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Thinking Bigger When the Industry is Dismantling

Posted on by Eric Hagstette

Listen here

Recently, I had the privilege of being a guest on the Think Bigger Real Estate Show, hosted by the amazing Justin Stoddart. It was an insightful and thought-provoking conversation, and I’m thrilled to highlight a few key takeaways from our discussion.

In our talk, we explored various chapters, each offering valuable insights into the real estate industry and beyond:

  • “Unlocking Success Beyond Real Estate”: We discussed the importance of thinking outside the box and solving bigger problems to stay relevant in a changing market. It’s all about expanding horizons.
  • “Adapting and Thriving in Changing Times”: We dove into the need for real estate professionals to adapt to new environments and find alternative paths, uncovering opportunities ahead of the competition.
  • “Innovative Strategies to Expand Your Real Estate Business”: Discover how finding your niche and thinking big can transform your approach to the industry. It’s about looking at the broader picture of housing, beyond just closing deals.
  • “Solving Bigger Problems and Networking for Success”: We explored the significance of tackling significant housing issues, such as affordability and homelessness, while networking with influential individuals who can guide opportunities your way.
  • “How Real Estate Professionals Can Drive Change and Attract Opportunities”: We discussed the power of industry participation, believing in oneself, and providing value to the public, not just buyers and sellers.
  • “Simplicity, Openness, and Giving: The Keys to Expanding Your Real Estate Horizons”: Find out how simplicity, sharing even the most basic information, and giving back can lead to growth and success.

I’m genuinely excited to share these insights with you, and I hope you’ll find them inspiring. You can listen to the full episode right here.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. I look forward to sharing more thought-provoking conversations and insights with you in the future.

Warm regards,

Eric

My 3 favorite fall hikes within an hour of Portland

Posted on by Jessica Andrus

Chasing Autumn’s Palette:  My top 3 hikes

As summer gracefully yields to the crisp embrace of autumn, the Pacific Northwest becomes a tapestry of vibrant colors, making it the perfect time to embark on memorable hikes. Among the region’s many gems, Silver Falls, Salmon River Trail, and Latourell Falls are a must-see!

These are truly some of my favorite fall hikes and I am excited to share them with you!

1. Silver Falls State Park: Nature’s Masterpiece

(Photo taken this past weekend!)

Silver Falls State Park, located in Oregon, is renowned for its magnificent waterfalls and lush forests. The trail takes you behind two falls that are the perfect backdrop for photos. At the right time of day, the sun hits the trees perfectly to show off the vibrant colors of the forest.

Here are two options for choosing your best trail experience:
A. Trail of Ten Falls: The crown jewel of Silver Falls, this 7.2-mile loop trail introduces hikers to a mesmerizing array of waterfalls, including South Falls, which cascades amidst vibrant foliage. The trail’s moderate difficulty level makes it accessible to all.
B. Maple Ridge Loop Trail: For a shorter, family-friendly hike, the 2.5-mile Maple Ridge Loop Trail offers panoramic views of the forest canopy, highlighted by the fiery hues of maple trees.

2. Salmon River Trail: A Wilderness Retreat

Salmon River Trail in Oregon is a hidden gem that comes alive with autumn colors. This family-friendly trail takes hikers deep into the wilderness, providing a serene and remote hiking experience. If you go at the right time, you can see the Salmon spawning in the crystal-clear water!

The Salmon River Trail offers a family-friendly 5.2-mile hike with breathtaking views of the Salmon River, which is surrounded by towering trees adorned with golden and red leaves in the fall. As a less frequented trail, you’ll have the chance to immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature, with the soothing sound of the river as your constant companion.

3. Latourell Falls: A Columbia Gorge Beauty

Latourell Falls, located in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon, is famous for its stunning single-drop waterfall and vibrant fall foliage. Make sure to hit this trail early to avoid crowds.

Here are two options to get the most out of your experience:
A. Latourell Falls Loop: This moderate 2.4-mile loop trail provides a close encounter with the 224-foot Latourell Falls, framed by a backdrop of striking autumn colors. Once you pass the 2nd waterfall, you will climb to views that are unmatched in the Columbia River Gorge.
B. Latourell Falls: This easy .23-mile hike is perfect for your family of all ages to get a gorgeous view of the falls and see all the Autumn colors with giant golden leaves. Make sure to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy in Guy Talbot Park after your hike.

 

Tips for making your hikes worry-free:

1. All of these parks require a day-use pass for $5. You can also purchase an annual NW Forest Pass and/or a State Park pass for $30
2. Dress for the weather, layers are best during this time of year.
3. Leave no trace. Please pick up after yourself and your pet (No dogs allowed at Silver Falls)

As the Season changes, the Pacific Northwest’s hiking trails beckon with their enchanting beauty.
Silver Falls, Salmon River Trail, and Latourell Falls are just a few of the region’s gems that offer
unforgettable fall hiking experiences. Whether you seek the grandeur of waterfalls, the solitude of
remote trails, or the charm of single-drop cascades, these destinations promise a symphony of
colors and a deep connection with nature. So, put on your hiking boots, grab your camera, and
immerse yourself in the wonders of autumn in the Pacific Northwest.

