Tuesday, April 17, 2018

1710 8th Place Kennewick, WA 99336-5232

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/L36BAZ/1710-8th-Place-Kennewick-WA-228865
Make this California split level house your home with your own updates! This 2,400+ sq ft, 4 bedroom + bonus or craft room, 2.5 bath, 2 car garage is priced to sell fast in this market. If you want, bring a full-priced offer and sellers will give you a carpet allowance to make this house ready for move in day. New paint inside, new water heater, newer kitchen floor and the HVAC system was just serviced! All rooms are large, especially the 30x14 family room that has a sliding door to the spacious back patio. The kitchen opens up to a very large wood deck to enjoy summer bbq's or enjoy meals in the dining room. The grand living room has a brick wood fireplace with a blower for cold winter nights. The grounds of this home have been kept nicely and are ready for a garden or pool on the 0.34 acre lot. This won't last long! Call for a showing or contact your favorite realtor today!
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
Square feet: 2,469
Price: $230,000

For more information about this property, please contact Ron Almberg at 509-420-4990 or Ron@CommunityRealEstateGroup.com. You can also text 4963797 to 67299 (Message and Data Rates May Apply, see terms and privacy policy).


See more listings at: www.RonAlmberg.REALTOR


MLS ID: 228865

Thursday, April 12, 2018

88205 Sagebrush Rd Kennewick, WA 99338

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/4VYVD3/88205-Sagebrush-Rd-Kennewick-WA-228738
Beautifully appointed HOUGH Construction Home with a 2,286 sq ft great room & split bedroom design has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths plus a den/office! Extra large 3-car garage with automatic 9 doors and lighted work area. Over 1/2 acre provides extra room for a shop or pool. Lots of natural light from painted millwork wood-wrapped windows. Stainless steel appliances, tile and carpet flooring, master and Jack-n-Jill guest suites have dual sinks. Stylish powder bath for your guests. Kitchen has a gas range and undercabinet lighting. Custom wood cabinets from The Cabinet Shop in Prosser & quartz countertops throughout. Beautiful and spacious living room with a mantled gas fireplace. Room for a pool and/or shop. RV parking. Buyer to verify all lot and home measurements and school boundaries. Call your favorite realtor and see this home today!
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
Square feet: 2,286
Price: $450,000

For more information about this property, please contact Ron Almberg at 509-420-4990 or Ron@CommunityRealEstateGroup.com. You can also text 4953222 to 67299 (Message and Data Rates May Apply, see terms and privacy policy).


See more listings at: www.RonAlmberg.REALTOR


MLS ID: 228738

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

88205 Sagebrush Rd Kennewick, WA 99338

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/7SFPLS/88205-Sagebrush-Rd-Kennewick-WA-224784
Beautifully appointed HOUGH Construction Home with a 2,286 sq ft great room & split bedroom design has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths plus a den/office! Extra large 3-car garage with automatic 9 doors and lighted work area. Over 1/2 acre provides extra room for a shop or pool. Lots of natural light from painted millwork wood-wrapped windows. Stainless steel appliances, tile and carpet flooring, master and Jack-n-Jill guest suites have dual sinks. Stylish powder bath for your guests. Kitchen has a gas range and undercabinet lighting. Custom wood cabinets from The Cabinet Shop in Prosser & quartz countertops throughout. Beautiful and spacious living room with a mantled gas fireplace. Room for a pool and/or shop. RV parking. Buyer to verify all lot and home measurements and school boundaries. Call your favorite realtor and see this home today!
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
Square feet: 2,286
Price: $455,000

For more information about this property, please contact Ron Almberg at 509-420-4990 or Ron@CommunityRealEstateGroup.com. You can also text 4744638 to 67299.


