Although most of the national media coverage of the Rose City focuses on innovation (like food carts, green energy, and high-tech public transportation) Portland is also full of quirky places with a lot of history. One of our favorite spots is Buck’s Stove Palace at 6803 SE Foster Road in the Foster Powell neighborhood. This neighborhood gem is a veritable museum of classic wood stoves, antique heaters, and cook-stoves, and has been a vital part of the community for decades.
Although most of the national media coverage of the Rose City focuses on innovation (like food carts, green energy, and high-tech public transportation) Portland is also full of quirky places with a lot of history. One of our favorite spots is Buck’s Stove Palace at 6803 SE Foster Road in the Foster Powell neighborhood. This neighborhood gem is a veritable museum of classic wood stoves, antique heaters, and cookstoves, and has been a vital part of the community for decades. Having been in business since 1974 and with over 35 years of experience there isn’t anything Buck and his team can’t do, find or replace! Whether you’re looking to buy a new woodstove or simply need a replacement part, Buck’s has what you need and will deliver it with a smile. The shop also features the largest collection of antique stoves on the west coast.
The sun was out in full force today – up and down Hawthorne Boulevard groups of people in shorts, sandals, and happy dogs on leashes paraded and soaked up the light. Such warm temperatures have us here at the McDonald Group real estate blog looking forward to spring gardening, and making the plans and taking the necessary steps this early in the season to ensure a healthy, thriving garden throughout the year. Portland gardens tend to grow wild over the winter, so we’re looking forward to seeing everyone out in the yard, cleaning up the cool-weather ground cover and looking towards summer. Here are a few steps for jump-starting your garden early in Spring, and take advantage of the amazing sunlight that will be hitting this weekend in Portland! (more…)
Just a quick reminder: The Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland‘s annual Tour of Remodeled Homes is happening this weekend, March 12-1, 2011 from 10 to 5. Only $17.50 for both days, tickets can be purchased online or by calling 503-684-1880. This event is a great way to get inspired to remodel your next home in Portland, or to make your current house ready to be a successful sale in the Portland Real Estate Market.
Here at the McDonald Group, we talk to a lot of people who would like to add solar energy to their homes but aren’t sure where to start. Next month, Northwest Portland residents interested in renovating their homes with solar technology can learn more about the process with free workshops and question and answer sessions organized by Solarize Northwest, a project formed by the Neighbors West-Northwest Coalition. At the Solarize Northwest workshops, the coalition is able to provide residents with estimates and tips for Portland-area solar installation. The contracted solar supplier will also visit houses of interested residents for free site estimates. Those interested in taking part in the program must sign up for a site estimate by March 31.
Ever looked outside on a rainy day and thought about capturing some of that water to use later? One local business, Portland Purple Water, is hoping to make that idea a widespread reality by installing rainwater collection devices for homes and businesses in Portland. At their most basic, rain barrels are simple rainwater collectors that capture and store a portion of the runoff from a roof downspout. Stored water can be used for non-potable purposes such as irrigating lawns, washing cars, or flushing toilets. Harvesting rainwater can lower your water bill, save energy and reduce demand on Portland’s drinking water systems.
We love this event! The Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland has announced the 2011 Tour of Remodeled Homes, an annual event that will tour 15 projects from innovative historic home remodels, vintage bungalow rejuvenations and a mid-century modern ranch. The show is March 12-13, and tickets are only $17.50. Sign up today to get great ideas for your own home, and you might be inspired to start searching the Portland Real Estate market for your next fixer-upper!
If you live in Gresham, you’re eligibly for a FREE in-home water and energy evaluation. The city of Gresham is teaming up with Energy Trust of Oregon (who Gresham water customers are eligible for a free in-home water and energy assessment, thanks to the city and the Energy Trust of Oregon. Scheduling a free two-hour review of your home’s energy and water use from Energy Trust of Oregon can drastically cut down on your utility bills and save natural resources – up to 60 percent of energy used to heat and cool homes can be lost due to leaky ducts, inefficient equipment, poor insulation and air leaks, problems you may not know you have.
Check out the new Cornelius real estate neighborhood profile detailing the community of Cornelius – “Oregon’s Family Town” - just west of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility and affordable, historical small-town comfort, Cornelius is the best of all worlds. Cornelius is a nature-lover’s haven, with nine city parks
and great fishing, sailing, swimming, bicycling, hiking and picnicking at nearby Henry Hagg Lake. If you’re looking for homes, apartments, or other real estate in Cornelius or other Portland Suburbs, check out the McDonald Group Cornelius real estate neighborhood profile. Relocating to a new area can be hard, but it’s a lot easier when you’ve got the best real estate agents in Portland on your side.
