Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

Community development, feeding seniors, creating affordable housing & first-time homebuyer assistance are all focus projects for the forthcoming $2.3 million in federal funds that will be awarded to the Tri-Cities. The Department of Housing & Urban Development Community Development Block Grants and HOME Investment Partnerships Program is where the funds will be coming from according to the Northwest HUD director. This year Kennewick will get $618,526, Pasco will get $667,834 and Richland will receive $294,548 in federal funds, which will allow individual agencies to apply for funding for projects. There are several agencies that will recieve funds, and in addition some money will go into city parks, affordable housing and community development. An additional $681,521 will be split among the three cities from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which will be used as down payment assistance programs to aid first-time homebuyers.

UPDATE 4/21/2010: The city of Kennewick city council voted “NO” on this deal……..

At tonight’s (4/20/2010) city of Kennewick council meeting, discussion over terminating the lease of the Columbia Park golf course and taking over operation of the facility is on the table. The council will consider paying Gary Long Jr., $250,000 for the course and improvements, and another $78,525 for equipment and supplies he owns. The lease for the golf course has run for 35 years and Long feels like it’s time to move forward since the city would not allow him to make improvements that he felt would enhance the course and surrounding area.

Full Throttle Motorcycle in Kennewick and the Desert Thunder Motorcycle Group are sponsoring the third annual Ridin’ for Rover Poker Run to benefit the Benton Franklin Humane Society. The event will be April 25. Registration and check-in will be at 9a.m. at the Full Throttle parking lot at 135 Vista Way in Kennewick. The cost is $20 per rider and $15 per passenger, plus one pet care item from the Shelter’s Wish List at www.bfhs.com. Dairy Queen is donating lunches to all registered riders and the event’s finale stop will be at Dairy Queen at 91 Gage Blvd., in Richland.

With much credit going to the tax credit available to both first-time and previous homeowners and lots of affordable homes for sale, the housing market in the Tri-Cities is strong and on the increase.  With a 30 percent increase in March 2010 from the same month in 2009, sales are on the rise according to the Tri City Association of Realtors. The $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers and the $6,500 tax credit for previous homeowners becoming buyers again has really stirred anyone sitting on the fence about purchasing a home. Homes sold in March averaged $195,000 which was an increase of $10,00 from February, which is quite a jump for housing in any market!

Nationwide Open Houses

The above video highlights the Nationwide Open Houses that were done here in the Tri-Cities last weekend and highlights Distinctive Properties, Inc., agent Jackie O’Connor giving information about housing prices, absorption rates and   highlighting a current Distinctive listing in Kennewick.

The revived Tri Cities Fever indoor football team played their season home opener in Kennewick’s Toyota Center against the Kent Predators on Saturday night. The first half was exciting with each team answer the other’s touchdown and at the half were at a 35-35 tie. After the halftime break the Kent Predators looked refreshed and proved that point with several unanswered touchdowns, meanwhile the Fever’s much smaller line was worn out after battling the three behemoths of Kent’s center and two front linemen. For the most part it was an exciting game the first half, but it became obvious quickly into the second half that they were not gonna come out victorious. We’ve definitely got some speed, but in this particular game that didn’t mean much. Let’s be hopeful that the next home game scheduled for April 10th is a better one for the Fever!