Single Women Winning in Real Estate

Cliche “We’ve come a long way, baby” about how women couldn’t even have a credit card in their sole name until the 1970s. Women have been able to vote for 100 of our almost 250 year American history.

The big headlines around this research usually fall into the “women are more responsible than men” or “single women aren’t waiting for marriage before buying a home.”

It’s amazing to see how many women are heads of households, primary income earners, and leading men as solo home buyers. But, it’s not an equal gain for all women.

Nearly 39% of Latinas who are single and live alone owned a home in 2021, compared to close to 62% of non-Hispanic white women in similar circumstances.

Single women with children also face low homeownership rates compared to other groups, including single men with children.

No data is provided on trans folks buying homes. I am going to guess that it’s a pretty small percent based on how many trans people are doing economically. While not accounted for in this census research, they are at the top of my mind and I will keep supporting trans people in their house goals!

A real life Home buyer I worked with! Shout out Jauna!!!

So what’s the moral of this little story? Single people are gaining in the home buying market, women a little more than men. But I don’t think anybody really does this alone.

Parents, friends, siblings, romantic partners, children, co-workers, aunts and uncles, chosen family, ex-partners, and even neighbors make the community that support each and every home buyer. It takes all the support you can find to prop yourself up emotionally, morally, financially, and even physically.

Call on your community to support you in your home ownership goals and dreams. Call on me as a part of your community! We’ll gather around you and watch you cross this threshold with such pride.

Source: Axios.com

How to Build Equity in your Portland House

How do you build equity in your house? Time or Energy. The time is pretty easy to understand. Let the overall value of the land and house slowly tick up over the years.

Before: 2019 the Diamond in the Rough! Purchased for $293,000 after 66 days on the market in the Foster-Powell Neighborhood of SE Portland.

But if you don't want to passively wait for the decades to roll by then you need to put in some Energy! Either sweat equity or indirect energy of hiring contractors to do upgrades. Most houses need a mix of both. Professional roofers, HVAC techs, electricians, and plumbers will be well worth the money to have a well functioning house. Put your own direct energy into landscaping, painting, and pulling the trigger on big projects like a full kitchen remodel! I've never heard a client say they are glad they waited to do a remodel until they are ready to sell. I myself have been waiting 14 years for a kitchen remodel. I'm ready! It will add equity and comfort to our house, we waited since so many systems needed work first: oil furnace switched to gas, tear off roof, solar panels, replumb, exterior paint, water main line... you get why we've waited. 

After: 2023 A Farmhouse for the Ages! Sold for $455,500 with multiple offers, no repairs requested, and only 4 days on the market.

This type of project, and especially timeline, are not for the faint of heart. It takes vision, skill, flexibility, inspiration, money, time, energy, and patience to update a very old house.

Whether you are looking for a major project or some smaller things to do to make a house your own, I am here for it! One of my main skills as a Realtor is in advising on updating and remodeling old houses.

Let’s start planning your purchase and remodel, no matter the budget or timeline, today!

Moving from Out of State

Congratulations, you made the decision! You are moving!

a reminder that at least you aren’t walking for 6 months to get here

Oh no. You are moving to a new state and buying a house at the same time?

Oh yes! Don’t waste time, money, and energy with a temporary rental. I love working with home buyers moving to Oregon and Washington. I’ve been doing it for years, long before the Great Upheaval of 2020 (I’m trying to think of a term to cover the big moves of the pandemic: out to the suburbs, out to the country, back home by family, to a dream town since work is remote, to the other side of the globe to be with the love of your life.)

But HOW?

1. Video interview to talk about your plans and goals.

2. Send houses and design styles you like so I can get a good idea.

3. Thorough personal video tours of homes you are interested in.

4. Live video tour of houses you are interested in.

5. Neighborhood videos and resources.

6. Comparable sold listings to help with understanding the micro market of any house you are making an offer on.

7. Home Inspections.

8. Closing on the house while any where in the US is easy, you’ll sign your loan and deed documents with a mobile notary who can come to a house, business, even coffee shop! If you are living in another country you may need to go to the US Embassy to sign your closing documents.

