“Well this sure is a crap-hole,” I said. “Gee hon, what do you really think?  It’s not that bad,” chided my husband jokingly, as he opened the door to go inside. “Hmmpf,” was all the retort I could muster that day.  It was early in the morning and I really needed some coffee before my wit had a chance to wake up. “Hey…we can always go next door over there and get some coffee when we are done here?”  he laughed. I looked over to where he was pointing and saw the little barbecue joint there looking like it was about to topple over.  An asthmatic Big Bad Wolf could huff and wheeze that thing over.  Forget the old arsenic and old lace plan for killing me, I thought…he’s trying to get me with food poisoning. 11 years ago now, my husband and I walked into this dingy old building located on s... 09/17/2010

Andaluz-Salem Oregon-New Tapas and Wine Bar   This weekend was my husband's 40th Birthday.  We already had a party three weeks ago when we were back in South Dakota with his family, so we were looking for something new and different, and somewhat quiet.  We had heard about this great new and different place that David Rosales and his father Pedro, opened as a joint venture.  Now, you may already be familiar with the other restaurants this family owns.  David also owns La Capitale, and his father Pedro owns La Margarita Co.   This new venue that they opened features Tapas, Wine and Sangria.  Perfect for something new and different that works for happy hour or dinner. We arrived shortly after opening at 4:30, so were one of the first customers to arrive .  We were pleasantly surprised wit... 09/12/2010

August Acreage Properties Sold in Willamette Valley of Oregon   August continued to hold steady for acreage home owners in the Salem Keizer area of Oregon.  The good news is that the average selling price was up 21% from July!  Buyers that continue to wait may have waited to long.  However, with 228 active acreage listings in the Salem Keizer area, there is still a lot to choose from.     Of the properties that actually sold, it took an average of just over 4 months, or 128 days.  There are currently 12 acreage homes pending in escrow at the date of this post, so we are on track for an even better September!     http://blog.homeswithhorsesense.com/2010/09/10/salem-keizer-oregon-acreage-market-update-for-august-2010/   09/10/2010

The Salem Oregon real estate market sucked in August.  That's all I have to say about that.  If you want to see the pretty charts and such you can see them on the Get Real Estate Blog. 09/10/2010

Open House Salem Oregon Stop by and say hi this Sunday, September 12th from 1:30pm to 4pm.  Hosting this newer home on 5 acres open with a 4 stall horse barn and separate shop.   http://blog.homeswithhorsesense.com/2010/09/09/horse-property-open-house-sunday-september-12-salem-oregon/     2090 Square feet 3 Bedrooms 2.5 Baths Office/Family Room Unfinished Attic Space Mud Room 5 Acres 36x48 Horse Barn 20x40 Shop 09/09/2010

  Written by:  Jim Allhiser President/Inspector Millipedes do not usually chew on your home, however if conditions are right they will eat any organic material.  Moisture is key and if your home or wood debris under your home is moist it can become food for all sorts of wood eating critters.  If the organic material (wood) is not actively holding up your home it should be removed. 09/03/2010

Staging in Salem Oregon does make a difference, check out the pictures!   I am so excited to share these before and after pictures with you of a listing of mine!  Margaret Oscilia recenlty consulted with my seller, since we have had several showings and no offers.  While all of the suggested changes are not complete, the paint in the kitchen and dining room are, along with removing the valances.  Margaret also suggested rearranging the furniture in the living room for a more open feel, since it is a large room.  So happy with the results!               09/01/2010

Acreage Market Stats for Salem and Keizer Oregon in the month of July 2010 July appeared to improve over the month of June. The Days On Market of the homes that actually Sold, fell to 120.  That's 55 days faster than June.   The average List to Sale ratio incresed to 94%, good news for sellers! With 31 additional acreage homes listed in July, the competition continues to increase as just 9 acreage and horse property owners sold around Salem and Keizer Oregon in July. The average sold price of the 9 acreage and horse properties that sold was $345,311, a 17% decrease from June. Sellers are still finding themselves forced to compete with foreclosures, distressed sales and short sales if they need to move.   Click to see available acreage and horse properties for sale around Salem Oregon or... 08/20/2010

