Meet the Alegado Family – Ten Trails’ 500^th Family 

Meet the Alegado family, new residents in Ten Trails and our 500^th family to move into the community! Gideon and Katrina Alegado and their two teenage children move to Ten Trails in June from nearby Maple Valley and are loving their new Oakridge Homes home and the lifestyle offered in the community.

Home Shopping Remotely During the Pandemic 

Like many families, it became obvious to the Alegados during pandemic stay-at-home orders that they needed more room for their family. With their kids now teenagers and Gideon and Katrina working from home, they quickly realized their 1,660 square-foot home in Maple Valley, while cozy, just was not well-suited for the family any longer. The Alegados started their search for a new home online during the pandemic and they first toured their current home virtually while vacationing at a friend’s home in Hawaii.

“We were looking at photos of the house literally from the beach and then we made an offer the next day, sight unseen,” said Katrina. “A few days later we were signing paperwork on our friend’s patio overlooking the ocean.”

 

More Space to Spread Out in a Growing Community

As they get settled in a big and beautiful 2,800-square-foot home, the Alegados joke that they sometimes cannot find one another.

  “I’m sure it will fill up, but right now it feels massive,” said Gideon.

  The family is eager to explore all the amenities Ten Trails offers, like the many parks and green spaces, sports courts, and community pea patches.

  “We’ve been out on the trails many times,” said Katrina who enjoys walking the family’s dog, Echo, on the miles of nature trails.

    The Alegados are also looking forward to meeting more of their neighbors at upcoming community events, like the Sunset Markets.    

“We are so excited and honored to be recognized in this way and looking forward to settling in,” said Gideon.  

Welcome to the neighborhood, Alegados! We are so happy you chose Ten Trails as your new hometown. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043

Ten Trails Offers What Today’s Buyer is Looking for

While 2020 has not gone as any of us could have predicted, Ten Trails residents are finding ways to carve out some normalcy in their day-to-day lives, helped by the community’s many amenities and home options.

What Today’s Homebuyer is Looking For 

Today’s home shoppers are seeking more space for their family in new homes and want to be closer to loved ones who live in the area. Ten Trails’ builders offer many options for spacious floorplans with plenty of room for families to spread out. We also have amenities that make our community unique and offer definite advantages during these challenging times such as our nature trails, parks and one-gig speed internet.

More Space for Your Family

Ten Trails’ builder teams offer home floor plans in a wide range of sizes to fit all families. If you are finding that you need a little more room to spread out during this time when we are all spending more time at home, Ten Trails has you covered! Our builders are constructing  homes with enough space for large families or anyone who just needs some extra room.

Work and Learn From Home with Ultra-Fast One-Gig Internet

Ten Trails has floor plans with flexible spaces perfect for creating that ultimate work-from-home office. If your kids are doing virtual learning, our builders also have home plan options with lofts, dens, or flex spaces that can be easily converted to at-home learning studios for little ones. Residents of Ten Trails have a unique advantage for telecommuting, streaming, and gaming with access to true one-gigabit speed internet in their homes! The 1-gig internet service at Ten Trails provides downloads and uploads up to 1,000 Mbps, with fast performance and streaming for ensuring no buffering or interruptions. 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com  

Tips for Getting the Most out of Your Ten Trails Outdoor Space This Fall and Winter 

The weather is getting cooler but that does not mean you have to stop using your outdoor backyard patio space! Many of the homes at Ten Trails have private outdoor space for residents to enjoy. Here are a few tips on how to upgrade your patio space to optimize use for the cooler, darker months.

Add More Lighting

Embrace the shorter daylight hours and light up outdoor patio or backyard space with soft twinkle lights, rustic electric lanterns, and faux flickering candles. These will not only add light, but will also create ambiance and a magical glow to your space. Ten Trails HOA covenants permit outdoor string lights on patios, but written permission is needed to attach any lighting to fences.

Add Heat 

Fall and winter evenings in the Pacific Northwest can be damp and chilly. Combat the cold by adding electric or propane outdoor heaters to your space. Choose ones that are decorative or that can be easily stowed away in your yard when not needed.  Another great option for adding warmth in your backyard space is to purchase a propane fire pit which will also create a nice backdrop for your outdoor socially-distanced gathering with neighbors.

