| Mar |
| 21 |
| 1:00 pm |
BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is a new, two-story Craftsman style home in Seahurst.
The main floor has an entry with open staircase, and there’s a large open gourmet kitchen with elegant cabinets, slab granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, gas cook top range, and a built-in microwave and oven.
The hardwood floors are made of Brazilian Cherry, the upper floor has four bedrooms, two full baths, and a large master suite with five-piece bath and walk-in closet.
Here are the details:
WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, March 21st, from 1pm to 4pm.
WHERE: 14438 12 Ave SW • Burien 98166
INFO:
- List Price: $415,000
- Listing#: 28106636
- Beds: 2
- Baths: 2.5
- Fireplaces: 1
- Year Built: 2008
- 2 Garage-Attached, Off-Street Parking
- Approximate House SqFt: 2,420
- Lot Square Footage: 5,245
Interior Features:
- Bath Off Master
- Dining Room
- Dble Pane/Strm Windw
- Walk-in Closet
Site Features:
- Cable TV
- Fenced-Partially
- Nat. Gas Available
Marketing Remarks:
Quality built new construction in Seahurst. Gorgeous Two-Story Craftsman style.
Main Flr. has entry with open staircase, living Rm., dining rm., large open gourmet kitchen w/elegant cabinets, slab granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, gas cook top range, built in microwave & oven, spacious family rm. w/gas fireplace off kitchen, gleaming Brazilian Cherry Hdwe. flrs., half bath, & utility rm.
Upper flr. has 4 bedrooms, two full bths., lg. master w/5 piece bath & walk-in closet.
DIRECTIONS:
- Take Ambaum to S.W 146th St.
- Go West on S.W. 146th for 1.5 blocks.
- Turn right into alley between 11th Ave. S.W. & 12th Ave. S.W.
- House is on the left side, middle of alley.
Click here to see the full, detailed listing.
Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.
[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
by Lori A. Alden
Prudential Northwest Realty
Opportunity is knocking for those considering home-ownership in Burien for the first time.
Historically low interest rates, lower home prices in most South King County neighborhoods and the first-time homebuyer tax credit – part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – brought first-timers to the market in droves throughout the year.
In fact, these consumers represented about half of home sales logged during 2009, according to the National Association of REALTORS®, a significant increase from historic levels. And the favorable conditions that prompted many of these first-time buyers are likely to continue. President Obama in early November signed into law a five-month extension of the first-time homebuyer tax credit of up to $8,000, as well as a new tax credit of up to $6,500 for existing homeowners who want to purchase a home to be their primary residence (see your real estate professional and tax advisor for details). Both credits will be available through April 30, 2010 (NOW is the time to get your house on the market if you are looking to attract these consumers).
Today’s opportunities aside, here are eight time-honored reasons why those considering homeownership for the first time should make their move.
1. Pride of Ownership
Owning your own home adds to your own sense of self-esteem and personal pride. The satisfaction that comes from feeling connected to the land you occupy and the home in which you live is ages-old.
2. Security of Tenancy
With homeownership comes stability. When renting, you never know when you may have to move because of new ownership, rent increases or other changes. As a homeowner, you decide when and if you want to move.
3. Privacy
While there are usually some limits on the access landlords have to property, almost all landlords can access your property for necessary inspections and maintenance. For many renters, this lack of privacy is a significant discomfort. Homeowners on the other hand generally have much stronger property rights and experience an increase in perceived and actual privacy.
4. Decorating
Homeowners are free to decorate, remodel and accessorize a home any way they want. Not only do you have the right to make improvements, but the value of those improvements becomes yours as well. Having your living space and exteriors just the way you want them can significantly increase your satisfaction with your living environment.
5. Financial Predictability
When you buy a home with a fixed-rate mortgage, you have more predictability over future housing costs. Because your interest rate never changes, the amount of your payment never changes. Financial planning and credit are more easily managed with a fixed-rate mortgage compared to renting.
6. Building Equity
When you own your own home, you pay rent to yourself instead of a landlord. Most homeowners pay for their purchase by obtaining a mortgage. As you pay off that mortgage, your equity builds and you gain an increasingly larger share in a valuable asset. Over time, that asset can work for you in many ways, such as home equity lines of credit. And of course, a home is a wonderful asset to pass along in an estate.
7. Investment Appreciation
There are certainly no guarantees of property value appreciation. In the long-term, however, real estate valuations almost always increase. This means that when you decide to sell your home, its value may be significantly higher than when you purchased it. The difference in value is called appreciation. You can reinvest that appreciation in other real estate or you may wish to downsize and keep the value of that appreciation for retirement or other purposes.
8. Tax Benefits
In the United States, the cost of home mortgage interest and property taxes are usually tax-deductible. Depending on your circumstances, thousands of dollars in taxes can be saved each year. These tax savings are not limited to federal taxes either. Many states and localities either base their tax system on the federal system or offer similar incentives to homeownership. Some additional benefits are designed specifically for first-time homebuyers. (See your tax advisor for additional information.)
If you still have doubts, contact a real estate professional in your community. He or she can answer questions you may have about homeownership and explain the buying process to you.
Lori A. Alden can be reached at 206-244-6400, or via email at lorialden@PNWRealty.com.
Prudential Northwest Realty is an independently owned and operated member of The Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity. They’re also a proud sponsor of The B-Town Blog’s Real Estate section.
[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
| Mar |
| 14 |
| 1:00 pm |
BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is a Mid-Century Home with Puget Sound views from both floors in the Three Tree Point area above Maplewild.
Imagine a home where you can relax and enjoy the view from nearly every room in the house as well as the deck. The carport offers storage above and at the end; plus there is a basement shop.
Here are the details:
WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, March 14th, from 1pm to 4pm.
WHERE: 2923 SW 164th Place • Burien 98166
INFO:
- List Price: $499,000

