tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4605021343494988562024-03-12T20:30:55.901-07:00Leslie Jones' BlogAll things Portland, with a bit of focus on real estate.Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.comBlogger290125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-20707273333619946672023-04-28T13:26:00.002-07:002023-04-28T13:26:40.134-07:00The Olympia area for a day<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">We started at the <a href="https://www.fws.gov/refuge/billy-frank-jr-nisqually " target="_blank">Nisqually Wildlife Refuge</a>. It is a stunning natural oasis located in Olympia, Washington. The refuge is named after Billy Frank Jr., a famous Native American activist who dedicated his life to preserving the environment and the rights of his people. This refuge is a testament to his legacy and is one of the most beautiful and ecologically diverse areas in the Pacific Northwest.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLtGdKom_CSkk6Irz8qe7XTIrQmLuBnWjM1PI3nXXPd99sLcE4lQ1DnhJ2VU-F3QNrtqJ44IUqF0QhyM5q4oLzdqGLYgglwRQuk-vj2slT2uBkyiRkRvxl5t-y-rELbOVDYZE54nwvyJe3DL8PVYpf8W1DhztXhqumt3ziDN_3avautppjoEJQf3LxQ/s600/54C8E401-14BE-469F-9DFC-A7A9FE86543F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLtGdKom_CSkk6Irz8qe7XTIrQmLuBnWjM1PI3nXXPd99sLcE4lQ1DnhJ2VU-F3QNrtqJ44IUqF0QhyM5q4oLzdqGLYgglwRQuk-vj2slT2uBkyiRkRvxl5t-y-rELbOVDYZE54nwvyJe3DL8PVYpf8W1DhztXhqumt3ziDN_3avautppjoEJQf3LxQ/s320/54C8E401-14BE-469F-9DFC-A7A9FE86543F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>One of the unique features of the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is that it is co-managed by several different entities, including the Nisqually Indian Tribe, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This collaboration is significant because it recognizes the important role that the Nisqually Tribe has played in the region for thousands of years.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0v8zug12GDySeTkOK-naONTLoC_dHxbcGAJSS7h0bjHZDY0DrIPZyWkQoJl_JyEhEDqBOUDFHRy2iGUPDZ2fgA9WIl-1EdfNV_IFl7qgtFiivpbA_zGb4L2YyyZMnCdyZTVp2nn5hf3pr5vPr0n7WGc_LDumWDpF09GqVv2kycowa4iYAWqAJoxdog/s1200/E94859BA-399C-41E2-A5A4-86B49873FE03.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="1200" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0v8zug12GDySeTkOK-naONTLoC_dHxbcGAJSS7h0bjHZDY0DrIPZyWkQoJl_JyEhEDqBOUDFHRy2iGUPDZ2fgA9WIl-1EdfNV_IFl7qgtFiivpbA_zGb4L2YyyZMnCdyZTVp2nn5hf3pr5vPr0n7WGc_LDumWDpF09GqVv2kycowa4iYAWqAJoxdog/s320/E94859BA-399C-41E2-A5A4-86B49873FE03.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">Visiting the refuge is a truly awe-inspiring experience. The wetlands and estuaries made me feel so connected to the natural world that the Nisqually people have had for generations. The refuge is home to over 300 species of birds, including bald eagles, herons, and sandpipers, as well as countless other animals such as otters, beavers, and deer. We saw two eagles, a few turtles, a gorgeous Heron, adorable barn swallows and soooo many Canadian Geese.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">One of the most popular attractions in the refuge is the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail, which offers visitors a chance to experience the unique ecosystem of the estuary up close. This trail winds through the tidal marsh and mudflats and provides breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding landscape.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">Parking can be in short supply, so plan accordingly. The visitor’s center has restrooms, a small gift shop, information and an interpretive center. There are also port-a-potties by the lovey old barns. The boardwalk paths are quite exposed, so dress accordingly for both hot and cold weather.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">From the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, we headed into Olympia, to the <a href="https://www.olympiafarmersmarket.com " target="_blank">Farmer’s Market</a>. Well located, by the port, there is ample parking. For. Smaller market the variety was a pleasant surprise. While the season is early (or winter is sticking around so long) fresh fruits and veggies were in short supply; apples and luscious greens. But soo many tulips, along with other flora. Yard art, jewelry, soaps, honey, cured meats, fish counter and so on. In addition , there are several permanent food carts. We enjoyed some light fare from the Greek Deli.</p><br /><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmnV5BUIRyDwdXkp3Hy4bo4pVLPrT4T09KwGIj9E7t_5HxzXYtSnG8bijJ_r-36boBhwKXlosZdbWgHfjUmXb2CWjh4wMl60tTMwIvDHpM897RK3OxhgL-xy8N8LF2Bui5bwsZpvTC4iYJzE6sJVI_RAUcsYFQn8YiXOcV1whhInuout8tXeIX1BjNA/s1334/9C29E882-E113-4EFC-B98F-6EC595C43126.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1334" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmnV5BUIRyDwdXkp3Hy4bo4pVLPrT4T09KwGIj9E7t_5HxzXYtSnG8bijJ_r-36boBhwKXlosZdbWgHfjUmXb2CWjh4wMl60tTMwIvDHpM897RK3OxhgL-xy8N8LF2Bui5bwsZpvTC4iYJzE6sJVI_RAUcsYFQn8YiXOcV1whhInuout8tXeIX1BjNA/s320/9C29E882-E113-4EFC-B98F-6EC595C43126.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">We ended our day with dinner at <a href="https://www.anthonys.com/restaurant/anthonys-homeport-olympia/ " target="_blank">Anthony’s Home Front</a>. Every table and booth had a nice view of the waterfront. As it is “prom season” we enjoyed watching all the prom photo shoots. Tempura Prawns were yummy. Rhubarb must be in season as there were an assortment of rhubarb cocktails and desserts.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">Olympia has a lot of beautiful waterfront property, with lovely views. Our company has recently expanded into the Olympia area. While I'm not licensed to practice real estate in Washington, I can absolutely connect you with an agent in Olympia. </p><br /><br />Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-55636743970232724452023-04-12T13:46:00.001-07:002023-04-12T13:46:09.210-07:00Perspective on the recent inflation data from our in-house lender<div class="WordSection1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; page: WordSection1;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">Hello All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">Wanted to give a quick update on how the inflation data (CPI) is impacting market this morning. CPI data came in lower than forecasted and the market has taken that to signal that inflation may be moving in the right direction which is good thing for rates. If you’re interested in some further light reading on the subject:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/view-us-march-cpi-comes-cool-side-2023-04-12/" style="color: #0563c1;" title="https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/view-us-march-cpi-comes-cool-side-2023-04-12/">https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/view-us-march-cpi-comes-cool-side-2023-04-12/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">The net result to rates so far this morning has not resulted in much change, but it is quite significant in the sense that we clear a hurdle that “might” have significantly raised rates. Rates are currently at:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 0.1pt; width: 207px;"><tbody><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59pt;" valign="bottom" width="79"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">Program<o:p></o:p></p></td><td colspan="2" nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 96pt;" valign="bottom" width="128"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">Rates<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59pt;" valign="bottom" width="79"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 50.9pt;" valign="bottom" width="68"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">0 points<o:p></o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="60"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">1 point<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59pt;" valign="bottom" width="79"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">30 yr<o:p></o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 50.9pt;" valign="bottom" width="68"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">5.99<o:p></o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="60"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">5.75<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59pt;" valign="bottom" width="79"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">15 yr<o:p></o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 50.9pt;" valign="bottom" width="68"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">5.99<o:p></o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="60"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">5.5<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59pt;" valign="bottom" width="79"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">Jumbo 30<o:p></o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 50.9pt;" valign="bottom" width="68"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">6.25<o:p></o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="60"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">6<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59pt;" valign="bottom" width="79"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">VA<o:p></o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 50.9pt;" valign="bottom" width="68"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">5.75<o:p></o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="60"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">5.5<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59pt;" valign="bottom" width="79"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">FHA<o:p></o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 50.9pt;" valign="bottom" width="68"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">5.75<o:p></o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="60"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">5.5<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 59pt;" valign="bottom" width="79"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">10/6 Arm<o:p></o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 50.9pt;" valign="bottom" width="68"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">6.25<o:p></o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="60"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">5.25<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><i>Note: these rates are for informational purposes only, Rates will vary with specific financial information of both borrower and property.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">I do also want to highlight the 1 point buydown option on the 10/6 ARM. This would be a niche offering but is 10 yrs fixed rate at 5.25% so might be something of high appeal to the right customer. Moreover, buydowns right now have been yielding some very appealing options (breakeven in very low number of months…meaning the monthly savings divided by the cost of the buydown pays off quickly…I have seen several instances in the 2 month area in the last few weeks). I mention this because when buydowns breakeven are this low it rarely makes sense to not take advantage of. Of course I’ll be happy to have these conversations with your clients but wanted to put on your radar also.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">Hope everyone is enjoying there day. Anything I can do to assist let me know.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #363636; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; max-width: 472px; text-indent: 0px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><tbody><tr><td> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #323232; white-space: nowrap !important;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #323232; line-height: 16px; white-space: nowrap !important; width: 472px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="padding: 0px 0px 8px;" valign="middle" width="128"><p style="line-height: 0px; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" height="auto" src="https://cloud.cmgfi.com/dvbdysuf5/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,g_faces,c_thumb,w_200,h_200,z_0.5,r_max,bo_3px_solid_rgb:d3d3d3/CMG_Web_Resources/LO_Images/Production_7335_Johan_Nielsen?inline=1" style="border-radius: 0px; border: 0px; display: block;" width="112" /></p></td><td style="padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="336"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #323232; line-height: 16px; white-space: nowrap !important; width: 336px;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: nowrap !important; width: 336px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 8px;" valign="bottom" width="228"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: nowrap !important; width: 228px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0px;" valign="top"><p style="color: #118890; font-family: Kadwa, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; margin: 0pt;">Johan Nielsen</p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 0px;" valign="top"><p style="color: #2a343e; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0pt;">Loan Officer</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 14px 0px 0px 8px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: nowrap !important;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px;" valign="middle" width="8"><p style="line-height: 0px; margin: 0pt;"><img alt="alt" height="auto" src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/d405cf3b-5498-4ee4-a378-36433c1b6891" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="8" /></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><p style="font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 16px; margin: 0pt;"><a href="mailto:johan.n@cmghomeloans.com" style="color: #2a343e; text-decoration: none;" title="mailto:johan.n@cmghomeloans.com">johan.n@cmghomeloans.com</a></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 2px 0px 0px 8px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: nowrap !important; width: 336px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: nowrap !important;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-right: 5px;" valign="middle" width="8"><p style="line-height: 0px; margin: 0pt;"><img alt="alt" height="auto" src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/6ebafc0a-ca40-4076-840a-8edecca11425" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="8" /></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><p style="color: #2a343e; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 16px; margin: 0pt; padding-right: 3px;"><a href="tel:(971) 710-3553" style="color: #2a343e; text-decoration: none;" title="tel:(971) 710-3553">(971) 710-3553</a></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 12px 0px 0px 8px;"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: nowrap !important; width: 336px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="middle"><p style="font-family: "Museo Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0pt;"><a href="https://my.cmghomeloans.com/dr/c/vhgbd" style="color: #34a4ac; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.5px;" title="https://my.cmghomeloans.com/dr/c/vhgbd">APPLY NOW</a> <span style="color: #a59c95;">|</span> <a href="https://www.cmgfi.com/mysite/Johan-Nielsen" style="color: #34a4ac; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.5px;" title="https://www.cmgfi.com/mysite/Johan-Nielsen">MYSITE</a> <span style="color: #a59c95;">|</span> <a href="https://securetransfer.cmgfi.com/johan.n/transfer" style="color: #34a4ac; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0.5px;" title="https://securetransfer.cmgfi.com/johan.n/transfer">DOC UPLOAD</a></p></td><td align="right" valign="middle"><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: nowrap !important;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-left: 0px;" valign="middle" width="18"><p style="margin: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/cmg-financial-services" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank" title="https://www.linkedin.com/company/cmg-financial-services"><img alt="alt" height="18" src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/e667e5fe-97a7-4acd-945c-35d7e86c036d" style="border: 0px;" width="18" /></a></p></td><td style="padding-left: 8px;" valign="middle" width="14"><p style="margin: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CMGHomeLoans/" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank" title="https://www.facebook.com/CMGHomeLoans/"><img alt="alt" height="18" src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/da7bcba2-a70c-4000-bf56-f5ef2aa69c2a" style="border: 0px;" width="18" /></a></p></td><td style="padding-left: 8px;" valign="middle" width="17"><p style="margin: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cmghomeloans/" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank" title="https://www.instagram.com/cmghomeloans/"><img alt="alt" height="18" src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/8fd912ca-29d4-45b6-883c-542b4e8d38c1" style="border: 0px;" width="18" /></a></p></td><td style="padding-left: 8px;" valign="middle" width="18"><p style="margin: 0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/cmgfi" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank" title="https://twitter.com/cmgfi"><img alt="alt" height="18" src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/2c6d788a-20ec-4ee7-9473-284dc9438eb2" style="border: 0px;" width="18" /></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 8px 0px 0px 8px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: nowrap !important; width: 336px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top"><p style="color: #a59c95; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9px; margin: 0pt;"><a href="https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/INDIVIDUAL/21531" style="color: #a59c95;" title="https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/INDIVIDUAL/21531">NMLS# 21531</a> | <a href="https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/BRANCH/2006997" style="color: #a59c95;" title="https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/BRANCH/2006997">BRANCH NMLS# 2006997</a> | <a href="https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/COMPANY/1820" style="color: #a59c95;" title="https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/COMPANY/1820">CORPORATE NMLS# 1820</a></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #323232; white-space: nowrap !important; width: 472px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#2A343E" style="background-color: #2a343e;" valign="middle" width="128"><p style="line-height: 0px; margin: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.cmghomeloans.com/" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank" title="https://www.cmghomeloans.com/"><img alt="" height="" src="https://cloud.cmgfi.com/dvbdysuf5/image/upload/OpenSense/CMG/Assets/company_logo_retail?inline=1" style="border: 0px; display: block;" width="100" /></a></p></td><td valign="middle" width="336"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #323232; white-space: nowrap !important; width: 336px;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><p style="color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 6px; margin: 0pt;"> </p></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#118890" style="background-color: #118890; padding: 6.5px 0px 6.5px 8px;" valign="middle" width="336"><p style="color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 1.6px; margin: 0pt; text-transform: uppercase;">HOME LOANS SIMPLIFIED</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><p style="color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 6px; margin: 0pt;"> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 8px 0px 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #323232; white-space: nowrap !important; width: 472px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td align="right" style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 70px;" valign="top"></td></tr><tr><td> </td></tr></tbody></table>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-46320287255989670652023-04-09T15:14:00.000-07:002023-04-09T15:14:04.557-07:00Errant smoke alarms<p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 65, 81); color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were awakened this morning at 6:30 by our smoke and CO detectors going off...for no apparent reason. Yes, we leapt out of bed and raced around no ascertain nothing was actually wrongs and to silence the darn things. Smoke alarms may go off for no reason due to a number of possible reasons, including:</p><ol style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 65, 81); color: #374151; counter-reset: item 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 1.25em 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;">Low batteries: Smoke alarms are designed to emit a high-pitched sound when their batteries are running low, indicating that the batteries need to be replaced.</p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;">Dust and debris: Smoke alarms can also be triggered by dust and debris that accumulate on their sensors over time. It is important to regularly clean your smoke alarm to prevent this from happening.</p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;">Cooking smoke: Smoke alarms can be sensitive to cooking smoke and can be triggered if you burn your food or if you cook with a lot of smoke-producing oils or fats.</p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;">Steam: Smoke alarms can also be triggered by steam, especially if the steam is in close proximity to the smoke alarm.</p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;">Faulty smoke alarm: In rare cases, smoke alarms can malfunction and go off for no apparent reason. If this happens, you may need to replace the smoke alarm.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgbLOcqpzHLCBNlS_Ekwg9mggL4h9A2TlvPSkYhwfyifCYLK_i2pl0ByKCJFWYVwcAvvm_jdA8CF7siZ3ovFED4u0tdobFBx6lB5whlC2g9iVJDQ54iMDYrs5ZTiZ0NFNrpG7NwWW-TXvrFRqpB0p1r5lWvzaIy6WhWbAcaVPlXOCTYUqP9lUy4bIaw/s3500/E4732335-D22C-4EDA-BF8D-2F50EC0BA570.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3500" data-original-width="3500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgbLOcqpzHLCBNlS_Ekwg9mggL4h9A2TlvPSkYhwfyifCYLK_i2pl0ByKCJFWYVwcAvvm_jdA8CF7siZ3ovFED4u0tdobFBx6lB5whlC2g9iVJDQ54iMDYrs5ZTiZ0NFNrpG7NwWW-TXvrFRqpB0p1r5lWvzaIy6WhWbAcaVPlXOCTYUqP9lUy4bIaw/s320/E4732335-D22C-4EDA-BF8D-2F50EC0BA570.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;">Smoke alarms can also react to power bumps and surges, even those we don't fully notice. It is important to ensure that your smoke alarm is installed properly and tested regularly to minimize false alarms. If your smoke alarm continues to go off for no reason, it is recommended to consult a professional to identify and address the issue.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;">Most think their smoke and CO detectors are up to date and in compliance with local guidelines. In my experience, most are not. 😬 Here is a link to the <a href="https://www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/sfm/pages/smoke-co-alarms.aspx" target="_blank">State of Oregon </a>. The City of Portland has more stringent guidelines. Smoke detectors really do save lives, so please update them as needed. </p></li></ol>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-85118347195155008062023-04-07T16:41:00.000-07:002023-04-07T16:41:16.648-07:00Downsizing to a condominium?<div style="border: 1pt solid rgb(217, 217, 227); padding: 0in;"><p style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 15pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;">Downsizing from a large house to a condominium can be a daunting decision, but it can also be a liberating one. Many people decide to downsize for a variety of reasons, such as financial freedom, reduced maintenance, and a desire for a more manageable living space. While the transition may require some adjustments, it can ultimately lead to a more fulfilling and stress-free lifestyle.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 65, 81); font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 15pt 0in; padding: 0in; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;">One of the main benefits of downsizing to a condominium is the financial freedom it
can provide. Large homes often come with significant upkeep costs, such as
landscaping, repairs, and utilities. Moving to a condominium can significantly
reduce these costs, freeing up funds for other pursuits such as travel,
hobbies, or retirement.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 65, 81); font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 15pt 0in; padding: 0in; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;">Another advantage of living in a condominium is the reduced maintenance requirements.
As opposed to a large house, where there may be many rooms and outdoor spaces
to maintain, a condominium often requires less upkeep. This can be especially
beneficial for those who want to spend their time pursuing other activities or
enjoying their retirement.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 65, 81); font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 15pt 0in; padding: 0in; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;">Living in a condominium can also provide a sense of community and security. Many
condominiums offer amenities such as gyms, pools, and community spaces, which
can help residents to meet their neighbors and form friendships. Additionally,
many condominiums have security features such as gated entrances or 24-hour
security, which can provide residents with peace of mind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 15pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;">Buying a condominium is also buying into the financial entity that is the home owners’ association. A fully funded and well run homeowners’ association is important. Just as buyers have a home inspection, it is highly suggested that condominium buyers have an evaluation done of the health of the HOA. There are a few <a href="https://cidanalytics.com" target="_blank">companies</a> that perform this evaluation. They look at the financial reserves, reserve study (projection of what work/maintenance will need to be done and when) and other HOA information. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPS-J0BEEzGctmk4fAw2q5aO0IpIAcWocwg4myGnkomZrUwruxl96c41ToJmM9oAlzbP5ckPtQ29SGROOdIQJIVFth0HhjbRsYUiFYkIRrlNVKnxTNwm-D2TBvKWMtmL5egLZuf5CILLV0LZBE-P99KKSmmU59rGhNghI2b14xahR530jwXEfWxZOmw/s3500/981E3CB3-1ECA-4C3A-BAC1-11E5A1071BFB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3500" data-original-width="3500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPS-J0BEEzGctmk4fAw2q5aO0IpIAcWocwg4myGnkomZrUwruxl96c41ToJmM9oAlzbP5ckPtQ29SGROOdIQJIVFth0HhjbRsYUiFYkIRrlNVKnxTNwm-D2TBvKWMtmL5egLZuf5CILLV0LZBE-P99KKSmmU59rGhNghI2b14xahR530jwXEfWxZOmw/s320/981E3CB3-1ECA-4C3A-BAC1-11E5A1071BFB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 65, 81); font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 15pt 0in; padding: 0in; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;">Of course, downsizing from a large house to a condominium also requires some
adjustments. Storage space may be limited, and some amenities such as a yard or
garage may no longer be available. However, with some careful planning and
organization, it is possible to make the most of a smaller living space. In Portland, the <a href="https://www.communitywarehouse.org" target="_blank">Community Warehouse</a> will pickup large household items. <a href="https://www.rebuildingcenter.org" target="_blank">The Re-BuildingCenter </a>will take construction materials, household fixtures and some
appliances. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(55, 65, 81); font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 15pt 0in 0in; padding: 0in; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;">Overall, downsizing from a large house to a condominium can be a positive and fulfilling
experience. It can provide financial freedom, reduced maintenance requirements,
and a sense of community and security. While the transition may require some
