Historic Willamette Neighborhood..a great place to live, visit, shop and eat.  If you've never visited the Historic Willamette Neighborhood, you're missing out on something special. When I first moved to this neighborhood over a year ago, it was not only because I fell in love with my home, but also love being able to take a walk..or very short drive to shop and dine here. Located in West Linn, Oregon, the Historic Willamette neighborhood has that small town charm with its nice shops, restaurants and businesses. During the year, you can watch parades, dance your heart away in the streets during the street dance, or stroll the farmers market where you can pick up some fresh locally grown produce as well as some arts and craft work from local artists.With lots of great restaurants, I know... 01/28/2011

I have become a "bird lady". I've always loved watching them, but my new house is real close to the Tualatin River so I get to see lots of fun birds and wildlife in my yard. I love watching the hawks soar overhead and when I had a disfunctional pond (that I had to get rid of as was basically standing algae water in the summer) I had a pair of malliard ducks that used to come and hang out for the day. I miss my ducks. I even have squirrels coming up to my windows and peaking in. Now I have lots of Jays..Stellars' Jays and Scrub Jays which I have read are extremely smart birds. It never fails that as soon as we get a good break in the rain, I first hear..then see one of these Jays sitting on my deck railing squawking. Of course I hear "bird lady, where are our peanuts?". As soon as I go o... 01/18/2011

When I found out that we were going to have to fly on one of those really small planes to get from St. Thomas to San Juan, Puerto Rico, I will admit that I was a bit nervous. They try to even up the weight on the plane (yes, you are asked) and I was seated really close up front behind one passenger in the co-pilots chair. Once I got over being nervous and looked at the whole thing as a fun ride and experience, I was wanting to sit in that co-pilots chair..hey, I could have gotten a really cool pic of it looking like I was flying the plane! Here is the video I took on the take off. I will say that even though the pilot was very young, he handled the plane with ease. To see some of my other videos (the landing one of them)go to YouTube channel cwestfall60.   01/12/2011

(Cindy's Blog about Portland Real Estate & Stuff) Here is the latest 12 month Market Trend Report for West Linn, Oregon. We are always one month behind so these are the statistics for December, 2010. It looks like the inventory inched down slightly from 9.6 months to 9.5 months. What this means is that it would take 9.5 months to sell all the active homes on the market. An average inventory would be around 5-6 months, so anything above that would be considered a buyer's market, and anything below that would generally be a sellers market. Inventory in months is calculated by dividing the active listings at the end of the month in question by the number of closed sales for that month. It looks like the median cumulative days on the market went from 110 to 79 days (average now 100 days) an... 01/11/2011

Oregon Realtor & UFC Fighter Chael Sonnen Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Related To Mortgage Fraud Chael Sonnen (a Realtor from West Linn, Oregon) plead guilty to one count of money laundering in Federal court on January 3, 2011 for his real estate transaction that involved an undisclosed cash incentive to the buyer of $65,000 which was disbursed through a plumbing company for "repairs" that Sonnen knew were never going to be made. Sonnen will be sentenced on March 28, 2011 and is expected cooperate with investigators and will probably receive 2 years probation, a $10,000 fine and loss of his Oregon real estate license. This case may have been the reason why Sonnen dropped out of running for the Oregon House of Representatives last year. In fact, the website VoteSonnen.com that he wa... 01/07/2011

(Cindy's Blog about Portland Real Estate & Stuff) Here is the latest 12 month Market Trend Report for West Linn, Oregon. We are always one month behind so these are the statistics for November, 2010. It looks like the inventory inched down slightly from 10.5 months to 9.6 months. What this means is that it would take 9.6 months to sell all the active homes on the market. An average inventory would be around 5-6 months, so anything above that would be considered a buyer's market, and anything below that would generally be a sellers market. Inventory in months is calculated by dividing the active listings at the end of the month in question by the number of closed sales for that month. It looks like the median cumulative days on the market went from 119 to 110 days and the sold per listed... 12/12/2010

