The sun is out and I know many who live in Cherokee Bay are counting the days until they can once again head to the lake to sun & swim at the Community lakefront park on Pipe Lake. Whether you live in Cherokee Bay now or are looking to move to the Maple Valley area you can get more information on the Cherokee Bay community here or other discover other Maple Valley neighborhoods. Here's what's going on in Cherokee Bay as far as real estate goes: Currently there are 14 homes on the market with an average List price of $264,361. Five of these homes are under $250,000!! There are 5 sales pending the close of Escrow with an average price of $202,624 (several of these are bank owned properties). In the last 6 months there have been 16 homes sold and closed with an average sales price of $280... 02/04/2009

According to a recent article in The Seattle Times, the sale of the property locally known as the Donut Hole has finally been approved by the King County Council. The 156 acres which is County owned but is surrounded completely by the City of Maple Valley has been the topic of controversy for several years now. It even made it onto Jay Leno's  Tonight Show. The City of Maple Valley initially was given no input as to the density of development, and yet the City and School District would feel the burden of providing emergency services, maintaining roads under the increased traffic and taking on additional students in the district. For a while the project was on hold as the County decided to open the bid up among controversy. Finally Ron Sims and the developer, Yarrow Bay came to an agreem... 02/03/2009

Inventory is definitely declining in the Maple Valley market which is a good sign towards stabilization. Some owners have pulled their properties from the market; leasing rather than selling at a lower price or willing to wait for values to increase, but the inventory is also being absorbed by buyers sensing this is the time to jump in...whether first timers or investors.   Here's a snapshot of what the Maple Valley inventory currently looks like: ACTIVE LISTINGS: There are currently 287 Active Listings on the market with the highest price $4,875,000 and the lowest price $119,900. The median price is $494,827. These listings average 144 days on market.   PENDING SALES: There are currently 58 properties under contract.  The highest price $849,000 and the lowest price $175,000. The median... 02/02/2009

Ahh...the dream of homeownership. White picket fences, patios filled with family and a friends, lighted Christmas trees with presents all around, it's the quintessential Norman Rockwell vision of America. We see it in advertising every day. In fact, the fee simple form of real property ownership is one of the bedrock principles that have made America great and   brought immigrants from all over the world seeking fulfillment of their dreams. No matter what your personal vision of success is it almost assuredly includes a home and real estate as the manifestation of your success. Housing also fuels the economy in a way that no other sector can. The impact of an active real estate market led the way out of the last recession and fueled our economy to new heights. It was almost like the roa... 02/01/2009

www.MapleValleyHomeFinder.com  Descriptionjulianna@kw.com The Guaranteed Rural Housing Loan Program is making homeownership dreams a reality. Are you tired of renting? This unique opportunity can help you. Email today for a list of homes in Maple Valley Washington, A great community with excellent schools in the highly sought after Tahoma School District. Other communities in Pierce and King County have this opportunity as well. Real Estate Agent/Lender Team is looking forward to helping you. Other credits currently available for First Time Home Buyers.ProfileService Area: Maple Valley - Black DiamondService Type: Real EstateMarket Focus: First Time Home BuyersService Type: Approved LenderLocationWA Powered by vFlyer.comvFlyer Id: 2224068 02/01/2009

Many homeowners who are struggling financially have been holding out hope that the new administration will be passing legislation that will help them avoid foreclosure. Unfortunately they are going to be waiting in vain. Even with massive bailout programs sailing through congress there is little relief slated for homeowners who find themselves behind on payments. It seems the large corporations have beat us to the steps of congress in their quest for bailout money. The one bright spot is that lenders are getting more and more creative in working with their defaulting customers. Zero interest loans, interest only modifications, interest rate reductions and other creative solutions are becoming more commonplace as lenders try to curb the onslaught of defaulting loans. I think we owe them... 01/29/2009

This graph shows the number of homes that were sold in Maple Valley in 2008 and broken down by price range. As you can tell a majority of the homes that sold were in the $300 - 400K range with only 5 homes selling under $200K. The numbers were taken from a search off of the North West Multiple Listing Service. 01/19/2009