What are your favorite hikes?  Reach out, I would love to hear from you.  As an avid hiker and Oregon native, I love sharing my favorite gems.

10 Favorite Campgrounds Near Portland

Posted on by Marika Feibel

Summer is winding down so if you haven’t gone camping yet, consider these spots if you’re looking for unforgettable outdoor experiences and a chance to connect with nature. Whether you crave the serenade of flowing creeks or the tranquility of forests, this blog is your ultimate guide. From breathtaking scenery to meticulously maintained facilities, each campground offers unique highlights that set them apart. Let’s explore our top 10 favorite campgrounds near Portland.

#1 Columbia River RV Park

Located 10 miles north of downtown, Columbia River RV Park is a premier site for RV campers. All comforts of home are offered in this well-appointed park for a comfortable stay.

There are plenty of spacious sites with full hookups, on-site laundry facilities, Wi-Fi, a recreation room, showers, and clean restrooms. Moreover, over-35’ and pull-through sites are available, and extra-long RVs are welcome.

One main highlight of this RV park is its proximity to some of the top attractions in Portland, including Owens Sports Complex, Columbia Children’s Arboretum Park, and Portland International Raceway. Daily rates are $46 (economy, small, medium, and large sites) and $52 (pull-through and premium sites).

#2 Barton Park Campground

Source: https://www.clackamas.us/parks/barton.html

To those who want to take a break from the busy city and get reconnected with nature, Barton Park Campground which is located on Clackamas River is the ideal destination. The campground has 112 campsites, including 103 sites with electric and water hookups.

Aside from camping, this unique park features hiking, event amenities, multi-day use amenities, and various river recreation opportunities. A boat ramp, picnic tables, a playground, fire rings, flush toilets, a dump station, showers, restrooms, and drinking water are available within the campground.

Families with kids can enjoy a game of horseshoes. The park is also a favorite spot for hiking, boating, and fishing. Campsite rates range from $21 to $81 per night.

#3 Cascade Locks/Portland East KOA Holiday

Cascade Locks KOA, nestled in the heart of Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts looking for an unforgettable camping experience. This campground, with its prime location and modern amenities, provides a relaxing atmosphere and easy access to countless exciting activities and natural wonders.

The campground boasts forested tent sites, cabins, deluxe cabins, and full hookup RV sites. Firewoods, bike rentals, a pool, propane, Wi-Fi, cable TV, a hot tub/sauna, laundry facilities, a gift shop, and a playground are available in the campground.

Campers can enjoy activities in the nearby canyon which includes fishing and hiking. Campsite rates start at $37 avg/night.

#4 Ainsworth State Park Campground

With 6 walk-in tent sites and 42 full hookups campsites for trailers, RVs, and tents, Ainsworth State Park Campground is a hiker’s paradise and tranquil retreat with breathtaking waterfalls. Open mid-March through October, the park is surrounded by mature trees, providing shade for a cozy and comfortable stay.

Campsites are equipped with picnic tables and fire rings. An RV dump station, hot showers, flush toilets, firewood, drinking water, and a playground are also available within the campground. Outdoor recreations include fishing, windsurfing, hiking, kayaking, and biking.

This campground serves as a convenient base when you’re looking to explore the Columbia River Gorge and the area’s historic sites. Campsite fees range from $17 to $26 per night.

#5 Champoeg State Heritage Area Campground

Featuring a distinct combination of recreation, history, and nature, Champoeg State Heritage Areaoffers a scenic landscape of a bygone era. The campground has 81 campsites, including 21 full hookup sites, 54 partial hookup sites, and 6 walk-in tent sites.

There are also 6 cabins, 6 yurts, 3 group tent sites, a bicyclist/hiker camp, and a group RV loop. Hot showers, flush toilets, a dump station, hiking trails, exhibit information, bike paths, disc golf, and an amphitheater can be found in the area. Aside from the hiking trails, there are several historic buildings you can explore.

Champoeg State Heritage Area’s ecologically rich surroundings house over 130 bird species making it an ideal location to appreciate wildlife. This is also the site where the first provisional government in Oregon was formed. Campsite fees range from $21 to $58 per night.

#6 Wyeth Campground

An hour away east of Portland, Wyeth Campground offers 3 group sites and 13 individual sites in a beautiful camping spot surrounded by towering trees. Due to its location, outdoor recreational opportunities are abundant, including scenic drives, hiking, fishing, and exploring historic sites.

Each site includes a fire grill and picnic table. Only small RVs and trailers (less than 30 feet in length) are allowed and there are no hookups available. The campground has flush toilets, hot and cold water, tent pads, potable water, and showers.

The campground is popular in the area so make sure to reserve early. The camping fee is $20/night for one vehicle and single unit and $30/night for a group site.

#7 Gone Creek Campground

Sitting on the edge of Timothy Lake, Gone Creek Campground is surrounded by green, lush forest. This campground has 49 campsites for trailers, RVs, and tents, including 18 pull-through sites.

Water activities like boating, fishing, and kayaking as well as hiking and horseback riding are popular activities in the campground. There are no hookups but each site has a fire ring with a grill and picnic table. Other facilities include a boat ramp, vault toilets, and drinking water.

