Kennewick Wa Real Estate Washington Real Estate News Washington Real Estate Blog

The Associated Press and Tri City Herald report that, “The Tri-City area has shown the highest percentage of growth of all of Washington’s metropolitan areas since 2000, adding more than 37,000 residents, the Census Bureau reported today.” Additionally reported, “The Tri-Cities metro area of Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco grew 19.4 percent in that time, to 228, 992 people, sixth-largest in the state. That rapid growth rate indicates the Tri-Cities area will likely soon suplant Yakima and Bremerton-Silverdale to become the fourth-largest metro area in Washington.”

I posted this in response to the many investors, transfers, and those considering a Tri City Washington relocation who express concerns over the area’s future. Call or email us today for more information about our community’s future.

Our local newspaper reports, "Tri-City educators are working hard to ensure students are meeting and exceeding learning standards and are prepared for life beyond high school. That’s what the Kennewick, Pasco and Richland school superintendents said Wednesday during the annual Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce State of Education address in Richland." Kudos for the education system in place for Tri Cities Washington students. Certainly the reason why our community stands above the rest.

Some things just keep getting better! Take Earth Month for example. What started as a one-day, five-hour event has morphed into a month-long event filled with environmental activities, contests, clean-up projects and learning opportunities.

This year, organizers are hoping to make it easier to participate and have offered an incentive for those who pledge to make a difference. The Earth Pledge is an online registration that replaces the volunteer and project registration forms of previous years.

Participants decide what they want to do to lessen their impact on the environment or what they will do to clean, protect and preserve it. Pledge results are due by the end of April, with the first 1,000 individuals receiving a canvas tote bag. Groups larger than 10 will receive a tree to plant in their honor.

Still not sure how you can participate? It’s easy. Just visit the Mid-Columbia Earth Day Web site, www.earthmonthmc.org, and link to Earth Pledge. Choose from a list of suggestions or create your own. A handy Earth Pledge Guide is also available to help you make your selection. You can also allow your pledge to be viewed by others and see what others in our community are doing.

There are more than 60 activities or events to participate in during April - cell- phone drives, recycling contests at area schools and a recycled bookend contest at the Richland Public Library.

There are also indoor walking events, outdoor hikes, and programs on recycling, composting, bird watching, landscaping for water conservation. Area libraries are offering a variety of educational programs and activities. Closing out the month is the Alternative Energy Fair on the grounds of Columbia Basin College on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you care about our environment there is no reason not to participate. Organizers have made it easy, and partners are offering activities for every age. For more information, log onto www.earthmonthmc.org or call 942-7730.
  Take the time now to make a pledge for our environment, and see what a difference it can make. Source

Because the Tri-Cities Washington real estate market has seen such growth over the past few years, the result has been an interesting mix of available homes for sale in one of the most beautiful places in Washington. However, that can be both a blessing and a curse for those that have made the decision to buy a new home but are then faced with the prospect of picking one out from the vast stock of great houses on the market at any given time. Please consider us for help in this very important decision.

Looking for a real estate to buy is a very exciting experience. Your emotion balanced with logic is the wisest thing to do. Educating yourself about this long and stressful process of home buying will result in the biggest investment that you will be making in your life. Wrong decisions may lead to an irreversible and costly mistake.
So, what should you avoid so as not to make this mistake?

AVOID USING YOUR HEART OVER YOUR HEAD. You might fall in love with a home instantly forgetting that you are making a huge financial investment and that someday you might want to sell it, only to find out, when it is too late that your home is tough to resell….[more avoidance tips on Home Buying Mistake]

RICHLAND, Wash. — Prospective students and their parents are invited to the Washington State University Tri-Cities campus for the “Discover WSU Tri-Cities.” Program includes a campus tour, an overview of the academic programs for freshmen and transfer students, brief meetings with several professors, and a panel discussion with current students. WSU Tri-Cities is at 2710 University Drive in Richland. The Discover tour starts in the West Building at the Admissions Office and lasts about two hours. Reservations for Discover WSU Tri-Cities are encouraged. Sign up online at www.tricity.wsu.edu, click on “visit.” Or contact the Admissions Office at 509-372-7250 or admiss@tricity.wsu.edu. Appointments also can be made for individual tours. Freshman and transfer student applications are being accepted for spring semester (classes start Jan. 7, 2008) and for fall 2008. Brought by The Lane Real Estate Team, servicing Richland Real Estate and surrounding areas.

A record number of students is enrolled at Washington State University Tri-Cities, according to the preliminary count taken on the 10th day of fall semester. WSU Tri-Cities tallied 849 full-time equivalent (FTE) students and a headcount of 1,261 students.

Fall semester started Aug. 20, launching the four-year degree program on the Richland campus. After the 10th day of the semester, the inaugural freshman class has 117 students. More details about this fall’s student body, including demographics, will be available Friday when the enrollment count is official.

“This is the start of a new era for WSU Tri-Cities,” Chancellor Vicky L. Carwein said. “We’re proud of the University employees who helped recruit students, thankful to the Tri-City community for its support of our campus growth, and thrilled that so many students have chosen WSU Tri-Cities to pursue their college degrees.”

The previous fall enrollment record was set in 2003, when a headcount of 1,192 students and 704 FTE students attended WSU Tri-Cities.

“The recruitment of our first freshmen increased the overall awareness of our campus, which is the only public four-year university in southeastern Washington,” Carwein said. “We appreciate our partnerships with community colleges throughout the region, and continue to work with them to streamline the transfer process for incoming juniors.”

