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Portland, OR Real Estate News

By Brian Olsen, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Group | Keller Williams
(Portland, Lake Oswego, West Linn & Dunthorpe Neighborhoods, Waterfront, Luxury & Floating Homes)
Cooper Jacobs Real Estate has been involved in the Pacific Northwest GREEN real estate community for near a decade! Portland green homes FOR SALE GREEN BUILDING is more gentle to our environment in so many ways. Rain gutters capture water runoff from roofs, recycled materials are used for glass & granite countertops and healthy paint color the walls. We have green brokers who specialize specifically in helping green builders, developers, buyers,  and sellers with their eco-friendly real estate needs. In addition we sponsor and support green events around the Pacific Northwest. Maybe greens not your thing and a waterfront home can accomodate your fishing lifestyle is all that you really need. Take a look at  Portland waterfront homes on the market.    Portland is about as green as you ca...
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By Cindy Westfall, ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate
(Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon)
Bright Lights, Puffy Clouds And A Rainbow...Far Out Man! Oh, I was on a small day trip, but not one that would conjur up the image of the sixties and Timothy Leary. Yesterday we were having a nasty rainy day here in the Portland area and I picked up my clients and went for a nice drive to go see a home towards the coast about an hour and a half dive away. Now, I don't normally do this, but these are past clients and fun to boot..so not a hardship. On the way home the rain was really coming down hard enough where most drivers were going a slow 40 mph on highway 26 and even my range rover (ok, borrowed hubby's car) was hydroplaning After driving for well over an hour and a bit wet from walking the property in the rain, I was looking to get home and have a nice cup of coffee. Suddenly, as ...
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By Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging, "Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"
(Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR)
Most of us are familiar with Barbara Corcoran as a real estate mogul and star of ABC's Shark Tank. Barbara made her fortune at first leasing and then selling NYC real estate when she owned The Corcoran Group.  I had the pleasure of meeting Barbara recently at the Real Estate Staging Association's annual convention in Las Vegas; Barbara was our keynote speaker, and her story was so inspirational! Barbara Corcoran is one of ten children, and she learned a lot from her mother's practical way of raising all those kids that she later applied to business. Although Barbara admits to not being a great student, she certainly had 'street smarts' and knew that perception creates reality (kind of like "fake it until you make it").  A few of Barbara's great tips for us included: Be great at failure ...
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By Wika Hutchinson, Broker, CRIS, SFR, CDPE
Our dry winter was interrupted by a snow storm earlier today.  Everything is now covered in snow; it is beautiful but very dangerous to drive out there.  Some parts of I-5 were closed and there were as many as 25 vehicles collided in clusters near Albany. It usually takes me about 10 to 15 minutes to commute to (or from) work, but today it took me almost 2 hours. I drive a sport car with low profile tires; my car was not designed to be driven in the snow. I got stuck twice and my car decided to go different direction. It was scary especially with a toddler in the car, but I am glad we finally made it home. Please stay home if you can unless you absolutely have to be somewhere else and have a vehicle that is equipped for this type of weather condition. And remember, just because you are ...
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By Wika Hutchinson, Broker, CRIS, SFR, CDPE
Do you have a problem with your display screen on your LG smart phone showing a negative image?  I do not own LG but recently my friend who has an LG smart phone experienced this type of problem, and no one seemed to know how to fix it. I googled it, but I couldn’t find anything to help solve the problem. Instead, I read hundreds of posts from people having this type of problem. Since I never touched LG smart phone before, so I asked my friend to show me how to get to the settings. After playing with the phone for a few minutes, I was able to fix the problem. This is what I did: 1.       Go to settings and click ACCESSIBILITY 2.       UNCHECK the REVERSE button. I hope this can help resolve your issue.  
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By Nick Krautter
(Keller Williams Realty / Portland Central)
Inventory Continues to Drop   Inventory of homes continues to drop in the close-in market, sending prices even higher. Multiple offers are happening frequently with so few properties for buyers to choose from. I’m expecting sales to pick up earlier than normal this year given the demand. Wait for home prices to grow in the double digits again in 2014 on the back of a 13% gain in average price in 2013.   This localized home inventory report helps give context to the metro statistics that often make headlines.  Real estate is a local affair and this report shows which parts of town and which types of properties are selling and which ones are sitting. Inventory is figured in months with 6 months being balanced, less than 6 months favoring sellers and more than 6 months favoring buyers. I ...
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By John Slocum, Broker, SFR - Vancouver WA Real Estate
(Premiere Property Group, LLC - Vancouver Washington)
While the rest of the USA is battling a fierce winter storm.. Entrance to Lan Su Chinese Garden - Portland OR Path with Inlain Smooth Pebbles On Their Side Rock from China Heavily Sculpted by Water Beautiful Camelia Blooming First Week of January! Another Water-Sculpted Rock Roof-line of the Tea House & Blue Sky! Tranquil Pond at the Chinese Garden Roof-line of the Gift Shop Photos by John Slocum - Realtor® as an example Day Trip you can take when you Live in Vancouver Washington!  The Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland Oregon is holding its Great Eight Free Days event from January 4th - 11th, 2014.  Bring a food donation (benefit to Transition Projects, Inc.) and receive free admission.  (also remember to bring a few quarters for the parking meter, with enforcement even on Sunday!)