adjustments, the benefits of downsizing can make it a worthwhile decision.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-81958141940200267712023-03-31T13:19:00.000-07:002023-03-31T13:19:55.365-07:00Heatpumps; the oft misunderstood HVAC solution<p> Heat pumps have been around a long time. In their infancy, they provided heating and cooling for homes in mild climates, say 40 - 80 degrees Fahrenheit. A home would have a back up heat source (forced air furnace?) for colder times. Similarly homeowners would augment the cooling with window air conditioners. Heat pumps were sort of an odd bird, working well most of the time, but not coming through in the extremes. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYiZsPO2yYST-KMU_QeZhl9XkzI52puMm3BL4wsXMu6Ook7qXGfTotH0aJ6BuZ-OLle4Ng9uykG_aucFVUi_-J_bUvuj6NBBfBvV45v6-RqaTMUMCd2NlF7HKdDEItcKYUAf8NPD7jF6b8mRpAyc7qWVHCBSWssfo0Z0DgqQFo53xqcXj77Ryu_IQzQ/s564/Screen%20Shot%202023-03-31%20at%201.14.50%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="564" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYiZsPO2yYST-KMU_QeZhl9XkzI52puMm3BL4wsXMu6Ook7qXGfTotH0aJ6BuZ-OLle4Ng9uykG_aucFVUi_-J_bUvuj6NBBfBvV45v6-RqaTMUMCd2NlF7HKdDEItcKYUAf8NPD7jF6b8mRpAyc7qWVHCBSWssfo0Z0DgqQFo53xqcXj77Ryu_IQzQ/w402-h230/Screen%20Shot%202023-03-31%20at%201.14.50%20PM.png" width="402" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Today, heat pumps are being installed, and only heat pumps (no back up source needed) in a variety of inclement climates. What changed?</p><p>But before we go there, how the heck do those things work anyway? <span color="var(--tw-prose-body)" face="Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="font-size: 1rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Heat pumps work by transferring heat from one place to another using a refrigerant. They can be used for both heating and cooling purposes. </span><span face="Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="font-size: 1rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a heating mode, the heat pump extracts heat from the outside air, ground or water source and transfers it to the indoor space. This process is achieved by circulating a refrigerant through a closed loop system, which includes an outdoor unit (evaporator) and an indoor unit (condenser). The refrigerant absorbs heat from the outdoor air, which causes it to vaporize and travel to the indoor unit where it is compressed, raising the temperature and releasing heat into the indoor space. </span><span style="font-size: 1rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">In a cooling mode, the heat pump works in reverse. The indoor unit acts as the evaporator, extracting heat from the indoor air and transferring it to the outdoor unit (condenser), which releases it into the outside air.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 1rem; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">What changed is pretty simple. Efficiency. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 65, 81); font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Heat pumps can be highly efficient because they do not generate heat like a traditional furnace or air conditioning unit. Instead, they move heat from one place to another, making them an environmentally friendly and cost-effective option for heating and cooling.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 65, 81); white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, it is standard practice to install only a heat pump to heat and cool a house...with no back up heat or cooling source. Most heat pumps run on electricity. Clean energy proponents like heat pumps for their ability to run off clean power (think solar, wind etc). Most power companies offer consumers a green energy option, allowing folks to decarbonize their heating and cooling even if they don't have their own clean energy source.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 65, 81); white-space: pre-wrap;">Unfortunately, many traditional HVAC companies do not offer heat pumps as a "go to"solution, but merely look at replacing an aging/inoperable furnace with like kind. The natural gas industry has a strong lobby in an effort to keep natural gas in our homes</span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 65, 81); white-space: pre-wrap;">Often, we only replace a heat source when it fails, limiting options to contractors and systems available on short notice. Consider making a plan before your heat source fails. Proactively identify what contractor you will use, what system or type of system you'll want and the timeline involved. You might even replace an aging/failing heat source before the emergency situation. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(55, 65, 81); white-space: pre-wrap;">After that crazy heat dome in the summer of 2021, we went in search of air conditioning. As we had an aging furnace, we choose to replace it with a heat pump. That got us a new, more efficient heat source along with central cooling! We used <a href="https://greensavers.com/portland" target="_blank">Greensavers</a> for the work and were very impressed with their process, service and the end result. I'd be glad to talk more with you if you have questions.</span></span></span></p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-66442232681598072302023-02-14T15:04:00.004-08:002023-02-14T15:04:45.463-08:00Portland real estate update<p> </p><p>Really now, how IS the market?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw5KZwyleqCGWMF2DCuWciMgaY3Q_--2exWhMiUFs92DJVbDYoLa6iCaJrJ3IAlu-GLN9jMQzeXotmphGK1oV-B7qcShkhJ7evwZ_eyT3Kw1xrdUKa76Zao5VqpYeJe-geWfmxP43gLXSRTbFiGlAAAkewk-M7ypR-jUFTrOY5pcuDR65JP7f3zcIow/s1080/E00572BD-D69E-483F-9D8C-6E76C0A1DB74.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw5KZwyleqCGWMF2DCuWciMgaY3Q_--2exWhMiUFs92DJVbDYoLa6iCaJrJ3IAlu-GLN9jMQzeXotmphGK1oV-B7qcShkhJ7evwZ_eyT3Kw1xrdUKa76Zao5VqpYeJe-geWfmxP43gLXSRTbFiGlAAAkewk-M7ypR-jUFTrOY5pcuDR65JP7f3zcIow/s320/E00572BD-D69E-483F-9D8C-6E76C0A1DB74.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;">As interest rates saw a marked increase in November 2022, the market showed corresponding slowing. At the same time, seasonal slowing (but for "on fire" 2021) brought the Portland Area market back to earth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;">Traditionally, Portland's market wakes from its holiday slumber in mid to late January. This means more new listings on the market along with an uptick in pending sales. Indeed, we've seen an increase in listings from December 2022 to January 2023, along with an increase in pending sales from December 2022 to January 2023.</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;">While economic news appears optimistic, interest rates have remained elevated, though not as high as those mid-November 2022 rates.</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;">Some buyers have tired of putting their home ownership plans on hold, and are back in the market with a vengance, interest rates be damned. Others are waiting for rates to come down. We don't expect a drastic decline in rates. While the wait is understandable, I sure hope they aren't waiting for 3% interest rates. They could wait a lifetime. Something closer to 5% may be more realistic.</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;">Some sellers are reluctant to sell, if their current home has a particulartly low interest rate. It can be hard to "give up" that low rate. Would you let a low rate keep you from moving on?</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;">I'm always available to answer questions about your particular situation, whether you are buying selling or planning.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdZ_C_4GPzRiiGm6QWlyHg6gxKOs_MZKgnBJWm2qUMYXTpre6pIb26Ay1RipTd4FMd91yKR20VgPEaj25DEgN3EzkxygSQwvc9XI0ivftIwpFmgsitDrldCOVHA_WiudLIgaDi4TTPTBCnI5aRYVcOd6edXiiSEZG8DAEa8VHu8B1qbtnEhfoKiPW2w/s1104/9672FC39-7D40-4326-94A3-BA6CCA91F47F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="1104" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdZ_C_4GPzRiiGm6QWlyHg6gxKOs_MZKgnBJWm2qUMYXTpre6pIb26Ay1RipTd4FMd91yKR20VgPEaj25DEgN3EzkxygSQwvc9XI0ivftIwpFmgsitDrldCOVHA_WiudLIgaDi4TTPTBCnI5aRYVcOd6edXiiSEZG8DAEa8VHu8B1qbtnEhfoKiPW2w/w458-h361/9672FC39-7D40-4326-94A3-BA6CCA91F47F.jpeg" width="458" /></a></div><br /><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;"><span style="font-size: large;">5 Ways to know you are in love with the right home</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3H_EwQ6fwpslJix9QNka8xRUsb9F0pGMNYGToA1Cp13jf7qIyjAVNqd_R371wQBi2EGvHoXowfOB4RXE19EfyIplmaW6gLfvA5JYy-FGnQ-NYrklgrCPWH3rGF_VINX6tS5I412KaA_IiJ3nU7QNm93e0XfbyZpGLjv8_Sb6M87hCE4dMafvWWHKSg/s1024/HomeSweetHome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3H_EwQ6fwpslJix9QNka8xRUsb9F0pGMNYGToA1Cp13jf7qIyjAVNqd_R371wQBi2EGvHoXowfOB4RXE19EfyIplmaW6gLfvA5JYy-FGnQ-NYrklgrCPWH3rGF_VINX6tS5I412KaA_IiJ3nU7QNm93e0XfbyZpGLjv8_Sb6M87hCE4dMafvWWHKSg/w400-h266/HomeSweetHome.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;"><strong style="letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px;">What are you looking for anyway?</strong></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;">Home buyers usually have a "must have" list, and a "nice to have" list. While we all like to think of ourselves as rational, and solid decision makers, you'd be surprised how much emotion plays into home buying decisions. Sometimes, buyers will forgo a "must have" in deference to a strong emotional pull. That's okay! What is important is buying the house that works for you. That being said, it is good to review your "must have" list, especially when the emotional pull of the house is strong. As your Realtor, part of my job is to remind you of your "must haves" and help you reconcile the practical and the emotional. I know that kitchen is swanky, but this house has one less bedroom and bath than your "must have" threshold. Similarly, a house can check all the boxes on your list, but still not be "the one". That's okay too.</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;"><strong style="letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px;">1. Is this home located in your target area? </strong><br />If you were to purchase this home, how long would your commute be? Does it put you too far from family or friends? Is the location going to be the right fit for your lifestyle? Even if you love everything else about a property, if it isn’t in a great location, it may not be the right place for you to settle down.</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;"><strong style="letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px;">2. Does it check your “must-have” boxes? </strong><br />During your home search, you should make a list of non-negotiable must-haves, such as having a certain number of bedrooms or a sprawling backyard. While you may not be able to find a home that meets every single need, it can help you decide whether a property is right for you. </p><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;"><strong style="letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px;">3. Will this home meet your needs both now and in the future? </strong><br />As you build your non-negotiable must-haves list, it can be easy to only consider your current needs and wants. But what about five or even ten years down the road? The costs of buying and selling are not negligible, and moving is less than pleasant. While you don't want to buy at the tip top of your range and strap yourself financially, it is best when your house can work for you through a variety of life changes. Purchasing a home that only fits your current lifestyle may force a move sooner than. later. </p><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;"><strong style="letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px;">4. Are there any potential issues you’ll need to fix? </strong><br />A home inspection can not only help with repair negotiations during your purchase, it can also help you plan for fixes and upgrades duyring your ownership. Unless you are buying new construction, the house you buy will have had some systems addressed recently, and will need other work done in the future. Its not realistic to expect a house to be in perfect shape, so what it will need over time should be manageable. Does it have finicky features that will need constant attention? Will you be okay or even enjoy the required upkeep? Or is low maintenace a priority? </p><p style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 65); color: #404041; font-family: Montserrat, Arial; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 22px;"><strong style="letter-spacing: 0.44px; line-height: 22px;">5. Does the price fit within your budget? </strong><br />Love at first sight is important, but it’s also important to remember the practical side of things — and that means your budget! If the home you love is a stretch, are there ways to justify the stretch? It actually is in perfect shape so you won't have to spend a dime for years to come. It has an extra space that can provide income. The floor plan will allow a family member to move in. Or, you just love it and are willing to sacrifice to make it work. Just be sure you stop and think before being swept away. </p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-15124312454692355202023-01-20T11:42:00.001-08:002023-01-20T11:42:16.400-08:00Portand's 2023 Real Estate Market?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4t8jpSREn4HmHgy9YeX6BPAYe0c437Sn5ZWJ8naasfZ03KFLh9TdIXmA-xFFWbpLELbtaHMGeHRarrv_zbFAOaCq9crWU1gNQM3mN8pyhxaSLrb2Y7TdUCPyf0rfpp7irqGZ0rRohbuW4O6ARe-Pjr-duLskY0VuOLf5MghF3fT1XOlzX4tRWxYUVg/s3500/40FAD10B-72F1-4ECC-BB86-40857893A3F2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3500" data-original-width="3500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4t8jpSREn4HmHgy9YeX6BPAYe0c437Sn5ZWJ8naasfZ03KFLh9TdIXmA-xFFWbpLELbtaHMGeHRarrv_zbFAOaCq9crWU1gNQM3mN8pyhxaSLrb2Y7TdUCPyf0rfpp7irqGZ0rRohbuW4O6ARe-Pjr-duLskY0VuOLf5MghF3fT1XOlzX4tRWxYUVg/s320/40FAD10B-72F1-4ECC-BB86-40857893A3F2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><b><p><b><br /></b></p>What do we think the 2023 Portland real estate market will be like?</b><p></p><p>It looks as though interest rates will settle in somewhere below 6%. Rate predictability will benefit both buyers and sellers, allowing parties to make decisions reliably. Continued lower inventory of homes on the market will keep demand in play, but longer market times will give buyers a chance to consider their purchase (and make better decisions).</p><p>Timing the market is hard, or impossible.People who think they timed the market most likely got lucky. And a market in extremes (crazy sellers market or heavily weighted buyers market) brings undue pressure on one party or another.</p><p><b>2023 is the right time to buy if:</b></p><p>You plan to be in your home three or more years. </p><p>Home ownership is in your life plan. </p><p>You want to lock in your housing costs and have control of your environment. </p><p>You need to sell to buy. It is reasonable to expect to get an offer accepted subject to selling your current home. The extreme sellers market of the last few years left little to no opportunity for those who had to sell to buy. Now is your time.</p><p>You don't make large financial decisions quickly and want time to think about such a major purchase. 2023 should give buyers a bit of time in which to contemplate their choice and purchase. </p><p>You want the opportunity to have your prospective home inspected and evaluated. The 2023 market should be balanced enough that buyers can have inspections and perhaps even negotiate repairs and concessions from the seller.</p><p>You'll use a lower down payment loan and don't have the resources for bidding wars and bridging appraisal gaps with cash reserves.</p><p><b>Selling in 2023:</b></p><p>Sellers will still be in the drivers' seat in this market. You'll just be driving a BMW compared to a Ferrari. 😂. </p><p>It remains important for houses to be priced well (not aspirationally) and thoroughly prepped for sale. Consider getting an inspection in advance of selling, and addressing the issues on the inspection. Have the furnace serviced, tend to those maintenance jobs you might not have gotten to. Clean, paint, power wash. be sure your water heater has two seismic straps. Be sure your smoke and CO detectors are in compliance with your city/state rules (in Portland there must be a smoke detector inside each bedroom, and CO detectors within 15 feet of each bedroom, they must be less than ten years old). Gather maintenance, repair and remodel records and recipients. Find that paperwork from the oil tank that was decommissioned years ago. Remove LOTS of furniture and belongings from the house, and consider having it professionally stage. All that prep will pay off.</p><p>I'm glad to give you direction and ideas for house prepaid even have a few suggestions for service providers. </p><p>As always, I'm here to discuss your specific situation and help with your real estate plan.