Q:  I do not want to be too close to base so I have been looking at houses around Bonney Lake, Roy, and Pullayup. Places a little off the beaten path but not too far that I have to drive an hour to get to Fort Lewis. Plus schools and crime rate are a factor.

 A:  While I work the entire perimeter of the bases, I sell many more homes in Thurston County than in Pierce.

When I PCS’s to Lewis (with teenagers), everyone I spoke with recommended Yelm/Roy, Lacey/Olympia.  Less crime, better schools, and lower prices.  I ended up in Lacey and was happy with my decision.

Aside from the demographic issues, commuting to the Thurston county communities is vastly better than Pierce.  I-5 south to Lacey (or out the back gate to Yelm), is 15-30 minutes at worst.  Rush hour traffic to the Puyallup areas can exceed an hour, and you are limited to I-5/Hwy 512 (which is bumper to bumper every morning and afternoon), or surface streets which can be just as bad.

The Numbers

Since my retirement from the Army in 2004, I have made a point of placing the real estate needs of soldiers and their families at the top of my list.  I have lived the life, and am familiar with the realities of a military move.

 

This post is an announcement of the creation a new housing website geared to Soldiers, Airmen, and their families, Fort Lewis Realtor.com.   I invite you to visit the website, and make use of the tools available there:

 

• IDX MLS Mapped searches
• Customizable Email Listing Alerts
• Free Market Snapshot Reports: online report containing easy to interpret sales analysis at the neighborhood level, provided from real time MLS data.
• Instant Home Comps; compiled with MLS not Tax information.
• Area Links and Information

 

 

In addition to the resources available on the website, I am always happy to discuss the real estate market, and real estate transactions in general with anyone who will listen.   For more information visit Fort Lewis Realtor.com.

 

New Real Estate Website in Lacey Washington

Lacey Property Sales is a new (launched in June 2007) website serving the real estate needs of Lacey Washington.  When visiting the website you will be able to use real estate recourses that rival those used by licensed realtors….FREE. 

· Multiple Listing Service Search with integrated mapping and price charting.

· Email alerts using Realty Watcher, a system that alerts you to listings that fit your criteria & new listings, also with maps and pricing comparisons.

· The Market Snapshot Tool, primarily for sellers, this tool gives you real time MLS information about homes sold by geographic area, down to neighborhood level.  Market Snapshot reports are emailed to you with graphics, price charting, and take in to account all homes sold in your area, not just those that you performed a search for.

• Instant Comparable Home Values.  Find sales prices for homes in your neighborhood and on your street.  Find out what the neighbors paid for their home.

Please visit Lacey Property Sales today and Get to know your Realtor.

$399,900   Fantastic brand new home on 5 Acres off of Steamboat Island Rd. Exceptional privacy and seclusion are among the great features of this 5 bed, 2 bath home. The home features stainless steel appliances, an open floor plan with the master and full bath down, 4 additional rooms and a bonus room up. Outside there is a large deck, covered porch, 1/2 mile private drive, and not a neighbor in sight.

Additional Features and Amenities: Appliances: Dishwasher, Appliances: Microwave, Appliances: Range/Oven, Appliances: Refrigerator, Appliances: See Remarks, Build Cond: Very Good, Building Cond: Stick Built On Lot, Energy: Electric, Exterior: Cement/Concrete, Exterior: Wood, Fireplace: 0, Floor: Vinyl, Floor: Wall To Wall Carpet, Foundation: Poured Concrete, Foundation: Slab, Heating/Cooling: Wall, Interior: Bath Off Master, Interior: Dble Pane/Strm Windw, Interior: Dining Room, Interior: Walk-In Closet, Lot Description: Brush, Lot Description: Garden Space, Lot Description: Level, Lot Description: Partial Slope, Lot Description: Wooded, Map: 1-B-6, Roof: Composition, Sewer: Septic, View: Territorial, Water: Individual Well

For more information about this listing,
visit our Thurston County real estate website

Free; Search the MLS for all Thurston County and Olympia Real Estate,
click here.

Welcome Yourself Home To Comfortable Country Living! Featuring A Spacious & Bright 2776 Sf Beautiful Home W/A Great Floor Plan. Complete W/4bdr’s, Den/Office(5th Bdr), Formal Dining, Large Rec Room. Master Bdr Is Conveniently Located On The Main Floor W/A Walk-In Closet, Dual Sinks, & Separate Tub/Shower. A Large, Open Kitchen W/Eating Space & Formal Dining Area. Over An Acre Of Level Land With Mature Fir Trees Make A Park-Like Setting. Motivated Seller.  -  County: Thurston  -  City: Rochester  -  Schl Dist: Rochester  -  Acres: 1.240

For more information about this listing,
visit our Thurston County real estate website

Free; Search the MLS for all Thurston County and Olympia Real Estate,
click here.

$419,000 Beautiful Home In Desirable Meridian Campus. 2598 Sf Home. 3 Bedrooms, All With Walk-In Closets. 2.5 Bathrooms. Master Suite Features French Doors, 2 Sided Gas Fireplace, Sitting Room, Walk In Closet And Master Bath With Soaker Tub. Formal Dining. Pantry. Large Kitchen Opens To Family Room. Wood Wrapped Windows, Skylights, Ceiling Fans, 2 Fireplaces, Security System, Tile Roof, Large Custom Deck With Matching Picnic Table In A Fully Fenced Backyard!

