Check out our March newsletter!
MARCH 2026
From Spring Training to Spring Closings
March, Baseball, and Big Life Moves
March always sneaks up on me. It’s still cold enough to just stay inside, but my brain goes straight to spring and baseball. Baseball was my life growing up, and this was the time of year when everything started to shift. We would head down to Big 5, look at cleats and gear, and if I got a new bat or glove that season, that was about as good as it got. I would go home, lace up my cleats, and run sprints in the backyard just to “test them out.” I started young. I was hitting balls off a tee with my grandpa as soon as I could stand. I played T-ball at 4. I still have the little participation trophy from that first season sitting around somewhere. By the time March rolled around each year, I knew what was coming. Tryouts were in early March, so if you wanted to be ready, you had to get outside, run, throw, and start swinging again. If you waited for the first week of practice to get in shape, you were going to be sore, or worse, you were going to get hurt. Along with playing, some of my favorite memories are from going to MLB spring training in Arizona with my grandparents when I was a kid. We would spend days walking around those complexes where there are fields everywhere, and you can stand right on the sidelines.
You hear the crack of the bat, smell the pine tar, and watch big leaguers move like it’s nothing. They’re precise and purposeful, and because they do everything so well, they end up looking cool without even trying. I would come home fired up and ready to take what I had watched all week and play my heart out all spring. Baseball ended up shaping more than my springs. It’s how I met some of my best friends, how I met my future brother-in-law, and, in a roundabout way, how I met my wife. My brother-in-law and I played on the same team when we were kids. We won a state tournament together when we were 12 and spent every spare minute between games playing pickleball or trying to catch fish. I had no idea back then that his sister would someday be my wife. I just knew I loved being around their family. Some of the lessons from baseball didn’t look like lessons when they were happening. I still remember my grandpa teaching me to shag fly balls in the yard with a tennis racket and tennis balls. At the time, I was scared of camping under a real baseball, so we started there. I was having a blast learning to catch pop fly’s and then eventually practicing diving catches as my confidence increased. He would ask if I wanted to continue practicing and I would of course say yes as long as he was up for it. His patience and generosity of his time impressed me then and still blows me away today. That patience taught me as much as the drills did. Later, when I first talked to him about getting into real estate, I saw the same thing from a different angle. There were no shortcuts. I wasn’t going to get special treatment just because we were related. I was going to have to earn it and outwork people if I wanted to belong. Now, March looks a little different. I still think about spring training, but most of my time goes into helping clients get ready for their own “season.” That might mean helping people get preapproved early or walking properties with clients a few months before they are ready to make the move. The goal is the same as it was when I was a kid lacing up new cleats. If you put in the work ahead of time, you’re in a much better spot when it’s time to step up to the plate.
—Gavin Vargas
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READY FOR A SUMMER MOVE-UP?
Getting Ahead of Spring Moving Season
For a lot of people, this time of year is when the move-up conversations get real. If you want to be in a different house by the time school gets out or early summer, you can’t wait until May to get serious. March is when you start putting in the work. That might mean switching gears from just scrolling Zillow at night to actually reaching out and starting a real plan. Traditionally, households prefer to list in late spring/early summer when school is or is almost out of session making their schedules more flexible and moving conditions more favorable. This is means more homes to choose from but also more buyers to potentially compete with as well. Inventory can move more quickly, situations can become competitive, decisions will need to be made.
got out in front of it. The first real step is typically talking to a lender. Even if you aren’t planning to move until June, it helps to know where you stand, what payment range feels comfortable, and if anything needs to be cleaned up ahead of time. If you’re worried about double payments (rent & mortgage or mortgage & mortgage) negotiating seller paid closing costs, lease-back agreements, appliances/ furniture, and closing/possession dates can help compensate. After that, it pays to start looking earlier than you think. I recently showed homes to buyers who couldn’t move until summer, and we found out a builder was putting up another house that would be finished right when they were ready. Another family almost ruled out a specific neighborhood, but changed their minds once they drove through it. Early scouting like that helps you
sort out neighborhoods, commutes, and other factors before you are under pressure. The last piece is looping your agent in early. Unfortunately, I’ve heard folks tell me out in the field that they don’t want to “bother” their agent. I say, please bother me! I consider it an honor to be the one who gets to talk and support you through your real estate endeavors. Even though I do this day in and day out, I fully realize that these decisions are significant, literally life- altering, which in turn contributes to my tank remaining full, ready to go for you.
The clients who seem the least stressed in that season are usually the ones who
Easy Ways to Make a Small Entryway Shine GREET GUESTS IN STYLE
The entryway to a home can pose challenges for a design-conscious homeowner, from constant clutter to heavy, multipurpose traffic. These transitional spaces in many homes are often cramped and lacking in natural light. Your entryway helps form guests’ first impression of your home, so putting some thought into making the most of the space is worth the effort. Start by adding at least one piece of functional furniture, such as a slim console table or a cushioned bench with baskets or closed cabinets beneath. Try to
avoid stacking shoes and boots by the door if possible. Instead, stow them in baskets or a closed cabinet. Building in upper wall cabinetry can be helpful if space permits. Decorative hooks send a welcoming message to guests looking for a place to hang their coats and bags, and with so many styles, these can look good even when not in use. Floating wall shelves also add storage and free up floor space. Some designers cover an entire wall with hooks and shelves, providing guests a hassle-free space to park their belongings. Select wall art that makes a design statement without overwhelming the space. Hanging a mirror near the door can make your entryway feel more spacious. Adding statement lighting can be an opportunity to express your sense of style. Consider replacing outdated or dim lights with a brighter, more modern fixture. If your
ceilings are high, find a chandelier that suits your preferred style and space. A prominent light fixture can actually make a small space feel larger and taller. And don’t forget the floor! Many homeowners leave their entryway floors bare. But going beyond the customary doormat and adding a rug can better define the space. Choose a rug that’s tightly woven or washable, and extend it to within a few inches of the perimeter of the area. Avoid the assumption that entryway walls should be white. It’s fine to choose a soft, warm wall color, which can add depth to the area. And what entryway space is complete without a colorful door? While colors that pop are popular for door exteriors, extending the color to the interior side is also a trend. Any of these changes can transform a dark, utilitarian entryway into a welcoming, highly functional enhancement of your home.