- Listing#: 19432
- Beds: 3
- Baths: 1.75
- Fireplaces: 2
- Year Built: 1952
- 2 Carport-Attached
- Approximate House SqFt: 2,190
- Lot Square Footage: 14,625
Interior Features:
- Dining Room
- Security System
Site Features:
- Cable TV
- Deck
- Fenced-Partially
- Shop
Marketing Remarks:
View, View, View!
Puget Sound with Ferry Crossing viewed from both floors of this Mid-centry home in the Three Tree Point area above Maplewild!
Imagine a home where you can relax and enjoy the view from nearly every room in the house as well as the deck!
Original owners built this house to take advantage of location & private seclusion.
The carport offers storage above & at the end, plus there is a basement shop.
Now is your opportunity to own this view & update the house to your liking!
DIRECTIONS:
- From Maplewild go east on 29th SW.
- At Y (164th Pl) go Right follow road up & to the left.
- Second house on left.
- To leave-back out of driveway & continue north to complete loop you started.
Click here to see the full, detailed listing.
Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.
| Mar |
| 7 |
| 1:00 pm |
BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is an “extremely clean 3 bedroom, 2 full (all new) bath rambler” located near the beach in Hurstwood and priced at $376,950.
This home features newly-refinished hardwoods, new tile in the kitchen and family room, new interior paint, and a 2-car garage with huge attic storage.
Here are the details:
WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, March 7th, from 1pm to 4pm.
WHERE: 13843 17th Ave SW • Burien 98166
INFO:
- List Price: $376,950
- Listing#: 32089
- Beds: 3
- Baths: 2
- Fireplaces: 1
- Year Built: 1966
- 2 Garage-Attached
- Approximate House SqFt: 1,420
- Lot Square Footage: 16,000
Interior Features:
- Bath Off Master
- Dble Pane/Strm Windw
Site Features:
- Cable TV
- Fenced-Partially
- Patio
Marketing Remarks:
Extremely clean 3 bdrm, 2 full (all new) bath rambler.
Newly refinished hardwoods and new tile in kitchen and family rm.
New interior paint. 2 car gar. w/huge attic storage.
Sought after Hurstwood-near the beach.
Get in this one! Furniture negotiable if interested..
Directions:
- Ambaum Blvd. to SW 144th St.
- West to 13th SW.
- Right to stop sign.
- Turn Right then immediate left to 13843 17th SW.
Click here to see the full, detailed listing.
Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.
by Lori A. Alden
Prudential Northwest Realty
Thinking about investing in Burien? Now is the Time!
Turn on any financial news program and at some point you’ll hear the experts extolling the virtues of diversification. Real estate, even through the market downturn, has long been considered a conservative, long-term strategy to growing wealth.
In fact, that very downturn has created a historic buying opportunity for potential homebuyers and investors alike. The combination of lower home prices across the Burien and Southwest King County areas and historically low mortgage rates, two essential factors that usually don’t trend in the same direction, have triggered a buyer’s market in many areas of the county. For real estate investors who want to rent their properties, this can make the difference in achieving positive cash flow sooner or right off the bat.
While some seasoned real estate investors make it look easy, to be successful, beginners should follow some basic principles.
Learn all you can. Before committing your cash, you should have a fundamental understanding of real estate. For example, be aware that, in general, investment properties are not liquid investments. Barring exceptional circumstances, real estate does not sell at a moment’s notice. It could take days or months to sell a property, depending on the strength of the market in a particular region.
Consider cash flow. You’ll need to have enough capital on hand to cover any short-term losses due to vacancies between tenants.
Start small. Look into buying a condominium, single-family home or a duplex. Leave large apartment buildings and commercial properties to the pros.
Inquire at the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce about companies relocating into or out of the area. Company movement is one indicator of demand for rental and/or office space.
Find a property that will be in demand. Look for a moderately priced home with three or four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a garage that sits on a quiet street.![]()
Research the property. The most common way first-time investors lose is by failing to investigate a property thoroughly. Look beyond the front door. Investigate the reputation of the school district, the crime rate, and plans for expanding a nearby highway or developing vacant land. Ask a local Prudential Northwest real estate professional about the area, its history, and how fast (or slow) properties are moving.
Inspect the home you’re considering for signs of water damage, such as stains on the ceiling and crinkling or gathering wallpaper; open and close every door and window; and check all electrical sockets by plugging in an appliance. Get an independent home inspection, roof inspection and termite inspection. Unexpected repair costs can eat away your cash flow. Because even the best inspection can’t always predict problems, try to set aside some of the rental income for unexpected repairs.
Spend time driving the streets of the neighborhood noting the condition of other properties. Are lawns maintained? Are roofs in good shape? Are homes kept up?
Be ready to make fixes quickly and respond to the renter’s needs. If you’re not prepared to be a hands-on landlord, consider hiring a property management firm.
See your tax advisor for related planning and laws that can affect your investment decisions.
Remember, investing in a property is much different than living in one, and while emotion and attachment can be prime motivators when it comes to homes, it is return on investment that counts when investing in real estate.
Lori A. Alden can be reached at 206-244-6400, or via email at lorialden@PNWRealty.com.
Prudential Northwest Realty is an independently owned and operated member of The Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity. They’re also a proud sponsor of The B-Town Blog’s Real Estate section.
[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
| Feb |
| 28 |
| 1:00 pm |
BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is a “beautifully restored 1.5 story home, with 3-bedrooms and 1.5-bath home right in the heart of Burien” priced at an affordable $269,999.
This home features an Island kitchen with newer appliances, laminate wood flooring and lots of cupboard space.
Here are the details:
WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, Feb. 28th, from 1pm to 4pm.
WHERE: 119 SW 130th Street • Burien 98146
INFO:
- List Price: $269,999
- Listing#: 27215
- Beds: 3
- Baths: 1.5
- Fireplaces: 1
- Year Built: 1961
- 1 Garage-Attached
- Approximate House SqFt: 2,060
- Lot Square Footage: 7,478
Interior Features:
- Dining Room
- Dble Pane/Strm Windw
- High Tech Cabling,
- Skylights
Site Features:
- Fenced-Fully
- Nat. Gas Available
- RV Parking
Marketing Remarks:
Beautifully restored 1.5 story home, in the heart of Burien.
This home features an Island kitchen with newer appliances, laminate wood flooring and lots of cupboard space.
The living room has large picture windows, wall to wall carpeting and a fireplace.
Newly painted exterior, the roof is only about 5 years old and newer vinyl windows and water heater.
Do not miss out on this turnkey home.
Directions:
- From 1st Avenue South turn West onto 130th
- Home is on the left.
Click here to see the full, detailed listing.
Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.
| Feb |
| 21 |
| 1:00 pm |
BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is a “Wonderful Rambler looking for new owners” priced at an affordable $274,950.
This is a 3-bedroom, 1-bath home built in 1954 with some recent renovations. It is located in the Gregory Heights neighborhood of Burien.
Here are the details:
WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, Feb. 22nd, from 1pm to 4pm.
WHERE: 16012 10th Ave SW • Burien • 98166
INFO:
- List Price: $274,950
- Listing#: 23869