In 2008 there were 446 homes that sold in Maple Valley alone. The graph below has the homes broken down by number of bedrooms. As you can see a majority of the homes that were sold had 4 bedrooms followed closely by 3 bedroom homes. The numbers were configured by searching the North West Multiple Listing Services for homes that sold specifically within area code 98038. 01/19/2009

Whether you're looking to move into the Maple Valley area, or live here currently, it can be interesting to look at market trends and stats by individual neighborhood. This report is for Diamond Hills, a neighborhood near Elk Run Golf Course on the South side of Kent-Kangley. In order to give the most accurate picture of this year in review for homes in Diamond Hills, I decided to go back and compare 2008 to the prior two years. Please note, these numbers reflect single family homes only listed and sold through NWMLS and do not take into account any "by owner" or private sales.      2008 2007 2006 Number of sales 7 13 23 % Down from prior year -46% -43%  n/a Average Sales Price $284,471 $321,919 $307,296         Average Days on Market 87 47 28    Find out what your Diamond Hills home is... 01/19/2009

Whether you're looking to move into the Maple Valley area, or live here currently, it can be interesting to look at market trends and stats by individual neighborhood. This report is for Valley Green, a neighborhood near Wilderness Shopping Center on the South East side of higway 169. In order to give the most accurate picture of this year in review for homes in Valley Green, I decided to go back and compare 2008 to the prior two years. Please note, these numbers reflect single family homes only listed and sold through NWMLS and do not take into account any "by owner" or private sales.      2008 2007 2006 Number of sales 11 19 23 % Down from prior year -42% -17%  n/a Average Sales Price $328,332 $335,766 $350,006         Average Days on Market 54 45 30    Find out what your Valley Green... 01/19/2009

Whether you're looking to move into the Maple Valley area, or live here currently, it can be interesting to look at market trends and stats by individual neighborhood. This report is for Katesridge, a neighborhood near to 4 Corners which was developed by Quadrant homes.  In order to give the most accurate picture of this year in review for homes in Katesridge, I decided to go back and compare 2008 to the prior two years. Please note, these numbers reflect single family homes only listed and sold through NWMLS and do not take into account any "by owner" or private sales.     2008 2007 2006 Number of sales 2 7 7 % Down from prior year -71% no change  n/a Average Sales Price $492,475 $618,271 $534,421         Average Days on Market 63 59 43    Find out what your Katesridge home is worth. V... 01/19/2009

Whether you're looking to move into the Maple Valley area, or live here currently, it can be interesting to look at market trends and stats by individual neighborhood. This report is for Lake Forest Estates, a neighborhood just off of Maple Valley highway, comprised of large homes on generous (1/3+ acre) lots. The neighborhood also has a private lakefront park with play area and dock on Lake Wilderness.  In order to give the most accurate picture of this year in review for homes in Lake Forest Estates, I decided to go back and compare 2008 to the prior two years. Please note, these numbers reflect single family homes only listed and sold through NWMLS and do not take into account any "by owner" or private sales.     2008 2007 2006 Number of sales 2 7 7 % Down from prior year -71% no cha... 01/19/2009

Whether you're looking to move into the Maple Valley area, or live here currently, it can be interesting to look at market trends and stats by individual neighborhood. This report is for Elk Run, a neighborhood consisting of several division, which lies south of Kent Kangley and is divided by Elk Run Golf Course. The homes vary widely in size and style primarily because the divisions were built over about a ten year period of time. In order to give the most accurate picture of this year in review for  Elk Run, I decided to go back and compare 2008 to the prior two years. Please note, these numbers reflect single family homes only listed and sold through NWMLS and do not take into account any "by owner" or private sales.   2008 2007 2006 Number of sales 18 21 35 % Down from prior year -1... 01/19/2009