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Enjoying Life in a Young Community A Good Place to Grow
Spinach Artichoke Pizza
Ingredients
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1 loaf frozen bread dough 2 tbsp garlic herb spreadable cheese 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
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1/2 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
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7 oz artichoke hearts, chopped Several handfuls of fresh spinach
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Pepper, to taste
Directions
1. Thaw dough according to package directions and let it rise for 2 hours. 2. Preheat oven to 450 F. 3. Coat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with nonstick spray, then gently stretch dough to fit. 4. Spread garlic herb cheese evenly across the entire dough layer. 5. Sprinkle mozzarella and Gruyere cheeses evenly over dough, reserving a small amount of each. 6. As the topping, scatter chopped artichoke hearts, followed by a layer of torn spinach leaves, and then the reserved cheeses. Add black pepper to taste. 7. Bake for 15–18 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and crisp.
March is often a funny month around here. Some days you are in a winter coat, and other days, you catch a little sun, and it feels like spring is trying to show up. Either way, it’s the time of year when you really notice how much there is to do in the Tri-Cities if you like being outside or have kids you’re chasing around. One of the things I love about the area is how young it is. The average age is quite a bit younger than in many other places in the state, and you feel that when you get out in the community. There are strollers at the parks, kids in jerseys on every field, and a lot of people in that early family stage of life. From a real estate perspective, that mix of young families and steady growth is a big part of why this feels like such a great place to build a life, not just buy a house. On a sunny March weekend, you might see it all at once. Families are out on the riverfront paths, people are jogging or biking along the Columbia, and there are always a few trucks parked where someone slipped away to fish. We fish year-round here, and the Columbia and Snake rivers both have easy spots to drop a line after work. If hiking is more your style, trails like Badger and Candy Mountain are close enough to hit in the morning and still be home before lunch. For families, the options just keep growing. Fields fill up fast with soccer, baseball, and softball, and places like Columbia Park, Leslie Groves, and the neighborhood parks give kids plenty of room to run. When it’s cold, you still have indoor pools, gyms, and unique spots like the Gesa Carousel of Dreams to help everyone burn off energy without driving hours away. Early spring weather can definitely be unpredictable. One weekend, you might be skiing or snowboarding in the mountain snow, and the next, you’re on a turf field in the warm sun. To me, that mix is part of the appeal. If you like staying active, are raising kids, or just enjoy having lots of options close by, the Tri-Cities is a pretty good place to put down roots.
Inspired by BlueBowlRecipes.com
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INSIDE 1 Remembering March Through a Baseball Lens 2 Early Conversations That Simplify Your Move
Create a Bright, Beautiful Welcome Zone in Your Home
3 Active Days for Tri-Cities Families Spinach Artichoke Pizza 4 Simple Ways to Homestead in Small Spaces
Small Space, Big Harvest HOMESTEADING TIPS FOR APARTMENTS AND TINY HOMES
Harvesting and Water Conservation One of the most oft-overlooked homesteading moves is water-conscious gardening. If you have a balcony or usable rooftop, consider collecting rainwater. Even a small barrel under a downspout or balcony rail can help. Collected rainwater is often gentler on plants than treated tap water, and it helps the planet (and your water bill). Even in small-scale urban gardens, water harvesting is a sustainable step worth considering. Smart Planning The beauty of apartment or small-house homesteading is that it doesn’t require massive ambition, but it does need a smart strategy. Start with just a couple of containers or planters, choose easy-to- grow herbs or greens, and learn as you go. Especially in the beginning, many successful small-space homesteaders recommend this gentle approach.
of space. For soil, choose a light potting mix or mix in perlite, coir, or compost to encourage drainage and prevent root rot. If space is tight, vertical gardening is your best friend. Hanging planters, wall shelves, and stackable containers allow your garden to grow upward, making them ideal for herbs, microgreens, strawberries, and compact lettuces. Composting and Soil Building Don’t overlook composting just because you don’t have a garden. Small-scale compost systems, such as worm bins or indoor compost containers, can recycle kitchen scraps, including vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells, into nutrient- rich compost. That compost becomes valuable soil food for your container plants, helping to boost fertility and keep your garden flourishing.
If you live in an apartment or a small house and dream of a homestead lifestyle (growing your own food, cutting waste, and reconnecting with nature), you should know that you don’t need a sprawling backyard. With creativity and a handful of smart strategies, even a balcony or a sunny windowsill can become a green oasis. Container and Indoor Gardening One of the easiest first steps is growing herbs, salad greens, or small veggies in containers. Herbs like basil, parsley, mint, and thyme can thrive in pots on a windowsill or balcony. If you have a balcony or even just a sunny corner, larger containers can support cherry tomatoes, peppers, radishes, or lettuce, all of which require a fair amount
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