9. Moving… Ah moving. The actual moving is really hard. It’s physically demanding and emotionally challenging for many people. Hire movers, don’t bring items you don’t love, and approach this as the hard task it is.

10. You are home! You arrive at your new house, I am there with keys and a gift basket to welcome you! I hope you are a hugger!

What about seeing the house in person? Many, but not all, buyers are able to visit a few times during the purchasing process.

1. Visit regularly: if you are coming for work or family on a regular basis then we add in your home tours to these visits.

2. If you can visit once prior to moving: personal tours of many houses that you are actually interested in, or wait until you have a contract on the home you are buying and visit during the home inspection. A detached house will take 2-3 hours to inspect and that’s a fantastic time to be in the home.

3. If you aren’t coming until after closing: Lots of videos, listed above, as well as a long chat with the home inspector. I attend every home inspection with my buyers. If the buyer cannot attend then we have a call at the end of the inspection with the licensed inspector. Every home inspection comes with a large written and photo report. You can and should chat with the home inspector. They keep their records and you can even get info years later!

If you are contemplating a move then now is the time to connect with me. The sooner the better! I have more tips and guidance for making this decision easier.

Some Real Humans I helped move from out of the area!

She's a Principal Broker!

As Beth’s husband, partner, and hype man of over 20 years, I’ve been able to watch Beth grow and evolve in many ways, both personally and professionally. When it comes to her real estate practice, the growth and evolution is constant through continuing education, experience with every transaction, connecting and learning through her peers, and via her constant interest and excitement in real estate, architecture, design, and working with people. Recently Beth undertook one of the largest growth periods I’ve witnessed so far: SHE GOT HER PRINCIPAL BROKER LICENSE! I am so exceptionally proud of her that I offered to write this post to do two things: explain to everyone why a principal broker license is so amazing and to brag about Beth.

Beth ready for real estate work in 2009!

Beth has been practicing real estate for 14 years now as a licensed real estate broker in the state of Oregon. 7 years ago, Beth also got her real estate broker license in the state of Washington. She did this as she noticed more and more people were going across the river into Vancouver and the surrounding area for various reasons (price, taxes, etc.). These licenses are the standard licenses that all real estate brokers need to have to practice real estate in their respective states (each state has their own licensing requirements and you must be licensed in each state you practice in). In Oregon, there are 19,000 real estate brokers that are licensed. Many of those maintain their license, but many do not practice real estate full time.

In Oregon, the highest level of licensure you can get is Principal Broker. Only a small number of real estate brokers in Oregon are Principal Brokers. This is due to the large amount of knowledge, experience, and drive you must have about the industry. The knowledge ranges from contracts to property rights to agency. It’s information that is less frequently used, but is required within the industry from time to time. The more knowledge you have, the more well rounded you are.

In order to become a Principal Broker, you must first be a licensed real estate broker. Check. Next, it’s time to study. This is done through an online course (paired with a textbook) that takes 30 hours. It’s even timed to ensure that you spent those many hours studying. Finally, after weeks and weeks of studying, there is an exam. This exam is proctored, which means that someone watches you take the test to ensure you don’t cheat.  There are two parts of the test, National and State. The kicker is that this is a closed book test! Once passed, you are now a Principal Broker.

Brokers typically become Principal Brokers to run their own brokerage or to lead a branch of an existing brokerage. They are the top dog that supervises all the brokers within that office. They review contract documents, mentor brokers within the office, and are available for questions as they come up with broker’s transactions. Over the years, Beth has worked under many Principal Brokers (some great, some not so great) and has found them, for the most part, an invaluable resource. 

You’re probably thinking to yourself, Is Beth starting her own brokerage? The answer is no, not at this time. She loves working with clients too much to give that up for running an office. So why did she go through all this effort in order to become a Principal Broker? She did it to better serve her clients! This is the part where I want to brag. 

Beth has always astounded me in the way that she works for her clients. She is a wonderful listener in regards to her clients’ needs, wants, and dreams, then she does everything in her power to deliver on those. She is an unparalleled advocate for her clients. This has helped her to get clients into their first starter home, into buying a farm with acreage, acquiring bare land for development, or settling clients into their forever home. She never has her own agenda for her clients, but is a great extension of her clients. 

