The Good, the Bad and the....wait, it's not sooooo Ugly. Here is a market comparison between January 2007 Activity and the first month of the 2008 market: NUMBER OF SALES2007 Number Sold: 36    2008 Number Sold: 21Number of Sales Down 41%  AVERAGE PRICE 2007 Average Price: $439,5432008 Average Price: $407,178Prices Down 7.4% on Average  MARKET TIME2007 Average Days on Market: 862008 Average Days on Market: 139  Market Time up 61% on AverageBut the good news is that there are currently 56 listings in the immediate Maple Valley Market area which are either under contract "Subject to Inspection" or are Pending in Escrow since January 1 and not reflected in the numbers above. The majority of these are priced under 400,000. This is good news to Seller in higher priced homes who have been wai... 02/08/2008

At Three French Hens it's a feast for the tastebuds as well as the eyes on February 8, 2008! Located in Maple Valley, Washington, Three French Hens features unique imports with a provincial persuasion. The vignettes are beautiful to see, and one can't help but feel immersed in the decadant beauty inside. But wait... now there's CHOCOLATE? The Chocolate Decadance Day is a special event on February 8th, and will feature an area artist, Jennifer Phillips.   02/01/2008

 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 don... 01/20/2008

 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 Vall... 01/18/2008

Maple Valley Residents, do you want to see the future?... Better yet... have a part in SHAPING it? Attend a workshop and meet with City Planners to provide feedback and discussion on alternative plans designed to shape Maple Valley's future growth for the "Four Corners" area. Currently, the Four Corners Shopping Center has always been the major shopping are in town, and includes the Safeway Shopping center, with other smaller stores, Johnson's Hardware, Dairy Queen, Quintessence, and other newer stores as well as those that have been there for quite some time. Changes are in the works, so now is your chance to have some say! Maple Valley Resident's are encouraged to participate on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 at the Lake Wilderness Lodge, located at 22500 S.E. 248th St. in Maple Valle... 01/18/2008

  There's been much speculation about how our local market will perform in the first quarter of '08 in light of all the doom and gloom of the National news media. The Pacific Northwest in general has such a positive economic outlook many are wondering if the recent local housing slump isn't more of a bump. Although it's much too soon to tell, it appears very low interest rates and seller price reductions may be luring buyers back to the bargaining table here in Maple Valley. Two weeks into the New Year, and there are 13 pending Sales and 7 Listings with contracts accepted "Subject to Inspection" .  Granted, it's not blazing hot activity, but considering last week was the first full "post-holiday" week, I think it's a sign of good things to come for the Maple Valley area.   Colleen Fisch... 01/14/2008

Brandi makes Maple Valley proud as one of the Best Artists to Remember of the year 2007 according to the Seattle PI. I first saw Brandi on VH 1 and was excited to see this talented singer/song writer from my own town. According to the PI, she's got Columbia Records behind her and has recently been touring with the VH 1's "You Otta Know" Tour. Congratulations Brandi! Click here to watch a video of Brandi's song, "The Story."   01/10/2008

Maple Valley, Washington Real Estate ..... THIS HOUSE HAS SOLD!This home features 3 Bedrooms and 2 1/2 Baths, Living Room, Family Room, Breakfast Nook, Lovely fenced in yard, and a fantastic deck. This great piece of Real Estate is located in Maple Valley, Washington. Come and see this beautiful home! Sunday, 1/13/20082-4 PM24101 SE 261st PlMaple Valley, WA 98038   Julianna Hind, IRIS, RESA, DCI 01/09/2008

Well, even through the controversy of crossing picket lines and snubbing the writer's guild, it seems Jay Leno gets the last laugh, and he found out what I have known for a long time, if you need a chuckle, open up the "Voice of the Valley," where you can read about the theft of a pair of Birkenstocks,  a teenager commandeering her mother's debit card, and of course the Maple Valley Donut Hole. Leno remarked that Maple Valley must be small town because it has meetings about "donut holes" and showed the headline in our local weekly paper.It was funny, but the actual "donut hole" issue... is not. The donut hole is a piece of land owned by the county that is surrounded on every side by the city of Maple Valley. That is why it is refered to as the "donut hole." King County has used it as so... 01/08/2008

According to CoStar Group, Maple Valley's Hagen Plaza has been purchased by Bellevue Plastic Surgeon Sepehr Egrari for $4.59 Million. At the time it was on the market, the retail/office space was fully leased with 11 tenants. the City of Maple Valley being one of them. According to County Tax Records, this property last changed hands when purchased by Lakeside Park Properties LLC in 2003 or 2004 (it is unclear from tax records when the actual transfer occurred) of which home builder Curtis Lang was a member. The sale was recorded on December 14, 2007Perhaps it was Maple Valley's surprisingly HIGH commercial rental rates which Dr. Sepehr found so attractive?  www.ColleenFish.com          www.MapleValleyRealEstate.com  Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select Real Estate in... 01/07/2008

Everyone I know who has lived on the Cedar River here in Maple Valley says it is the most peaceful experience, listening to the rushing water, watching the salmon spawn upstream in the Fall. If you've always dreamed of living on river front property, here in Maple Valley the Cedar River is it!   . Here is a Market Snapshot of Maple Valley Riverfront Sales for 2007   Number Sold 5 Average Sales Price $444,230 Average Size  1800 square feet  Many of the homes along the river have loads of charm and unique features. There is definitely an eclectic mix from which to choose. Enjoy! Colleen Colleen Fischesser is the Broker of RE/MAX Select in Maple Valley Washington. She has been specializing in marketing and selling Maple Valley properties since 1990.   01/05/2008

