Posts Categorized: Selling Your Home

Fairwood Featured Business – Fire District 40, Station #17

By Rosie Rourke, posted Apr 14, 2016

blog pic station 17 2Happy April everyone!  With this post, I am happy to be continuing my “Fairwood Featured Business” series with installment #5.

Previously on this blog, I have featured Plaza Cleaners, Fairwood Thai Cuisine, and Cosmo Nail Parlor and Fairwood Golf & Country Club.

For April, I am proud to be highlighting our very own Fire District 40, Station #17!

Our Neighborhood Fire Station

We are so lucky here in Fairwood for so many reasons – and one BIG one is that the crew at Station #17 is here for us 24 hours a day.  Did you know that our contract with District 40 gives us extra personnel on shift here in Fairwood?  That’s right – the rest of the City of Renton will typically staff a station with 3 fire fighters on an engine.  At Station #17 we have 6 fire fighters on shift – 3 on an engine and 2 on an aid car – all the time.

Community Outreach

Recently, I spoke with station Lieutenant Chuck DeSmith about all of the ways that the Station 17 crew is involved with our community and found out about some exciting new programs. For example, coming up this month:

April 14th – the Station 17 crew is hosting a Firefighter Challenge for 8th graders at Meeker Middle School (this will be a modified fire service obstacle course challenge, created to inspire and educate local kids about fire service career opportunities)

April 26th – the Station 17 crew is hosting “Chief For A Day” for 3rd graders at Carriage Crest Elementary

May 5th – Nelson Middle School 8th graders will participate in the Firefighter Challenge

May 24th – 150 kids at Ridgewood Elementary will participate in an Egg Drop physics experiment from the ladder truck

May 26th – 8th graders at Northwood Middle School will participate in the Firefighter Challenge

In addition, Lieutenant DeSmith shared that his crew also pairs with the Apogee and LA Fitness for community outreach events as well.  He wanted me to remind everyone that the public is WELCOME at Station 17.  Please come by for a station tour, or free  blood pressure/ blood sugar test. The department also hosts free basic CPR.  If anyone is interested in CPR, please call 425. 430. 7000.

THANK YOU Station #17!!  You make our neighborhood better!

~ Rosie

 

 

SUMMER RECYCLE EVENT – SAVE THE DATE!

By Rosie Rourke, posted Apr 04, 2016

blog pic recycle eventI am so happy to be able to give back to the community in small ways.  One of my FAVORITES is our annual Family Green Fest at Fairwood Greens!!

Each year I sponsor a recycle celebration coinciding with the Fairwood Greens community garage sale.  This year the SALE is on July 9th.  If you can sell it – sell it!  If it doesn’t sell… bring it to the RECYCLE EVENT on July 16th!!

We will have 1 Green Planet for your bigger items.

We will have Confidential Data Shredding for your paper and confidential items.

We will have a HOT DOG cart, a BOUNCY HOUSE and FACE PAINTING for the kids!!!!

Save the date ~ and your recyclables!!  July 16th from 12-3pm.

Allen Park in Fairwood Greens: at the corner of 145th Ave. SE and SE 167th St.)

 

~ Rosie

 

FAQ – Inspection vs. Appraisal

By Rosie Rourke, posted Mar 25, 2016

What is the difference between an inspection and an appraisal? What do they do for me?  These are questions I am asked all the time, so here is a brief run down of each.

Inspection

  • Optional,  but highly recommended for the buyer.
  • Inspector works for the buyer to find any issue that may make the home purchase unwise or less desirable.
  • The Rosie Rourke Team will always be there at your inspection, representing you and your interests in the home purchase.

Appraisal

  • An appraiser is sent by the bank doing your loan on the home purchase.  They represent the bank’s interest and their function is to determine the value of the home.
  • Appraisers do not inspect a home for hidden structural issues.
  • Appraisals are not required if you purchase a home with cash.
  • A bidding war drives the home price up? An appraiser may determine that the agreed price is above the value of the home, in which case the bank may not loan the full amount.
  • The Rosie Rourke Team will always be there at your home appraisal, offering strategies to help you navigate through the process.

Let me know what YOUR questions are ~ I am happy to help!

~ Rosie

Seattle job market among country’s hottest!

By Rosie Rourke, posted Mar 17, 2016

blog picOnly 3 cities across the country had a hotter job market than Seattle last year!

The Puget Sound Business Journal reported that Seattle added over 78,000 jobs in 2015.

Dallas was #1, followed by San Jose and Los Angeles.  Finding and keeping talent is a hot topic across the Puget Sound region. More than 25,000 technology jobs in the state have remained open for at least six months, according to the Washington Technology Industry.

What that says to me is that we are perfectly placed in our area to see an increase in buyers looking for that perfect home in a central location.  My team is ready to help you find that home!  If all of this activity has you wondering what your home might be worth in today’s market, I will be happy to meet with you.

Is it time to start dreaming about your next home??

~ Rosie

Seattle housing market is HOT for 2016, according to Zillow

By Rosie Rourke, posted Mar 04, 2016

Zillow has posted it’s new hottest housing markets list for 2016, and guess what?  Seattle is #2 nationwide, right behind Denver.  To make the list, Zillow uses home value appreciation, unemployment rates and income growth.Featured Home | Rosie Rourke

Based on their research, Seattle home prices will rise 5.4% this year (second only to Dallas-Fort Worth at 5.6%).  Seattle’s income is projected to rise 1.1%.

Trendy tech centers hogged the spotlight for 2015. But this year, the markets that shine brightest will be those that  manage to strike a good balance between strong income growth, low unemployment and solid home value appreciation.

Remember as well that I can always provide a more accurate value of your home than Zillow can. I am happy to let you know how to increase the value of your home as well.

Happily serving the community and answering your Real Estate needs!

~ Rosie

 

 

 

Renton Proposes Park and Ride Garage Relocation

By Rosie Rourke, posted Jan 21, 2016

 

Hello Fairwood and Renton community friends~

I came across something that may interest you:  Thank you to fairwoodcommunitynews.com for reporting that Renton City leaders are proposing relocating the Renton Transit Center from downtown Renton to the former Sound Ford site at the corner of South Grady Way and Ranier Avenue South.  The plan would include a large public parking garage with easy access to 1-405 and SR 167 for commuter buses.

This will take the majority of the buses out of downtown (YAY) and expand the Park & Ride on Grady Way (another YAY).  You can find additional information at rentonwa.gov.

I love hearing about what’s going on in our community!

~ Rosie