Colleen's (and occasionally, Joe's) Blog

A few days ago CNN posted an article about the decline of housing values nation wide. However, 33 metro areas were noted as posting gains. Among the 33 areas, CNN noted one area in particular:

"The biggest winner will be the Kennewick, Washington metro area, where home prices have ramped up 8.9% over the past three years and are expected to increase another 3.4% by June 2010."

As a Kennewick Wa Realtor®, we know all too well how well the housing market is doing. If needing a family operated, service oriented Kennewick real estate company, call us! We would love to be at your service. Originally posted at Kennewick real estate.

The wine industry in the wonderful Tri-Cities has significantly boomed over the past few decades. And there are still many other wineries proliferating in different portions of the state.

This is mainly contributed by the area’s suitable climate and abundant water supply from the surrounding rivers. Nearly one third of the state’s vineyards are located within the wonderful Columbia Valley which is federally recognized as an American Viticultural Area.

Just along the stretch, you will find numerous luxurious communities which serve as a fine retreat for all wine enthusiasts. If you’re thinking of relocating, the Tri-Cities is definitely a great option. Originally posted at Tri Cities Wa Wine Country.

If you are consider purchasing Wine Country Properties in the Tri Cities, let us help!

Harvest Fest “Un-Boat” Rally – Saturday, September 19, 2009 Float down a portion of the Yakima River in a homemade unpowered craft, “un-boats”. Registration forms are available at the Chamber office along with the official rules for the captain and crew members. Registration deadline is September 17, 2009.

Harvest Festival – Saturday, September 19, 2009 (11:00am – 4:00pm) Where: Flat Top Park, off Bombing Range Road and Van Giesen Avenue in West Richland Wa. On behalf of the Red Mountain Lion’s Club if you would like to promote your organization or business at this event please contact Darrell Toombs at 967-8000 or wrmgr@yokesfoods.com. Registration forms are also available at the Chamber office, registration deadline is September 10, 2009. The yearly event features music, a karate demonstration, a classic car show and myriad dance exhibitions.

New to the Harvest Festival is a Classic Car Show which will offer a Show & Shine from 1:00pm – 3:00pm (no cost), Poker Run from 3:00pm – 5:00pm ($10), BBQ Dinner at The Sandberg Event Center from 5:00pm – 7:00pm ($15 per couple or $10 single). Registration forms are available at the West Richland Chamber office.

~ Colleen & Joe Lane
Co-Owners, Broker, Realtors®
The Lane Real Estate Team
509.438.9344
Email | Twitter | Facebook| LinkedIn
"We work and play in West Richland and love every minute of it!"
Originally posted at Harvest Festival, West Richland Washington.

Christ The King's annual Sausage Fest starts today at 5pm in Richland Washington at the corner of Stevens Avenue and Long Avenue 99354. Click on this link to see the entertainment schedule as well as other information. The schedule includes the biergarten (adults only) and the outdoor stage (families), as well as . New this year there will be a “wine bar” in the indoor biergarten (beer garden) with some nice wines from local wineries. Please do check that out if you like wine! Hope to see you there with your family or just somewhere in the adult section (outdoor or indoor festivities).

Sausage Fest Map (click and print):

~ Colleen & Joe Lane
Co-Owners, Broker, Realtors®
The Lane Real Estate Team
509.438.9344
Email | Twitter | Facebook| LinkedIn
"We work and play in Richland and love every minute of it!"
Originally posted at SausageFest, Richland Washington.

What: Fiery Food Festival Where: Downtown Pasco Washington, 99301, corner of Lewis Street and 4th Avenue.

Today and tomorrow, September 12th & 13th marks Pasco's 25th hosting of the annual event. The festival has all sorts of fun to do. Everything from live entertainment, a Kid Zone, specialty food booths, prepared foods, arts & crafts, Beer, Wine, & Margarita Gardens, and much more. There are contests as well, like the Salsa Contest and Chile Pepper Eating Contest. The festival is a project of the Pasco Downtown Development Association.

