Gig Harbor WA Salt Waterfront Home for Sale at Warren. It’s all about LIFESTYLE! This premier 100 foot sunny southern exposure medium-lowbank waterfront offers an in-ground heated pool & spa, views reaching from Rainier to Green Pt & beyond, a 80×14 foot patio at water’s edge & boathouse with winch-all on one of the nicest pebble beaches offered by any salt waterfront home for sale in the area.

Add a little more-a comfortable 2500 square foot 3 bedroom home, a spacious entertaining deck, two covered patios, shop, easy access to the beach, beautiful well-maintained landscaping-all on 7/10 acre of backlands & tidelands.

This is the lifestyle and you CAN have it all!

Call me at 253.549.6611 for more information about this or another salt waterfront  home for sale or visit me at Windermere Real Estate in Gig Harbor.

 

 

The first Euro-American settlement in Warren began in the late 1870s.  A permanent dock was constructed in the early 1910s and farming formed the economic base for the community at the beginning. In the late 1920s, local residents constructed a road connecting Warren to Arletta and Horsehead Bay.

 

 Area residents have consistently demonstrated their strong commitment to provide a high quality public education to nearly 10,000 students. The district enjoys a statewide reputation for meeting the educational needs of today’s students who become tomorrow’s leaders. In addition, Gig Harbor has nearly a dozen private schools. 

The Harbor History Museum is located on Gig Harbor Bay and allows visitors a place to experience the history of Gig Harbor. The Museum is in the process of relocating to a new multi-million dollar facility, highlighted by the Shenandoah, a purse seiner built in a Gig Harbor shipyard and the Midway schoolhouse.

While Gig Harbor was once most known for its fishing and logging, it is now also known for its numerous art galleries, art walks and art shows. Two theatre companies in Gig Harbor provide entertainment including dinner theatre and summer outdoor theatre.

The Gig Harbor area is ideal for enjoying water-related recreation. Whether you prefer water skiing, power or sail boating, kayaking, fresh or salt water fishing, scuba driving, windsurfing, clamming, beachcombing or swimming, the secluded harbors provide excellent moorage and docking facilities.

There are four state parks. Boat ramps are located near the major bays. Gig Harbor operates a waterfront park, a park on Crescent Creek, a boat-building facility and a pioneer farm. Eight golf courses offer year-round golf close to Gig Harbor.

Numerous events are scheduled throughout the year, largely centered on the Gig Harbor waterfront, including farmers markets, outdoor cinema, Tuesday night music at the park, and lighted holiday boat parade.

Youth and adult baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, dance, and soccer programs are provided through community organizations. Two local pools provide swimming opportunities for the community and swim clubs.

Carole Holmaas is an Associate Broker at Windermere Real Estate. She may be reached at 253.549.6611 or Carole@ISellGigHarbor.com

Gig Harbor WA Salt Waterfront Home for Sale at Warren. It’s all about LIFESTYLE! This premier 100 foot sunny southern exposure medium-lowbank waterfront offers an in-ground heated pool & spa, views reaching from Rainier to Green Pt & beyond, a 80×14 foot patio at water’s edge & boathouse with winch-all on one of the nicest pebble beaches offered by any salt waterfront home for sale in the area.

Add a little more-a comfortable 2500 square foot 3 bedroom home, a spacious entertaining deck, two covered patios, shop, easy access to the beach, beautiful well-maintained landscaping-all on 7/10 acre of backlands & tidelands.

This is the lifestyle and you CAN have it all!

Call me at 253.549.6611 for more information about this or another salt waterfront  home for sale or visit me at Windermere Real Estate in Gig Harbor.

 

 

The first Euro-American settlement in Warren began in the late 1870s.  A permanent dock was constructed in the early 1910s and farming formed the economic base for the community at the beginning. In the late 1920s, local residents constructed a road connecting Warren to Arletta and Horsehead Bay.

 

 Area residents have consistently demonstrated their strong commitment to provide a high quality public education to nearly 10,000 students. The district enjoys a statewide reputation for meeting the educational needs of today’s students who become tomorrow’s leaders. In addition, Gig Harbor has nearly a dozen private schools. 

The Harbor History Museum is located on Gig Harbor Bay and allows visitors a place to experience the history of Gig Harbor. The Museum is in the process of relocating to a new multi-million dollar facility, highlighted by the Shenandoah, a purse seiner built in a Gig Harbor shipyard and the Midway schoolhouse.

