Located in the Annex of the South Salem High School, Howard Street Charter School  is accepting Applications for 2008-09 School Year.  Howard Street is a public middle school, serving grades 6-8.  All students are required to take three years of drama, art and science as well as three years of a foreign language. Admission packets are now available in the school office. Friday, March 7 at 4:00 p.m. is the deadline for submitting applications. A lottery for admissions will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 4:00 pm in the South Salem High School Little Theater.   Here is the Oregon Department of Education's Report Card Rating of Howard Street Charter school. For more details on school performance, click on the RC Detail Sheet link.YearGrades  Report Card Rating Goals 2006-200706-08R... 02/24/2008

I was recently asked by a buyer about the availability of new construction in Salem. There are three main areas when new construction is occurring here in Salem:  south, west, and north east Salem.There are currently 165 new construction homes listed on the MLS for South Salem.  There are more homes that are available as there are several For Sale By Builder as well.  The current absorption rate for south Salem new construction is 8.5.  We currently have a 19.4 month inventory of new construction homes down south.There is quite a variety in price and quality available to home buyers.  Some of the larger subdivisions that are going in are as follows: Bailey Ridge- This is a Sandstrum subdivision located down south next to Illahe Hills Estates.  Homes currently range in price from $359,90... 02/23/2008

I was recently asked by an investor about the tax incentives that Salem Oregon was offering.  As I explained to the investor, Salem Oregon is going through an amazing revitalization right now.  The Downtown Vision is very exciting.  They are looking for investors that are willing to consider Redevelopment and Historic Preservation.  There are tax incentives for these projects, and with all incentives, specific criteria to qualify. Salem, and Oregon in general, are very focused on creating green spaces.  The Parks and Open Space Proposals are truly exciting, and I know that I look forward to seeing these plans come into play in the next decade.           02/21/2008

Sitting in the middle of the vineyard, I reach for my glass of excellent local Oregon Pinot Noir.  Far out in the country side, I relish the quiet solitude of the landscape...Reaching for the Brie cheese, I turn to my husband and ask for the gray poupon...well..not really, but you get the image I am going for.   I am biased.  In my ongoing series about architecture, I have to admit that French Country Styles are my favorite.   I always imagine them surrounded by vineyards, and a glass of good wine waiting at home to relax at the end of the day.   Here in Salem, Oregon we have a few examples of French Country Styles.  There is the French Normandy Architecture which is similar to the French Provincial except that it has a rounded tower as part of the architecture.  French Country styles t... 02/19/2008

Location: Located in south Salem, Chinook Estates is a stunning community of custom homes with often gorgeous views of the mountains and valley.    Chinook was first developed in the late 1970's with construction still continuing today.  Chinook Estates sits between Skyline Rd and Bates Rd with Concomly Rd being the main entrance into the estates. You will see a small rock with a chinook salmon as you enter. Chinook Estates is located in Marion county, unincorporated Salem.  What that means is it sits outside the urban growth boundary, and doesn't have access to city services such as water and sewer.  All of these homes have some acreage with them, the smallest running around 2.5 acres, with some as large as 14 acres.  You will several horses as you go through this development as well. ... 02/17/2008

Many new construction homes here in Salem Oregon are referred to as Craftsman. Some have elements of the Arts and Crafts movement (AKA Craftsman), but most are not Craftsman homes.When talking about Crafstman homes, most people think of the Craftsman Bungalow, but a Craftsman doesn't have to be a bungalow and not all bungalows are craftsmans.The first bungalows were designed by William Gibbons Preston in 1879 on Cade Cod. Bungalows were built in the early 20th century, and have the following features:   •·         Low pitched roof •·         One and a half stories •·         Living room is in the center of the house. This is a hallmark feature. •·         Rooms that connect to each other without hallways •·         Built-ins (cabinets, hutches, window seats,etc). A bungalow is about the... 02/16/2008

Location:Located in south Salem, the Sunnyridge neighborhood is part of the larger Sunnyslope Neighborhood Association.    Itwas mostly developed in the 1960-1970 time frame so the ranch style home is very prevalent.  There are also some more contemporary style homes as well since that was popular in the 1970's.Sunnyridge sits between Cunningham Lane and Kuebler Boulevard to the North and South and Croisan Creek Rd and Skyline to the West and East.Sunnyridge has the local Sunnyslope Neighborhood Park located just off of 18th St and Matthews Loop as well as Skyline Park located next to Sprague High School.  There is a large area at the park for spontaneous football and soccer games, as well as a tennis court, and basketball hoops.  The tree lined streets that fill this neighborhood creat... 02/16/2008

