Friends of Lacey Timberland Library Book Sale - 09/29/11 02:58 PM
I admit I am a major book - aholic!  I love to read - all different types of books, both fiction and non.  I buy books at the grocery store, the book store, random garage sales.  I frequently visit Lacey Timberland Library to get even MORE books.  I just plain love to read, and have since I was a little girl, reading by the dim light from the living room as I lay at the foot of my bed when I was supposed to be sleeping (Ah, Little Women!!!)
 

Many times the books I buy are destined to be … (0 comments)

The Pumpkin Lady is Greeting Traffic - and Yes, It is Pumpkin Time! - 09/28/11 06:55 PM
I love passing by the corner florist shop in Tumwater because it is so much fun to see the "flower lady" outside the shop who is always sporting the look of the season - and right now it is pumpkins!!
 

And I love all things pumpkin - pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pie - pumpkin spice lattes - yum!!!
Not to mention the fun of heading to a local pumpkin patch to get pumpkins to decorate our front porch. 
And pumpkins to carve into scary Halloween faces to greet trick-or-treaters.
Seems like pumpkins reflect the autumn colors of leaves … (8 comments)

LBA Park in Olympia - What a Great Place to Play (All Ages!) - 09/27/11 11:12 AM
 

LBA Park in Olympia is one of the City parks that offers wonderful recreation for all ages.  This past weekend our family was at the park for an adult flag football game (yes, in the rain), and the big grassy fields are perfect for that.
 

There are also several baseball fields and frequent games or tournaments for either youth or adults.
LBA Park playground features a brand new zip line that was getting a good work out from some of the older children at the park - lots of squeals and laughter, so I think it's a … (4 comments)

Providence St. Peter Hospital in the Olympia Area - 09/26/11 05:04 PM
A hospital is a place you usually hope NOT to need to use - other than joyful occasions like the birth of a new baby.  But since illness and accidents are impossible to forecast or control, it can be good peace of mind to know there is a good hospital in town - just in case.
Providence St Peter Hospital is a not for profit, magnet hospital in the Olympia area.  Magnet hospitals are the top 4% of hospitals in the nation, earning this recognition for providing nursing excellence.  St. Peter Hospital serves a 5 county region in SW Washington, and … (0 comments)

Pumpkins & Corn Mazes - It's Autumn in Olympia WA - 09/25/11 11:10 AM
Autumn brings so many colorful, seasonal activities in the Olympia area.  The pumpkin patches are gearing up for everyone hunting that fall decor pumpkin or jack-o-lantern to be. 
 
 

And the corn mazes are opening, with some spooky flashlight night mazes or daytime ones for all age fun.  One of my favorite local corn mazes is Rutledge Corn Maze- and this year, they have a theme of The Twilight Saga - Breaking Dawn. 
If you go in the daytime, the hours are Mon- Thurs from 10-10 or Friday/Saturdays from 10-5; with the flashlight night maze open from 5 PM … (8 comments)

Tumwater Falls Park - Spawning Salmon, A Waterfall - and More - 09/22/11 10:07 AM
 
 

Tumwater Falls Park is one of my favorite places to go this time of year, since the salmon coming up the Deschutes River to spawn can be viewed up close (close enough to get splashed!).  Once the salmon make their journey in thru Budd Inlet, across Capitol Lake, and up the Deschutes River with its fish ladders for a little assist, they are brought into big tanks.  The salmon are counted and eggs are harvested - and those splashing, jumping fish give an up close & personal look at this amazing life cycle.
 

Tumwater Falls Park … (3 comments)

Thurston County 2011 Property Tax Assessment Notices Are Out - 09/21/11 05:55 PM
Thurston County 2011 Property Tax Assessment Notices arrived in many of our mailboxes on Monday - and many of us then gasped a little to see the drop in assessed value for our properties.  One of those Catch 22 moments when you can't decide whether the possibility of lower property taxes (and that is not yet a certainty since levy rates are not yet set) offsets the unpleasant look of a home value sliding lower and lower.
The Assessor's office has made several changes that should be very beneficial to property owners in Thurston County.  The assessment notice itself now carries … (2 comments)

How's The Real Estate Market in the Olympia Area This Week? - 09/19/11 04:20 PM
How's the real estate market in the Olympia area this week?  Probably the most frequent question I get asked by anyone who knows or discovers that I am a real estate broker - whether or not they are currently trying to buy or sell a house.  It is just one of those things that almost everyone finds intriguing.  Is the market improving?  What is selling anyway - is anything selling?
Well, in the week ending September 18, 2011, the simple answer is yes, homes are selling.  In fact there were 44 new pending sales in that time period (this look at … (0 comments)

So Many Ways To Search For Olympia Area Home Listings By Location - 09/18/11 07:37 PM
When buyers decide it is time to buy a home in the Olympia, WA area, often one of the first criteria they have in mind is the location they want for that home.  And that is great because our MLS gives us quite a few different ways to search so that we can pinpoint homes for sale in the location(s) the buyer wants.
For example, the MLS is divided into numbered code areas and all listings have this geographic coding attached to them.  Our codes within Thurston County look like this:
441 - The Steamboat Island peninsula and Summit Lake area … (2 comments)

Some Hints of Autumn Color are Showing up in Olympia - 09/17/11 03:59 PM
I'm really not sure I am ready for autumn yet (yes, I know it will happen whether or not I am ready), but I am sure seeing hints of it everywhere all of a sudden.

