Yep, if you are a mime, and are looking into increase the size of your imaginary box, then I have the home for you. This home is as has as many bedrooms, baths and square footage as you can imagine.The only thing you need to remember is your lot is only .35 acres and there is an egress in the City of Portland,so keep that in mind when you are imagining your home. If you are a mime, and looking to have a place for your dream imaginary home, then I have the lot for you.Here are some great pictures of the home and if this is something that you are looking for in the Portland area, then give me a call or e-mail me for more information. I have other imaginary homes that are also for sale and feel free to e-mail me for pictures of those also.       09/30/2007

Looking for the perfect scenic lot to build on? Looking for a cozy house to dwell in while developing your building plans? This cute "Doll House" style home features period tiles, hardwood flooring with inlays, abundant built-ins, and awesome views and lot potential. Quiet, private, and charming! Close to OHSU and Hillsdale dining and shopping. Feel free to walk property.Address: 5870 SW Ralston Drive City/ST: Portland, OR Zip Code: 97239 Location: 5870 SW Ralston Drive Property Type: Land New or Resale: Resale Square Footage: 650 Bedrooms: 0 MLS# 7095960 For additional photos and details visit www.TonyandLibby.comor call 1-800-395-1151 code 614 for 24 hr recorded information This listing is brought to you courtesy of the Tony and Libby Kelly Group, Keller Williams Realty Portland Premi... 09/25/2007

One of the things I love about Portland is that we have so many things to do. We don't have the big league sports, like Seattle, with football or a major league baseball team, but we do have minor league sports such as Beaver Baseball and Winter Hawk's hockey.  Tonight's blog is about the home opener of the Winter Hawks, that unfortunately they lost, but still, we all had fun and with a long season still ahead of the Winter Hawks, you may want to check out one of their games.                     You can go to the Winter Hawks schedule page and order tickets for any home game and you and your family won't be disappointed.What is so much fun about the minor league sports of Portland is that these kids are putting it all on the line, unlike a lot of professional big leaguers. They have to ... 09/21/2007

What is title insurance? By Wayne B. Prunerhttp://www.yourhomeinportlandoregon.com/ Wayne's Portland Oregon area Real Estate blogwww.activerain.com/wayneprunerBuying a home is the biggest single investment most of us will ever make. You probably have several forms of insurance already: medical, life, car, and homeowners. Title insurance is your policy of protection against any defects in title against your property. You are protected against risks and insured against losses. Defects in the title to your property can cause you to lose all or part of your investment. There may be prior, outstanding claims against the property, that the seller does not reveal or know about.A title search is a detailed search of the public records concerning a property. The records include deeds, county and... 09/20/2007

                                                                          Are condos right for you?  By Wayne B. Prunerhttp://www.yourhomeinportlandoregon.com/ Wayne's Portland Oregon area Real Estateblogwww.activerain.com/wayneprunerCondos are being built in record numbers in Portland Oregon. Condo towers are proliferating with the encouragement of regional planners that are endorsing high density growth. Before you buy a condo, it is important to gather information so you can make an informed choice on this type of housing.Whether you are buying a condo for your personal residence or for use as a rental, here are some issues to consider:As a condominium owner you share walls with your neighbors and you are buying all the space contained within those walls.  Whatever square footage you... 09/17/2007

Almost sunset. I walk a little faster, hoping to secure a sweet little spot on the hillside where I’ll spread my blanket and settle in before the annual show begins. Heads are turning in every direction, searching for the first sign. But there is nothing yet. I lay back, staring into the silken blue nothingness that hovers high above me. Soft voices emanate from all sides, the social web of Portlanders making random connections across the schoolyard in that certain way we do.  Mount St. Helens slowly melts away as the last light of day disconnects it from the sky marquee. Backlit now, the soft hues of a late summer sky frame the giant smokestack that is the focus of our collective attention.A sudden hush falls over the crowd camped out here on the lawn at Chapman School in Northwest Por... 09/14/2007

It appears as if the mortgage market woes and the effects that they are having just does not seem to want to go away. Even though it truly does effect only a small part of the market and there are many real estate markets that are doing quite well, the story is just too good to die.                                             It's the Story that Devoured Cleveland! Recent reports I have read on the blogs and have heard on the various talk shows points to the potential for a strong 4th quarter and or 2008 1st quarter for the housing industry. Several factors point to this. Number of housing units typically sold compared to those that have sold. ( Pent up Demand )Restructuring of Investment loans with out all of the dangers associated past loans ( good money to be made for investors they ... 09/13/2007