With its proximity to the lake and other historic buildings in the area, the campground is a popular destination for visitors and locals alike, so make sure to reserve a site ahead of time. Daily/nightly campsite rates range from $26 to $52.

#8 Bayport RV Park and Campground

Bayport RV Park and Campground, adjacent to Scappoose Bay Marine Park, is an idyllic spot that attracts campers with its myriad of activities and scenic surroundings. This campground has 23 RV sites and tents are allowed on paved/gravel areas only.

All sites are 25’ wide and have electricity and water hookups. Park amenities include showers, restrooms, Wi-Fi, and an automated RV dump station. The boat launch fee is included with your site rental but overnight moorage is $17 per night. For those who prefer to stay on dry land, there’s a paved nature trail you can explore or you can just relax on the shore and enjoy the breathtaking sunset.

On the other hand, the campground is a paradise for water lovers. With its proximity to the bay, boating, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and fishing is just a stone’s throw away. Rates are $30 per night.

#9 L.L. Stub Stewart State Park Campground

Just over 30 miles west of Portland, L.L. Stub Stewart State Park Campground offers the best backyard camping experience. With its numerous trails and variety of camping opportunities, this campground boasts 78 full hookups RV sites, 15 cabins, 12 walk-in tent sites, and universal access to several sites and cabins at Dairy Creek.

Each campsite is equipped with a fire ring and table. The campground has flush and vault toilets, drinking water, a playground, hot showers, a visitor center, two reservable meeting halls, and an open picnic shelter. Some of the sites have good shade but all of them are paved.

Outdoor recreation activities include hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and disc golf. Campsite rates start at $11 per night.

#10 Mt. Hood Village RV Resort

Known as Oregon’s premier RV resort, Mt. Hood Village offers a variety of rental accommodations and over 300 wooded RV sites. This particular spot is the ideal destination for all kinds of retreats, large family gatherings, or a simple weekend getaway in the mountains.

Each RV site is equipped with a fire pit, picnic table, and either full or partial hookups. Other rentals like yurts, cabins, tiny houses, and cottages have modern amenities like kitchen appliances, fully equipped baths, BBQ grills, and extended outdoor space. A store, clubhouse, library, game room, playground, fitness center, restaurant, spa/hot tub, WiFi, shower/restroom facilities, laundry facilities, biking trails, and hiking trails in the park.

Explore beyond the campground and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Mt. Hood National Forest. Popular activities include rock climbing and fishing. The site rates range from $70 to $209 per night.

Takeaway

So there you have it, our top 10 best spots for camping around Portland. We hope our guide has given you insightful ideas and inspiration for your upcoming holiday, whether you’re looking for picturesque lakeside views or family-friendly amenities.

The best thing, though? You are welcome to bring your four-legged companions along for the adventure at any of these campgrounds. Go forth and embrace the wonders that await in these boundaries. Happy camping!

What in the World is Really Happening in the Real Estate Market?

Posted on by Eric Hagstette

Watch the video here or read the transcription below (with some edits for clarity)

What’s up everybody and thanks for joining me for this week’s market minute. Now, somehow we found ourselves in 2023 and how we got here I have no idea, but the market is just cruising right along. I’m here to bring clarification to the number one question we’ve been getting from our buyers, our sellers, and those sitting on the sidelines — what in the world is going on in the market out there? We’re getting tons of varying market information ranging from multiple offers, bidding wars, hot market activity, and conversely, price reductions and no market activity. So I can totally imagine how this conflicting information would be confusing to the layperson who’s trying to make sense of the market.

So here’s my rundown.  The market is changing on a week-to-week basis. It’s very important to pay close attention and rely on a professional to navigate these waters for you. The feds are manipulating interest rates, not mortgage interest rates, but the federal interest rates have a lot of the people watching the news concerned about what’s going on out there. Now, while mortgage interest rates are volatile, we’re still creating wins every week for our buyers and sellers. How? you ask.  Well number one, our buyers are showing fortitude and sometimes patience as they navigate the market and trust us to use buying tools such as rate buy downs, closing cost credits, concessions, and other negotiations that we haven’t seen others using. And for our sellers, it gets even easier because we still have a low inventory market and so we’re focusing on the basics of listing real estate based on price, condition, and access. If you give us those three or as many of those three as you can, we’re going to create great results for you in the market.

So my lesson to you today is that sidelining can actually cost you money. How? Well, if we all waited for a “hot market” we would all be stymied and frustrated with tight market conditions once again. So if you’re taking yourself off the sidelines in an opportunistic market like today, you may be narrowing your chances of homeownership or making the move that you want in a market that can afford you to move up or down. Now I realize that many of you have low-interest rates locked in. Actually, 65% of homeowners in America are locked in under 3% so we realize the bottleneck that this creates. However, once we move through that and once the market starts easing up we’re all going to be able to move around a little bit better and take advantage of these conditions. So please don’t wait until the market is good because when it’s good for someone it’s usually not good for this other person. Your unique real estate goals and needs are specific to you, not the market. In general, I promise we have a solution just for you. It’s never too early just to call and talk shop. Thanks for reading or listening and I’ll see you on the next one.

