Kennewick WA News

October 28th, 2010

With the cold weather upon us one of the first things we tend to think about is winterizing our homes by having the irrigation lines blown out for the winter and covering up exterior spigots with insulators.  But, let’s not forget now is also a good time to start thinking about ways we can improve, or drastically reduce our energy costs as well. Same as a car, your home needs to be running efficiently to save you money. If you own a home in Kennewick, WA you may contact the Benton County PUD to come to your home to perform a 4 step energy audit. There is a fee for the Home Energy Tune-Up so call 582-1234 for program details.

The Home Energy Tune-Up includes:

1. An inspection of your windows and doors and a diagnostic test to find energy leaks
2. A review of your heating/cooling system, duct work, and insulation levels
3. A check of major appliances and their operation
4. Tips on energy lifestyle and every day advice

Below is a direct link with more information on the energy audit services provided by Benton County PUD.

http://www.bentonpud.org/services/home_tune.php

There are also many do-it-yourself , simple steps we can take to help reduce energy costs. Below is a link to a comprehensive article which includes many easy action items you can accomplish on your own which will go a long way to help out.

http://www.businessknowhow.com/homeoffice/heating-costs.htm

September 15th, 2010

Well, I have to say I completely agree with Kiplinger’s conclusion of putting Kennewick, WA into the top 10 Great Cities for Raising Families. I can’t think of a better place where I would want to raise my family.

Kiplinger used the following criteria to come up with it’s recommendation for the Top 10 Great Cities for Raising Families: job growth, healthy economies and a vibrant local culture. They then fine-tuned their search for place already filled with families with children, quality of public schools (ratings from GreatSchools.org), low crime rates (according to the FBI), and lots of parks and recreation.

Kennewick, WA was praised for having a low cost of living, affordable housing, a strong science-and-tech-based economy, plenty of outdoor attractions, and a falling crime rate.

To see the complete list and article from Kiplinger click here.

August 13th, 2010

The brand new Cottonwood Elementary School  in Kennewick, Washington is opening their doors to welcome their first students August 30, 2010.  The beautiful new building will house over 525 K-5th graders.  They have a dedicated, highly skilled staff ready to provide the best possible educational experiences using Kennewick School District adopted curriculum, state of the art technology and creative lesson design. Cottonwood Elementary is a school where all students will be challenged to Dream-Discover-Achieve.

Cottonwood Elementary will have its ribbon cutting celebration on Thursday, August 26th at 11:30 am.

Cottonwood Elementary School is located at 16734 Cottonwood Creek Blvd., Kennewick, WA 99338. The office phone number is (509) 222-6400.

In addition to the new elementary school, the district will be renovating four elementary schools that are over 30 years old with aging infrastructures. Work has already begun at Southgate. Students and staff will temporarily move into the district’s Fruitland Building for the 2010-2011 school year while Southgate is remodeled. These projects are part of the district’s Ten Year Facilities Plan. Click here to open KSD’s Ten Year Plan.

If you would like housing information about the Cottonwood community, please contact us the Kenmore Team at (509) 735-1025.

August 13th, 2010

As Fall is upon us many citizens in our local communities become more active and venture out to enjoy their beautiful surroundings. Many communities and subdivisions in the Tri-Cities have in place covenants, conditions and restrictions which regulate, among other things, the visual appearance of these communities. 

What is a covenant?   A covenant is essentially a clause in a real estate contract that requires one party to do, or refrain from doing, certain things.  The rules, regulations, and restrictions contained in covenants are enforced by Home Owner Associations to ensure neighborhoods and property owners a longevity of value and protection of their real estate investments as well as a sense of “pride in ownership”. 

What is a Home Owner Association?  It is a group of community members elected by other community members to represent the best interests of said community.

There are certainly pros and cons from many people’s perspectives on having rules and regulations implemented in a subdivision or community.  Covenants are something to be examined and evaluated by each prospective real estate investor prior to their purchase as to whether or not those covenants, or lack thereof, are in their best interests. The Canyon Lakes Golf Community has such covenants. To review of a copy of those rules and regulations, click here.

If you or someone you know have any property questions or would like more information about the Canyon Lakes Community, please contact Yvonne Caffrey with the Kenmore Team at (509) 438-4212.