhead Ranch and the Camano Center to give families the chance to spend some time with everyone’s favorite bearded gift-giver.
During the three-hour event, your kids will be able to snag a photo with Santa, drink some hot cocoa, decorate cookies, and get some fun face painting done. This will be a guaranteed blast for kids and adults alike and is a great opportunity to create some lasting memories and get some photos!
Light Up Your Holidays 2022
Light Up Your Holidays 2022 is another great event in downtown Stanwood that is returning this year. Light Up Your Holidays is Stanwood’s annual tree-lighting event that marks the beginning of holiday festivities in town.
It’s a must-visit event for every local and traveler that happens to be in the area near the holidays! This event will take place throughout December 3rd in both West Downtown (270th, Brick Road) and East Downtown (271st). Check in as the date approaches to get more information about the tree lighting and other festivities.
Camano Commons Tree Celebration
On the very same day, December 3rd, another event will occur on Camano Island. At the Camano Commons Tree Lighting Celebration, the activities will start at 4 pm, one hour before the tree lighting event.
You can expect to take part in fun activities, listen to some music, and enjoy hot cocoa and other treats. This annual event is the perfect chance to get your family excited for the holidays to come.
The Lights of Christmas
Are you in for the drive-thru holiday event of your dreams? If yes, then it’s time to book your tickets to this year’s Lights of Christmas event located in Stanwood. This is a holiday tradition for the families in the region to visit the park and look at the incredible displays, spectacular lights, and costume characters that will make you feel like you walked into a Hollywood production for a Christmas movie!
This year, there are slots available on November 25–27, December 1–4, 8–11, 14–23, and 26–31. The best part is you can enjoy this event from the warmth and comfort of your car.
We Are Stanwood Camano Giving Tree
Of course, the holidays are not only a reminder to spend time with our close ones but also a time that reminds us it’s vital to do good and to give back to your community. The people of Windermere do so by organizing the annual We Are Stanwood Camano Giving Tree event.
Each year, friends, neighbors, clients, colleagues, and all members of the community come together to help out other locals who are in need. This is a great initiative that gives the community members a way to generously donate items to local families. This is the true meaning of the holidays!
You can donate to this great cause here.
In Conclusion
Hopefully, all these joy-filled holiday events will get you excited about the holiday season in Stanwood and Camano Island. Memories are priceless, so slow down this season and make the time to be with your family and friends!
Remodeling Projects to Avoid When Selling Your Home
It’s common for homeowners to feel compelled to remodel their homes before they sell. Renovating the spaces in your home can increase its value and help you compete with comparable listings in your area. However, some remodeling projects are more beneficial than others as you prepare to sell your home. Always talk to your agent to determine which projects are most appealing to buyers in your area.
Remodeling Projects to Avoid When Selling Your Home
When preparing to sell your home, you want to strike the right balance of upgrades. Making repairs and executing renovations will attract buyer interest, but you don’t want to dump so much cash into remodeling that you won’t be able to recoup those expenses when your home sells.
So, how do you know where to focus your efforts? Your agent is a vital resource in understanding your specific situation and will offer guidance on your remodeling efforts to sell your home for the best price. Here are a few projects sellers will want to keep off their to-do lists for the best return on investment.

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: skynesher
Minor Cosmetic Upgrades
Whether you’ve made small cosmetic upgrades throughout your home typically isn’t a make-or-break proposition for most buyers. Let’s say you’re questioning whether to invest in a new toilet, vanity, and shower for your primary bathroom before selling. Unless these appliances are damaged and you can repair them without spending too much, it’s okay to sell as is.
Major Upgrades with Long Timelines
For any remodeling project, your agent’s analysis will help you determine its risk/reward potential. This dynamic is heightened with major remodeling projects and home upgrades, due to their higher costs. Four of the six lowest ROI remodeling projects found in the Remodeling 2022 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com)1 are upscale or major upgrades, all with roughly a 50% return on investment.
These projects come with hefty price tags and longer timelines than minor repairs and upgrades, which can complicate factors as you prepare to sell, especially if you have a deadline to get into your new home. They have the potential to temporarily displace you from the property, meaning you and your household may have to find somewhere else to stay until the project is complete.
- The Bottom Line: To go through with a major home upgrade before you sell, its schedule must fit with your moving timeline. It should also align with buyer interest in your local market. If the project doesn’t meet these criteria, it should be avoided.