Summer Lovin’

Posted on by Alison Derse

June is National Homeowners Month, and homeowners have much to celebrate. Not only is real estate one of the best investments you can make in your lifetime, owning your home helps strengthen your connection to neighbors and community. It acts as a private safe haven, and, if managed correctly, can provide personal and financial stability.

Today, 65.6% of Americans own their own homes, and as a result of the most recent real estate boom, owners are now sitting on record amounts of home equity. What can you do with that equity? Some of the best ways to leverage your home equity include: financing large home improvement projects that may help raise the overall value; consolidating or paying off high-interest debts like student loans or credit cards; purchasing long-term investments like vacation property; funding college-bound children, a wedding, or even a new business venture.

It is always a good idea to consult with your lender and/or financial advisor to ensure the best course of action. Tapping your home equity in a proper and constructive manner can be a highly effective way to further build your personal wealth.

 

Market Update: June 2021

It’s hard to believe but the average sales price of Portland homes just keeps spiraling higher and higher, up an astonishing 18.9% from last June. The insatiable buyer appetite is gobbling up well-positioned inventory whenever it appears, in shorter amounts of time, and often for over the asking price which continues to be terrific news for sellers. With historically low interest rates, it’s actually more affordable to buy a home today than at any time in the past eight years. Rates are still above the record lows we saw at the end of 2020, but they are better than the slight spike in February and March of this year. Buying while mortgage rates are this low many help save you money over the course of your home loan.

 

Local Getaway: Beavercreek

My wife and I recently celebrated our wedding anniversary with a weekend in nearby wine country. Located just 20 miles south of Portland in Beavercreek, we found one gem of an AirBnB on a small family farm and vineyard bordering an old growth forest. We were hosted by a very kind family in a beautiful and thoughtfully designed passive solar home complete with a magical garden, cedar hot tub, in-house massages, home-cooked meals, and of course, some fantastic pinot noir. Anyone looking for a tranquil getaway in a gorgeous setting, let me know and I’ll spill the beans on the listing.

If you’re looking for a little more data, reach out for a custom analysis to support your personal real estate goals. I am always available to help answer any home related questions you may have.

Unlocking Trapped Equity

Posted on by Alison Derse

Did you know that your home can be an excellent source of funds? Tapping your home equity can be a low-cost way to borrow large sums at favorable interest rates in order to pay for home projects or debt consolidation. Home equity debt is not a good way to fund recreational expenses or routine monthly bills.

You’ll want to choose wisely how you utilize these funds, but given the incredibly low interest rates, now would be a perfect time to consider this option. Here are some of the most common ways to access the equity in your home: a Second Mortgage or Home Equity Loan, a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC), and a Cash-Out Refinance. Here’s a link to the differences between these options. The best option for you will depend on your financial situation and future plans.   

The smartest strategy for accessing your home equity really depends on what you want to do with the money. Some examples are: lump-sum expenses or debt consolidation; home improvements or starting a business; pay-off high interest loans or credit cards. These options can be extremely helpful for anyone saddled with unexpected financial challenges. Home equity debt can also be a good way to invest in the future. The key is to make sure that you are borrowing at the lowest possible interest rate. Rates are now at historic lows.  

A Cash-Out Refinance was a personal option for my wife and myself. As interest rates started to decline, we opted to refinance our first home, which we still own. We were able to pay off some credit card debt, and more importantly, we were able to use some as a down payment toward the purchase of a second home.  

If you’d like to learn more about what your current home value is and how to make it work for you, I’d love to be a resource for information or to connect you with a mortgage advisor to help you unlock some of the equity in your home.

Impressions of Home

Perhaps some of my fondest childhood memories are from our family home in La Cienega, a rural community just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The home itself was a traditional adobe with a maze-like floor plan, flag-stone floors, creative built-ins and seven fireplaces! None of the fireplaces had dampers (= bad energy score!) and there was a cracked viga (traditional wooden beam) that worried us all … gotta tend to those home repairs! But what captured me most was the surrounding 2.5 acres and beyond. Running alongside the home was an irrigation canal filled with pollywogs and wild spearmint. Next to the canal an enormous cottonwood tree and treehouse with a perilous entry over a cliff. We had endless dirt hills for forts and Big Wheels and a creek where we’d build dams and go fishing. It was a truly magical place to grow up.

La Cienega, New Mexico • 3 bed 2 bath 7 fireplaces 3658 sq. ft. 2.5 acres.
This house was purchased for $43,500 in 1975. Now valued at $471,000.
The purported interest rate back then was near 9%.

My father once arranged for my sister and I to play Zoolander and model some clothes for a Japanese children’s fashion magazine called SESAME. The photographers chose our home as a backdrop for many of the photos. Below you can see the sketchy treehouse above the cliff and irrigation canal and an old claw-foot bathtub my parents eventually installed in another home. I don’t recall receiving any dough or threads for my hard work, and I can guarantee you I haven’t dressed this well since. Just glad they captured my happy mug!

 

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about what your home equity can do for you.

