Real Estate Broker’s Update

Mr. Starr, a real estate broker, reached out to Intervenor Maureen Dowling. Here is his update:

Hello Maureen,

It was nice talking with you the other night.  I have, in the past, seen you on those interminable courthouse Zoom hearings!  The timing was funny because the owner of my company just asked earlier this week if I could come to the weekly sales meeting and “give an update” on the Homestead Lawsuit; the purpose being to help the agents in our office that are either, a) working with sellers of Homestead residences or, b) fielding questions from potential buyers of Homestead residences regarding the lawsuit, fees, and the future of the Golf Course.

I prefer to steer clear of predictions and legal analysis, so I usually tell people to look at the two opposing websites out there and draw their own conclusions.  That is what I do myself to keep up to date.  However, I did have a small update for the sales meeting related to something that has been “making the rounds”.   I have been fielding calls from the public asking me if it is true that there is “another buyer waiting in the wings”?

The answer is yes, there was.   Here is what happened:  After the judge ruled on the case in early October, I began speaking in earnest with potential buyers about selling the Golf Course.  It was important to only focus on potential buyers that knew the course (and walked it recently), knew the history, the situation, who had talked with the city and community members and who understood the responsibilities (and liabilities) of running the course.  I was not going to waste the seller’s nor the community’s time with buyers that needed lengthy feasibility periods only to discover issues that are evident to the naked eye.  Nor did I wish to waste time with buyers that had ideas that I knew to be inconsistent with what was allowed by the PRD, e.g.- building more tracts of homes, etc.

A buyer that was, in my opinion, a perfect match did come forward.  They did a considerable amount of research on the property, spoke with the city, inspected it, and presented an offer that was acceptable to the seller.  It called for a relatively quick close as they were intent on getting the course into shape and opening it up for the 2025 season.  This was around the end of October/ early November.  Then, on November 4^th it was learned that the plaintiffs had filed an appeal on the last day possible.  Facing this, the buyers understandably could not follow through with a “quick close” so the deal did not come together. 

That’s all I know.  I am just the listing agent and can offer no insight on how long the appeal process takes nor do I know the fate of the course for 2025.

Best regards,

Patrick Starr, CCIM
Managing Broker
John L Scott Real Estate
Bellingham, WA.  98226
Ph: 360 961 2671