- Beds: 3
- Baths: 1
- Fireplaces: 1
- Year Built: 1954
- 1 Garage-Attached
- Approximate House SqFt: 1,080
- Lot Square Footage: 7,620
Interior Features:
- Ceiling Fan(s)
Site Features:
- Cable TV
- Fenced-Partially

- Nat. Gas Available
- Outbuildings
Marketing Remarks:
Wonderful rambler looking for new owners.
Kitchen features custom cabinets, new granite countertops & deep stainless sink.
Remodeled ceramic bath, wood burning fireplace, hardwood floors & wood wrapped windows.
1-car garage with tons of extra storage, private yard & Cascade Mtn view.
One Year Home Warranty.
You won’t be disappointed, call me or your Realtor before it’s gone.
Directions:
- From First Ave South, go west on SW 160th, then South on 10th Ave SW.
- Home is on the left(east) side of street.
Click here to see the full, detailed listing.
Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.
| Feb |
| 14 |
| 1:00 pm |
BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is a one-of-a-kind, classic and chic Seahurst sound view home priced at $449,000.
Here are the details
WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, Feb. 14th, from 1pm to 4pm
WHERE: 15434 22nd Ave SW • Burien • 98166
INFO:
- List Price: $449,000

- Listing#: 10823
- Beds: 3
- Baths: 1.50
- Fireplaces: 1
- Year Built: 1926
- Approximate House SqFt: 1,720
- Lot Square Footage: 7,847
Interior Features:
- Bath Off Master
- Dining Room
- Dble Pane/Strm Windw
- French Doors
- Skylights
- Vaulted Ceilings
Site Features:
- Cable TV
- Deck
- Fenced-Partially
- Outbuildings
- Sprinkler Syste
Marketing Remarks:
Classy, Chic & Charming, this one-of-a-kind sound view home is located on a quiet street in the desirable Seahurst neighborhood.
This home features an absolutely stunning remodeled master bedroom/bath suite that looks out on an exquisite sound and mountain view from its huge sunfilled windows.
The newly remodeled entertainment deck is fabulous for those sunny day barbeques or relaxing with your morning coffee.
This home has amazing street appeal.
Directions: From 1st Avenue South, head West on SW 152nd, then South on 22nd Ave. SW. Home is on the left.
Click here to see the full, detailed listing.
Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses
| Feb |
| 7 |
| 1:00 pm |
BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is a newly-remodeled 4-bedroom house in Burien priced at $359,950.
Here are the details
WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, Feb. 7th, from 1pm to 4pm
WHERE: 16409 8th Ave SW in Burien
INFO:
- List Price: $359,950
- Listing#: 29107117

- Beds 4
- Baths 2.00
- Fireplaces 2
- Year Built 1963
Interior Features:
- Bath Off Master
- Ceiling Fan(s)
- French Doors
- Security System
Site Features:
- Cable TV
- Fenced-Fully
- High Speed Internet
- Nat. Gas Available
Marketing Remarks: This home has been newly remodeled, it features 4bdrms, 2.5bths, 2fplcs, hardwood flrs, custom cabinetry, 2007 construction grade metal roof and 2460sqft.
It has a panoramic view of the Olympics and the airport.
Just minutes to downtown and close to schools and the hospital.
Click here to see the full, detailed listing.
Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.
Our new Real Estate sponsor Prudential Northwest Featured Open House this week is for a gorgeous house on Lake Burien
Sunday, Jan. 31st from 1pm to 4pm:
1804 SW 156th Street
Burien, WA 98166
- List Price: $750,000
- MLS Number: 29064725
- Bedrooms: 4
- Bathrooms:3.50
- Approximate House SqFt: 2,980
- Lot Square Footage: 15,240
- Year Built: 1949
- Gorgeous grounds & pretty home in a super convenient location.
- Close to shops, restaurants of Olde Burien, St.Francis private school, Eagle Landing Park & the Seahurst community beach.
- This unique property has many exceptional spaces including the almost impossible to find level backyard of Waterfront.
- Every detail remains inviting & open while still allowing 4 estate & privacy.
- Home features 4 bed, 3.5 bath have plenty of closet space to keep things spacious & spotless.
- Cottage w/1bed,1bath,& kit.
- Parking Type: Carport-Detached
Click here to see the full, detailed listing.
Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.
“Once you’re pre-approved (to buy a home) you’re armed and dangerous,” says Mark Denniston, Senior Loan Consultant at new B-Town Blog Advertiser Northwest Mortgage Alliance LLC. “Pre-approval is as easy as a phone call or email. I will let the buyer know in a very short time,” he added.
You can reach Mark at 206-932-1500, or email him at mdenniston@nwmortgagealliance.com.
Mark feels that there is no better time than now to buy a home.
“With interests rates as low as 5%, home prices at the bottom, and the government tax credit for first time and current homebuyers extended through April, there’s no better time than now to buy a home,” stated Mark.
The First Time Homebuyers credit is up to $8,000 and expires April 30, with closing by June 30. The Current Home Owners credit is up $6,500 with the same expiration and closing.