Ways to Support Our Black Community

Posted on by Eric Hagstette

Silence is Violence. That statement on a protester’s sign really hit home. By sitting on the sidelines and not voicing our collective outrage, we are perpetuating racism. Our greatest tool is our voices — not quietly commiserating, while keeping our mouths shut. We have the power to vote for the right leaders, raise children that celebrate differences, hire the right people and support our community’s Black and minority run businesses (to name just a few). 

I have compiled some of the many resources shared with me. Here are a few of the things we can do right now in our fight for social justice-

  1. Educate yourself on what challenges our Black family members face on a daily basis.  Here are a few resources worth exploring:
  1. Sign a Petition (DontShootPDX.org has also put together a list of other petitions and useful resources):

The Color of Change petition that asks Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to block the involved police officers in the George Floyd case from receiving their pensions and from becoming police officers again.  You can also text “Floyd” to the number 55156.

  1. Donate to organizations like your local Black Lives Matter chapter. Other great organizations are:
  1. Support Black and minority run local businesses:

https://mercatuspdx.com/

https://blackpdx.com/

https://iloveblackfood.com/

 

Race and racism is a reality that so many of us grow up learning to just deal with. But if we ever hope to move past it, it can’t just be on people of color to deal with it. It’s up to all of us — Black, white, everyone — no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out.

– Michelle Obama

 

 

Something to Look Forward to this Summer in PDX

Posted on by Eric Hagstette

This is a blog post I have looked forward to writing!  It’s all about simple pleasures these days.  Sauvie Island, for most Portlanders, evokes a special feeling.  It’s a short 10 miles from downtown, but crossing the Sauvie Island bridge and seeing sprawling farmland crowned by the four cascade mountain view (yes, on clear days you can see the top of Mt. Rainier too)–makes you exhale immediately.  For some it’s biking, beach combing, fishing, kayaking or hiking, but the collective draw is the farms.  Picking berries, stone fruit and flowers, hayrides, summer concerts, sipping wine and beer while dining on food cart delicacies and leaving with food grown by hardworking local farmers.  Summer isn’t complete in Portland without a day on Sauvie Island.

This year I had the ultimate pleasure of helping very dear friends of mine realize their dream of owning a farm on Sauvie Island. It was a complicated and emotional transaction for all, but the end result was relieved and happy clients!  Kruger’s Farm is now owned by an amazing local Sauvie Island family and has been renamed Topaz Farm.  Kat and Jim are two of the smartest, hardworking people I know and their vision for the farm is going to blow your mind.  Think farm-to-plate brunches and dinners, sipping wine, beer, local coffee or strawberry rhubarb lemonade while shopping in the farm store that features their own produce, as well as other Sauvie Island and local products.  They have in-house chefs that create pasta, kale chips, pastries, pies, sandwiches, otter pops, etc., for the farm store using their produce.  They use organic farming practices and plan to be an educational farm.  They’ve partnered with the Sauvie Island Center to create camp and field trip opportunities for our schools.  They are creating a bee wheel garden (the first of its kind on the west coast) and have all kinds of plans for future enrichment programs.  They’ve accomplished all this just since they purchased the farm in January.  Can you imagine what the future holds?!!

Of course COVID-19 has changed a few things, but visiting a farm and getting outside isn’t one of them.  Don’t we all need a change of scenery!  There are some things that are on hold right now and Topaz Farm is following a very strict COVID-19 policy to keep their customers and employees safe.  Follow them on Instagram or Facebook to stay up-to-date on berry picking calendars, farm-to-plate dinners and possibly a creative summer concert series.

When you visit Topaz Farm you will likely meet the whole family.  Their daughters Maggie and Odessa work right alongside of their parents.  Kat’s brother, Peter is working tirelessly to build all sorts of new farm features (clever mobile farm store displays, new pens for the animals, etc).  I know they will be pleased to make your acquaintance (tell ‘em we sent ya!)

My wife and I had the pleasure of visiting the farm on opening day, May 27th.  Enjoy some of the photos from our visit.

       

 

Adventures in DIY Gardening

Posted on by Eric Hagstette

Every spring, most of us find ourselves taking on projects as we come out of hibernation. This spring, while a bit different, is allowing us more time at home to clean our closets, organize, train for a marathon, or…go a bit crazy in the yard. Let me take a moment to say that Portland has some of the finest gardens in the world. One of my friends from Seattle even called our city’s favorite pastime “competitive gardening”. Personally, I have a list of outside projects to keep the family busy for a long time. In order to re-motivate myself and hopefully inspire others, I am going to share my backyard story from last spring. Keep in mind that each paragraph below is a weekend or 2 of actual labor with 2-4 workers.

On a fine April morning in 2019, I decided to take my coffee outside and hang out in the backyard. To my horror, the months of showers brought a jungle of waist high weeds, growing out of what I had thought to be a mulchy, forest floor under a Doug Fir. One of the reasons my significant other and I had purchased the house was to have awesome outdoor space, and we knew it was going to take some time and effort. Here was our first big project! My sweetie took a quick look at the mess and decided to fast track the project (he’s a bit meticulous and likes to keep very busy). We had been discussing a Japanese garden for months, so he sketched out a design on our son’s graph paper, and I called my parents to let them know we could use their help (they are the true green thumbs. I am a rookie).