See more listings at: www.RonAlmberg.REALTOR


MLS ID: 224784

Friday, February 2, 2018

142 Oakland St Richland, WA 99352-7664

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/79KSUY/142-Oakland-St-Richland-WA-227004
Beautifully updated large home with a pool in South Richland. Tons of natural lighting welcome you and your guests into this home. Plenty of space for family and guests in this 3,250 sq ft split-level home with 5 bedrooms and 2.75 bathrooms on a 1/3 acre lot. Beautiful entry with circular staircase. Custom masonry fireplaces upstairs and down. Lennox heat pump and HVAC system (2009) is energy efficient. Master suite is 21x16 with his and her closets and its own deck access. Kitchen appliances include newer built-in oven, ceramic cooktop and microwave/convection oven surrounded by refinished cabinets with modern tile back splash along with a new Wilsonart Desert Springs countertop. Multiple living spaces enter the 60' custom deck with wrought iron railing or covered patio that leads to the very large in-ground Gunite pool. The large workshop area in the oversized two-car garage includes storage cabinets, workbench and storage area. Extra large utility room boasts a folding/sewing/craft workstation. The daylight walk-out basement includes wet bar and 27x15 Family room that leads out to the large pool area with a slide surrounded by manicured grounds. Or enjoy the half-court basketball play area. There is plenty of storage area in this home. Two bedrooms downstairs with egress windows and a remodeled bathroom. Solid hardwood floors throughout. The interior includes solid wood 6 panel doors, Milgard vinyl windows, recessed lighting, genuine California closet conversions and also Anderson exterior doors. Home includes a whole-house air purifier and Pentair water softener/purifier. Pool has been updated with a new pool pump, Pentair Sand Filter and Chlorinator. Communication is easy with the intercom system! Can't beat all of these amenities for this price in south Richland. Buyer to verify all measurements and school districts to their satisfaction. Call or text for a showing!
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 3
Square feet: 3,250
Price: $390,000

For more information about this property, please contact Ron Almberg at 509-420-4990 or Ron@CommunityRealEstateGroup.com. You can also text 4826019 to 67299.


See more listings at: www.RonAlmberg.REALTOR


MLS ID: 227004

Saturday, April 14, 2012

6 worst home fixes for the money

By Dana Dratch • Bankrate.com



It's the magic phrase uttered by almost anyone who's ever considered the cost of home remodeling: "We'll get it back when we sell."

Unless you keep those projects practical, though, you might just be kidding yourself.
For example:
  • Steel front door: Good.
  • Master suite addition costing more than the average American home: Bad.
Every year, Remodeling magazine looks at the hottest home upgrades and renovations and calculates just how much owners get back with they sell.

Upkeep is more popular than upgrades these days, says Sal Alfano, editorial director for Remodeling. These are the projects that often recoup the biggest slice of expenses at resale. But prices and returns do vary regionally, he says.

Ever wonder what brings the lowest return when you plant that "for sale" sign? Think high-dollar, high-end and highly personalized add-ons that make you drool. Like a totally tricked-out garage built from the ground up. Or a super luxe master suite addition. Or the home office redo designed just for you.

Here are the six improvements that, in their 2010 report, ranked dead last nationally when it comes to getting those renovation dollars back at resale.

Home office remodel



Want to get an idea what today's office-away-from-the-office looks like? Walk into Starbucks.
These days, a home office consists of a multiple-choice combination of wireless laptops, smartphones, PDAs and touch-screen tablets. And that worker bee might be toiling anywhere from a home patio or a favorite restaurant to a park bench.

The standard home office renovation, meanwhile -- complete with plenty of built-in storage and high-tech wiring -- is this year's biggest loser in the resale value sweepstakes. Nationally, homeowners spent an average of $28,888 and can expect to recoup about 45.8 percent at resale, according to the report.

Return on investment doesn't reflect your enjoyment of the space, Alfano says.
He offers two tips for home-office remodelers when they sell. First, opt for something that can be easily converted back into a bedroom or den for (or by) the next buyer.

Second, when you're selling, call it a study, den or hobby room. "There's lots of call for multipurpose space. Don't lock yourself into that one use," Alfano says. Don't use words that invoke images of actual work. Or the office.

Backup power generator



You see a backup generator and imagine all of the comforts no matter what the weather.
But potential buyers hailing from outside your local area may not share that vision. (And a handful of those who do might have watched too many zombie movies.)

On average, when homeowners have a heavy-duty backup power generator installed, they spend about $14,718, according to the report. Going with a slightly less expensive model or having a less complicated installation could cut the costs significantly, Alfano says.
Average amount of the price recovered at resale time: 48.5 percent.

