Housing

Spring 2014

Backyard boarders

Last fall 10 Washington State University architecture students wandered into Seattle-area backyards to work with the notion of the backyard cottage.

In Seattle, they’re called DADUs or detached accessory dwelling units. These spaces could be homes for older family members, rentals for college students and others on a tight budget, or just homes for folk seeking a small dwelling in a big city.

Such structures were approved by the city in 2009 and have been options in communities all around the Puget Sound including Redmond, Shoreline, and Clyde Hill. Because of the high demand for low-cost housing, the Seattle City Council anticipated a flood of … » More …

Fall 2011

How to protect your home from wildfires

If you live in a wildfire-prone area, preparation and forethought is key to your personal safety and preserving your home. You can follow these ten FireSafe steps to prepare your home and land.

(Courtesy of the Washington Department of Natural Resources)

1. Recognize the hazard

Fire is a natural part of our environment. In Spokane County, the grasses and pine forests have been subjected to fires every 3 to 30 years. This is a normal part of our Eco-system. There are more than 300,000 people living in Spokane County and many live in or adjacent to forestland. Understand the steps you … » More …

Summer 2010

Time Out in the World

Today's graduates aren't just dropping into the rat race. They're going to Africa, South America, Seattle and Spokane. They're out to see the world and make a difference. » More ...

Winter 2009

Housing by the numbers

From his corner office in Johnson Tower in the midst of Washington State University’s Pullman campus, Glenn Crellin is far from the most populated parts of the state. Still, from his vantage, he contemplates rental rates around the Puget Sound, home sales in Spokane, and real estate in Moses Lake.

Crellin is the state’s real estate numbers guy and in mid-summer he’s just about to release a report that will stir up homeowners and real estate agents with news that home sales were showing some positive signs.

Crellin and his reports appear regularly in newspapers throughout the state. He’s also well placed in Washington … » More …