How do you prepare a house to sell? Doing whatever you can to put your house's best face forward is very important  if you want to get close to or more of your asking price and sell as quickly as possible. Short of spending a lot of money, here are several ideas for making your home show better: * Sweep the sidewalk, mow the lawn, prune the bushes, weed the garden and clean debris from the yard. * Clean the windows (both inside and out) and make sure the paint is not chipped or flaking. And speaking of paint, if your home was built before 1978, new federal law gives a buyer the right to request a lead inspection. If you think you might have some problems, do the inspection yourself beforehand and make any fixes you can. *  A good paint job does miracles. Does both the exterior and the ... 09/11/2007

Should I keep renting or is it time to buy? With every rent check you write, you're helping to build equity in your landlord's property. You are paying off their loan. That money should be going towards building equity in a home of your own. If you think you can't afford a home right now, think again. Today's rates are low enough that your house payment could be as low as your rent payment! There are many advantages to owning a home, including: INVESTMENT- Payments on your mortgage loan mean you are acquiring a major possession; instead of rent, you own more and more. With many homes in the Portland area appreciating around $2000-$3000 per month, the equity you gain in one year is skyrocketing. The garden you plant, the permanent improvements you make - all enhance your way of living as... 09/11/2007

The 9 Steps to Home Ownership   Step 1 - Make the Decision to Buy It seems obvious, but it's good to note that the first step to buying a house is making the decision to buy. Consider the reasons you want a new house and write them down. Determine how long you want to live in the new house. Does buying still make good financial sense? Can you afford a house that will meet your list of requirements? A good rule of thumb is your mortgage payment should not exceed 1/3 of your net monthly income. Step 2 - Seek Professional Guidance I'd like to schedule a time to meet with you to hear the reasons you want to buy a house and your plans for the future. We'll talk about neighborhoods, schools, economic factors liable to affect the market today and tomorrow, as well as how you would like your h... 09/11/2007

I was organizing some old family photographs the other day when I discovered something curious. While drifting back in time, I became conscious of a repeating image lurking behind the smiling faces of my tiny Mother and tinier aunts and uncles. There, in nearly every photograph, stood my architectural heritage. Silent and strong, the humble bungalow graced the backdrop of every generation of our family over the past century. It’s no accident then that I’m crazy about beautiful old houses. You might say I’m under a spell of sorts. Enter the bungalow. Humble, yet poised, the bungalow debuted on the American architectural scene at the end of the industrial revolution at a time when Americans were falling out of love with fussy Victorians. Which is fitting given the straightforward nature o... 09/11/2007

Real Estate Greed and Stupidity  By Wayne B. Pruner, GRIhttp://www.yourhomeinportlandoregon.com/Wayne's Portland area Real Estate blogwww.activerain.com/wayneprunerLast week on the national news was another story on the dire situation of the current real estate market. A man was interviewed who bought a house for $240,000 and then refinanced it for $320,000. He spent the money and now is worried because he cannot sell the house for what he owes. I find it hard to have much sympathy for him. To take his largest asset and use it as an ATM is crazy. Refinancing your home to pay for everyday living expenses is not the path to financial security.The real estate mindset in 2005 was that real estate was a cash cow and you had better jump in to take advantage of it. Much of this frenzy was fuel... 09/04/2007

It was Saturday morning, the tenants had moved out and I came back to take pictures. Inside, the house had been cleaned to the point, I almost didn't recognize it.But, the yard, though very well landscaped, had a lawn that clearly hadn't been watered in a while. I told them that despite the home looking great inside the curb appeal was just horrible and they needed to start watering the lawn everyday and get this home back in to shape.Well, I came back 3 hours later to drop off the new flyers and almost drove past the house. The lawn looked beautiful, green, lush and just darn right amazing! I pulled out my camera started taking pictures and planned another trip out late last night to bring yet another set of flyers out to the house.I had to ask..."What did you guys do? This looks amazi... 09/03/2007