Trees are starting to show those glowing reds, golds, and oranges on a few leaves or branches.
 

 
Fall blooming flowers are joining in with some rich, warm color.
There's a definite nip to the air in the early mornings, though we have had some fantastic, sunny, warm weather once that early chill goes away.
And there are plenty of other indications that … (9 comments)

Want To See Some Cool Cars This Weekend in Lacey & Olympia? - 09/16/11 07:33 PM
This weekend is going to be fun for those car enthusiasts in the Lacey and Olympia area!  In Lacey, the End of Summer Car Show & Swap Meet will be on Saturday (Sept. 17th) from 9 - 3 at Huntamer Park.  You can check out Rod, Custom & Specialty cars, as well as enjoy some music and food.  I know -  you will be busy drooling over the cars, and talking about the ones you wish you still had or dream to someday have...
 
 

 
And if Corvettes are your particular car passion, then don't miss Capital City … (2 comments)

Local Resources For Pets in Distress in the Olympia WA Area - 09/15/11 08:45 PM
Today's local newspaper had a VERY upsetting front page story about the seizure of some animals that were in such poor (starved) condition, that just looking at the photos made my heart ache.  There were 3 dogs, 4 horses and a pot bellied pig - and apparently their condition had so deteriorated that if the Thurston County Animal Services had not stepped in, it likely would have been too late for some.
I admit I am a total softie when it comes to animals, and have pretty much always had dogs and cats as part of my family.  So the thought … (2 comments)

How Long Does It Take To Sell A Home In The Olympia Area?? - 09/14/11 01:38 PM
How long does it take to sell a home in the Olympia area??  Of course the answer to that question can only be - It depends...It depends if the house is priced right from the start; it depends where it is located; it depends what the condition of the home is; it depends if it is easy to show.... It depends on a lot of factors like those.
But to look at some averages is still useful.  So I searched for homes sold within the last 30 days in the greater Olympia, WA area and excluded short sales (they would have … (2 comments)

Seeing Salmon in Olympia WA - Yes It's Spawning Time Again - 09/13/11 01:20 PM
 

I've been noticing the "See Salmon Here" signs for several days as I travel near or across the 5th Ave bridge in downtown Olympia, so figured it was time to stop and...well, see the salmon!  One of my favorite things each fall is being able to see the salmon as they migrate in from Budd Inlet, across Capitol Lake, and up the Deschutes River to spawn.
 

After peering into the water and the fish ladder for a while, wondering if I was seeing shadows or fish shapes, I chatted with the Stream Team volunteer who was there … (7 comments)

New Pending Sales for Olympia WA Area Homes for Week Ending 9/11/11 - 09/12/11 02:33 PM
Pending sales were down a bit for this week ending 9/11/11 - and that likely is the result of a fairly common pattern for real estate sales in the Olympia, WA area.  Labor Day weekend often is slow for real estate activity while people enjoy some camping, hiking, picnics, and a last family fling before school begins again.  And then of course, those final preparations to get the kids successfully back to school intervenes for a day or two; school begins and parents take a brief breather to regroup and get ready to continue their house hunt.
The drop in numbers … (2 comments)

Not My Regularly Scheduled Blog Post - 09/11/11 01:20 PM
I had a draft post ready to finish for today, but like many others, I don't seem to be able to be business as usual today. Much like that day ten years ago when shock, fear, sadness combined to make it feel like what had been rock solid was suddenly shaken to the core. So for today, I remember my awe at the courage of so many on that day ten years ago. I remember to say again a humble thank you to the servicemen and women and their families for all you have sacrificed for the rest of us. Most … (3 comments)

This Year's Home & Garden Show in Lacey is a MUST See! - 09/10/11 05:51 PM
I spent pretty much the entire morning browsing through the booths at this year's Home and Garden Show at St Martin's University in Lacey - and I think it may be the best show yet!
There is information on local resources for building or remodeling your home; adding a water feature to your yard or planning a landscape full of native plants.  I picked up a treasure trove of brochures about everything from gutter covers, mole control, low VOC paints, counter tops, windows, ductless heating/cooling systems, to new roofs, new doors, new kitchen cabinets, generators, etc etc etc.  
 

… (0 comments)

Olympia Area Market Reports - There Are 4 Different Ways to Say a Listing is Pending - 09/09/11 11:07 AM
In the Olympia, WA area, it's probably safe to say that most all sellers have a goal of getting their actively listed home into the status of pending sale.  And most all buyers do NOT want to find out that the house they have been circling and trying to decide about is now pending.
But there is pending, and then there is pending - of several different varieties.  Our MLS has several choices for what kind of pending sale it may be.  Let me explain:
Pending inspection - the buyer and seller have agreed to all the terms for a sale, … (4 comments)

The 2011 BIG Home & Garden Show is September 10th & 11th in Lacey - 09/08/11 04:55 PM
Even before I went into real estate, I was fascinated with home and garden shows.  So much info about a whole variety of things for your home and garden, and lots of take home material from the various vendors.  Seems like I'd always spot something that seemed like it would be perfect to do at MY house - hmmmmm....maybe that's why my husband isn't quite as much a fan of these shows!
 