While Gig Harbor was once most known for its fishing and logging, it is now also known for its numerous art galleries, art walks and art shows. Two theatre companies in Gig Harbor provide entertainment including dinner theatre and summer outdoor theatre.

The Gig Harbor area is ideal for enjoying water-related recreation. Whether you prefer water skiing, power or sail boating, kayaking, fresh or salt water fishing, scuba driving, windsurfing, clamming, beachcombing or swimming, the secluded harbors provide excellent moorage and docking facilities.

There are four state parks. Boat ramps are located near the major bays. Gig Harbor operates a waterfront park, a park on Crescent Creek, a boat-building facility and a pioneer farm. Eight golf courses offer year-round golf close to Gig Harbor.

Numerous events are scheduled throughout the year, largely centered on the Gig Harbor waterfront, including farmers markets, outdoor cinema, Tuesday night music at the park, and lighted holiday boat parade.

Youth and adult baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, dance, and soccer programs are provided through community organizations. Two local pools provide swimming opportunities for the community and swim clubs.

Carole Holmaas is an Associate Broker at Windermere Real Estate. She may be reached at 253.549.6611 or Carole@ISellGigHarbor.com

Bank-owned Gig Harbor home sales business lower than nation

Bank-owned and short sale homes are striking the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula markets with less impact than much the rest of the nation.  In Gig Harbor, less than 13% of all the homes listed and slightly more than 14% of sales fall into this category.

In Key Peninsula, slightly more than 20% of the inventory fits this classification while sold homes are pushing 40% in the past 30 days.

 The Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue area is running 17.8% of all sales but some places in the nation are running much higher-56% in Phoenix, 67% in Las Vegas and 43% in Southern California.

10.68% of the inventory but only 8% of the sales on the combined peninsulas are short sales. 4% of the inventory is bank-owned but 13% of the sales are from this group.

This table is the 30 day period, ending November 11, for Key Peninsula and Gig Harbor home sales

 

Total		Gig Harbor		Key Peninsula
Active		611		203
Vacant		197		83
Active Short Sale		56		31
% Active Short Sale		9.17%		15.27%
Active Bank-owned		22		12
% Active Bank-owned		3.6%		5.91%
Pending		79		49
Pending Short Sale		31		15
Pending Bank-owned		13		13
Sold		41		21
Sold Short Sale		3		2
% Sold Short Sale		7.32%		9.52%
Sold Bank-owned		3		6
% Sold Bank-owned		7.32%		28.57%

 Gig Harbor home sales show short sale and bank-owned homes selling in all price ranges but currently the $200-350,000 range is most active, with a few distressed properties even over $1million. Currently there is no bank-owned home listed over $1million.

The large number of pending short sales among Gig Harbor home sales is indicative of the large backlog of buyers hoping the bank will agree to their price.  They typically wait for weeks or maybe months to negotiate with the lender. In Western Washington these short sales are taking more than nine weeks for bank response-twice as long as a year ago.  This creates constant fallout of pending sales each month as buyers get tired of waiting for bank response and write an offer on another home.

 Another significant factor of Gig Harbor home sales prompted by the downturn is the large quantity of vacant homes-some new homes, some foreclosed and some where the owner has already relocated. 32% of listings in Gig Harbor and 41% in Key Peninsula fit this description.

 Carole Holmaas is an Associate Broker at Windermere Real Estate in Gig Harbor, licensed since 1967. She may be reached at 253.549.6611 or Carole@ISellGigHarbor.com. Her blog may be read at http://blog.ISellGigHarbor.com.

Gig Harbor home sales up 5 of last 6 months

At least four major statistics show a turn-around in Gig Harbor home sales, including sales prices.

 

• October is the fifth month in the past six showing home sales better than 2008, equaling September and a 15% increase over last October.

  

• Year-to-date prices have slipped only 6% for Gig Harbor home sales but 11% for Key Peninsula. This is slowing the double digit downward spiral that has occurred over the last four quarters and is a positive sign of market stabilization.

 

• Absorption rate, or the number of months supply of homes, has changed dramatically in some price ranges. A neutral market-or one in equilibrium–is five to six months of listings, based on the number of sales the past month. Anything fewer and the market is considered a seller’s market–above a buyer’s market.  In Key Peninsula the price ranges of $250-350,000 and $450-550,000 are now in the category of a seller’s market. In Gig Harbor home sales nothing qualifies as a seller’s market but $350-450,000 and $600-650,000 price ranges are in “neutral market” territory. These ranges will change from week to week but we have seen steadying in more price categories. Currently at $800,000 and above there are four homes under contract and one closed sale-but 148 on the market.

