Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

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.

The TRAC facility in Pasco is the place to be this April 28th and 29th if you are a small business owner. The Annual Bridging Partnership Small Business Symposium will take place over these   2 days and will teach business owners the “ins and outs” of partnering with Hanford contractors to pick up government business. The event is sponsored by PNNL, TRIDEC, DOE and the primary contractors of the Hanford area. There will be a 4-hour tour of the Hanford site on Wednesday and an expo with 100 vendors is included. The cost for the event is $75 is pre-registered prior to April 15.  More information is available by calling 509-735-1000.

The national housing market is on a rebound and experts believe that a recovery is in gear for 2010, say key speakers at the Regional Economic Outlook forum held recently at the TRAC in Pasco.

Several local experts are optimistic and they believe the Tri-Cities ongoing growth will be based on non-Hanford related industries. Healthcare, with all three of the Tri City hospitals investing in newer facilities, are strong employers who are creating more jobs as they grow, and with an aging population moving into the area for retirement reasons also helps with the growth in the heathcare industry.

Population growth and a stable economy has assisted in stabilizing the local housing market and the trend appears to be going to continue for the foreseeable future, according to the Tri City Association of Realtors.

WSU President Lane Rawlins believes that the continued economic success here rides on economic diversification, continued growth in agriculture and making investments in education and transportation.

The recreational opportunities available here in the Tri Cities area has drawn many a sportsman to this region of Washington State, and with that comes the many associated businesses that have flourished because our love of the outdoors!

The annual Tri Cities Sportsman Show at the TRAC facility in Pasco is coming up this weekend January 15-17th. The TRAC is located at 6600 Burden Blvd., in Pasco and this facility can hold tons of cool equipment, vehicles and vendors with every piece of new fangled sporting mechandise you can think of – and some that you might never have thought of!

So if you love the outdoor lifestyle and want to find out about what’s available to do in the Tri Cities and surrounding areas, Come down to the TRAC this weekend and check out all the booths, boats, bikes, skis, skills, and those willing to teach you their sport. The hours are 10 am to 7 pm all 3 days. To find out more, visit:

http://co.franklin.wa.us/trac/event-calendar-details.php?event_id=175

Mark your calendars for February 19- 21 and plan to visit the 2010 Regional Home and Garden Show located at the TRAC in Pasco.  Find everything for your home or garden at this annual event, which brings together vendors with homeowners looking to spruce up their abodes and/or landscaping.

Past shows have been a big success for Tri Cities homeowners and this year’s show is expected to bring over 10,000 attendees.

If you have any questions or are considering being a part of the 2010 Regional Home and Garden Show, call the TRAC office at 543-2999.