This is the weekend - Renton River Days! The weather is beautiful and there is so much going on at the park in Renton. Whether you are already own a Renton home, are looking to buy a Renton home or just visiting our great city, you don’t want to miss out on this weekend’s activities!!   This year marks the 27th year of Renton River Days with activities in Liberty Park as well as throughout the town. If transportation and/or parking are an issue there is a FREE shuttle service between Renton Memorial Stadium and Liberty Park. There will be arts and crafts, a chalk art contest, quilt exhibition, rubber ducky derby, art market, a parade, Wenatchee Youth Circus performances, sidewalk sale, Nibble of Renton, stage entertainment, a moonlight movie and SO much more. For full information visit ... 07/24/2012

Grandpa’s Smile Walking down South 3rd in old downtown Renton Tuesday evening. I’m packing a bag full of fresh produce. Green onions and garlic, peppers, some rhubarb and lettuce, and a couple pints of raspberries. I’m on my way to my truck and heading home after the Farmers Market when I feel Grandpa’s smile. I know he’d be happy I stopped for some real home grown produce and that triggers a scene in my mind’s eye that has played itself many times over the years. I’m a kid standing with my Grandpa by the water spigot in the backyard next to the garden. He kneels to prune and wash his fresh picked bounty and carefully packs the doubled paper shopping bag. He loves these blessings from the dirt and holds them with care and admiration. He looks up and his face is lit with a gentle smile u... 07/19/2012

Will Rodgers and Wiley Post were self made men. Both went after a life they were creating through passion, daring, raw talent, persistence, and wit. Both became the stuff that books are written about, stories are told, and movies are made. Born November 4, 1879 on the Dog Horn Ranch in the Indian Territory that would later become Oklahoma, Will Rogers was the youngest of 8 children in a close and loving Cherokee family. He dropped out of school in the 10th grade and his first big adventure was in 1901 when he went to Argentina to work as a Gaucho then off to Australia as a circus performer doing rope tricks. Later Will joined Vaudeville, the Ziegfeld Follies, then to Hollywood to star in 70 movies, became a columnist who wrote over 4000 articles, did radio, and traveled the country as a... 07/17/2012

A Home for MAX. On the way back from Seattle the other day I stopped by Boeing in Renton to get a few photos to use in my blog. I’m excited about all the Boeing news of late, its many new contracts for planes, and the decision to build the 737 MAX and 900 here at the Renton plant. This will be a great boost to our local economy and create demand for other businesses and homes. Already housing permits are up this year, about 330 units with estimated growth through 2016. By 2013 Boeing will be building 38 planes a month on the two 737 production lines. This year over a 1,100 jobs have been created in Renton bringing the total employees to just over 14,000. Ten years ago in a down cycle Boeing started to consolidate and sold off a lot of land along its eastern border which became The Landi... 07/16/2012

A friend recently thought he was going to have to replace his entire roof in his home in Renton WA as well as re-do the trusses due to very visible sags in his roof. Upon further investigation it was found that there had been a fire in the attic of this home which predated his ownership. Why this wasn’t noted on the inspection report at the time of purchase is up for question. I am glad that we weren’t the agents representing him at the time he purchased this home, because this was obviously missed in several reports and disclosures.    After a conference with some knowledgeable roof “guys” it was determined that the fire damage had, in fact, been repaired but not sufficiently. Over time this had resulted in visible sags to the roof.     What might have resulted in thousands of dollars ... 07/09/2012

Back in 1901 an Englishman, Ben Atkinson, after a successful run in the Alaska Yukon gold fields, came to Renton, Washington and built the Melrose Hotel. It was a three story, sixty room hotel complete with saloon, a billiards room, and a cafe, in old downtown Renton, Washington. The Melrose was a favorite watering hole for locals, mostly coal miners and brick factory workers. The place caught fire in 1928 and it destroyed the two top floors that were the hotel rooms. The first floor was salvaged and restored, in fact the original bar is still there. According to the registry, it is officially Renton’s oldest historic building still in use. Many familiar old Renton families have owned this building from one time or another through the years including the Dobson’s, Nattucici’s, Bertozzi’... 07/04/2012

A sure sign of summer in Renton is when the Renton Farmers Market or the Valley Medical Center Farmers Market open. They are now open people so here is your opportunity to get out, meet your neighbors and the wonderful vendors while picking up some of the freshest fruits, vegetables and flowers to be found in Puget Sound!   One of the things I enjoy most about living in my Renton home is the availability of farm fresh locally grown produce. Trying to eat healthy is much easier when it is readily available. Whether you go to one of the Farmers Markets, have your goodies delivered to your door or check out local vendors like Carpinito Brothers you will get the freshest, organically grown goodies ready for you to throw on the grill or have a little stir fry tonight.  If you are looking for... 07/04/2012

