Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

A new home is to be built for the Benton Franklin Humane Society on four acres of property recently acquired in East Kennewick. There have been quite a few animal related stories in our Tri City area in the past couple of years and this no-kill shelter will triple the size of the current facility, thus allowing an increase in the number of animals housed.

The Port of Kennewick sold the land located at 1710 E. Seventh Avenue in Kennewick. The Humane Society has been involved in a capital campaign to raise the necessary $2 million. People interested in making donations to complete the shelter can visit their website: www.bfhs.com and designate that the monies go to the new shelter, rather than everyday operations costs, if that is what you wish. If sending a check, indicate that in the memo line.

BFHS is also prepping for their annual Crab Feed 2010 which will be January 23rd from 3pm to 8 pm at St. Joseph’s PAC located at 901 W. 4th Avenue in Kennewick. This fundraiser is for the facility’s general operating costs. Call 374-4235 for more information.

Hey! If there weren’t already so many wonderful reasons to live here – the latest ACCRA Index points at the Tri-Cities, Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, as the state’s top place to live because of the lowest cost of living!

The report focuses on price levels of housing, groceries, utilities, health care and transporation costs to develop its data index. All these items make it easier for employers to recruit potential employees to live and work in our spectacular region.

Real estate prices are up to half the cost of many large metropolitan areas where employees are being drawn from, which of course makes the decision much easier for them to see the benefit of living in the Tri-Cities.

If you are in the market for a home in the Tri City area, please take a look at our website, www.distinctiveprop.com and you can preview all of the homes listed in the MLS.  We’ll be happy to you assist you in your home search.

The Fiserv’s Report came out recently and indicated that Kennewick topped the nations growth of housing prices over the past 3 years, with values by 8.9 percent and are expected to continue growth by approximately 3.4 percent by next summer.

Jobs in our Tri City area are strong and steady which acquaint to more homes being sold to accommodate those folks coming into the area for the jobs, particularly those in the Hanford area or associated businesses.

Homes in Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and our neighboring towns, are selling quickly, with the market under $200,000 being the fastest sellers.  New homes are being built very slowly due to the restrictions being placed by lenders, but some of the more established builders are still building new homes.

Unemployment in our Tri Cities area is among the state’s lowest and this has also contributed to the steady growth of home sales. Home values have increased, however, the inventory of homes for sale is shrinking because of the influx of new families to our area and the first-time homebuyer credit has afforded new buyers the opportunity to get into a home with the $8,000 tax credit.

If you are looking to relocate to the wonderful, fun and affordable Tri Cities, we’d be more than happy to assist your in your real estate needs. Please take a look at our website, where you can view any home currently listed in the MLS or you can input the parameters you seek in a home and have automated listings sent to your email address, the moment a home fitting your needs comes on the market. 

We at Distinctive Properties, Inc., are here to serve you and help you find the home of your dreams.  www.distinctiveprop.com

We here in the cities of Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, West Richland and surrounding communities, are well aware of the many wonderful features and attractions of our area. But to those of you who are visiting, or considering a change of environment or maybe looking for that future retirement real estate purchase - we want you to take a look at this great video developed by the Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau so that you can see for yourself, all that the Tri-City area has to offer!

Finding the right home for some of the people coming into the greater Tri-City area is getting more of a challenge. In Kennewick especially.

The Tri-City (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, West-Richland) market is fast turning from a Buyers market to a Sellers market. That is not true of all neighborhoods or all price ranges.

If we list a nice property under $ 250,000 we’re seeing it sold with 30 days, if it is under $ 150,000 and in good condition and nice neighborhood it is sold with 10 days. You have to understand anyone is seeing the market a little differently, a balanced market to me is: the average home that sells with 120 days. We are seeing 2 and 3 offers on well price properties, with very little negotiation.

I have attached our “Market at a Glance” for you. I will ubdated in a few days. If you have any questions please feel free to call the office and we will find the answers for you.

Christa Sasser

Broker/Distinctive Properties, Inc 

8022 W. Grandridge Blvd

(509) 783-1431

Market at a Glance

You need to have Power Point.

The Tri-Cities is poised for economic takeoff as ARRA funds start flowing through the area faster than the Columbia River.

Almost $2 billion is earmarked for the Hanford site, with millions more being pumped into other areas, including transportatiopn and technology projects.

“I’m pleased that our congressional delegation is bringing this amount of money to the Tri-City area. “