WSU Tri-Cities offers 17 undergraduate degrees, including business administration, computer science, digital technology and culture, electrical engineering, education, English, environmental science, history, humanities, mechanical engineering, nursing, psychology, science, social sciences, and viticulture and enology. Media contact: Melissa O’Neil Perdue, WSU Tri-Cities, marketing manager, 509/372-7319, cell 509/727-3094, moneil@tricity.wsu.edu

With the various fluctuations in interest rates over the past few years, you have no doubt thought about whether or not refinancing your home is a good idea. Countless consumers have done so in the face of favorable interest rates over the past few years, but does that mean that it is always a good idea when interest rates dip? There are some key questions you need to ask yourself when contemplating a refinancing move for your piece of real estate.

Know Your Situation
When deciding on whether a future refinancing move will net you benefits, you must first examine what your present situation is like. That includes all of the factors that play into a loan arrangement, including how long you plan to stay in your home, the terms of your credit loan and the likelihood of getting a favorable interest rate on a new loan on your real estate…[more Mortgage Refinance]

There are many types of real estate financing options available to you. It seems that there are new ones coming out all the time. Despite credit challenges you now have many more FHA loan options to qualify for financing for a new home.

Before you make your mind up on which FHA loan to take do the research. Find out the advantages and disadvantages of each type of FHA loan for your financial situation. Find the home loan that best suits your situation and needs. Family or business, short term or long, talk to a trusted home mortgage, bank lender and your real estate agent to get their expert opinions…[more FHA Home Loan]

For some reason, many home buyers see buying a newly constructed home as an entirely separate kind of real estate transaction where the traditional rules don’t apply and everything is as simple as buying a loaf of bread at the store. Sadly, that is not the case and more and more consumers are finding out that a new construction home is every bit as complicated as a resale.

Builder have quickly become some of the largest companies in the United States and they have done so on the backs of rapid growth in many areas of the country as well as the increasingly common practice of constructing entire communities instead of simply a row or two of homes…[more New Construction Mortgage]

For many buyers and sellers, a real estate agent is all that is needed to get through the buying or selling real estate process. A real estate agent can provide valuable advice on the current state of the market, the best way to stage your home for sale or good areas to look at when investigating a home purchase. What a real estate agent cannot do, however, is provide legal advice and in some situations, such advice is critical to the real estate transaction process.

A real estate attorney can be a great way to not only get that valuable legal advice but to protect yourself every step along the way as well. A real estate purchase or sale is a complicated transaction impacted by countless laws and regulations. With a piece of merchandise so expensive changing hands, issues are bound to crop up and sometimes a real estate lawyer is the best way to deal with those issues…[more Real Estate Attorney] Another resource: Real Estate Lawyer

Sale of real estate notes raise cash quickly. A real estate note is the loan document created to finance sale of the owner’s house or investment property. It could be a mortgage note or a land contract or contract for sale whereby payments are made in cash by the buyer.

A risk involved is that while a seller won’t get the full face value for his note there could be other fees needed to be paid. Questions arise such as whether there is a normal discount on a note or whether the buyer is trustworthy. Some guidelines for these are:

1. There should be no upfront fees. Certainly there will be some buyers who will check on the buyer’s credit and give a note without charging any fee…[more Real Estate Note]

Choosing a real estate agent is perhaps one of the most critical parts of the real estate process as that agent will become your closest ally in the long term effort to buy or sell a home. Real estate transactions are major milestones in a person’s life and that real estate agent is the key person to be involved in making sure your wants and needs are met throughout that process.

After that extensive process, you are then faced with a person that you have invested a great amount of time and effort in. Trusting that real estate agent to represent you fully at all times may seem to be at the foundation of a realtor’s responsibilities, but there are other types of responsibilities those agents are motivated to serve that you need to be aware of…[more Double Agent]

Real estate agent resources: Real Estate Agent Search | Internet Your Agent | Local Real Estate Agents | Negotiation Art | Realtor Benefits | Selling Strong Arm

House hunting is by itself a rather stressful process. The need to close the contract only adds on to the stress. You could as well do with a few tips and some information to control the frustration involved.

The settlement process, also called “closing”, begins once you have signed the contract to buy a house. “Closing of escrow” is the process whereby the title of ownership moves from the seller to the buyer. There are a few things you need before that.

Firstly you need to secure financing, which means you need to avail a mortgage loan. You will have to furnish some financial details to the lender. This may include among others, a credit report, property survey, proof of income, current expenses, current appraisal and in certain cases, even an inspection to check for termites or radon gas, etc. It will most probably be approved within a few days thanks to the competition among lenders…[more Real Estate Closing]

Resources you may consider for real estate closing information: Closing Fee Free Deal | Agent Pulling Weight | Earnest Money | The Best Service

Renovating homes has gotten a boat load of publicity over the past few years as a great way for prospective real estate investorsto make great money over a short period of time. Hopefully, you’ve taken that message with a grain of salt as renovations can often take a lengthy period of time and selling the home for a big profit is never a guarantee.