(Cindy's Blog about Portland Real Estate & Stuff) Today was the Ugly Holiday Sweater Dash and Parade in West Linn, Oregon. I woke to the sound of downpouring rain and thought maybe this would be cancelled...yeah right..this is Portland! NOTHING gets cancelled in the rain. They did say we were in for 1-3" today. I got to Field's Bridge Park around 8 AM and there were already several volunteers all huddled under this pop up waiting for our assignments and for runners of the dash to come and sign up or sign in. The gal in charge,Bridget Saladino, gave the instructions and we were handed those cool glow orange vests and a map of the diverting routes for cars. I had a cushy street to "watch traffic" as it was my own. Yeah! I watched as they passed me..soggy but willing either running or wal... 12/11/2010

Time to get out your ugliest holiday sweater and make a dash for it in West Linn, Oregon during the Ugly Holiday Sweater Dash on Saturday, December 11th, 2010.This will be my first year volunteering for this event that literally goes right by my street. *This from an e-mail received requesting volunteers for the event. *"Dinner for Two if You Can Beat Drew Carney, morning news reporter for KGW--and also a West Linn resident--will be the Grand Marshal of the Dash.  We'll give him a (short) head start on the race and then he'll be chased down by the other runners; anyone who can beat Drew across the finish line will be entered into a drawing for Dinner at Allium.  The City is partnering with Historic Willamette Main Street and the MOMS Club of West Linn.  Main Street will be providing tr... 12/05/2010

(Cindy's Blog about Portland Real Estate & Stuff)  Back when I was a young girl growing up on the east coast, I can remember hopping onto the back of a trailor like we were going on a hayride, but instead the church would drive us to neighborhoods where we would then go door to door Christmas caroling. Those Long Island winters were nippy, and we had to dress very warm, but when I wasn't with the church group, my friends and I would all get together and go up and down the street doing this. Those were the days where more often than not we were invited in for some warm cookies and cider...I mean, who today would have these items on hand? Those were the days that you knew your neighbors and they were trusted not to feed you bad poisenous  razor blade filled food, when they trusted the nei... 11/28/2010

Here are the latest real estate market trends for the past twelve months for West Linn, Oregon. At the active rate of sales, the active residential listings would last around 10.5 months which is right where the average inventory of the Portland Metro area is. If you would like to recieve this report directly to you, or have any questions, please feel free to contact me by cell 503-819-5241 or my e-mail cwestfall@prunw.com. West Linn Market Trends 11/09/2010

While sitting on Interstate 205 North bound on the way to my parents house just outside West Linn there is a this amazing viewpoint. This viewpoint can get you some amazing pictures and a break from the traffic that comes to a stop there because of some fools thinking that putting a metered onramp on a hill was a good idea making sure traffic that is going 55 can slow to 25 to let people in because they had to stop for a light at the top of a hill and had to try to get going again. But, still at sunset, sometimes you forget all about the traffic, get out of the car and get a gorgeous shot like this before getting back in and yelling at the idiots at the Oregon Department of Transportation again. Todd Clark and the Friendly Home Team Knipe Realty Todd@IFoundYourNewHome.com Phone: (503)5... 11/03/2010

  Get ready! It's that time again for Neighbors Helping Neighbors once again. Please join me and the many other volunteers this coming Saturday, October 16th. A few months back several agents from Prudential NW Properties' Lake Oswego office were just one of the many teams that volunteered a few hours to work at our assigned home for cleanup. This program is to assist the elderly or home owners that need assistance with areas in their yards that need cleaning up. Meeting at Hammerle Park for sign in at 9AM, we were given complimentary donuts, coffee and t-shirts that were donated by local businesses and in no time we were on our way to help out our designated home to do all we could do until noon. This is a great program to not only help your neighbors, but to get in a great work out as... 10/10/2010

The first really rainy fall day in Portland Oregon. These are pictures from my deck in West Linn, OR. Supposed to be a nice sunny week ahead..Yes! 10/10/2010