Sunroom addition



Real estate agents will tell you that potential buyers want square footage, pristine condition and lots of light. So a brand-new room that has the word "sun" in it, it has to be great for resale value, right?

Not necessarily.

Your first clue: The word "addition" -- which means expanding the footprint of your home -- indicates that this is not a renovation for the faint of heart (or wallet). "It's one of the more expensive projects," Alfano says.

While it seems simple enough, the national average for a sunroom addition is $75,224, according to the report. Homeowners can expect to recoup about 48.6 percent when they sell.
That doesn't mean that adding a sunroom is always a bad move.

If your home needs another common area, a sunroom could be the answer, says Katie Severance, co-author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Selling Your Home." An addition is best considered in the context of the whole home, she says. "The doctor has to treat the whole patient. You have to look at the house and say 'What's out of balance?'"


Upscale master suite addition



Who doesn't want to wake up in a five-star-hotel-quality suite with an attached spa bathroom and a kitchenette that affords you coffee and pastries before facing the world?

Once you see the price tag, it won't just be the coffee keeping you up at night.

For a super-deluxe master suite addition -- which adds square footage and uses only top-dollar materials -- the average cost is about $232,062, according to the report.

That's 460 nights at a posh resort with enough left over to raid the minibar.

In years past, this project was "sort of a trend in vacation homes" that migrated to primary dwellings, Alfano says. Sellers can expect to recover about 52.7 percent at resale.

Your buyer can purchase a newer house with the same features as part of the original floor plan that "probably lays out better anyway," says Loren Keim, author of "How to Sell Your Home in Any Market."

So while the next buyer may appreciate your luxury accommodations (which could even tip their decision in your home's favor), chances are they won't want to pay the full tab for your remodel.

Bathroom addition



Unless you're a hermit who never entertains, you've probably wished for an extra bathroom now and then.

But bathroom additions require serious coin. For a moderately outfitted addition with synthetic stone or plastic laminate surfaces, figure parting with about $21,695, according to the Remodeling report. Go upscale, with finishes like premium marble or fine tile, and you can easily spend in the neighborhood of $40,710.

Either way, you get about the same return: 53 cents on the dollar. "In the buyer's mind, the additional bathroom isn't worth that additional $20,000 to $40,000," Keim says.
Investigate a less-expensive way to get the same result without flushing quite as much cash. While additions usually cost more, pros might be able to reconfigure your existing space to add a bathroom for less, Alfano says.

Upscale garage addition



Instead of cleaning out the garage, how much would you pay to have a new one built from scratch?

This time, it would have all the organizational built-ins, and a durable, easy-to-clean floor to ensure it would never be messy again. And windows for natural light.

Oh yeah, and you could store a couple of cars in there, too.

The price tag for a top-of-the-line detached two-car with all the trimmings is about $90,053, according to the report. You can expect to recover about 53.6 percent of that when you sell.
"This one is completely decked out on the inside," says Alfano. "It's a dream garage."

And that's likely some of the problem with recovering the value at resale. Says Keim, "You've got a very small target audience out there that wants an upscale garage."

10 Ways to Turn Off a Homebuyer

By Jay MacDonald | Bankrate.com – Fri, Apr 13, 2012 3:07 AM EDT



What a difference a couple of years makes.
Back in 2007, homebuyers would beg to purchase your house. They would even bid more than the asking price for the privilege to do so.
Today ... well, not so much. Once the real estate bubble burst and foreclosures poisoned the housing pool, buyers suddenly regained the upper hand. But instead of buying, they're waiting, convinced that housing prices will continue to drop.