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-69710075768806179332023-01-13T12:46:00.001-08:002023-01-13T12:46:59.156-08:00Into the dark in search of the light!<p> Bucket list? Not quite, as I don't really believe in those. But seeing the Northern Lights had long been an aspiration. Though it would be fabulous to see them spontaneously, in my 62+ years on earth, that had not yet happened. I don't regularly hang out late at night, in the far northern hemisphere in winter. Yes, occasionally forecasters will predict them visible in Oregon, and we have driven late into the night, east, in search of darkness for light...to no avail.</p><p>My brother-in-law spent his career working with the tour and travel industry in the NW and suggested a few places to which one must travel in search of the northern lights. We considered both <a href="https://chenahotsprings.com">Chena Hotsprings Resort</a> and <a href="https://www.borealisbasecamp.net/homepage?gclid=CjwKCAiA8OmdBhAgEiwAShr408FRj2HjcQ-OEVOk3HO-TM-SPsZqXmUpEIqMInBWC2XjgkPQCm_fbRoCTr0QAvD_BwE">Borealis Basecamp</a>, both in Alaska.</p><p>Chena Hotsprings Resort drew us as there appeared to be more to do while waiting to see the northern lights and because they had availability in 2022. We were hoping to schedule in that suspended time between Christmas and New Year's. </p><p>We were able to schedule at Chena, pretty much exactly when we wanted. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">We booked a three night package, and then added a night. Traveling all the way up there, it seemed wise to add a night to increase our chances of seeing "the lights." The package included meals (generous options) and non-alcoholic beverages, aurora tour, dog sledding, hot springs, kennel tour. We added in massages, also recommend that. Chena Hotsprings has a shuttle that picks up from the Fairbanks Airport and several area hotels. The drive is a bit over an hour, but with various pick up stops, can take up to two hours.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDymC5neT7Y2Dk6kxJFKtvjj2rU_qKyG1c8dVVx2_PqFiZFYxCbBMjabKtHkWKm0wmGOKzWmIQk8-YuxVIERcZuQ8omhuiiio8J6iQDneC1SI5EXeWhbzCzrY4tQLbF8mFMJqB9ymaIIVjumDfWXomfu6YvWVsoMNSCYKEcymNM0XykvpdDx9YD2f7gg/s4032/DC5F8506-6C8F-4327-8EE9-8E125D7BBDD2.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDymC5neT7Y2Dk6kxJFKtvjj2rU_qKyG1c8dVVx2_PqFiZFYxCbBMjabKtHkWKm0wmGOKzWmIQk8-YuxVIERcZuQ8omhuiiio8J6iQDneC1SI5EXeWhbzCzrY4tQLbF8mFMJqB9ymaIIVjumDfWXomfu6YvWVsoMNSCYKEcymNM0XykvpdDx9YD2f7gg/s320/DC5F8506-6C8F-4327-8EE9-8E125D7BBDD2.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">The setting is stunning, in a sweet valley, so nice mountain views. It is a very easy and enjoyable place to spend a few days. </p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">We stayed in the Moose Lodge. Moose Lodge is the newest,and from what I understand best appointed of the accommodations;</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">decent hotel rooms, close to the restaurant/bar, pool etc.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The rooms have radiant floor heat. It took us a day or so to get the setting right. First night was like sleeping in a sauna. We were most comfortable with it set on 3.25, 5. Being the highest. No worries about being cold!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">Our package included three meals a day. The restaurant is busy and doesn’t take reservations, so be patient, and build in enough time. Getting cranky won’t help. With just two of us, we were usually seated within 20 minutes, though sometimes service was slow. All the staff were working incredibly hard and efficiently. If you’re on the package, remember to tip on your entire meal cost. Food was generally good. They grow lettuce, tomatoes and other vegetables year round in their hydroponic greenhouses (you can get a brief tour). I enjoyed the salmon dinner most, Don liked the curry. And breakfast. I love a good breakfast.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5AA4CI5D7GK-uZQ5aWe8hWA_4U8uNRdiOSNGgv6zKdjSyFxsDtcISqiBUJ65PY1mhhZfH-XdDnr2K5kIq40kbaQyDQ9UEjhtacR2xodAQ-_Ek_BlWDT0_CGiJTd7_MSV9Sk_PbPZbOphk1Y45RbhIIfL-XPviekirDXjmqgixWZHwog_tYRm5GwDpg/s4032/9BDC3B14-C62B-4BE1-8157-D74554683266.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5AA4CI5D7GK-uZQ5aWe8hWA_4U8uNRdiOSNGgv6zKdjSyFxsDtcISqiBUJ65PY1mhhZfH-XdDnr2K5kIq40kbaQyDQ9UEjhtacR2xodAQ-_Ek_BlWDT0_CGiJTd7_MSV9Sk_PbPZbOphk1Y45RbhIIfL-XPviekirDXjmqgixWZHwog_tYRm5GwDpg/s320/9BDC3B14-C62B-4BE1-8157-D74554683266.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">The resort is quiet in the mornings, but gets crowded with day trippers in the afternoon and into the night. We really enjoyed an early breakfast (we’re early risers) at 7:00, and then spending time in the hot springs before it gets crowded. The package we had gave us free use of the hotsprings. I’m not sure if all guests get that, or only those on packages. With the long nights, we really loved the springs in the dark morning, and watching dawn break. There is a bit of a chilly walk from the locker rooms to the outdoor hot springs pool. They don’t allow shoes in the locker rooms. Some folks had water shoes or slippers, we survived without. The pool itself has a gravel (pea gravel, so easy on the feet) floor. Lockers are available for 50 cents a use. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5l8fsg_ck92JOI3OICpQIsXYn0Dbxd85z1C1sO9-Zt9kjGCjnsHsdiTk8FGQqjo7u7vP7WrRpQwObQZWd8p5hXTqyq1FLFoCoZgEpBUZ-Qtv_m9h6DFOVo3DnmGXOl3lr5cVjSZ7dSidw7JHfX7nHmlw5x0sKUStwh8gonyK8VXaWjlU-fnsqCnSgw/s4032/977729A2-E109-4AE4-BE13-FD9C49BD772A.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5l8fsg_ck92JOI3OICpQIsXYn0Dbxd85z1C1sO9-Zt9kjGCjnsHsdiTk8FGQqjo7u7vP7WrRpQwObQZWd8p5hXTqyq1FLFoCoZgEpBUZ-Qtv_m9h6DFOVo3DnmGXOl3lr5cVjSZ7dSidw7JHfX7nHmlw5x0sKUStwh8gonyK8VXaWjlU-fnsqCnSgw/s320/977729A2-E109-4AE4-BE13-FD9C49BD772A.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">Then, an afternoon activity…massage, dog sledding, geo-thermal energy tour, kennel tour. We didn’t tour the ice museum, nor partake in ice fishing. Our massages were in this historic cabin, dating back over a century to the early days the report (photo taken around 3:00 pm in the afternoon).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCGobfMSZO2hvH0vOrvyYmok4bCZ6P0_RmKjH814Hl5axOukFHrJ-wQRBBi72ARXOLgbw1ccDtSfEEXXqC2uRUUA7pM-_T002Ot7ZhjF0DNBHoIoJHFicdhlftGc1iJ_wjjX_2XugBfHpe2IPnBYjk8c0_GmIvGLTloPA7h0Yd2IKxvZHBAAZ7ojR9g/s4032/220E91F4-601D-4B94-BCAB-54E11E96E143.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCGobfMSZO2hvH0vOrvyYmok4bCZ6P0_RmKjH814Hl5axOukFHrJ-wQRBBi72ARXOLgbw1ccDtSfEEXXqC2uRUUA7pM-_T002Ot7ZhjF0DNBHoIoJHFicdhlftGc1iJ_wjjX_2XugBfHpe2IPnBYjk8c0_GmIvGLTloPA7h0Yd2IKxvZHBAAZ7ojR9g/s320/220E91F4-601D-4B94-BCAB-54E11E96E143.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">As we very much enjoy dogs, we spent a fair amount of time with the dogs. They get sooo excited at the prospect of pulling a sled.The folks at the "dog yard" were friendly and accommodating. Plenty of dog pets and snuggles, lots of interesting information and of course, sledding!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbUvZcm7Ui3c3N-di-lqotPXDr0CIVsrhc1h0wW50maWk-y2b6fr15KmuazgcI2N1lTw1wplnxUz7oBLwb0Wt7YonnzBFx4BpMMVO-K3Ow5lqpNO_K61BDqDpvaTagH9C_xOV664xMNyQOqQIzHns98H9hWhPuu1g_mQ8pSmkuTHlZChbq-5LDvghgg/s4032/6DC149C0-F327-4FD4-9F65-0F3634B2064A.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbUvZcm7Ui3c3N-di-lqotPXDr0CIVsrhc1h0wW50maWk-y2b6fr15KmuazgcI2N1lTw1wplnxUz7oBLwb0Wt7YonnzBFx4BpMMVO-K3Ow5lqpNO_K61BDqDpvaTagH9C_xOV664xMNyQOqQIzHns98H9hWhPuu1g_mQ8pSmkuTHlZChbq-5LDvghgg/s320/6DC149C0-F327-4FD4-9F65-0F3634B2064A.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtcjmDkPLJc6PG3on-lkzApjS1pwnO71pBubBEBniNjI_q2abDrV8zETqxkKbmuaXS_5_JVaY_UDAhYVH_Nncva_rY_4YAVG1BwrypZ8vpbvYUKcFekXB1hrnM79CyDuY3f_AeiBJJIBs57pYNnfY1heJcAxkZJ6velSgS3UrIyockZMpMf_uB9-HVA/s4032/7D2FBCFD-E82F-4A68-8C2F-2C5FDE99A382.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtcjmDkPLJc6PG3on-lkzApjS1pwnO71pBubBEBniNjI_q2abDrV8zETqxkKbmuaXS_5_JVaY_UDAhYVH_Nncva_rY_4YAVG1BwrypZ8vpbvYUKcFekXB1hrnM79CyDuY3f_AeiBJJIBs57pYNnfY1heJcAxkZJ6velSgS3UrIyockZMpMf_uB9-HVA/s320/7D2FBCFD-E82F-4A68-8C2F-2C5FDE99A382.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QNPbji0k_8xCg8jenb_q-YJwDrNA9LeJ7bP9bNAdWR9c_9PHtbtTNFv50TugcgxIgGqQmkUZxza9AL_uCPUnJqUMSExitHssUCqedSAjb6-JTad105aCxyrk5ZeJDWJr-1DEo0oBTbaVhQMIIbk81CYUoo2aqhAzdIH-rfNALSsXAU1sz9CG2dRKHg/s4032/C8AC4EF0-97BF-4DCF-87B8-B43456F08F7B.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QNPbji0k_8xCg8jenb_q-YJwDrNA9LeJ7bP9bNAdWR9c_9PHtbtTNFv50TugcgxIgGqQmkUZxza9AL_uCPUnJqUMSExitHssUCqedSAjb6-JTad105aCxyrk5ZeJDWJr-1DEo0oBTbaVhQMIIbk81CYUoo2aqhAzdIH-rfNALSsXAU1sz9CG2dRKHg/s320/C8AC4EF0-97BF-4DCF-87B8-B43456F08F7B.heic" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">We enjoyed walks around the resort and on a few of the closer trails. Our Yaktrax served us well, though we did shorter walks to meals and such without. They ask you don’t wear them inside, though the folks at the dog yard were fine with them inside.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The Aurora Tours are your best viewing opportunity. They leave nightly at 9:30 and 10:30 pm, with a projected duration of five hours. As clear skies are best for viewing, consider the weather report when booking your "tour'. Groups are driven, via fancy snow-cat, to the top of Charlie Dome, which offers a 360 degree view. The resort has a few large yurts, heated and equipped with warm beverages. Wear all your warm clothes, as one the lights are visible, you won't want to miss them! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZjPRZwEx79qdxqpxk_6RT3der_gVYx7-kMH9DpUM45mEojTbUJ43T6bVU3BZ9ELRAi6wPHjV2NhbmlaXA2839HzgpGr4Dx1V-CQqrwGsh8cMkhapqwtN2pdL_4Mt0PYKT739rLNjejr0uTri8yTWlzv4xFeI0jSW2LCsbVy_pe78uRFnNcq2caesLw/s4032/FE783448-372C-429F-9BCC-D5CE9675A55D.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZjPRZwEx79qdxqpxk_6RT3der_gVYx7-kMH9DpUM45mEojTbUJ43T6bVU3BZ9ELRAi6wPHjV2NhbmlaXA2839HzgpGr4Dx1V-CQqrwGsh8cMkhapqwtN2pdL_4Mt0PYKT739rLNjejr0uTri8yTWlzv4xFeI0jSW2LCsbVy_pe78uRFnNcq2caesLw/s320/FE783448-372C-429F-9BCC-D5CE9675A55D.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAl_cEOn4AgYAtXPtbmbAC05z0bT16J67xfaHXOFLOsxmIWLegBkOocp3UBKKLq6DB5UtuidI8IUMP95ldJ0THcx5hAQ0ijK5vFrl-Q_0eiVSBNOW_-YK5gKOG8M6Odc-fjRJ0tx-t7GE-9uyN7-wNDsTe0Kqid0bwdMi5rlFzD2GnUeKmb2lWoU_7w/s4032/038D3E18-74B6-4E02-B8F5-3B33940B9871.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAl_cEOn4AgYAtXPtbmbAC05z0bT16J67xfaHXOFLOsxmIWLegBkOocp3UBKKLq6DB5UtuidI8IUMP95ldJ0THcx5hAQ0ijK5vFrl-Q_0eiVSBNOW_-YK5gKOG8M6Odc-fjRJ0tx-t7GE-9uyN7-wNDsTe0Kqid0bwdMi5rlFzD2GnUeKmb2lWoU_7w/s320/038D3E18-74B6-4E02-B8F5-3B33940B9871.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-c8gOSWTmXWHkJtcsYuci9BjnRjKC-NWK_4Bkj-PttI29VGCqB0w0FkMEnCwTnQvpTdZP9-XUOEs9E4msx0pDgQNN3eX5HNgGHiPS3oh6WdbOs9LqLtD9pQ9-X_3i-q3XrTEkzpgY3xHfnUNpobnIVN2N24JFb-dI0kDX_dTHwac-xO6DfnhRxhGVw/s4032/E51595FD-91B8-4C8C-9994-88A39C660D99.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-c8gOSWTmXWHkJtcsYuci9BjnRjKC-NWK_4Bkj-PttI29VGCqB0w0FkMEnCwTnQvpTdZP9-XUOEs9E4msx0pDgQNN3eX5HNgGHiPS3oh6WdbOs9LqLtD9pQ9-X_3i-q3XrTEkzpgY3xHfnUNpobnIVN2N24JFb-dI0kDX_dTHwac-xO6DfnhRxhGVw/s320/E51595FD-91B8-4C8C-9994-88A39C660D99.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p>Chena Hotsprings Resort is off the grid. Until the early 2000's, the resort was run on diesel generators. Owner <a href="https://chenahotsprings.com/proprietors/">Bernie Karl</a> a bit of an inventor in his own right, sought to harness the energy of the hot springs. As the springs water is cooler than that required to power traditional steam engines, a heat exchanger system was developed, leading the world in <a href="https://www.arctic-council.org/about/working-groups/acap/home/projects/arctic-black-carbon-case-studies-platform/chena-hot-springs-chena-ak-usa/">low-tempertaure geo-thermal power</a>. In addition to creating electricity, the hotsprings heat the accommodations through hot water floor heat. </p><p>Power and hot water from the springs also fuel the various on-site greenhouses, with fresh vegetables grown year round. A variety of hydroponic gardening methods are used.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqI0pmmbez3IrpewzV1pxu46EkgGRLTsrdCR11EmcOqXF7exl3rdJCWdldH_l1VrTwl7nq-0vvpXRGaUU84iJuEzymjy8ZSwHgMxTH0n9oWWFuIP8Jb_SpUc8iYxSgDhDMkA_-rZtBuZ9Vbt9W2RuIba_RMvhjvVbOvL74i3XsJneSiHtgEqLDMeJJg/s4032/16F6050F-5497-4A93-8BD9-6048FE2E938F.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqI0pmmbez3IrpewzV1pxu46EkgGRLTsrdCR11EmcOqXF7exl3rdJCWdldH_l1VrTwl7nq-0vvpXRGaUU84iJuEzymjy8ZSwHgMxTH0n9oWWFuIP8Jb_SpUc8iYxSgDhDMkA_-rZtBuZ9Vbt9W2RuIba_RMvhjvVbOvL74i3XsJneSiHtgEqLDMeJJg/s320/16F6050F-5497-4A93-8BD9-6048FE2E938F.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>We had a great time on this trip and are so thankful we were able to see the northern lights. Even without seeing 'the lights" this would have been a wonderful trip. I highly advise setting expectation such that your excursion can be a success, even if the northern lights don't make an appearance.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-19223564482788993232022-12-15T14:33:00.000-08:002022-12-15T14:33:07.560-08:00That Year End Real Estate Report<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">What I said last year: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It looks as though interest rates are set to creep up in 2022 (though I’ve been saying that for years). We’ll continue to see housing prices increase; both rental and purchase. With eviction moratoria sunsetting, we may see some increases in rents as properties turn over. We’ll also see the median purchase price increase, though not as quickly as in 2021. Outdoor living spaces will continue to be popular as COVID sticks around. The popularity of suburbs and ex-urbs will continue, along with vacation homes. Portland’s inner city will get cleaned up a bit. We’ll start to see some slight progress in homelessness as both the designated villages and new affordable housing projects come on board. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">How’d I do? </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I wasn’t far off, though interest rates more than “crept up”. They jettisoned up past 5% and got as high as 7%. This indeed slowed the market a bit. Housing prices increased rapidly in the first part of the year, offset by slowing in the second half. The median year to date price increase for 2021 was 8.1%. Outdoor living spaces are still popular, as are the suburbs. Some of the boom towns in the pandemic have seen some marked slowing (Boise, ID for example). Portland’s inner city is getting cleaned up a bit, and there is renewed energy and funding designated to address the huge homelessness population. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Hot Spots (and not spots): </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Suburbs, ex-urbs and recreational property hot. Downtown, high rise condos not so hot. If you’ve been wanting a pied-a-terre in town, now is a good time to buy. