As the name implies, a vacant land is an empty land—a land with no structure, no improvements or development. Vacant lands in Kennewick are generally spacious in size. These lands in the midst of Kennewick’s vibrant community offer many options to develop into commercial or residential use. Why would one want to purchase vacant land? Building a house or business tailor-fitted to your specifications and needs is an advantage. Buying pre-owned or even newly built houses may not give you all the amenities and requirements you may be looking for. Renovations are done; more paint jobs take place; repairs and restoration need to be completed just to transform the house you bought nearest to the dream house you desire. With vacant land, the layout, design, room sizes and structures, landscape,... 04/04/2009

Recently, in the March/April 2009 issue of Flying Adventures Magazine the Tri Cities WA was named on the Top 10 Romantic Getaway list. The article served to provide information on couples-only escapes to unexpected “dreamy” destinations; the article also included information about the rivers in the Tri City area, as well as our premium wines and fine dining. Tri Cities Washington was featured partly because of the abundance of fly-in locations, with three airports. The Visitor and Convention Bureau was contacted in December about the specifics of the article and to provide photographic assistance. Hmm, Tri Cities Washington gives new meaning to the phrase, lovely place living! :) Originally posted at Tri Cities Wa living. 04/02/2009

Courses conducted on economic development have been providing valuable insight into the nuances of business. Experts give their opinion based on years of experience on various aspects of economic growth which can help businesses fine tune their system. Tri-city development council, in its annual meeting conducted a crash course on Tri-Cities’ effective recruitment process and an overview on how to successfully retain businesses. Richard Bodo is an expert in the field of economic development and he spoke on aspects of an area which can attract real estate developers and big businesses. He also highlighted points on how this can have an impact on the development and growth. Richard Bodo went on to explain the process of job selection adopted by the company. Last year’s comprehensive commu... 04/02/2009

The important thing to consider about buying a new home is selecting a credible new home building company. A company that has a great reputation and quality that could help you realize your dream home. The Tri-Cities Wa houses a number of home building companies. Among the most prominent is New Tradition Homes, a family owned business, which has been around since 1987. They intensively focus on building better homes with better quality, friendly service and great value. Over the years, the company has gained the trust of thousands of clients with there exemplary service and by providing superior satisfaction. According to their customers, working with the company has always been a wonderful experience. In fact, most of them are very pleased and would consider having the company build th... 03/30/2009

Have you ever shown a house to a client...everything is going well...they love the house, the size, the layout and now it is time to see the bathroom and the tub looks like this: AHHH!!!  The sale was so close!  They loved the house, the neighborhood, the schools, but the bathroom looks like its older than the house!  What if I was to tell you that for as little as $295, with no demolition and a 24-48hr down time you can take that unsightly Harevest Gold tub and turn it into a Brilliant White?  We can change the color of any tub, cast iron or fiberglass, built in, or clawfoot to any color you wish in only a matter of hours.  ***BUYERS AGENTS*** TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A BUYERS MARKET!!!  How powerful would it be if you were to tell your clients, we can include the provision that the bathroom ... 03/27/2009

If you or someone that you know is looking for a job this summer then check with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources before March 31st. That's the deadline to apply for one of the 350 positions that are opening up for seasonal fire fighters. They will also be hiring 12 “young adults” for summer positions in the Washington Conservation Corps. These definitely aren't “glamour jobs” but you just can't beat the view! The place to contact them is here. Originally posted at Tri Cities Wa employment. 03/27/2009

Yakima Washington and Kennewick Washington were noted by Forbes to be the best two locations in the United States for employment this spring. Yup, ya heard it right, the ENTIRE United States! Hmm, and Forbes didn't even touch on the great schools, great weather, great recreation,... Colleen and I visited Colleen's sister 5 years ago who lives here in the Tri Cites. We a knew a good thing when we saw it 5 years ago and sold our real estate, business, and moved to the Tri Cities within two months of visiting here. We had lived in Southern California for the better part of 25 years. Moving to the Tri Cities Washington area is among the top 10 decisions of marriage. :) Originally posted at Tri Cities Wa employment. 03/20/2009

