The Real Estate Blog by Cari McGee

Well, first off, we got a dog! That isn’t real estate-related of course, except in the sense that lots of people associate pets with a home of one’s own and a yard to run around and play in. Hubby wrote about him in his own personal blog here and here.

Over 175,000 people call the Tri-Cities home, according to this report released this week. And yet, no Chili’s or Krispy Kreme, how does that happen?

Re: the ubiquitous round-about here in the Tri-Cities (actually, they’re all in Benton County, I think)…we’re all okay with the one-laners, but the two-laners, like the one at Steptoe/Hwy. 240 is anxiety-provoking to even contemplate navigating.  I HATE that one and will actually drive to the Columbia Center exit and then double-back if I need to get to Steptoe.  If I’m going to Leslie and can take a fast right off of the highway, I’ll do that, though.

The coffee shop near the office has a reader board  and they always try to put up some inspirational saying.  This week’s offering was “Life is too short to do everything you have to do to live longer ” which I really like.  But I read a relatively painless, not too time-consuming way to live longer this week so I’m passing it on.

And that’s all. I’m off to play with the puppy!

While showing relocating clients around the Tri-Cities I’ll mention different areas of Richland - central Richland, south Richland, north Richland. I also bring up West Richland. I guess when you hear it and don’t see that capital W at the front, it’s understandable that you wouldn’t know that West Richland is its own little city, and not just a part of Richland.

It began as a bedroom community to Richland, which itself was sort of a bedroom community for Hanford. Over fifty years later, West Richland now has its own grocery store, several gas stations, banks, liquor store, library, schools, parks, playgrounds, little league and soccer fields, and houses of worship. And three, count ‘em, THREE traffic lights. Plus, I live there

A small negative is that there is no great retail sector, so the tax dollars are not necessarily rolling in. Some people claim that the WR police are therefore rather quick to ticket. I would say that that might be true. I know a few of the speed traps, and I’ve certainly been ticketed more than once hurrying to or from the kids’ schools. But I’ve been let off with only a warning on Bombing Range Rd. and S. Highlands Blvd., too. Obey posted limits and the rules of the road and you’ll be fine, I’m sure.

There was a big to-do about a year ago about the name of the city. Some people wanted to change it to Red Mountain, in order to capitalize on the neighboring Red Mountain viticultural area. I dislike the name Red Mountain almost as much as I dislike the name West Richland. It was once named Enterprise. That’s kind of cool. No one asked me, but I’d name the city Westbridge if it were up to me.

First off, a HUGE congratulations to my beloved Matt McGee, who amassed 500 Twitter followers and won a bet he and Jeff Quipp had made. $800 is going to the African Well Fund thanks to Jeff, Will, Li and Matt. Yay!

The Tri-Cities was built on nuclear power. Some people freak out when they hear that, and many people expect long-time residents to have a glow about them (I know I did when I moved here!). But a recent poll shows more people expect good things from nuclear power.

I really dislike my state’s governor, and I have since she dubiously won the election in ‘04. But because I’m on this part of the state, which tends to be left to its own devices, and because we’ve got a rematch coming up in the fall, I usually ignore her plans and decisions. But the most recent role she may have played in the loss of a HUGE employment opportunity for the Tri-Cities really frosts me. It’s times like this I want the Tri-Cities to become one big city so we can have some more pull.

And you know what? That’s it for now. Have a great week!

About a year ago, some people asked me how to get to the Farmers’ Market in Richland. Since fresh-baked cakes are more in my line of interest than fresh-picked produce, I couldn’t tell them.

Now I know, and it’s turned into one of my favorite aspects of the week. Location - along the Parkade in Richland. Both GW Way and Jadwin run parallel to it, between Knight and the old theater. Hours/Dates-

And, they sell more than just produce -

Like this -

and this

and they had purses and windsocks and all kinds of things. It was really fun.

6 days left until the next one, so mark your calendars!

If you just read my May stats post, you’ll know that sales are down in the Tri-Cities. Apparently the same dilemma is affecting neighboring Hermiston, too.

Sometimes when I’m out with clients who are relocating to the Tri-Cities, I’ll tell them that, due to our recent expansion in population and commercial ventures, we’ve experienced some growing pains. Changing school district boundaries are one of the things I’m referring to. Having recently undergone this with the elementary boundaries changing in West Richland/South Richland, I know of which I speak.

The joke in the Tri-Cities is that everything here is fifteen minutes away from everything else. Need to drive to a meeting on Pasco - you should be there in about 15. Meeting a friend for lunch in Kennewick? - allow a quarter hour travel time and you’ll be fine. So, stories like this from the far-away ‘burbs of California are fortunately not something we need to deal with. And, really, not EVERYTHING here is 15 minutes away -sometimes we can drive for - gasp! -a HALF-HOUR until we reach our destination. Back-breaking work, I tell you.

Friday was Windermere’s Community Service Day. I really dislike the out-of-doors, but I do enjoy making a difference and I like to have fiun, so I usually feel pretty conflicted on CSD. However, this year was fun from beginning to end, and I think it’s because I was with a hilarious group of agents who really went all out when given our assignment. For pics and more, check out my post on the Pasco Real Estate Blog.

And finally…this is AWESOME - not real estate-related (well, if agents still made cold calls I suppose it could be) -how to torment a telemarketer. Thanks to Hanan at grow-a-brain!

See you later!