Maybe it all started when we first saw cupcakes that not only had frosting, but also  sprinkles  . . . .   That little extra something set them apart and made them really desirable . . . Show a kid a plain cupcake or one with sprinkles - you know which one they will be choosing!   We all like things that make us feel they have that extra touch -- that they are special - just for us, have a little pizzazz . . . and have a little something extra -         like sprinkles on top, that makes it memorable.   In a home buyer's market what are you doing to set your house apart from the competition?     Giving it pizzazz and that special feeling? What will make potential buyers feel that this home is "THE ONE" - custom just for them? Do only expensive homes "feel" custom and special? You can't c... 08/19/2010

You go to a party, drink way too much, and end up regretting it the next day. No amount of Advil seems to solve the problem and you just suffer through it moaning and groaning on the couch until your body recovers. Eventually, your body processes all that crap you just poured into your body, your stomach starts to make gurgling sounds like it is okay to eat again, and your head stops throbbing as if personal jackhammers were inside. Many college students go through this unfortunate experience and it is how we learn our limits and how to make better choices for our bodies. The tax credit intervention was kind of the same way...we knew the hangover would come to the real estate market. So what does a real estate hangover look like in Salem Oregon? The blue outline is what home sales have ... 08/19/2010

Too hot to sell Oregon Horse Property today Ok, it's like 100 degrees outside, (we usually only see these temps for 1-2 weeks a year around here) and I am just too hot to sell Oregon Horse Property today.  A friend of ours just called to see if we were going to a BBQ, we said no, it's just too hot.  So he offered us his house because they will be gone all day-they live right on the Santiam River!!!  Just dug out my swim suit and beach towel, gonna go make sure all the horses have cool water and then I am out the door!   08/15/2010

Are you looking for a small acreage property in south Salem Oregon?  Looking around, but not sure what you want?  Not sure if rural property is for you? Now is your chance to spend a few hours on a Sunday afternoon, looking at local country homes, in south Salem, in just one day! Homes on tour this Sunday... 5032 Halls Ferry Rd, listed by Melina Tomson with Tomson Burnham, llc $289,000 3 bed/1.5 bath, 2188 sq feet, 1.27 acres 7192 Adams Ridge listed by Chic Lidtke with Prudential REP $299,900 3 bed/2.5 bath, 2712 sq feet, 1.82 acres 6935 Battle Creek Rd SE listed by Gladys Blum with the Gladys Blum Group $895,000 4 bed/2.5 bath, 2500 sq feet, 20.98 acres 6685 Trillium Ln  listed by John Kirk with Tomson Burnham, llc (this property is open from 1-3 only) $319,900 4 bed/2.5 bath, 2918 sq ... 08/09/2010

This Salem Oregon home was more than a home staging project!     It’s been a fun remodeling project for our company and involved lots of quality craftsmanship by local contractors we admire! Located on a quiet street with a spacious lot that offers lots of privacy, it features new windows and added insulation.  Fully fenced back yard too and a .20 lot.     You’ll appreciate the beauty of the wood and finish these stunning original hardwood floors offer!   Featured throughout the living room, dining room and two bedrooms, they will look beautiful and be easy care for years to come!   Just refinished by Restoration Creek they say “wow” when you walk in the door!   Jeremiah is a craftsman and does quality repair, installation and refinishing – a true expert when it comes to hardwood floors... 08/05/2010