Now that she is a Principal Broker, she can now advocate for her clients in a much broader sense. No matter what your needs, wants, or dreams are, Beth is fully prepared to bring those into reality. Beth has, and continues, to want to serve a wide range of clients rather than focus on a specialty. She continues to grow and evolve to better serve her clients.

What will Beth do next? I’m not sure, but I’m excited to witness it!

Schuyler Silva

Hype man

Buying a Home in this Changing Real Estate Market

will you have your own dream library/dining room this year?

So, you want to buy a house. What next?

1. Start with an incredible mortgage lender (after you chat with me, of course). I have a great list of lenders who have worked in the industry for years.

2. Once you know your purchase price range, select your neighborhoods and other criteria to narrow down the search.

3. In the Portland Metro Area sellers are still in the powerful position with a very limited inventory. That’s great news if you have a home to sell! As a buyer, you will still need to be ready to take on smaller repairs and pay your own closing costs.

4. Money isn’t cheap anymore. Be ready to have 5-7% interest rates quoted to you. There are strategies to work with these normal, usual, and sustainable rates! Buy down your rate with your own funds, look out for free future refinance deals, and be ready to refinance your loan in the near future. You can use equity in the future to buy down the rate as well.

5. See a home purchase as a long term mission, not a quick investment that will earn you money. 10% gains year after year are proving to be unsustainable. We are heading back into a more sustainable market where it will take a decade or more to build up a huge amount of equity based on home values growing.

Every home purchase is a unique situation. Let’s start planning for your real estate goals sooner rather than later!

Focus on the Good!

Photo by American Public Power Association on Unsplash

The uptick in concern about indoor air quality is meeting the need to make real progress to get off fossil fuels.

Natural gas as a cheap, efficient, and reliable fuel source was the standard for new construction and remodeling of old houses for decades. Even in 2009, when I bought my home, switching off diesel heating fuel and in-efficient electric systems was a priority. “Cooking with gas” was the lobbying tagline that made it into our communications and memes!

In 2023, however, using the power of the sun, wind, and water are our best bets for renewable energy.

Eugene has become the first city in Oregon to outlaw new construction having natural gas fuel. Portland and Bend won’t be far behind, the State and other states will follow.

How does this effect you?

Photo by Vivint Solar on Unsplash

1. Remodel to high efficiency electric appliances and HVAC.

2. Don’t install a new natural gas line. It’s no longer a draw to home buyers.

3. Add solar panels and make sure your roof has 20+ years on it’s life

4. Switch to an electric vehicle

This is the current Way of the Future. It may (and should!) change and we’ll all need to keep working towards not sucking the life out of our planet. Don’t get caught up in fuddy duddy ideas like “but this was what they told us to do for decades” or “but I’m used to being able to see the flame” or “a gas fireplace is so easy.”

If you are reading this in the comfort of your dry, safe, clean, heated, and plumbed home, then you are already one of the luckiest humans on the planet. Making choices is a privilege, let’s use that privilege in responsible ways.

Thanks for reading my TED talk.

Sources:

OPB

Sealed

Design Trends to Take Us Through 2023

What’s new and next in home design? A return to the past and nature…

Pink and Barbiecore

Those set photos of Margot Robie and Ryan Gosling really got us going. Pink has been more and more on trend over the last few years. Sherwin-Williams chose Redend Point, a blush-beige color, as its 2023 Color of the Year, and the Barbiecore hype is continuing to take off. The iconic Barbie doll is inspiring home interiors with playful hues and frilly décor.

Photo credit: Laurey Glenn / Designed by Mel Bean Interiors

Earth Tones and Natural Wood

Natural wood can add texture to a space, making a design appear less one-dimensional. Also, earth tones offer up a pleasing neutral that is less likely to elicit a love-it-or-hate it response. They pair well with practically any hue, too.

Just don’t make it all too bland, warmth runs through all of these trends.