Do you have a listing with 1970's counters?  You know the ones that look like this:   What if I was to tell you that for as little as $395, with no demolition and a 48hr down time you can totally change the look of your clients counters?  We can turn them from ugly laminate to a fresh new solid color, corian or granite look in as little as 5 hours!  Take a look!   How about a yellow, blue or pink bathtub?  Instead of paying $1,000's of dollars to have the tub torn out and replaced, why not resurface it, save hundred's of dollars AND bring your bathroom into the 21st Century!   All of our products and services are guaranteed for 5 years.  Quality assured and customer satisfaction is our number one priority!  Our prompt and courteous staff give free in home estimates! GIVE US A CALL 509-8... 03/20/2009

If you’re searching for a HUD home in Tri Cites Washington you would likely find minimal listing on the internet. It is best to check with an authorized real estate sales professional for up-to-date information. If you’re thinking of buying a HUD home, your agent will be in-charge of providing you with the necessary information and submitting the bid on your behalf.HUD homes are properties of interest for most home buyers. These properties are acquired by HUD as a result of foreclosure on an FHA-insured mortgage. Houses are auctioned, usually at bargain deals, to regain loss on the foreclosure claim. Investors would most-likely compete with each other. The priority is given to owner-occupant purchasers, or those seeking for a primary residence, before the sale is made available to all o... 03/18/2009

Ranch-style houses have been around since the 1920s. And became extremely popular during the 1940s and the 1970s where new communities were built for WWII and Vietnam Veterans. The western United States is famous for ranch-style houses as many people moved to the suburbs. They are often described as single-story rectangular shaped homes built on huge lot areas where they are allowed to spread out side to side rather than built with multiple floors. A ranch house is particularly simple and uses minimal decorations, yet it is functional due to its wide floor area, great floor plan, extra features and other benefits. Despite the long existence of Ranch-style homes, it remains as a popular choice for most home buyers and sellers alike. Homeowners refer to it as delightful place to live in w... 03/15/2009

You have done your homework. Pretty soon you will be swamped with inquiries and people wanting to visit your property. Here are some helpful tips to selling your house in no time. Determine your property’s current market value. Do not base the price for how much you purchased for it and for how much you’ve spent for modifications and improvements. Be realistic, you will need to compete with other available properties within your area. Nothing is more appealing than a clean home both inside and out. Remove the clutter. If you still have decorations in your home, dispose off all old artifacts and mementos that are deemed meaningless to your clients. If you collected antic and interesting pieces, display them in an attractive manner to show them off.  It is very important that you not just... 03/14/2009

There is a science to hues and your home. Here are some tips on jazzing up your house’s color scheme. If your condo has an extremely low ceiling, paint your ceiling lighter than the walls. Start first with the color of the walls and make your hue a notch lighter. It’ll open your space up and give it the height it needs – visually at least. If your home has a very long narrow hallway that you’d like to visually correct, use deep tones. Painting the far wall a deeper tone than the rest of the walls can actually make it look closer than it actually is. If you like to kick back and unwind with a good book, forest green is extremely easy on the eyes. Green is a color that directly focuses on one’s retina, meaning it’s the easiest color to perceive If you want to make your living room look la... 03/14/2009

In February there were 127 new listings in Kennewick bringing the total number of homes on the market for sale to 513. The average list price of the homes closed in February was $170,829 and the average sale price of the homes closed was $167,237 In other words the homes that sold, sold for 97.8% of list price.The average days on the market for the homes that sold was 125 days. If you have questions call me at 509-947-6800. 03/11/2009

Following enactment of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, the Internal Revenue Service already has posted - at  www.irs.gov - a revised Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit to incorporate Act's provisions permitting qualifying taxpayers who buy a home this year before December 1 can claim up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately, on either their 2008 or 2009 tax returnsJeff PresbyBroker/OwnerPrudential Now RealtyLicensed Office in WA state509-947-6800/800-359-2481 03/08/2009

