Renton Farmers Market 2014 On the Piazza, Tuesdays, June through September from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm The season I live for all year is finally here! It's Spring going on Summer and next Tuesday, June 3, 2014 is the 14th season of the Renton Farmers Market. Over the years I’ve come to anticipate this seasonal event with great pleasure. My grocery shopping habits will seriously shift next week until October and I’ll enjoy a wonderful season of Tuesdays. Call me old school but I just love hanging out on the Piazza in old downtown Renton at the Farmers Market. I enjoy all of it, the food vendors, live music, the fresh cut flowers, and all of the local fruits and vegetables. Renton has a wonderful long history as a major immigrant town in the Pacific Northwest. I am so blessed to see many I kn... 05/27/2014

Kisses for Jimi... I had the good fortune to see Jimi Hendrix perform live four times. The first was at the Eagles Auditorium in Seattle in 1967, then two times at the Seattle Center Coliseum in 1968 and 69, and finally at Sicks Stadium (in the rain) on July 26, 1970. The Jimi Hendrix Memorial is at the Greenwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Renton, Washington. It’s just a couple of miles from where I live. I drive by often because it’s on my way to and from the Eastside. (Newcastle, Bellevue, Issaquah, etc.) A lot of my family friends and neighbors who’ve passed are also here at Greenwood. I stop by on occasion and holidays to say hello, give thanks, pay my respects, and sometimes drop by to say hello to Jimi. No matter the season, I have never visited the Jimi Hendrix Memorial without se... 05/25/2014

As the years pass I can’t help but chuckle to myself when I think of Mom. At a stretch, she was just 5 feet tall and it still seems amazing to me what a ball of fire she was. Mom loved live theater, art, happy hour, and going out on Friday or Saturday with friends to nightclubs to enjoy the local music scene. She sang in the church choir for many years, and was involved with several local arts organizations.Growing up, Mom and Dad were like polar opposites. Mom was a progressive Democrat, loved the Kennedy’s and Century 21. Dad was a conservative Republican and a bit skeptical of big ideas and was often concerned about big government keeping its hands out of his pockets.Mom was a voracious reader, a meticulous planner, very social, and loved to entertain. She was all about the future, l... 05/11/2014

Take Off... I love the sound of small planes taking off. It goes all the way back to the late 1950’s when we moved across town from the Renton Highlands to the Earlington neighborhood. Our bedrooms were upstairs and it got pretty hot up there in the summer so we’d have all the windows open as wide as they’d go. I remember early mornings lying in bed. It was finally cool and quiet and just before dawn the birds would start chirping to welcome the day. Then off in the distance I’d hear one of those small planes startup at Renton Airport. A few minutes later it would taxi out to the runway then (wait for it) gun it for take off. When the wind was from the south the flight path would take them right over downtown and past our place. The Doppler Effect was so cool as they climbed to altitude... 05/02/2014

I met Dan back in 1965, I was 15. It was the summer before my sophomore year at Renton High. I don’t remember details except John, a bass player I knew, invited me to a party across town in Sierra Heights. The band I was in just broke up. Well, that’s how they put it, but actually I think I got the boot because they regrouped in the fall and I didn’t get the call. Anyhow, a jam session sounded fun. John was a little older than me and had a car. When we arrived there were already a dozen or so in the open garage (mostly girls!) listening to records. I could see a drum kit back in the corner so we unloaded our amps and guitars and headed in. It was immediately apparent that Dan and I had a lot in common. We were the same height, which was kinda short by local standards, and the both of us... 04/21/2014

For the first quarter of 2014, there were 101 single family homes sold in the East Renton Highlands Here's a break down categorically: 10% were Short Sales 8% were Bank Owned 36% were New Construction Sales 1% on 1+ Acre lot 35% 4 Bedrooms 21% 5 Bedrooms 29% have 3 car garage 2 % had 2nd Kitchen 4% had a hot tub The average sales price of homes sold in the East Renton Highlands market for the first quarter of 2014 was $437,929. The lowest priced home sold was $120,000 and the highest priced was $920,000 Average market time was 53 days.   04/07/2014