                          

          

	Gig Harbor	Gig Harbor	Gig Harbor		Key Peninsula	Key Peninsula	Key Peninsula
	Oct 2009	Sep 2009	Oct 2008		Oct 2009	Sept 2009	Oct 2008
# Sold	50	49	41		23	25	21
Sales Price	377,250	362,000	417000		252,250	191,000	337,000
YTD Price Change	▼6%				▼11%
# On Market	615	695	750		186	200	215
Absorption	12 mo	14 mo	20 mo		8 mo	8 mo	10 mo
Market Time	128	182	210		139	172	186
LP/SP Ratio	96%	96%	93.6%		94%	97.25%	95.5%
Pending	75				30

Here is a smattering of other market tidbits

• 31% of listed homes in Gig Harbor are vacant-40% in Key Peninsula.
• 22 homes flipped from pending status to active in October-half the number that flipped in third quarter. Many of these stem from financing issues or short sale procedures.
• Seattle has the highest rate of commercial real estate (new construction, subdivisions) in default in the nation-31% of all loans.

 

Gig Harbor home sales-and prices–should continue to firm up over fall and winter, with legislation just signed into law that extends the first-time homebuyer $8000 tax credit as well as expanding the program to give a $6500 credit to owners living in their home for the past five years. I can see price pockets during the next two to three quarters where demand equals the supply, which serves to increase the median price.

Carole Holmaas is an Associate Broker at Windermere Real Estate, licensed since 1967. She may be reached at Carole@ISellGigHarbor.com or 253.549.6611. Her real estate blog may be read at http://blog.ISellGigHarbor.com

 

 

Gig Harbor home sales up 5 of last 6 months

At least four major statistics show a turn-around in Gig Harbor home sales, including sales prices.

 

• October is the fifth month in the past six showing home sales better than 2008, equaling September and a 15% increase over last October.

  

• Year-to-date prices have slipped only 6% for Gig Harbor home sales but 11% for Key Peninsula. This is slowing the double digit downward spiral that has occurred over the last four quarters and is a positive sign of market stabilization.

 

• Absorption rate, or the number of months supply of homes, has changed dramatically in some price ranges. A neutral market-or one in equilibrium–is five to six months of listings, based on the number of sales the past month. Anything fewer and the market is considered a seller’s market–above a buyer’s market.  In Key Peninsula the price ranges of $250-350,000 and $450-550,000 are now in the category of a seller’s market. In Gig Harbor home sales nothing qualifies as a seller’s market but $350-450,000 and $600-650,000 price ranges are in “neutral market” territory. These ranges will change from week to week but we have seen steadying in more price categories. Currently at $800,000 and above there are four homes under contract and one closed sale-but 148 on the market.

                          

          

	Gig Harbor	Gig Harbor	Gig Harbor		Key Peninsula	Key Peninsula	Key Peninsula
	Oct 2009	Sep 2009	Oct 2008		Oct 2009	Sept 2009	Oct 2008
# Sold	50	49	41		23	25	21
Sales Price	377,250	362,000	417000		252,250	191,000	337,000
YTD Price Change	▼6%				▼11%
# On Market	615	695	750		186	200	215
Absorption	12 mo	14 mo	20 mo		8 mo	8 mo	10 mo
Market Time	128	182	210		139	172	186
LP/SP Ratio	96%	96%	93.6%		94%	97.25%	95.5%
Pending	75				30

Here is a smattering of other market tidbits

• 31% of listed homes in Gig Harbor are vacant-40% in Key Peninsula.
• 22 homes flipped from pending status to active in October-half the number that flipped in third quarter. Many of these stem from financing issues or short sale procedures.
• Seattle has the highest rate of commercial real estate (new construction, subdivisions) in default in the nation-31% of all loans.

 

Gig Harbor home sales-and prices–should continue to firm up over fall and winter, with legislation just signed into law that extends the first-time homebuyer $8000 tax credit as well as expanding the program to give a $6500 credit to owners living in their home for the past five years. I can see price pockets during the next two to three quarters where demand equals the supply, which serves to increase the median price.