The family is headed to the Pasco Fiery Food Festival and will update this article with photos we take today and post to our Flickr account. Hope to see ya there!

~ Colleen & Joe Lane
Co-Owners, Broker, Realtors®
The Lane Real Estate Team
509.438.9344
Email | Twitter | Facebook| LinkedIn
"We work, live, and play in Pasco and love every minute of it!"
Originally posted at Pasco Fiery Foods Festival.

I was looking for a downloadable map, directions, and Sunmart ticket locations for this year's (2009) Tri Cities Washington Parade of Homes and did not find one or any. So, I scanned in my copy and had my husband post the map here. Simply click on the image below and the page will open in a new window. Use the right click of your mouse and save the image to your desktop.  Open the image in your photo or fax viewer and print.  Alternatively, once the image is on your computer, right mouse click again and choose 'print.'  Do the same for all four pages in the table below.  Note: If you have problems, simply email us and we'll send ya a pdf copy that can be  opened easily from your email.

I toured all 22 homes Wednesday the 9th and had a great time. I think you will too! Also, I've posted a few hundred photos on Flickr if interested. Enjoy your Parade Tour!

~ Colleen Lane
Accredited Luxury Home Specialist (AlHC Designation)
Co-Owner, Broker, Realtors®
The Lane Real Estate Team
509.438.9344
Email | Twitter | Facebook| LinkedIn
"We work, play, and live in the Tri Cities and love every minute of it!"
Originally postted at Tri Cities Wa Parade of Homes Map.

Many of the local firefighters and police were on hand for 9/11 memorial services held today at Howard Amon Park's Tear Drop Amphitheater, Richland Washington, 99352. If you were not there, I was in attendance and took some photos of the memorial:

Old Glory

Many were in attendance.

Waiting to play, "Amazing Grace."

For more photos, visit our 9/11 photo set on Flickr.

~ Colleen & Joe Lane
Co-Owners, Broker, Realtors®
The Lane Real Estate Team
509.438.9344
Email | Twitter | Facebook| LinkedIn
"We work and play in Richland and love every minute of it!"
Originally posted at Howard Amon Park, Richland Washington, 9/11 Memorial

The 2009 Tri City Wa Parade of Homes touring dates and times are:

• Saturday, Sept. 12 and Sunday, Sept. 13 - 9 am to 5pm
• Wednesday, Sept. 16 - 1 pm to 7 pm
• Saturday, Sept.19 and Sunday, Sept. 20 - 9 am to 5pm

The Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities is showcasing 22 homes in the tour this year. The homes are located throughout Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, and West Richland offering the latest in design, style, architectural trends, and of course, the best in workmanship. Tickets: $7.00 on sale at all Tri-Cities area SunMarts

Colleen, an Accredited Luxury Home Consultant (ALHS Designation), is fortunate enough to be with a group of Realtor® folk touring the homes on Wednesday, Sept 9th on a pre-tour courtesy of Creekstone by Newland Communities. Colleen is also grateful for a Parade Home she has in escrow for one of her buyers. If you've never seen a home in the Parade of Homes, we took the liberty (with the permission of the owner/contractor, and buyer) to take some camera stills of our buyer's next new home. I'm sure you will appreciate the quality, views, and decorating this home has to offer:

421 Sundance Drive, Richland, WA 99352

Additionally, Colleen and I took some great photos of the views our buyer will come to call his own. Most homes in Sundance Ridge, Richland Washington have some of these views or similar. Enjoy...

~ Colleen & Joe Lane
Co-Owners, Broker, Realtors®
The Lane Real Estate Team
509.438.9344
Email | Twitter | Facebook| LinkedIn
"We work and play in Tri Cities Washington and love every minute of it!"
Originally posted at Parade of Homes Tri Cities Wa 2009

Where: Spudnuts, 228 Williams Blvd Richland, WA 99354-3410
What: Spudnuts is going to appear on TV's Food Network channel Labor Day at 6pm, PST. The Food Network's Unwrapped show will feature a half dozen donut shops from around the United States. The show's producers will be interviewing Spudnut's owner Val Driver plus taking a peek at behind the scenes details at the shop. How cool is that! Last year, the Travel Channel featured Spudnuts in Donut Paradise.