What's a smart seller to do in this environment?
We assembled a coast-to-coast SWAT team to address the crisis: Chad Goldwasser of Goldwasser Real Estate in Austin, Texas; Terry Cannon, a buyer's agent and broker with Oregon Exclusive Buyers Realty in Salem, Ore.; and Julie Dana, the New York-based "home stylist" and co-author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Staging Your Home to Sell."
They suggest 10 buyer turnoffs that sellers should avoid at all costs.
"If you do all the staging correctly and have a good agent, the house will hopefully only be on the market a few weeks," Dana says. "Then you can go back to living your life."
1. Dirt
Hands down, our panel agrees: Nothing turns off a buyer quicker than a dirty house.
"The No. 1 biggest mistake is not getting the home in the best possible condition. That's huge," says Goldwasser. "I won't even represent sellers at this point unless they are fully aware of how important it is to get their home in the absolute best condition that they've ever had it in."
Goldwasser recommends that sellers go the extra mile, from steam-cleaning tile and grout to replacing carpets.
"If the carpets are old and smelly, you should put in new," he says. "If they're relatively new, you should at least have them shampooed."
Cannon agrees that grime can derail any showing.
"The home should be neat and clean and free of all debris," Cannon says. "If it reeks of cats or the kitchen sinks and counters are so filthy that it almost looks like the food is moving, I won't even want to come in."
2. Odors
Buyers, it's said, buy with their noses. Make sure your home smells fresh and inviting.
"Odors are a big one, especially kitchen odors," says Dana. "I advise my clients not to cook fried food, fish or greasy food while the house is on the market."
Some pet owners mistakenly believe pet smells to which they've become accustomed help make their abode homey. Nothing could be further from the truth.
"If you're a dog person, you tend to think everyone else is a dog person," says Goldwasser. "But the truth is, 50 percent of the population hates dogs and doesn't want to be near them. "Pets in the home? You have to deal with that."
Dana advises her clients to eliminate all traces of pets, not just pet odors. It's important to get rid of pet paraphernalia and have a "pet plan" to make sure the animals are not around when the house is shown.
"A lot of times, people will leave pet items out -- dog dishes, cat litter boxes, etc.," Dana says. "That immediately turns off a buyer because they wonder, 'What has that animal done in the house?' Also, some people really don't like dogs. The minute they walk in and see this big, old dog bowl, they immediately won't like the house."
The same rules hold true for smokers: Remove all ashtrays, clean all curtains and upholstery, and consider smoking outdoors while your home is on the market.
"Interestingly, next to the kitchen, the smelliest room in the house is actually the living room," Dana says. "That's typically the room that has the most fabric, so that is where odors get absorbed."
3. Old fixtures
Want buyers to roll their eyes? Leave old fixtures on your doors and cabinets.
"You need to change out old fixtures in your house," Goldwasser says. "New cabinet hardware and doorknobs will probably cost all of $400 or $500, but it makes a huge difference."
The same holds true for dated ceiling fans, light fixtures and kitchen appliances.
"Homes that have old fans, lights, ovens, microwaves, ranges and dishwashers can really turn a buyer off," says Goldwasser. "Sellers will say, 'Oh, the buyers can take care of that.' Well, yes they can, but it's going to impede you from getting the highest price possible for your home."
4. Wallpaper
Your grandmother may have had it in every bedroom. Your mom may have loved it as a room accent. But today's buyer wants no part of wallpaper.
"Wallpaper is a definite no-no," Dana says.
Wallpaper is a pain to remove and simply adds another chore to a buyer's to-do list, Dana says.
"Wallpaper is extremely personalized. You've spent hours looking over books to pick out the wallpaper you want," she says. "What are the odds that the person walking in the door will also like that wallpaper that you picked out?"
5. Popcorn acoustic ceilings
Times change, and with them home decor styles. Acoustic popcorn ceilings, once the must-have for fashionable homes in the '60s and '70s, now badly date your space.
If you can't stomach the cost or the mess to remove the overhead popcorn, be prepared to credit a buyer in certain markets in order to close a sale.
"The popcorn acoustic ceiling is a major, major turnoff to buyers these days," says Goldwasser.
6. Too many personal items
Psychologically, when buyers tour a home, they're trying it on to see how it fits, just as they would a skirt or a pair of pants. If your house is cluttered with too many personal items, it's like the buyer is trying on those clothes with you still in them. A fit is unlikely.
"Anything that makes your house scream 'you' is what you don't want," Dana says. "I tell all my clients that how we decorate to live and how we decorate to sell are different, and right now, we're decorating to sell."
Sellers should try to eliminate personal items, including family photos, personal effects and even unique colors, she says.
"As soon as you have family photos, buyers get very distracted. 'Oh, did I go to school with him? What do their children look like?'" she says. "Suddenly, you're selling your family, and you're not selling the home."
If you really want to hook a buyer, Dana offers a tip: "I try to place a mirror strategically so that people can actually see themselves in the home, so they can actually picture themselves living there."
7. Snoopy sellers
Realtors and buyers alike generally bristle when the seller greets them at the door for a showing.
"It's so annoying," Goldwasser says. "They will want to walk around with the potential buyer and put in their two cents' worth. It's not good. Normally, there are one out of 10 sellers where it's OK to have them there, and that's because they know what is up with the property and how everything works."
Goldwasser makes a point to shoo his sellers away from showings when he's the listing agent.
"They like to think they know what they're doing, and that's fine," he says. "But when you've sold thousands of homes and you have a system, you know how to get people the maximum value for their home. That's why they hire you, right?"
8. Misrepresenting your home
Misrepresenting your house online in the multiple listing service is a sure way to really upset buyers and their Realtors.
One of Cannon's buyers loved a home she saw online. When he drove by to take a look, he was surprised to find acres of ramshackle mobile homes across the street.
"Sellers are going to paint the best picture they can," he says. "Some listings I've looked at and wondered how in the world they got that gorgeous photo without showing all the junk that's around it. When you get there, you wonder why didn't they just be upfront?"
9. Poor curb appeal
Much is made of curb appeal, and for good reason: It's your home's handshake, the critical first impression that lasts with most buyers.
"You have to totally trim and edge your yard to get it into the most immaculate condition you can," Goldwasser says. "It's a big mistake to not freshly mulch the beds and trim the trees. Every little detail counts.
"To not power-wash the exterior or leave mud dauber and wasp and bird's nests in your eaves and above your doors? You've got to be a fool to do that."
10. Clutter
Whether inside or out, less is more when it comes to clutter.
"I usually start in the closets," Dana says. "Your closets should be half-full with nothing on the floor. Why? Because most people looking for a house have outgrown their previous house. Showing them that you've still got room to grow gives them a reason to buy."
Kitchens and built-in bookshelves should showcase spaciousness by following the rule of three. For kitchens, there should be no more than three countertop appliances. Meanwhile, bookshelves should be divided into thirds: one-third books, one-third vases and pictures, and one-third empty.
The home office should be very generic so any type of professional can imagine living there, Dana says.
"Otherwise, it can be a distraction: 'What does he do for a living? How much money does he make?'" she says.
Dana's tip for toddler parents is to pack away extraneous "kiddie litter" and keep a laundry basket handy.
"When you get that phone call one hour before a showing, toss everything in that basket and take it to the car with you and your kids, and you're all set," she says.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Tri-Cities is fastest growing metro area, and cities are preparing


