Seattle has truly unique, distinct neighborhoods separated not only by blocks, but also by waterways, lakes, bridges, hills and ravines. For those looking to relocate or visit, this guide to Seattle neighborhoods gives you a quick overview (Source: Seattle Times):

The final few homes are now released for sale at Navarro in Puyallup South Hill. These Lennar homes come complete with "Everything's Included" features and will be ready for move-in this summer.

Navarro is located at the edge of the Gem Heights community, conveniently kitty-corner from a grocery store and the local elementary school. Only four homes remain for sale at Navarro:

This week, April 20th through 28th, is officially National Parks Week with free admission to our parks from April 22nd through 26th. In the greater Seattle area, we are blessed to be surrounded by three large national parks.

If you are looking to relocate to Seattle to be near the outdoors, you may consider proximity to the parks, even when moving to one of our urban areas.

People who live in Seattle already know certain truths. It's beautiful here. We aren't the most stylish people in the world.We still have good music. And good coffee, seafood and Asian food. (And beer too, but that is beside the point.)

This piece in Buzzfeed is about as close to accurate an assessment of these truths as we have seen. So if you live in Seattle, enjoy and pick out a favorite. If you are dreaming of living here someday, this will spur you on. Mostly. http://www.buzzfeed.com/lehaggerty/35-truths-that-every-seattleite-is-aware-of-9pme

by Sarah Heath, Matrix Real Estate

I had drinks the other night with a group of ladies and one mentioned to me that she and her husband were thinking about selling their current smaller home in Ballard and purchasing something larger.  She wanted to know how to go about it with inventory being so low and I suddenly realized – I’m giving advice that was unheard of just a year ago.

On that note, here are eight Do’s and Don’t’s for entering the real estate market in today's fast-moving market.

A new model home is ready for your tour at Brandon Meadows on Lea Hill in East Auburn. The Snyder has four bedrooms. 2.5 bathrooms in 1,730 sq. ft. See below for photos and floorplan.

The main level features a spacious living room with gas fireplace. The kitchen has an oversized, granite-topped work island (and granite countertops too), and an adjacent dining room with sliders opening to the patio and backyard.

Good news if you are shopping for a new home: daylight savings time means extended open hours at our communities. For those communities with regular open hours, we are now open one hour later, until 6 p.m.

Check our Current Communities to see the open days and hours.

Just in, new photos of the four-bedroom/three bath Purcell home at Puyallup Highlands. This home looks like a single-level rambler, but it actually has a huge basement with family room, covered patio, two bedrooms and a bathroom.

The main level has a great room style living/dining/kitchen area with a huge granite-topped work island. (See photos below.) Also on the main level is a study/2nd bedroom with a 3/4 bath (perfect for your overnight guests or home office).

Tour the New Model Homes and Enter to Win an iPad

SPECIAL OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND
Four new Lennar communities in Thurston County are celebrating a special Olympia Open House Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, February 23rd and 24th. Visitors to these communities can tour the designer-furnished model homes and enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad.

"Between these four Lennar communities, Olympia buyers have a great selection of homes and locations," said Gary Hendrickson, real estate broker and project manager for Matrix Real Estate and Lennar Seattle. "From contemporary to traditional, with the garage in front or off the alley, single-family or duplex-style -- we have a ton of variety for those looking for a new home."

The Lennar community of Beaver Meadows in Pacific is selling quickly, and now we have a brand new model for potential buyers to tour when they visit.

The Gardner is a 2,228 sq. ft. with four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a two-car attached garage. (See brand new model home photos below.)