How much do homes rent for in the Renton Highlands? Keeping in mind there are multiple sources for rental listings, this market report reflects only those properties listed and rented through NWMLS. Inventory is thin right now to say the least. Currently there are 9 available listings for lease in the Renton Highlands area. The lowest priced property is being offered at $1100 per month and the highest rate is $2700. Over the last 6 months, there have been 60 properties leased, with a low rental rate of $450 and the highest rental rate was $3000. The average rental price in the Renton Highlands area for the last six months is $1674. Whether you're an experienced Landlord or first time investor, it's always a good idea to have a handle on market rates before renewing a lease or adding to ... 03/31/2014

Are you considering listing your home for sale? Is it time to downsize? Or maybe upgrade to a larger living space? This may be the perfect time! Boeing is expanding at the Renton facility. You can read about it here: http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/250697421.html   Call, text, tweet or email the Gary McNinch Team. We are here to help buyers, sellers and investors.  03/18/2014

East Renton Highlands Homes for sale comprise a varied and somewhat electic group. Ranging in price from $144,000 to over a $1,000,000, the area is rapidly transitioning from what was once just another suburb of Seattle to a growing, desirable community within easy commuting distance to 405 & I5 as well as access to dining and shopping and of course the home of our WORLD CHAMPION Seattle Seahawks! View all available properties for sale in the Renton Highlands Community What's the value of your Renton Highlands Home? Find out here 03/04/2014

Peachtreen Lane Condominiums in Renton WA Sales & Value Report Whether you currently live in the Peachtree Lane community or are looking to move into the neighborhood, it's helpful to know ongoing market activity and recent sales information. Currently there is only one unit available for sale in the complex, and is being offered at $269,950. Over the last year, there have been 4 units sold ranging in price from $210,000 to $274,000. The average market times for home sales in the neighborhood are just 17 days. If you'd like to know the value of your Peachtree Lane Condominium, start here and we'll provide you with a complimentary market valuation. 03/01/2014

Are you superstitious? I am, but not nearly as much as I used to be. My mom and dad and my grandma were about some things. As a kid I had a rabbits foot, we didn’t walk under ladders, and it was always time for concern when out of nowhere a black cat crossed your path. I still catch myself using the expression, “knock on wood,” or saying something like, "I know this is gonna work, cross your fingers!” I did kinda freak out once when I was moving and dropped a great big ol’ bedroom mirror and shattered it to bits! Man, if this is bad luck, "I’m totally doomed!" As a kid, I remember a few times when grandma spilled a little salt in the kitchen. She’d smile and wink, and take a pinch and throw it over her left shoulder. It always got a laugh, kind of a ‘just in case’ superstition. Having b... 02/12/2014

Renton Highlands Real Estate Recap 2013 The Renton Highlands Community of homes is located East of 405, North of Highway 169 and South of New Castle. It is comprised of properties located within zip codes 98056 and 98059. The community is served by both the Renton and Issaquah School Districts. The number of Single Family Homes sold in the Renton Highlands area in 2013 totaled 858. May, July and August all saw an equal number of closed properties through Northwest Multiple Listing Service at 90 homes each month. The lowest number of closed sales was in January at 48. The second lowest was November at 56. The Median Sales Price (that number where half the homes sold for more than, and half the homes sold for less than) peaked in June  at $417,000       The 2014 Real Estate forecast for t... 01/08/2014

I’ve been rather absent for a week or so. Not on purpose. I threw my back out and pinched a nerve loading up my Explorer. I bent over to position my laptop, projector, briefcase, and a box of class printouts for the trip up to north Seattle to teach a social media class when I felt a ‘pop’ in my lower back and that lightning jolt of pain down your leg and up your spine. I toughed it out but wouldn’t you know it I had another 2 sessions in Tacoma that afternoon. When I finally got home about 7:30 pm I was in pretty miserable shape and headed straight for bed. Needless to say, I didn’t get much sleep that night or for the next 3 or 4 for that matter. This back thing of mine happens every once in a great while. I’ve had my fair share of close calls through the years. I fell out of a big ol... 11/23/2013

Grandma’s House, revisited... As I go through life I look forward each year to the memories that come with autumn. Some of the more vivid take place at the home of my grandparents, George and Pauline Fabre. They lived just a mile from our home on Tobin Avenue behind Renton High School. Fall was a busy time. There were all the chores and joys of the garden’s harvest and preparations for winter. Canning and pickling fruits and vegetables, drying herbs, making jelly, jams and preserves and sauerkraut. The root cellar under the back porch would be full of potatoes, onions, carrots, squash, and garlic, enough to last the winter. In mid September through October the trains from Napa Valley would pull into town. Local’s bought their grapes for winemaking right off the boxcars. Grandma was know... 11/15/2013

