Archive for the ‘Real Estate Tips’ Category
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
Fred Meyer, the original Oregon superstore chain that combines a complete grocery supermarket with a drugstore, clothing store, shoe store, fine jewelers, home decor store, home improvement center, garden center, electronics store, toy store, sporting goods store and more under one roof, has been planning a location in Portland suburb Wilsonville for over 20 years. Now, residents of this charming community south of Portland along Interstate 5 has finally been given an opening date for the new shopping superstore – the 145,000 square-foot Fred Meyer will open in late July 2011, at a new 19-acre, $70 million development in Wilsonville known as Wilsonville Old Town Square. The Wilsonville Old Town Square will house the new supermarket as well as many other retail shops around the central location. Many of those retail spaces have already been leased, including a wireless store, several salons, a frozen yogurt shop, a branch of Oswego grill and a new McMenamins restaurant that will occupy a former church next to the Old Town Square development. This new shopping center will bring many new opportunities for employment and shopping to Wilsonville residents. Fred Meyer stores are throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska, but they started in Portland in the Hollywood District (the first Fred Meyer Shopping Center, located directly across from the Hollywood Theater, is now home to a Rite Aid) and come with a certain amount of Portland, Oregon area pride.
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Posted in Announcements, Neighborhoods & Areas, New Construction, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Wilsonville | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
This Saturday marks the end of the Portland Farmers’ Market’s 2010 season, so head down to the south Park Blocks in Portland’s Cultural District starting at 9 am for the best celebration of local food, music, and culture in Portland before it takes its winter break. Grab ingredients for a cozy winter meal, or just grab a cup of coffee and meet some farmers and Portland food enthusiasts. You never know, you’re likely to meet some of the most popular chefs in Portland shopping for the day’s menu!
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Posted in Downtown, Neighborhoods & Areas, Portland Activities, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips | No Comments »
Monday, December 13th, 2010
Recently, US News ranks dozens of American cities on their suitability for retirees, and Portland ranked high on the list of best places to retire for wine lovers. Portland, Oregon is located in the Willamette River Valley, one of the fastest–growing wine-regions in the world. The best thing about Portland is that, unlike some other wine-friendly rural areas, it’s a big city with access to both local wines and international wines. Where else can you travel from some of the country’s best wine bars downtown to the place where some of the best grapes are growing in less than twenty minutes? Portlanders and visitors alike frequently embark on tours of the local wine country, as many local vineyards host wine tastings and tours in their own headquarters. Just driving through the countryside on the outskirts of Portland and Portland’s suburbs is a great way to explore the beauty of the area. For beer drinkers, Portland also has a thriving microbrewery industry.
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Posted in Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, Portland Activities, Portland Landmarks, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips | No Comments »
Thursday, December 9th, 2010
This fun bit of information has been floating around on the internet today, so we here at the McDonald Group Real Estate blog thought we’d share it and try to figure out what it says about Portlanders. The top ten Google search terms by Portland residents reveal that we’re concerned about weather, public transportation, education, and sports more than anything else. Here’s the list, and what the search terms might say about people who live in this awesome city: (more…)
Posted in Moving To Portland, Portland Activities, Real Estate Tips | No Comments »
Thursday, December 9th, 2010
Check out the new Multnomah Village Real Estate neighborhood profile detailing the Multnomah Village District of Southwest Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility and small town atmosphere, it’s a fantastic place to live. Multnomah Village is one of the hippest places to live in Southwest Portland, with all the coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, and resources of an inner Southeast Portland neighborhood. There are plenty of shopping areas in the neighborhood, and great dining and entertainment opportunities. If you’re looking for homes, apartments, or condos for sale in the Multnomah Village Real Estate market, check out the Multnomah Village Real Estate neighborhood profile filled with historical facts, the best restaurants in Southwest Portland, and the top parks, 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.
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Posted in Moving To Portland, Multnomah Village, Neighborhoods & Areas, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
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.
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Posted in Investment Information, Market Report, Mt. Hood, Neighborhoods & Areas, Portland Landmarks, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Tips When Buying a Home, Tips When Selling a Home | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
Check out the new Skyline Real Estate neighborhood guide detailing the neighborhoods along Skyline Boulevard nestled in the West Hills in Portland. The neighborhood is near Forest Park and Washington Park, rich local treasures that contribute to the community’s small-town feel. The winding, tree-lined streets and friendly residents will fool you into thinking Skyline is far away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Portland, but commuters will find easy access to the commercial center of the city. Combining the best of urban accessibility and comfortable, luxury country atmosphere, Skyline is truly exceptional.
