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Portland, OR Real Estate News

By Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging, "Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"
(Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR)
We recently staged a 1932 English style home with many charming original features, that had been just been remodeled with quality upgrades. View from the DINING ROOM to the LIVING ROOM Before staging: Upstairs is an unusual space that we thought would be fun to stage as a CHILD'S playroom: The MASTER BEDROOM is a good size but lacked pizazz as a vacant room:  
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By Jessica Kincaid & Kelly Siebold Kelly Siebold
(PlatinumStaging)
   Thinking about selling your home?  Is your house already on the market?  In today's competitive housing market you need a little something "extra" to really make your house stand out from the crowd.  Home Staging is just the trick!Learn how to de-clutter and de-personalize, arrange your furniture for maximum space and viewing, create warmth and light, modernize, improve your curb appeal and more...Home Staging Class presented by Stage to Sell. Stage for life.Date:  September 26, 2007Location:  CubeSpace - 622 NE Grand Ave. Portland 97214 in the Roman Conference RoomTime:  6 - 8pmCost:  $55 - handouts provided Sign up at www.PlatinumStaging.com or email info@platinumstaging.com.  Class size is limited so sign up today! 
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By Max Sinclair
(Prudential NW Properties)
The first 7 months of 2007 have gone by quickly.  Interest rates are on the rise.  You'll hear from all the sellers today that it's getting harder to sell at the price they want.  Two years ago, a 3200 SF home in Beaverton with an unobstructed mountain view, priced just under $600K, would have been sold within a day or two.  Today, there're over 60 homes in Beaverton in that price range - all sitting and waiting.  Looks like real estate has gone back to "normal".The Portland market has in no way 'crashed', dare I even use that word.   It is adjusting itself for a soft landing.  Sellers can no longer priced homes based on the appreciation rate that we saw in the last couple of years.  We've reached somewhat of a threshold.  What was a 17% last year should be adjusted to 10% for this year...
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By Herb Hamilton, Real Estate Broker ,CDPE, Downtown Portland
(RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors)
After a full weekend of previewing and showing homes to my new clients from out of town I am confident they truly are educated about our Portland Market.Portland Oregon has enjoyed and for the most part weathered the Real Estate market fairly well over the last 2 years. The Perception factor of course has not helped with all of that negative news being reported in some of the less fortunate market places. The inventory levels continue to rise and the number of pending and closed sales continue to slide down hill. All while property values continue to increase at a rough estimate over all of about 10% a year.So what makes this a Buyer's Market? I have started asking this of the Buyer's that I meet to see what they think it is. Here are a list of their responses.Lower prices ( less than l...
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By Sarah Wynn
(HomeSmart International)
I recently had the pleasure of referring one my clients to a fellow Rainer.........I wanted to share with you some of the things that I like about Jennifer Bukaty.I posted a referral request with a little bit of information about the client that I'm referring.  My client has a daughter that is moving to the Portland area to work for the organization that trains seeing eye dogs. Jennifer was really quick to pick up that it was important to this father that his daughter be in a safe place.  Since neither one of them were familiar with the Portland area, it was nice to hear a friendly voice willing to help.  My client contacted her and they discussed what he's looking for and so far so good........I just wanted to share some of my good luck with fellow rainers and let you all know that Jen...
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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)
                  Angelica Thornton, news anchor at KATU Channel 2 in Portland OR (ABC affiliate) contacted me to ask if my company, Room Solutions Staging would like to participate in a news feature story on Home Staging and how it can help sell a home faster in this slower real estate market. This news story aired on the 5:00pm news Monday, July 30th.  The purpose of the news story was to make home sellers aware of what home staging is, and to show them a few easy tips. HERE'S THE LINK: http://www.roomsolutions.com/portland-home-staging-news.html They filmed us staging two properties ~ the first one was an Occupied home already on the market. Interest in this home picked up considerably after staging, and it SOLD soon after. The second project was a Vacant home, staged before it was l...
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By Herb Hamilton, Real Estate Broker ,CDPE, Downtown Portland
(RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors)
I just love a success story. And this one is a Great one. As a Real Estate Broker working in the greater Portland Oregon Metro area it is always a joy to see peoples needs fulfilled. So often in this Real Estate market we here of the Tragic Story instead of the Success Story.A couple of months back I received an email generated from my Buyer's_Web_Site_&_MLS_Connection.  The Buyer, Dawn thanked me for having such a great web site, allowing her to set her search parameters the way she liked it and the speed an accuracy by which the matches were sent to her. ( My Shameless Plug )Dawn told me that her and her Husband would be moving to Portland some time in Late July or early August. My web site would allow them to keep informed on the market in the areas that they had decided to live in. ...