Mark Denniston, Senior Loan Consultant at Northwest Mortgage Alliance LLC.
Northwest Mortgage Alliance (NWMA) has been a trusted leader in home loans in the Northwest since 1998. Mark has been a trusted loan officer with several companies throughout his nearly 40 year career in first the real estate business, and then the mortgage loan industry. Half of his career in mortgages have been spent right here in Burien.
As a mortgage loan consultant for so many years, Mark has learned that counciling prospective buyers on the ins and outs of home buying and ownership is the best way to earn trust and business. He has counseled thousands of buyers over his career. While BTB was interviewing Mark, he had a person call in that had used his services as a mortgage broker 10 years ago. She was downsizing, and called Mark before she even started house-hunting. His council was needed for this customer to start the process.
Knowledge, expertise and council is what Mark brings to customers who choose to finance their biggest purchase of their lives–their home–with Northwest Mortgage Alliance and Mark Denniston.
NWMA has nine offices throughout the Puget Sound, with one right here in Burien at 127 Southwest 156th Street, Suite 100.
So if you’re in the market for a home, be sure and give Mark a call at (206) 932-1500 for that pre-approval before you start looking at houses. He’ll get you pre-approved in minutes, and at no charge, so you can hit the streets, as Mark puts it “armed and dangerous.”
Visit their website here, or call Mark directly at (206) 932-1500.
[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
| Jan |
| 24 |
| 1:00 pm |
Our new Real Estate sponsor Prudential Northwest will be showcasing a Featured Open House here every Friday, and here’s this week’s inaugural listing:
Sunday, Jan. 24th from 1pm to 4pm:
398 SW 176th Place
Normandy Park 98166
$475,000
“Smart, Chic and Classy with a fresh new look! This lovely home is located in gorgeous Normandy Park w/nice winter Puget Sound views.
The main floor features very spacious living & dining rooms, huge sun-filled windows, extremely large kitchen & three bedrooms with fabulous territorial views from all living areas.
Downstairs has a bedroom, 2 large rec rooms, an extra finished room, and is ready for a 2nd kitchen.
Newer 50-yr. roof and award-winning Marvista Elementary School make this a real gem.”
More details:
- 4 bedrooms
- 2.25 bath
- Over 2850 SF
- Spacious living & dining areas
- Nice winter Puget Sound views
- 2 lg rec rooms
- Bath Off Master
- Dining Room

- Dble Pane/Strm Windw
- Cable TV
- Deck
- Fenced-Partially
- Nat. Gas Available
- Patio
- It’s a gem you’ll want to see!
Directions:
- From 1st Ave South, head West on Normandy Road
- Turn Right on 3rd SW
- Turn Left on 176th Place
Click here to view the full detailed listing.
Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.
Today marks a big day in the just over two-year life (so far) of The B-Town Blog, as we’re proud to introduce our newest section and Advertiser: Real Estate Powered by Prudential Northwest!
This means that you can now access all local real estate listings by clicking on “Real Estate” in the upper navigation menu section between Advertise and Events. We’re happy to be working with the Burien-based Prudential Northwest office, and the entire company consists of six offices throughout the Greater Seattle area.
Techie-types at both PNW and BTB have been working ’round the clock to develop the innovative new “Zero Click House Finding Engine” for real estate listings in the Burien and South Seattle areas. Users will be able to quickly and easily see all of the area’s latest home listings, view by neighborhoods, see open house maps and more just by clicking on “Real Estate” in our top navigation menu. The real estate section will also be available soon on sister sites The Waterland Blog (Des Moines), The White Center Blog, and soon The Normandy Park Blog.

Sales Manager Bradley Hawthorne (sitting, right) explains the 'Zero Click House Finder' technology to the PNW staff.
“To search on a real estate site we wanted to make it easy to use so that every level of user can find what they are looking for,” said PNW Sales Manager Bradley Hawthorne. “Just by clicking on ‘Real Estate,’ you’ll instantly have every listing in all of Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines without having to do anything, hence the ‘Zero Click’ technology moniker.”
Want some real proof? Just click on one of the five areas below and see for yourself:
If you click on any of those five areas, on that page is every listing for that area – and not just Prudential Northwest Realty listings – but everything that is inputted into the Northwest Multiple Listing Services website! Within those five major pages you’ll also find several communities and if you click on a community again just the listings in those communities will be shown without you having to input any search criteria (of course PNW’s standard and advanced searches are still available for the techie searchers, so you can tailor our search site to any criteria that you personally want), but for those of us that need a little help when surfing the web, “This is the simplest sight I have ever seen!”
Hawthorne adds: “Tying into these fast-growing community websites will not only help us showcase the latest listings for these areas, it will also help us serve our communities better. We all love the Southwest King County area and we hope we can help others find out what a hidden gem it is.”

