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

West Richland’s Bird Hill Community
The Bird Hill Community, known for it's bird street names and located in West Richland Washington, is a desirable community for many people for several reasons. The mature landscaping as well as the community parks are draws to some. While the close proximity of shopping is a draw to others with Yokes, Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, and quite a few other businesses within five miles of the area. There is also the draw of open spaces to consider when looking to buy in this community.

Homes for Sale in the Bird Hill Community
Many of the homes in the Bird Hill Community were built in the late 1970s up until the present. The cost of homes in this area tend to range between $130,000 and $230,000 with the size ranging from 1,200 sq. feet and 2,000 sq. feet.

If you are interested in a home in the Bird Hill community, let us help. We are Joe and Colleen Lane, your West Richland Real Estate Agents. Call or email us today! 509.438.9344 For more information, click Bird Hill Homes For Sale, West Richland Washington for more details.

Every now and then when setting up showing appointments a seller will just flat out say, No, you can’t show my house at the requested time. I will do my best to accommodate the seller since I know their household is being interrupted and they have a life outside of house showings.

The reasons given by the sellers tend to be consistent; my baby is napping, we were out of town and the house is a mess, the kids had a sleepover last night and there are 10 kids here, etc. However, the other day I was calling to set an appointment and had a seller tell me I couldn’t show his house because ‘it was too windy and he didn’t want to go outside to clean up the yard.’ Quite the excuse! I called the listing agent and mentioned the comment, as a listing agent knows possibly why this particular listing may not be selling. The listing agent was perturbed, to put it mildly.

In my experience it seems the showing denials tending to come from sellers who have had their house on the market for a longer period of time and they are just burned out with their evening and weekends being disrupted. And I can’t blame them. As a listing agent, when there is a sense of this is going on with sellers listing agents need to take this as an opportunity to sit down with the seller and discuss the pricing of the house, look to see if there is an obvious turnoff to buyers, or possibly it’s time to pull the house off the market and just not sell right now.

Homes For Sale in the Kennewick School District
Kennewick School District homes for sale are at times in short supply, and most (if not all) of the time very desirable. With CNN's article stating Kennewick is the best housing market, and SmartMoney's article again announcing Tri Cities Washington as being the best real estate investment, folks are relocating to Kennewick Washington. Additionally, the schools in Kennewick School District are performing well.

Today, we have a few featured home in the Kennewick School District located at. Take a peek and if you would like to view these homes, or any other home in the Kennewick School District, please email us or call us today. Also, if you are interested in purchasing a home within one of he boundaries of a particular school in the Kennewick School District, we can help with a more detailed home search. ~ Colleen Lane, 509.438.9344 Enjoy these featured Kennewick homes...

Featured Homes in the Kennewick School District:

• Southwest Kennewick Luxury Home ~ $800,000
• Hansen Park Tri-Level Home ~ $245,000
• Southeast Kennewick 2-Story Home ~ $215,000

How To Search For A Home In The Kennewick School District:

Come on now, admit it! There are agents, lenders, inspectors and even buyers and sellers that we would be more than happy to never do another deal with as long as we are in this business. Unfortunately, this is not our reality. We will have to deal with them again and do it, ahhhemmmm, politely.

I have heard other agents say the experience they had with ‘such and such’ agent was so bad they won’t even show that particular agent's listings. Honestly, I don’t understand why an agent would make a transaction so difficult, but I can surmise that most of the time it comes down to either control or money. I have dealt with agents who were very clear they were the ones in charge of the deal and ‘don’t you forget it’. What is interesting is about half of these deals failed in negotiation and I can assume the agent is asserting themselves with their buyer/seller in the same way they are me.

Do I dare bring up the money side of an agent's dealing in a transaction? Let’s be honest, we are all in this business to make money right? And this is definitely a driving force. However, when I have an agent telling me the transaction needs to get closed so they can make their car payment, house payment, or whatever they need money for, tells me they are looking out just to get the deal closed just so they can get paid and not for the best interest of their client.