Photo credit: Carina Skrobecki Photography / Designed by Jessica Nelson Design

Marble

Last year, the Styled Staged & Sold blog took note of the rising popularity of marble in decorating interiors, including the all-marble look for bathrooms. Marble can offer a luxurious touch, from the countertops to the flooring.

Photo credit: Carina Skrobecki Photography / Designed by Jessica Nelson Design

70’s Velvet Resurgence

Velvet can add a luxurious fabric to any décor. This 1970s throwback is heading into more designs as a rich accent. It might send some signals to those who also have green velvet couches!

Photo credit: Laurey Glenn / Designed by Mel Bean Interiors

Woven Elements

In another nod to texture, woven accessories are being incorporated into more styles, whether it’s a jute rug, wicker chair or woven lighting fixture. See how designers are adding this textured element to more of their designs.

Photo credit: Carina Skrobecki Photography / Designed by Jessica Nelson Design

Vintage Meets Modern

What’s old can become new again. Designers are bringing in antiques and vintage furniture to add more personality. Vintage looks are being paired directly against more modern accents. Home Stagers have used this for years, now you know how they make houses feel like homes.

Photo credit: Haylei Smith / Designed by Thomas Guy Interiors

Guess which trend is my favorite! And let me know which is yours!

Source: NAR Blog

Portland Coffee Shops

14th Street Coffee in Astoria Oregon

Coffee shops are the best! I am always going to new places to check out their coffee, snacks, WIFI, and bathrooms. I work from home, so finding nice, clean, safe places for me to work outside of my basement office is a must. Plus I am always looking for a public bathroom, so all of these have nice bathrooms!

Here are my favorites from around Portland. Send me any great places you love too!

1. Prince Coffee in Beaumont Village: Great coffee, beautiful location with tons of plants. They are only making Stroop waffles for holidays. Good WIFI and a great place to meet people or get some work done.

2. Woodlawn Coffee and Pastriesm/ in Deku: No WIFI! But, great coffee and a ton of pastries that are so delicious!

3. Heart Coffee in Woodstock: Heart roasts delicious coffee and has a few locations. The Woodstock location is bright, friendly, and usually has parking.

4. Driftwood Coffee in SW: Tucked away from Multnomah Village, this coffee shop is adorable and usually quiet.

5. Sister’s Coffee in NW: The other location is in Sisters Oregon! It’s important to me to support smaller businesses just like this one.

6. Cathedral Coffee in North Portland: I just learned they have one in Scappoose! The St Johns locations has been a stalwart for me! I hardly ever go into downtown St Johns due to parking. This location is great for me to meet NoPo clients.

Weird Things I've Learned in Real Estate

The lessons and challenges never stop as a Realtor! I was thinking the other day about all the weird things I know, lessons I’ve learned, and opinions I have developed. Do you have any weird knowledge or opinions about houses?

• New dishwashers suck. If there is an older one, don’t replace it.

• Don’t go in an unfinished basement alone. This should not be a surprise, basements are so creepy.

• Things break even when there isn't anything wrong with them. Moving seems stressful on houses, appliances and systems will develop new issues as soon as closing day is near!

• Disposals are bad for the environment. I guess I have to stop trying to get one for my kitchen.

• Natural Gas is on its way out. High efficiency electric appliances are the way of future (for now).

• People try to take care of their homes. Even if it’s not to your standard, most people are trying to maintain or improve their homes. If you see an unfished project or something done incorrectly, it’s usually the best the owner could do.

• Rats are becoming prevalent all over the Portland area. They are every where and getting into homes!

• Furniture is often the source of the smell.

• Brick Foundations are the worst.

• The neighbors are nicer than they look. You never know, the house with all the cars parked on the lawn might be your new mechanic!

• The neighbors are worse than you can imagine. People are crazy. You can’t tell by looking at a house, so come with an open heart but be ready to set boundaries with your new neighbors.