View Larger Map of Spudnuts Uptown Shopping Center Location

~ Colleen & Joe Lane
Co-Owners, Broker, Realtors®
The Lane Real Estate Team
509.438.9344
Email | Twitter | Facebook| LinkedIn
"We work and play in Richland and love every minute of it!"
Originally posted at Spudnuts Richland Washington.

Where: Howard Amon Park, Richland Washington, 99352. What: 13th annual Tumbleweed Music Festival where music, dance, and workshops combine for an enjoyable, relaxed 2009 Labor Day weekend. The yearly festival is organized by the Three Rivers Folklife Society and is a celebration of music that includes dozens of musical performances and workshops. We enjoy the festival every year and confess to ALWAYS eating one of those awesome Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches. Yummy! :) Download the Tumbleweed Music Festival program.

View Larger Map of Howard Amon Park, Richland Washington, 99352

~ Colleen & Joe Lane
Co-Owners, Broker, Realtors®
The Lane Real Estate Team
509.438.9344
Email | Twitter | Facebook| LinkedIn
"We work and play in Richland and love every minute of it!"
Originally posted at Howard Amon Park, Richland Washington.

Here is an invitation from Tri Cities Wa Habitat to give them a hand in raising funds. Additional details can be found at www.habitatbuilds.com/harvest-for-hope. More updates from Habitat are: construction pace of having 4-5 homes under construction at any given time, Habitat is hoping to launch two new programs to serve more families in our community in need of affordable housing:

1. “A Brush With Kindness”, working with current homeowners such as the elderly or disabled who need exterior home repair and minor landscaping; and
2. “Inter-faith Build”, working together with all faiths represented in our area to build hope and understanding.

~ Colleen & Joe Lane
Co-Owners, Broker, Realtors®
The Lane Real Estate Team
509.438.9344
Email | Twitter | Facebook| LinkedIn
Originally posted at Harvest For Hope.

Real estate investment demands the presence of best loan options and buyer incentives. Today's construction financing is being catered to by banks, non depository institutions and private lenders that understand the market constraints a buyer is subjected to. When it comes to financing for the real estate requirements of the medical fraternity, the presence of non real estate components make the loans safe.
Construction projects in the case of most non medical borrowers would attract loan options of up to 80% of the required finance. However, with medial financing now in place, doctors and allied personal from the medical fraternity benefit with loan options that accommodates 90% financing! Real estate and related equipment value in the case of medical financing transactions are stretched even over 100%.
Medical practitioners need not hunt for third party providers for financing beyond local banks, anymore. With commercial mortgages specially designed for the community, these professionals can now enjoy:

• Higher repayment leverage
• Longer fixed rates of interest
• Amortization schedules of up to 30 years
• Non committal deals with regards to checking

Medical financing now enables professionals in places like Kennewick, Richland, & Pasco Washington to add quality to the noble endeavor. The Lane Real Estate Team can help procure financial, no matter how difficult and/or unique the need may be. Call us! ~ Colleen and Joe Lane, 509.438.9344, or email us today. Originally posted at Medical Financing and Commercial Mortgages.

Kennewick Washington, 99336 ~ Housing is going completely turn-turtle with the shift in preference for homes set in the suburbs and city outlying areas. Not only are these properties available at reasonable costs, but they also enable ownership of homes that compliment the ‘green’ effort and not abuse it.

Today commuting to work via state and local public transportation has ushered in the chance to integrate routine tasks and movement with exercise. Downtown living in Kennewick Washington offers real estate buyers greener options for residence. An eco-friendly lifestyle, supported by proximity to grocery stores, boutiques, and supermarkets adds quality to the property and your life.