Are you keeping your Seller Happy or do you keep your Seller Happy? Are you doing the things that today's Seller's have come to expect? Do you wimp out and provide services to Seller's that you know do not produce results, yet you do them anyhow because your trapped by the old cliche " You have to Keep Your Seller's Happy ! " Keeping your Seller Happy is of course what we all want to do. Yet too often we substitute sound business practices with expensive activities that do not produce results under the guise that we are keeping our Seller's Happy. With only so much money available to be spent especially in today's market, working Smart is imperative.There is only one activity that will keep any Seller happy and that is a Sale. Yet there is not a day that goes by that I don't read or hea... 09/02/2007

NE 144th Ave, Portland, OR Remodeled and now a 2200 sqft 5 bedroom 2.1 Bath 5 Bdrm Single Family House   offered at $324,900 Year Built 1962 Sq Footage 2,200 Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 8,350 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION This property was completly remodeled last year and the buyer had financing problems. But, that buyers loss is your gain! The owner is willing to sell this home at a great discount compaired to the comps.     Hardwood floorFireplace Central heatDishwasherLiving roomFamily room Stove/Oven Attic Basement Laundry area - inside Yard   PROPERTY FEATURES Central A/C COMMUNITY FEATURESGarage parking / Gated property         Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Aug 30, 2007, 10:00am PDT   09/01/2007

I just listed a condo in North Portland this week that has a lot of interesting "green" feautures such as formaldehyde-free insulation and low VOC paint.  It is a beautiful little community of four condos that have been made from two remodeled 1908 homes.  The residents share a common garden and yard, a grill, and some tools to care for it all.   Getting up close to the home and learning more about it led me to a conversation with its owner about these non-toxic building materials and their prevalence in Portland.  We agreed that there would be plenty of these communities or properties using these "green" materials in the Portland area.  However, when we thought about it, we really couldn't think of any besides a newer community of condominiums that are being built in the area.It seems ... 08/30/2007

Recently a Portland, Oregon broker contacted me to discuss a lingering vacant listing -- the home had been actively on the market for an entire YEAR.  Most buyers couldn't figure out which bedroom was the Master. The seller hired Room Solutions Staging to stage this 1937 English-style home.  It had great bones but badly needed some pizazz, color, and more light.....The seller received two offers within one week of staging, and the house is SOLD ~ Staging works!   The LIVING ROOM felt dark and dreary before ... But was much warmer & inviting when Staged:      Buyers thought this BEDROOM was too small ...But once staged, could see that a Queen bed easily fit here:         This BATHROOM seemed cold & sterile Before ... And looked elegant when Staged:             The DINING ROOM color was a... 08/22/2007

Portland Oregon: 5 Things To Do in September  By Wayne B. Prunerhttp://www.yourhomeinportlandoregon.com/ Wayne's Portland Oregon area Real Estate blogwww.activerain.com/wayneprunerArt in the Pearl - Art In The Pearl Celebrating it's 10th year, Art In The Pearl is a prominent and unique juried arts event in Portland, drawing an estimated 50,00 visitors last year. The Pearl District's annual Labor Day weekend arts festival will fill Portland's North Park Blocks with art, theater, music, and hands-on art activities for people of all ages. The World Music Stage highlights traditional American and world music drawing on the ethnic diversity of Portland. Come to view and purchase art and stay to sit under the North Park Blocks trees and enjoy delicious food from a wide range of vendors. Septe... 08/22/2007

UPDATE:  This home received a full price offer only 14 days after staging & listing!  This 1984 vacant contemporary in Portland, OR was meticulously remodeled and the owners knew that staging it would help define the spaces.  With an open floor plan, buyers are sometimes challenged in figuring out how to use the space.  In this house, that was especially true in the living & dining spaces, and another space adjoining the kitchen. Here's a view of the LIVING ROOM before it was staged by Room Solutions Staging: This view from the upper level shows the size of the Living-Dining space (& the interesting angles we had to work with):   This space off the kitchen may have confused buyers when it was vacant:   08/19/2007

A little over two weeks ago I wrote an offer on a Real Estate Fixer Upper in the Portland Metro area. My Long term Client ( a real estate Investor ) who is always looking for good deals was in the mood to buy again. He consistently buys 1-3 properties a year. He is funny because he always has grandiose plans of rehabbing them but often resorts to flipping them instead.Sometimes he does a little work on them but often times does nothing. Because he pays cash and does no inspections I am usually able to find him some pretty good candidates. The trick of course is understanding that there is a pretty good chance he will want to flip them immediately.Hence it keeps me on my toes because I know he wants to make some money ( his profit requirement is at least $15,000 to $20,000) and, cover al... 08/13/2007