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Renton, WA Real Estate News

By Rene Fabre, Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts
(ARFCO Media)
Once a year towards the end of July the City of Renton takes a week to throw a big festival that celebrates our community. There are all kinds of activities during the week. Arts and crafts, food, live music, contests, treasure hunts, chalk art, and a rubber ducky derby. This was our 26th year. I love the Renton River Days Parade. It's a great reminder of how many wonderful people, businesses, and institutions we have here. It’s a time to have some good old fashioned small town Americana fun! It’s not a super polished professional contest oriented parade. It’s when we get together to celebrate our young and old (and everyone in between) who makeup our citizenry. I enjoy it all, and I especially look forward to watching all of the great kids we have in this city of ours who get involved ...
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By Rene Fabre, Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts
(ARFCO Media)
Every Tuesday from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, June through September at the Piazza in downtown Renton. This year the market is celebrating it’s 10th year anniversary and as we approach mid August, this is a great time to enjoy everything grown local. There are approximately 50 vendors with fresh berries, fruits, and vegetables, not to mention freshly cut flower bouquets, herbs, eggs, baked goods, fruits of all kind, and more. It’s a great time and place to mingle with locals, snack on great area created treats and listen to some live music. I’ve enjoyed the Renton Farmers Market since it began. It reminds me of growing up here and foraging through Grandpa’s garden all summer long! And, as I remember those days that seem long ago sometimes, it is still today a wonderfully mixed bag of different...
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By Rene Fabre, Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts
(ARFCO Media)
Isaac Benveniste founded the Renton Economy Department Store back in 1950. Ike’s story is nothing short of amazing and not unlike many of my grandparent’s generation who immigrated to the Pacific Northwest “from the old country” to create a better life. Ike was born in Greece on the Island of Rhodes. In 1925 at only 16 years old he hitched a freighter to Africa. With next to nothing in his pockets he made his way to (what was then) the Belgium Congo. Over the next few years this enterprising young man would develop a successful trading business, learn several African languages, and gain the respect and admiration of locals and settlers alike. It wasn’t long after his hard work paid off and he bought a building and opened his first store in what is now Lubumbashi, Zaire. A carved wooden ...
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By Rene Fabre, Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts
(ARFCO Media)
Richard Beyer is one of my favorite sculptors here in the Pacific Northwest. His public art works are everywhere, and deservedly so. One of the most popular sculptures in Seattle is his... Waiting for the Interurban. The Interurban was a local rail system who’s first incarnation began with an electric streetcar line in 1889 and grew to provide cheap public transportation connecting Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, and points in between. The sculpture’s joke is that (after over a half century) they’re still waiting at the stop on Fremont & 34th in Seattle for a ride to Everett. The Interurban was gone by 1940. In old downtown Renton just south of the post office on Williams is Tonkin Park. I like this little triangle park. It’s a great place for a quiet moment and home of another Richard Beyer ...
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By Sam DeBord, Seattle Real Estate Broker
(SeattleHome.com -Coldwell Banker Danforth)
Lake Desire in Renton is a smaller lake in the Southeast corner of town.  For a small body of water, though, some of the Lake Desire waterfront homes are high-end, luxury estates.  There are quite a few homes on the lake that sell for less than $500,000, but there are also a handful of million-dollar-plus properties that dot the shoreline of the lake. View Larger Map Get Directions View Bird's Eye Current Active Lake Desire Waterfront Homes - Renton Waterfront Real Estate Listings 18005 E Lake Desire Dr SE ,  Renton   $419,900   3  beds,  1.8  baths,  1,750  sq ft 18336 W Lake Desire Dr SE ,  Renton   $639,000   5  beds,  4.5  baths,  4,460  sq ft 18528 W Lake Desire Dr SE ,  Renton   $1,350,000   6  beds,  4.5  baths,  4,600  sq ft  
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By Rene Fabre, Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts
(ARFCO Media)
Late Saturday morning I get a call just before noon from my friend Dave (Dave Hoskin). "Hey, if you got time?.. we're playing a gig at the Lakeshore Retirement Home on Rainier from Noon to 2:00 pm. Swing by and say hi..." I’ve mentioned Dave a few times in my posts. We get together for coffee every couple of weeks at Mom’s Kitchen and other places too. We also share of passion for literature and love going on our annual trip to the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair. He’s one of my oldest and dearest friends. Today was such a plus! I got to see another dear old friend of mine, John Giuliani Jr. His Dad and my Dad grew up together in Renton. Our families were close for decades! Google Plus including Circles has nothing on us, we’ve known each other forever. We're connected to so many of the s...
