What Clay Offers You!
Clay CARES. As a BUYER's Agent, having lived here since 1964, he offers years of Whidbey Island experience; an intimate knowledge of island features like schools, recreation, hospitals, weather (Clay loves weather!), history, investment opportunities, professional relationships with the best lenders, inspectors, builders, etc., and strong negotiating skills to get you the best property for your best price. As a SELLER's Agent, Clay offers strong pricing skills, statistical knowledge of the markets (they have many), access to buyers, marketing expertise with a proven track record of success and great communication skills. He CARES for his clients; it is genuine and extends well beyond the sale. He has hundreds of satisfied clients in his many years in the business. He is a licensed Managing Broker which means his extra training benefits you in a transaction.
Growing up on Beautiful Whidbey Island:
Island Boy! Clay's dad and mom brought him here in 1964. They lived in an old house built in Seattle but brought up on a barge by a smart real estate developer. Back then, Oak Harbor was quite rural, and he thinks they only had one stoplight! He had a wonderful childhood picking potatoes for Farmer Darst, selling Grit newspapers to the folks on Zylstra, Van Dam and West Beach roads, fishing off the San de Fuca pier, exploring abandoned old Fort Ebey, putting up hay for many of the local farmers and attending First Reformed Church in Oak Harbor. He loved it here! The island is still a kid-friendly place. After he graduated from Oak Harbor High in 1978 and went off to Annapolis, he dreamed of one day coming back home to Whidbey and building his own house. Following four years at the Naval Academy, he received his commission as a Naval Officer and Uncle Sam trained him to fly S-3A Vikings, TA-4J Skyhawks and T-45A Goshawks. He received his Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1993. Twenty-four wonderful years after leaving home, now with a wife and five sons, his original dream came true, and he was able to bring his family back to this great island. His mother, one of his two brothers and his sister and their families still live here. His wife and him found a beautiful 20-acre parcel in San de Fuca, near where He used to fish and play as a young boy. They completed the construction process in July 2005. In 2001, his wife’s mother, a widow, visited them from San Diego - she too fell under the charm of the island and bought an adjacent historic 5-acre homestead parcel where she also had her home built. Now Grandma is across the meadow from them! Clay's parents and four of his five sons and their families live here too. A natural fit for him was to end up in the real estate business, helping folks like you find the perfect house or vacant land to build on...or helping people sell their island properties. Or even helping people pick out a great piece of investment property. Clay is very familiar with Whidbey, the local history, location particulars and with the military move. His hobbies include having served as the Scoutmaster for the local Boy Scout Troop, backpacking, drawing, nature-craft and helping Bev, his beautiful wife, enjoy their grand kids. Clay's boys have served their Country in the Navy, Army, Marine Corps and Coast Guard (yes, all four!). His oldest son and youngest son both work with Clay in the Windermere office. Clay is looking forward to meeting you!
Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve:
How would you like to live inside a National Park?!! While some things changed a lot since he left in 1978, one thing did not: right after he graduated the United States Government began a first-of-its-kind relationship with the local community of Central Whidbey and set up a unique program to secure the cultural rights to Penn Cove, Ebey's Prairie, and the immediate area.
