Get ready for more big news from the McDonald Group Realtors! We’re pleased to announce a new project in the works from the real estate dream team of TA Liesy Homes NW and The McDonald Group Realtors. Fresh off the continuing success of the Cascadia Ridge community in Estacada, the phenomenal Tom Liesy of TA Liesy Homes Northwest is building gorgeous homes in Sunrise Heights, just minutes from Portland in Happy Valley!
Admit it, you’re interested in Portland. There’s something about these streets, the creative energy, the great food (Portland was just named “America’s new food Eden” by TIME magazine), that is drawing people in by the thousands to see what the buzz is about. It won’t be a secret much longer, but the Portland real estate market is ripe for a renaissance – so why not jump on the bandwagon before prices start climbing again? If you’re interested in visiting Portland to check out the amazing homes for sale in Oregon, this winter could be the ideal time. Travel Portland and Expedia have teamed up to offer some ridiculously good deals for travel to Portland this winter. Check out these great travel deals, then contact the McDonald Group real estate experts to set up a tour of homes for sale in Portland during your exploration of the great Northwest.
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.
If you’re thinking of relocating to Portland, you may be interested in what areas are up-and-coming, which are still diamonds in the rough, and which are well established. In the latter category, Portland has its fair share of ritzy neighborhoods, though not all of them are the kind of high-end you’d expect. New statistics out this week from the ESRI 2010 Demographic Data and Tapestry Segmentation rank Portland’s most desirable and wealthy neighborhoods, by using data on household income, home value, per capita income, and “lifestyle.” Using demographic data and spending reports, the ESRI provides a snap-shot of the tastes of the community of several popular areas. The rankings were released with some catchy new Portland neighborhood and metro-area buzz-words, including:
The more Portland real estate listings we see here at the McDonald Group, the more we realize this is the perfect time for real estate investment in Portland. Houses that were once out of the price range of most buyers are now incredibly accessible, with record-low interest rates and motivated sellers. A report out today from national commercial real estate firm Grubb & Ellis has ranked Portland in the top 10 cities in the U.S. for investment opportunities over the next five years in the office, retail and industrial real estate markets. We agree, there are tons of opportunities for Portland to grow and grow, in both commercial and residential real estate. It’s exciting to see commercial areas thriving in up-and-coming Portland neighborhoods, and we can certainly see that Portland is also ripe for residential real estate investment.
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.
Check out the new Arlington Heights Real Estate neighborhood guide detailing the historic and luxurious neighborhood of Arlington Heights nestled in the Northwest Hills in Portland. Homes for sale in Arlington Heights have become drastically more affordable in the recent shifts in the Portland real estate market, so now is the ideal time to catch your dream home 1000 feet above the city. The neighborhood is near Forest Park, Pittock Mansion (pictured at right) and Washington Park, rich local treasures that contribute to the community’s historic, old-Portland feel. The winding, tree-lined streets and friendly residents will fool you into thinking Arlington Heights is far away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Portland, but commuters will find easy 5-minute access to the commercial center of the city, and the view of the city skyline and Mt Hood will tall you exactly where you are. Combining the best of urban accessibility and comfortable, luxury atmosphere, Arlington Heights is truly exceptional.
Check out the new Aloha real estate neighborhood profile detailing the community of Aloha located in the “silicon forest” just west of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility and affordable, comfortable suburban atmosphere, Aloha is the best of all worlds. If you’re looking for homes, apartments, or other real estate in Aloha or other Portland Suburbs, check out the McDonald Group Aloha real estate neighborhood profile filled with the best restaurants in Aloha, the top shopping, and neighborhood resources. 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.
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.
Check out the newly updated Happy Valley Real Estate neighborhood profile detailing the city of Happy Valley, just southeast of Portland, filled with gorgeous parks and nature trails, authentic restaurants, spacious – and affordable! – new construction homes, and some of the best neighborhood pride in town. The City of Happy Valley is full of charm and community, as well as some of the best views of the Portland area. Happy Valley real estate is very close to the I-205 freeway, providing easy access for commuters. Combining the best of urban accessibility and comfortable, small-neighborhood, rural atmosphere, the Happy Valley real estate market provides some of the best investment opportunities around.
This time of year, many people dream of owning their own piece of land in the mountains to fully enjoy the sights and snows of winter. Mt. Hood real estate is booming, thanks to continuous redevelopment and new construction in the mountain communities. We’ve got the inside scoop on homes for sale in Mt. Hood and other winter wonderlands. Many cabins, winter homes, and ski chalets in the mountain towns are very inexpensive and can provide the perfect getaway in these magical winter months. However, one important thing to remember when considering buying Mt. Hood area homes for sale is new regulations that started in 2007 that changed the way the US Forest Service appraises the value of forest land, which can impact fees on existing cabin and ski properties within forest land. Under the new system, the Forest Service charges fees based on private real estate market value of the land, although the owners of properties on public forest land are not granted all of the privileges of cabin owners on private land. Currently, Congress is being asked to put a moratorium on the fees for 2010, as it did for 2009, to prevent the controversial fees from being implemented for another year. Mt. Hood real estate is still a great investment, but new legislation may impact the annual payments for properties, depending on the status of the land.
Check out the new Sherwood Real Estate neighborhood guide detailing the city of Sherwood, Oregon,one of the best small towns located just southwest of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility, small-town living, and rural atmosphere, Sherwood, Oregon is the best of all worlds. If you’re looking for homes for sale or other real estate in Sherwood or other Portland Suburbs, check out our new Sherwood Real Estate neighborhood guide filled with the best restaurants in Sherwood, the best parks and green spaces, as well as city events and neighborhood resources. 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. Contact the McDonald Group realtors to find out about homes for sale in Sherwood, Oregon, today!
Yesterday, Monday October 11, The Oregon Business Development Commision informed Clackamas County officials that the state has approved the County’s plan to create “strategic investment zones,” which will offer 15-year tax abatements for large companies that establish headquarters within county lines. Clackamas County is comprised of many growing cities within the umbrella of McDonald Group real estate areas, including West Linn, Welches, Tualatin, Estacada, Gladstone, Government Camp, Happy Valley, Lake Oswego, Oregon City, Sandy, the villages of the Mt. Hood corridor (Mt. Hood Area Real Estate Guide), and the city of Clackamas. Businesses that choose to relocate to Clackamas County will find sweeping benefits on Clackamas real estate within these investment zones that are slated to cover over 900 acres of potential new construction and redevelopment. In exchange of these large-scale tax benefits, companies will give back to the county through the creation of new jobs, donations to community service, and the establishment of Clackamas County as a strong player in the national manufacturing and trade stage.
Last week, Oregon received an additional $82.7 million from the federal TARP fund, adding to the previous allotments of $137.3 million, bringing the state total relief fund for homeowners threatened by foreclosure to around $220 million. The state is working to find the best use of this federal relief money in order to help the over 8,400 homeowners facing pre-foreclosure process. Relief for many homeowners could come as soon as December, though the means of this assistance is still unclear – state officials are working with several models of relief programs designed by Oregon Housing and Community Services.
This weekend, the McDonald Group Realtors are taking part in an amazing auction opportunity – 30 choice homes in a community of 84 condos in Hayden Island are up on the block and we’re throwing our hat in. The Waterside condominiums are amazing – combining helpful amenities, like a private marina and a beautifully landscaped courtyard, with all the comforts of single-family home living, including 10-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, custom finishes and state-of-the-art appliances. If you’re looking for a room with a view, we want to help you find your perfect Portland river-front home.
