Archive for the ‘Tips When Buying a Home’ Category
Thursday, February 17th, 2011
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.
(more…)
Posted in Green Homes, Home Improvement, Moving To Portland, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Tips When Buying a Home, Tips When Selling a Home | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
Starting February 1st, there will be some new rules from the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program that should help ease the pain of buying or selling a short sale in Portland. First, “Once a sales contract has been initiated, loan servicers then have 30 days to approve or reject the transaction.” This should speed up the rate at which it takes to close on a short sale. Right now there are twice as many short sale listings than bank owned listings on the active market, but there are 2-3 times as many sale pending bank owned properties than short sale properties. It’s pretty obvious what’s more attractive to buyers. Also, “Another big change: Loan servicers will no longer be restricted on paying second-lien holders, allowing them more freedom particularly when dealing with second-lien holders when borrowers owe less than $100,000. Loan servicers used to be restricted to paying second-lien holders no more than 6 percent of outstanding loan balance (with an overall limit of $6,000) in exchange for releasing subordinate liens. Second-lien holders have been another big obstacle to completing short sale transactions.” (more…)
Posted in Mortgage Rates, Moving To Portland, Portland Real Estate, Tips When Buying a Home, Tips When Selling a Home | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 5th, 2011
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.
(more…)
Posted in Green Homes, Home Improvement, Investment Information, Real Estate Tips, Tips When Buying a Home, Tips When Selling a Home | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 5th, 2011
Check out the New Overlook Real Estate Neighborhood Guide detailing the growing Overlook neighborhood in the “fifth quadrant,” North Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility and up-and-coming neighborhood atmosphere, it’s a fantastic place to live. Play with the dogs at Overlook Park while catching the sunset over the west hills across the Willamette, 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 Overlook District, check out our Overlook 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.
(more…)
Posted in Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, North Portland, Portland Real Estate, Tips When Buying a Home | No Comments »
Monday, December 27th, 2010
Check out the new Troutdale Real Estate guide and neighborhood profile detailing the city of Troutdale, Oregon, located just east of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility and small town atmosphere, it’s a fantastic place to live. Check out some of the charming and quirky shops and cafes in Historic Downtown Troutdale, catch some sun at a concert at Edgefield, or ride your bike down the charming neighborhood streets. If you’re looking for homes, apartments, or condos for sale around Troutdale or other Portland Suburbs, check out this the new new Troutdale Real Estate guide and neighborhood profile filled with the best restaurants in Troutdale, the top neighborhood events, and Troutdale history. 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.
(more…)
Posted in Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Tips When Buying a Home, Troutdale | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 21st, 2010
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.
(more…)
Posted in Green Homes, Home Improvement, Investment Information, Moving To Portland, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Tips When Buying a Home, Tips When Selling a Home | No Comments »
Monday, December 20th, 2010
Check out the new Maplewood Real Estate neighborhood guide detailing the neighborhood of Maplewood nestled in the Southwest Hills in Portland. The neighborhood is home to Maplewood Elementary and other rich neighborhood treasures that contribute to the community’s small-town feel. The winding, tree-lined streets, rolling hills, and friendly residents will fool you into thinking Maplewood 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, Maplewood is truly exceptional.
(more…)
Posted in Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, Real Estate Tips, Southwest Hills, Tips When Buying a Home | No Comments »
Friday, December 17th, 2010
Check out the new Newberg Real Estate neighborhood guide detailing the city of Newberg, Oregon,one of the best small towns located just southwest of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility, lively small-town living, and natural atmosphere, Newberg, Oregon is the best of all worlds. If you’re looking for homes for sale or other real estate in Newberg or other Portland Suburbs, check out our Newberg Real Estate neighborhood guide filled with the best restaurants in Newberg, 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 Newberg, Oregon, today!
(more…)
Posted in Neighborhoods & Areas, Newberg, Tips When Buying a Home | 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.
(more…)
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 »
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.
(more…)
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.
(more…)
Posted in Green Homes, Home Improvement, Moving To Portland, Real Estate Tips, Tips When Buying a Home, Tips When Selling a Home | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010
I have represented alot of buyers and occasionally run into the home with NO sewer system. We run across homes on cesspools, party lines, etc. but NO sewer? Yep. An appraiser or inspector isn’t necessarily going to catch it if the home drains out into the backyard.
(more…)
Tags: cesspool, deltawood, ne portland, party line, sewer scope
Posted in Bank Owned, Real Estate Tips, Tips When Buying a Home | 1 Comment »
Monday, November 22nd, 2010
We’re not going to lie, Portland can be a rainy city. This time of year, the weather gets serious, but in the true creative spirit of Portland, residents are taking the meteorological lemons and turning them into lemonade. There are many ways to harness the rainwater so common to the Pacific Northwest, saving residents money, resources, and the environment along the way. Rain gardens – garden areas set up to catch rainfall coming off of roofs – are a creative utilization of the Portland weather, easing the burden on the Portland storm-water and sewer systems, and can lead to savings on utility bills. Installing Rain Gardens and other forms of rain water capture leads to discounts in the Storm Water Management portion of your water and sewer bill! Portland was one of the first American cities to attempt to reward and educate residents about storm-water management.
(more…)
Posted in Green Homes, New Construction, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Tips When Buying a Home, Tips When Selling a Home | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 17th, 2010
Check out the new Canby Real Estate neighborhood guide detailing the city of Canby, Oregon,one of the best small towns located just southeast of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility, small-town living, and agricultural beauty of the Willamette valley, Canby, Oregon is the best of all worlds. If you’re looking for homes for sale or other real estate in Canby or other Portland Suburbs, check out our new Canby Real Estate neighborhood guide filled with the best restaurants in Canby 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.
(more…)
Posted in Announcements, Canby, Neighborhoods & Areas, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Tips When Buying a Home | No Comments »
Monday, November 8th, 2010
Check out the new North Plains Real Estate neighborhood guide detailing the city of North Plains, Oregon,one of the best small towns located just northwest of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility, small-town living, and rural atmosphere, North Plains, Oregon is the best of all worlds. If you’re looking for homes for sale or other real estate in North Plains or other Portland Suburbs, check out our new North Plains Real Estate neighborhood guide filled with the best restaurants in North Plains, the best parks, golf courses, 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.
(more…)
Posted in Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Tips When Buying a Home | No Comments »
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.