I’m so glad it’s June again and the Renton Farmers Market of 2012 is here! I so look forward to local fresh vegetables and fruit. I’ve had to re-train myself from my usual winter grocery shopping habits on the weekend, “no, don’t buy it now. Tuesday is market day! The Renton Farmers Market runs from June through September every Tuesday from 3:00 to 7:30 pm in the center of downtown Renton on the Piazza at 3rd and Burnett. It’s kid friendly, the smells are divine with fresh roasted corn on the cob, shaved ice with real fruit flavored cones, slow cooked pork, local honey, and lots of fresh vegetables from local farms. This is like I remember it from days long ago out of Grandpa’s garden. Big green onions, fresh garlic, carrots, snap peas, and asparagus. Beautiful flowers, fresh apples, ra... 07/02/2012

Wednesday evening I attended a local real estate networking get together in downtown Renton with several local brokers, lenders, and others. We met at the Berliner Pub on Main Street. If you love German food and beer, you’ll love this place! Big plate sized pretzels fresh from the oven, sausages and weiners, the best I’ve had in years. I’ve been here a few times now. I’m not much of a beer drinker, but I’m loving these German brews. So far my favorites are Zunft Kölsch and Hofbrau Lager. After the meetup I was walking back to my truck about 7:30 pm when I passed this small business front and their poster caught my eye. I thought it was pretty cool and I liked the 3 dimensional look to it so I took a few photos with my iPhone 4s. I forgot about it until yesterday when I was looking for p... 06/30/2012

Many months ago Renton citizens voted on whether or not they would prefer to continue to be saddled with the costs of running their own library – which was becoming quite costly – or to join the King County Library System. They voted for joining King County but there has been vocal opposition from some long time Renton residents who really like the old site above the Cedar River. Personally, I thought it looked kind of decrepit and it was probably really cool at one time, especially when it was new, but you could see the huge long term maintenance costs coming and our city, like every other in the nation, have had our struggles with city budgets. So, it was unlikely to get a nice new facelift anytime soon unless we joined the KCL system. Well, I’m happy to report that a now also very vo... 06/26/2012

Cruising the Loop... Back in the day (and I’m seriously dating myself here), Friday and Saturday night was about cruising the loop. We’d head downtown Renton when the weather was good, especially in the summertime to join in on what was happening on the street. Oh my, I can hear our Mayor and the City Council moaning now for just bringing this up. Lord knows they’re hoping no one remembers those days. The city passed an ordinance to stop the cruising several years ago because it got out of hand. But it was different back then, Renton was just a small town of about 15,000. It was a time before super sophisticated movies with mind blowing special effects. No online hi-speed internet gaming, no Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. We were just kids living in a small town in the mid 60’s still wa... 06/24/2012

I discovered Anne Boyington of Trevani Truffles at the Renton Farmers Market a few weeks ago. The business was born out of a family passion for making homemade chocolate truffles. For several years the recipes were only enjoyed by the family and close friends around the holidays. But son Troy and daughter Eva were relentless about sharing these fabulous goodies with the world so they opened up their first shop in 2007 in a 10’ by 10’ tent here at the Renton Farmers Market. The business has grown and now you’ll find Trevani Truffles at several area Farmers Markets around the Seattle area and they also sell directly to customers year round. Check out their website at: trevanitruffles.net Anne offered me a free sample as we chatted at the booth and after a taste that was all it took. It wa... 06/24/2012

geri wehry | RE/MAX Select R.E. | (206) 819-4234 17245 117th Ave SE, Renton, WA Lovely home on a quiet dead-end street of stick-built houses. 3BR/2BA Manufactured offered at $149,000 Year Built 1986 Sq Footage 1,344 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking 2 Covered spaces Lot Size 13,296 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION What a find! This is a lovely home on 1/3 of an acre, on a quiet dead end street of stick-built homes! The vaulted ceilings and open floor plan make this home inviting and just perfect. There are two bedrooms on one end of the home and the master on the other, a LR, kitchen with eating area and two full baths. The backyard is fully fenced with two storage sheds. The home has been lovingly maintained with fresh paint inside and out, a new roof, new... 06/20/2012