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By Herb Hamilton, Real Estate Broker ,CDPE, Downtown Portland
(RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors)
So this Sunday morningstarts out like almost any other Sunday. I go through my normal wake up routine and after checking the News, Email and Blog comments, I head out to the Coffee shop. After conversing with half a dozen patrons and downing 2-3 cups of coffee and I write 6 or so AR comments, I am out the door. First stop this morning is going to be a cursory checkup on my Vacant Fixer listing at 437 NE Webster in Portland Oregon's Alberta Arts District. I then will drive past 8 Expireds that I have pulled and make a decision if I want to go after them or not. I will follow that up with a visit to Mt. Tabor where one of my Rehab Clients is Grouting Kitchen Tile then I will hold open two new town homes that I have on the market for one of my builders on the border between MT Tabor and Mo...
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By Herb Hamilton, Real Estate Broker ,CDPE, Downtown Portland
(RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors)
What causes us to resist change? For several years now I have constantly preached the benefits of Scanning documents and sending them out by email. The legibility factor his huge. Specifically when you look at issues of clarity as it relates to the Old Mighty Fax.How long have scanners been around? This not new technology and certainly the price point is so low it is almost as if they are paying you to take them. Yet day in and day out the use of the Fax machine as the primary sender of documents remains.I have heard of some people who have said they would like to fax but cannot find a program that doesn't cost a fortune. Most of your common software applications have a scan and or acquire feature today. As well as most if not all of the scanners have programs built in or have software ...
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By Herb Hamilton, Real Estate Broker ,CDPE, Downtown Portland
(RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors)
Continuing its upward appreciation rate now at 11.5% for the year, North Portland's average Residential Sales Price for the Month of May 2007 is at $269,300 and year to date at $264,000 with a median Sales price of $248,500 for the year to date statistic. A far cry from the early 90's when the vast majority of homes were priced in the $50,000's.The outlook shows a slowing trend in sales with a decrease of 19.9% (137 Pending Sales) when comparing May of '06 to May of '07. Overall there has been only a slight decrease in Pending sales of 3.8% (a total of 650) when comparing the years of 2006 and 2007. May shows active listings at 402 with 207 new listings compared to 999 for the year. Average days on the market are the lowest reported for Portland Metro area and stands at 32 days for the ...
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By Wayne B. Pruner, Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI
(Oregon First)
Buying is better than Renting in Portland, Oregon.  By Wayne B. Prunerhttp://www.yourhomeinportlandoregon.com/Wayne's Portland Oregon area Real Estate blogwww.activerain.com/waynepruner Buying your own home is one of the smartest financial decisions you will ever make.  It is the foundation of building personal wealth.  For an individual or a family, a home is generally the most significant asset owned and serves as the primary wealth-building vehicle. Home ownership builds wealth in many ways.First off, you have to pay to live somewhere.  The rent you are paying is building someone else's wealth, not your's.  This is wasted money that is providing you no benefit.  Put this money to use so it is benefiting you and your family. You can pass your home down to your children, and their chil...
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By Wayne B. Pruner, Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI
(Oregon First)
Portland Oregon: 5 Things To Do in August  By Wayne B. Prunerhttp://www.yourhomeinportlandoregon.com/ Wayne's Portland Oregon area Real Estate blogwww.activerain.com/wayneprunerMt. Hood Jazz Festival 2007 - Mt. Hood Jazz FestivalCalling all jazz lovers! The 26th Annual Mt. Hood Jazz Festival is one of the most revered summer jazz fests in the Northwest and is sure to captivate all ages. With a diverse line-up that includes both scorching national heavyweights and local all stars, this year's festival aims at bringing together jazz's past, present and future. It also adds a fun, affordable reason to bring the whole family out for a weekend of live music and culture. August 3 & 4The Bite of Oregon 2007 -  The Bite of Oregon showcases the best of Oregon's natural bounty, with a sound track...
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By Sara Goodwin, Portland, Oregon Appraiser
(Estimation Nation Corporation)
   Every day I walk my neighborhood and mostly admire, sometimes dislike the architecture.  No matter what I feel about the outward appearance of the house, the entire grouping makes up the neighborhood that I love to live in.  With the collage of houses, come the residents that share my admiration.  The decades have morphed the neighborhood appeal into a mishmash of styles, sizes and designs.  The ebb and flow of economics have determined how large or small each new home will be.  It also determined when it made more sense to rejuvanate or tear down and rebuild a dilapidated structure. Like many inner-Portland neighborhoods, my neighborhood was mainly built up in the 1920s when bungalow and craftsman houses of that decade were built to keep the older farm houses (usually one per block)...
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By Herb Hamilton, Real Estate Broker ,CDPE, Downtown Portland
(RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors)
Yesterday while showing one of my Listings_For_Sale_in_Portland_Or  the Buyer asked me " Do you think the Seller would be willing to take less "?  Now I have answered this question thousands of times over the last 19+ years that I have been in business usually with a simple answer like" I don't make decisions for my Seller's ". However because of the tone in the Buyer's voice, a tone that gave me the impression that he deserved the reduction in price I asked " What causes you to ask that "? His straight up answer was " Because it's a Buyer's Market ". What an interesting statement to make. In Portland Oregon over the last year we have had an 11% increase in the market which is down slightly from the 14% of the previous 2 years. Certainly though it would be hard to categorize that as a B...
