Maple Valley High School Lacrosse is Underway!

Lacrosse isn’t just for the East Coast anymore. The sport, which was originated by Native American Indians, is actually the country’s oldest known game. Originally the sport was used not only for recreation, but to settle scores between tribes. In the early 1900’s Collegiate Lacrosse was born and the sport has steadily grown ever since. 

Lacrosse has continued to gain popularity here in the Pacific Northwest, with new teams forming each year and at younger and younger ages.

I’ve always been a big baseball Mom, but when my son Connor began playing 7 years ago for the Maple Valley Vandals, I became a convert. It is a much faster paced game and incredibly exciting. 

I believe it’s not too late to sign up for the 2008 season. There is a Girl’s team as well as a Youth & Middle School program. More info is available at the Maple Valley Lacrosse website.  If you haven’t watched before, I’d encourage you to attend one of this year’s home games.

They are a blast! (usually)

South King County School District Scores….Tahoma Leads the Pack!

Historically homes in South King County have proven more affordable for Employees relocating to the Puget Sound because of their being further distanced from the Metropolitan areas of Seattle and Bellevue.  

 Maple Valley has long been an attractive alternative to the Bellevue/Eastside area for relocating families due to the strength of the Tahoma School District and lower prices.

As a convenience for those researching South King County markets, I’ve compiled a side by side comparison of various information from school districts which include:  Auburn, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Enumclaw and Tahoma (Maple Valley).

At every grade and subject level but one, Tahoma WASL Scores were higher than all South King County districts.

Maple Valley Commercial Space Asking Big City Rates

Several months ago I was looking into some of the soon to be built Commercial Retail space at Four Corners behind the existing Do It Center hardware store. The complex, which has yet to be built, was being advertised on the Commercial MLS, however no rate information was posted. After talking with the listing Broker about timeframe and availability, I inquired what the asking rate was….and then nearly dropped the phone when he told me they were asking $40 per sq.ft for an end cap (Highway 169 frontage). I couldn’t help myself, I chuckled and told him “Well, good luck with that” and ended the conversation. According to the Seattle Times, this is higher than what tenants pay in Seattle ($31 per square foot). Perhaps this is why several small businesses at the newly developed Maple Valley Commons have closed their doors such a short time after opening.

It’s the tale of Supply and Demand. Current Maple Valley Zoning does not afford much opportunity for commercial development and the City has long been struggling to get a firm grasp on which direction it would like to go with respect to Commercial growth. For quite a while, the City has maintained an “anti big-box” policy, not allowing any commercial development over 60,000 square feet. But with continued Residential growth comes a demand for services. Currently the City is losing precious revenue to the City of Covington, just a short 10 minute drive away, and is in the process of reconsidering it’s position on Commercial Development.

Maple Valley is a beautiful community with much to offer; scenery including numerous  lakes, Cascade Foothill & Mt. Rainier views, the Cedar River trail, excellent proximity to Skiing at Snoqualmie pass, along with a very strong school district…the growth is happening and I’ve no doubt the City will find it’s Commercial identity while maintaining all that make Maple Valley such wonderful place to live and raise a Family.

©2008 Colleen Fischesser RE/MAX Select RE

EarthQuakes in Maple Valley? You Bet!

Hobart was shaking. At least that’s what the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network tells us happened earlier this month, on  February 4, when a  series of 4 small 2.0 magnatude Earthquakes occurred. The quakes were centered in the Hobart area, a rural community located South of Issaquah Washington and East of Maple Valley, WA. Personally, I didn’t feel a thing and don’t know anyone in the area who did. These small tremors seem to be a common occurrence in the Pacific Northwest.

The only Earthquake of any magnatude I’ve experienced since moving to the Northwest in 1987 was seven years ago when the Nisqually Earthquake, a magnatude 6.8, had the whole Seattle area trembling. Being from the Mid-west, I was used to Tornado safety and called my 13 year old, who was at home sick and told him to hurry and get in the basement. Then I realized, wait, that’s not what you’re supposed to do! And I called him back to tell him to under a table! Fortuntately the only damage we sustained in our Maple Valley home was to a few picture frames and nick-nacks. But I know of a few homes and buildings in the area which sustaind significant structural damage. This is a photo of the runway at Sea Tac airport.

If you’re interested in learning more about Earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest Area, visit the PNSN. Or for safety related information as it pertains to your home during an Earthquake visit King County’s website.

Moving to Maple Valley? Here’s the REAL Scoop on the Rain!

When my Husband and I first began telling friends and Family about our move to the Seattle area, one of their first responses often was, “but it rains all the time there!” or “how are you going to stand all that rain?”. If my parents hadn’t already lived in Bellevue at the time, I may have been more concerned, but we were assured that it didn’t rain much more in Seattle than in other cities…it just rained more often.

Seattle averages approximately 36″ of rainfall a year. Compare that to other cities such as New York which gets 46.6” or Kansas City Missouri which averages 42″ of rainfall per year or Dallas which also has a 36″ average.

NOT more Rain….just more rainy days.

In fact, after living here for a while, you’ll begin to notice the various degrees of rain: Downpour, RAIN, Sprinkles, Drizzle & Mist (or as I like to call it, “Spit”)

The norm is definitely Sprinkles or Drizzle and therefore you’ll rarely see a Seattleite using an umbrella unless there’s a heavy downpour or reason to be outdoors over a prolonged period of time…think youth Soccer sidelines.

If you’re considering making a move here to the gorgeous Northwest, don’t let the rain scare you off. The gorgeous Sunny days are more than worth it all. Besides, you may have more of it where you live now…just not as often.

Enjoy the Ride!

The Formula For a Faster Sale: Yesterday’s Price - Market Adjustment = Faster Sale

 My mom used to watch Days of Our Lives every afternoon when I would come home from school. Although I haven’t watch a Soap Opera for years, I can still here the music and the announcer’s voice over “Like Sand through an hour glass….these are the days of our lives”

For many home owners having their property listed may seem as painful as watching grains of sand slip slowly through the hourglass…..day after day living life outside their regular routine; making the beds every day, (yes, some people don’t make their bed every day!) keeping the dishes out of the sink, the dog in the laundry room…whatever the hoops they need to jump through may be. The fact of the matter is, if you want to sell now, you have got to price your home aggressively and if it doesn’t sell, be prepared for a price reduction.

In my market area, of the 29 stick-built homes with sales pending, 75% made at least one price reduction after the initial list price. These homes were on the market an average of 124 days.

Compare that to the 25% which came on the market at a relatively aggressive price, never reduced and sold in an average of 22 days.

The name of the game today is PRICE. Buyers must have a reason to buy your home, over the dozens of others on the market today.

Let’s see, make the bed 124 days in a row or 22 days in a row and still end up at the same price?

Seems like an easy choice to me!

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