Posted: Apr 05, 2012 6:47 PM PDTUpdated: Apr 05, 2012 6:47 PM PDT
KENNEWICK, Wash. -- A population report released today by the US Census Bureau shows that the Tri-Cities area was the fastest growing metro area in the nation over the last year with Franklin County was the fifth fastest growing county.
The Census' 2011 population estimate showed  264,133 thousand residents for the Tri-Cities metro area, a 4.3% increase over 2010.
"We have seen growth last year in  manufacturing, which is the opposite of what the rest of the country is seeing and the housing market is very affordable," says Carl Adrian, the President and CEO of TRI-DEC.
But with growth come other problems.  "We are in a sense running out of industrial property. In Pasco, the processing center is basically full, in Richland there's not really any large sites available for any large industry," says Adrian.
That's why the city of Kennewick is excited about a new law signed by Governor Gregoire last week.
"What it does is,  it provides an opportunity to expand our urban growth area south of Interstate 82. Right now our urban growth area ends at Southridge area.  And our Southridge area is really not conducive for development purposes," says Marie Mosley Kennnewick City Manager.
Now the city is working with Benton County to include the 1,500 acre area as part of their Urban Growth Area.
"What we're looking at is a mixture of light industrial use like research development, office, maybe warehousing, data centers," says Greg McCormick, the Planning Director for the City.
The application is due in December. The city is also working with  property owners because there has been some interest for property development. 
"our interest right now is to demonstrate to the county that we need the extra land, for industrial development. And show that we can service that land with the right infrastructure," says McCormick.