West Linn, Oregon 97068 Zip Code -  12 Month Market Trend 6/2009-5/2010 DetachedThere were 365 detached residential homes sold in the last 12 months.The average sales price was $448,396.The average days on market was 193.There are currently 340 detached residential homes listed for sale.Based on last months sales there is approximately 11.3 months of inventory. 232 sold with conventional financing.62 sold with FHA financing.62 sold for cash.7 sold with VA financing.2 were others. Attached / CondoThere were 58 attached / condo residential homes sold in the last 12 months.The average sales price was $200,508.The average days on market was 189.There are currently 48 attached / condo residential homes listed for sale.Based on last months sales there is approximately 12 months of inventory. ... 06/21/2010

The West Linn Artists' and Farmers' Market, 'Taste of Tuesday', will run every Tuesday 4:30pm-8:00pm from June 1st - September 14th, 2010. Just off I-205, in the historic Willamette area at the corner of 13th Avenue and Willamette Falls Drive.  The Willamette area is fun to walk around, shop in the stores and eat at one of the many restaurants.   Local produce, art, live music, flowers, crafts and more. 06/04/2010

The City of West Linn, Oregon is situated on the banks of the Willamette River just south of the City of Portland and Lake Oswego. West Linn was incorporated on August 8, 1913. Most recent population figures show the city with 24,400 residents. The median family income is reported to be $83,252. There are a total of 9,968 housing units reported. Demographic data is from the West Linn Chamber of Commerce. Housing unit data estimated by the West Linn Planning Dept. As of 4/18/10 there were 339 active, detached residential listings in the city of West Linn, Oregon shown in the Regional Multiple Listing Service. Asking prices range from $150,000 for a 968 sqft total fixer. To an incredible $6,850,850 for a 14,000 sqft Mansion with 6.69 acres located on the Willamette River. The majority of ... 04/18/2010

The City of West Linn, West Linn Refuse & Recycling and Metro are partnering to bring free curbside clean-up on your regular garbage day during the week of April 5th. Regular household garbage is not included and must be kept separate from cleanup items. This is a great opportunity to get rid of stuff you've been meaning to get rid of. There are rules and limits as to what will be picked up. Details are available in the April 2010 edition of "West Linn Update". You may also direct questions to Wes Linn Refuse & Recycling at 503-557-3900. 03/18/2010

Don't miss the Tour of Remodeled Homes this weekend in the Portland area.  Visit homes in Portland, West Linn and Lake Oswego.   Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7 from 10:00-5:00   Upstage, LLC will be there to greet guests and take them on tours.  It is sure to be a fun weekend to get ideas for your home.  Meet the builders, ask your questions and learn about the latest innovative products and techniques for your home. Click here for more information. ###   Upstage, LLC helps people sell their homes quickly and profitably.  Our staging and marketing techniques help attract buyers and increase the perceived value of a home.    03/04/2010

"WOW..." is what our agent told us on the phone when she told us of the great news.  We staged this property in the dead of winter (Dec 18).  This was a FABULOUS property, that needed a little love.  There were a few obstacles that the agent saw in her eyes such as mis-matched wood tones and a little bit of an akward layout.  We addressed these "obstacles" and made them positives.  This is another On Stage success story.  Here are the photos: 01/28/2010

Here's breaking news from The City of West Linn:   This Sunday provides a unique opportunity to be the first through the historic Willamette Falls Locks.   ‘WILLAMETTE QUEEN’ TO BE FIRST VESSEL THROUGH WILLAMETTE FALLS LOCKS SINCE THEIR CLOSURE IN 2007 Having now completed the 1.3 million dollar hydraulic and steel structures inspection on the of the Willamette Falls Locks, the Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to accommodate the “Willamette Queen” later this month with a special passage through the Oregon City Locks for a required Coast Guard dry dock inspection in Portland. Departure from Salem is planned for Sunday January 31st at 9 am. Passengers will be allowed for the first time to remain on board the vessel as she passes through the seven lock chambers to descend the 52 feet aro... 01/27/2010