Put your listings on YouTube for FREE!   A couple of days ago I watched a virtual tour of a home on YouTube ….                                                                                                                I thought WOW! I should be able to do that too! So I set to work figuring this out, I already had virtual tours with music on my own website, but these only had url links I tried and couldn’t load that onto YouTube Now What? I began searching on Google (I love the web what a wealth of information) anyway after some trial and error, I found what I was looking for; Picasa.  Okay so there was a little bit of a learning curve my first movie had no music. Boring! My second movie had 7 minutes of music Ugh! So I deleted both of those promptly. The mission was on I had to fi... 07/28/2010

Oh give me a home, where the straw-bale roams And the people live happy off-grid Where often is heard that solar power-ing word and the people grow veggies all day.       Are you one of them?   You know, those people who want to live off-grid, have a cob house here in Salem Oregon, or build your own strawbale instead. If those words are green music to your ears, I just stumbled on this seriously cool map.   If you want to see who is doing what in serious green living across the US or here in Salem Oregon, check out this little map. You can add your own house on here and talk about it briefly. I'm thinking this would be great for those of you interested in this type of home. Building codes vary and so being able to talk with a local who is doing what you want...that can be very valuable.... 07/28/2010

Regarding the "Big Name" on the sign... Does it matter which company's name is on the sign? I don't believe so the sign only gives buyers the knowledge that the home is available for purchase, ultimately the home must sell itself…. Our portion of this representation requires us to be a true professionals, educators, negotiators, designers, advertising experts, counselors, people persons and closers. There are lots of companies with “Big Names” but there are thousands of hometown agencies with really great real estate professionals that love what their doing and are excited to be in the business of people and their most prized possessions their homes. I'm a real estate broker at Sundance Realty here in Oregon, it's a virtual office we have remarkable brokers, great educational opportuni... 07/26/2010

Best Places in Salem Oregon to Eat-Word of Mouth   Community information and tips from your friendly Salem Oregon Real Estate Broker.     Word of Mouth Neighborhood Bistro, or WOM as it is sometimes called by the locals, is one of the hottest new restaurants to hit Salem Oregon in a long time.  Whether you are looking for a new place to eat breakfast, a hopping new lunch spot, or a dinner venue, WOM has you covered.  Although WOM is fairly new to the Salem area, the owners Steve and Becky Mucha are not new to the restaurant business, or Salem.  You can read their story on their website. I recently polled some local community members on my Salem Oregon Real Estate and Homes for Sale page on Facebook, and here are some of our favorites. First my husband and I will weigh in on our favs....... 07/24/2010

"Opportunity Knocks" This beautiful executive home has been reduced over $100,000Priced at $599,950 5bdrm 3.5 bath home.... Open House this Saturday and Sunday from 2PM until 4PM 3662 Augusta National Dr S in Salem, Oregon 97302 07/23/2010

When selling your home, you know first impressions and curb appeal are important.  But did you know that all the photos of your home are important?  Over 93% of consumers utilize the internet when searching for homes.  Are your listing photos giving the impression that makes potential buyers want to see more? If the bathroom photos are omitted from the listing or look this photo, what is your impression of the home? Needs improvement? No updates done at this home in a L-O-N-G time? Wonder what else needs attention and updating in this house? (At least the toilet seat was down in the pic – hooray!) And the potential seller clicks away  . . . off to the next listing.   We helped this home seller manage his budget and remodeling for this Salem Oregon home.  This bathroom was updated for un... 07/22/2010

Dear Home Staging Expert: My home is beautifully decorated and I receive many compliments on my style and taste in furnishing and decor.   I'm preparing to sell in the near future and my real estate agent advised I hire a "home staging expert" to give me some advice.  I can't imagine what benefit I would receive from this service.  (I actually find it a bit insulting.)  Please advise. Sincerely, Divine Design Diane     Dear Diane: Thanks for taking the time to ask this important question before dismissing your agent's recommendation.  First and most importantly please keep this in mind:  We decorate our homes to create a beautiful environment for us to enjoy.  When selling, we create a neutral palette for someone else to paint their story upon. How we decorate our homes to live in and h... 07/13/2010