In fact, as any real estate investor will tell you, a few quick calculations will give you at least a rough idea of your chances for profit, be it large or small. Doing these quick and dirty calculations will not only give you that forecast of the future but determine whether a particular investment is worth the hassle, a step that many real estate investors skip that deserves adequate attention…[more Fixer Upper]

Related Resource for Fixing Upping: Fix Your Fixer Upper | Cheap Homes Are Cheap | Short Sale Makes Sense | The Perfect Roof | Lease Option Option | Listing FSBO Via MLS | Home Repair Projects

With the housing market starting to slow up a bit in some areas of the country, sellers are using more tools at their disposal than ever to get a house sold in a timely fashion. While these methods vary greatly by region, nationally there has been a rise in the amount of real estate auctions seen. Naturally, auctions are not a new phenomenon, but to see them increasingly used as a primary tool in selling real estate is.

The potential pitfalls are many in the auction business and while it is certainly one of the quickest ways to liquidate a home, it is often wrought with a great deal of uncertainty. What if your home doesn’t sell for the price you were looking for? What if the auction fees take out such a hunk of the selling price that you see little profit? These are key questions to not only ask yourself but to brace for if you pursue the auction as a real estate selling method…[more Real Estate Auction]

Related articles to home selling: Simple Words To Sell Your Home | More Eyeballs, More Money | Setting The Perfect Price | Parting With A Home | Selling Help Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

As a prospective home buyer, getting to the inspection stage is one of the big milestones over the course of a real estate transaction. You may have walked through the home a few times and given it your own critical eye, but now the big guns are coming in to tell you just what you might be getting in to.

That can be a bit of a blessing and a bit of a curse at the same time for prospective buyers that have fallen in love with a property. They want to know everything about it, but they don’t want to hear that it’s got significant problems that might be a barrier to purchase. Because of this dynamic, inspections can be a bit of a daunting prospect, but they certainly don’t have to be.

Forget The Notion Of A Perfect Home

Many prospective home buyers have walked through a property only to fall in love with it. Maybe it has the perfect amount of space for a particular family or maybe it has the right kind of amenities for a new couple. Whatever the case, rose-colored glasses may immediately be put on and seeing flaws in the property can then prove difficult…[more Home Inspection]

Additional home inspection topics: Home Inspection Zen | Inspect Your Inspector | Inspector Termination

If you are a real estate agent then an open house is a prospecting tool rather then a way to sell the home they are showing. There are many reputable real estate agents that won’t host their own property’s open house. They opt for a newer agent to take on the job.

It is common for a listing agent to pass the job on to someone else even though they could be there if they wanted to be and keep all of the commission. They are offering half of their commission if the hosting agent sells the home. Real estate agents don’t feel that an open house is how a home is commonly sold to someone so this act isn’t considered high risk…[more Real Estate Open House]

Related resources for open house selling: Selling Preparation | Perfect Listing Price | Showing Beyond The Basics | Curb Appeal

A quiet yet beautiful, friendly, and growing community is found in the town of Benton City, the least populated census-recognized community located in Benton County, Eastern Washington, United States.

According to the U.S. 2000 Census, Benton City’s population was sitting at 2,624, but has since grown to about 2,800. The 2000 census also reported 894 households and 660 families within Benton City, with the largest percentage consisting of children less than 18 years old and adults between 25 and 64. Young adults between 18 and 24 and seniors 65 and older made up the smallest chunk of the population in Benton City. Concerning the town’s income, the census pegged the median household income at $33,636 USD and the median family income at $43,036.

According to Benton City’s official website, the town is considered to be a “Tuscany sort of place,” resembling a smaller and Americanized version of Tuscany, Italy. Although Benton City is situated within Washington’s sage desert area, the town is nestled nicely near the fertile bend of the Yakima River, creating luscious growth and productivity in its land, which features gorgeous privately owned vineyards and irrigated orchards, wineries, valleys and mountains, as well as unending fields and pastures…[more Benton City Wa real estate introduction]

Not Your Typical Congested Area.  Vibrant, young and plenty of elbow room! Don’t let the small population of Burbank fool you.  It is far from being a parochial town lacking in amenities.  Quite the opposite – it is a modern city that is self-contained and ranks up there with respect to city services and facilities.  And the wonderful thing about it is it’s not crowded!

In 2002, the population of Burbank was pegged at slightly over 3,000 with a 50-50 ratio of males and females.  Speaking of potential, it has a lot to offer visitors and future residents.  Based on the 2000 census, the median age was 35, the median household income was $50,000 and for real estate hunters, the median house value was $131,000 and up.  If you’re thinking of making Burbank your home, the house you’ll buy will give you bang for the buck.  Compare the going price of houses here with that of the outrageously priced homes located in comparable urban centers state-wide.

Burbank is perched at 365 feet above sea level and has a land area of 13.3 square miles.  The Germans, English, Irish, Dutch and native Americans, as well as other races have settled in Burbank and turned it into a sparkling jewel that shines, its image reflected by the waters of the Columbia, Snake and Yakima rivers…[more Burbank Wa real estate introduction]

According to 2000 census estimates, Prosser has a total population of 4,838.  It is located along the banks of the Yakima River, which surround three sides of the city.  Prosser is the County Seat of Benton County.

‘Prosser’ - the Origin

The town of Prosser was founded by William Farrand Prosser, a Union Colonel in the Civil War from Pennsylvania, who settled in the area with his wife in 1882. Prosser was officially incorporated on March 2, 1899.  When Prosser was settled there was only one natural tree in the area – all other trees were hand-planted.  Linda Lusk is the current mayor of Prosser.

