As you are probably aware, the real estate market has changed. However, it's nothing to be puzzled about.  It's a basic lesson in Economics, the demand is low with fewer buyers looking for homes, and the supply is high with an influx in inventory.  The approaching spring time is going to speed up the market; and interest rates have remained reasonably low.  Historically, buyers tend to purchase more in the spring and summer time, than any other time.  This should ultimately create a shift in the bell curve of supply and demand create a faster market. Portland area home values are still appreciating, which is wonderful in comparison to other the real estate markets nationwide.  Here is a quick run down of appreciation in the various Portland metro areas: Lake Oswego/ West Linn If you  ar... 07/09/2007

The Market Cycle and Buying a HomeThere are times when the economy is brisk and everyone feels confident about his or her prospects for the future. As a result, they spend money. People eat out more, buy new cars, and ... they buy houses.Then, for various reasons, the economy slows down. Companies lay off employees and consumers are more frugal about where they spend money, perhaps saving more than usual. As a result, the economy decelerates even further. If it slows down enough, we have a recession.  The bonus to a recession is that interest rates usually decrease, making it more affordable to some to purchase a home.During such a time, fewer people are buying homes. Even so, some homeowners find themselves in a situation where they must sell. Families grow beyond the capacity of the h... 07/09/2007

6 Biggest Mistakes Buyers Make Before Qualifying For A LoanIf you are thinking of buying a home within the next two years, the following are the six most common mistakes buyers make before qualifying for a loan. If you can avoid these mistakes qualifying for a house loan easily for little cost can be a slam dunk.Late or No Bill Payment: Credit is everything to the average American looking to buy a home.  If you have poor credit, unpaid bills, late bills, outstanding accounts, liens, or collections on your credit you will have a difficult time getting loan approval.  I'm not saying impossible, but difficult. Usually a lender will ask for a variety of things in order to compensate for poor credit which include: more money down, a complete paper trail of bank accounts, they will give you a... 07/09/2007

Buying a Home With a ViewHomes with a pleasant view of the horizon often sell at a premium above similar homes without the view. However, if a view is important to you, buy it mostly for your own pleasure and not as an investment. Although, a view is desirable especially in the Portland, the nest person to purchase your home pay not be willing to pay the extra cash you paid for it. In short, if you are buying a house with a view, try to pay as little extra as possible. Otherwise, you might not get your money back on this part of the investment.Lot and LandscapingCurb appeal is what brings potential buyers into the house.  The curb appeal start with the landscaping and the look of the house.  So, if the homes lacks curb appeal and you don't have plans to change the landscaping while you ... 07/09/2007

•1.        Excellent Schools•2.        Lots of City Parks•3.        Good Public Library•4.        A Weekday and evening Farmers Market•5.        Access to fishing and boating on the Willamette River •6.        Mini-shopping areas close to all parts of town•7.        Easy access to major shopping malls•8.        Interesting local shops, restaurants, and boutiques•9.        Peacefulness of suburban living with easy access to downtown Portland•10.    Public transportation, freeway, and  airport accessibility Feel free to add your reasons for living in West Linn in the comments.    05/19/2007

Following (or am I leading?) the trends of hyper-localism (and here and here), I’m pleased to announce the launch of a geographically targeted real estate blog for West Linn, Oregon: move2westlinn.com. West Linn is a roughly 25,000-resident suburb south of Portland. With great neighborhoods, schools, and attractive physical surroundings, it ranks high on the list of communities for relocation candidates in Oregon. My partner in crime, Jody McLeod, lives in West Linn and is particularly tuned into the schools and city politics. And since our brokerage is located in town, we view a lot of properties and meet a lot of customers here. It is natural fit for us to provide local real estate coverage for this micro-market. Our mission as it were: …in the case of creating move2westlinn.com, it w... 03/28/2007