Building Code Violations
The rules dictating whether you can sell your home with building code violations vary region to region. It also depends on what the building code violation is and whether neglecting to update it is deemed a safety hazard. The buyer’s mortgage lender may also have stipulations saying that the loan may not be used to purchase a home with certain features that aren’t up to code, which could lead to them backing out of the deal.
If you’re selling an older home, you’re not obligated to update every feature that may be out of code to fit modern standards. These projects are often structural and require a significant investment. If the violation in question was built to code according to the regulations at the time, then a grandfather clause typically applies. However, you’ll need to disclose these features to the buyer.
Trendy Makeovers and Upgrades
Lastly, it’s best to avoid remodeling projects that target a specific trend in home design. Trends come and go. Timeless design is a hallmark of marketable homes because it appeals to the widest possible pool of buyers. Keep this in mind when staging your home as well. Creating an environment that’s universally appealing and depersonalized allows buyers to more easily imagine the home as their own.
Learn more about remodeling your home as you prepare to sell here:
Should I Remodel or Sell My Home As Is?
1: © 2022 Zonda Media, a Delaware Corporation. Complete data from the Remodeling 2022 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded free at www.costvsvalue.com.
Market Insights: October 2022
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Marla Heagle
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Windermere Real Estate Designated Broker | REALTOR®
Owner, Windermere Stanwood & Camano Island
360-387-HOME
How to Maintain Curb Appeal
When it comes to the first impression your home makes on passers-by and potential buyers, curb appeal is perhaps even more important than interior design and layout. When you’re trying to sell or rent a property, it’s vital that people get a good first impression, and the view of your home from the outside is often the first thing they see!
This article will give an overview of what curb appeal is, why you need to maintain it, and some key tips on how to do so without spending copious amounts of your time and money.
What Is Curb Appeal?
The term “curb appeal” refers to the first impression a home makes on potential buyers or even on people that just happen to be out for a stroll or a drive in your neighborhood and checking out the houses.
If you’ve ever driven through an unfamiliar town and said to your family or friends “wow, look at that house!” then you’ve experienced curb appeal first-hand.
The more “put-together” and maintained the exterior of a property is, the more curb appeal it has. This goes beyond the style of your home and includes various other improvements that you may have made while living in it, such as:
- Lawncare and landscaping, including tree and shrub maintenance
- The condition and cleanliness of exterior paint and siding
- Exterior lighting
- Front door style and maintenance of surrounding hardware
- The condition of the roof and gutters
- Additional exterior design features such as a front porch, fire pit, swimming pool, and other decor
Though there are many things that go into curb appeal, the main focus should be on maintaining the existing exterior features. Making additional improvements can be beneficial, but without a good base behind decor and design choices, things will look “off.” Homeowners should regularly check if anything needs fixing and then use high-quality materials and the help of proven professionals to make the necessary changes.
3 Big Tips for Maintaining Curb Appeal
Now that you know what we mean when we talk about curb appeal, let us share some easy maintenance tips that will help you keep the exterior of your house looking manicured without spending too much time or money.
Do Regular Checks
Consider scheduling a monthly check-in to see if there are things around your property that need to be fixed. If you find an issue, make it a priority to fix it as soon as possible, otherwise, issues may start piling on.
For example, if you find discoloration in your siding and put off fixing it for a little while, the next thing you know, you’ll need to remove a tree that suddenly died, and the next day you’ll realize that the gutters need to be cleaned and repaired! The point is, when issues stack up, they get harder to manage, and fixing several things at once can be a bigger financial strain than if they were dealt with one at a time, as they happened.
Ultimately, doing routine checks minimizes the work you have to do at any one time to maintain good curb appeal.
Take Care of the Landscaping
Not everyone loves gardening, but if you own a house with a lawn, at least some level of planting and gardening is usually necessary to maintain curb appeal. No matter how good your house looks, if the yard is unkempt, it naturally lowers the home’s curb appeal.
If once every few weeks you spend an hour or two caring for your landscaping after mowing, your yard will play its part in increasing the property’s curb appeal. Caring for your yard could be as simple as pulling weeds from your flower beds and trimming your bushes, but even these small details make a big difference.