Spring Market Update

1. It’s a Seller’s Market

2. House prices are going up

3. Appraisals are coming in at purchase price

4. Inventory is low

5. Some Buyers are using cash and then getting a mortgage

6. Buyers are waiving appraisal contingencies

7. Buyers are still moving into Portland from out of state

8. Portlanders are selling and moving out of the area or to the suburbs

9. Interest rates are going up, but still not at the “normal” rates that we saw from 1992-2008.

10. I’m accepting new Listings!

Listings Needed Now, Not Later

This house was ready to sell with system upgrades, paint, landscaping, lighting fixtures, and home owner staging. Multiple offers with committed buyers followed!

The housing market continues it’s 8th year of a Seller’s Market in Portland. There are even less listings on the market now than in the last two winters. Demand is higher than ever. But, as interest rates rise this year buyers will perceive themselves as having less money to spend. House sales should slow a bit and prices will stop rising so quickly.

What does this mean if you are thinking about selling your house this year? I have always told sellers that the timing can always be right to sell, but I don’t know if that will apply this year.

NE Hassalo Sold in 2021. These sellers did the needed and wanted updates to make this house very desirable to buyers.

I’m recommending that if you could sell your house earlier rather than later, DO IT. Clean out your house NOW. Put it on the market by APRIL.

This Seller’s Market is unique in that Buyers are demanding beautiful staging, quality repairs, and move in ready homes. They don’t want dirty houses with cheap light fixtures. Be ready to rise to the challenge!

Buyer are willing to spend the most money now, but they also have high expectations for the condition and quality for their money. As a seller invest in the important features of a house: roof, siding, windows, flooring, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, outdoor hardscaping and landscaping, large light fixtures, bathrooms, kitchens, paint and staging.

If this all seems like a lot, it is. Please call or text (503-367-1877) me today and I will use my 14 years of experience to guide you through selling your house.

Lessons I'm Learning from a Bad Review

Me as The Perfect Realtor

I am usually my harshest critic. That was until I received a very negative review last fall. I am taking the opportunity to own letting a client down in this public forum and reaffirming my commitment to improving my professional performance.

The story is not important, but the basic outline is that I took on buyer clients and then didn’t do the work to support them. I’ve ruminated on this for a while, reflected on my own actions, and identified areas in which I can improve.

5 Lessons I’ve Learned:

1. I can’t work in as large of an area as I thought. I’m licensed in Oregon and Washington, with a focus on the Portland Metro Area (Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, and Clark Counties). Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Canby, and other exurbs are too far away and a different real estate market that I’m not an expert in.
2. I am not the perfect agent for every potential client. I am a structured person, I have very liberal/leftist/socialist political views, I am not involved in a Western religion. My clients don’t line up with me on each and every point, but this is who I am and what I believe in.

3. I need to communicate my process better to my clients. This includes scheduling appointments and house tours several days in advance. I need to qualify potential clients and see if we are a match in schedule, area, and communication.

REAL ME: VERY IMPERFECT BUT HAVING FUN!

4. I need to limit the number of active buyer clients I am working with at one time. This will ensure that I can give my clients as much attention that they deserve without overextending myself and burning out.

5. I can and will make mistakes, let people down, let myself down, and find new areas of my business and personal life to work on. This is my practice.

I welcome all feedback, the sooner I hear that I’m not meeting your expectations the better!

If you would like to share your own experience of working with me, please submit it to this link at Realtor.com or Zillow, or reply to this email with a review! These public reviews for my services are for the sole purpose of informing potential clients about the experience of working with me. I encourage every client of mine to be open and honest when speaking to my potential clients about what I have to offer. 

I also ask for direct honest feedback, constructive criticism, or other suggestions on how I can serve my clients better. It is only through the perspective of my clients that I can learn how to grow to better serve them. 

Selling Your Kitchen

A way to a buyer’s heart is through their stomach, via the kitchen! When you list and sell your home with me I will help you maximize and market the features and benefits of the kitchen. If you are going to update one space in your home before selling, the kitchen should be it! Here’s what buyers are into in 2021:

1. Stylish Countertops: waterfall edges, heavily veined marble, cool tile, concrete, butcher block: whatever the finish, make a statement!

Photo by laura adai on Unsplash

2. Dark Drama: all white and plain is not the only way to go: from black cabinets to dark blue or green, don’t be afraid to go moody.