Carole Holmaas is an Associate Broker at Windermere Real Estate, licensed since 1967. She may be reached at Carole@ISellGigHarbor.com or 253.549.6611. Her real estate blog may be read at http://blog.ISellGigHarbor.com

 

 

Gig Harbor waterfront sales will beat 2008

Waterfront buyers sat on the sidelines from November through March. But April, May and June produced an abundance of sales of Gig Harbor waterfront homes, closing in May through July to end summer on a far better note that it started.  And sales through the end of October have actually tied with year-end of 2008. If all 15 homes that are pending close, the year will end down only 15% from 2006 and 2007.

Inventory has plummeted since April. Following the subprime lending news in September and October last year, inventory of Gig Harbor waterfront skyrocketed and sales were non-existent. November through April ran a steady 9-10 year supply of waterfront properties with a nominal single property closing each of those months. May through July saw the inventory absorbed, with 12 homes closing escrow in July.

July’s closings swept away a lot of Gig Harbor waterfront inventory and it continued momentum, creating 21 new pendings. October has also produced two pendings on properties listed over $1million.

Prices on high end homes are still trending downward. But sellers have become savvy in pricing their homes and September closings of Gig Harbor waterfront showed transactions closed at an average of 91% of the original list price. This is far better than the 78-84% differential experienced most of this year. Cash buyers have leveraged their cash and felt confident the “bottom of the market” was nearing. They purchased some great properties in the past few months-for as much as a 30% discount.

Approximately 30% of homes sold in the first month of listing and over 34% sold after more than four months, the balance falling between one and four months.

In September I commented the overall median price for all Gig Harbor waterfront properties this year would likely be $100,000 less than 2008, which was $800,000. That appears to still be the case with the median sales price at $690,000 year-to-date.

The table shows the activity and prices in each of the areas thus far this year. It is notable that two areas-Wollochet/Cromwell and Horsehead/Arletta are experiencing sales prices very close to their median list price. Wauna and Key Peninsula are two other areas selling quite close to the list price 

 

Area	On Market	Pending	Sold	Median List Price	Median Sale Price
Gig Harbor Bay	13	3	4	$1,300,000	$953,000
Wauna	3	0	2	$700,000	$575,000
Rosedale	5	0	2	$1,295,000	$512,000
Key Peninsula So	14	2	7	$537,000	$480,000
Fox Island	23	1	7	$1,100,000	$690,000
Wollochet/Cromwell	19	2	10	$1,000,000	$1,055,000
Horsehead/Arletta	39	4	4	$1,075,000	$1,055,000
Gig Harbor No	4	1	0	$714,000	no sale
Key Peninsula No	12 Total  132	2   Total 15	4 Total 40	$785,000 All Areas $946,000	$556,000 All Areas $693,000

                                                            

Carole Holmaas is an Associate Broker with Windermere Real Estate in Gig Harbor, licensed since 1967, specializing in waterfront and view properties. She can be reached at 253.549.6611 or Carole@ISellGigHarbor.com. Comment on her blog at http://blog.ISellGigHarbor.com

 

Gig Harbor waterfront sales will beat 2008

Waterfront buyers sat on the sidelines from November through March. But April, May and June produced an abundance of sales of Gig Harbor waterfront homes, closing in May through July to end summer on a far better note that it started.  And sales through the end of October have actually tied with year-end of 2008. If all 15 homes that are pending close, the year will end down only 15% from 2006 and 2007.

Inventory has plummeted since April. Following the subprime lending news in September and October last year, inventory of Gig Harbor waterfront skyrocketed and sales were non-existent. November through April ran a steady 9-10 year supply of waterfront properties with a nominal single property closing each of those months. May through July saw the inventory absorbed, with 12 homes closing escrow in July.

July’s closings swept away a lot of Gig Harbor waterfront inventory and it continued momentum, creating 21 new pendings. October has also produced two pendings on properties listed over $1million.

Prices on high end homes are still trending downward. But sellers have become savvy in pricing their homes and September closings of Gig Harbor waterfront showed transactions closed at an average of 91% of the original list price. This is far better than the 78-84% differential experienced most of this year. Cash buyers have leveraged their cash and felt confident the “bottom of the market” was nearing. They purchased some great properties in the past few months-for as much as a 30% discount.

Approximately 30% of homes sold in the first month of listing and over 34% sold after more than four months, the balance falling between one and four months.

In September I commented the overall median price for all Gig Harbor waterfront properties this year would likely be $100,000 less than 2008, which was $800,000. That appears to still be the case with the median sales price at $690,000 year-to-date.