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Moving and such:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Indeed, we moved our Portland Metro office to the Hanna Building (You might know it as the Jantzen Building, designed by noted architect, Richard Sundeleaf.) Our new address is 541 NE 20th Ave, Suite 210, Portland, OR 97232. That was a huge undertaking. Then, in early fall, we consolidated our Sellwood and Portland Metro offices; more moving activities, but we’d gotten good at it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiF0IYqJ3qZ_7A_HxJ29L79LKGNCGo5-nU4QcKesvbUNEtLOn9zRVsyjs2zYfiCSUGeAS49BrU3IvmgjdohwhEUmu0XHW6Z3DJK7t1_AfUtvPOwDW53l-tN6hsp0Y6BCqdbBSVhgaxTOI1ODfKs4FOvfsGLb8-2gYCH75CTVvRn7d7Cids2nKGWS3RhMQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiF0IYqJ3qZ_7A_HxJ29L79LKGNCGo5-nU4QcKesvbUNEtLOn9zRVsyjs2zYfiCSUGeAS49BrU3IvmgjdohwhEUmu0XHW6Z3DJK7t1_AfUtvPOwDW53l-tN6hsp0Y6BCqdbBSVhgaxTOI1ODfKs4FOvfsGLb8-2gYCH75CTVvRn7d7Cids2nKGWS3RhMQ" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Art show!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> We were thrilled to bring back our charity art show, and enjoyed having it in our new space. With fewer walls, displaying the art was a challenge, but one we solved. Self Enhancement Inc was the beneficiary, and we were glad to raise over $8000 for them. Thanks to those of you who joined us, and especially to those of you who bought art.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAM8z1093MMYifpsLROOs5ZF3soQu9Lq2me4LfWBk9wml_pe1m-dQ8tIpScJwM1n2_4XNtJww_BH30Hyo4SIk1JpdVc4Uwfa8srjJbShhTWTkprtRT5CXMxLbMYBeQ2okB0Mm08GqDWJtdLVLo3vyWr25BSDjSE087ZEU7Q7MfTRGpmfmB9lCzIUNwcQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAM8z1093MMYifpsLROOs5ZF3soQu9Lq2me4LfWBk9wml_pe1m-dQ8tIpScJwM1n2_4XNtJww_BH30Hyo4SIk1JpdVc4Uwfa8srjJbShhTWTkprtRT5CXMxLbMYBeQ2okB0Mm08GqDWJtdLVLo3vyWr25BSDjSE087ZEU7Q7MfTRGpmfmB9lCzIUNwcQ" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">My 2023 predictions:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Our post-holiday pick up will come later than sooner, but by mid-February it will be an active market. Sellers will still have a bit of an advantage in the market due to low inventory. Buyers will have a tad more power than in past years, allowing them time to contemplate a purchase, inspections on their purchase and even some negotiating room on repairs. Prices on building materials will ease a bit. Interest rates will settle somewhere between 5% and 6% - the stability of which will bring more buyers back into the market. I expect we’ll continue to see an increase in the median sale price, but not at the astronomical rates of a few years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Interest Rate affects: Higher interest rates affect the real estate market in a variety of ways. Obvious, is making the same house cost more when financed at a higher interest rate. Another factor is making existing homeowners less interested in moving. That is, if your current home has a 3% interest rate (the artificially low rates of the past several years means most financed homes were either bought with, or refinanced into a low rate), even selling and buying a home of the same value would have a marked increase in monthly cost (due to higher rates). Add in that values have increased rapidly in the past years, buying the same home would cost more due to both higher rates and the increase in real estate values. That disincentive to move will continue to limit the number of available homes for sale. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Housing Providers: Though the State of Oregon allows a rent increase of up to 14.6%, market forces will keep rents from going up that such. Tenants are valuing more space (work from home is here to stay, even if only part time), cooling and pets. Though most pandemic protections for tenants have sunseted, a few remain in place especially around tenant screening. Please be sure to be in compliance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I remain honored to help folks with some of the biggest decisions of their lives and humbled by the trust placed in me. My business is based on referrals. I will always take good care of anyone you send my way. Be it selling, buying or just curious, I am always here to help.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><img src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/1295bc18-73c8-4f33-b182-dcf54ed45a0f" /></p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-66862078172432591952021-10-28T07:47:00.002-07:002021-10-28T07:47:42.443-07:00Portland housing affordability and interest rates. <p> Yes, interest rates for residential mortgages are nudging up. We're seeing rates on FHA, conventional and jumbo loans above three percent. Don't get me wrong, a rate of 3.25% or so, is a GREAT rate. Just not if all your friends got rates at 2.65%. Most home owners either got a good rate when they bought, or refinanced during these several years of low rates, leaving rate increases to effect folks currently or planning on buying. Here's a chart showing how rising interest rates can effect monthly payments, or buying power. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kfpp53BxubM/YXBg5RxTY8I/AAAAAAAAQxI/QurY46z-mNsyD_j54os1zqE_E7Cos0OkACLcBGAsYHQ/s1586/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-10-20%2Bat%2B11.32.13%2BAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1586" height="385" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kfpp53BxubM/YXBg5RxTY8I/AAAAAAAAQxI/QurY46z-mNsyD_j54os1zqE_E7Cos0OkACLcBGAsYHQ/w538-h385/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-10-20%2Bat%2B11.32.13%2BAM.png" width="538" /></a></div><br /><p>As interest rates go up, buyers can afford less of a house payment. This shrinks the number of buyers who can afford any particular house, thus decreasing competition on any given listing. For the past few months, sellers have seen less competition on their listings. </p><p>Due to be updated any day now, the quarterly affordability index was already on the move in June. <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Affordability is calculated according to a formula from the National Association of REALTORS®. The formula assumes that the buyer has a 20% down payment and a 30 year fixed rate determined by Freddie Mac. In the month of June 2021, a family earning the median income ($96,909 in 2021, per HUD) can afford 103% of a monthly mortgage payment on a median priced home ($521,000 in June). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">You can see back in the Great Recession, 2007, affordability was quite low, with households not able to afford even 85% of the monthly mortgage. Then, coming out of the recession, in 2011-2012, affordability peaked. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tHwgug-6gLU/YXq0VyFzDBI/AAAAAAAAQzs/PmE5fMPa6J8UNzuYabSdOY6Fg2Kx4POzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-10-28%2Bat%2B7.29.24%2BAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="2048" height="354" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tHwgug-6gLU/YXq0VyFzDBI/AAAAAAAAQzs/PmE5fMPa6J8UNzuYabSdOY6Fg2Kx4POzQCLcBGAsYHQ/w683-h354/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-10-28%2Bat%2B7.29.24%2BAM.png" width="683" /></a></div><br /><p>We do expect to see some wage growth, which may increase affordability. Though wage growth will need to outpace the rise in interest rates and prices, to have any effect on affordability. Stay tuned as I'll post the updated affordability index when it is released. </p><p>If you have questions about the real estate market, especially your particular situation, call, text or email. leslievjones@gmail.com 503-312-8038 </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-38640747020573595732021-09-19T16:53:00.000-07:002021-09-19T16:53:34.531-07:00Some cool tools<p>There are a variety of ways to look at real estate values, and changing real estate markets. </p><p>The general public uses Zillow a lot for this purpose. Zillow is about big data, and uses a variety of data feeds to arrive at a value. I track what Zillow says as compared to actual sale prices of transactions in which I am involved. Sometimes Zillow is spot on, and some times Zillow is in left field. </p><p>Realtors have a similar tool which provides an automated home valuation. The system, allows us to customize the valuation by adding information specific to the subject property. We also use our Multiple Listing Service and a variety of programs to arrive at home values.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wvmkV4ikVVk/YUfNEsE8mwI/AAAAAAAAQrM/6B1fV0QuL0wJP2y4wz4TYbfXDnH29YE0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1750/tool%2Bcalcjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1750" data-original-width="1750" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wvmkV4ikVVk/YUfNEsE8mwI/AAAAAAAAQrM/6B1fV0QuL0wJP2y4wz4TYbfXDnH29YE0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/tool%2Bcalcjpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>As many real estate websites do, mine has a <a href="https://leslievjones.remax.com" target="_blank">pricing calculator</a> . Click the "sell" tab and enter your address. It will give you both the Zillow and SmartZip value estimations. </p><p>In a quickly changing market, pricing is tricky. No doubt.</p><p><a href="https://www.fhfa.gov/DataTools/Tools/Pages/HPI-Calculator.aspx" target="_blank">The FHFA (Federal Housing Finance Agency) tool</a> helps get at value a different way. It looks at the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA's), the quarter in which the property was purchased and quarter in which one is looking for a value. <span style="font-family: times;">I<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64);">t projects what a given house purchased at a point in time would be worth if it appreciated at the average appreciation rate of all homes in the area.</span> This isn't the end all, be all of pricing. But I do find it to be a good data point in a pricing strategy. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Play around with the <a href="https://www.fhfa.gov/DataTools/Tools/Pages/HPI-Calculator.aspx" target="_blank">FHFA Home Pricing Calculator</a>. What do you think? Does it seem to reflect reality?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">The Federal Housing Finance Agency website has a variety of other tools and data. I also like the <a href="https://www.fhfa.gov/DataTools/Tools/Pages/Four-Quarter-Heat-Map.aspx" target="_blank">Four Quarter Appreciation Map</a>. Holy Cow, look at Austin, TX with 35.1% appreciation over the previous 4 quarters, and Boise, ID at 41.1%. Makes the Portland metro area's 18.3% four quarter appreciation look downright reasonable!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">If you want a more accurate value estimation, give me a call, text or email. I'd be glad to come by and work up a market analysis. leslievjones@gmail.com 503-312-8038 </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-19628474197018758832021-08-22T10:26:00.003-07:002021-08-22T10:26:40.678-07:00Street of (differing) Dreams<p>I had the occasion to visit the <a href="https://www.streetofdreamspdx.com" target="_blank">2021 NW Natural Gas Street of Dreams</a> a few weeks ago(the 2020 Street of Dreams was cancelled due to COVID). I don't always go, but our company was a sponsor and we held an agent appreciation event there. This year's show was in Happy Valley. It featured three homes at the main site, a container home and sleeping pod, and more affordable homes at a second site.</p><p>The Street of Dreams showcases trends in floor plans, features and interior design in the housing industry. The houses are usually quite large; largest this year was 7338 sq ft. Zion (Heritage Crest 3). I was drawn to the 3834 sq ft Ohana (Heritage Crest 2). Both were built by Red Hills Construction. Hygge, Heritage Crest 1, was built by Anlon Custom Homes.</p><p>As you might imagine all the homes had very generous outdoor "rooms" and spaces for outdoor entertaining (a nod to COVID?). I'm always on the look out for the quirky feature. This year's: jets to dry the shower after use. I suppose this makes cleaning easier. Back in the 1976 (before my time in real estate) they featured...built-in microwaves. Cutting edge.</p><p>I was especially interested in the <a href="https://www.streetofdreamspdx.com/p/show-homes/housing-village" target="_blank">container home and sleeping pods</a>. <span style="font-family: times;">The <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9);">Home Builders Foundation partnered with MODS PDX and Base Design Architecture on this project, showcasing affordable and energy efficient design options for addressing houselessness. These particular units will be donated to one of the Home Builders Foundations' affiliate affordable housing partners. It would sure be great to see these designs in housing solutions around the metro area.</span></span></p><p>The Street of Dreams predecessor was the Parade of Homes, which started in 1937 and featured homes on N Michigan in Portland's Piedmont neighborhood.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I_yEc7WvCZU/YSF4-x0A11I/AAAAAAAAQmE/11_PaaCEgaooyCE6GzEULuMt5bV9ioCzACLcBGAsYHQ/s494/N%2BMichigan%2BParade%2Bof%2BHomes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="494" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I_yEc7WvCZU/YSF4-x0A11I/AAAAAAAAQmE/11_PaaCEgaooyCE6GzEULuMt5bV9ioCzACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h265/N%2BMichigan%2BParade%2Bof%2BHomes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of the Portland Historical Society</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: times;">Coincidentally, one of these homes is currently on the market with a colleague. <a href="https://leslievjones.remax.com/or/portland/home-details/6106-n-michigan-ave-portland-or-97217/8191292781655378479/M00000531/21310059" target="_blank">6106 N Michigan</a> is a 2613 sq ft, 5 bedroom, 2 bath home , listed for $750,000. The house features o<span style="background-color: white;">riginal period details, hardwood floors, coved ceilings, gas fireplace insert, leaded glass windows. Kitchen w/butcher block counters & nook. Like the current Street of Dreams houses, this house also has a covered outdoor "room".</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KJkxdMuvqE4/YSKF65btJEI/AAAAAAAAQmQ/igYMnAZ9sR8Ik44R1-P4qX0TWQ7TzokWACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/6106%2BN%2BMichigan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KJkxdMuvqE4/YSKF65btJEI/AAAAAAAAQmQ/igYMnAZ9sR8Ik44R1-P4qX0TWQ7TzokWACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/6106%2BN%2BMichigan.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_t1zWPImdcs/YSKF6-NcbOI/AAAAAAAAQmM/pE_JXFdya-kVz8bb_wxhLICzg2_R9lbOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Michigan%2Boutdoor%2Broom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_t1zWPImdcs/YSKF6-NcbOI/AAAAAAAAQmM/pE_JXFdya-kVz8bb_wxhLICzg2_R9lbOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Michigan%2Boutdoor%2Broom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p>Today is the last day of the 2021 NW Natural Gas Street of Dreams. Online tickets may be in short supply. Keep an eye out for the container home and sleeping pods to make an appearance. If y0u're waning more information on 6106 N Michigan, contact me, or the listing agent, Jamie Orr at jamieorr@remax.net.