Here we are in mid February when the cold, cloudy and rainy days usually provoke a desire to escape to warmer climates, when Hawaii and Mexico beckon daily. Not this February, maybe other parts of the country are still digging out but here in the Puget Sound region of Washington state the sun is shining through a cloudless bright blue sky. Temperatures yesterday were probably in the mid sixties and I noticed that some of the trees and plants are starting to bloom as if Spring has arrived. This beautiful interlude reminded me of visiting Furney's Nursery this past Summer. I was surprised and amazed at the proliferation of flowers surrounding the nursery building and grounds. I took a few photographs with the intention of sharing them at some point. That point has arrived and I hope you e... 02/19/2010

Even though I specialize in the Maple Valley market area, I have been listing and selling homes throughout South King and North Pierce counties for nearly twenty years. I'm delighted to be marketing this charming 3 BR 1.75 Rambler in the Park Orchard area of Kent, WA.  The home is solid 1960's construction with extensive hardwood floors, but has been updated throughout over the years; plumbing and newer vinyl windows to name a few of the major ones. The remodeled Kitchen boasts Corian counters, gleaming Oak Cabinetry, an undermount sink and insta-hot water unit. In the formal Living Room, you'll find a large picture window and freestanding gas fireplace. The Family room is warm and comfortable with a bay window overlooking the front yard. Both bathrooms have been updated, and the home h... 01/30/2010

The Quadrant homes for sale at Kentlake Highlands are priced at a value that is most impressive.  Currently, the builder, Quadrant Homes, has  two of their model homes for sale and nearly all presales are completed.  There is one active listing for a resale home that was built in 2008.  A short sale home with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, Loft and walk-in closets in every bedroom.  This Quadrant Homes at Kentlake Highlands home is like new as the current owner showed great pride of ownership.  The resale is listed at $269,900 and is 2180 square feet.  My favorite room in the home is the loft.  A multi-purpose room, game room, media room....you name it!Kentlake Highlands is located in a desireable location as it is nestled between Druids Glenn Golf Course, Lake Sawyer and Kentlake High School. ... 01/26/2010

Price: $350,000 FIZBER.com ID 13910217 Single Family with 3 bed, 2.5 bath, in 26312 143rd Ave SE Kent, WA, 98042 http://www.fizber.com/13910217/ 26312 143rd Ave SE - For Sale By Owner Property Details: Type: Single Family Address: 26312 143rd Ave SE, Kent, WA, 98042 Sq footage: 1770.0 Floors: n/a Bathrooms: 2.5 Bedrooms: 3 Year built: 1976 View full property details and seller's contacts. View more Washington homes for sale. Homes for Sale by Owner. Description: A perfect place to retire or to raise kids. Private beach with dock and boat launch just 1/2 block away includes nice grassy area for picnic, etc. Large back yard with lots of room to play or garden or just relax and enjoy the landscaping. Very private. Well-maintained house with vaulted ceilings in living room and halls, forma... 01/20/2010

Last weekend was the anniversary of the opening of the very first "motel" in America and the world. Originally known as the Milestone Mo-Tel it opened for business on December 12th 1925 in San Luis Obispo, California. The location was chosen because it was about half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco which was a two-day drive in those days. Arthur S. Heineman recognized the need for such a facility and combined the convenience of a campground with the comforts and respectability of a hotel with the new Mo-Tel idea. The original plan was to include bungalows and attached apartments with baths and showers in each unit and parking outside each room. The overall plan was to develop a chain of Mo-Tels nationwide but that never occurred under Mr. Heinemans oversight. Staying at a Mo-T... 12/14/2009

Kent single family home sales were down 11.5 % in November from October sales figures. Year over year sales improved 30.8% when comparing sold properties from November 2008 to November 2009. November 2009 saw fewer new listings, solds and pendeds than the previous month. The average sold price was approximately $278,000 as compared to $314,000 in November 2008. Chart copyright Trendgraphix, Inc. 12/09/2009