The table shows the activity and prices in each of the areas thus far this year. It is notable that two areas-Wollochet/Cromwell and Horsehead/Arletta are experiencing sales prices very close to their median list price. Wauna and Key Peninsula are two other areas selling quite close to the list price 

 

Area	On Market	Pending	Sold	Median List Price	Median Sale Price
Gig Harbor Bay	13	3	4	$1,300,000	$953,000
Wauna	3	0	2	$700,000	$575,000
Rosedale	5	0	2	$1,295,000	$512,000
Key Peninsula So	14	2	7	$537,000	$480,000
Fox Island	23	1	7	$1,100,000	$690,000
Wollochet/Cromwell	19	2	10	$1,000,000	$1,055,000
Horsehead/Arletta	39	4	4	$1,075,000	$1,055,000
Gig Harbor No	4	1	0	$714,000	no sale
Key Peninsula No	12 Total  132	2   Total 15	4 Total 40	$785,000 All Areas $946,000	$556,000 All Areas $693,000

                                                            

Carole Holmaas is an Associate Broker with Windermere Real Estate in Gig Harbor, licensed since 1967, specializing in waterfront and view properties. She can be reached at 253.549.6611 or Carole@ISellGigHarbor.com. Comment on her blog at http://blog.ISellGigHarbor.com

 

Gig Harbor home sales start to equalize in Key Peninsula

A snapshot of Gig Harbor home sales shows a nearly balanced market for Key Peninsula mailing addresses. Zip codes 98329 and 98394(Wauna, Vaughn and Key Center) have just slightly more than a seven month supply of homes in inventory.

A balanced-or neutral market-is generally considered six to seven month home inventory, based on number of sales in that month. When the number drops below six months it generally becomes a seller’s market.

6.3 months of inventory was normal in this area during the strong sales years of 2002-2007 so the current seven months supply is a very strong number. A high of 40 months was reached last January.

Median prices are still dropping-over 10% in third quarter compared to the same period last year, with 15 closings-a high percentage of “bank-involved” sales pulling prices down. A perspective on prices over the past few years–the current median sales price–$209,000–equals first quarter 2005 when homes were selling for 99% of listed price.

The median price will only increase when buyers have an appetite for something other than foreclosures and short sales and when consumer confidence is restored. Unfortunately, locally there are still many foreclosures in the pipeline.

The zip codes of 98349 and 98351 (Longbranch, Lakebay and Home) have only an 8.9 month inventory of homes, based on the sales pace in September. This is looking positive for an area that experienced a 6.9 month supply of homes during the boom years of 2002-2005 but has been running double digits and a high of 49 months supply last November.

The median sales price is down for third quarter by 15.4% representing 10 sales. In this area the median price has been “reset” to prices established the first nine months of 2005 when homes were selling for 98.5% of listed price.  

This table shows Key Peninsula zip codes 98329/98394 and 98349/98351 for Gig Harbor home sales for September 2009 and 2008.                                             

Gig Harbor home sales	98329 & 98394	98349 & 98351
Number of active listings	▼29.5%	▼21.9%
Number of homes sold	▲50%	▲42.9%
Median sales price	▼ 10.7%	▼15.4%
(3rd Qtr comparison)	$209,000	$176,000
Number months inventory	▼53%	▼50%
(based on closed sales)	7.3 months	8.9 months

Readers must be careful not to read too much into a single month comparison but these figures are encouraging to local Realtors. The 17-month graphs below show the bigger picture in Gig Harbor home sales in these zip codes. With the median price hovering at and below $200,000, homes in these areas have been snapped up by first-time buyers as they receive the $8000 tax credit. This tax credit is expected to be extended. Month-to-month figures will continue to fluctuate as the market continues to stabilize. And expect inventory to climb as winter takes it toll on sales

   98349 and 98351

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 98329 and 98394

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Throughout the entire Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula market area, sales for October are on track to close higher numbers than last year. Several price ranges are showing the first signs of strength in a year, namely in the low $500’s and the mid $400’s and $600’s.

                                                                                                                                                     

Carole Holmaas is an Associate Broker at Windermere Real Estate, licensed since 1967. She may be reached at Carole@ISellGigHarbor.com or 253.549.6611. Her real estate blog may be read at http://blog.ISellGigHarbor.com

 

Gig Harbor Home Sales Stabilize in September

A snapshot of Gig Harbor home sales for September shows a stabilization, or even increase, of median sales prices for Gig Harbor mailing addresses. The 98332 area produced a 4.5% median price increase over a year ago with 26 closings while the 98335 zip code equaled 2008 numbers. Even “no change” is a big deal after more than a year of double digit declines. One month is too soon to predict a trend but Gig Harbor home sales are encouraging to local Realtors.

