The latest RMLS Market Action Report is out for October 2011. For two months running, closed and pending sales throughout the Portland metropolitan real estate market showed real improvements compared with the same months in 2010. Inventory is also much lower than the same time a year ago, which means the market is balancing out for sellers as well as buyers.
A big top circus tent has popped up in the Pearl district at NW 12th and Quimby! In a great use of vacant land space, the city has allowed equestrian-meets-performing-arts show Cavalia to put down stakes for a neighborhood show for the holidays. Performances began November 16, and the project has been a year in the works.
If you’re thinking of relocating to Portland, here’s a tip: Portlanders LOVE brunch. Now, we’re not an early-morning town, but there’s something about the promise of bacon, waffles, a hot cup of coffee, and poached eggs that will turn naturally sleepy folks into bounding balls of energy, willing to wait in line for an hour for brunch treats. Here are some of our favorite brunch spots to fill you up before your big house hunting search. You’re certain to find a great brunch spot close to all the homes for sale in Portland, and new ones are popping up all the time.
Portland’s Mount Tabor neighborhood is filled with historic homes for sale, and many of them have some amazing yards. Mt Tabor real estate market has some of the largest residential acreage of any neighborhood in East Portland, which is great for home buyers with kids, dogs, and big garden plans. Even the homes for sale in Mt Tabor that don’t have their own sprawling acreage have access to one of the best parks in town.
How to choose a new furnace for YOU: Here in Portland, many historical homes have outdated furnaces that stink up the house every time you use them, and replacing an old, faulty furnace is one of the necessary improvements required of homeowners after inspections. Most homes in Portland don’t have or need central air conditioning, but heat is important during our cold winters. Take control of your home heating bill by making your heating system more efficient, and you can often recoup the price of the furnace in the selling price of your home if you act early. If your furnace is very old, it’s wise not to spend money on major furnace modifications. Instead, consider buying a new energy efficient furnace that will save money on heating and air conditioning, conserve fuel, and keep your home consistently warm in winter and cool in summer.
Here at the McDonald Group Real Estate offices, we know that education is a major factor for many parents when making the decision to move or buy a home. Portland Public Schools are in the process of building and redefining its goals as a representative of a diverse community of residents and their children. New construction of schools is pending, with discussions involving charter schools, foreign language schools, and even art-focused schools that teach curriculum through music, dance, painting, theater, and literature.
According to a DataQuick study, September 2011 home sales in the Portland metro area real estate market rose more than 10% when compared to September 2010. With 2,296 new and resale homes recorded in the five-county region that encompasses Portland, Vancouver, Beaverton and surrounding communities, the September 2011 sales were up 10.2%.
Looking for a winter vacation escape in the picturesque mountains of Oregon? Mt. Hood real estate is booming, thanks to continuous redevelopment and new construction in the mountain communities. Love the winter weather? We’ve got the inside scoop on homes for sale in Mt. Hood and other winter wonderlands.
Want to help out your neighbors in need this fall? One of the reasons we here at the McDonald Group real estate offices love the Portland area is how willing our neighbors are to help others, year-round. The second annual Friends of Trees Portland Leaf Harvest will take place Thursday, Nov. 10 through Sunday, Nov. 13, when community groups will be picking up leaves at the homes of elderly and handicapped citizens who aren’t able to do it themselves.
Portland Parks and Recreation has just won the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation from Management American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and the National Recreation & Park Association. Portland’s park system began in 1852, when the city’s first parks were acquired from William W. Chapman and Daniel H. Lownsdale, and since then, the parks have become a true gem of the city.
Here’s some news coming out of Washington on the Real Estate front: The Green Party of the United States has called for an immediate nationwide moratorium on foreclosures. The political party has called for presidential and congressional steps towards halting bank seizures of American homes. (more…)
When it comes time for home inspections when you’re selling a home, the condition of your roof and gutters can mean several thousand dollars out of your pocket. This time of year, Portland roofs are bombarded with hundreds of pounds of leaves, rain, and debris from autumn storms, which puts a LOT of stress on the roof of your home. Prevent future damage and extend the life of your roof with gutter systems that stop problems before they start. Here are our picks for the top five gutter protection services available in Portland:
Some may say that Portland is the most beautiful in the summer, but we insist Bridgetown looks the best when the leaves start changing and the temperatures drop. As gorgeous as they are, Portland falls and winters can get a bit chilly–and for homeowners that means turning up the heat and dialing up the hot water heater’s thermostat to get through these beautiful months.
Ever thought about purchasing an home to rent out? Rental properties are very successful in Portland–and low prices, low interest rates, and lots of available properties in desirable areas mean this is the best market for investment real estate in over a decade. Income properties in Portland include multi-family residences (like duplexes and tri-plexes), homes with mother-in-law suites suitable for renting to tenants, and room-share options. Portlanders are among the most open in America to sharing homes with strangers–which can mean big bucks for single homeowners or empty-nesters.
Portland’s earned another big recognition from Forbes, naming our fair city as one of the Most Beautiful Downtowns in America. The list focuses on mid-sized cities with accessible downtown areas that are perfect for tourists and residents alike, and took into account factors like attractiveness, accessibility, diversity of offerings, shops, restaurants, proximity of parks and cultural options. If you ask us, residents who live in Portland and travel across her many bridges into the colorful downtown every day, Portland is definitely the most beautiful city in the country. (more…)