Hostess Cupcakes, Twinkies and Pies still look good after all these years. We were near the grocery store check-out lane when I saw an old but familiar friend, Hostess Cupcakes. You know the chocolate cupcakes with the cream-filled centers sold in twin packs everywhere in the world. They still look good so I picked up a pack and showed it to my wife saying "remember these"? She just smiled and proceeded to unload the shopping cart.I have fond memories of all these after-school treats. I remember stopping at a small store on the way home from school and sharing these Cupcakes, Twinkies or Pies with my buddies all washed down with a Coke. My mother would sometimes wonder why I wasn't hungry for dinner not knowing that I've already consumed a zillion calories that day.Later that evening an... 12/02/2009

My wife's birthday was right around the corner so I needed to decide on a gift. We don't go all out on gift-giving usually just something simple to celebrate the event. I decided that a nice pair of cotton pajamas might be just the ticket. I dropped by Nordstroms just when the doors opened for business. Went right to the third floor and women's lingerie. I found just what I was looking for right away, a very nice all cotton pajama set in pink, by Shimera. I found a pair of soft pink socks to go with the pajamas and took everything to the saleswoman to pay and gift wrap.I mentioned to the woman that most men probably buy their women sheer silk nightgowns as gifts and I understand why. There is a place for everything, but with these cold winter nights now upon us, cotton is the deal. She ... 11/24/2009

We have had some nasty weather recently in Kent as Fall slowly marches towards Winter. Tropical storms bringing rain accompanied by blustery winds have been the norm. Today was predicted to be a repeat of the previous week and still may be. But as I returned home from a morning meeting this view of the Kent valley caught my eye and this picture reflects the beauty of the season between storms.     11/18/2009

Our MLS rules do not allow someone to advertise or promote another agents listing without their approval. It's a good rule because the listing agent is responsible to his/her client and needs to maintain control. But this really shouldn't prevent the listing agent from taking advantage of promotional opportunities altogether.   I called an agent this morning and offered to market one of his listings on my website/blog for free, and he turned me down. He said, " it's against our policy ". I asked him if it was his policy or that of the brokerage and he said " I am the broker, and that's my final word ". I called another agent asking the same question and he said send me an email with your proposal, which I did. I still haven't heard from him and his listing has been on the market for nea... 11/17/2009

This chart shows home sales for the month of October in Kent WA and for the previous year as an overall comparison. There was an increase in the number of homes listed for sale and a steadily rising number of pended homes, while closed sales were lower than the previous month. The increase in pended homes is probably related to the short sale market where it can take months for a home sale to actually Close. Month over month Listings up 1.7% Sales down 4.5% Pended up 57.7%     11/16/2009

" 200 one dollar bills " is the Andy Warhol painting that recently sold at a Sotheby's auction for $43.8 million. The pre-sale estimate for this silkscreen executed by Mr. Warhol in 1962 was $8-12 million. Auction attendees said the the bidding was "spirited" and opened at $6 million. Some art dealers believe that this indicates a new surge in art appreciation while others still harbor fears of doubt about the future. Still, this night was a great success for some, including Cathy Naso. She worked for the artist as a receptionist when she was 19 years old. Mr. Warhol gave her his 1965 "Self-Portrait" which she displayed briefly, and then stored in a closet for years. She decided to sell the piece and chose this auction to do so. She was there to see the painting sell to the highest bidd... 11/14/2009

We all know who Bernard Madoff is by now and why he is famous. I was reading an article describing an upcoming government auction being held to dispose of articles once owned by the Ponzi king. The government expects to raise at least $500,000 which would go to the victims of his investment schemes. Not much, considering the magnitude of the debt, but at least something. Many items of jewelry will be in the auction, but what caught my eye were the watches. About 40 watches will be included, some some valued at $75,000 or more. I know watches can be expensive but who needs 40 of them? In fact, why would anyone pay that kind of money for a timepiece. I guess the value is in the collectability, but still seems like a waste of resources to me. I bought a "nice" watch about ten years ago and... 11/13/2009