These statistics compare September 2008 with September 2009 for Gig Harbor home sales in zip codes 98332 and 98335.

                                                98332                          98335

Number of active listings           no change                  ▼22.2%

Number of homes sold             ▲62.5%                      ▼9.11%

Median sales price                   ▲4.5%                        no change

                                             $401,000                    $375,000

Number months inventory         ▼37.9%                      ▼14%

   (based on closed sales)         10.8 months               11.1 months

Readers must be careful not to read too much into a single month comparison. The 17-month graphs below show the bigger picture in Gig Harbor home sales. A few very expensive homes selling in a month of few sales skews the median price. Likewise the large number of homes snapped up by first-time buyers in the past six months affects it. Month-to-month figures will fluctuate as the market continues to stabilize.

There still needs to be a narrowing of the spread between sales and listings for Gig Harbor home sales  to “normalize” at a six to seven month “absorption rate” and for significant upward price pressure.

98332

 

98335

 

Carole Holmaas is an Associate Broker at Windermere Real Estate, licensed since 1967. She may be reached at Carole@ISellGigHarbor.com or 253.549.6611. Her real estate blog may be read at http://blog.ISellGigHarbor.com

 

Gig Harbor WA Western Exposure Waterfront Estate for Sale at Green Point

Absolutely stunning contemporary waterfront estate for sale on the ultimate private 170′ low-bank western exposure property. This home sports spectacular views of both the Olympic Mountains & Carr Inlet from every room & abounds with privacy from the time you enter the drive…to relaxing in your hottub on your master deck…to launching your kayak from your boathouse.

The owners have masterfully blended the warmth of unique woods on floors & ceiling with the soaring contemporary feel. There are view-framing windows in every room from this waterfront estate for sale, a fireplace to be enjoyed from 5 rooms, and a dramatic but functional floorplan. the porcelain tiled master bath says “SPA”, the huge walk-in closet IS actually large enough for 2 people, the chef’s kitchen is spacious but very functional, and there is a 2nd catering kitchen or “extreme” wetbar.

When only the best will do, this waterfront estate for sale is for you……..

Call me at 253.549.6611 for more information about this or any other waterfront estate for sale or visit me at Windermere Real Estate in Gig Harbor.

 

 

The first European-American settlement began in the Arletta/Horsehead Bay area in the late 1870s and the post office was established in 1893. Most early settlers farmed. Other activities in the area included logging, fishing, and trapping. When a permanent dock was constructed, a business district developed around the waterfront and included a store, fish fertilizer factory and warehouse. By 1910 the first roads had been constructed between Arletta, Horsehead Bay and Warren.

Area residents have consistently demonstrated their strong commitment to provide a high quality public education to nearly 10,000 students. The district enjoys a statewide reputation for meeting the educational needs of today’s students who become tomorrow’s leaders. In addition, Gig Harbor has nearly a dozen private schools. 

The Harbor History Museum is located on Gig Harbor Bay and allows visitors a place to experience the history of Gig Harbor. The Museum is in the process of relocating to a new multi-million dollar facility, highlighted by the Shenandoah, a purse seiner built in a Gig Harbor shipyard and the Midway schoolhouse.

While Gig Harbor was once most known for its fishing and logging, it is now also known for its numerous art galleries, art walks and art shows. Two theatre companies in Gig Harbor provide entertainment including dinner theatre and summer outdoor theatre.

The Gig Harbor area is ideal for enjoying water-related recreation. Whether you prefer water skiing, power or sail boating, kayaking, fresh or salt water fishing, scuba driving, windsurfing, clamming, beachcombing or swimming, the secluded harbors provide excellent moorage and docking facilities.

There are four state parks. Boat ramps are located near the major bays. Gig Harbor operates a waterfront park, a park on Crescent Creek, a boat-building facility and a pioneer farm. Eight golf courses offer year-round golf close to Gig Harbor.

Numerous events are scheduled throughout the year, largely centered on the Gig Harbor waterfront, including farmers markets, outdoor cinema, Tuesday night music at the park, and lighted holiday boat parade.

Youth and adult baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, dance, and soccer programs are provided through community organizations. Two local pools provide swimming opportunities for the community and swim clubs.