Our first stop was The Home Depot, to find something to outline our path through the garden and keep the rocks we would be bringing in out of the mulch. We chose black plastic edging, about 4.5 inches in height. A 60-foot roll of this is about $30, and we would need 3-4 of them. There were other attractive options, but this was the right price. Digging mini trenches for the edging was a bit of a workout. We found that dragging a hammer in the dirt helped “bulldoze” a bit of a path in which we could then partially bury the edging. We also grabbed a few rolls of weed barrier fabric to lay down on the path where the gravel would eventually be. This was a very good move. I cannot imagine how much more we would have to weed if we had not done so.

Now it was time for some of the planting fun! We chose a few beauties to be focal points in the garden, including a Japanese maple, weeping blue cedar, bonsai and a pink hydrangea and rhododendron. Additionally, we planted a handful of ferns and grasses in groups of 3. We are fans of not over planting and giving everything room to grow. These were purchased from multiple Eastside businesses including Portland Nursery, and Tony’s Garden Center. After a bit of deliberation on where to place the plants, the digging commenced.

With the plants in place, it was time to purchase mulch and rock. Lucky for us, fabulous Mount Scott Fuel is right up the street. If you have access to a pick-up truck you can avoid paying for delivery.  They will load the product right into the bed of your truck, saving you quite a bit of money. We did this and found it easy to shovel out of our truck directly into the wheelbarrow that we borrowed from our awesome neighbor. Ultimately, we bought 3 yards of mulch, and had to make multiple trips to do so. (Caution-Do not overload your vehicle. Check weight limits)! Prices range from $32-45/yard if you pick up, and $100-130 if delivered. The following weekend was a similar routine, this time to purchase 2 yards of river rock. There are many different types of rock here, and you can check out samples in the office, and go into their yard to look at the big piles and get a different perspective. We opted for what I would call medium sized for ¼-¾ inch river rock to minimize gravel being tracked into the house. Our choice was very reasonably priced at $40/yard. Delivery would have been $115 for one yard, with discounts for 2 plus yards. Hauling the rock to the backyard was a bit more strenuous than moving the mulch, so it was helpful to have our strong 14-year old son around.

One of our final tasks on the project was to produce our own concrete circles in the path. My partner had a bit of experience working with concrete from his previous house, and he was excited to put his cement mixer to use again. To create the large circles, he constructed molds out of fiberboard and we placed them in the empty path. Then the concrete was mixed and poured in multiple batches. We made the small circles off to the side and simply placed them in the path after they were dry, and then finished filling in the river rock.

We spent a lot of time outside last year, and with spring’s arrival we are planning this year’s project: raised beds and vegetables, perfect for homeschooling and saving money on groceries!

For a video tour of the garden, click here!

COVID-19 Update from Inhabit’s Owner

Posted on by Eric Hagstette

March 31, 2020

The coronavirus is impacting everyone and every business in some way and the real estate industry is no exception.  In many ways we are lucky because our shift to doing things virtually isn’t as big a leap as some businesses are facing.  As a matter of fact, for many years we’ve been able to handle most of the home buying and selling transactions electronically.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, Inhabit is committed to keeping the health and safety of our clients and agents at the forefront of everything we do.  Even before Governor Brown initiated Oregon’s shelter-in-place order, Inhabit launched our Couch Concierge service that brings the entire home buying and selling process to our clients.  Everything from virtual open houses, live video showings with our agents, to virtual contracts and closings.

Our listing clients shouldn’t worry about canceled open houses.  We will create a digital marketing campaign that brings your house to potential buyers all without risking anyone’s health or safety.  Our agents will tailor a showing plan that you feel the most comfortable with.

For our buyers, we are hosting live video tours.  Our agents will walk you through the property showing you every nook and cranny with honest feedback on quality or construction issues they see.  

In-person tours are still an option in many cases when necessary, but with precautions we take very seriously.  We recommend live video tours for anyone that has cold or flu symptoms or concerned about a possible COVID-19 exposure.  This goes for clients, as well as, agents.  Our agents are following the recommended 6 ft of social distancing and strict hand-washing and disinfecting policies.  Our agents provide our COVID-19 Safe Showing policies to clients for review prior to visiting any property in-person so you can make the best decision for your health and safety.

We are a small business that puts the care of our clients and agents first.  I started this company six years ago because I knew there was a better, more innovative way to serve clients.  This is an industry that one-size definitely does not fit all.  Inhabit has always been forward-looking and our size allows us to be nimble in creating services that address changing needs and goals.  We are here to give you the best real estate advice possible, now and into the future.

Yours in health and prosperity!

Eric

2020 PDX Real Estate Outlook from Inhabit’s Owner Eric Hagstette

Posted on by Eric Hagstette

Settle in as Eric Pulls Back the Curtain on 2020 Portland Real Estate

And just like that, it’s February 2020. If someone asked you when you were a kid what you thought 2020 would look like, did you picture this? I visualized space travel, robots, flying cars, lasers and futuristic stuff…not this everyday adulty life gig.