You can't help but think of England and Robin Hood when you see a Tudor style home.  Bows and arrows, long rustling skirts, and lavish feasts invade my imagination when I see these homes. Based on Medieval architecture, Tudor homes have a distinct style.  The large exterior beams are false half-beams for decoration, but in medieval times, those beams actually supported the weight of the building. Our Tudor homes were built in the time period of 1890-1940, which makes them part of the Tudor Revival time period.  They have many or all of these features. Half-timbers.  In medieval times, these timbers were part of the support structure, now they are purely decorative in nature. Steep pitched roofs, usually an 8-12 slope. Tall and narrow windows.  Small window panes Large chimneys sometimes... 02/13/2008

I know, I know you're thinking, what a catchy title!  I know I hear the word statistics and it makes me want to go and read an article...yeah...sureLike many agents, I am constantly being asked the state of the market here in Salem Oregon. With the "decling market ratings" being issued (we are a 1 by the way) and making many top 10 lists for best real estate markets, I feel it is important to talk about manipulating the numbers.Don't get me wrong, our market is down slightly, but doing relatively well compared to the rest of the country. We ended 2007 with 50% sales volume, where normal is 60-65%.  My concern for buyers is simple...know what the analysts are looking at, and how that data can be manipulated. The average home price is a commonly used indicator in terms of the health of a ... 02/12/2008

Location: Located on the southern part of Salem, Illahe Hills Estates is a wonderful option for buyers wanting that country club feel.  Located off of River Rd to the south, this neighborhood has some diverse architecture located within the boundaries. If you are looking for a mid-century modern home, there is some of that architecture here, as well as more traditional styles that are influenced by Craftsman, and French County architecture. Homes in this neighborhood range in price from $350,000-$1,000,000.  This is a very stable neighborhood with many residents living in for long periods of time.   Special Considerations: This is a community that has an HOA (Home Owners Association) as well as CC&R's (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions). If these are important to you, ask for a co... 02/11/2008

Location:Located on the southern  tip of downtown Salem, the Fairmount neighborhood is a wonderful option for buyer looking for historic homes.  Located between Owens and Rural streets to the North and South, and River Rd and Commercial St to the East and West, this neighborhood has some diverse architecture located within the boundaries. It is also the location of the Governor's Mansion.Some of the homes have stunning views of the Cascades, Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor. It's proximity to downtownand solid school districts make it a highly desirable place to live.  There is an incredible amount of variety in architectural styles in this area ranging from French country, Craftsman, English Cottage, Misson style, Victorians, and dutch colonials.Homes in this neighborhood range in price from ... 02/09/2008

Location: Located close to downtown, the Bush Park neighborhood has a portion of the Historic District located within its confines.  Located between Rural and Mission, and Liberty and 12th, this neighborhood has some stunning architecture located within.This neighborhood sits just south of the 90 acre Bush Pasture Park.  It's proximity to downtown, location to a nearby park, and solid school districts make it a highly desirable place to live.  The varied and beautiful architecture is a huge draw.  You can find anything from federal style, dutch colonials, cape cods, English cottages, four squares, Craftsman's, and several bungalows. Homes in this neighborhood range in price from $150,000-$650,000.  This is a very stable neighborhood with many residents living in for long periods of tim... 02/09/2008

            Located in West Salem, West Hills Estates is located off of Orchard Heights Rd.  Most of the phases were built in the early 1990's with some newer construction occurring on vacant lots.  There were approximately 6 phases completed in the 1990's.Streets are named after mountains such as Ranier, Olympia, St. Helens and Sisters, as well as various snow themes such as Snowbird, Ptarmigan, Boulder Ridge, and Diamond Peak.  For subdivision boundaries, click here. A part of the street of Mousebird currently backs to a 10 acre plot of land owned by the City of Salem.  Current plans call for a fire station to be placed on the lower portion of the land down by Orchard Heights rd, and the rest is set aside for an underground water storage area.  These current projects are subject to c... 02/08/2008