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By Rene Fabre, Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts
(ARFCO Media)
I was thinking the other day how blogging is similar to making music. I made this recording 'Impromptu for guitar, take 1' back in 1988 when I was just 4 years into my title insurance career. I quit teaching and playing music for a living, life presented me with another adventure. I was working downtown Seattle then and rode the bus. I used the commute to work up ideas and sketch them out as best I could on the 30 minute trip into town and then back again to Renton. I did a lot of composing this way back then. This tape wasn't intended for public consumption, it was part of my private sketch book, 'my audio diary'. I'd work on ideas in my head and on paper. I waited with great anticipation for the weekend to get downstairs and record them on tape. Like blogging, the greatest challenge w...
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By Rene Fabre, Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts
(ARFCO Media)
Once upon a time trains were the Empire Builders. They connected us long before the Interstate Highways. Work ended in Bellevue the other day so heading for home was down Interstate 405 to Renton. I wanted to make a few stops downtown so I took the old Sunset Highway (SR 900) exit to Bronson Way. We had to stop for a train, a rare occasion these days. Trains still move a lot of freight up and down the valley between Seattle and Tacoma and points beyond, yet few come through Renton. Growing up, I remember hearing the loud blast of the train horns pierce the early morning silence as they made their way up and down the Green River Valley. Even though they were miles away you could follow the echo for a long time as it bounced off the surrounding hills. There was a spur not far from our Ear...
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By Sam DeBord, Seattle Real Estate Broker
(SeattleHome.com -Coldwell Banker Danforth)
The Nationwide Open House put on by the National Association of Realtors has really caught on with the great weather in Seattle this weekend.  There are over 40 waterfront homes scheduled on the NWMLS to have open houses today (usual hours are from 1-4 pm, but individual homes can have different schedules). The current list of waterfront open houses today from all brokerages: Address City Price Beds Baths Sq Ft MLS # Bellevue10516 SE 29th St Bellevue $1,849,500  4 4 5,324 228,03810401 SE 30th St Bellevue $3,150,000  6 5.25 5,950 184,2552950 W. Lk Samm Blvd Bellevue $1,950,000  5 3.25 4,370 229,89917624 SE 40th Place Bellevue $1,999,950  4 4.75 3,971 220,232258 W Lake Samm Pkwy Bellevue $2,900,000  4 4 5,940 118,8043235 Hunts Point Rd Hunts Point $3,860,000  4 3.25 2,990 108,4743236 Hunt...
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By Sam DeBord, Seattle Real Estate Broker
(SeattleHome.com -Coldwell Banker Danforth)
The National Association of Realtors has designated this weekend, June 4-5, as the National Open House weekend.  Thousands of homes will be held open in Washington State, including a large number of waterfront homes. From the NWMLS, this is the current list from all local brokerages with public waterfront open houses scheduled in the greater Seattle area: Waterfront Homes Open This Weekend:MLS# Address   City  Price  Beds Baths Sq Ft Bellevue Waterfront Homes229899 2950 W. Lake Samm Blvd Bellevue $1,950,000  5 3.25 4,370220232 17624 SE 40th Place Bellevue $1,999,950  4 4.75 3,971118804 258 W Lake Samm Pkwy SE Bellevue $2,900,000  4 4 5,940 Burien Waterfront Homes     216471 16935 Maplewild Ave SW Burien  $939,000  3 3 2,980223372 1621 SW 152nd St Burien  $950,000  3 3.25 4,680 Hunts Poi...