Whether you're looking to move into the Maple Valley area, or live here currently, it can be interesting to look at market trends and stats by individual neighborhood. This report is for Rosewood Park, a neighborhood just south of Kent Kangley, by Elk Run Golf Course which consists of rambler, two story and tri-level styles. In order to give the most accurate picture of this year in review for  Rosewood Park, I decided to go back and compare 2008 to the prior two years. Please note, these numbers reflect single family homes only listed and sold through NWMLS and do not take into account any "by owner" or private sales.   2008 2007 2006 Number of sales 11 19 23 % Down from prior year -42% -17%  n/a Average Sales Price $313,714 $345,136 $346,595         Average Days on Market 64 48 45   I... 01/19/2009

Whether you're looking to move into the Maple Valley area, or live here currently, it can be interesting to look at market trends and stats by individual neighborhood. This report is for Glacier Valley, a neighborhood just south of 4 Corners which consists of zero-lot line townhomes, "alley-load" homes as well as larger traditional two story plans. In order to give the most accurate picture of this year in review for  Glacier Valley, I decided to go back and compare 2008 to the prior two years.    2008 2007 2006 Number of sales 15 35 11 % Down from prior year -57% +225%  n/a Average Sales Price $348,907 $323,099 $361,850         Average Days on Market 139 72 60   Find out what your Glacier Valley home is worth. View additional reports for Maple Valley Neighborhoods,  Request a report fo... 01/19/2009

Tighter lending requirements, lack of liquidity and softening prices have all contriubted to a more than 350% increase in the number of Maple Valley single family homes listed and rented  through NWMLS in 2007 vs. 2008.  Many sellers who have been unsucessful (for whatever reason) in selling, or unwilling to sell in a down market, have turned to leasing as an option. We opened our Property Management division at RE/MAX Select  Real Estate in June of '08 in order to provide local, personalized service for Maple Valley homeowners looking for tenant screening assistance and ongoing management services. Since then, we have successfully placed tenants in over 30% of the total Maple Valley rented  inventory and are growing our portfolio thanks to the ongoing referrals of residents and Real Es... 01/13/2009

Here is some great footage of area flooding posted on You Tube. I am hearing there are areas gettting bad again today (Sunday) Further south areas of the Pacific Northwest are having a lot of issues, as well as the Snoqualmie areas North of us. I guess we are lucky it has'nt been as bad here as in some places.   Julianna 01/11/2009

Bank owned homes continue to influence Maple Valley market prices.  If you're thinking about buying a bank owned home in Maple Valley, please read this. Here is a current inventory report for active REO Single Family Listings within the Tahoma School District.       Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select in Maple Valley, WA. She has been successfully selling and marketing properties all over South King & North Pierce counties since 1990 but specializes in the Maple Valley Washington area. .She may be contacted directly at: 425-432-5400 Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved Colleen Fischesser 01/09/2009

When water meets rock, water always wins. (Think the grand canyon) Today many Washington State residents are dealing with the aftermath of record snowfalls followed by days of very heavy rain.  Here in Maple Valley, the Cedar River is swollen and raging like I haven't seen in the 14 years I've lived here. Many homes have flooded and I've been told emergency evacuations are going on down the road from my office. I hope everyone is safe and or soon will be! This was what greated me on my way to work this morning: Road Closed on Highway 169 to Cedar Grove Rd due to evacuations King County Sheriff's Vehicles (one with a jet ski on trailer). These homes are behind the Grange on Maple Valley Highway. A view from the other side of the bridge. My son lives on the Cedar River and fortunately his... 01/08/2009

Two years ago, my office began organizing and hosting our "Little Miracles Auction" which benefits Children's Miracle Network with a large portion of our proceeds being applied towards Pediatric Brain Tumor Research. (In two years we have raised over $150,000 thanks to our generous donors, sponsors and guests) Last year the Auction Committee decided to incorporate into our annual event, the recognition of someone in our Community who makes a difference in the life of a sick or disabled child. We all know there are many heroes among us who work diligently on behalf of one or more children however are rarely acknowledged for their time and commitment.     Last year Ken Eide, a Special Education teacher at Shadow Lake Elementary was presented with the first annual "Miracle Maker" award. Mr... 01/08/2009