Continue reading »]]> Last years post on rain gardens in Puyallup was incredibly popular, so since it’s rain garden season again- we wanted to keep you updated! The City of Puyallup’s Rain Garden Program has educated hundreds of citizens on stormwater pollution prevention over the past 4 years since the program began. The program teaches people in Puyallup green instrastructure techniques, and has disconnected over 1 million gallons of stormwater annually!

If you’re interested in finding out how to install your very own Rain Garden the City of Puyallup will be having a workshop on May 8th in the North Meeting Room of the Puyallup Public Library.  The workshop will go from 6pm-7:30pm.  They will be talking about how to build your rain garden, choose plants, and then maintain it after it is complete.

Puyallup has received positive media attention for this program which helps ensure that the stormwater in Puyallup is naturally filtered and does not overwhelm the system when there are heavy rains. The program is funded by a grant from the Department of Ecology.

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Continue reading »]]> We do tend to talk about real estate a fair amount here at Living Puyallup, and while we get tips and data from a number of agents, local Realtor Erin Dobrinski is a frequent contributor. Now she has started her own Puyallup Real Estate Blog, though judging by her first few posts she’s also covering things from local sporting events to nightlife!

Here’s a tip from her post about bank owned properties:

It’s clear that the bank-owned properties are winning when it comes to statistics of how quickly homes are selling in Puyallup (including Edgewood).  March stats show 37 active bank-owned properties (about 1/16 of the market of all 518 active properties in Puyallup), 59 pending bank-owned homes (those that have caught offers and are waiting to close the sale); and 52 sold/closed bank-owned homes.  Average price per square foot for these homes is $81; average days on market is 68, and average sales price is $163,000.  There is less than a one-month inventory of homes, meaning that they all sell fast!  Bank owned properties are a great choice, but they do have their unique characteristics (priced compellingly, often times multiple offers, many are cash-only or able to be financed only with a rehab loan, etc.) Puyallup Homes – how many are bank owned?

We look forward to sharing information on future posts from Erin’s Puyallup Real Estate blog in the future. Also, if you have a real estate topic you’d like to hear more about please feel free to leave us a question in the comments!

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Spring is here, so it’s time for Puyallup’s annual Spring Fair! This year The Fair will start Thursday April 19th at 2pm and run through Sunday at 8pm. Kids get free admission on Thursday!

One of the big advantages of the Spring Fair over the larger Fair in September is that the Spring Fair is a bit more affordable!  There is FREE PARKING, and tickets are only $9 for adults and $7 for kids 6-18. Kids under 5 are always free. Check out all of the Spring Fair events including garden show, animal exibits, rides, kids activities, and so much more.

Hours:
Thu: 2 pm – 10 pm – FREE kids admission (ages 0-18)
Fri & Sat: 10 am – 10 pm
Sun: 10 am - 8 pm

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Continue reading »]]> It’s baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack. Get ready, because Pierce County’s largest farmers market is back and better than ever starting April 14th!  This will be the 30th Aniversary of the Puyallup Farmers Market. It is beginning early again this year to allow Farmers Market shoppers to purchase flowers, hanging baskets, starts (and many other spring items!) from local grown in Washington vendors.

The official Puyallup Farmers Market Sseason begins April 14th and coincides with the Daffodil Parade through downtown Puyallup.

The Market will move into the Pioneer Pavilion on May 5 and will run through the end of Fall market, October 13th on Saturdays only.

Market Hours:

Saturdays      9:00 to 2:00           April 14 – October 13
Sundays          10:00 to 3:00        May 27 – September 2

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Continue reading »]]> South Hill has come a long way in the past 25 years. Meridian was once a two lane road, remember? The mall was once a heavily wooded area bordering the freeway and, glaringly, we had no pancake house.  All of that has sure has changed! South Hill welcomed The Original Pancake House.

The Original Pancake House is a chain that started in Oregon in 1953.  They might be a chain, but their breakfasts are cooked from scratch and are earning high praise from the locals. “My husband Tom and I went there for breakfast last Sunday,” says Erin Dobrinski who lives in Southwood Estates, about a mile from the OPH. “He had bacon pancakes (he is a huge bacon fan) and I had a ham and egg scramble with potatoes.  The pumpkin pancakes are great, too!  It’s a great place for families, very kid-friendly.  Coffee is really good, service is great and feels like a family-owned biz.”

The Original Pancake House is located in the commercial complex on the corner of 160th & Meridian, which has made it popular with the folks who live in surrounding neighborhoods like Gem Heights, Sunrise, and Silver Creek. They’re open daily from 6am-2pm.