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By Wayne B. Pruner, Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI
(Oregon First)
The Oregon Credit FreezeThe Oregon Legislature has introduced a bill designed to safeguard personal information that is expected to become law. The Oregon Consumer Identity Theft Protection Act most important feature allows consumers to put a "freeze" on their credit report that blocks new credit from being issued. Consumers have a password that can unlock the freeze. Any fee charged by the credit reporting agencies to implement this freeze cannot exceed $10.00. The fee is waiver if the consumer is a victim of identity theft. Oregon will join 29 other states that have similar laws.What is the difference between a "credit alert" and a "credit freeze"? An alert asks creditors to contact you before issuing new credit. A freeze blocks access to your credit report and granting new credit. Yo...
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By Herb Hamilton, Real Estate Broker ,CDPE, Downtown Portland
(RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors)
We all work hard. Sometimes you just need to take a little break.I write 3 real Estate Blogs. On one of my Blogs Rose City Blog I often write about_local_Portland_Neigborhood_topics  of interest. This mornings post was just for fun. In the Post I Chronicle  the_adventures_of_Benny_My_Cat  and our day out for Coffee at the University Park Coffee house on Lombard in Portland Oregon. For_a_bit_of_Fun_Follow_the_Adventure_here  , as Benny and I take time out to smell the flowers and Go for Coffee In Portland Oregon's North Side.Herb's Blogs :Rose_City_blog  a local real estate blog about local neighborhood issues lots of Pics and fun stories.Portland_Flips_a_Blog_about_Fixers_&_Flips  for Investors interested in the mechanics of Fixers and Flips.My_Activerain_Blog_Site_For_Real_Estate_Orien...
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By Herb Hamilton, Real Estate Broker ,CDPE, Downtown Portland
(RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors)
It seems that not everyone understands my post about_how_technology_isolates_us_from_our_clients. At least from the comments that I have received.Believe me, I do like all your comments. I even like the comments that seem to somewhat disagree with me. Although I do not disagree with the comments. So now I have confused everyone. Let me try to explain what I mean.I truly love technology, as any one would know if you have read any of my articles like Technology_and_the_upward_slippery_slope  a story about how I have always been on the side of technology, almost to where I am trapped in it. Or the article that I wrote about_a_Free_Investor's_MLS_Web_Site  of mine designed to help Investors of fixer uppers or flips in Portland Oregon, technologically. And of course the article I wrote detai...
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By Herb Hamilton, Real Estate Broker ,CDPE, Downtown Portland
(RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors)
The Internet is a fabulous venue for promoting Real Estate. This last week as many of you may or may not know there has been a long protracted dialogue on the_Community_Update_Post_on_Activerain  to the tune of 160 comments and counting. At first the entire dialogue was about a decision to stop points for listings. That was subsequently worked out and points were restored. A full decision on how it will be monitored has not been verbalized or written about as of yet. The dialogue on the other hand has continued on spawning several side issues.One such side issue debates the merit of chastising those that steal content visa vie listings of others for thier own use without the permission of the originator. It is an interesting dialogue and has merit on several sides of the issue.The quest...
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By Herb Hamilton, Real Estate Broker ,CDPE, Downtown Portland
(RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors)
Every since  CBS_News  hired Anchor_Katie_Couric  speculation rather she was right for the job or could even do the job has been bantered about the Media. The continued Katie_Couric_Controversy  shows no sign of slowing down. Right for the Job or wrong for the Job is not the focus of this article. I wonder though how many of us are Katie Couric's. Do we often jump at the opportunity to take jobs that are over our heads or outside our true field of expertise. Certainly it is flattering to be considered by those around us who want so much to believe in our abilities.I am sure as well the allure of money and ego most likely plays a large roll in the choices that we make. Speaking purely from a state of representation though can we all honestly answer Yes emphatically to a question about ou...
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By Wayne B. Pruner, Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI
(Oregon First)
Portland Oregon: 5 Things To Do in July By Wayne B. Prunerhttp://www.yourhomeinportlandoregon.com/ Wayne's Portland Oregon area Real Estate blogwww.activerain.com/waynepruner2007 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival - Waterfront Blues FestivalCelebrate 20 years of the Blues at the 2007 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival at Tom McCall Waterfront Park on the banks of the beautiful Willamette River in downtown Portland. Proceeds help the Oregon Food Bank fight hunger. You won't want to miss this best ever Waterfront Blues Festival, for which festival organizers are planning five fabulous days, on four stages daily, with a total of more than 150 performances. There will be a spectacular fireworks display on the Fourth of July at 10:00 p.m. July 4-8Oregon Brewers Festival 2007 - Oregon BrewersOr...
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