Sunday April 13, 2008Liberty House is holding it's annual Chefs for Kids dinner and auction.Liberty House is our local child abuse assessment center. It is an essential program to meet the needs of our young children that might have been abused.  This year it is being held at The Oregon Garden.I have been a proud sponsor of this event in the past. For more information call 503-540-0288. 02/07/2008

I just wanted to let all of you know about two local family events that are happening this week.Tomorrow night, Schirle elementary school is hosting a Family Bingo Night.  From 7:00-8:30, they will have bingo with prizes.   On Saturday February 9th, all of the Roth grocery stores are hosting a Kids cake decorating event in time for Valentine's Day. It is from 11-3 at all Roth's locations. Kids can choose between white or chocolate cake, frost and then decorate it.  We did this last year with my children and they had a good time.Get out into our community and have fun! 01/31/2008

Last week I had the fortune of inspecting a new home.  My clients were one of the few people who elected to hire their own professional building consultant (inspector) on a recently built home.  Most buyers have a number of ideas on why they don't need an inspection such as:  The county building inspectors looked at it throughout the building phases, the builder has been building homes for 20 years plus, and the first year builder warranty will cover any issues.   These arguments are not bad ideas but after squeezing through as many crawlspaces as I have, they just seem kind of naïve.  But that's ok because it's my job to educate!Most county building inspectors have around 15 minutes, (or less!) per home.  They have many homes all across the county to look at and sometimes they must hur... 01/29/2008

The Tony and Libby Kelly Group | Keller Williams Portland Premiere | tony@tonyandlibby.com | 503-753-7300 1151 Fabry Rd. SE, Salem, OR This meticulously maintained Salem one-level. 3 Bdrm Single Family House offered at $194,000 Year Built 1977 Sq Footage 1,176 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 6,969 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION This meticulously maintained Salem one-level is perfect for the first time home buyer or investor. This lovely home features spacious bedrooms plus a master suite, newer roof, gutters, furnace, & great curb appeal! Office in garage can be easily converted back. see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES Fireplace Living room Office/Den Dining room Dishwasher Balcony, Deck, or Patio Yard OTHER SPECIAL FEAT... 01/28/2008

The start of a year always looks at statistics and where our market is heading.  Looking at different areas of Salem, today I am specifically looking at the days on the market (DOM) trending. This is broken down by the different areas as recorded in the MLS. Area2006 DOM2007 DOM TrendKeizer78813.5% ↑Central Salem86915.8% ↑Salem NorthEast941017.4% ↑Suburban South East719432.3%↑Salem South East8610522.1%↑Salem South8511130.6%↑West Salem9912930.3%↑ Keizer DOM have not climbed significantly. I would expect the Keizer market to hold fairly steady this year.  Due to the rising home prices in Portland, Keizer is getting a boost from Portland commuters, which has helped to keep prices and sales steady.Central Salem is mostly resale homes. Resale homes in Salem are holding fairly steady with pri... 01/20/2008

 I grew up in Illinois not too far from Chicago, and would love to go downtown and marvel at the architecture.     I moved to Portland after college and loved the feel of the Pearl District and the energy in downtown Portland.  Salem, well, it has been lacking.  The Salem downtown area is a revitalization district.  The city is attempting to draw business's back to it and give it some needed energy.A new multi-use development is going into downtown Salem in the area of the old Wells Fargo building that has been vacant for 6 years or so.  Since it is not practical to save the building, it will be demolished.  It is hard to see an old building with such character be demolished.  What you do need to know is that it was a well thought out proces to destroy the building.  I'm just sad to see... 01/19/2008

Salem Oregon real estate has trucked along at a steady pace for many years.  Nothing spectacular worth talking about, just an average community.  We did see things go crazy here (crazy in Salemite terms) in 2005 and 2006, but not like other parts of the country.  I was looking at housing predictors ranking of 25 best and 25 worst forecasts for 2008 and noticed that Salem Oregon is right up there!Salem was ranked #3 for expected appreciation.  Salem appreciated at 3-5% last year (2007), depending on what figures you choose to look at.  Portland, which is one hour North of Salem, ranked in the top 25 projected worst forecasts.  Having sold some investment properties to clients up in the Portland area, I can say it was crazy.  16 investors bidding on a trashed out REO is crazy in Oregon te... 01/17/2008