Mike Conner

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 turning them for a quick, yet very significant profit. It was too easy.

We all know that times have changed. However, what you may not know is that there are some people still out there giving new life to the neighborhood eye sores. The profits aren't as glamorous as they once were. The risks are much higher. And yet, they continue on, unfazed by the negativity surrounding the housing market.

The main difference between the house flippers of old and this new breed of craftsman lies in their motives. While the first group was primarily driven by greed and quick profits, this new group is motivated by a passion to build a better community for future generations and preserve the quality of life for current residents. Their margins are slim, but they are confident that what they are doing will have a lasting impact on the neighborhoods they work in.

Part of their confidence is derived from the high level of craftsmanship and quality materials they put in their homes. They know their homes are going to look more appealing to potential buyers than most of their competition. They've thoroughly inspected the homes to make sure their remodel is not just putting a new wrapper on a rotten product. In most cases, the updating includes much more than just new paint and carpet. Often new roofs, new electrical panels, and structural repair are required before they can even think about creating a visually appealing finished product.

Perhaps most importantly, these homes are being refurbished and resold in a price range that is very attractive for first time home buyers. It is a great alternative for those who like the fresh feeling of a new home but hate the idea that you have to sacrifice all sense of privacy and live on a postage stamp. Many of these homes are in established neighborhoods with mature trees, larger lots, and a sense of community that is yet to exist in most new home developments.

If you think a remodeled home in an established neighborhood sounds like a good fit (or you are just addicted to looking at real estate) here are a couple of homes for you to check out:

4736 Lakemont Dr. SE - Updated Rambler with Pattison Lake Views and Private Lake Access for $234,900

7521 6th Ave. SE - Remodeled Tanglewilde Home with 3 bedrooms and 1645 square feet for $199,000

And here are some Before and After photos of one recently finished home in the Tanglewilde neighborhood:

Don't let the late start to summer weather in Lacey WA fool you, summer events are right around the corner. In fact, Lacey Parks and Recreation Department kicks off their FREE summer entertainment schedule tomorrow night at Huntamer Park. So bring the blanket, the umbrella, the flip-flops, and sunglasses and come out to enjoy the opening night of the Children's Entertainment Series.

Singer/storyteller, Tim Noah, will be on stage at 6:30 p.m. ready to take the crowd on an adventure. His will be the opening performance of an ongoing series of children's entertainment at 6:30 on Tuesday nights. Also on the calendar for summer entertainment is the Lacey In Tune Summer Concert Series. Come hear the sounds of some of the finest bands the Northwest has to offer.

Then, starting in July, the park will transform into a movie theater for the Outdoor Cinema Series. Enjoy family classics like Toy Story 3, The Karate Kid, and Grease.

For a full schedule of the Children's Entertainment Series, Lacey In Tune Summer Concerts, and Movies in the Park please visit: Lacey Free Summer Entertainment Schedule

Park Lane in Lacey WA - A Community of New Homes

Park Lane in Lacey WA is a new community being built by Western Washington home builder, OakRidge Homes. Featuring beautifully landscaped grounds, sidewalks, nature trails and parks, Park Lane offers great amenities for an active lifestyle.

Located minutes from I-5 in the growing Hawks Prairie area, Park Lane in Lacey WA makes a convenient location for commuting to JBLM. It is also just far enough from the busy commercial district to offer peace, quiet, and an abundance of opportunities to enjoy nature. Park Lane is tucked in among the Hawks Prairie Golf Courses, saltwater beaches, and retirement community Jubilee.

Photos from Park Lane in Lacey WA

Quality Construction by OakRidge Homes

The homes at Park Lane in Lacey WA are built using high quality materials and an eye for detail. Large bedrooms, open concept living areas, and kitchens perfect for entertaining are among the features that have residents falling in love with these homes. The standard features here are enough to impress, but there are also some very attractive upgrades that can be easily and inexpensively added to make your new home look just the way you want it to.