</p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-32282145323946799202021-06-26T08:14:00.005-07:002021-06-26T08:14:57.357-07:00What Seasonal Slowing Looks Like<p> The Portland real estate market has been crazy for the past year. After the initial COVID shutdown, it roared back with a vengeance. There was no normal, seasonal slow down in the summer, and we sped through civil unrest, wildfires and smoke, the winter holidays, an unconventional election, assault on the capitol, snow, ice and widespread power outages.</p><p>Our active real estate market has had many components; high demand, low supply and low interest rates. This resulted in very short market times, multiple offers well over list price (when the list price was priced to recent comparable sales), as-is sales, cash sales, buyers paying the difference between the high sale price and an appraisal at market value, sellers getting up to 60 days possession of their house after closing (at no cost), buyers releasing earnest money to sellers in advance of closing and so on. </p><p>We still have much of that going on. But we are seeing a sliver of what I think is seasonal slowing. This is not a "crash". It's an easing in the rate of price increases. It's fewer multiple offers, and not as high over list price. We see some properties stay on the market for a few weeks. Some buyers are getting the opportunity for inspections. Heck, some are even getting concessions from sellers in inspection negotiations. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BIy0WuM10zc/YNdD_4uo4yI/AAAAAAAAQa0/QU8MlkxexnQzZE3KFNPAt33Pa9rZhbYeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/photoholgic-xFkO2AAKc3A-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BIy0WuM10zc/YNdD_4uo4yI/AAAAAAAAQa0/QU8MlkxexnQzZE3KFNPAt33Pa9rZhbYeQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/photoholgic-xFkO2AAKc3A-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Real estate agents are breathing a sigh of relief as the pressure cooker we've been in lets off a bit of steam. Unless of course, there is a seller expecting the conditions of a few months ago, which may or may not occur for their particular property. </p><p>With a slight shift, comes the education piece (like this 😊). Buyers who tired of getting beat up and out, may want to come back in the market about now. Sellers afraid to sell their home as they might not be able to find a new home, might be able to get an offer accepted contingent on the sale of their current home. And sellers expecting the highest and craziest competition for their listing, may need to revisit those expectations.</p><p>Our multiple listing service releases monthly statistics around the 10th of the month. So in July, we'll see the June numbers. In advance of that, I look at the number of properties coming on the market as compared to the number going under contract (absorption). I look at the market time for properties currently on the market as compared to the market time for those under contract, or recently sold. These are a few of the ways we can get sense of what is happening in the short term.</p><p>We are, after all, cramming two summers into one. Some have backlogs of unused vacation from 2020, and face a "use it or lose it" policy. Many are taking this opportunity to see family they've missed in the past year +. Family reunions, weddings and other get togethers are back on the table. No wonder things aren't as frenzied.</p><p>If you've got questions about your particular neighborhood, house or situation, get in touch. I love talking about real estate.</p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-65310190162958843092021-06-13T09:55:00.002-07:002021-06-13T09:55:51.965-07:00Remember that home inspection?<p>Many of you, who own your own homes, most likely had a home inspection done at the time of your purchase. Quite possibly, information from the inspection was used to negotiate seller repairs or seller credits. And then, you filed it away somewhere, or not. </p><p>That inspection had all sorts of valuable information; how many amps are in your electric panel, how old is that hot water heater? There are also home maintenance tips, suggestions of conditions to keep your eye on, and often repair/scope of work suggestions.</p><p>I know, I know. Life gets so busy when you buy a house. Once the dust settles from your move, digging up that inspection just isn't a priority.</p><p>Until...you're getting ready to sell, and your real estate agent asks if you tended to those inspection items. You might even have gotten a seller credit for a repair you planned to handle once you owned the house. And quite possibly, didn't use that money for the intended repair. You are not alone</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vZAGAtKdZy8/YMY4DgnEdpI/AAAAAAAAQXA/NkJGwV1CO9UxDEkjEXSCVL3ruFmwwk21ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/recha-oktaviani-5tYUk7sZzqc-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1401" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vZAGAtKdZy8/YMY4DgnEdpI/AAAAAAAAQXA/NkJGwV1CO9UxDEkjEXSCVL3ruFmwwk21ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/recha-oktaviani-5tYUk7sZzqc-unsplash.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Don is currently doing some repair work to the south side of our house. That side is exposed to lots of sun and rain, with not much eave over hang for protection. Caulking around the window trim perhaps wasn't kept up as well as it might have been 😬. We're lucky to have avoided moisture intrusion into the walls, due to decent flashing, making this job a bit easier. </p><p>Home repair issues rarely fix themselves, or improve with age. As the saying goes, prevention is the best medicine. </p><p>For many of us, our home is our biggest financial asset, plus...it's home. Give it a bit of love. Dig out that old inspection, or, if I assisted you in your purchase, get in touch. I probably have it in my file somewhere. If you need referrals for tradespeople, I'm glad to send a few along. Contractors are busy these days and construction materials are crazy expensive, so stand forewarned. </p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-18585948138392597082021-05-23T09:26:00.002-07:002021-05-23T09:26:45.034-07:00What is it about "soft-close drawers"?<p> I've noticed of late, there is one feature almost every buyer looks for, or tests in a house. The kitchen drawers. Soft-close drawers. I'm not saying they don't care about other features. But this one feature is consistently looked at; no matter the price or age of the house, no matter the demographics of the buyers.</p><p>Is it a proxy for other features of the house? If they have soft-close drawers does it also mean the house has heated bathroom floor, air conditioning, or a high efficiency furnace? </p><p>Or are folks truly focused on just the soft-close drawer; the ease and lack of sound they offer? Are they really that great? I don't have soft-close drawers, so perhaps have not yet been indoctrinated.</p><p>From a more utilitarian view, there are other things I see in a house, that often reveal more about the house. If the house is a recent fix and flip, but is lacking the required smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, or seismic straps on the hot water heater, I can't help but wonder what else was neglected. Similarly, during a home inspection, a horribly dirty furnace filter can indicate an overall lack of attention to maintenance. </p><p>In valuing a house, I'll admit I don't factor soft-close drawers into pricing. But I do think their presence makes buyers more apt to offer higher on a house. Who knew?</p><p>Is there a feature or a component of a house that provides deeper insight for you?</p><p>And in case you are thinking about adding soft-close drawers? Here's a video from the folks at Rockler. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="379" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hRmdMuwkMbA" width="456" youtube-src-id="hRmdMuwkMbA"></iframe></div><br /><br /><p></p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-48030303857835861852021-05-02T09:47:00.004-07:002021-05-02T09:47:51.861-07:00Update on Portland's Residential Infill Plan - RIP<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DQcpegU6a4o/YI7V6u_nMfI/AAAAAAAAPo4/kZGHjmIZDp4943iIsiLJnmmTyWUkl4VKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s859/Image%2B5-2-21%2Bat%2B9.39%2BAM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="859" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DQcpegU6a4o/YI7V6u_nMfI/AAAAAAAAPo4/kZGHjmIZDp4943iIsiLJnmmTyWUkl4VKgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h213/Image%2B5-2-21%2Bat%2B9.39%2BAM.jpg" title="Residential Infill Plan map" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <a href="https://www.portlandmaps.com/bps/mapapp/maps.html#mapTheme=rip" target="_blank"> </a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.portlandmaps.com/bps/mapapp/maps.html#mapTheme=rip" target="_blank">Residential Infill Map</a><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> The <a href="https://www.portland.gov/bps/rip" target="_blank">Residential Infill Plan</a> has been several years in they making. The overall plan was adopted by City Council in 2020, with refinements and rule making ongoing. A few elements of the plan were put in place in 2020, with the remainder of the plan taking effect on August 1, 2021.</p><p>Depending on the type of project one is working on, some are rushing to submit for permits before August 1st for approval under the current rules. Some are holding off until after August 1, to take advantage of benefits of RIP.</p><p>The overall plan is quite complicated (as planning in Portland tends to be). The plan has some re-zoning, some new overlay zones, limitations on building size and more options for increased density. The plan, as you might imagine, has been quite controversial. From what I can tell, it limits large houses, allows for higher density, especially for affordable housing, and has a focus on neighborhood livability. </p><p>The size limitation is certainly one of the more controversial elements. The plan uses different floor area ratios or limitations (FAR), depending on the type of housing being built. For example, in a R5 (one unit per 5000 sq ft) zone, a single family home would have a FAR of 0.5. Meaning the above ground floor area of a single family home would be restricted to 2500 sq ft. Keep in mind, this is not the foot print of the house, but the total sq ft above ground. In the same zone, if one were building a duplex, the FAR would be 0.6, allowing for a total of 3000 sq ft in the two dwellings. And for a triplex, the FAR will be 0.7, or a total 3500 sq ft in the three dwellings. And, a single family home would not be allowed on a double lot.</p><p>For neighborhood livability and cosmetic considerations, the city will look for front doors to be positioned closer to the ground and will allow larger/deeper eaves extending into the set-backs. Most parking requirements are also being eliminated.</p><p>If a project contains three or more units, one will be required to be "visitable" by folks with mobility challenges. Think of it as ADA lite. One unit will be required to have a zero step entry, and to have a restroom and living space on the ground floor. This isn't full on ADA, but an effort to make more of our housing welcoming to those with mobility challenges.</p><p>With increased density, there is a concern about our tree canopy. That is, will there be enough room on lots, to accommodate a vital tree canopy into the future?</p><p>As with many plans and initiatives in Portland, some think the City is over reaching, and others believe they haven't gone far enough. With the RIP, some think the allowance of developing additional dwellings on residential lots is giving "the developers" a gift. Builders and developers I have spoken with see the 2500 above ground square footage limitation as a real hinderance to their business model. </p><p>What do you think?</p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-31705373207045268392021-04-05T19:12:00.000-07:002021-04-05T19:12:01.510-07:00Can you just sell it yourself?<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qgdNFqTDJ2Y/YGXtKeEzTOI/AAAAAAAAPhw/ifkSzLf7HZsXct3bEdCRCUtezS_EJMNOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s702/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-04-01%2Bat%2B8.55.10%2BAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="518" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qgdNFqTDJ2Y/YGXtKeEzTOI/AAAAAAAAPhw/ifkSzLf7HZsXct3bEdCRCUtezS_EJMNOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-04-01%2Bat%2B8.55.10%2BAM.png" /></a></div><br /><p>As usually happens in a strong sellers' market, many sellers choose to avoid paying a commission, and sell their property themselves. I get it. Real estate fees can feel hefty, and while they are paid on the gross sales price, a seller is paying it from their equity; usually less than the sales price.</p><p>In some cases, sellers can successfully sell their property without incurring risky liability. The fallacy though, is that getting one willing and able buyer is the main job of a realtor, and that a busy market makes that easier. </p><p>Yes, in this market, getting a willing and able buyer is pretty easy. Knowing how to use timing, property condition and access to maximize not only offers, but quality offers, is a different story. How long do you leave a property on the market to get "good" offers? Is there a preferable time the week to put a home on the market? If its so easy to get a buyer, do you really have to allow lots of showings at what might be inconvenient times? How do you evaluate multiple offers (hint, the highest offer may not be the best offer)? Can you steer clear of fair housing issues while representing yourself? How and what information do you disclose to a buyer, and when?</p><p>These questions are just about marketing and getting offers. Never mind the prep work that can go into getting a listing ready; home energy score, staging, cleaning, professional photographs, video walk through, floor plans. And what about accepting an offer and putting one in a back up position? Or, working the timing of a sale for a seller; do they need o stay in the property a bit after closing to facilitate their next move? Where are they moving and when? Do they need the funds from this sale to finance their move? If their new property falls through, are they still willing to sell at the negotiated terms?