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By Eric Newman, Loan Officer with 25yrs in Housing, NMLS-97776
(Directors Mortgage, NMLS-3240)
The Federal Reserve announced yesterday they will be slowing their support of the mortgage and bond markets ... YAWN ... In more exciting news, Portland now has a NEW professional sports team, the Portland Thunder, which will kick off games in March 2014.    TODAY (December 19, 2013), the Moda Center will host open tryouts for those who think they are good enough to play pro football. For the rest of us who aren't in such tip-top shape, the Moda Center will be open to the public this afternoon for FREE.  We can go watch the tryouts, buy season tickets (starting at $90/season), and choose our seats. Find out more at Portland AFL.com   Eric Newman is a Mortgage Banker with Northwest Mortgage Group.  As a lending veteran, he understands the importance of closing on time.  Eric focuses on ...
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By Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging, "Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"
(Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR)
When you're staging your home to sell, interior paint color is an important element because buyers don't want to spend money and time repainting before they move in.  We've often seen that too much "work" discourages busy buyers, who'd much rather find a home that's "move in ready." We recently staged a contemporary model home in Portland that sold quickly, but initially the builder and listing agent were curious to know what I thought of this green accent wall color in the great room, which buyers would see as soon as they walked in the front door. They were pretty sure that I'd tell them to repaint it before it went on the market:  OK, so this green paint is bright, but I knew that we had the right accessories to make this color "work," that would allow buyers to imagine themselves li...
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By Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
(RETIRED / State License is Inactive)
Christmas at Pittock Mansion ~ A Locally Crafted Christmas Have you ever wondered what a turn-of-the-century 16,000 sq. ft. mansion looks like when it's got the halls decked for a locally crafted Christmas? No time to guess, visit Pittock Mansion this holiday to find out!   Celebrate with this year's theme:  A Locally Crafted Christmas at the Pittock Mansion For over the past several years, getting the Pittock Mansion ready for Christmas is a true labor love.  Over 75 local volunteers, professional designers and holiday crafters perform their holiday magic and apply their skills without reservation. As a result, the Pittock Mansion transforms into a museum of spectacular holiday wonderment! Not only are the decorations stunning at the Christmas at the Pittock Mansion this year's theme h...
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By Eric Newman, Loan Officer with 25yrs in Housing, NMLS-97776
(Directors Mortgage, NMLS-3240)
  5yrs ago, Portland saw a massive snowfall, and mortgage rates fell to record lows the same week.  Many homeowners still haven't refinanced.  This may be the best chance before rates rise again for good!     Eric Newman is a Mortgage Banker with Northwest Mortgage Group.  As a lending veteran, he understands the importance of closing on time.  Eric focuses on educating and empowering his clients to choose the right loan program for their needs, and has authored hundreds of online articles and videos. He is a local expert on home purchase and refinance loans.  Eric can be reached at 503.698.5801 or by email   Click here for a list of the documentation we typically require for a home mortgage loan.  Start the process now, and then you will be ready to lock your rate!  
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By Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging, "Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"
(Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR)
Another Portland home staging success story! Skinny Homes in Portland became popular a few years ago when developers were granted permission to build on lots that were smaller than the standard 50 x 100 ft. These homes were usually infill in established older neighborhoods, like this example that Room Solutions Staging was hired to stage recently. The builder told me that "buyers just can't imagine how to use the open space in the living - dining - and kitchen area."   Potential buyers needed furniture to "show" them how to use the space; without it, they felt the home wouldn't work for them.  It had been on the market for several months without an offer. We planned a distinct living space and dining space adjoining the kitchen that would show buyers that they could indeed live quite co...
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By Cindy Westfall, ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate
(Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon)
Portland Oregon Listed As One Of The 10 Most Liked US Cities, I Agree! Ok..so I know these lists show up everyday, but when I see Portland Oregon listed as one of the 10 most liked US cities in the Money Journal, I can't help but say a resounding I AGREE! In fact, apparently I've been very fortunate as I've also lived in two other cities on the list.. New York and Austin, TX. (Ok..Long Island is pushing it for NYC but hey..close enough). I didn't think anything of having my school field trips in NYC at the Museum of Natural History, The Bronx Zoo, or the Museum of Modern Art until I was an adult and realized how very lucky I was. We moved to Portland from Austin in 2000..another great city which we loved, but have to say, so far our fave is Portland! The article cites its "culture, laid...