Thanks to new regulations that took effect on New Year’s Day, Oregonians can now take advantage of lease offers from contractors to install solar panels and eliminate upfront costs. The Portland branch of SolarCity, a major national solar company providing residential solar panels, announced a lease program today that will allow Portland area homeowners and residents of the entire state of Oregon to install alternative-energy solar panels for low monthly payments. This new lease program allows homeowners to enjoy the energy-bill slashing qualities of solar instantly, rather than waiting for the payoff on the initial investment to kick in after a few years. If you’re buying a home in Portland, renovating a historic home, selling your home and looking for ways to make it competitive in the Portland real estate market, or just looking for ways to update your home and reduce your carbon footprint, this new deal is definitely worth a second look.
Everyone loves a home with mature, beautiful trees, but how much value does greenery add to homes for sale? As covered in a recent article published in Nursery Magazine, new research from the Pacific Northwest Research Station determined specific dollar values for neighborhood trees in Portland. This is great news for those of us that treasure the trees and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, resources that can often be placed second to new construction and development. The main factors considered in determining these dollar values were “environmental and social amenities” including cleaner air, moderated storm runoff, reduction of environmental CO2, elevated property values, reduced heating and cooling costs, and improved human health. Similar studies in New York City determined that the five boroughs’ 600,000 street trees provide a financial benefit of $122 million a year, which totals more than five times the cost of maintaining them, but the Portland housing study is one of the first to look at the value of street trees on the Portland real estate market.
For most people in Portland, the coldest months mean higher utility bills, but there are steps you can take to prevent your energy and heating costs from skyrocketing this winter. In this age of high-end sustainable renovations, high-profile LEED certifications, and the seemingly never-ending marketing of the next popular Energy Star kitchen or home appliance, it sometimes feels like you need to spend a lot of money in order to cut back on energy use and save money. However, like many things in life, small changes can add up to a big difference, and some of the most important adjustments you can make in your home are downright cheap – leading to big savings this winter.
Lake County – also called “Oregon’s Outback” – sits in the Southeastern quadrant of Oregon state. A high desert region known for its cattle ranches, timber holdings, and the eponymous lakes, it is one of the largest and least populated areas in the region, and it’s about to get a lot more attention. After last week’s announcement of funding approval, Lake County will add “Major Producer of Oregon’s Solar Power” to its list of notable features. Element Power LLC, a solar contractor based out of Southwest Portland, received a permit from the Lake County Planning Commission for what will be the largest utility solar installation in Oregon in Christmas Valley in Lake County.
Every year, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy releases their rankings of the most energy efficient states in America, and Oregon stepped up from last year’s fourth place ranking to nab the third place slot. It’s no secret that Oregon ranks among the best in therms of Sustainable Energy technology and alternative energy resources, but it’s heartening to see that Oregonians are also topping the list of efficient use of traditional energy sources. While solar, wind, and hydro electric technologies might change the direction of energy use in the future, smart use of existing resources is an immediate and significant way to proceed and preserve what we have. Many homeowners and business owners in Oregon are responsible for scaling back energy use, a move which saves money, resources, and creates a more efficient economy. The Portland Real Estate Market is loaded with homes for sale, and the most competitive homes for sale in Portland are those with energy efficient and green upgrades.
Here at the McDonald Group Real Estate Blog, we’re always looking for Portlanders and Oregonians getting creative with new construction in real estate – especially when it involves sustainable recycling and green renovation. We just heard of an awesome project in Portland’s Old Town and thought we’d share it with you. Because real estate development space in Portland is limited due to our urban growth boundaries, renovated spaces and new development often take the place of damaged or dangerous buildings. This process has led to the renewal of areas throughout Portland, and it’s been fascinating to witness the gradual polishing of industrial areas and undeveloped parking spaces into creative use of space for both residential and commercial improvements. One of these projects will take place in Portland’s Old Town/Chinatown district, where to West Hotel will be demolished to make room for the new Macdonald Center, a 42-unit apartment and outreach center that will provide housing to Old Town’s neediest residents on NW Sixth between Couch and Davis. The project will begin construction early next year, and will feature sustainable re-use of the West Hotel’s facade, materials, and structural elements.