Take Care of Your Roof, Siding, Driveway, and Doors
All these aspects of a home make an immediate impression on anyone who looks at it, and maintaining them becomes much easier when done regularly. For example, if you set a schedule for power washing your siding, you will keep it in better condition for longer.
The same can be said for power washing your driveway, as things like algae and oil can erode concrete, creating a bigger hassle for you in the long run.
In Conclusion
Maintaining curb appeal is vital if you want your home to make a positive lasting impression on visitors or if you’re looking to sell or rent your property. Use the tips provided in this article to make maintaining curb appeal less stressful and less expensive than ever before.
Connect with A Local Agent for more tips!
PNW Wildlife
The Stanwood/Camano Island area is home to beautiful and active natural environments that are full of native PNW wildlife.
If you’re looking to reconnect with the natural world and appreciate some beautiful animals from a respectful distance, then Stanwood and Camano Island are the perfect places to start!
This article will introduce you to some of the wildlife species that live on Camano Island and in the surrounding area (both land and sea) so you’ll know where to look next time you want to get outside and see some flora and fauna.
Wildlife in Washington State and Camano Island
The state of Washington is home to many remarkable wildlife species. It’s known for its colonies of bald eagles, orca whales, and salmon. Additionally, it is home to mountain goats, geese, and so much more. Let’s take a closer look at some of the wildlife species you can spot within this small corner of the PNW.
Small Mammals
The forests of Camano Island and the surrounding area are full of familiar small mammals that you can see while taking a hike and enjoying some incredible views. These include chipmunks, raccoons, and rabbits, which can be particularly exciting for young children to spot as they trudge along on a family hike. In more wooded areas of the island, you might be able to spot elk, mule deer, and black tail deer.
Different Kinds of Birds
For those of you who enjoy bird-watching as a hobby, Stanwood and Camano Island are must-visit spots! In Camano Island’s Iverson Spit Preserve alone, there are over 150 species of birds to observe.
Camano Island has many trails that are known for their magnificent bird-watching spots, which means you’re in store for a memorable experience no matter where you go. Depending on the season, some of the birds you might see include the Yellow Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, Osprey, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and the Pigeon Guillemot.
Aquatic Creatures
Along the coastline and near the Island’s beaches, you will find many incredible marine life species that live both near and far from the shore. It’s recommended that you get a good pair of binoculars, as there’s a chance for you to witness whales breaking from underneath the surface.
Along with that, otters and other wildlife can often be seen playing in the water, swimming, or just basking in the sun. The sight is sure to capture your attention, especially if you’ve never seen it before! Some of the rarer wildlife you can observe on Camano Island (or nearby on whale-watching tours) includes rare species such as gray whales and orca whales, both of which are breathtaking to experience.
Camano Island State Park
If you’re intrigued by the wildlife species you can see in this area of the PNW, one of the safest ways to go about it is by visiting the Camano Island State Park. Covering hundreds of acres, including about 6,700 ft of shoreline, this publicly owned recreation park sits on Camano Island’s western shore.
Camano Island State Park will give you plenty of opportunities to see all kinds of wildlife, from animals that live in the woods to those that reside in the water and on the beaches. Depending on when you visit, you might see:
- Mammals such as otters, chipmunks, rabbits, skunks, deer, and elk.
- Sea life such as salmon, shellfish, crabs, sharks, eels, and cod.
- Birds like owls, bald eagles, hummingbirds, ducks, geese, and many more.
Along with the opportunity to see wildlife species, the park also offers you a variety of activities like swimming, diving, and fishing. It has a campground, restroom, and shower facilities for those who want to camp out for a few days and is also home to a 3-mile long biking and hiking trail, along with boat ramps that give you access to Puget Sound.
In Conclusion
If you want to see some wildlife on your next vacation — or if you just want to familiarize yourself with the wildlife right outside your front door — use this article as your guide. Full of incredible sights, beautiful wildlife species, and offering a variety of activities, Stanwood and Camano Island are excellent spots for those who want to enjoy nature in its full majesty.
Enjoy your hikes among the dense forests and along the scenic coastline all the more with the anticipation that you might see your favorite animal in the wild!
Camano Island and the surrounding area are also ideal for those who have more nature-based hobbies such as bird watching and fishing, as it has dedicated spots for you to relax and enjoy your pastimes.