 

The 2011 Big Home & Garden Show will be this weekend - September 10th & 11th - at the Marcus Pavilion of St Martin's University on … (2 comments)

What Do Million+ Dollar Homes in the Olympia WA Area Have in Common?? - 09/07/11 04:51 PM
What do million+ dollar homes in the Olympia, WA area have in common?  Well, the answer is pretty simple - it's the water!  They are waterfront homes, mainly saltwater with a few that are lakefront.  Currently all of the homes for sale in that lofty price range above a million dollars - yes, they are all waterfront homes. 
 

There are 12 homes listed (as of today) that have asking prices above a million and all but one are on the sound.  The one exception is lakefront, but it is a unique property in that it is a 48 acre … (8 comments)

Schools Are Open Tomorrow In Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater, WA - 09/06/11 07:54 PM
The first day of the 2011 school year is Wednesday, September 7th in Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater, WA. Kids are excited to see their friends, and the roads near each school will be busier than usual with school buses and parents dropping off their kids.
 

Be sure to watch for the school zone signs and SLOW down. And remember that as school buses stop to let kids on or off, if they have their stop sign out you must stop - and watch out for excited kids darting across the street!
Back to school in Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater … (3 comments)

New Pending Sales For Olympia,WA Area Homes For Week Ending 9/3/11 - 09/05/11 12:41 PM
In the greater Olympia, WA area last week, there were 45 new pending sales for single family homes. Let's take a look at how they break down by asking price. The actual agreed upon sales price won't be known until the sale closes.
List price under $200,000: 11
List price $200,001-300,000: 23
List price $300,001-400,000: 9
List price over $400,000: 2
The lowest asking price for these new pending sales was $146,100 and the highest was $429,000. The median list price was $255,000.
These pending sales figures show clearly that most of our current market activity is happening in the lower … (1 comments)

Speechless Sunday - Sand Sculptures - 09/04/11 11:24 AM

… (13 comments)

Marathon Park - Best Parks in Olympia WA - Part 5 - 09/03/11 07:47 PM
Marathon Park in Olympia, WA offers a place to picnic, walk, jog, or just relax and enjoy the lakefront beauty of its setting on Capitol Lake.
 

Marathon Park is on the westside of Capitol Lake, with the Capitol building visible on the opposite side, and is walking distance from downtown.
 
 

There is a walking path alongside the lake that is a very popular place to get some exercise (for both humans and their dogs), while enjoying a breeze from the lake.
 
 

Marathon Park is named for its location as part of the route … (0 comments)

Cleaning up the Neighborhood, One Ugly House at a Time - 09/02/11 09:05 PM
I love seeing this developing trend of investors who are turning neglected neighborhood eyesores into homes that can be loved again! And though many times working with investor buyers feels like all business, this type of "flipping" is deeply rewarding to be part of for me as an agent. Kind of a community service!
Via Mike Conner (City Realty, Inc. - Olympia, WA):
You've probably seen the whole house flipping routine on TV. It was all the rage a few years ago when the market was hot. People were buying up ugly houses, giving them a quick (and usually cheap) makeover and then … (1 comments)

Farmers Market Olympia - Late Summer Brings the Heat! - 09/02/11 06:06 PM
Farmers Market in Olympia is full of the bounty that end of summer - and finally some hot weather - seem to bring.  I always love seeing the display of peppers of all different varieties, and appreciate the labeling as to the mild side of the stand versus the hot side.  Some of those hot peppers are....well - HOT!
 

 
The fruit stands have wonderful bins of yummy tomatoes  looking ripe and juicy.
 

 
And watermelon is ready for some Labor Day weekend picnic munching.
 

 
The stand also has a tasting area so that … (19 comments)

Harbor Days in Olympia WA September 2-4, 2011 - 09/01/11 05:16 PM
Labor Day Weekend in Olympia, WA is always the time when you can see vintage tugboats as well as active working ones at the annual Harbor Days event.  This is a real celebration of the maritime tradition of Olympia, and my favorite part is Sunday's tugboat races!  Bet you thought of tugboats as sort of slow and plodding kinds of boats, didn't you?  You should see them race!
Many of the tugboats offer tours during the Harbor Days event, so be sure and check them out at Percival Landing in downtown Olympia.  And speaking of Percival Landing, this will also be … (8 comments)

 
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Nancy Conner - Olympia/Thurston County WA

Olympia, WA

More about me…

Managing Broker - City Realty Inc

Address: 1800 Cooper Pt Rd SW, Bldg #12, Olympia, WA, 98502

Office Phone: (360) 350-0251

Cell Phone: (360) 701-1086

Email Me

A blog about community events in the Olympia/Thurston County area including the real estate market in those communities.
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