Photo by Naomi Hébert on Unsplash

3. Statement Lighting: light up that island with bold pendants, put a sweet globe over the sink, and even lamps countertops are all great ways to spotlight this room.

Photo by Naomi Hébert on Unsplash

4. Maximalist and Minimalist Shelving: open shelving is here to stay. Keep it clean and simple with glassware or fill up those shelves with art and chachkies! Just keep your duster close by.

Photo by Naomi Hébert on Unsplash

These photos are definitely aspirational! Reach out to me today to see how I can market your kitchen, and the rest of the house, to sell in the Portland Metro Area.

Balance

Photo by Piret Ilver on Unsplash

Balance is all I want. Balance in life and work of course, but balance in the real estate market! A seller’s market is advertised as only a positive for home sellers, but there are still challenges. The statistics are starting to show that the market may be starting to even out. Balance in the real estate market would be several months of inventory, houses selling for list price on average, and stable interest rates.

Why isn’t a seller’s market all its cracked up to be? 1. Pressure on sellers to move fast in finding their next home 2. Offers contingent on another house sale (the typical sell/buy/move) are not seriously considered by sellers 3. Short/no inspection time for more buyers remorse 4. Quick buying decisions make for unhappy buyers who may move again soon without gaining much equity.

Why should we all be happy with a balanced market? 1. Long term planning for your next home 2. Time to look at houses and make thoughtful offers 3. Sellers have time to more out 4. Time for repairs and even getting contractor bids for home repairs.

I started working in real estate in 2008, heading into a strong buyer’s market. It was fun for the buyers to get a house for 20% under list price, just like it’s fun for sellers to get 20% more for their listing. Neither is sustainable and no Realtor should be happy about this unbalance in the market. I’m looking forward to having time, predictability, and options for my clients: sellers and buyers, and most often sellers and then buyers.

Statistics for the Portland Metro Area from RMLS

Summer House Selling: Roaring 20s Edition

Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash

I feel like we are going to be having a lot of fun this summer! I want The Roaring 20s, redux, but without the ‘29 crash. Selling in the summer is not usually the best time (at least in the Portland Metro Area). Buyers would rather be at the coast, picnicking, or traveling. Here are some ways that I attract amazing buyers to my listings, tailored to the Pacific Northwest vibe and #hotvaxxsummer:

1. Summer Schedule: Buyers will be busy on the weekends so I plan weekday evening Open Houses. Don’t expect big numbers to come through your open houses if you do have them on a Saturday or Sunday. Plan on lots of weekday evening showings. This might even mean going on the market earlier in the week or extending your offer deadline. Give buyers a chance to see the house!

2. Summer Party Open Houses: For the evening or weekend open houses set it up as a fun little party! Think backyard BBQ, evening soiree, or even kid's party.

3. Highlight the Outside: staging the yard, patios, and decks has become more important than staging smaller bedrooms or flexible spaces. Spend time and money making any and all of your outdoor spaces welcoming, fun, and memorable.

4. Advertise early and often! Set your open house dates and advertise them as soon as the listing is live on the market. I am judiciously using a “Coming Soon” status to build anticipation for upcoming listings. Spread the word about your home for sale through social media, yard signs, and word of mouth!

If you are thinking of selling your home this summer reach out to me now! The earlier in the process we connect and make a plan, the easier selling your home will be.

What To Do While You Wait to Buy Your Home

You’re buying a house! Yay! You know what you want to spend, how big you need, and what else is important to you. But, you aren’t quite ready to start putting in offers. What should you do? Panic? Buy even though your new job doesn't start until the fall? Spend your down payment on a vacation? No! It’s time to do some research into neighborhoods. This is the fun part!

1. Identify all the different areas you could be buying a home in. Is it just one specific neighborhood due to a school or commute? Or, are you looking in a bunch of neighborhoods, suburbs, towns, or even two different states? List or circle on a map all the areas you could end up living.

2. Drive/bike/bus/walk the areas. Have you been up and down the main street? How about the side streets. Now go deeper into the neighborhood and go into the residential areas. Find the weird streets. Find the driveway to that old mansion. Find the hidden coffee shop. Find the hidden park!