Prosser Specialties

Prosser is County Seat of Benton County. Prosser is known for it’s wine production, temperate weather, pleasant citizens, and of course The Great Prosser Balloon Rally…[more Prosser Wa real estate introduction]

The Tri-Cities area may be chief thought of as a collection of Richland, Kennewick and Pasco, but the surrounding area is full of great small towns as well that complement the area. Finley is one such city, bringing a small-town feel to the Tri-Cities area of southeastern Washington in Benton County. That small-town feel (the city had less than 6,000 residents according to the 2000 census) is aided by a close proximity to cities like Kennewick that provides easy access to a variety of recreation opportunities to give the best of both worlds.

Finley has provided that small-town feel to the area since the 1902 arrival of George Finley, namesake of the town. Though only 25 families inhabited the area in 1908, the 1950s saw a bit of a population boom in the area as residents of nearby Hover relocated to the Finley area because of a large dam construction project that displaced the town. The city’s history takes off from there as see through the growth of the area and the attraction of a variety of industrial and commercial residents that provide an economic backbone to the area…[more Finley Wa Real Estate introduction]

You’ve found the home of your dreams, but you are clueless on how to make an offer price. Determining your offer price can be influenced by a number of factors. Read on to see how these factors affect the offer price: Money Matters, Comparisons, Property Condition, and Motivation of Seller.

Related Resources:

• Purchase Offer Basics
• FSBO Offer Price
• Getting Through Closing
• Closing Fee Free Deal

When you aim to sell your Kennewick Wa real estate, it is in your own interest to put your best foot forward. This can be as simple as dressing for success at open house or auction day. And its not just you, but tend to the details around your home as well. Presentation is everything and its true what they say about first impressions. Start with a trim along your curbs so when potential buyers drive by, or pull up to come in for a look, your home looks neat, tidy and cared for to the last detail.

And your yard maintenance can add to the appeal of your house sale. Mow the lawns, trim trees and shrubs, and weed the flower and vegetable beds. Purchasing one or two vibrant flowering shrubs or stand-alone pieces can pick up the theme of your garden, and add a touch of freshness and new life. Sprinkle fertilizer amongst your plants at least two weeks before you expect your first inspection to really give your garden a ‘pick me up’.

Your yard, garage, driveway and pool areas all contribute to the overall ambience of your home, as much as the interiors. Take the time to make your home shine form the outside in.

Related Resources for Selling: Curb Appeal | Selling Preparations | Home Staging | Senses Selling | Selling Your Life | The Perfect Price

Tickets are going fast for the 4th Annual Tri-Cities Day with the Seattle Seahawks! Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 9. Kickoff is at 1:00pm. The Tri City Regional Chamber has a limited amount so buy your tickets now! Tickets are $50 and include a commemorative t-shirt. To print the registration form click here. Fax, mail or drop the form to either Chamber office. A public service announcement from the Kennewick Wa real estate team.

Kennewick is in full swing with the yearly hydroplane racing event. Tri-Cities Washington stops for the Columbia Cup in Kennewick. Lots of news from the Tri-City Herald regarding the Water Follies. See our Kennewick Water Follies page for more information and resources. A public service announcement from the Kennewick Wa real estate team.

Tri City Herald reports growth in Tri Cities Washington agricultural and non-farm jobs:

Nina Pyle ran a spot on a local radio station earlier this week to find job hunters. Pyle, office manager at Atkinson Staffing in Pasco, needs to fill about 250 positions at a food processing plant in Hermiston. “There’s a lot of work out there,” she said, adding it’s often difficult to find people looking for work.

That’s not surprising because the Tri-City economy is doing well, the state’s regional economist reported Tuesday. The Tri-Cities added 2,500 new nonfarm jobs in the last 12 months, said Dean Schau of the state Department Employment Security. Of those, 652 were at Hanford’s vitrification plant, a massive facility that will treat high-level radioactive waste…[more] A public service announcement from the Pasco Wa real estate team.

Most states require that property managers who are collecting rent, listing properties for rent and helping negotiate leases, be licensed real estate brokers, or that they are licensed real estate salespersons working with a licensed real estate broker. To find out if a property manager is properly licensed, check with your state’s real estate commission (type your state’s name and “real estate commission” into your favorite search engine). Most states have a license check system on-line and available to the public.

A few states, such as Idaho and Maine don’t require property managers to have real estate licenses. Generally property managers engaging in association management only need not be licensed real estate brokers. One exception is Connecticut, where a broker’s license is required. Also, some states, while no requiring a real estate license, do require association managers to register with the state. For more, see Wikipedia, Property Management.

Kadlec Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the region’s referral center for high risk newborns, commemorates 25 years of service with a special picnic celebration on August 11. The event will be held at Howard Amon Park in Richland from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM. All past NICU patients and their families are invited to attend. Each year, Kadlec’s NICU cares for sick babies, many born prematurely. Physicians and staff will be on hand for the celebration. For more information, call 942-2814, or 942-2923. Posted by Kennewick Wa Real Estate.

Charitable causes we have been supporting lately:

• Mike Huckabee ~ Mike Huckabee for President! Mike is a stand-up guy who is honest and trustworthy.
• Recycling ~ Consider recycling your waste, as it may save the earth!
• Buy Wii ~ Buy Nintendo Wii from us and Save The Children.
• World Vision ~ World Vision provides hope to millions around he world.
• Save The Children ~ Save The Children focuses on children in need around the world.
• The Acumen Fund ~ The Acumen Fund uses entrepreneurial efforts to helps those living on less than $4.00 per day.
• Tri Cities Habitat For Humanity ~ Enough said! Provide a home for those who cannot afford one.
• Shelby Mustang ~ Yup, ya heard it right! A page devoted to the 1965 Shelby Mustang! All proceeds go to the Polly Klaas® Fund.