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Continue reading »]]> Gem Heights in Puyallup’s South Hill is one of the area’s most established neighborhoods.  Gem Heights is made up of many smaller neighborhoods (including Devoreaux) Lyndhurst is part of Gem Heights and is just north of 176th St. E. and 92nd Ave. E.  Silver Creek (which we profiled earlier this week)  is just south of 176th.

“Lyndhurst is a nice community,” says local Realtor Erin Dobrinski. “There are lots of pretty homes, and they are affordable for the quality of the neighborhood.” The community boasts several small parks and residents are within walking distance of Brouillet Elementary School and Stahl Jr. High.

“There are lots of amenities in this neighborhood,” says Erin. “You’re pretty close to WinCo, Rite Aid and the Fred Meyer shopping center.  I have sold a handful of homes to folks in Lyndhurst and they love living there.”

The median sold price is $225K, average is $245K . The quality of the homes in Lyndhurst is high, many of them are Benum homes and many Realtors (including Erin) think that this is an excellent time to buy homes in one of Gem Heights nicer communities for a very low price. “There are a lot of Zetterburg and Benum homes it the Lyndhurst community which makes it popular with buyers,” says Erin. “Quality builders are probably why resale is so solid the homes don’t last long on the market.  The average home is sold within 74 days.”

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Continue reading »]]> Silver Creek is a 460 acre master planned community that was described by the Seattle Times as “a slice of affordable suburban heaven for growing families.” is home to more than 1700 single family homes. Silver Creek has a number of different communities that were developed and built by different builders, giving each one it’s own unique style and character. Many of the homes enjoying views of Mt. Rainier on clear days, but all of the homes have access to the community’s many amenities including a Clubhouse, baseball fields and playgrounds.

“Silver Creek has many advantages,” says local Realtor Erin Dobrinski. “They have nice, big park with fields for soccer and some tennis courts, clubhouse you can rent for special occasions, parties.” These amenities are tempting for people looking for activities in their own neighborhoods.

Silver Creek is located in the Puyallup School District, and residents are walking distance to Carson Elementary.  While the neighborhood is residential, there are a number of large and small businesses very close by. “Silver Creek has lots of good places to walk,” says Erin. “You can also ride your bike on the trails and sidewalks. There’s a small shopping center at one end of Silver Creek at 187th and Meridian that has a Kassie’s Korner espresso stand.”

Silver Creek’s HOA is managed by JC Higgins and associates and has a website with extensive information about the neighborhood HOA rules, amenities, and more! For more information on market data and homes for sale in Silver Creek right now, contact us!

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Continue reading »]]> Do you love airplanes?  Do you love to fly? This year’s Northwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show will be held in Downtown Puyallup at the Puyallup Fair February 25th and 26th. Pilots are invited to fly in to Thun Field in their own planes where a shuttle will bring them to the fairgrounds.

Once at the fairgrounds there will be a variety of workshops and clinics for Helicopter and Airplane pilots as well as plenty to see and do for the kids.  Admission is $5 for adults, and kids 17 and under receive FREE ADMISSION. Tickets are available at the door. Hours are SATURDAY 9-5:30 and  SUNDAY 10 – 4 PM.

For a full list of programs, training events, and seminars check out the online schedule.

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Continue reading »]]> If you have children who love to write, or just love to read- you should visit Puyallup Public Library this Saturday, January 21 at 11 am, for a special family storytime event.  Local  illustrator and children’s author Wendy Wahman will be talking about writing, drawing, and making friends with dogs. Her book Don’t Lick the Dog is a humorous book about meeting a new dog.  Her newest book is called A Cat Like That. In this new story a charming feline describes what a cat is looking for in a new friend- here’s a video preview:

This event is absolutely free and was designed for children ages 2-8 and their families. The Puyallup Public Library offers this visit with a local author as part of its Saturday Family Storytime series.

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Continue reading »]]> Are you looking for inspiration for projects that need to be done around your house?  Do you have plans to remodel or build an addition this year?  If you are think of taken on a project for your home or garden and want to meet the best contractors and see all the latest trends and innovations in home improvement, check out the 2012 Puyallup Home and Garden Show taking place at the Puyallup Fair next week on January 6th, 7th, and 8th.

The Puyallup Home & Garden Show is for homeowners in all stages of remodeling, landscaping and decorating their homes. There will be hundreds of exhibits (some with product demonstrations) all with the aim of inspiring and assisting you with your next home project. . With it’s mix of new products, techniques, and expert advice from the pros, the Puyallup Home Show’s goal is to inspire homeowners with wonderful ideas and improve the overall look and appeal of their home.

For more information about ticket prices and show hours, visit their website.

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