Bellingham was just named #3 on the list of top remote workplaces or “Zoom Towns” by Livability Online. The phrase Zoom Town didn’t exist a year ago, so what is it?

Remote work is obviously becoming the norm for many industries. Meetings with co-workers can take place over a video conferencing call and most work can be done online. This has given employees a level of flexibility that we have never seen before. This flexibility has major benefits for employees and we are unlikely to fully go back.

Since many employees no longer have to commute to and from work each day, they are free to live anywhere with a decent internet connection. This means towns that were typically associated with vacation or leisure are gaining residents. If you like hiking, boating, or skiing, why not live in a town where you can enjoy the outdoors before work, or during your lunch break?

If there is one thing the last year has taught us, it’s that forecasting for the future is really tough. But, it is clear that remote employment is now normal and seems to be working. With typical city activities like going to eat, seeing shows, and visiting museums being restricted, outdoor activities are more popular than ever.

Bellingham has 100’s of miles of hiking trails, fantastic cycling, world-class mountain biking, and endless water for paddling. This little coastal mountain town is really a recreation paradise. Within one hour we have skiing, alpine hiking, and unparalleled scenery in the Mt.Baker Wilderness Area. No wonder home prices have risen dramatically in Whatcom County over the past year. The inventory of homes for sale in Whatcom County has decreased from 125 homes in February of last year to 92 homes for sale currently.

We don’t have a crystal ball, but we do know Bellingham is a good place to be!