PNW Broker/Branch Manager Lori Alden-Pense
PNW has been a community player since they first set foot in Burien seven years ago. With 56 active Realtors, they outgrew their first location in Olde Burien and they’re now located at 127 SW 156th Street. Broker/Branch Manager Lori Alden-Pense has been managing PNW Burien since they moved here; she’s been with them since 1994.
“It is PNW’s mission to help build a better tomorrow by partnering with our communities today,” Lori said.
She talks the talk and walks the walk when it comes to PNW’s mission of giving back to the community.
Not only is Lori President of the Discover Burien Executive Board, you’ll find PNW sponsoring all of the events that Discover Burien brings to our community including the Farmers Market, Clean Sweep, the Father’s Day Car Show, Lunch-time Concerts (New!), Octoberfest, Winterfest and Empty Bowls.
For the past six years, PNW has held an annual food drive benefiting the Highline Area Food Bank on the first Saturday of October. They are currently hosting a three-month food bank drive at their office, and you can drop by non-perishable food items or money now through March.
Owned by long-time and well known real estate professional Mike Gain, Prudential Northwest Realty Associates has established itself as an industry leader by upholding the principles of the agent-customer relationship. Their combination of real estate expertise and responsive, flexible customer relations has allowed them to continue to grow and become one of the most influential real estate companies within the greater Puget Sound region. Constantly looking for ways to improve their company, PNW remains committed to the very highest standards of professionalism and service. More info is available at http://www.pnwrealty.com.
Prudential Northwest realty has a total of 450 real estate agents in their neighborhood offices, which, in addition to Burien includes Federal Way, Kent, West Seattle, Bellevue and Kirkland.
“We’re very excited to have Prudential Northwest Realty as our newest Advertiser,” said Scott Schaefer, B-Town Blog Founder/Publisher. “This brand new sponsored section will help inform the more than 55,000 monthly Readers of The B-Town Blog, Waterland Blog (Des Moines) and White Center Blog for the latest local news, events, arts, entertainment and now – up-to-the-minute local real estate listings.”
Be sure to stay tuned for another new related feature – “Open House Friday” on our blogs, where we’ll present the weekend’s best Open Houses throughout our coverage area, among other real estate related features.
[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
The City of SeaTac announced Monday (Jan. 4th) that it has purchased a 4.23 acre chunk of land with commercial structures on it at 15247 International Blvd. for $12.7 million.
According to a press release, the property, which is located directly across the street from the new Tukwila Sound Transit Link light rail station, will be used to “construct public roads, open space and infrastructure as set forth in the Capital Improvement Plan for the Light Rail Station Area at S. 154th Street.”
The transaction closed Thursday, December 31, 2009.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the City of SeaTac,” said Mayor Ralph Shape. “The City was able to purchase a critical piece of property for future public use at $4 million less than a recent appraised value, and more than $6.4 million less than the current tax assessed value. At the same time the community will realize significant net operating income in the coming years from the current leases at the property.”
Fifteen tenants currently occupy 61,641 square feet of space at SeaTac Center, including Monte Carlo, Refugee Women’s Alliance, Pabla India Cuisine, and Pacific Highway Chiropractic.
In December 2006 the SeaTac City Council adopted the “South 154th Street Station Area Action Plan” which called for this area to be developed as a “vibrant, mixed use residential neighborhood that connects people of various backgrounds.”
The station area was envisioned to be pedestrian-oriented, visually pleasing, easily accessible, and integrated with the new light rail station across the street.
The adopted plan provided for the city to acquire property in order to build the required infrastructure such as roads and sidewalks. In May of 2009 the property went into foreclosure proceedings, and SeaTac worked through a commercial broker to ascertain the value of the land and the current tenant lease agreements.
The City of SeaTac will retain a third-party firm to manage the property.
For the second time in three years, King County is attempting to renege at the 11th hour on a deal with the City of Burien.
The King County Library System reportedly has entered into a preliminary agreement to purchase Puget Sound Park at 1st Ave. S. and SW 126th St. from the county in a deal brokered by through the county executive’s office.
Puget Sound Park is located in the unincorporated area of North Highline that is to be annexed by Burien early next year.
But the stealth attempt to sell the park – initiated and discussed by the county without informing the city of its intent – prompted Burien council members at their meeting on Nov. 23 that they will postpone official annexation of North Highline, which tentatively was set for March 2nd (read our previous coverage here).
Burien officials and North Highline residents now hope that new King County Executive Dow Constantine, who was sworn in Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 24), will intervene to block the sale, thus allowing Puget Sound Park to go to the city as part of annexation.
Constantine represented Burien, North Highline and West Seattle on the King County Council until his election as county executive in November. Because of his swearing in, he was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Burien City Manager Mike Martin informed council members about the pending sale of the park – which he learned about only late last week – at Monday night’s meeting and recommended that they not vote, as scheduled, on an ordinance setting March 2 as the effective date of annexation. They agreed unanimously to postpone action at this time.
“We expect to have that park,” Martin told The B-Town Blog today. “No annexation deal will be done until we get that asset.”
Mayor Joan McGilton sent a letter to Constantine on Nov. 20, requesting his “direct intervention in this matter.” She noted that city attempts to contact county staff had not produced “satisfactory results.”
“I think we can agree that such a delay is not in the best interest of our residents, and comes at significant additional cost to the County’s general fund,” McGilton told Constantine.
Martin said he only learned about the county’s interest in selling Puget Sound Park – initiated when Kurt Triplett was county executive – during a recent conversation on another matter with Fire District 2 officials, who said the property had been offered to them.
After they declined, King County reportedly contacted the King County Library System, which said yes to the offer and subsequently signed a letter of intent.
“We didn’t know what was going on until then,” said Martin. County officials had given the city no indication of their plans, despite the fact the park is in the area to be annexed by Burien.
Staff in the executive’s office under Triplett – who was chief of staff to former county executive Ron Sims until Sims resigned earlier this year to take a position in the administration of President Obama – apparently hope to make about $500,000 on the sale of the park to help plug the $56.4 million shortfall facing King County next year.
Greg Duff, president of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, said, “The people of North Highline want their parks. We want our open spaces. For them to do that now is a slap in the face…. The people of North Highline voted for annexation and want King County to stop messing around.”
Shortly after the August election, when residents of the southern part of North Highline approved annexation by Burien, Triplett proposed mothballing King County parks to reduce general fund expenses by $4.6 million.
Constantine quickly responded, opposing Triplett’s plan to cut funding for the parks in unincorporated areas. “Parks are important to the health and quality of life of everyone in the communities,” and closing them would be “short sighted,” he said.
In 2007, Sims pulled out of a deal signed years earlier with Burien and the Port of Seattle for the demolition of the Lora Lake Apartments, which were operated by King County Housing Authority, to pave the way for commercial development in the city’s Northeast Redevelopment Area.
Although the county successfully won control of the apartment complex, it later was demolished anyway because soil contamination made it unsuitable as a residential property.
The B-Town Blog would like to welcome its latest Advertiser: David Frasch, Associate Broker for Coldwell Banker Danforth & Associates, Inc!
David Frasch doesn’t like to wait, and he doesn’t think you should either. He believes his most important mission as your representative is to communicate promptly. Whether it is by phone, email or text you can almost always expect him to answer or reply immediately. If he can’t get to his iPhone when you call, he’ll get back to you as soon as he can.
His clients, friends and neighbors are always calling around newsletter time! David’s newsletter, “Service for Life” is the most passed-around newsletter in town. It is filled with compelling articles, amazing trivia, brain teasers, humor, and consumer information you’ll want to know. Every month people clamor to be the first to answer the trivia question to get the prize! What will it be this month? For your copy of “Service for Life” give David a call at (206) 226-0565 or email him at davidfrasch@msn.com. Maybe you’ll be the winner!
David enjoys real estate and helping people get what they want. His clients say some of the things they like best about David are that he is easy to work with and he cares about their peace of mind. David has been a full time real estate agent since 2000 and has handled almost every type of residential real estate transaction. He knows his clients deserve the very best in confidential, personal, and professional quality service. If you have any real estate questions please don’t hesitate to call David – he is always ready and willing to help out in any way he can.
Be sure to visit his website:
…and become his Facebook friend:
…and Facebook fan:
Or call him at (206) 226-0565 or via email at davidfrasch@msn.com.
Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, event listing and/or Ad like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 40,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
With only five of the 124 condominiums at Town Square sold to date, more than five months after the grand opening of this complex in June, prospective buyers and those anticipating future downtown development in Burien wonder if condo prices might be lowered.
This question has been raised in the weeks since Chicago-based Corus Bank – the construction lender for Urban Partners, the private developer of the condo/retail complex in Town Square – was seized by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) on Sept. 11.
Corus Bank’s deposits were sold, then the FDIC conducted a private auction for the remaining assets. Now Starwood Capital Group, TPG Capital, Perry Capital and WLR LaFrak have acquired an equity interest in a limited liability corporation that will hold the construction loans and real estate-owned assets of Corus.
“The $4.5 billion portfolio consists of more than 100 loan and (real estate-owned) assets linked to high-quality condominiums, multi-family housing, office properties, and land representing nearly 23 million square feet,” according to a recent news release from this investment consortium.
Urban Partners, however, has yet to comment publicly on whether it might reduce the prices of its Town Square condos – phase one of the planned Town Square project. A primary reason for this is that it’s not a simple matter of lowering those prices, despite the fact that the investment consortium purchased the construction loans of Urban Partners and others well below their original value.
Two or three or even more banks usually are involved in large construction and real estate loans, notes Burien Economic Development Manager Dick Loman. This, in turn, creates a slow and involved process for a developer to obtain permission from lenders before it can make a corresponding reduction in its housing prices.
In the meantime, Loman says, Urban Partners is “hanging in there. They’re not leaving town. They’re trying to do the right thing. I know that Urban Partners wants to meet the market, but they can’t act until they receive a green light for moving forward. This means that (Town Square condo) prices aren’t going to go down without permission from the bank.”
Burien City Manager Mike Martin emphasizes that “no public money is involved” in the Town Square condo-retail complex. “There is no financial to the taxpayers” because the Urban Partners’ development is privately financed.
But, he adds, “We do want to see them fill up sooner than later.”
While we don’t have full confirmation yet, according to the signage on the empty Skipper’s Seafood & Chowder restaurant on the corner of SW 148th and Ambaum Blvd., it appears the joint may have a new owner, and may be conducting job interviews this Saturday, Sept. 12th.
“May” is the key word here, since someone could have just altered the sign as a prank. When we looked in Thursday morning (Sept. 10th), all the lights were still on, the eviction notices were still posted, and it appeared the same as before.
As you may recall, we first reported that on April 3rd King County Sheriff’s Deputies evicted the previous owners (who owed $48,000 in back rent), posted an eviction notice, tossed everyone out and locked the doors.
The building has been sitting locked and vacant ever since, and the property was even under consideration as a location for a new fire station. It was (and is still) also listed as for sale at a “Skippers For Sale” website.
We have calls into the real estate folks handling this property, and will update this story once we receive word, but in the meantime we thought that seeing these signs is a good sign, especially if you combine it with the possibility that Burien Nissan may be re-opening soon.
Could Burien be on its way back? Is the recession ending? Might residents be driving new Nissans through Skippers again soon and tainting that “new car smell” with greasy food again?
Borrowing a phrase from Mark Twain, reports of the demise of Burien’s Town Square condominiums, which opened for occupancy in June, are vastly exaggerated.
So declares Dan Rosenfeld, principal of Urban Partners, developer of the privately owned condo and retail complex in Town Square at the corner of SW 152nd Street and Sixth Ave SW.
“We are holding on,” Rosenfeld said this week, responding to a rumor that Urban Partners is barely hanging on. “We are very proud of the quality of our project and the effect that it’s having on the revitalization of downtown Burien.”
Together with the public part of the Town Square project, he added, which includes the new King County Library/City Hall building and a downtown park.
“We couldn’t have built a better project,” Rosenfeld continued. “We did this in a very challenging market. We are working buyer by buyer on closing sales. We are making progress. In the long run, I think we will be very successful.”

