The good news is, you’ll have a great selection from which to choose. From a smaller fixer on 4 acres to a sumptuous 6000 square foot plus Estates on 5 acres+.

The bad news? It’s not going to be cheap!

There are currently 67 homes on 1+ Acrein the greater Maple Valley area which fall within the Tahoma School District boundaries. These properties range in price from $269,000 to nearly $4 Million with the average List price $797,000-ish.

Many of these properties are in acreage type communities (some gated) surrounded by homes of similar size. But the majority will be what we refer to as “non-tract” homes, where there is more of a mixture of home types, sizes, age, etc as well as no Home Owner’s Associates and no Rules & Restrictions.

Long story short, whether you need room for horses, livestock, your garden, a shop….or just more room to spread out and play, Maple Valley has many homes available for sale now which could very well be just what you’re looking for!

Johnny was a relative late-comer to “The Show” breaking into the big leagues in 1943 at the ripe old age of 30 with the Boston Red Sox. He played 4 years and ended his career with a .263 average.

In 1995, almost fifty years after Johnny’s career ended, and well before the field was renamed in his honor, my little guy (who’s not so little anymore) pulled off an unassisted Triple Play as a second baseman.

Here’s how it went down:

With a runner at first and second, Connor caught a fly ball (out #1), stepped on the second base bag (out #2) and managed to catch the first base runner, who was frozen in the base path like a deer in the headlights.(out #3)  

Of course at 6, Connor really had no idea what he was doing and neither did the base runners. He was reacting to the instructions yelled by the coaches (and his Dad) and was quite content to take the applause and accolades which came along with that….

If you ever happen to drive by Johnny Lazor field, which is located just South of the Hobart Fire Station on 276th in the Spring, you’ll likely see parents and families gathered around the tiny dirt infield, watching new baseball memories being made. And who knows……maybe some new history as well.

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)

 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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

Enjoy!

It seems Jay Leno finds Maple Valley’s Donut Hole Controversy pretty funny as it recently received airtime on The Tonight Show. I have to admit, if you’re on the outside looking in,  it does seem pretty odd and even funny. …That a City is holding meetings about their Donut Hole issue. 

But for those of us who live in Maple Valley and are sick and tired of Ron Sims and the King County Council’s questionable political maneuvers (the suspiciously fast passing of the ridiculously strict Critical Areas Ordinance is one example which comes to mind) it’s really not so funny.

As a quick recap, the Donut Hole is an area of property (apx 160 acres) currently owned by the County but entirely surrounded by the City.

The County is in negotiations to make a trade with a large developer ; the donut hole for a larger piece of rural property. Because the County owns the Donut Hole property, it would control the density and development restrictions, while retaining all of the development fees. In the meantime, the City, which may see it’s population increase by as much as 30% if developed as outlined will have no control over density or building type, but will have the burden and responsibility for providing all services; roads, fire & schools, for the new residents. 

I think the next show which should feature our Donut Hole is 20/20 so I can hear John Stossel say….”GIMME A BREAK” !!!!!!

Colleen Fischesser

 Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select in Maple Valley Washington. Sh has been marketing and selling properties in South King and North Pierce Counties since 1990 but specializes in the Maple Valley area.