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Posted in Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, Northwest Hills, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 7th, 2010
Check out the New Cathedral Park Real Estate Neighborhood Guide detailing the charming Cathedral Park neighborhood in the “fifth quadrant,” North Portland. The neighborhood lies across the Willamette River from Northwest Portland, separated by the gorgeous St. Johns Bridge. The Cathedral Park neighborhood is proud of its community where homes are affordable and friendships are strong. Combining the best of urban accessibility and small town atmosphere, it’s a fantastic place to live. If you’re looking for homes, apartments, or condos for sale around the Cathedral Park neighborhood, check out our Cathedral Park Real Estate Neighborhood Guide filled with interesting historical facts, the best restaurants in North Portland, and the top parks 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.
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Posted in Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, North Portland, Portland Landmarks, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, St Johns | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 7th, 2010
The City of Portland is in the midst of detailing extensive plans for the development of the city over the next 25 years, known as the Portland Plan. The project – headed by the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability – is focused on energy use, Portland real estate development, community input, and neighborhood resources, and one of the primary goals of the plan is to increase walkability of the majority of Portland neighborhoods. The goal of the 20-minute Neighborhood is to provide walkable, fast access to necessities like groceries and coffee (a necessity in Portland!) to everyone in Portland. As part of this concept, the Portland Plan committee released a “heat map” of Portland (get a PDF of the heat map here), showing areas of easiest accessibility via walking and biking. The “hottest” areas, shown in orange, yellow, and white, represent neighborhoods with walkable access from residential real estate to commercial services like grocery stores, restaurants, and local small businesses. These walkable areas, like much of Southeast Portland and a good percentage of North Portland real estate, are characterized by quality sidewalks, high street connectivity and gridded streets, and generally accessible topography.
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Posted in Inner SE Portland, Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, North Portland, Portland Activities, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 7th, 2010
Check out the New Bridgeton Real Estate Neighborhood Guide detailing the charming Bridgeton marine neighborhood in the “fifth quadrant,” North Portland. The neighborhood lies across the North Portland Harbor from Hayden Island, and is proud of its community where homes are affordable and friendships are strong. Combining the best of urban accessibility and small town atmosphere, it’s a fantastic place to live. Bridgeton home styles include several floating home moorages, boat marinas, high and low rise condominiums, upscale apartments complexes, row houses, and single-family homes. If you’re looking for homes, apartments, or condos for sale around the Bridgeton neighborhood, check out our New Bridgeton Real Estate Neighborhood Guide filled with interesting historical facts, the best restaurants in North Portland, and the top parks 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.
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Posted in Hayden Island, Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, North Portland, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips | No Comments »
Friday, December 3rd, 2010
Check out the new Sabin real estate neighborhood guide detailing the neighborhood of Sabin in Northeast Portland, filled with quirky culture, classic Old Portland homes, and some of the best dining and shopping in town. The Sabin neighborhood is classic and proud, and provides easy commuting access to all of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility and comfortable, small-neighborhood atmosphere, Sabin Real Estate is quintessential Portland.
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Posted in Northeast Portland, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010
Check out the New University Park Real Estate Neighborhood Guide detailing the charming University Park neighborhood in the “fifth quadrant,” North Portland. The neighborhood surrounds the historic University of Portland, and the area is bursting with youthful energy and up-and-coming development, where homes are affordable and community is strong. Combining the best of urban accessibility and small town atmosphere, it’s a fantastic place to live. If you’re looking for homes, apartments, or condos for sale around the University Park District, check out our University Park Real Estate Neighborhood Guide filled with interesting historical facts, the best restaurants in North Portland, and the top parks 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.
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Posted in Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, North Portland, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Tips When Buying a Home, Tips When Selling a Home | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010
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.
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Posted in Green Homes, Home Improvement, Moving To Portland, Real Estate Tips, Tips When Buying a Home, Tips When Selling a Home | No Comments »
Monday, November 29th, 2010
Check out the new Sullivan’s Gulch real estate neighborhood guide detailing the neighborhood of Sullivan’s Gulch in Northeast Portland, filled with quirky culture, classic Old Portland homes, and some of the best dining and shopping in town. The Sullivan’s Gulch neighborhood is classic and proud, and provides easy commuting access to all of Portland via the Banfield Freeway. Combining the best of urban accessibility and comfortable, small-neighborhood atmosphere, Sullivan’s Gulch is quintessential Portland.
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Posted in Moving To Portland, Portland Activities, Portland Landmarks, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Sullivan's Gulch | No Comments »
Monday, November 29th, 2010
Check out the New Arbor Lodge Real Estate Neighborhood Guide detailing the charming Arbor Lodge neighborhood in the “fifth quadrant,” North Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility and small town atmosphere, it’s a fantastic place to live. Walk your dog in one of the beautiful, lush parks, visit the Interstate Farmers’ Market for the best local produce, or take a trip to the Portland International Raceway for a NASCAR Night. If you’re looking for homes, apartments, or condos for sale around the Arbor Lodge District, check out our Arbor Lodge Real Estate Neighborhood Guide filled with tons of interesting historical facts, the best restaurants in North Portland, and the top parks 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.
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Posted in Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, North Portland, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips | No Comments »
