@Will Grabert - Austin's really smoking right now and it's higher than I've ever seen it. 

The latter have blowers & the dissipation of heat is amazing.When we had to upgrade our fire prevention systems (& add fire sprinkler heads) to meet new building codes, we were grandfathered in on some issues because we did not have forced air heat & vents that heat & smoke can travel through in case of fire.We have another property with a circa 2002 steam heat boiler system.

For a criminal to shoot or rob someone at a motel would not only be risky, but would totally prevent a clean getaway, as there is pretty much always a random guests who also happens to be smoking or walking outside who can see things.

Bellingham's housing market is SMOKING STEAMING INCANDESCENT ABOUT TO ACHIEVE NUCLEAR FUSION HOT with housing prices jumping 11%...LAST MONTH.  

Don't drive all the way over there to meet someone, only to find out they smoke, or have pets and aren't really interested anyways.

My guess is some realtors are blowing smoke, but some aren't.

From the Smoking Gun:http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1209081rod1.htmlWARNING: vulgar language....but it's funny and apparently true.

It never wears out, it is destroyed with candle wax; with cigarette burns (or worse); with paint; by spills that are never cleaned up; by pets that urinate in the house; etc.

I would also add in smoke detectors coming from inside a unit going off for a long period of time (nobody home). 

Yeah I can't see giving up that 2.6% unless you found a smoking deal off market or something, and agree HELOC for $18k isn't worth it.