Un-leased retail spaces sit empty at Town Square.
The Town Square complex includes a mix of one- and two-bedroom condos, two-story Homes on the Park, and live/work lofts. There is 20,000 square feet of ground-level retail space in addition to 122 condos.
None of the retail space has been leased to date. And, said Burien economic development manager Dick Loman, five of the condos have been sold and closed to date, according to the most recent number provided him.
“They’re selling slow for reasons we all understand,” Loman said. “No development company is making money today but they have the resources to hang on.”
Rosenfeld underscored Loman’s assessment, stating that Urban Partners plans “to stay the course … literally 20 potential buyers are having trouble selling their (existing) homes. Everything’s difficult. That is not a reflection on what we have (at Town Square). Quite the contrary. We’ve received many compliments on the project.”
Underwriting standards have been tightened as lending markets adjust to new criteria, he noted. Urban Partners is “fine tuning our lending program and our marketing activities in response to changing circumstances in the capital markets. We are constantly trying to find ways to do it better.”
Burien City Councilman Gordon Shaw quashed another rumor, which suggested Urban Partners was considering renting some of the condos as apartments. The developer is prevented from doing that in their agreement with the city, which states they must be “for sale” units, he said.

With only five condos sold, and all retails spaces still "for lease," it's no surprise that rumors have started.
But, Shaw said, “It’s concerning to me that more of the residences have not been sold and closed. I’m also distressed about no retail leases … I just don’t know how (Urban Partners) can weather this storm.”
As a councilman, he continued, “I’m just sitting here holding my breath. Urban Partners is telling us nothing about their financial condition.”
For his part, Rosenfeld says they still hope to build the other two condo/retail complexes long-planned for Town Square, “but we have to sell the first phase first. The mortgage markets are challenging, the appraisal markets are challenging. The good news is, there are real signs that a turnaround in housing markets is beginning to appear. Things are edging upwards.”
So…what do YOU think will happen to Burien’s shiny new Town Square? Please take our poll, or leave a Comment below…
| Jun ’09 |
| 27 |
| 8:00 am |

