Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

Need something to do this weekend????  How about some Christmas shopping?

• Hand Blown Glass
• Beaded Jewelry
• Watercolors
• Quilted Wall Hangings
• Hand Thrown Pottery
• Whimsical Painted Furniture
• Metal Sculpture
• Fabric Santas
• Photography
• Woodworking
• Candles
• Felted Hats
• and much, much more!

Also appearing are specialty and gourmet foods including:

• Huckleberry products
• Vinegars and mustards
• Wheat berry chili
• Jams
• and Fudge

Be sure to check out the 2010 Regional Business to Business Expo on Wednesday, October 27 at the TRAC in Pasco. The event is intended for businesses of all sizes and the admission is free! Just be sure to remember your business cards!!!!

If you are interested in buying or selling your house — Come to Distinctive Properties!! Check out our weekly Real Estate Stats here…

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Kennewick Police officers will be looking for motorcycle riders in August — but for a good time and to benefit the Special Olympics here in the Tri-Cities. Kennewick offiicers and officers from all over the state have set August 28th for the “Northwest Ride of Dreams”, which will feature 5 starting locations across the state with Rotary Park in Ellensburg the final meeting destination. Vendors, events, activities and entertainment will be available for riders when they gather in the park.

This ride is patterned after other events in other states but will be a first in Washington. Law enforcement officers across the state and nationally sponsor different events to raise funds for Special Olympics. The funds raised assist families of Special Olympians to attend events where their loved one’s participate. It is the goal of the organizers to attract 10,000 cyclists and cars in Ellensburg. A $30 ticket price could potentially raise $300,000 for Special Olympics, which would be a wonderful donation to make. 

Registration for the event can be completed at www.nwrideofdreams.org .  Additionally, if you don’t have a bike but have a classic car you’re also invited. There will be a show and shine at Rotary Park as well that day.   The Tri-Cities location for riders departing to Ellensburg will be at Full Throttle Motorcycle Accessories at 135 Vista Way in Kennewick. Registrations for the ride will also be taken there from 7am to 9am. This should be a wonderful ride for everyone and in the process, a wonderful opportunity to give to other folks who will appreciate your generosity!

Summer certainly has taken its time getting to the Tri-Cities, but it’s finally here and it is time to take a good look at bringing your winter remodeling ideas into fruition. Understanding that you might wish to be puttering around in your boat on the Columbia or Snake rivers, or taking a hike up Badger Mountain, strolling along the waterfront trail in Richland…it’s time to knuckle down and tackle some of those projects.

The warm and longer days are a wonderful time to work on the little repairs and renovations that can reap a financial reward in the near or far future when it’s time to sell your home.  Let’s take a look at some of these ideas:

Patios and Decks:   What a better way to enjoy these summer days than by creating an outdoor living space for everyone to enjoy. Decks and patios are among the most popular summer remodeling ideas and there are lots of consideration to take into consideration when making the decision whether a patio or deck is the best project to undertake. Some factors include soil condition and consistency, site terrain, actual use, capacity, privacy as well as the cost and maintenance you are willing to deal with throughout the length of the project.

Home Maintenance:  Throughout the seasons, your home has taken care of you and your family, and now is the best time to give a little love back to it. Go through your property to evaluate and create a checklist on areas that need mending or replacement. This list is a crucial preparation before calling a contractor or handyman for maintenance and repair services. Some common maintenance and repair include:  1) Waterproof the basement, 2) Re-caulk and replace weatherstriping, 3) Clean and seal wooden decks, 4) trim bushes and shrubs  5) Re-align downspouts and gutters, 6) Repair roof, 7) Clean the pool, 8. mend the fence, 9) Seal cracks along driveways, foundation, walkways, etc. and 10) Maintenance of HVAC systems.

Energy efficient renovation:  When it comes to summer remodeling, there’s no better way to invest your hard earned dollars than by making your home energy efficient. An energy efficient summer remodel is truly a worthwhile endeavor as it will result in years of savings on your enegery bills. Some of the common items you can buy and intregrate into your energy efficient renovations include: 1) Insulation systems and materials, 2) roofs that resist heat gain, 3) biomass burning stoves, 4) energy-efficient windows, 5) HVAC systems with the highest efficiency tiers, 6) solar panels, 7) fuel cells  8) geothermal heat pumps, and 9) wind energy systems.

So hurry and finsh up these summer project so that you can get back to enjoying all the recreational activities that the Tri-Cities and Mid-Columbia region offer! The theme here is “Fun in the Sun” for a reason!!

Congress has passed a bill extending the Homebuyer Tax Credit closing deadlines until September 30,2 010. The extension applies to those transactions that had ratified contracts in place as of the tax credit deadline of April 30, 2010, which have not closed yet.  Many factors contributed to these transactions not being able to close, such as appraisal, overwhelmed closers, lending institutions that were also overwhelmed by so many individuals wanting to take advantage of the $8,000 credit.  So this is really good news for folks who have been sweating the deadline passing without their homes closing.  Everyone can breathe a little easier now.

With boxes stacked in individual offices and conference rooms, congested hallways,  and desks shoved into any spare space; having room to breathe is a welcome theme for the new Kennewick School District administration offices as they look forward to their upcoming move.  The district purchased the old Buttreys/Fiesta Foods grocery store on West Fourth and currently are having it remodeled to suit their needs.  It is hoped that the move will take place at the end of the year.

Originally, the new building contained 4,500 square feet but the new contractor will be adding an approximate 2,500 square foot partial 2nd story, which will bring the usable space to almost 7,000 square feet.  Currently, the district offices comprise the old Benton PUD building at 6th and Benton Streets, and the old admin building to the north of Kennewick High School, which was built in the 60′s.  This new facility will allow all departments to come together under one roof and will include a large conference room, a classroom for adult classes, and a board room for school board meetings in addition to it’s many office spaces.