Washington state towns and counties near the Canadian border are experiencing brisk housing markets.

"2004 will be Blaine's year," exclaims Realtor Mike Kent, "This sleepy little border town is about to show the world what the quintessential small harbor city can be."

He explains, "The large number of border agents that have moved to the town as a result of Homeland Security expansion has given Blaine just the shot in the arm it needed to generate excitement in the housing and investment sector. It also hasn't hurt that one of the NBA's newest Rookie sensations 'Seattle Super Sonic Luke Ridnour' graduated and first showed his stuff at Blaine High School."

But the real coup for Blaine, says Kent, is that the city will be the closest U.S. city to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver (under one hour from Blaine).

"The anticipation of this area being on the world stage already has outside investors eyeing where the best Blaine investments may be," suggests Kent. "Suddenly everyone has not only heard of Blaine, Washington, they, in many cases, know where it is!

"Case in point, the town is about to start a 'long-awaited boardwalk' that will wander along the town's rim overlooking the newly expanded Blaine marina."

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Published: January 5, 2004

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