There are a number of dedicated real estate agents and brokers who cater to downtown investments, however, there is one who really cares about our environment. The convenience of living pollution free is more of a luxury and once the recession ebbs, the prices of these ‘green’ properties will soar.

Downtown real estate options allow you to dictate space and décor and give vent to your creative pursuits. You can actually live in your dream home with reduced furniture and an environmentally friendly living space. Lowered energy consumption, green appliances, low-flow plumbing, and eco-friendly lighting can help you used the saved money on the most important person in the world – YOU!

If you are considering Kennewick downtown real estate, or want to do a Kennewick search, please let us help. We are always available and never treat our clients coarsely, or with sales pressures tactics. We are servants at heart!

~ Colleen & Joe Lane
Co-Owners, Broker, Realtors®
The Lane Real Estate Team
509.438.9344
Email | Twitter | Facebook| LinkedIn
"We work and play in Kennewick and love every minute of it!"
Originally posted at Kennewick Wa Downtown Green Living.

If you are one of the few raring to close a Kennewick real estate deal on your own, do dare, but arm yourself with some prior research and comparison shopping. Today the internet technology has made it possible to explore arenas you may have never even dreamed of crossing before, like the real estate market.

First off, picking the right Kennewick Realtor® is a must. Colleen and I can provide the must needed assistance, and more importantly, the even more needed negotiating strength and experience.

Real estate purchase and sale makes it imperative for you to know the dedicated strategies and terminology, to strike a good deal. You too can now venture into the field, with caution though, since you most probably are a first timer. You should ideally consider the following points:

Research and stay updated. It is very important to come across as well informed and versatile. You should get a grasp of the real estate market in the neighborhood by regularly screening the county courthouse and local newspaper classifieds, and monitoring the Kennewick MLS.

Preset the offer you would like to make. Budgeting and estimation play a very important role here. You need to be informed about monthly mortgage payments in case you are considering a loan and the cash in hand.

Adopt a professional approach to the deal. Once you are set upon the property, focus on body language and don’t come across as over enthusiastic. You should ideally be conversant with the nitty-gritty’s of purchase contracts and other legal details.

Joe and Colleen Lane
The Lane Real Estate Team
509.438.9344 | Email
~ Always here to serve our Kennewick customers.

Kennewick seems to be a destination location...

Kennewick Washington Pictures | 99336, 99337, 99338
Originally posted at Kennewick Wa Houses For Sale.

Looking for a building site to relocate, expand, and/or grow your business? This 1.17 acre plat of land is zoned C-1 and available for sale. A second adjacent 1.17 acre lot is also available. The asking price is $299,000 ( $255,555.56 per acre). The proximity to busy Sandifur parkway, the new Kadlec Clinic (next door), easy freeway access, and the proposed extension/development (page 3) of the Broadmoor exit (road 100) makes this lot(s) a prime location. What qualifies as C1 zoning? Email us for a copy of the City of Pasco's "C1 Zoning Permitted Uses."

What is of particular value to these lots for sale, is the proposed completion of Broadmoor Blvd to Dent Road. The Broadmoor Blvd freeway exit and surrounding areas is the last remaining major freeway exit to be built out and developed. The building lots for sale will by anyone's account receive a large influx of traffic from the project's completion. Currently, traffic is busy and increasing as other projects are nearing completion. Please read on a study the material put together providing both the Tri Cities resident, and relocation buyer the information necessary to make an informed purchasing decision.

Lot "A" (For Sale) Parcel: 115-430-168 | Assessor's Documents | Treasurer's Documents | District Information | Photos/Sketches
Lot "B" (Only available if purchased with lot A) Parcel: 115-430-169 | Assessor's Documents | Treasurer's Documents | District Information | Photos/Sketches
*All information contained within this article deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

View Midland Lane, Pasco Washington in a larger map

Perhaps you are considering the Tri Cities Washington area because we rank
so well nationally? For those land buyers considering a relocation to Tri Cities
Washington, check the beauty our region has to offer...

