Real Estate Blog

From Skyline Drive, this is looking North and down on the mighty Columbia River cutting through the Wenatchee Valley. Wenatchee is in the foreground  and East Wenatchee in the background on the right of the river.      What you can’t see in the photo is where the Wenatchee River flows into the Columbia (on the left) just below the bridge in the center portion of the picture. 

The Columbia River is truly at the center of our economic strength, providing water to irrigate the fruit orchards,  produce hydro-electric power and support our vast recreational opportunities.  The Hydro power production literally provides some of the least expensive electric rates in the entire nation.  This has been a significant factor in attracting Yahoo and Microsoft to expand into Central Washington.    The Columbia River is the most hydroelectrially developed river in the world. 

The Columbia River flows approximately 1200 miles, originating in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia, winding through Washington state, and taking a westerly turn to separate the southern border of Washington State and the northern border of the state of Oregon. 

The Columbia River is truly the "signature" feature of our beautiful valley.

Carol@TopPropertiesWenatchee.com
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source: The Mighty Columbia River

source: Shhhhhh Walmart is Moving In

Here is an excerpt from today’s Wenatchee World:
"Work has begun on a temporary access road to Fancher Heights.   The road is expected to open next spring and may one day become a permanent extension of Eastmont Avenue to relieve traffic congestion on Sunset Highway.   For now, though, it’s little more than a dirt track running from the end of Eastmont Avenue north to about Northeast 31st Street, then cutting up to Fancher Heights.

“They’ve pretty much scratched a pilot road all way to the top this week,” said Douglas County Engineer Jolene Gosselin.

The work on the road will continue through the summer, though the road will not open to the public until next spring. It will serve as an alternate route to Fancher Heights when the county closes Badger Mountain Road for renovations. It will be a two-lane oil-and-gravel road."

For more details on this project, contact me:
Carol@TopPropertiesWenatchee.com
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source: Second Access Road To Fancher Heights

For the last few weeks, I’ve been negotiating with a builder to assist some clients to get a custom home built.  About 3 weeks ago, we spent 4 hours on-site discussing everything the buyers wanted.  Eventually, the builders came back with an estimate of costs.    So, we sat down over a conference table last Saturday to hash out the details.  At that time, the builders indicated they wanted to work on a "cost plus" basis.  This means cost of materials, labor, plus a guaranteed profit margin for the builder.   My buyers wanted a day or so to make a final decision.   In the meantime, the builder came back with an "actual list price".    Without going into all the details, let me just say this sounded safer for the buyers knowing they would be locked in with an actual price.  So, we agreed to their terms (with a couple of minor conditions attached).    WELL, the builder came back to us this morning saying they WON’T attach an actual price to the home until the home is framed and drywalled.   This could be 3 or more months away because it will take 5-8 weeks just to get the permit approved, then the foundation must be poured before the framing can begin.   Good grief.  What a merry-go-round. 

The gist of the apprehension on the builders part is that costs are going up so fast, they are literally scared to set a price this far out from completion.   Don’t ask me why they made the offer in the first place.   In the meantime, what do my buyers do?  Do they wait or do they go shopping for a different home that has an actual price attached?   

Stay tuned…

Carol@TopPropertiesWenatchee.com
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Residential Blog

source: New Construction Dilemma

I would like to try to make some sense of the insanity that is settling into the local real estate market right now, but I’m not sure it’s possible. 

As I was driving around Wenatchee, East Wenatchee and Malaga today, looking at new listings, I came across several random lots with For Sale signs.  I called each of the listing agents to get some details and each one told me they have offers pending on them as of the last few days.  These are lots that have been sitting for quite a while, and not in prime locations.  

Although there is plenty of new development going on, it appears these scattered lots are being scooped up… probably by independent builders desperate for a spot to build.   The small independent home builders are having a difficult time finding building lots.  Development of a large parcel is so expensive (and time consuming) that it’s prohibitive for the smaller builder.   The larger parcels that are being developed are being controlled by the developers, leaving the "little guy" scrambling. 

Carol@TopPropertiesWenatchee.com
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Latest Wenatchee Real Estate News, Info, Trends

source: Building Lots Scarce

source: Report From the Street - Pre-Packaged Due-Diligence

 Here is a rainbow from this evening that seems to span the Wenatchee Valley.  Have you ever actually tried to catch up to a rainbow?   They’re very elusive.   As you think you’re getting closer, they seem to move and change location.  Do you think there’s really a pot-of-golf at the end? 

If you don’t have a pot-of-gold and need to find and purchase a home the conventional way, contact Carol today:
Carol@TopPropertiesWenatchee.com
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Carol’s Residential Blog    Carol’s Investment Blog

source: Follow The Rainbow