Change Up Your Décor 

If you have backyard or patio furniture, change up the upholstery to reflect the seasons! Add outdoor pillows in warm fall tones of gold, orange, and deep red. As the holidays approach, liven up your backyard space with hints of seasonal colors like red, green, gold and silver. Do not forget to include a few warm blankets and throws for your family or guests to keep warm.  

Swap out Summer Plantings for Fall Flowers

Bring some fall color into your backyard space by adding seasonal plants like hearty mums and even some late-blooming dahlias. Both will show color until the first frost. Purchase evergreens and conifer plants and place them in brightly colored pots to bring cheer and greenery to your backyard patio space during the winter months. 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com

Signs it May be Time to Move 

Moving is a big decision and sometimes it can be hard to know when it is the right time to pack up your things and relocate your home. At Ten Trails, we talk to folks who are thinking of moving everyday and here are the most common reasons we hear why people are contemplating a move:

Lack of Space for How Your Family Functions

One of the most obvious tell-tale signs that it is time to move is when you no longer have room for your family’s things. Maybe you recently added to your family with a new baby or had a family member move in with you. Whatever the reason, when space gets tight in your home, it is time to find a bigger place.

Your Home Needs an Upgrade

The remodel versus move dilemma is one that many homeowners contemplate. As homes age, maintenance and upkeep can increase, and the home’s features may be out of style. Renovations typically take longer and are more expensive than homeowners anticipate, and many just do not want to deal with the hassle of having their home in disorder for long periods of time. That is why many homeowners opt to sell their aging home and upgrade to a new construction option like the homes found at Ten Trails.

Relocating for Work

With so many large corporations and employers based in the Seattle area, we meet a lot of folks who are relocating to the area for work. Moving for a job is one of the most common reasons for relocating to a new city, and many of our residents chose Ten Trails for their new hometown because of a work relocation.

Need to be Near Family Members

A desire to move to be closer to family members is an extremely common reason we hear about why people are looking to move. Raising children away from a family support system can be difficult, and many parents of young children opt to move to be closer to grandma or grandpa, or vice versa. Many families now are opting for multi-generational housing options like those found at Ten Trails. In these types of homes, there is a separate living space located within the larger home that is perfectly sized for grandparents or even older kids returning from college who want to live at home.

Need to Downsize 

Have a bunch of rooms in your home that you never use? Do you have a huge yard that takes you days to maintain during the spring and summer months? It might be time to downsize. Empty nesters often make the decision to move to a smaller, lower-maintenance home after their children have left the home. By downsizing, decluttering, and moving to a home that better suits your current needs, you will be able to spend more time doing what you love and less time cleaning and maintaining an empty house. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043

Five Ways to Have a Wonderful Staycation at Ten Trails This Summer 

Summer travel plans may have changed, but that doesn’t mean Ten Trails residents will miss out on plenty of fun this summer! Check out these five ways to plan a fun staycation at home this summer.

Take Virtual Tours of Some of the World’s Best Attractions via Community 1-Gig Internet 

Some of the world’s most popular attractions are  now offering virtual tours of their most popular exhibits! Check out live streams of zoos and aquariums, precious museum works of art and gorgeous art galleries all from the comfort of your Ten Trails home thanks to the community’s one-gig high speed internet connection!

Enjoy Community Food Truck Events 

Being a resident of Ten Trails has many perks, from our gorgeous brand new homes to our world-class amenities. One very special perk for residents this summer are regularly scheduled food truck stops in the community! A great excuse to get out of the house and wave hi to neighbors, the food truck evenings are just one of the many things that make this community so special.

Explore our Trails

Residents of Ten Trails can enjoy exploring community trails located just outside their doorsteps. The community’s name, “Ten Trails” refers to the fact that, when complete, the community will have at least ten distinctly different trails for residents to use. These may include nature trails, fitness trails, a children’s trail and more! Currently the community’s trails connect the different sections of the neighborhood and weave through forested areas.

Find Campsites Located a Short Drive From the Community

As of June 1, 2020, 30 Washington State campsites have opened for campers to make reservations. The state has issued some guidelines for reservations and the camping experience that all campers need to review prior to planning their trip. Check out this website for all the details.

Enjoy Area Hiking Trails 

Many area hiking trails are open for summer day hikes! The Washington Trails Association has provided a thorough list of helpful tips for families who are looking to recreate responsibly. Please visit their website prior to embarking on your hike to review the tips, and be prepared that there’s a chance that some hiking trails and facilities may be closed when you arrive. www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043    

Explore Southeastern King County’s Off the Beaten Path Attractions this Summer 

Tucked away in a scenic section of southeastern King County, Ten Trails is located close to outdoor recreation hotspots as well as some lesser known but still notable area attractions.