 Ahhh the mystique of the Renton address within the Issaquah School District. It is desirable and sought after. More affordable than other Eastside communities, but can you find what you want? You might be surprised! Begin your Renton/Issaquah School District Home Search NOW! Considering other Eastside/SE King County Communities? Homes within Lake Washington School District Homes within Issaquah School District Homes within Renton School District King County Bank Owned Homes King County Short Sales 06/10/2012

Homes on acreage in Renton, WA are not as plentiful as they might be in other,  more outlying, areas of King County.  But if you're looking for the convenience of being located within 11-12 miles of downtown Seattle, and are hoping for a little more than a small patch of green....there is hope. Currently there are 22 Single Family Residential Homes available on 1+ acre in Renton, WA. The Average price is $669,936 and the median asking price is $634,950. Pending sales on 1+ acre number only 6 for the past 180 days Over the last 6 months there have been 22 properties sold, (same as active listings which indicates a 6 month absorption rate, which (in my opinion) equals a pretty even playing field between buyers and sellers. The lowest sale price was $85,000 and the highest price was $500,0... 06/10/2012

My wife and I recently bought play kitchens for the two youngest grandchildren (two separate families - hence two kitchens). Today my wife received a call from the 3 yr old and on speaker phone he is telling my wife thank you for the kitchen that the mail truck brought. My wife says, “I’m so glad you like the kitchen Grandpa and I got for you.” His response, “Dramma, how did you get on the mail truck?”  So after explaining that we had ordered it on the computer and asked the mail truck to deliver it to him at his house we think he is a little more clear and understands that the UPS man didn’t have “Dramma” hiding in the delivery truck.    A great kitchen is one of the most important rooms in most homes and we would love to have the opportunity to help you buy your new home with the perf... 06/07/2012

Let us help you buy a home in Renton WA or Kent WA or Auburn WA where you can live affordably  yet have easy accessibility to all the Big City amenities Seattle has to offer. Getting there is easy, affordable and convenient  via the Light Rail or your car on 167, 405 or I-5. Weekend fun could include exploring Pike Place Market or catching a show at the 5th Avenue Theater which has been restored to all it’s original glory! There is no end to the options available for dinner. You might want to try something new each time?? How about Hawaiian themed Ma’ono Fried Chicken & Whisky in West Seattle?  Little Uncle on Capitol Hill? Or the all-time favorite at my house ....Ivar’s clam chowder on the Seattle Waterfront.   Our team of real estate professionals would love to help you find your perf... 06/05/2012

Summer is here! And we are helping people buy and sell houses in Renton. School is out or close to it depending on your district, so if you’re not interested in buying a Renton home here is some fun stuff for you to do. The great City of Renton has lots of possibilities...there is Gene Coulon Park with it’s great swim area, lots of picnic space, walking trails, sand volleyball, boat dock, two restaurants and play toys for the kids; Cascade skatepark is another favorite and is well lit to be accessible for evening play; you could spend the day on the water with rentals available at Renton Canoe & Kayak. If weather doesn’t permit outdoor play you could check out the new iFly facility for some skydiving fun. Children of all ages enjoy the Family Fun Center where both indoor and outdoor act... 06/04/2012

Hello everyone: I hope you had a nice weekend! I was honored to be a volunteer judge at Sartori School last Friday. I can still remember every graduating senior who partipated. A little background is needed. Sartori is the alternative to regular school. This is my second year judging the student's senior project which, upon completion, allows them to graduate. To say that some of these kids have been to hell and back is an understatement. In fact, one of the kids was forcefully moved from San Diego to the Seattle area by his parents. Otherwise, he might have been dead as two of his close friends were shot to death. Other students have been severely bullied, had children, and gang-banged. Honestly, it makes my normal life look pretty good and I'm grateful that I had all the comforts of h... 06/04/2012

Social Media changed. The wide open frontier is gone. Now it’s a great big densely populated medium that’s busy, noisy and chaotic. Yet those who attract (and don’t push) are winning. To me, Google’s Penguin algorithm update is a wonderful thing. Those who jumped in with an immediate strategy to leverage the net with black hat SEO by purchasing Link Farms, over use and abuse of dense keyword word usage and over tagging everything to death to get a higher ranking are the ones hit hardest by this update. The Penguin update levels the playing field and to me this means Google wants everyday searchers to have a better experience. Google wants people to find what they’re really looking for and not to be hijacked by sleight of hand tricksters and end up somewhere else. Photograph courtesy of... 06/02/2012