RE/MAX All City will be floating their distinctive 70-foot tall Hot Air Balloon to the Des Moines Marina Park on Saturday, June 27th, from 8am to Noon, and tethered rides will be offered to 20 lucky people, selected by drawing.
The balloon is one of more than 120 hot air balloons in the world that carry the distinctive red, white and blue RE/MAX trademark, and is considered one of the most recognized corporate images in the world.
Here are the details:
WHAT: RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon
WHEN: Saturday, June 27th from 8am to Noon
WHERE: Des Moines Marina Park
INFO: For more information about this balloon appearance on 6/27/09 or to enter their drawing for a balloon ride, call or stop by RE/MAX All City at 636 SW 152nd St, Suite E, Burien, or call 206-244-6000.
Headquartered in Denver, CO, RE/MAX international adopted the hot air balloon as a promotional symbol in 1978. Since that time, RE/MAX International, regions, offices and Sales Associates have sponsored or participated in hundreds of balloon events around the world, including the RE/MAX Cup National Gas Balloon Race, the U.S. qualifier for the International Gordon Bennett Cup.
Information about the RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon program can be found at www.remax.com.
| Apr ’09 |
| 18 |
| 10:00 am |
Despite tough economic times, interest rates are low, you can get tax credits, and home prices continue to drop, so believe it or not – now is a good time to buy a home, and this Saturday, April 18th there will be a free Home Buying Class at the Burien Library from 10am to 11am.
Here are the details:
WHAT: “Opportunity Knocks: A Home Buying Class”
WHEN: Saturday, April 18th from 10am — 11am
WHERE: Burien Library, located at 14700 6th Avenue SW
INFO: In this class you’ll learn:
- Current market conditions
- Steps in the home buying process
- How to negotiate price, terms & conditions
- What’s in a credit report
- How to improve a credit report
- Loan approval process
RSVP: Pre-registration required; call 206-419-6950. More info at this meetup website.
Doncha just love it when signmakers run out of letters and have to get creative?
But can an “F” really substitute for an “E“?

Yeah, we don’t think so either…so we give this Burien signmaker an “F” make that an “E” seeing that’s the letter they need most.
I guess their drfams won’t comf truf either.
| Feb ’09 |
| 9 |
| 3:00 pm |
BTB Advertiser El Dorado West Retirement Community and Village Concepts Inc. have partnered with Kiel Mortgage for a FREE seminar on creative mortgage and home sale plans this coming Monday, Feb. 9th at 3pm.
Here’s some info from a press release:
Kiel Mortgage and El Dorado West understand that in these tough economic times making the transition into retirement living can be stressful and confusing.
El Dorado West invites you to a FREE SEMINAR with our partners at Kiel to explore creative mortgage or home sale plans which may help answer your financial questions.
Please join us at El Dorado West, located at 1010 SW 134th Street (map below) Monday February 9th at 3pm to learn more about this exciting partnership.

We’d like to welcome our latest Advertiser: Tami Greene, Sales Manager at Sound Mortgage.
Tami’s been in the Financial Services industry since 1978. She has one goal with her clients:
“To Become Your Lender for Life”
Tami has always been committed to providing quality mortgage products and services, ensuring that her customers are in a loans that makes sense and meet their financial needs.
“With many solid loan programs still available, I will search for the best loan for my clients at the lowest rates possible” explains Tami.
She specializes in:
- New Home Purchases
- Refinances
- Reverse Mortgages
- Home Equity Loans
Sound Mortgage extends all the services expected from a large lender or nationwide bank. These services include all variations of Conventional loans, such as Fixed Rate Mortgages, Adjustable Rate Mortgages, FHA and VA loans with In-House underwriters that get your loan to closing on time!
Fortunately for our Highline community, as a long-time south end resident, Tami has devoted her life to volunteering.
“I continue to serve through the Burien/White Center Rotary Club and the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence. Both of these organizations offer many wonderful and much needed resources for youths, who need us now more than ever.”
Tami also stays active and fit by teaching group fitness classes at the Highline Athletic Club (BTB Advertiser) in Burien and golfing as a member of Glen Acres Golf and Country Club.
When it comes time for a mortgage, see a professional by clicking on Tami Greene’s Ad, calling her at 206-579-9767 or via email at tamig@soundmtg.com.
BTB Advertiser John L. Scott, Burien agents, staff and family members created 13 unique gingerbread house “listings” on display this month in their new “Old Burien” office location (930 SW 152nd Street).
Complete with candy cane “For Sale” signs and gardens full of gum drops, these wonderful winter homes are a treat to see. The office is open daily and everyone is invited to stop by and see their holiday display.
This could be the start of a sweet holiday tradition at John L. Scott, Burien:
by Janet Grella
Nearly 150 guests celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting party of BTB Advertiser John L. Scott’s new offices Thursday (Oct. 16th) in Olde Burien:
Local business owners, friends, neighbors and John L. Scott’s family of agents enjoyed live music by OTC, as well as plenty of food and refreshments inside this historic building located at the corner of 152nd SW and SW 10 Ave in Burien (EDITOR’S NOTE: the BTB has been advised that this location was the site of the Burien Post Office in the middle of the last century).
John L. Scott moved its office to Olde Burien on September 1st, and this event, sponsored by the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce, served as the official grand opening.
There were plenty of B-Town luminaries on hand, including Burien Mayor Joan McGilton.
Owner Tony Hettler said in an interview with the B-Town Blog earlier this week that “Coming to Olde Burien is another step in cementing Scott’s 40-year relationship with this community.”
The commitment to community was apparent when the office managing broker Greg Johnson, and his team, pitched a tent outside of their new office and distributed water to Burien’s Art Walk participants during their first week at their new location. Tony assured us that all the agents are enjoying the shopping and restaurants located outside their door.
Hettler joined John L. Scott 19 years ago as a realtor. He purchased John L. Scott, Des Moines in May 2006 where he is owner/broker, and finalized the purchase of the Burien office in May of this year.
“This is the first time that corporate has sold existing offices. We are now a franchise office, like many independent John L. Scott offices in the area”, said Hettler.
Hettler is optimistic about the current real estate market due to “lower prices and lower interest rates”. In fact, Hettler told us “greater Des Moines pending sales are up over 80% in the period of September 2007-September 2008.”
As this reporter pulled herself out of the shrimp bowl, and downed my last potato chip, I was asked by Tony and Team to invite all of our readers to stop by. You can probably enjoy some leftover cake and punch if you act fast enough!
Find John L. Scott, Burien at 930 SW 152nd Street (see map below).
According to the Redfin Blog, home sales prices in Burien are at 100.4%, higher than 75 other Seattle-area neighborhoods.
Condo sales prices in B-Town are at 100.5%, higher than 25 other neighborhoods.
In fact, Burien’s sales prices are higher than all but Boulevard Park, Skyway and Delridge area homes.
Redfin speculates on the reason:
But Burien. Really.
Could it be the evangelism of the B-Town blog?
Or is it just a fluke?
Nope Redfin, it ain’t no fluke.
The B-Town Blog is not only responsible for the higher sales price average, it’s also responsible for the recent area reduction in crime, increase in productivity and overall satisfaction with life (which is surprising in these difficult times).
The real reason?
(sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash)
SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES!
(sex) (cash) (sex) (cash) (nothing to worry about) (all is well) (obey the b-town blog) (sex) (cash) (sex) (cash)
The B-Town Blog is proud to welcome its latest Advertiser to our property: IBuySeattleHomes.com!
IBuySeattleHomes.com is a locally-owned company that buys, fixes up and sells homes. It’s run by Brent Fosso, who was born and raised in that “other” B-Town ‘hood called Ballard, and who now makes his home in West Seattle.
Brent has been buying, fixing and selling homes in the area since 1984.
“I’ve been drawn to real estate all of my life,” Brent remarked. “I used to help my Dad do remodel projects on weekends, and I think that’s when I got the bug for fixing things up. I guess fixing homes is some kind of ‘adult’ version of my childhood fun. Now I specialize in purchasing fixer uppers – I love turning something that is not very attractive into something beautiful.”
After college, Brent decided to finally listen to “that inner voice.” He always enjoyed the varied aspects of real estate, so he thought, why not buy a fixer upper?
After buying, fixing up and selling that first house in 1984, Brent was hooked. It was a pretty sorry looking West Seattle house, with no foundation, termite and carpenter ant damage, dry-rotted porches, animal odors, and siding that had not been painted in decades. Brent spent the entire summer working on it and was quite proud of his first remodel. The neighbors loved it. He then sold it to a nice family, and Brent got a lot of pleasure seeing buyers so happy with their new home.
Despite the national real estate down-turn, he is still buying, and likes the areas of Burien, White Center, West Seattle, and as far north as Ballard.
“I like the older neighborhoods” he adds.
There are many people who wish to avoid paying a realtor a commission, and since Brent is not a realtor, the sellers save that expense. Because of this, he does not purchase properties that are listed with real estate agents. He prefers to buy directly form the owner, and will usually not bother with getting a home inspection, because as he says “When I buy a fixer, I always figure on the home needing a lot of work.”
So…click on his Ad, check out his website, and if you’re in the market to sell your home (no matter how bad its condition), please give him a call at (206) 935-5000.

