Tacoma Home and Garden Show at the Tacoma Dome

The 27th annual Tacoma Home and Garden Show will be at the Tacoma Dome now through January 31, 2010.

The show features exhibits for the do-it-yourselfer as well as the professional contractor. It is a great place to shop, compare and save on a wide variety of home-related products and services for building, remodeling, gardening and decorating.

For show information, discount coupons and more visit http://otshows.com/shows/ths/attendees/show_information.htm

Warehouse Rock Gym in Olympia, WA

Looking for a dry place to have some fun this rainy winter season? Head to downtown Olympia to the Warehouse Rock Gym! All ages are welcome to climb at all levels of skill. They offer classes for people interested in learning and a variety of packages for birthday parties and large groups.

Visit http://www.warehouserockgym.com/Our%20Existence.html for hours of operation, directions, pricing, class information and more.

Happy climbing everyone!

Polar Bear Plunge, Olympia 2010

Join fellow enthusiasts, Thursday, Jan 1, 2010 bring in the New Year with an invigorating jump into Long Lake! Take the "plunge" at 1:00 p.m. or stay warm and dry on the shore while you cheer on the swimmers with campfires, music, hot cocoa and coffee.

The event starts at noon at Long Lake Park, all ages are welcome. 2790 Carpenter Rd SE, Lacey, WA. For more information contact Lacey Parks and Recreation at (360) 491-0857 or http://www.ci.lacey.wa.us/

Happy Holidays From Coldwell Banker

Wishing you a very Happy Holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

Fantasy Lights in Spanaway Park

The 15th annual 'Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park' is open! Presented by Pierce County Parks and Recreation, Fantasy Lights is the largest holiday drive-through display in the Northwest! This two-mile drive features almost 300 beautiful displays and thousands of twinkling lights. Tune your car radio to FM 93.7 and listen to holiday music performed by a local high school while you drive.


Fantasy Lights will be open every night including Christmas and New Year's Eve from 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm.


Directions to FANTASY LIGHTS at Spanaway Park:
- From I-5 take Exit 127 (Puyallup/Mt. Rainier)
- Head east on Hwy 512
- Take the second exit (Parkland/Spanaway)
- At stop light, turn right onto Pacific Avenue (SR 7)
- Go south for 2.7 miles
- Turn right onto Military Road (152nd St).
- Spanaway Park entrance is a 1/2 mile on the left.


For more information visit http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/PC/abtus/ourorg/parks/flights.htm

Zoo Lights at Point Defiance

Grab your mittens, your warm winter jacket and head to Point Defiance Zoo as it lights up with more than a half-million lights. Zoo Lights is a wonderful place to enjoy the beauty of the holiday season! Only here through January 3, 2010 so hurry up and don't miss out on the fun!

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is continuing its holiday tradition of collecting lights for their recycling program this year. Help to keep thousands of strings of lights out of the landfill by donating your unused lights. Find out where to donate at - http://www.pdza.org/page.php?id=438

Get directions and purchase your tickets on the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium's website below
http://www.pdza.org/page.php?id=435

Thurston County Home Sales Record Biggest Jump of the Year

November posted the year’s largest percentage gain in home sales. The month saw a 59.6% jump in sales compared year ago figures, with 273 sales this year versus just 171 in November of 2008.

The looming deadline for the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit surely had an impact in the size of the jump. The credit was set to expire November 30, 2009. The President signed an extension of the credit on November 6th. The credit will now be available on homes under contract by April 30, 2010.

Affordability has also been a driver in home sales. Average prices countywide are down about 8% since this time last year and down 12.4% since the peak in 2007. Those lower prices combined with mortgage rates below 5% have created some of the most affordable conditions on record.

Freddie Mac reported just today that interest rates on a 30 year, fixed rate mortgage are at the lowest level on record. In its weekly mortgage market survey for the week ending December 3rd, the company reports those rates averaged just 4.71%. The previous record low was 4.78%, set in April of this year. Freddie Mac has been tracking these rates since 1971.

These affordability conditions coupled with the recent expansion of the tax credit to cover certain repeat buyers should continue to propel sales through the winter months. The momentum has already started. Pending home sales, which are those under contract but not yet closed, just logged their seventh straight month of besting 2008 levels. In November, pending sales were up a healthy 7.5% over last year.