Will I do business with them again, yes. Will I cringe when I see their name as the listing agent or buyer’s agent, heck ya! But I will watch out for my backside and continually remind myself that common courtesy goes along way and everyone deserves respect regardless of what I have heard about someone or my past history with them.

The Spokesman Review: "Tax on Home Sales. Imposes a 3.8 percent tax on home sales and other real estate transactions. Middle-income people must pay the full tax even if they are “rich” for only one day – the day they sell their house and buy a new one."

The Spokesman Review is a Spokane Washington news source. The article is a must read for anyone interested in the consequences of Obama's health care solution. The article cites 19 new taxes we will be paying, most of which I was not aware of. And, I tend to be a news junky! In the article, Nancy Pelosi is cited as stating, "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it …" Well, find out we are! The article exposes likely taxes on all sorts of items folks will pay attributed to the new health care bill.

3.8% on home sales? You've got to be kidding me. Doesn't our housing market need to be stimulated. Hmm, it will be stimulated unfortunately in the wrong direction.

4/8/2010 Update: Since posting this article, there has been a correction made to the original article.  As it turns out, the tax increase will not effect most of us.  You can read about it here.

South Kennewick Washington homes for sale are a hot commodity these days. South Kennewick is a perfect place to look when in the market for a home in a nice location. and given south Kennewick's proximity to highway 395, commuters traveling out of area have quick freeway access for traveling out of town for work. The South Kennewick area is surrounded by great shopping facilities, family friendly parks, and other amenities. There are many communities that contribute to South Kennewick; to give you a taste, here are four distinguished communities in South Kennewick.

Canyon Lakes Community
The homes for sale in the Canyon Lakes community are quite desirable. The community is integrated with a variety of old trees and lakes, and views of several local mountains like Mount Baker, the Twin Sisters, and the Black Buttes. Canyon Lakes is home to one of the 18 best golf courses in the Pacific Northwest. The golf course at Canyon Lakes is the biggest green in the Pacific Northwest.

Creekstone Kennewick Washington Homes
The Creekstone Kennewick Washington homes and housing development is a beautiful place to buy a home. The community offers many parks, walking and biking trails, as well as many community events. The community of Creekstone is close to recreational sites, shopping facilities, and healthcare facilities. Creekstone includes a variety of housing styles and sizes to suit a diverse population of home owners.

The Community of Panoramic Heights
The Panoramic Heights Kennewick Washington community may not have a large supply of homes but it is a wonderful place to live with beautiful views. Like you might expect of a community named Panoramic Heights, there are panoramic views of the Tri Cities, and beyond. This Kennewick community is a well established community with matured landscaping.

Inspiration Estates Homes for Sale
The South Kennewick community, Inspiration Estates, is located at the base of Jump-off Joe. When completed Inspirational Estates will consist of at least 150 homes ranging in size. As of today there are 34 lots up for sale and 3 homes up for sale. Inspirational Estates is close to many recreational attractions such as Columbia Park, hiking trails at Jump-off Joe, and shopping.

Joe and I are Kennewick real estate agents servicing all of the Tri Cities Washington area to include Kennewick. We are a husband/wife team with experience going back to the 1980s. Call or email today. We're available. - Colleen Lane, Joe Lane, 509.438.9344

Here are some of our favorite photos of South Kennewick communities. Enjoy...

Inspiration Estates homes and lots are located in South Kennewick. This south Kennewick housing development is a great community to live in situated at the base of Jump Off Joe Summit. Inspiration Estates is close to various recreational and fun things to do like The City of Kennewick's Columbia Park, Columbia Center Mall, and other park and shopping activities. In addition to Inspiration Estates' proximity to recreational activities, the community is also a commuter's delight. Being close to highway 395, a commute to let's say the Umatilla Chemical Depot, McNary Dam, and other South Washington and North Oregon employment locations.

Inspiration Estates Home and Lots For Sale
Via our home search, Inspiration Estates homes and lots available for sale consist of nearly 100 acres of land that will include over 150 homes. As of today there are 34 lots on the market with prices between $41,000 for 0.23 acres and $79,000 for 0.4 acres. There are also 3 houses on the market today in Inspiration Estate with prices starting at $349,900 for a 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths and going up to $399,000 for 5 bedrooms and 4 full baths.

