Port Orchard and surrounding areas offer the best of waterfront rural life within about an hour of Seattle, say local Realtors.

"Port Orchard is located on the Sinclair Inlet of the Puget Sound," says Realtor Renate Scisney. "As a waterfront community, we are proud of our amenities. Our numerous marinas provide visitors and boat dwellers alike with convenient accommodations. Our downtown corridor offers shopping, museums, entertainment, galleries and dining. With ferry access from Bremerton and Seattle, an excursion to Port Orchard is an easy day trip or a weekend getaway. When visiting our city, it is hard to miss the majestic view of the Olympic Mountains and the pride of military heritage just across the water at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard."

Scisney advises, "The market in South Kitsap is very hot. Don't wait to invest in Kitsap County."

Says Realtor Justin Travatte, "South Kitsap is a mostly rural area surrounded by water with lots of trees, farms, and open space all within about an hour of Seattle. The community itself offers a number of craft and antique shops and world-class golf courses as three of the state's 10 best public golf courses are all in or within 10 minutes of Port Orchard. It's a great place to raise a family or retire to."

About the market, Travatte says, "The market in South Kitsap is very hot. Home values have increased approximately 12-15 percent over the last year, with the number of sales up approximately 6 percent and average days on the market increasing slightly mostly due to the longer marketing times of the increasing amount of new construction. Also total inventory is down approximately 12 percent over the same period. This trend will likely continue as long as interest rates remain low. Don't wait to invest in Kitsap County."

"Port Orchard is approximately 15 minutes drive from Gig Harbor and one hour from SeaTac Airport," says Realtor Sandra Wade. "Offering a small town feel with inner-city, Craftsman-style homes, Port Orchard offers the Southworth Ferry to Vashon Island and West Seattle with easy access to Highway 16.

Wade suggests, "Sleepy Port Orchard offers a little country and only small town city life. Residential sales in June were up approximately 32 percent. New Construction also up over last year's home starts. This is due to the availability of land for new growth and older homes either remodeled or taken down to the bare bones to take advantage of location and buyers' needs for modern living. Homes, although not appreciating as rapidly as Gig Harbor, are slowly gaining speed as this area is able to handle the supply and demand of growing communities. This area has great investment potential for both residential and commercial properties. Port Orchard is South of Tacoma and further South of Gig Harbor and gives the buyer an opportunity for bargain hunting. Sellers and Buyers in this area are continuing to make decisions to change based on many reasons - a few of these changes effecting their decisions are the continued construction of the Tacoma Narrows bridge. For many the commute simply is not feasible any longer. Other changes are due to the investment potential for this area beginning at the bridge moving south."

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Published: September 9, 2004

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