Have you considered contributing a portion of your income to a charity you value? Consider doing so today. As a part of our real estate business, we do!

Richland, Washington ~ The first-ever freshman class at Washington State University Tri- Cities is up to 104 students.“We are thrilled with the community’s response and remain committed to admitting all qualified freshmen and transfer students who want to attend WSU Tri-Cities,” Chancellor Vicky L. Carwein said. “There clearly is a demand for higher education, which we are meeting in our new role as the region’s only four-year public university.”

WSU Tri-Cities has offered upper division — junior and senior — and graduate courses since 1989. Last year, with the collaboration and support of the Tri-Cities, the regional campus received Legislative approval to expand to a four-year program effective August 2007. Fall classes start Aug. 20.

The fall 2007 application count this week is:
• Applications received: 282 freshmen, 495 transfers.
• Admission offers made: 144 freshmen, 230 transfers.
• Tuition deposits made (an indication of intent to enroll): 104 freshmen, 178 transfers.

Carwein said support from the business community is key to the success of the four-year program. Incoming full-time freshmen receive an incentive package that includes a $6,000 scholarship split between the freshman and senior year, a reconditioned laptop computer donated by Lockheed Martin, an internship, and mentoring.

With the increase in freshmen, additional scholarship funds are needed — contact LoAnn Ayers, Director of Campus Advancement, at 509/727-8774 or ayers@tricity.wsu.edu.  To apply to WSU Tri-Cities or to arrange a campus tour, contact the admissions office at 509/372-7250 or admiss@tricity.wsu.edu.

RICHLAND, Washington ~ Do you prefer to deeply contemplate a glass of wine, attempting to detect what exactly makes it unique? Or would you simply like to know which wine to serve the next time you throw meat on the grill?

Upcoming wine education seminars at Washington State University Tri-Cities address these culinary passions. “Palate Training: Sensory Evaluation and Development” is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 19. Carolyn Ross, WSU professor of sensory analysis, will introduce the basic components of a wine. The individual elements of a wine, such as acidity and tannin, will be isolated and made available for participants to examine and practice identifying. Through this training, you will gain a greater understanding of how wine is created and blended. Registration costs $35.

“Wines and Outdoor Grilling” is at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 21. Join wine country chefs, local celebrities, and winemakers as they share their grilling secrets and the wines that make outdoor cooking and entertaining part of wine country culture. Registration costs $40 and includes a late lunch.

Designed for consumers, the wine education seminars are held on the WSU Tri-Cities campus in the Consolidated Information Center (CIC) at 2770 University Drive, Richland. Each session lasts about two hours and is facilitated by Linda Moran, a Kennewick-based wine education consultant and host of the Vine to Wine radio show.

To register, call 509-372-7498, e-mail kharper@tricity.wsu.edu, or visit the WSU Tri-Cities student accounts window in the West building. Download the registration form at www.tricity.wsu.edu/wine.

Kennewick, whose name is believed to mean “grassy place” in a native tongue, makes up one-third of the famous Tri Cities region of Washington, and is the largest and most populous of the three Tri Cities communities (the other two cities are Pasco and Richland). In fact, with well over 60,000 residents, Kennewick is actually the largest city in the entire Benton County. The dynamic and bustling community of Kennewick, which has been around as an “official” city for more than a century now, is also situated near the convergence of the popular Columbia River, Yakima River, and Snake River of the Tri Cities area…[more Kennewick Washington History]

Looking for some great recreational options in the beautiful, flourishing city of Kennewick, Washington? Kennewick, the largest and most populous city of the three communities of the Tri Cities, offers plenty of things to see and do in the area, whether you’re a local, visitor, tourist, just passing through, or seeking out your real estate options…[more Kennewick Wa Recreation].

Drawing on partial equilibrium analysis involving supply and demand, urban economics, spatial economics and finance ‘Real Estate Economics’ is driven towards descriptive analysis, pattern and price prediction and estimated study of building production and real estate consumption.

The constant players in real state markets are ‘Owners or Users’ for whom the property is an investment on business or personal utilization. The following category of ‘Owners’ is dedicated investors who are more inclined towards lasing or renting out the property rather than consuming it. The ‘Renters’ are singularly consumers. These three groups comprise the demand side f the market.

He supply side is composed of the ‘Developers’ transforming raw land into lucrative market product, the ‘Renovators’ providing restored buildings, catering to market demands and the ‘Facilitators’ mediating and establishing buying and selling of real estate properties. The last category includes banks, real estate brokers, lawyers and related groups.

Some of the distinctive features of a real estate market can be identified as ‘Durability’ of a property that has given rise to the concept of stock/flow.

‘Heterogeneity‘ explains how every piece of real estate is exclusive in terms of location, building and financing. Moreover, the market is segmented into residential, commercial and industrial sectors and subcategories like recreational, income generating, are and historical/protected. This uniqueness creates information asymmetry restricting substitutability for economists.

Scrolling down the list, the High Transaction Cost’ using accessory costs like search cost, real estate fees, moving costs, legal fees, land transfer taxes and deed registration fees. The cost varies between 8-10% of the purchase price.