View Beautiful Tri Cities Washington in a full screen.

Yup, Tri Cities Washington is DEFINATELY a great place to relocate to.....

Hoping you have all your questions answered here. Whether relocating to our wonderful city, or simply looking for a place to put your business. For any and all commercial real estate needs, please contact us for assistance, and/or start your commercial property, lot, and/or acreage search today.

~ Colleen & Joe Lane
Co-Owners, Broker, Realtors®
The Lane Real Estate Team
509.438.9344
Email | Twitter | Facebook| LinkedIn

This Today Show video is a letter from the Bush daughters
to the Obama daughters and read by the Bush daughters...

For a moment party lines are crossed and joined together! Very cool. :)

Thinking of owning your own home? Our best search for Kennewick Washington homes for sale is your next step. The peace and serenity of Kennewick and the proximity of Kennewick homes near public and private utilities make the real estate options worth the time and money invested in the hunt.

At The Lane Real Estate Team, we handle Kennewick Wa properties and are very well networked in the community offering buyers, first and seasoned, homes for sale real estate options that are lucrative and designed to fit into any predetermined budget. There are a number of online as well as offline resources that list Kennewick homes and even make virtual tours available on request, however, The Lane Real Estate Team can walk you through the process.

Kennewick Washington is a destination location for folks looking to purchase into a thriving community. Consider using The Lane Team of Colleen and Joe Lane for assistance. Colleen Lane is the broker, while Joe manages marketing, online ventures, and personnel.

View Kennewick Washington in a larger map.
Originally posted at Kennewick Wa Homes For Sale.

Where: Red Lion Inn 2525 North 20th Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301 Map What: The Pasco Washington Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 2009 Sunshine Ball, An Evening With Marrakech. Saturday, September 19, 2009 at the Pasco Red Lion Hotel. Social Hour and Photos at 6:00 pm. Wax Lantern Parade at 6:45 pm. Dinner at 7:00 pm. Moroccan cuisine. Music by Swing Shift.

Individual Tickets $50. Table of 8 $360. Please Contact the Pasco Chamber of Commerce for tickets. Sponsorships are still available! (509) 547-9755 Admin@PascoChamber.org

~Colleen Lane
The Lane Real Estate Team
Pasco Washington Realtor®, Broker
"We live, work, and play in Pasco and love every minute of it!"

Originally posted at Pasco Chamber of Commerce Event.

Where: 1910 Columbia Park Trail, Kennewick, Benton, Washington 99336 What: River Front Concerts presents Jazz and Blues in Kennewick Washington Columbia Park. In the tear drop amphitheater with the Blue Bridge as a backdrop, join hundreds of your fellow concert goers on Saturday, September 12th, 3:00 p.m. — 10:00 p.m. in Columbia Park for the area’s first Flavor of Tri-Cities. Wayman Chapman will start us off at 3:30 pm, followed by Jessy J at 5:00 pm, Lee Ritenour at 6:30 pm, and The Robert Cray Band at 8:15 pm. Tickets are $28., $48., and $100. and for more information, call (509) 727-2950 or email, info@riverfrontconcerts.com

~Colleen Lane
The Lane Real Estate Team
Kennewick Washington Realtor®, Broker
"We work and play in Kennewick and love every minute of it!"

Originally posted at River Front Concerts, Columbia Park, Kennewick Washington

To help business owners improve the exterior appearance of their buildings the City has begun accepting applications for the Commercial Improvement Program (CIP). Eligible businesses and building owners may apply for funding to make permanent exterior improvements to enhance the appearance of their businesses. The program requires that all proposals meet the following eligibility requirements...[read on]

Submitted by,
Colleen Lane
Broker, Realtor®, Co-Owner
The Lane Real Estate Team
Property Buyers | Property Sellers

Columbia River, Richland Washington

View Larger Map | City of Richland Washington, 505 Swift Blvd. Richland, WA 99352 509.942.7390
Originally posted at City of Richland Washington Commercial Improvement Program.