Snapped today by Sales & Promotion Diva Janet Grella – the roof's on the new Burien Town Square! (a BTB Advertiser)


We’re at the Farmer’s Market, and in the alley behind us today are two moving vans, with sweaty people moving big things.
Upon further investigation, we discovered that BTB Advertiser John L. Scott of Burien is moving into their new offices on SW 152nd in Olde Burien.
According to Amy Hyson, JLS will spend the next few days moving in and unpacking, with plans to officially open Tues. Sept. 2nd.
The B-Town Blog is proud to present its latest Advertiser, John L. Scott Real Estate of Burien!
Tony Hettler, owner/broker, of John L. Scott Real Estate of Burien, has recently announced some exciting changes to Burien’s John L. Scott office.
Hettler has purchased the Burien office from the corporate office of John L. Scott. He will be moving the office, currently located at 15500 First Ave South in Burien, to Olde Burien, 930 SW 152nd Street, effective September 1, 2008.
“Being an owner of the John L. Scott Real Estate, Burien, is an opportunity that is very exciting because of my involvement in the community over the years” explains Hettler.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE BOTH LOCAL AND GLOBAL
Hettler has volunteered his time to coach youth baseball and basketball, as well as coaching baseball at Evergreen High School from 2003-2007.
In Burien, his associates have volunteered for the Highline Garden Tour, planted trees for Arbor Day at Seahurst Park, and sponsored many activities through Discover Burien. They have also volunteered to raise funds for Doctors without Borders, the Susan G. Komen Foundation and collect food and money for the Burien and White Center Food Banks.
In Des Moines, Hettler and/or his associates have participated in the Waterland 5K Run, the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, Children’s Hospital fundraisers and lent their time and talents to fundraisers for the Des Moines Senior Activity Center and most recently raising money through their “Trash to Treasures” garage sale, which was donated to the Des Moines Food Bank.
“We will expand our tradition of community involvement in Burien,” states Hettler
A RECORD OF SUCCESS
Hettler joined John L. Scott 19 years ago as a realtor. Since that time, he purchased the John L. Scott Des Moines office in May 2006, and finalized the purchase of the Burien office in May of this year. “This is the first time that the corporate office has sold existing offices. We are now an independently owned and operated office, like other independent John L. Scott offices in the area”, said Hettler.
Hettler, as well as many of their agents, have 10+ years in this office. Mary Ann Scott has served the Burien marketplace for over 30 years exclusively with John L. Scott.
This office has been in its current location since 1987. With the smell of baking bread from Subway wafting through the office for the past 10 years, Hettler and his team are looking forward to the aroma, food and drinks of the Tin Room, The Mark and 909 restaurants in Olde Burien. Plus, I’m sure we’ll see Tony and his 20+ office mates having a hot dog on Thursdays in the Burien Thursday Market, located right outside their door on 10th Avenue.
GRAND OPENING EVENTS
After moving into new digs in Des Moines (22506 Marine View Drive S., Suite 301) last summer, Hettler and the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce will hold a formal ribbon cutting Tuesday September 9th from 4-7. There will be refreshments and local celebrities.
And the really big event in Burien will be October 16th, with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Southwest King County Chamber that will include live music, refreshments, local celebrities, and surprises from 4-7pm.
In the meantime, you can stop by after September 1st and welcome Tony and the agents and staff of John L. Scott Real Estate, Burien to the Olde Burien neighborhood!
John L. Scott Real Estate has had an office in the Highline/Burien area since 1968. There are currently 17 agents moving to the new Olde Burien location. Hettler is pleased to announce there’s room in the new offices for up to 30 agents—and he plans to fill it to serve the Highline Community better!
So, please welcome our latest Advertiser, John L. Scott Real Estate of Burien by clicking on their Ad and checking out their offerings!
It’s Friday night in July, when the sun sets precisely at 9pm.
What better way to reflect on another spectacular summer week than by visually appreciating another gorgeous sunset, as captured in this photo by B-Town Blog Advertiser and local Realtor Susan Plecko:

B-Town Blog Advertiser and local Realtor Susan Plecko also just happens to love photographing sunsets, and here’s one of her many gems to start your weekend with:















