Disequilibria resulting from long-term delays often effects market adjustment. Here time is consumed by finance, design, construct new supply and relatively slow rate of demand fluctuation.

A dual nature of real estate persists in market investment. Purchase can have the objective of attaining returns or simple consumption or a combination of both.

Real estate is also immobile seen from the perspective of location. This spatial fixity involves market adjustment where movement of the goods is compensated by movement of people to dwelling units. A combination of this staticity with the close proximity of housing units in urban areas suggest the potential for externalities inherent in a given location.

The element of demography happens to be the foremost determinant in demand for housing. This teams up with the allied factors like income, price of housing, cost and availability of credit, consumer preferences, investor preference, price of substitutes and price of compliments. The growth and size of population, or to be more specific, the economic stature of a family is directly proportional to demand for housing. Income factor comes next in priority followed by price of housing.

Housing supply is created out of the ingredients like land, labor, electricity, building materials. And the quantity of new supply is decided by the cost of these inputs, the price of the existing sock of houses and the technology of production.

The adjustment mechanism, allied to the real estate is a stock/flow model reflecting the study that 98% of the market is composed of the existing stock whereas the remaining 2% is the variable flow of new buildings.

Kennewick, Wa - Kadlec Medical Center today donated 10 computers and additional equipment to the Kiona-Benton School District. Kadlec has a regular schedule, about every 4-5 years, for replacing computers in operation throughout the hospital. While the computers are no longer optimal for the clinical and hospital setting at Kadlec, they do have usefulness for the school district in their computer training.

“We’re happy to be able to assist the school district with this donation,” said Robert Taylor, Kadlec director of information systems. “We have nearly 1,000 computers in operation and have a regular rotating schedule of changing them out.” The donated computers have an estimated value of about $3,000.

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) announces its second grant competition for 2007. It is designed to support the development of new programs and initiatives advancing the Fund’s mission–to promote life sciences competitiveness, enhance economic vitality, and improve health and health care.

LSDF provides grants for two different kinds of opportunities: projects and programs. “Projects” are investigator-initiated scientific studies, relatively limited in scope, with a sharply defined research focus.
“Programs” are strategic research initiatives, designed to address problems within a field of study and to position an organization or organizations for future competitiveness and leadership.

LSDF 07-02 is a program funding opportunity. It is intended to support the launch of new, innovative research programs organized to address and solve problems in human health and health care. Each funded proposal will address how the applicant organization plans to launch and build the program it describes.

Do you think you have what it takes to sing the National Anthem at a Dust Devils game? The Tri-City Dust Devils are looking for people to sing the National Anthem prior to games during the 2007 season. No appointment is necessary, just stop by Dust Devils Stadium. Singers who are able to perform the Canadian National Anthem are also encouraged to audition. Those who are unable to attend tryouts can contact Kelli Walter at 544-8789 to set up another time to audition or send an audition recording to the Tri-City Dust Devils at 6200 Burden Blvd., Pasco, WA, 99301.

The Dust Devils open the 2007 season at Vancouver before returning to the Tri-Cities for the home opener versus Everett. Opening Night festivities include a magnet schedule giveaway courtesy of Gesa Credit Union and post-game fireworks presented by Connell Oil. Individual game tickets for Opening Night and the rest of the season are on sale now and can be ordered by phone, online at dustdevilsbaseball.com, at the stadium box office, or at all TicketsWest locations. Season tickets, mini-plans, and group tickets are also on sale at the box office, by phone, and online.

Within each home there are private, service and communal living spaces. Use some drawing paper to map out a flowchart that interconnects rooms that are related in these rooms when considering a home purchase. The kitchen and dining area are often near each other as they both function to provide sustenance. However, people tend to keep bedrooms away form service areas due to their tendency to have higher noise levels. Who wants a bedroom next to a pool area?

On your diagram list the activities that you and your family engage in regularly. This will give you an idea of the ambiance to give to your home that will reflect your lifestyle and values; for example, vibrant and open or secluded and peaceful. Now for each room in your flowchart repeat the process to determine the best atmosphere that reflects that space in relation to your family’s needs and values.

It is important that the diagram and suggestions be inclusive of all family members in order for it to “fit”. Be as creative as you like and then edit back, some of those whacky-off-the-wall ideas can lead to inspiring innovations that can become a distinctive feature for your family home. Remember, this is your home – enjoy making it so.

CREHST Museum is partnering with Columbia Kayak Adventures to offer the chance of a lifetime. Join us for a full day guided kayak tour of the Hanford Reach.

Enjoy the serene beauty of the Hanford Reach, the last free flowing stretch of the Columbia River. Witness the 300-foot tall white bluffs surrounded by shrub-steppe habitat. Learn the history of our Native Americans and pioneers and how the Hanford Nuclear Reservation changed their lives, and the world, forever.

No prior experience is needed and all equipment will be provided. Pre-registration is required. | Date: Saturday June 11th, 2007 | Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | Location: Hanford Reach, meeting place TBA | Fee: $109.00 per person | For more information, call 943-9000

During April’s Mid-Columbia Earth Month and Community Clean-up, 1,750 volunteers and 66 teams completed a total of 156 beautification projects. 107 projects in Richland, (71 were storm drains that were stenciled with information regarding the importance of keeping our storm drains clean.) 20 in Kennewick, 9 in Connell, 8 in Benton City, 5 in Pasco, 2 in West Richland, 2 in Finley, 1 in Benton County, 1 in Kahlotus and 1 in Prosser. The public was invited to attend 60 earth related activities and 421 cell phones were collected at area libraries and given to Domestic Violence Services of Benton and Franklin counties.