Recreational Activities Near Inspiration Estates in Kennewick Washington
Inspiration Estates is situated at the base of Jump off Joe, a mountain summit in South Kennewick. There are many hiking trails leading up to the summit of Jump off Joe and the peak is 2,198 feet above sea level. Only six miles from Inspiration Estates is Columbia Park which has walking and biking trails, a Frisbee golf course, a playground, a family fishing pond, and other things.

Kennewick School District
Those living in Inspiration Estates are located in the Kennewick School District. The Kennewick school district’s boundary map indicates that the elementary school would be Cascade Elementary, the middle school would be Horse Heaven Hills, and the high school is Southridge High School.

Kennewick Shopping Near Inspiration Estates
The Columbia Center Mall is within five miles of Inspiration Estates. There is also a Walmart, Home Depot, and Fred Meyers within a few miles of the development, as well as several grocery stores to include Safeway.

Inspiration Estate Realtor®
We are Kennewick real estate agents and given the opportunity, can help find the perfect home. Whether an Inspiration Estate home or another home, we are available to help. Call or email us today,- Colleen & Joe Lane, 509.438.9344

View Inspiration Estates, Kennewick Washington in a larger map

Occasionally, we are asked to find a client homes by Columbia Center Mall. Kennewick Washington is a destination location for many, and homes in Kennewick within the proximity of the Columbia Center Mall are in demand for a variety of reasons.

Columbia Center Mall Shopping
For starters, shopping is a thrill to many, and of course, a practicality for all of us. Why not live with minutes, or even walking distance of a shopping stores.

Kennewick Washington Highway Access
Columbia Center Mall homes are conveniently located just minutes from Tri Cities' major thorough fares.

Kennewick Washington Services, Restaurants, and Local Business
Homes around the mall are also close to many services, restaurants and local businesses.

Columbia Center Mall | Kennewick Parks
Home close to Columbia Center Mall are also close to many of Kennewick' parks, not the least of which is Columbia Park. Columbia Park parallels the Columbia River in Kennewick and is a year round source of entertainment for all folks, whether young or older.

Columbia Center Mall Homes Search
If your are considering a home close to the mall, please consider letting us help. We are Kennewick real estate agents and have the best home search in the Tri Cities Washington area. Log in and let us help, as that is what we are here to do, eh!

Panoramic Heights in Kennewick Washington homes have exactly that, panoramic heights. That is to say, many of the homes have spectacular views. Located in south Kennewick Washington, this subdivision in Tri Cities Washington is spectacular. We are real estate agents serving those considering Kennewick Washington real estate and when showing or listing a property in Panoramic Heights is pleasure. If you are familiar with the location of Canyon Lakes in Kennewick and Kennewick's Creekstone, Panoramic Heights is located between those two Kennewick Washington subdivisions.

Panoramic Heights Homes For Sale
There is not a huge inventory of homes in Panoramic Heights, and for obvious reasons. The homes are beautiful and the views are spectacular. The development is an established community with mature landscaping adding to the subdivision's splendor. I've put together a slide show as well as a tutorial on how to search for a home in Panoramic Heights, Kennewick Washington. Enjoy...

Panoramic Heights Schools
Neighborhood: 99338 | School District: Kennewick | Elementary School: Lincoln | Middle School: Highlands | High School: Southridge

About Kennewick Washington
Kennewick is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, near the Hanford nuclear site. It is the most populous of the three cities collectively referred to as the Tri-Cities (the others being Pasco and Richland). Kennewick is located along the southwest bank of the Columbia River, opposite Pasco and just south of the confluence of the Columbia and Yakima rivers. The population was 67,180 at the state Office of Financial Management's estimate in April 1, 2009. The nearest commercial airport is the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco, a regional commercial and private airport. Forbes magazine named Kennewick the #2 area in the United States for job growth, while nearby Yakima was named #1. The article cites the number of scientists employed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and area farmland for this outlook. For more on Kennewick, visit Wikipedia's page on Kennewick Washington.