Rob Rice Homes recently welcomed about 100 South Sound real estate brokers and industry professionals to a Broker’s Open for two of their newly-built luxury rambler homes on oversized, wooded lots in Olympia, WA.
Breakfast was served in the formal dining room of one of the homes with a menu of smoked bacon skewers from Smoke’n Barbecue Experience, mini quiches and yogurt and fruit cups by Gotti Sweets and donuts made fresh by Lattin’s Cider Mill, all local favorites.

Two luxury rambler homes were the location of the recent Broker’s Open for real estate brokers and industry professionals who had much to say about the location, quality and beauty of the homes.
Guests were shuttled by van between the two new construction homes -one at 4810 Center Lane NE and the other at 4716 Center Lane. Both homes are stylish variations of the highly-popular Vahalla plan (3434 sf)-a gorgeous downstairs master floor plan with 3 bedrooms, a den and an abundance of second-story flexible space.
Both homes wowed the guests with their serene location, their fabulous floorplans, the dazzling upgraded features and superior finishes. All of it is so stunning that one home had already been purchased and the other had a buyer considering an offer before the Broker’s Open was held!
Comments from some top real estate professionals in our area that day reflected the quality and beauty of the homes and the unique location where they are built.

The area’s largest local builder, Rob Rice, was on hand at the Broker’s Open to welcome nearly 100 guests.
Down a country road
Rural, yet accessible…serene, but convenient, the location of this Center Lane neighborhood is truly unique. Center Lane feels like a country road, off the beaten bath, where homeowners feel secluded without being far from some of the area’s best shopping and recreation spots.
Rob Rice Homes offers a total of five Select Homes Sites on 1+ acre lots at Center Lane, including the completed homes on the recent tour. Another home, with a master down floorplan known as the Torrey (3330 sf) nears completion in mid-November.
Foundations are in for the final two luxury rambler homes (3434 sf and 3330 sf) and, if purchased early enough in the construction process, the homebuyers could have the benefits of the Rob Rice Homes pre-sale program that allows them to choose many of their finishes and features.
Jim Bennett, owner and Designated Broker for RE/MAX Parkside in Olympia, WA was at the Broker’s Open and commented on the demand for the unique location.
“The rural-northeast location of these homes is in huge demand, let alone their acre lots,” said Jim. “They are accessible to those who travel to Tacoma and Seattle, something that is really driving home sales here. They have done a great job developing the nearby Hawks Prairie master plan for Lacey that also makes this location so attractive to homebuyers.”
It is just a short drive to the recreation, shopping and other amenities of Hawks Prairie from this rural neighborhood.
“There are also two golf courses nearby,” Jim added.
Spacious lots, beautiful homes
Al Eckroth, a Realtor with Virgil Adams Real Estate who has served the area for decades commented at the event that the homes are desirable to those who want more space.
“There is real demand for property that allows for detached shops and it’s a big deal to have a lot big enough for one. So many developments either don’t allow it, or the lots are too small to have one.”

A breakfast was served in the formal dining room of one of the homes that opens out to a warm and bright great room.
The new homes even have an added 300-amp service panel with a junction box outside for a future shop!
Al also spoke of the beautiful features of the homes that were open for the day.
“The 11-foot ceilings make the rooms look bigger and more open. The colors and the appointments are really nice. Rob does a wonderful job, he stands behind his work. He is a tremendous asset to our real estate community.”
The homes are a welcome site to the rest of the neighborhood who have admired the quality and finishes of the Best of South Sound builder.
“Once these two homes were built, we had neighbors thank us and tell us they were so happy that we had improved the value of the neighborhood,” said Christina Janis, a Realtor who along with Lucia Arroyo represents Rob Rice Homes at Center Lane.

A large group of brokers from RE/MAX Parkside in Olympia attended the Broker’s Open. Jim Bennett, owner and Designated Broker is 2nd from the right. Helena Rice (red jacket) joined them in the photo.
Gregory Moe, of Windermere Real Estate in Olympia has sold several Rob Rice homes during his many years in real estate and lives near Center Lane. He echoed that day many of the guest sentiments heard at the Broker’s Open.
“I always enjoy helping people buy Rob Rice homes,” said Gregory. “He has got a top-notch sales staff and he builds a quality home. He is building a Vahalla model, similar to the floor plan for these homes, on the corner of the street I live on and it will do nothing but increase the value of the homes in the neighborhood.”
Enjoy the VIDEO of 4810 Center Lane NE.
For more information, please contact Christina Janis at Christina@RobRiceHomes.com or call (360) 888-2295 or contact Lucia Arroyo at Lucia@RobRiceHomes.com or call (360) 489-7478.
Rob Rice is Thurston County’s largest local home builder and has been voted the Best of South Sound for the last five years and was voted Best of Show in the 2017 OMB Tour of Homes. He has built more than 3000 homes in 43 different new home communities over more than 30 years. He and his wife Helena live in Olympia, WA with their two sons, Alex and Carson. Rob is a graduate of Washington State University with degrees in construction management and architecture.