The winner of Tapteal Greenway’s Conservationist of the Year was Andy Plymale. Andy has been a long-time volunteer for Tapteal Greenway and a highly successful fundraiser. Reuse-A-Shoe contest brought in 540 pairs of used athletic shoes from 13 area schools with Badger Mountain Elementary receiving first place with 155 pairs. The winner of the Aluminum Can Contest was Marcus Whitman Elementary School who collected 400 pounds of cans. A total of 715 pounds of aluminum were recycled during the school contest.

In March, Sharefest Organizers completed 121 yard projects, previously done by Earth Month volunteers.

A more detailed report is available on http://www.earthmonthmc.org/ and a slideshow will be complete in mid-June. Gail Everett, Environmental Education Coordinator, Public Information Office - City of Richland

Tri-City Dust Devils individual game tickets will be going on sale Friday, June 1st, at 9 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at the stadium box office, by phone at (509) 544-8789, online at http://www.dustdevilsbaseball.com/, or at any TicketsWest outlet. TicketsWest outlets in the Tri-Cities can be found at the Red Lion Hotels in Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland.

Opening Night at Dust Devils Stadium will be June 24th at 7:15 versus the Seattle Mariners-affiliate Everett AquaSox. The festivities will include a magnet schedule giveaway courtesy of Gesa Credit Union and a post-game fireworks show presented by Connell Oil. A large crowd is expected, so fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

Opening Night will also feature the debut of the $1.3 million sun shade, which will put every seat in the shade at game time and reduce temperatures by up to 20 degrees.

In addition, through advance ticket package sales, lower box seats are sold out for the 18 nights that are included in Dust Devils mini plans, such as Opening Night and the six other Fireworks Nights. With fewer seats available to walkup fans, purchasing tickets prior to the day of the game will be even more important in 2007.

“With the new sun shade and record crowds, we are looking forward to another fun and exciting summer of Dust Devils Baseball,” says President/General Manager Brent Miles. “The 2007 season will indeed be ‘Cooler than Ever!’”

Ticket prices remain unchanged from 2006 and are as follows: $9 for lower box, $6 for upper reserved, and $5 for general admission. Also, general admission tickets for seniors, children 12 and under, and military are $4.

The Dust Devils open the 2007 season at Vancouver on June 19th before returning home on the 24th. Season tickets, mini-plans, and group tickets are still on sale at the box office, by phone, and online. Plans start at just $30.

2007 Dust Devils Baseball…”Cooler than Ever!”

Tri-Cities Washington is passionate about its basketball, and encourages its youth to embrace the sport. To support youth involvement in sporting activities the City Councils has developed Youth Basketball Clinics. These free clinics have been run for 28 years, and are available for all girls and boys aged 7-14 years.

Each player is placed randomly into a small group that is determined by their age. A 90 minute instruction into the fundamentals of basketball is then presented with opportunities for each player to model the advice given. The instructors for the clinics are High School coaches in the Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland school districts, as well as varsity players. The clinics are held in local gyms throughout the year. Contact the local city recreation departments for more information.

City Recreation Departments: Kennewick | Richland | Pasco

The cost of living in a particular real estate area can dramatically affect a decision to purchase a home. It is clear that the cost of living varies diversely across suburbs and neighborhoods, and between cities and towns. Many factors effect living costs, the main one being geographical location – such as rural, urban or metropolitan areas.

Wikipedia writes:

“A cost-of-living index measures the cost of maintaining a certain standard of living over time. Price indexes, such as the United States Consumer Price Index, use cost-of-living as their conceptual basis.”

The cost-of-living index has been developed to determine the minimum costs in North America to maintain a household in terms of sustenance and their income purchasing power. To work out the likely cost of living in an area you need to consider several factors. For example, in the long-term, what are the likely costs of goods and services in the area? and What are the price indexes? The US Consumer Price Index is a great resource to start with to answer these questions. Next, what are the price changes of goods and services? as well as inflation? The Governments decisions that directly affect the economy will also affect the quality of goods and services available, and so modify the cost-of-living index.

Other factors to look at for cost of living are employment rates, the average salary, rental and housing costs, and of course the health of the real estate market. When considering Kennewick real estate, try the website at Salary.com for local cost of living information.

Kennewick Wa Real Estate area has numerous opportunities for family fun. And now their official webpage is online to provide full access to residents about services and programs, facilities and special events. An important addition to the services offered is the Columbia Park East End Amenities Map, which is interactive and allows the user to choose an area on the map to be shown all amenities and features in that region.

The “Facility Rental” is another page on the site that enables viewers to obtain information on facilities available for rent. The data on the system is continually updated and includes graphics as well as listings of amenities, and lists of general activities that specific buildings are used for.

Kennewick’s Recreation & Community Services webpage also has information about recreation and senior activities that are based around the seasons.

For opportunities to get fit, learn new skills, socialize, or just to have some personal or family fun ~ click on in ASAP.

Changes and cancellations due to the weather are available by tuning to 610 KONA-AM. To call in for weather related information the Recreation Call-in number is (509) 585-4406.  Class registration is available: at www.ci.kennewick.wa.us

The City of Kennewick wants all new business operators moving to the area to know that business licenses need approval from the Planning, Building, Police and Fire Departments.  With the appropriate approval, the license is mailed out to you, usually taking 7-10 days. In general, the cost for a business license is $55 plus $5 for each FTE; this includes a self-employed person, owner/managers, and any other full-time, part-time or temporary staffs.