So where the heck did January go? To be honest, the reason my annual market outlook is so delayed is because this January was super busy for the Portland market. Now that I think about it, we were even selling houses right through the holidays as well. Portland may be experiencing growing pains, but the real estate market is alive and flourishing.

Last Year’s Prediction: Nailed it! 

A year ago, I was calling for our buyers and investor clients to get into the market. It was a year of opportunity for our buyer clients after many years of seller-favored, tight inventory conditions. For the first time in a long while, buyers enjoyed shopping the market without urgency & pressure, having more than one house to choose from, price drops, seller incentives, and contingent offers. How sweet it was! Instead of calling it a buyer’s market or a seller’s market, we called it a “broker’s market” as we could make both sides happy by creating win/win transactions for our clients. We could place our buyers in homes without real estate “whiplash” and our sellers were walking away from the closing table with a smile on their face excited to move on in the market. It was a unique time. Everyone was pretty happy. I hope that you or someone you know took advantage of it. 

2020 Current Conditions

The Portland market has always been nimble and this year is no exception. It changed quickly! Midway through  Q4 of 2019, Portland inventory started to dwindle down. Furthermore, most sellers don’t list during the winter and holiday months, so market inventory continued to fall. Despite the BRUTAL Portland weather this winter, the buyers came out of the holidays with a big appetite and gobbled up what was left on the market. The close in Portland neighborhoods currently sit at 1.3 months of housing inventory (in the 450k-700k range).  So the 2020 cycle begins with a fiery combination of low housing inventory, great interest rates, a seemingly healthy economy (with many new jobs coming to Portland) and a rapid erosion of affordability (this pushes buyers further from town to seek more affordable options). The market is behaving accordingly in response to high demand. Demand is being driven to Portland by a combination of reasons: jobs/economy, lifestyle, climate & natural resources, and an affordable option for many West Coast transplants. 

2020 Outlook

Welp….it’s an election year which has a tendency to slow the market. Buyers and sellers that aren’t being pushed into the market tend to sit tight through election times out of fear of the unknown. However, the upcoming election doesn’t seem to be having an impact on the market…yet.  Portland shows resilience when other markets slow. When things have slowed for us in the past, we bounce back quickly (including the recession). Thanks to our urban growth boundary and natural geographic barriers, we don’t have sprawl which has been a saving grace for our unique market. Portland offers jobs plus lifestyle and attracts a wide demographic spectrum of folks looking to call Portland home.  Pair this with a mild climate and abundant natural resources and you have a winner. Therefore, I predict 2020 will continue its low-inventory trend which favor sellers, drives prices and frustrates buyers. We have to be careful with the “drives prices” part though.  Affordability is a major concern. The chasm between the cost of Portland real estate and our median household income seems to be growing. Jobs are coming but wages haven’t caught up and the cost of living keeps climbing. This pushes buyers to outlier markets (Vancouver, Milwaukie, Beaverton, Oregon City, etc). For the urbanites that don’t want to pay for the high priced houses but want to stay in town, they’ll drive demand in the ‘attached’ market (townhouses/condos) which had a slow 2019. This will stabilize pricing in the attached market. Properly priced, well-presented, detached houses from the $200k to $1m range will continue to fly off the shelf. The $1m-$1.5m market is a ‘move up’ market for many wanting to upgrade from their existing home .  This market presents opportunities for buyers to make a great purchase; however, tapping their “trapped equity” from their existing home in order to make this purchase can present challenges (certainly not insurmountable but can be daunting to the client). In surprising fashion, Portland’s upper end market ($1.5m +) is moving at a pace you may find interesting (fast). Of course, these properties need to deliver the full package to fetch the price, but this market segment seems very confident in Portland as a place to make these big purchases. I find these big numbers surprising as I clearly remember how freaked out I was when I bought my first house in Mt. Tabor for $185k. However, like many other places, we are bursting at the seams. The numbers for incoming population growth are staggering which in real estate economics translates to demand. Portland is in high demand which has all but diminished the lower end of the market and made it feel normal to buy and sell very expensive real estate. 

Natural disaster or other non-natural market forces aside, Portland real estate has a very promising future and has always been well-insulated. With all this said, if our local government doesn’t figure out a way to better manage our addiction/mental health/homelessness crisis, Portland may lose its reputation as the “darling” of the Pacific Northwest and no matter how great this city is, many people will choose different markets to call home. Rainy weather is tolerable but corruption and greed are inexcusable especially with what it costs to live here. 

2020 Buzz Words & New Concepts 

iBuyer: Also known as institutional buyers or residential REIT (real estate investment trust): Have you heard the OpenDoor commercials on the radio? iBuyer or ‘instant offer’ is easily the biggest new disruptor in real estate and Inhabit is all over it. iBuyers have come into the market backed by billions of venture capital funds and are buying up real estate that fits in their “buy box”. Homeowners that qualify for an instant offer (and choose to take it), are typically taking a discounted price for the convenience and avoiding the traditional selling route.  As a student of change, I became very intrigued with iBuyer and became certified as an iRep Professional. Our philosophy with iBuyer is “pro-consumer choice”…what works best for our clients. iBuyers are real in today’s market and we want to share all of the options with our clients so they get the most out of their real estate assets. It works for some clients and we can show you how. 