The U.S. Department of Treasury expects to post full details of the Homeowner Affordability and Sustainability Plan President Obama unveiled last week to help 7 to 9 million homeowners restructure or refinance their mortgages to avoid foreclosure at its Web site  www.ustreas.gov  Call  or email me for more information. jeff@jeffpresby.com 0r 509-947-6800Jeff PresbyBroker/OwnerPrudential Now RealtyLicensed Office in WA state509-947-6800/800-359-2481   03/08/2009

Hey everyone! So I came across this article from the homebuilders website that I think explains the President's plan on helping with foreclosures. Here it is: President Obama last week unveiled details of a $75 billion foreclosure prevention plan designed to help seven to nine million "responsible" home owners remain in their homes with affordable mortgage payments. The official rollout date for the program is March 4. "We applaud the Obama Administration for unveiling its plan to stem the rising tide of foreclosures that is flooding the market with excess inventory and undermining overall home values," said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson. "This is an important first step to address the acute supply problems confronting the housing market." The plan has three main components: A refinancing pr... 02/24/2009

Outdated countertops in the TriCities area now have an affordable and practical solution to bring them into the 21st Century!  Presenting RedRock Resurfacing! We take Old:                                                                                AND TURN IT NEW!! This product is applied directly over old laminate, Formica, tile, etc. and can be done in as little as 3 hours.  This product can transform a dated kitchen and bathroom in less time then it would take to remove a sink to put in new countertops.  Bring the modern look of Granite or Corian countertops to your kitchen at a FRACTION of the cost!  All work comes with a 5 year guarantee. Prices start at $349.99 and RedRock Resurfacing provides free in home estimates.  For more information call RedRock Resurfacing today @ 509.83... 02/16/2009

The Tri-Cities Home & Garden Show is this month at the TRAC Center!  Come see hundreds of exhibitors including Tri-Cities RedRock Resurfacing.  LOCATED in BOOTH 03.  2009 Regional Home & Garden Show Details: TRAC, Pasco Friday, Feb. 20; 11 am to 8 pm Saturday, Feb. 21; 9 am to 8 pm Sunday, Feb. 22; 9 am to 5 pm Admission $6 Adults 12 and under free $1 off admission price with a nonperishable food item for Salvation Army. See RedRock Resurfacing's product first hand, talk with technicians and receive a 10% Home Idea Show discount.  An economical alternative to major remodeling!  To learn more about RedRock Resurfacing visit www.redrockresurfacing.com or call 509.838.9600 to schedule a free estimate.  REALTORS: Having trouble selling that house because of a dated bathroom or kitchen?  Swi... 02/03/2009

Our daughter, ever the cook will love this. A Smithsonian Institution traveling cooking exhibit is in Tri Cities, Washington at the CREHST Museum and will remain until March 1, 2009. The Key Ingredients – America by Food exhibit will be held at the Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science & Technology (CREHST). This exhibit will explain the little known, the everyday, and the obvious about our assorted cooking and eating traditions through an enjoyable and educational overview. The exhibit can be viewed Monday – Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM and Sundays, 12 PM to 5 PM. A teacher’s guide and more information are available at: www.keyingredients.org •:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•My ActiveRain Blog / My Localism Blog | ColleenLane.com I am the Realtor® that makes things move in The Lane Rea... 01/12/2009

One of the top news articles in the Tri-Cities, Washington this year was in May when the Tri-Cities grabbed the attention of the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS). The BLS ranked the Tri Cities 5th in the nation for having a high job growth of about 4.3% annually. This increase is said to be the result of the jobs brought in by the Agricultural Industry, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Hanford Cleanup which substantially helps the job market. Over the past 10 years non-farming jobs in the Tri Cities such as PNNL and the Hanford Cleanup have increased from 82,000 in 1997 to 102,000 in 2007. Tri Cities Washington remains a destinations location for real estate investors, as well as folks looking for a great place to live. •:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•My ActiveRain B... 01/01/2009