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By Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging, "Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"
(Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR)
During a recent home staging consultation for a Portland seller, we suggested several easy, cost-effective improvements to make the home more appealing to buyers -- inside and out. Buyers will form their first impression of the home when they drive up to view it. This first impression is important because usually it influences whether or not they think they'll like the house. Because of the impact of the buyer's first impression, as part of our consultation we always recommend trimming away excess shrubbery so that the house is clearly visible from the street.  Buyers are interested in the home's architecture, but with too many trees, branches or vines hiding it, the house may have an unfriendly or neglected look to buyers. Here's the "before" view from the sidewalk in front of a home a...
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By Eric Newman, Loan Officer with 25yrs in Housing, NMLS-97776
(Directors Mortgage, NMLS-3240)
by Eric Newman  |  NW Mortgage Group  |  November 12, 2013Many lenders likes to tell the public "we're the "best!" How can they all be that at the same time?  They can't. Is it possible to tell who really is the top local mortgage company? Yes ... and let me prove it with the numbers. In October 2013, Northwest Mortgage Group (once again) has topped the charts (again) for home purchase loans in the Portland, Oregon metro area.  In fact, we closed MORE purchase loans than Bank of America, Chase, and US Bank ... COMBINED.  And yes, we topped Wells Fargo in that same category. When it comes to other privately owned mortgage companies (non big bank or credit union), NW Mortgage Group closed in many cases 2, 3, or even up to 4 times as many home purchase loans than our major competition.  T...
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By Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging, "Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"
(Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR)
As a home stager in Portland, I see many homes that need some level of home staging assistance.  Since potential buyers often make a quick judgment about whether they'll like a home when they first see it (online or in person), one of the best returns on investment a seller can make is to freshen up the exterior and interior paint on their home.   Paint that is old, peeling, or with dated colors can make a home look like it hasn't been otherwise well-maintained. Buyers often think that painting a home will cost more than it actually does, which could discourage them from making an offer. It can benefit the seller if THEY take care of the painting before the home is listed; this way they can control the cost rather than offer an "allowance" which buyers may want to negotiate.  To get the...
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By Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
(RETIRED / State License is Inactive)
Buying Luxury Home in Portland . . . Cheaply The title of this post could easily have been Buying a Portland Luxury Home Inexpensively, or Buying a Portland Luxury Home Cheaply . . . the point is, if you are considering the purchase of a Luxury homes for sale in the Portland Metro real estate market now is a very good time for buying a cheap luxury home. What is a Move-Up Home? The majority luxury homes for sale in Portland are not first-time buyers.  Most luxury home buyers in Portland are going to be the "move-up" home Buyers.   This pool of Buyers has already purchased before and now they're moving up into a home they will live in and own for many years.   The luxury homes for sale in Portland are being looked at seriously by the group of Buyers.   But there is a lot of inventory cu...
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By Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging, "Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"
(Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR)
Recently we had the privilege of staging a 1931 home in Portland OR that has been in the same family since it was built.  This English Tudor-style home is a gem, full of original charm and lots of character! When I first saw it, nearly every item in the home was original, including the carpeting that covered much of the hardwood flooring. This Portland home was on the market for several months, but no offers were made; the feedback the sellers received was that potential buyers couldn't "see" past the home's dated look.  The sellers then contacted me for a home staging consultation for advice on how to make the home more appealing to potential buyers.  The home was taken off the market and all of the furnishings were removed, followed by painting and some easy updates that would offer a...
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By Eric Newman, Loan Officer with 25yrs in Housing, NMLS-97776
(Directors Mortgage, NMLS-3240)
by Eric Newman  |  NW Mortgage Group  |  October 21, 2013Many lenders likes to tell the public "we're the "best!" How can they all be that at the same time?  They can't. Is it possible to tell who really is the top local mortgage company? Yes ... and let me prove it with the numbers. In September 2013, Northwest Mortgage Group has topped the charts (again) for home purchase loans in the Portland, Oregon metro area.  In fact, we closed MORE purchase loans than Bank of America, Chase, and US Bank ... COMBINED.  And yes, we topped Wells Fargo in that same category. When it comes to other privately owned mortgage companies (non big bank or credit union), NW Mortgage Group closed in many cases 2, 3, or even up to 4 times as many home purchase loans than our major competition.  Those numbers ...
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By Ken's Home Team LLC. | 360.609.0226 | Portland, OR & Vancouver, WA Real Estate Team, - SOLD IS OUR FAVORITE 4 LETTER WORD -
(Ken's Home Team LLC.)
  Located at NW TULLAMORRIE WAY, Portland - 97229 at Claremont Golf Course Double oven & bright window over the undermount sink, Unique architectural details - arches, ledges, niches, & high ceilings … Imagine you - enjoying your new home … Call Ken's Home Team Where You're Part of the TEAM! with 503--919--0259 Bed 2 / Bath 2 School District: Jr. / Mid: Stoller Elementary: Bethany Sr. / High: Westview For pictures and description visit Real Estate in Claremont Golf Course OR Not the one for you? Search other homes similar to this one here Homes for sale in Vancouver WA / Portland OR Area Listing courtesy of: Keller Williams-PDX Central
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