We watch out for one another in my neighborhood and are vigilant of our property and surroundings. It's a gated community which deters house to house soliciting but safety is our personal responsibility just like everywhere else. An elderly neighbor of mine recently took a short trip and asked that I get her mail and keep it for her return. I couldn't help but notice all of the solicitous mail she received. Enter to win, don't miss this opportunity, contribute to this, just sign here, you may have already won, etc, etc. She was obviously on everybody's list and I mentioned this to her daughter when she stopped by for a visit. She already knew about these issues and agreed with me that the elderly seem to be targeted. I was reminded of this yesterday when I read an article about a grandm... 11/10/2009

My follow-up visit was early yesterday morning, the day when I brought in my blood pressure log that I've been keeping for six weeks. My helpful and patient doctor reviewed my entries carefully and said to my surprise " well, things look pretty good". He later explained that my blood pressure was consistent with men of my age and below the hypertensive level. He also explained that everyone's blood pressure increases over time as our bodies age and the importance of keeping a watch on things. Even without any symptoms, a blood pressure level in the pre-hypertensive range can increase your risk of stroke, heart attack, heart and kidney failure. High blood pressure is often referred to as the "silent killer" because you can have it for years without knowing it. In fact, nearly one-third o... 11/07/2009

Come and see in Kent, WA 4 Bedroom/Scenic Hill Area/View Home/Close to Kent Station Open House 10/7/09 12-3PM     Looking for homes for sale in Kent? Contact Agent Julie Hind for her "Best Buy" list!   11/06/2009

We have heard the stories for years about strange 911 calls and the extra burden it puts on the emergency service. Now you can listen to ridiculous calls on the Internet and view videos on You-tube. I read one this morning about a woman who called 911 to complain that her boyfriend wouldn't marry her. Another one from a disgruntled diner complaining about that lack of shrimp in her order of fried rice, and demanded to have the police intervene on her behalf. These poor 911 operators must get these useless calls all day long. I think you can be fined and even arrested for abusing this life-saving communication system. King County has a new website that provides all the non -emergency phone numbers in a given area. You can visit the site, enter your zip code and then download and print th... 11/05/2009

Another nice home recently became available for purchase in the golf course community of Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent. This home was built in 1974 and has been nicely updated over the years. The tri-level home is beautifully landscaped and enjoys expansive views of the golf course. The home has three separate living rooms and multiple decks that overlook several fairways. The master suite has a walk-in closet and an updated master bath. Some of the features this home enjoys: 3 bedrooms 3 bathrooms 2 fireplaces Wet Bar Updated Kitchen Central Air Professionally Landscaped Sprinkler System 3110 Square Feet of Luxury Living This home is currently listed for $770,000 by Carol Bartoletti of REMAX Team One If you would like a personal tour of this home or any other golf course home pl... 11/04/2009

Most of the people I know do not actually enjoy grocery shopping, it's just something they have to do. I guess that makes me somewhat unique because I like grocery stores. I especially like ethnic grocery stores because of the wide array of unusual merchandise. There are many to choose from in Kent, and I have visited most of them at one time or another. Even when I visit cities in other states, I'll try to seek out their ethnic enclaves and wander around their markets like a kid in a candy store. I do most of the cooking in my home and like to try new recipes. I have a large collection of cook books, many of which feature ethnic cooking using ingredients not found in the large local supermarkets. Although I have noticed lately some markets are adding ethnic sections to better serve th... 11/02/2009

A couple of years ago I scheduled a listing appointment with a woman who was referred to me by a neighbor. My neighbor said that her friend was elderly and that she was thinking about selling her home and moving to an apartment. I had a brief telephone conversation with the woman about her plans, prepared for my appointment and arrived on time. The modest home was on a busy street in a reasonably nice neighborhood but needed some obvious sprucing up. I could tell right away that the woman was a little nervous having me there so I kept talking about our mutual friend and what a nice neighbor she was. After touring the home we sat down at the kitchen table and enjoyed a pleasurable conversation unrelated to real estate. Of course we finally got around to the business at hand and I slowly ... 10/27/2009