Franklin Ghost Town Trail 

Ten Trails is located just minutes from the former town of Franklin. Once a booming coal-mining town, Franklin is now owned by King County and is part of the Green River Gorge Conservation Area. Hikers can explore the ruins of old buildings and view coal car tracks and cables hidden among the forest. The trail is part of privately-owned land, but the public is welcome to tour the Franklin Ghost Town trail for a $5 fee.

Maid of the Mist Waterfall

Also commonly known as the “Green River Gorge Falls” the Maid of the Mist waterfall is clearly visible with just a short hike from the historic Franklin Ghost Town trail. Instead of hiking up toward the hills, visitors can check out the waterfall by taking the route that ventures down into the gorge.

Black Diamond Open Space

Just a short, five-minute drive from Ten Trails north on Hwy 169, visitors can find the Black Diamond Open Space Park.  The park boasts 240 acres of park and trail space for hiking, horseback riding, trail running and mountain-biking. The latter is what the park is most well-known for, with more than 28 mountain bike trails that span more than 13 miles total.

Nolte State Park

Nolte State Park is one of the area’s finest state park recreation sites, but is not well-known to anyone who lives outside the immediate area. This 110-acre day-use park has 7,174 feet of freshwater shoreline located on Deep Lake near the Green River Gorge.

Black Diamond Cemetery

The Black Diamond Cemetery was founded in 1884 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Located within walking distance to Ten Trails, the cemetery has more than 1,200 graves, one of them of a Civil War veteran, and many others of the miners who came to work in the city from all over the world. www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043    

Two Floorplan Options for Multi-Generational Living at Ten Trails

Ten Trails is happy to announce there are now two floorplan options for multi-generational living in the community! Lennar at Ten Trails recently introduced the Camano floorplan which offers a unique “home within a home” for home buyers who are looking for added space in their homes for additional family members. The Camano joins the Bainbridge, which was the community’s original “NextGen” floorplan

Homes Designed for the Way We Live Today at Ten Trails

Today’s families are increasingly more blended with older parents living under the same roof as their younger family members, or college students returning home after school to live at home for a period of time. Ten Trails’ builder partner, Lennar, took note of this trend and was one of the first builders in the country to design homes to accommodate this new way of living.

Two Homes Under One Roof

The Ten Trails Bainbridge NextGen home and the Camano NextGen Home come with a secondary space within the main home with its own kitchenette, living area, full bathroom and separate entrance so family members can have their own privacy while still being part of the larger home.

Benefits of Lennar’s Next Gen Homes at Ten Trails

There are plenty of benefits to living in a Next Generation Home by Lennar. Style and function meet in the two gorgeous floorplans which offer families flexible living spaces. By sharing a home and expenses, families can decrease their overall utility costs and home and yard care costs. In the case of families with young children, having a grandparent or other relative living in the home can also help decrease childcare costs–not to mention increasing quality time spent with family members.

Tour the Next Gen Homes at Ten Trails 

Take a virtual tour of the Camano floorplan at Ten Trails via our Facebook page, or visit us on our website to chat live with one of our team members and schedule an appointment to tour these homes. 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com      

Meet the Asante Family | New Residents at Ten Trails in Black Diamond, WA 

Ten Trails is happy to introduce some of our newest residents, the Asantes! Heather, Imani, and Emma Asante moved to Ten Trails from West Seattle in October with their Shitzu-Poodle, Charlie.

Search for a Close-Knit Community with Family Nearby

Heather and Imani began their search for their new home in south King County to be closer to their family members live in Covington. Heather and Emma visited the Welcome Center and model homes early last fall and fell in love with the sense of community they felt at Ten Trails, the beautiful new model homes, and all of the parks and green spaces in the community.

Hickory Floorplan by Lennar at Ten Trails

The couple chose to purchase the Hickory floorplan by Lennar because the floorplan fit their family’s needs and they especially loved the home’s large, open kitchen and living space. “We loved being able to have family come to our house this year for the holidays,” Heather says. Prior to moving to Ten Trails, the family of three lived in a rental home in West Seattle that was less than 1,000 square feet total in size with only one bathroom. “Having all of this extra space has been amazing,” Heather says.