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By Gabrielle Nemes, 206.300.8421, S King & Pierce County RE Advocate
(RE/MAX Realty South)
Yet again, as reported by DSNews.com (one of my favorite resources) the S/P Case & Shiller report on housing yesterday painted a continuingly worse picture for the housing market, comparing our current recession as being worse than The Great Depression. Today, various economists decided to chime in and let us know that we might expect a longer recovery in houses prices than was experienced in the early 30's. In many areas south of Seattle, houses are, indeed, selling. In fact, in many areas, we're close to being in an even market. Listings are getting significant activity, and buyers are out in force. Remembering that a generally accepted principle is that when there is less than six month's of inventory on the market that we're in a seller's market ... i.e., sellers set the price and b...
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By Reba Haas, Team Reba, CDPE
(Team Reba of RE/MAX Metro Eastside www.TeamReba.com)
Renton has a STOP & SWAP event scheduled for this week at the Renton Memorial Stadium, South Parking Lot where you (residents of the city) can bring in unused items that are in good working order & condition for swapping with others. You don't even have to bring anything to be able to pick up items. The idea is basically to help keep good items out of landfill and to provide a new way for people to reduce, reuse and recycle.  A great way for non-profits to also get items that they may need at no cost. call 425-430-7396 or check it out at www.rentonwa.gov for a full list of what is acceptable to bring. Time: 10am - 2pm (last drop off is 130pm) When: Saturday, June 4, 2011 Place: Renton Memorial Stadium, South Parking Lot, 405 Logan Ave N - Renton, WA
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By George L. Rodriguez, Your Personal R.E. Professional Broker, R.E. Exper
(AgencyOne HQ Bellevue)
        Homes for sale in Red Mill are located in a great area. One block to the east is Fairwood Center at the corner of 140th & Petrovitsky. If you love golf Fairwood Greens is three blocks away and Maplewood Golf course is about 3 miles away. Highway access is near either I-405 or SR-167. The Cedar River Trail is about 2 miles down the hill on 140th.         There are varying types of homes for sale in Red Mill. Bedroom sizes range from 2 to 4. Bathroom sizes range from 2 to 2.5. Square footage varies from 1,139 sq. ft. to 2,068 sq. ft. Lastly, price point range from $139,900 - $309,998.             Homes for sale in Red Mill are a great place to live. Red Mill is a development  in a neighborhood of Renton called Fairwood. Homes in Red Mill currently are on the market for 111 days o...
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By Paul McFadden, Pest Control, Seattle, WA.
(Responsive Pest Control)
Good afternoon. We're back to our rainy weather up here. Oh well! I just experienced a wonderful moment this morning by being a judge for senior presentations at Sartori Education Center in Renton, WA. I feel like I paid it forward and would do this again in a heartbeat! Sartori School is where the kids who couldn't cut it at high school go. It's their last gasp to get a high school diploma. And sometimes it takes them longer than the age of 18 to graduate. This morning the kids shared with us their lives and their goals. I felt good just being there. Everyone we heard from had a story and most of the time it was filled with bumps in the road. Whether it was a mom or dad they barely knew or getting involved with the wrong crowd, these kids ended up at the alternative school and made it ...
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By George L. Rodriguez, Your Personal R.E. Professional Broker, R.E. Exper
(AgencyOne HQ Bellevue)
      The Cedar River Trail is one of Renton, WA best recreational resources. The trail runs along the Cedar River. While running on the trail I have seen diverse wildlife such as deer, bald eagles, salmon. There are areas along it where you can have a picnic and enjoy the beautiful pacific northwest scenery. The Cedar River is a tributary to Lake Washington and that's where the trail begins. The Cedar River Trail is long and diverse. The CRT starts in Renton and proceeds for over 17 miles into Maple  Valley and Rock Creek. The CRT is used by pedestrians (walkers, joggers & runners), cyclist, and at certain sections equestrian riding as well.                I'm so glad that I live so close to it. Hopefully, this summer you'll decide to take a stroll on the CRT and enjoy it too. If you s...