Homes at Park Lane range in size from 1700-2400 square feet, with 3-4 bedrooms plus dens and bonus rooms in some models. All the models at Park Lane come with 2 full baths and a powder room half bath. Park Lane floor plans

Prices range from the low to mid $200,000's with buyer incentives being offered monthly. Check out the current inventory at Park Lane and get up-to-date pricing.

More information about Park Lane in Lacey WA

Easter Weekend in Olympia WA

Spring is in the air, and Olympia is coming to life! It has been a long and strange winter, with unpredictable weather, economic uncertainties, and a host of global crises dominating the headlines. But none of that matters this Easter weekend in Olympia WA.

This weekend, the focus around Olympia is on several wildly popular community events as well as a certain fuzzy-tailed character spreading candy filled eggs all over town.

Spring Arts Walk in Downtown Olympia

Spring Arts Walk in Olympia WA is a celebration of all forms of art. Local businesses in Downtown Olympia play host to some of finest local painters, musicians, sculptors, and more.

The Spring Arts Walk in Olympia is free to attend and there are over 100 participating venues along with countless impromptu street performances. There are performances, events, and displays open to the public from Friday night through Sunday afternoon (4/22-4/24).

Procession of the Species in Olympia WA

This one of a kind parade is a celebration of life and culture. People from all walks of life come together on the streets of downtown Olympia and dance their way through town wearing a colorful array of costumes. Everything from the sun, to earthworms, to aliens are represented in this hugely popular Olympia event. The Procession of the Species in Olympia kicks off Friday night with the luminary Procession at 9:30 p.m. then resumes on Saturday at 4:30 for the big Procession of the Species parade.

Easter Egg Hunts in Olympia WA

Lucky for the kids around town, Olympia has no shortage of Easter Egg Hunts to choose from. In fact, there is even one for the adults!

All over town both Saturday and Sunday, kids will be picking through lawns with their heads down and their baskets spilling over. There are a bunch of big Easter Egg hunts, but several local favorites draw the big crowds. Candy, toys, and prizes are at stake! Check out my list of the top Easter Egg Hunts in Olympia

Between these great events and the recent opening of the Olympia Farmers Market, it is a great weekend to live in Olympia! Get out and support local business and enjoy the festivities! I hope to see you out around town.

Homes for Sale in Lacey WA

Searching for homes for sale in Lacey WA? Find out about neighborhoods that fit your lifestyle and market trends you should be aware of before you go out shopping.

Whether you are looking for new construction, luxurious view homes, or the latest foreclosure listings, there are some great homes for sale in Lacey WA just for you. But make sure you consult a knowledgeable Lacey WA buyer's agent to help you analyze the market, strategize about how much bargaining room there might be and how to negotiate the best price and terms, including asking for repairs or closing cost concessions paid for by the seller.

Recent closed sales and currently available homes for sale in Lacey WA range from $81,000 to $650,000, with average prices hovering around $250,000.

Browse Homes for Sale in Lacey WA

• Search Listed Homes - Displays homes listed for sale by real estate companies in our local MLS.
  
• Search Homes for Sale in Lacey WA via Google Base - Gathers data from all over the web to include for sale by owner listings, foreclosures, and more.
• Open House Notifier - Sign up to receive weekly notifications for all the homes for sale in Lacey WA being held open.
• Market Watch - Looking for something specific but don't want to spend the time searching or waiting for it to hit the market? Tell me what you are looking for and I will send you instant notification as soon as new listings hit the market.

History of Homes in Lacey WA

Lacey WA was originally incorporated as a city in 1966, but its history stretches much further back. Land in the Lacey area was claimed in 1853 by settlers Isaac and Cathy Wood and became known as Woodland. Initially thought of as a suburb of Olympia, Lacey has since grown and developed its own unique community. Now, with population nearly 40,000, Lacey has grown up to be nearly equal in population to Olympia.