3. Shop like a local. Do your weekly pick up or shopping trip at local grocery stores. Pick up coffee or breakfast from that cute place that closes at 2pm. Find the library, find the alteration shop, find all the establishments you will be using when you move in. Pick up some take out and eat in that cute park.

4. Be there when you’ll be there. We don’t just live in our neighborhoods on Saturday mornings at 11am (a top time to see a house for sale) so what does the street and neighborhood feel like the rest of the week? As you are picking up groceries, grabbing dinner, shopping at the local nursery time your visits to be at different times and on different days of the week. An urban/downtown area like NW Portland will seem sleepy and quaint on Sunday at 9am, but Friday at 6pm it will be packed for happy hour and dinner out.

All of this research is a great way to identify which areas are really vibing for you. Give yourself time and space to feel it out. Be excited if you are eliminating areas you thought you should love or adding in areas that you thought you shouldn’t.

This time and focus will give you something to do while you wait. It also will make it so easy to say yes or no to a house. You won’t be wondering about the neighborhood,. You won’t be wondering about traffic noise. You won’t be wondering about where you will shop. You will be excited to finally move into this town that already feels like home.

Spring Has Sprung, but the Housing Supply Has Not

Do you feel like you are seeing more real estate signs than ever? Well you aren’t. You are seeing less than half (LESS THAN HALF) as we have seen in Portland in the last few years.

I’m going to keep this short and sweet.

There are less than half the amount of active listing than we saw in the Marches of 2020 and 2019.

Supply is half.

Buyers are still 100% there, now more than ever! So many people have been saving money and getting ready to make their first or second home purchase over the last year.

Are you ready to sell in one of the strongest sellers market’s we’ve seen?

Black History, Real Estate, and Oregon

Oregon has a well kept secret: extreme racism. Shining light on our history is one of the ways to dismantle the system that continues have real life consequences.

Source: Oregon Association of Realtors

Where are the Most Expensive Homes in the Portland Metro Area?

One of my Fabulous Listings in #11 neighborhood

Why do I always say Portland Metro instead of just Portland? Because we are many cities and towns spread across 2 states, and about 6 counties. We also have a Metro Government! And, most importantly, I don’t want to minimize or lump in the cities of Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Vancouver, and all the others into just Portland. Portland is it’s own city with many distinct neighborhoods. Beaverton is it’s own city with distinct neighborhoods, Lake O is the same (don’t try to confuse the Canals with Lakefront neighborhoods) and the list goes on.

On to what has made you read this far: Where in the Portland Metro Area are the most expensive houses? The Portland Business Journal compiles an annual list, and Lake Oswego and NE Portland top the list! Click through to see where your ‘hood lands!

To get a specific listing value for your home, please send me a note through Contact Beth.

Source: Portland Business Journal

Are you Zooming to a New Town?

Photo by Zachary Keimig on Unsplash

Location and Quality of Living have become the #1 focus for many people this year, and making a move to a Zoom Town is a breakout trend of 2020! What is a “Zoom Town”? Like a boom town, Zoom Towns are seeing a sudden influx of city folk and people relocating from near and far.

Places that are part of this “Zoom Boom” are mid sized cities with recreation, affordable housing, and proximity to nature. In Oregon Bend has been the shining example of such a town for a decade now, but is also seeing an even bigger boom this year than expected. Other areas that are booming include the resort town of Sunriver and parts of the Oregon Coast. In Washington state, Methow Valley is really feeling this boom and so are the San Juan Islands. Further afield in the Pacific Northwest Kelowna, British Columbia, Sandpoint, Idaho, and Bozeman, Montana, and Booming and Zooming!

Are you looking to relocate to a Zoom Town? Look out for resources that will make the work part of your new work/life balance easy: high speed internet, proximity to recreation you love, transit to you work base (planes, trains, or automobiles?), and affordability.

If you are making any real estate plans in Oregon and Washington please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’m here to answer questions, brainstorm, plan, and as a general real estate resource.

Source: OPB