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By George L. Rodriguez, Your Personal R.E. Professional Broker, R.E. Exper
(AgencyOne HQ Bellevue)
         Fairwood Greens is a great community to live in Renton, WA. It is located right in the heart of the Fairwood area. Fairwood Greens has a golf course right in the neighborhood and Maplewood Golf and Country Club is two mile down the road. I love to go walking in Fairwood Greens because it is quiet and beautiful.           There are a wide range of homes available in the Fairwood Greens neighborhood. The range of square footage is from 1,500 sq. ft. to 3,870 sq. ft.. Price ranges vary from $219,000 - $400,000. The amount of bedrooms vary from 3 - 6 and bathrooms 1.75 - 3. The outdoor style of home are from a pacific northwest, to spanish.        Fairwood Greens is close to many ammenities. I-5 and SR 167 are minutes away. Safeway, Albertson and Ace Hardware are right on the corn...
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By Sam DeBord, Seattle Real Estate Broker
(SeattleHome.com -Coldwell Banker Danforth)
New Listing:  Kennydale Home on Lake Washington Waterfront - $1,700,000  Virtual Tour:  http://kennydalewaterfronthome.com Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 2.5 | Sq. Ft. 4000 | MLS #217461   Experience the joy of waterfront living.   Perched above Lake Washington's shoreline, this home's entire living space is centered around walls of West-facing windows, capturing picturesque sunsets over the Olympic Mountains.  Extremely rare covered deepwater moorage provides a unique opportunity for boat owners.    Located on a quiet street in Kennydale, this waterfront estate exudes comfort and relaxation.  The open kitchen and dining spaces flow freely to the living room and view deck.  Lower level serves as a full separate living space or as the center for entertaining guests.  French doors lead to large...
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By Rene Fabre, Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts
(ARFCO Media)
My AR friend William Johnson wrote a fabulous post on April 1st this year about photo blogging: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About PhotoBlogging But Were Afraid To Ask I chimed in with a few comments and mentioned I usually embed the photos I use in my blogs to get extra Google Juice. William called me out to share how I do that. I’m a little tardy, but here goes... Search engines like Google and Bing love pictures! We hear this all the time but most bloggers don't take advantage of it. If we host our photos online at places like Google’s Picasa Web Albums or Flickr we give them a life of there very own, especially when they're about a particular location, building, or event. As we know, hyper-local blogging is very powerful and when we tie the photos to a precise location and add...
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By Rene Fabre, Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts
(ARFCO Media)
I've had this Imagination Rock for several years. It was given to me as a gift. It just dawned on me last evening that it had a bar code stuck on the back of it... I was a little surprised to see that it said: WARNING Keep away from children. I wonder what that means? You could take that a number of ways... I'm sure the intention is to avoid any liability issues that could happen, but really... the message it conveys speaks volumes.  Append... Okay, so after a few comments from my dear friends on AR I just have to append this, you got me going and I'm laughing so hard I can hardly breath... Read the fine print Ignite lighter away from face and clothing. Contains flammable gas under pressure. Never expose to heat over 49 degrees celcius or to prolonged sunlight. Never puncture or put in ...
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By Rene Fabre, Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts
(ARFCO Media)
Renton has a long and rich Italian heritage and it would be hard to imagine old downtown without at least one Italian restaurant. My Mom (who was ironically of Swedish ancestry) was a master of Italian food in a contemporary style that was emerging in the Pacific Northwest in the late 1950's and early 60's. Grandma Pauline was also a most fabulous cook of the old school, Northern Italy/Southern France (and a strong Belgium/English background for a twist). I call it awesome European peasant food! We weren't officially Italian (but the ties were close). We all shared a lineage of immigrants who came here to carve out a new life through labor. Pauline's mom, our Great Grandma Celine Boulanger Longville married into the Delaurenti family (circa 1917) in the coal mining town of Newcastle, Wa...
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