This year we’ve seen several major trends rock the real estate market here in Portland, and for the next week we’ll be looking back at the big real estate trends and concepts that have made 2011 a great year for the McDonald Group Portland Real Estate experts. Next up, the trend of kitchens being a deciding factor for homeowners.

Once upon a time, a grand entrance or number of bathrooms could sell a house in no time, but what we’re seeing among Portland homeowners this year is a large amount of attention to kitchens. Of all the rooms in a house, buyers spend the most time examining kitchens. Smart, functional, and efficient modern kitchens can make an older house look as though it does not need any improvments, and features like pantries, workstations and eating space have become very important to buyers. What’s in store for 2012? We’ll likely see an increased focus on the kitchen, just as we are seeing an increase in dining at home.

Thinking about selling your house in the Portland real estate market and want to improve your kitchen? Appliances and cabinets are typically the most expensive items to replace in a kitchen. If you don’t have to replace them, you’ll save a ton of money. However, if your cabinets are dated and beat-up, your house might not sell if the cabinets aren’t replaced. Kitchen remodels return nearly 100%. According to Remodeling Magazine, the high-end kitchens don’t return as much as the mid-range or minor kitchen remodels. Most buyers won’t pay extra for a built-in Sub Zero refrigerator, professional 8-burner stove, undermount sink or travertine floors.

Interested in buying a remodeled home in Portland with a great kitchen? Portland is an international leader in sustainable and green renovation, with more alternative energy upgrades and innovative, money-saving tools and techniques being developed every year. Contact the McDonald Group Realtors today for information on renovated homes and condos for sale in Oregon and Portland featuring a rich history, investigate new construction inspired by classic Northwest architecture, or find the perfect fixer-upper home to help aid in the preservation of our area’s past–and create the kitchen of your dreams.

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YourRoadMapToHome.com is your resource for McDonald Group Realtors, Portland’s premiere real estate agents. Find new construction, foreclosure/short-sell updates and Portland neighborhood info, as well as search properties easily here.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 27th, 2011 at 12:03 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.