Community Events at Ten Trails

The Asantes are looking forward to warmer weather and being able to get outside more to gather with neighbors in the parks and at one of the community’s many fire pits. Imani says he would love to get out and explore some of the community’s many trails this spring and check out the nearby Black Diamond Open Space Park with his mountain bike. “We love being out here so close to nature,” he says. “It’s a perfect escape at the end of a workday in the city.” Welcome to the community! We are so happy you chose Ten Trails as your new hometown! 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com  

Beat Cabin Fever with These Winter Outdoor Activities 

Too many winter months trapped indoors can make even the happiest of households a little stir crazy. Luckily, the area around Ten Trails offers ample opportunities to get outside during the winter months and enjoy all the wonderful outdoor activities the Pacific Northwest is well-known for!

Soak up Thermal Waters in Washington Hot Springs

Washington State is home to many natural hot springs, some primitive and some part of larger resorts. Within a day’s drive from Ten Trails, families can visit  Carson Hot Springs, located near the Oregon border where an authentic bathhouse and hotel accommodations make for a relaxing winter weekend.  Beginning March 20^th, families can head to Olympic National Park to visit Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. This seasonal resort offers cabins for rent and several outdoor thermal soaking pools for visitors to enjoy.

Wildlife at Oak Creek Feeding Area 

Watch winter feeding of elk and bighorn sheep at the Oak Creek Wildlife Area in nearby Naches. A program run through the Department of Fish and Wildlife Services, this supplemental winter feeding program helps to maintain the Yakima elk herd which roam the state lands during the winter months. Head to the Visitors Center first for information. Feedings happen daily at 1:30 pm and a Washington State Discover Pass is required to enter the wildlife area.

Take an Outdoor Tram Tour at Northwest Trek

Nearby Northwest Trek offers year-round tram tours of the park’s free-roaming area which is home to elk, bison, moose, bighorn sheep, caribou and more. Tours of the 435 acres of natural space take about 40 minutes, are included with a day pass, and are narrated by an informative park naturalist.

Go Nordic Skiing at White Pass

Take a day trip to White Pass and spend the afternoon cross-country skiing at the White Pass Nordic Center. The more than 11 miles of trails offer terrain that is appropriate for cross-country skiers of all levels. If cross-country skiing isn’t your thing, there’s also opportunities for skate skiing, and snowshoeing.

Ride the Mount Rainier Gondola 

Just an hour away from Ten Trails, head to Crystal Mountain Resort and ride the Mt. Rainier gondola to the summit where spectacular views of Mt. Rainier and the Cascades await. Stay for the afternoon and enjoy lunch at the Summit House restaurant. Don’t forget to bring some extra snacks to feed the local gray jays who can be spotted at the summit being hand-fed by the visiting tourists. 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com

Meet the Rae Family! New Neighbors at Ten Trails

Meet some of Ten Trails’ newer residents, the Rae family! Ben and Sarah Rae moved their family of five to the community from nearby Covington and couldn’t be happier with their new Lennar Aspen model home! “We came from a three-bedroom home and needed more space,” says Ben of the couple’s initial reason for moving. “We also were hoping to move into a neighborhood where the kids would have other children their own age to play with, and we definitely found that here at Ten Trails.”

Community Parks and Amenities

The Raes love spending time in the community park that’s just steps away from their front door, and the family enjoys taking walks over to the Civic Park where the Rae kids: Benny, Sophia and June, enjoy the playground equipment and playing hockey in the sports court. “We also bought bikes after moving in so we could bike around the community,” says Sarah. “We love the wide sidewalks that make it easy for all of us to bike.”

“Everything’s Included” with Lennar Homes at Ten Trails

Ben and Sarah were attracted to the Lennar Homes at Ten Trails because of the layouts and the builder’s “everything’s included” philosophy where Smart Home Technology and Voice Automation services, as well as things like windows and blinds, and stainless steel appliances are all set up in the home and included in the purchase price. “It was a tough choice between the Aspen and the Magnolia models,” says Sarah. “But we are really happy with our decision.” The family loves spending time in the home’s large, open great room and having the huge kitchen island for meal prep.

A Sense of Community

One of the pleasant surprises Ben and Sarah found when choosing to move into Ten Trails was how quickly they were able to meet other families in the community. “We have a text chain with some of the local couples and we all love to get together at the community firepits,” says Ben. “We have enjoyed how easy it has been to get to know neighbors since we’ve moved in.” Welcome to Your New Hometown, Rae family! We are happy you chose to move to Ten Trails! 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com