Any business with mostly part-time employees or with staffs that work full-time or part-time outside of Kennewick City limits need to calculate their total number of employee hours that will likely be worked over the upcoming calendar year.

Please note that a home business license could entail a Home Occupation Permit. If you have more than one business then you will need to submit more than one application. And alternate local contact information is also required. To ensure that personal information is protected and in case of an emergency, only local contact numbers are requested.

If there is more than one business at the same location then a listing of the second business must also be attached to the application. And note, that it is only the primary business that will be shown on the business license.  When submitting your application the license fee must be included.  Customer Service can be contacted at 585-4268.

HB 2331 would fund infrastructure projects through the transportation improvement board’s urban corridor program to help local governments accommodate projected growth. The measure, which would help communities pay for roads that new homes need, has passed out of committee and is in House Rules awaiting floor action by the House. We also continue our work on legislative strategies that will help provide enough homes for job growth. And, we are working for performance measures to help jurisdictions find out whether they are actually meeting the housing needs of our growing communities. REALTORS® also support HB 1359 which would create an “affordable housing for all” program.

REALTORS® Housing Solution Beats the Odds!
Because of the importance of HB 1727 legislative leaders pulled the bill to the House Rules committee, bypassing the House Appropriations committee’s backlog of more than 200 bills! HB 1727 clarifies that communities must ensure a variety of residential densities and housing types and sufficient land suitable for housing development for population growth. This measure will help increase home choices available to meet demand. Many thanks to REALTORS® who made phone calls and sent messages to committee members urging support for the bill. Now that this legislation is in House Rules, we expect it to move through the House of Representatives within the next few weeks. Please stay tuned.

Key Legislation Impacting Real Estate: 
Land Use/Water Policy
REALTORS® are supporting legislation (HB 1636, SB 5656) for a regional program of the transfer of development rights which allows more housing opportunities and protects property owners while preserving the environment. We are also working on HB 2092 to modify the buildable lands requirements of the Department of Community Trade and Economic Development to help cities get the information they need in order to effectively accommodate growth. We also oppose SB 5507 which revises the law to allow for vesting at the time of project approval resulting in an increased cost of building and home buying.
 
Tax and Fiscal Policy
REALTORS® oppose legislation (HB 1161) which revises local real estate tax provisions on the sale of real property to allow jurisdictions to utilize the local sales tax AND the local real estate excise tax. REALTORS® have concerns about HB 1232 which would allow the local real estate excise tax to be used for equipment such as computer hardware related to capital improvements other than actual infrastructure needed for growth. We are opposing HB 1768 which authorizes a local real estate excise tax (an unreliable funding source for ongoing operations) be used for maintenance and operation of parks. REALTORS® are expressing concerns over HB 1910 which would modify tax exemptions for multi-unit dwellings in cities, additional criteria that could negatively affect affordable housing opportunities. REALTORS® are providing support for SB 5115 and HB 1277 that expand the funds available for local infrastructure financing tool (LIFT) projects.
 
Consumer and Business Affairs
REALTORS® are supporting SB 5895 to establish a vacant land disclosure statement in order to protect buyers and sellers of vacant land without changing the intent of the seller disclosure statement or making it more burdensome. REALTORS® are opposing legislation (SB 5048) which gives homeowners 60 days to re-file a claim even if the statute of limitations on their home warranty has expired. REALTORS® are providing considerable input for SB 5031 and HB 2014, legislation regarding giving notice to tenants on condo conversions.
 
REALTOR® Appointed to Affordable Housing Advisory Board 
Gov. Chris Gregoire recently appointed REALTOR® Wanda Coats to the state’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board. The Governor’s press release explained, “Wanda Coats of Gig Harbor has been appointed to a term effective February 2, 2007, ending January 26, 2011. Ms. Coats is the Managing Broker with Windermere Real Estate/Paragon Company. She manages the local Windermere Foundation, whose mission is to help homeless families. The Board serves as the principal advisory body to the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development on housing and housing-related issues.”
 
REALTORS® Thanked for Quality of Life Efforts 
The Cascade Agenda, the Seattle Art Museum and Washington REALTORS® recently co- sponsored “Green Drinks” a social gathering held monthly for environmental groups and supporters, this time at the Paccar Pavilion at the new Olympic Sculpture Garden. With 550 participants, it was the second largest Green Drinks gathering ever in the nation, surpassed only by New York City. Gene Duvernoy, President of the Cascade Land Conservancy, said the work done by Washington Realtors to improve our quality of life “should be front and center in environmentalists minds because we all need to work together to succeed as a region.”
 
REALTORS® Legal Victory! 
Recently, the Washington Supreme Court issued its decision in Alejandre v. Bull, in which the Washington REALTORS® filed an amicus curiae brief. The case concerns the applicability of the “economic loss rule” to real estate sales. The Court ruled in favor of Mrs. Bull, the party that the Association supported.  Tri Cities Washington Real Estate

Richland, Wash. — CH2M HILL has presented Washington State University Tri-Cities with an unrestricted gift of $600,000 to advance the pursuit of knowledge on the Tri-Cities campus. In addition, because WSU Tri-Cities has experienced overwhelming interest in its programs, CH2M HILL is also sponsoring 10 freshman scholarships, each worth $6,000.

“Our company is a stro