For many years Lacey was centered around the commercial district surrounding South Sound Center. Early housing in Lacey was established in the neighborhoods south of Pacific Ave, between Ruddell Rd. and Sleater Kinney Rd. Over the past few decades, Lacey has expanded south and east, with neighborhoods springing up off of College St. and in the areas surrounding Long Lake and Hicks Lake. Since 2000, homes for sale in Lacey WA have been largely centered around the construction of Jubilee, a 55+ community in Hawks Prairie, and Horizon Pointe, a master planned community of over 1000 units located just south of Yelm Hwy. The Hawks Prairie area has continued to see massive growth, with additional non-age restrictive communities popping up all around Jubilee. The area is expected to continue its population surge with the development of the Lacey Gateway Project. Anchored by the recent addition of Cabela's, commercial and residential growth in the Hawks Prairie area is set to continue through 2020, raising the possibility that Lacey may soon become the largest city in Thurston County.

Neighborhoods in Lacey WA

Check out a few of the most popular areas and neighborhoods in Lacey WA:

Horizon Pointe - Master plan community at the south end of Lacey made up of single family homes, townhomes, and condos. Sales started in 2005 and construction continues today. Neighborhood perks include a huge community park, tree lined streets with sidewalks, a new elementary school in the neighborhood, and an active homeowner association. Approximate price range $150,000-$250,000*.

Hawks Prairie - Beginning with Jubilee in the early 2000's, this area has become more than a 55+ community. Centered around 2 beautiful public golf courses, more neighborhoods continue to spring up all around the NE end of Lacey. Amenities include easy I-5 access for commuters, access to parks and trails on beautiful Puget Sound, and of course the golf courses. Approximate price range $250,000-$500,000*.

McAllister Park - Perched on top of a hill in East Lacey, this neighborhood features territorial views and some of the finest homes in Lacey. Most homes here were built in the early 2000's. Aside from the views and luxurious homes, residents of McAllister Park enjoy the proximity to I-5 access and Hawks Prairie shopping. Approximate price range $400,000-$600,000*.

Beachcrest - This quiet community is located at the NE end of town and features a beautiful, private community beachfront park. The neighborhood has a very laid back, beachy feel and homes are surprisingly affordable. You feel like you are miles from urban life, but I-5 access and Hawks Prairie shopping are just a few minutes away. Approximate price range $175,000-$300,000*.

Long Lake - One of Thurston County's premiere lakes, the Long Lake area features a wide variety of housing options. Many residents choose Long Lake because it is a "ski lake". The lake is open to the public with a boat launch and city park, so it remains busy during the warmer seasons of the year. Approximate price range for lakefront homes here is $300,000-$1,000,000*.

Chambers Lake - The Chambers Lake area of Lacey includes some of the original neighborhoods of Central Lacey, as well as some newer neighborhoods along College St. There are classic homes from the mid 1900's as well as brand new homes with modern amenities. The excellent central location puts you close to pretty much anything you need. Approximate price range $150,000-$300,000*.

Meadows - An affordable option for many Lacey residents, the Meadows neighborhood is a large community at the east end of Lacey. It has convenient access to I-5, Hawks Prairie shopping, schools and parks. Most homes were built in the 1980's and range in size from 1,000 to 1,600 square feet. The neighborhood also features its own elementary school. Approximate price range $100,000-$200,000*.

Market Trends of Homes for Sale in Lacey WA

Prices of homes for sale in Lacey WA have been heavily influenced by two market segments in recent years, new construction and foreclosures/short sales. During 2010 there have been 152 closed sales of homes for sale in Lacey WA that were either short sales or bank owned. That represents 24.6% out of a total of 617 sales in Lacey for 2010. Compare that to 2009's sales figures for Lacey WA, where only 68 of the 720 sales, or 9%, were reported as short sales or bank owned.

Meanwhile, 2009 and 2010 were both dominated by new construction homes for sale in Lacey WA. In 2009, 47% of the homes sold in Lacey WA were reported as new construction. That figure dropped in 2010 but new construction still made up 38.2% of the homes sold.

(Required Disclaimer: Sales data based on sales reported to NWMLS, but calculations and statistics in this report were not compiled or guaranteed by NWMLS. Numbers may be slightly skewed because some sales may be incorrectly reported as both bank owned and short sale/approval required.)

*Approximate price ranges based on typical active listings and closed sales within the last 12 months. Some exceptions occur. These approximations serve as a guide not a guarranty.