This information is taken from unimproved properties, or listings where the value was in the land, within the Tahoma School District which were listed through NWMLS and closed between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007 Number Properties Sold 33 Average Sales Price $326,509 Lowest Price: $20,000 Highest Price: $995,000      If you're thinking about building or want to acquire property for future investment purposes, Winter is a great time to be looking to buy vacant land in our area. You can see where potential draining problems might be and get a good picture of any wetland situations. Also, if the County were to require a "Winter Perc" , you wouldn't have to wait...it could be done now! -Colleen Specializing in Maple Valley Real Estate since 1990! 01/03/2008

If you're trying to sell a home or property right now in Maple Valley or know someone who is, you're probably painfully aware of how much longer properties are taking to sell in our area. To be specific, active land listings in 98038 zip code have an average days on market time of 159. Single Family Residences, 111 days. But perhaps you can take some small measure of comfort in that you are not the owner of a property which has been on the market for 2378 days!!  Yep. Do the math people. That's six and a half years!!! (And it could be longer because our MLS only archives back to 2000). All kidding aside, the owner of this property is obviously not terribly motivated and he/she's chosen time over price. So if tomorrow is your day number 112, hang in there. It could be a LOT worse. :-)"Th... 12/19/2007

Most successful Business Owners I know spend time in November and December working on and fine tuning their business plan for the coming year. It's not always fun to do, and is a little like homework, but every year I begin January with a detailed business plan. I have been selling real estate in Maple Valley since 1990 and have experienced all kinds of market conditions and the one thing I can tell you is  if you want or need to sell in 2008 you'd better sit down with your agent and make a plan. Here are some things to consider: What do you Want? You must have a goal in mind. Do you really want or need to sell? Or do you "kinda wanna sell" but only if you can get your dream price? If you're in the latter group, I'd suggest chosing another goal for the New Year. This isn't the time. If ... 12/19/2007

Are Builders Winning the Price Game?   Many first time Buyers or first time Single Family Home Buyers (coming from condos) who are looking in the Maple Valley area are shopping in the 300,000 to 400,000 price range. Actually, of the 336 active listings in Maple Valley right now, there are 128 homes currently on the market-nearly 40% of the total active inventory.     In the past, it was safe to say Home buyers, while attracted to the new trends, colors and architecture of New Construction, often opted for a "used" or resale home because it was more affordable. New Construction usually carried a higher base price and then there was the added costs of installing blinds and sometimes rear yard landscaping and a fence all of which came with the "used home" but for a lower price.   But with ... 12/15/2007

Maple Valley November Market Snapshot*       Current Active Listings: Average Price Average Days On Market 343 $463,902 105   Pending Listings November Average Price Average Days On Market 28 $374,583 106   Closed Listings: Average Price Average Days On Market 58 $453,760 98 Visit MapleValleyRealEstate.com to learn more about Maple Valley and to view Featured Homes in the area. *(Residential Single Family Listed through NWMLS) 12/10/2007

Handel's Messiah will be presented with full orchestra Sunday, December 9th 2008 at 7PM -- Free Admission, doors open at 6:30 PM. Sing with the choir, or just attend and enjoy the fantastic music. I have attended and participated several years and it is always a wonderful evening with excellent soloists, choral voices, and orchestra. Bring your choral books if you wish to sing-along, or borrow one at the door. The Sing-along performance will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Maple Valley, WA. The chapel is located near the Four Corners area, 26800 236th PL SE. Click HEREfor a google map and directions from your house to the event. 12/05/2007

How the School District Got it's Name: In 1926 at the 3 story brick School (now serves as Tahoma Middle School), the Students took the first two letters of the surrounding communities of Taylor Creek, Hobart, and Maple Valley Who's Got Mail? The first post "office" was opened on May 22, 1882 in Arthur, which was about 1.5 miles North of where Maple Valley is today. Charles Russell was the postmaster. His "office" was in his home.    Seattle's Vacation PlaygroundLake Wilderness, which had been one of the largest lumber Mills in King County became a resort community in the 1920's. Tom and Kane Gaffney began developing the resort in 1925 complete with a roller rink, ballroom and restaurant. The hot spot continued to grow, adding a bowling alley, rental cabins and a 9 hole golf course. Thi... 12/02/2007

 You'd probably have to be living under to not be aware of National housing market slow down. But unless you're trying to sell your home here in the Maple Valley area, you may not be aware of just how things have shaken out this year.   You’d probably have to be living under to not be aware of National housing market slow down. But unless you’re trying to sell your home here in the Maple Valley area, you may not be aware of just how things have shaken out this year.   Here’s a snapshot of what we’re seeing compared to last year: 2006 Homes Sold (through 12/1/06)1752 Homes SoldAverage Sales price $389,975Average Days on Market: 362007 YTD710 Homes SoldAverage Sales Price: $439,888Average Days on Market: 76Sales are down 59% but prices, on average are up approximately 12.5% HUH?Explaining... 12/01/2007

The 2008 Maple Valley Christmas Creche is open Friday - Sunday this weekend. the creche dispays of over 400 nativities owned by Maple Valley residents. Many nativities are of international orgin, some homemade, and many heirlooms. Guests can also enjoy beautiful Christmas Music, and activities for children. For more information, please visit http://mvchristmascreche.org/ , there you will find hours, directions, and other highlights! Northwest Source also features the creche as a must-see holiday festivity. 11/30/2007