</p><p>As managing broker, I review all the transactions in our office and trouble shoot with agents in challenging transactions. This gives me an intimate look into problem transactions. A few days ago our agent was representing the buyer in a transaction with a for sale by owner. Everything seemed in order, until the sellers found out the purchase of their next home fell through. They no longer wanted to close the transaction they were in. In representing themselves, they had made no provisions to terminate their sale should their purchase fall through. The buyer had spent inspection and appraisal money, and given notice in their rental from which they were moving. That's a mess. An avoidable mess. Both parties are currently being represented by attorneys. </p><p>I haven't even touched on selling tenant occupied properties, condominiums with HOA issues, buried oil tanks and so on. But you get the point. There are cases in which an astute seller can sell their own property, no doubt. Sometimes, the non-arms length transactions fall in this category; selling a rental to the occupying tenant, selling to a relative or neighbor. </p><p>Yes, this is a strong sellers' market and fast moving. Sometimes those dynamics actually make transactions more difficult. If you have questions about selling, or buying in this climate, get in touch. I'm glad to walk you through some scenarios.</p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-74868261983156795102021-03-24T15:19:00.000-07:002021-03-24T15:19:16.014-07:00Sometimes it's the little things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br />While having a distanced beverage with a friend from work, he remarked that he'd been thinking of selling his house and buying another. But, that during his COVID isolation, he'd gotten around to lots of little house projects. Once he painted that small patch on the wall left from the new thermostat, he loved his house again. Mind you, when thinking of moving, it wasn't because of the patch, though certainly it bothered him. He couldn't enunciate exactly why he wanted to move. But once it was fixed/painted, he felt much better about his surroundings. <div><br /></div><div>Clutter kind of works that way for me. I don't know it is bothering me until I get rid of it. Ahh. Its like a breath of fresh air. Same with yard work. I'm not much of a gardener these days, but oh, how much better I feel when the yard is tidy.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think we just get used to the slow dilapidation of things around us. I don't notice the issue because it got that way slowly. The plate in by our shower control came un-secured, so it doesn't line up with the control. This drives me crazy. But not crazy enough to deal with it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KAzdLBAMXyI/YFu4G1QnG6I/AAAAAAAAPfw/VU6LeohbgtgAIAQFcDWPsv8wok6XrJzQACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1136.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KAzdLBAMXyI/YFu4G1QnG6I/AAAAAAAAPfw/VU6LeohbgtgAIAQFcDWPsv8wok6XrJzQACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_1136.jpeg" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Often, when clients get their house all spiffed up to sell, they remark on how nice it feels, and that they should have done the work long ago. And often, during a home inspection , sellers bristle to a repair request with; "its been that way a long time" as if a buyer should be okay just because they (the sellers) have put up with the issue for a long time. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is interesting, that we don't necessarily notice the weight we carry with some of these seemingly minor things. Only realizing, once they are tended to, their effect on us. Have you tended to a nagging chore around the house? Is there one that still bugs you? <br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-36355172049063168252021-03-18T08:32:00.002-07:002021-03-18T08:32:31.038-07:00I love a good puzzle?In the early days of "stay home, stay safe" my daughter and I did a fair number of puzzles. I have always loved puzzles; jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, sudoku and real estate puzzles. I think that's why I like working in real estate so much as there are lots of real estate puzzles.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f9qsf1r_3yY/YFNvbxTy89I/AAAAAAAAPeg/Fk9mrzPg36woyLDE7xPWq_oNjeNjlHXlACLcBGAsYHQ/s1750/photofy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1750" data-original-width="1750" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f9qsf1r_3yY/YFNvbxTy89I/AAAAAAAAPeg/Fk9mrzPg36woyLDE7xPWq_oNjeNjlHXlACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/photofy.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Here are a few examples of real estate puzzles.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>When you need to sell your house, to buy your next house</b>; Navigating this depends on the tolerances of the client; can they stand the stress of two transactions at once? Would they be better off selling, renting for a bit and taking time to find their new home? Does the idea of moving twice drive them mad? Solving this puzzle is about tolerances and the market. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>When you have a certain amount of resources (time and money) to fix up the house for sale</b>; what projects need to be done from a repair point of view, what projects bring the most return, what projects will appeal the most to potential buyers? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>We want a rental unit how do we best do that</b>; build an ADU, add an addition to our existing house, keep our existing house as a rental and buy a new home, buy a rental.</div><div><br /></div><div>Real estate puzzles are made up of many pieces: the dwelling, neighborhood, condition, size, resources of buyer/seller, household and life pressures (new baby, aging parent, job relocation). Also in play are market conditions, interest rates, economy, school districts, local property and income taxes, local regulations regarding tenants, energy efficiency zoning and use etc. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>Don and I have been grappling with a real estate puzzle for a few years (puzzles aren't always solved quickly). That puzzle is how to downsize to a dwelling capable of one story living, energy efficient (we're nerds that way), with room for his tools and building materials. We have a variety of resources, though not unlimited, one of which is Don's ability to build or fix most anything. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>There are plenty more real estate puzzles, some solvable and some not. I'm always glad to discuss your particular puzzle. We may conclude it's not solvable at the time, may identify some things to work on to help solve it, or might even solve it neatly and quickly. What kind of real estate puzzle have you been working on?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0Portland, OR 97202, USA45.4807521 -122.642737217.170518263821151 -157.7989872 73.790985936178842 -87.4864872tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-22790875982826532632021-03-02T18:06:00.004-08:002021-03-02T18:06:46.308-08:00NAR's Race and Home Buying in America report<p> </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4_0rRil3Wws/YD7k-6KmVwI/AAAAAAAAPbE/DHFBIXENF_ImogJ75HhAQfCafYyG3nsYwCLcBGAsYHQ/IMG_853192160A02-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4_0rRil3Wws/YD7k-6KmVwI/AAAAAAAAPbE/DHFBIXENF_ImogJ75HhAQfCafYyG3nsYwCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h320/IMG_853192160A02-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The National Association of Realtors recently released their <a href="https://cdn.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2021-snapshot-of-race-and-home-buyers-in-america-report-02-19-2021.pdf" target="_blank">study on race and home buying</a>. The study looks at trends over the past ten years. The majority of year specific data is from 2019, though there is some COVID data also.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Real estate has long been known a major wealth creator for American households. In addition to wealth, research shows: "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat;">Owning a home is associated with better educational performance in children, higher participation in civic and volunteering activity, better health care outcomes and lower crime rates in the communities.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat;">"</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>We also know full well that BIPOC households have been </span><span>systematically</span><span> denied access to homeownership since the concept of </span><span>homeownership</span><span> was invented. This plays out in the disparity of household </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span>wealth between Black and white households. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat; font-size: medium;"><span>In 2019, the average </span><span>net worth</span><span> </span><span>of white households was $188,200, as compared to the $24,100 net worth of Black households. At the same time, the white homeownership rate is 70% as compared to 41% for Blacks. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In Oregon, the white homeownership rate is 65% (lower than much of Amercia) and the Black homeownership rate is 36%. When looking at affordability in Oregon, 46% of white households can afford to buy the average house. Only 22% of Black households can afford that same house.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As you might imagine, in Oregon, Black home buyers finance their real estate purchases at higher rates (93%) than what home buyers. Our current market is flush with cash offers, making homeownership an increased challenge for those financing their purchase. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But get this, in Idaho, North Dakota and South Dakota, there is NO data showing Black home buyers in 2019. whoa.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Montserrat;">Check out the study linked above. I was surprised, in a good way, that single Black women bought homes at a higher</span></span><span style="font-family: Montserrat;"> rate, 31%, than did single white women, 17% ( I know those numbers can tell a variety of stories, and are affected by a variety of factors). </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat;">Do you see anything that challenges your assumptions?</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Montserrat;"> </span></span></p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-34117350053715033272021-02-12T12:38:00.001-08:002021-02-12T12:38:26.086-08:00What does it take to get an offer accepted ?!<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Le_D7bMGdWc/YCbjearADQI/AAAAAAAAPX0/-UFgoIfide4JzVsbRMxHMhhqZkQZSKHFwCLcBGAsYHQ/IMG_1035.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Le_D7bMGdWc/YCbjearADQI/AAAAAAAAPX0/-UFgoIfide4JzVsbRMxHMhhqZkQZSKHFwCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h320/IMG_1035.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p><p>Unless you are a buyer, in the thick of house hunting, or a seller entertaining multiple offers on your house, you probably don't know to what lengths buyers are going to get their offers accepted.</p><p>The short supply of houses has buyers going to extremes:</p><p>-Many buyers are offering 20% or more over the list price.</p><p>-Earnest money, while usually 1% of the purchase price (or more) is often 5%, or more, of the purchase price.</p><p>-Earnest money is released to the seller and non-refundable to the buyer, so even if a buyer doesn't like what came up on inspection, or if the appraisal comes in low, the seller keeps the earnest money. </p><p>-Most often, buyers' offers are subject to buyers' approval of professional inspections within 10 business days. These inspections might include a scope of the sewer line, testing the air inside the home for radon and searching for underground oil tanks and/or testing soil around buried oil tanks. In the interest of getting their offer accepted, many buyers are waiving some or all of these inspections. </p><p>-Financed transactions are subject to the independent appraisal value being equal to or greater than the agreed upon purchase price. Some buyers are offering to increase their down payment to make up any gap between the high sales price and a lower appraisal.</p><p>-As our sale agreement reads, buyers have the right revoke their offer (with full refund of their earnest money) within 5 business days of receiving the seller's property disclosures. Buyers are waiving this ability in an effort to make their offer look more solid.</p><p>In addition, buyers will take certain major systems in as-is condition, so the seller need not worry about it coming up in inspection. Buyers also often give sellers up to 60 days to remain in the home after closing, paying no "rent" to the buyers. And, some buyers let sellers leave whatever garbage, debris and personal property the sellers no longer want.</p><p>And then we see some very creative efforts; give the sellers a week at the buyers vacation home (Oregon Coast, Hawaii, etc). Buyers pay for a home warranty to cover the property during the sale/escrow period, buyers have goodies (wine, pizza or flowers to name a few) delivered to the sellers at the time they know sellers are reviewing offers. This last one has, at times, back fired, with the sellers feeling stalked or pressured. </p><p>Crafting an offer that a buyer is comfortable and able to fulfill can be a bit like threading a needle; how much could they increase their downpayment to make up for a ow appraisal? What inspections are they truly okay with forgoing? And what other enticements might work? </p><p>In general, from a seller side, the seller isn't always basing their decision on top sales price. What a seller usually wants is a good price, from the buyer who really will perform on this property, with a minimum of hassle or drama. An intricately written sale agreement, weaving the buyers' abilities and sensibilities, can be off putting. Most sellers will favor a cash offer (no appraisal) waiving all inspections and to the timeline of the seller's choice (quick close? long close? post-closing possession?).</p><p>All of this is happening, mind you, under quick timelines. Most houses hitting the market these days will have a deadline for offer submittal. Even getting in to see a popular house can be challenging as our online scheduling platform can quickly run out of available appointments. It is rare for a buyer to get a second look, before putting together one of these aggressive offers. </p><p>First time and lower income buyers are at a real disadvantage. Many of the above mentioned concessions rely on the buyer having a financial cushion to absorb the liabilities that might arise. Buyers with low down payments don't have the extra cash to bridge a low appraisal, pay for an unseen property condition issue, or lost earnest money. </p><p>Real estate is often a stark lesson in the "haves" and "have nots". </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-82532886784287895312021-01-31T09:43:00.002-08:002021-01-31T09:43:31.126-08:00"Good Schools"<p> </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h2f9NXSL1gY/YBbredqm0uI/AAAAAAAAPVg/1oBNqZ9n6tMS_h-RYHoa1v7c5RcDOq02QCLcBGAsYHQ/element5-digital-OyCl7Y4y0Bk-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="2048" height="283" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h2f9NXSL1gY/YBbredqm0uI/AAAAAAAAPVg/1oBNqZ9n6tMS_h-RYHoa1v7c5RcDOq02QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h283/element5-digital-OyCl7Y4y0Bk-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>As you might imagine, when working with buyers, especially those new to our city, "good schools" are often on their list. Realtors have long avoided steering buyers toward or away from specific schools. We do though, try to know a bit about the schools in the communities in which we work. That's part of our service, right?