Financing a Renton or Kent home changes daily.  Here is the latest info from my friends at Evergreen Home Loans in Renton.  A key part of any real estate transaction is the loan officer.  Cathy and Kimberly are tops.      New FHA Ruling on WAITING PERIODS for Bankruptcies, Foreclosures & Short Sales(this is our summary, not the direct language from FHA… which tends to be tedious) FHA has EXPANDED the Extenuating Circumstances to include those families that have been affected by a job loss in the economic downturn.  This is defined as a 20% loss in income for a period of 6 months. Bankruptcy/Foreclosure/Short Sale must be 12 months old: Borrower must show: Recovery from the ‘Economic Event’ – (meaning on time payment of credit for 12 months) AND must document good credit history before t... 10/25/2013

One of the things I love about social media is the people I meet and the connections I make. Most of the time these days I meet people online, then in person. And others I meet in person and keep the relationships going online.  I met Anne Boyington of Trevani Truffles at the Renton Farmers Market a year and a half ago. I've been a fan ever since. She makes handcrafted chocolate truffles & bombons and with no physical storefront she frequents many Seattle area farmers markets year round, has a Facebook Page Trevani Truffles, and a website at: TrevaniTruffles.net. When we first met I asked her several questions about her business and about making chocolate. I told her about my friend and coworker Barbie Van Horn, a total chocolate geek and connoisseur. "You two have to meet!"  Along the ... 10/25/2013

4 Bedroom Homes in Renton Highlands As a greater Seattle-Tacoma real estate geek Broker, I'm lucky to have access to all kinds of real estate statistics and information about any number of various market scenarios. I also realize this information may be just as helpful and appreciated by anyone looking to educate themselves about the market. If you're looking for a 4 Bedroom Home for sale in the Renton Highlands community, you might find the following information helpful.   Over the past 90 days, there have been 100 4 Bedroom Single Family Homes closed. The average price of those properties was $242,895. The lowest priced 4 Bedroom was $95,000 and the highest price was $426,000. Keep in mind, these numbers are only for this 90 day time period. If you want to see all 4+ Bedroom homes cur... 10/21/2013

Ready to buy a condo in Renton, WA ? Get ready to tighten your seatbelt....you're heading into the Wild Wild West of home searching. Notice I didn't say home buying, but home SEARCHING. Condos in Renton are all over the place! Priced from $60,000 to $600,000...special assessments, rental caps, pet restrictions and more. No one complex is like another. There are many factors you're going to want to consider when looking into a condo investment: Health of the HOA and Pending Special Assessments Dues and what they cover The management company~ are they hands on, responsive? Fortunately, my team and I are familiar with many of the complexes within the Renton area and we can help you navigate through the process. Start your Renton Condo Search Here       10/12/2013

The condominium community of Peachtree Lane is located in the Renton Highlands and is popular for many reasons. The low maintenance lifestyle is front and center here with HOA dues including not only Common Area Maintenance but Lawn Service, Garbage, Water, Earthquake insurance and more! Each of the 63 units enjoy the use of the recently remodeled community clubhouse and outdoor pool (a rarity in WA but much enjoyed when the sun shines!). Units vary between single level Rambler styles as well as 2 and 3 BR townhome styles. Sizes range from 1178 square feet to just under 1550. For 2013, the average Assessed Value of each home is $187,254, however the average Sales Price over the last 6 months was $241,000. Looking for other condos in Renton? Find them here 10/12/2013

Renton Highlands Condo Just Sold! Cute and Affordable 2 BR 1 BA Condo in Renton Highlands just closed Escrow today. Harrington Place Condominiums is conveniently located to The Landing in Renton, 405 Access for communting to Bellevue or Seattle, Shopping, Gene Coulon Park along Lake Washington and so much more! Offered at $89,950, this unit sold, after multiple offers, for $95,000. What's the value of your Renton Condo? Find out here Looking for an affordable value in South King County? Start your home search here 10/10/2013