Additional Features and Amenities: Appliances: Dishwasher, Appliances: Garbage Disposal, Appliances: Range/Oven, Appliances: Refrigerator, Build Cond: Very Good, Building Cond: Stick Built On Lot, Energy: Electric, Energy: Natural Gas, Exterior: Brick, Exterior: Wood Products, Fireplace: 2, Floor: Hardwood, Floor: Vinyl, Floor: Wall To Wall Carpet, Foundation: Poured Concrete, Heating/Cooling: Forced Air, Heating/Cooling: Insert, Interior: Bath Off Master, Interior: Ceiling Fan(s), Interior: Dble Pane/Strm Windw, Interior: Dining Room, Interior: Fireplace In Mstr Br, Interior: Pantry, Interior: Security System, Interior: Skylights, Interior: Vaulted Ceilings, Interior: Walk-In Closet, Lot Description: Garden Space, Lot Description: Level, Map: 8-F-4, Roof: Tile, Sewer: Sewer Connected, Water: Public

For more information about this listing,
visit our Thurston County real estate website

Free; Search the MLS for all Thurston County and Olympia Real Estate,
click here.

$369,950 Experience The Best Of Excellent Quality.Craftsman-Style Home Built By Premier Builders In The New Community Of Vista Green.Home Features Include 3-Car Garage, Fully Wrapped Hardi Siding,Stained Millwork Packages With Fully Cased Windows,Jetted Tub In Master,Moen Plumbing Fixtures,Hardwood Floors,Continuous Hot Water Systems.Tile Countertops And Backsplash.Ge-S.S. Appliances(Gas Or Electric),Gas Fireplace Plus Much More.Come See Us Today!$5,000 Buyer Bonus W/Use Of Builders Preferred Lender.  -  County: Thurston  -  City: Yelm  -  Schl Dist: Yelm  -  Acres: 0.127

Additional Features and Amenities: Appliances: Dishwasher, Appliances: Microwave, Appliances: Range/Oven, Building Cond: Stick Built On Lot, Energy: Natural Gas, Exterior: Stone, Exterior: Wood, Exterior: Wood Products, Fireplace: 1, Floor: Hardwood, Floor: Vinyl, Floor: Wall To Wall Carpet, Foundation: Poured Concrete, Heating/Cooling: Forced Air, Interior: Bath Off Master, Interior: Dble Pane/Strm Windw, Interior: Dining Room, Interior: High Tech Cabling, Interior: Jetted Tub, Interior: Pantry, Interior: Security System, Interior: Walk-In Closet, Map: 23-B-6, Roof: Composition, Sewer: Sewer Connected, View: Territorial, Water: Public

For more information about this listing,
visit our Thurston County real estate website

Free; Search the MLS for all Thurston County and Olympia Real Estate,
click here.

$326,000 One Of Harr Family Homes Most Incredible Floor Plans. 2500 Sq/Ft. 4 Bed / 2.75 Bath. Huge Living And Dining Rooms / Soaring Vaulted Ceilings. Den / Office / 4th Bedroom On The Main Floor With 3/4 Bath. Open Stair Moves You Up To 3 Huge Bedrooms With Jack & Jill Bathroom And On To The Deluxe Master Bed With Vaulted Ceilings & 5 Piece Bath W/ Soaking Tub. Kitchen / Great Room Features Real Oak Cabinets That Compliment The Real Oak Trim Throughout. Visit Virtual Tour At Www.Tourfactory.Com/346159  -  County: Thurston  -  City: Olympia  -  Schl Dist: Tumwater  -  Acres: 0.100

Additional Features and Amenities: Appliances: Dishwasher, Appliances: Garbage Disposal, Appliances: Microwave, Appliances: Range/Oven, Building Cond: Stick Built On Lot, Energy: Natural Gas, Exterior: See Remarks, Exterior: Wood, Exterior: Wood Products, Fireplace: 1, Floor: Hardwood, Floor: Vinyl, Floor: Wall To Wall Carpet, Foundation: Poured Concrete, Heating/Cooling: Forced Air, Interior: Bath Off Master, Interior: Dble Pane/Strm Windw, Interior: Dining Room, Interior: High Tech Cabling, Interior: Pantry, Interior: Security System, Interior: Vaulted Ceilings, Interior: Walk-In Closet, Lot Description: Level, Map: 18-A-5, Roof: Composition, Sewer: Sewer Connected, Water: Public

For more information about this listing,
visit our Thurston County real estate website

Free; Search the MLS for all Thurston County and Olympia Real Estate,
click here.

$325,000 Perfect! Gorgeous Home On Tempo Lake With Wrap-Around Deck, Dock And Lakeside Cabana. New Roof & Siding 2004. Double Pane Windows & Oak Floors Everywhere Except Bath. Enjoy All Te Amenities Of Tempo Lake: Tennis & Basketball Courts & Picnic Areas. This Is A No Gas Motor Lake Which Makes It Excellent For Fishing, Sailing, Nature Watching And Much More. Close To The Deschutes River And Chehalis Western Trail (Biking, Walking, Horse Back Riding0. Trout, Bass, Eagles, Otters, Osprey.  -  County: Thurston  -  City: Olympia  -  Schl Dist: Tenino  -  Acres: 0.170

Additional Features and Amenities: Appliances: Microwave, Appliances: Range/Oven, Building Cond: Stick Built On Lot, Energy: Electric, Energy: Pellet, Exterior: See Remarks, Exterior: Wood Products, Fireplace: 1, Floor: Hardwood, Floor: Vinyl, Foundation: Poured Concrete, Heating/Cooling: Wall, Interior: Dble Pane/Strm Windw, Interior: Vaulted Ceilings, Lot Description: Level, Lot Description: Sloped, Lot Description: Terraces, Map: 28-D-6, Roof: Composition, Sewer: Septic, View: Lake, Water: Community, WaterFront: Bank-Low, WaterFront: Lake

For more information about this listing,
visit our Thurston County real estate website

Free; Search the MLS for all Thurston County and Olympia Real Estate,
click here.