</p><p>There are websites and services that rank schools, usually on test scores; some adding in student/teacher ratios. Directing buyer clients to these sites helps us avoid the appearance of steering or modern day redlining. And folks have long accepted test scores as a proxy for "good schools". Are these really good schools? Test scores usually show us who goes to the school, rather than anything about the actual school.</p><p>"Good schools" can mean different things to different people, so let's not assume we share a common interpretation of what makes a good school. Strong community? Programs from which my child will benefit or that will engage them in learning? A facility accommodating a special needs student? High achieving students as a peer group or role models? Athletic programs of interest, or a specific coach or trainer? The list goes on. </p><p>"Good schools" can also mean; people like me, high test score schools, schools with lots of resources, schools with families with whom I'd want to associate, schools in "good neighborhoods. And so on.</p><p>As fair housing laws were passed, and thank goodness, the importance of fair housing has finally started to be a value, looking for "good schools" became a way to ask for or steer toward "good neighborhoods" without seeming racist or elitist. Its not that you don't want to live in an integrated neighborhood, you just want the best for your kid, right?</p><p>Let's not underestimate the intensity/vehemence of wanting the best for your kid. As a mother, I was in awe of the strong visceral emotion I came to know as my inner"mother bear". That feeling propelled me to do, and through things I'd otherwise never imagine. And yes, my kid went to a "good school". It was a public school, and in a nearby neighborhood (or even considered lesser than where we live). But admission, at the time she got in, was not by lottery, but by interview, work samples (yes, for an incoming kindergartner) and observations in play groups. And big surprise, the school was not particularly integrated nor inclusive. </p><p>It's kind of the perfect storm; parents propelled to act in the best interest of their kids colliding with often their own values of equity and inclusion. I don't have the answer, and nor do I think the answer is an easy one. But let's recognize when "good schools" or avoiding "bad schools" isn't about the schools. </p><p>If you've not had a chance to watch it, the <a href="https://projects.newsday.com/long-island/segregation-real-estate-history/" target="_blank">Newsday investigation </a>into fair housing and real estate on Long Island is eye opening. "Good schools" makes. star appearance. </p><p><br /></p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-35527139510615532222021-01-13T17:22:00.004-08:002021-01-13T17:22:37.222-08:00Realtors, Ethics and Hate Speech<p> A quick lesson; real estate agents are licensed by the state. Our governing agency is the Oregon Real Estate Agency. Many licensees choose to join our professional association; the National Association of Realtors (NAR). So, not all licensees are Realtors. One must be a member of the professional association (at least here in Oregon) to be a member of the multiple listing service, which is the huge database (and more) through which we "list" and access properties available for sale.</p><p>The National Association of Realtors has long had a <a href="https://www.nar.realtor/about-nar/governing-documents/code-of-ethics/2021-code-of-ethics-standards-of-practice" target="_blank">code of ethics</a> by which one must conduct ones business. The code is changed and updated, carefully, recognizing we do business in varying communities across the country.</p><p>NAR recently made two notable changes to the code, one of which is getting a fair amount of attention. </p><p>Previously, the code's applicability was limited to real estate related activities and transactions involving realtors. So, members could engage in behavior prohibited by the code, if it couldn't be tied to real estate related activity or a transaction. Beginning January 1, 2021, the applicability of the code of ethics reads: <i>"A Realtor shall be subject to disciplinary action under the code of ethics with respect to all of their activities.".</i></p><p>In addition to the above change, Standard of Practice 10-5 was added: "<i>Realtors must not use harassing speech, hate speech, epithets, or slurs based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity."</i>.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/downloadable/equal-housing-opportunity-logo-1200w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="748" height="245" src="https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/downloadable/equal-housing-opportunity-logo-1200w.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I really like this. In expanding the code to apply to all our activities, is the recognition that the housing industry is a far reaching and important part of society. Realtors can have outsized influence in how people access housing and home ownership. The housing industry ( real estate agents, lenders, funders, government loan backers such as Fannie Mae, property managers, developers, city planners) has long stood between, and actively kept protected classes from accessing stable housing. We know housing is a foundational piece of household stability and wealth building from which protected classes have been excluded.</p><p>Tying that expansion of the code to the prohibition of hate speech is the right move. Can someone really spew hate speech with their friends on Friday night and then provide equitable service to protected classes the following day? I don't think so. </p><p>As you might imagine, there are cries of stymied free speech rights, among others things. Some of this fervor comes from not understanding the difference between hate speech and other speech. One could say (not that I would), "I don't support Black Lives Matter". In my mind, this would not be considered hate speech. But if one let loose with the "n" word, it would classify as hate speech. </p><p>I hope some earnest conversations can be had, helping Realtors parse this difference.</p><p>And should you wonder about enforcement, our code is generally complaint based. And regional associations; the Oregon Realtors and Portland Metro Association of Realtors, are required to act on complaints and enforce the code, otherwise, they risk expulsion from the National Association. </p><p>Do you belong to a professional association? And if so, are there behavior expectations or some sort of code? Indeed real estate agents, working with the public and as gatekeepers of the important and universally needed resource of housing, may have a higher bar than your industry. Still I'm curious.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-9572079988640051182020-12-19T09:16:00.004-08:002020-12-19T09:16:39.205-08:00Calm or pitiful?<p> December is usually a busy and bustling time for me. Blazer games, year end business activities, holiday parties, preparations for travel or guests and gathering with dear friends all coincide for a year end crescendo. But not this year.</p><p>Yes, my year end business activities are still happening and we did get a Christmas tree. I'm sending cookies to family with whom we usually gather, and the three of us are planning Christmas (and Don's birthday) celebrations.</p><p>It's SO calm. Oh, believe me, I miss the hustle and bustle. But I'm noticing activities are less emotionally loaded. Heck, no one has been in my home since February, who cares if the tree isn't perfect? Yes, we'll set a nice table for Christmas dinner, but I'm loving the absence of so many "supposed to's" and "have to's".</p><p>I'm thinking a lot about the difference in my attitude and standards. Though we usually gather with close family, there is no reason they'd be judgmental that there aren't a good balance of blue lights toward the top of the tree. It wouldn't really matter that I don't have matching red candles for the dinner table, would it?</p><p>I really need to hang on to this relaxed approach and bring it back next year (we will be able to gather by then won't we?). COVID has taught us all a lot. I hope one of the things I remember is the importance of the connections and the unimportance of perfection.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8Brer8l7yfQ/X941JmRfvzI/AAAAAAAAPQc/H9e59CHThDUWs2uyoCMA705C5voehiH5gCLcBGAsYHQ/IMG_0876.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8Brer8l7yfQ/X941JmRfvzI/AAAAAAAAPQc/H9e59CHThDUWs2uyoCMA705C5voehiH5gCLcBGAsYHQ/IMG_0876.png" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460502134349498856.post-31934885194072631902020-11-19T17:30:00.001-08:002020-11-19T17:30:36.139-08:00Thoughts informed by the Home Builders Association Economic Forecast<p> Last week, I attended the Oregon Association of Home Builders' annual economic forecast. There are a variety of economic forecasts in late fall and early winter. I usually try to hit a few, from differing organizations and perspectives. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tKLLLaBhD9Q/X7cYLAPB6RI/AAAAAAAAPK8/gJuH5JE80rImgEJ2rz1BWfzpy7JNsaJ_wCLcBGAsYHQ/photofy.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1750" data-original-width="1750" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tKLLLaBhD9Q/X7cYLAPB6RI/AAAAAAAAPK8/gJuH5JE80rImgEJ2rz1BWfzpy7JNsaJ_wCLcBGAsYHQ/photofy.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>The two presenters at this event were: <a href="https://pages.uoregon.edu/duy/" target="_blank">Tim Duy</a>, currently a professor of Economics at the University of Oregon and <a href="https://www.nahb.org/Speaker-Bios/Robert-Dietz" target="_blank">Robert Dietz</a>, the chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders. These presentations are always a "drinking from the firehose" experience. Following are my notes, and stream of consciousness thoughts. </p><p>It's not news to me, but a combination of low inventory, low interest rates and high demand is keeping the housing market brisk. Part of the low inventory is builders being cautious not to over build, as many were caught with too much inventory when the last recession hit. We currently have the largest gap ever between the rate of home sales and production. Also different these days, the median price of a re-sale home is higher than the median price of a new home. What?</p><p> High labor costs (due to not enough skilled labor) and difficult access to materials (that are expensive when finally attained) are also slowing construction. Though prices have eased since then, nationally, lumber prices increased 170% between April and September. 170 %. While I know many love to hate builders and developers, keep in mind, these forces also effect non-profit housing developers and those building affordable housing.</p><p>Oregon, and Portland in particular, is one of the most expensive markets in which to build, in the country. The combination of our urban growth boundaries (land is expensive), combined with extensive regulation and high system development charges give us that distinction. According to the NAHB, regulation accounts for 24% of the total construction and land cost of a new home. Some municipalities do waive, or lower SDC charges for builders of affordable housing. It was suggested that, to encourage building, municipalities consider covering the SDC costs, rather than putting them all on builders and developers. </p><p>Oregon (HB2001) and Portland (Residential Infill Project), are both making efforts to increase density within the urban growth boundaries. At the same time, COVID has soured the market for high rise, common access buildings, with the market favoring townhouse style buildings, along with garden style, attached dwellings. The is essentially the "missing middle" housing both HB2001 and Portland's RIP sought to encourage. A favorite quote came from Tim Duy; "Oregonians hate density almost as much as they hate sprawl".</p><p>Work-from-home orders (and losing commutes), combined with the desire for larger homes (work and school from home take more space) is driving many to the suburbs and ex-urbs. Construction costs and land costs are cheaper, and the potential commute of less consequence. It is thought that 60% of those currently working at home due to COVID, will continue to do so for at least three days a week, post COVID. That is, the the five day a week slog into the office will be a thing of the past. This flight from cities may effect the service sector, unless development outside cities adds amenities found in urban areas; restaurants, spas, shopping districts, gyms etc.</p><p>Among others, home builders are hoping for an infrastructure bill from the Biden administration. Such a bill may be one of the few things the Senate, House and Biden administration can all agree on. The thought is that any such bill must address the skilled labor shortage. The NAHB economist said 30% of an infrastructure bill should be about work force development in high schools, community colleges and trade schools. Efforts also need to be made to bring women into the construction trades, as they currently make up only 3% of the construction work force. He indicated builders will need to push for and participate in this effort. I have long felt our high schools need to get away from the singular focus on college attendance, and offer other, better articulated programs in the building, construction and manufacture trades. </p><p>Builders are looking to the Biden administration to reach trade agreements for more reasonable and steadier construction materials. A soft-wood lumber agreement with Canada was sited as an example.</p><p>In general, both presenters thought housing is one of the bright spots of the economy, and could help the economy in a variety of way, especially if supply chain and labor shortages can be addressed. While movement to the suburbs will effect some of the Portland market (high rise condominiums may be in less demand) we are still seen as a refuge for folks moving from more dense and more expensive cities.</p><p>On a personal note, Don and I are at the very early stages of planning a new construction project. It will involve deconstructing an existing rental house, and building a home for us, with one level living, and a garage with an apartment above. We are about to have some up close and personal experience with SDC charges, and the City of Portland's planning, zoning and permit folks. Thank goodness for our experienced architect. And here's hoping those lumber and supply costs come down a bit. Have you run into any supply or labor shortages around construction and home repair? Have you had to replace an appliance and had trouble finding currently available inventory? I'm curious.</p>Leslie in Portlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941912063128841962noreply@blogger.com0