Trapped equity: Many homeowners who have owned their real estate for 5 + years are sitting on a decent amount of equity that is trapped in their real estate. In a tight market, trapped equity can add challenges to a buyer that wants to move up or move down within the market. We’ve found that many people will simply opt out of moving around in the market simply because of the perceived risks and challenges with using the equity in your home to help achieve the daunting buy/sell or sell/buy. There are more layers, but we manage these all the time. In the end, our clients say that it’s worth the effort. 

Concierge real estate services: It is more important than ever for real estate professionals to be a trusted advisor not only throughout the sale, but on an ongoing basis after the sale. Realtors are on the front line of clients’ needs as a sale closes. Concierge real estate service continues after closing where Realtors continue to provide useful resources, information and advice on an ongoing basis. In today’s demanding and competitive market, we are reinforcing our value by continuing to support our clients on all things real estate. 

Final Words

Even though we’re not living in the Jetson-like society that I envisioned as a kid, 2020 is chock full of new and exciting stuff: self-parking, electric cars, virtual reality, and an impressive (and concerning) amount of technology & connectivity. At the push of a button, you can have almost anything you want delivered to your doorstep within hours.  Heck, you can push a button and order up a random Realtor to open up a house for you (but how dare you do that!). Real estate is no exception to the expectation of today’s “now society”. As professionals, our response time must be faster, our knowledge deeper and our ability to navigate this market must be sharp and focused. One thing that technology can’t change, is the human factor that is necessary to create happy buyers and happy sellers in real estate transactions. This is our wheelhouse. We embrace today’s disruptions & technology and use them as tools to enhance our clients’ position and experience; however, we feel more strongly than ever that real estate is a people business and we are here to stay. 

Thank you for your continued support and trust. Here’s to a prosperous 2020!

Eric

Understanding Radon

Posted on by Alison Derse

AND A COOL INTERACTIVE MAP, TOO!

The map areas correspond to zip codes. Click on each for a summary of information about radon in the area. The map areas correspond to zip codes. Click on each for a summary of information about radon in the area.

Radon is dangerous. I think just about everyone knows that. But how dangerous is it? That’s where things start to get a little fuzzy. A friend and colleague recently endured a few months of radon poisoning with almost deadly results. This can happen to anyone that lives in a home with exposure risk. It’s important to understand this deadly gas, why you should be aware of it, and how to mitigate the risk to you and your family.

The State of Oregon publishes an interactive map of indoor radon risk levels that was recently updated. This is a useful tool, but be aware that no matter the risk level in your area, you can still encounter a radon problem.

SO WHAT IS RADON?

You can’t smell it, see it, or taste it. It’s literally radioactive. It is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. But what in the world is this stuff and why does it want to kill us? Let’s go into geek-speak for just a second.

Not the best illustration, but it Not the best illustration, but it’s colorful!

Radon is a colorless, chemically-unreactive, inert gas discovered in 1899 partly by Ernest Rutherford and in 1900 partly by Friedrich Ernst Dorn. It is 9 times denser than air, which is an important factoid to remember. It easily penetrates almost any material in a building, including sheetrock, concrete block, wood paneling, and most insulations.

Radon is naturally occurring in the ground and is the result of the breakdown of uranium present in soil, rock, and water. It occurs in several isotopic forms, of which radon-222 occurs most frequently. When this gas is released into the environment, it results in the formation of decay products that are radioisotopes (a chemical element that has an unstable nucleus and emits radiation during its decay to a stable form) of heavy metals (polonium, lead, and bismuth). These decay products can easily be inhaled because they rapidly attach to other airborne materials (like dust). It also may be ingested if it is highly concentrated in groundwater (well water), but the inhalation of radon is of higher concern.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF RADON EXPOSURE?

Respiratory problems are the most common signs of radon-related distress. These problems can include: a persistent cough that doesn’t get better, difficulty breathing, chest pains, the coughing up of blood, wheezing, hoarseness and recurring respiratory infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Radon exposure can lead to lung cancer.

A lesser known symptom of radon exposure is neurologic issues. Anxiety, memory loss, and depression could be a sign of radon exposure. However, brain health and function issues have many, many other possible causes, so this is not a symptom often mentioned.

Serious effects from high radon levels are cumulative over a long period of time. It’s important to periodically test for radon, but the presence of high radon levels in your home or a home you are thinking about buying is not a reason to panic.

WHERE DOES RADON OCCUR?

Radon is found in every state in the country. If you take a look at the map and find that you are in an area that is considered low-risk, you still may encounter a radon problem. It often enters the home through cracks in floors, cracks in walls, gaps around service pipes, joints between floor and walls, gaps around drains/pipes, etc. You may have no problem at all with radon while your immediate neighbor is dealing with extremely high radon levels.

HOW DO I TEST FOR RADON?

Okay, so this vat is 100% more like the stuff the Joker falls into than it is like radon, but I Okay, so this vat is 100% more like the stuff the Joker falls into than it is like radon, but I’m running out of visuals, here.

Short term, long term, and continuous tests are available for radon. Tests should be conducted in the lowest livable area of your home (remember how radon is denser than air?). If you are considering selling your home, I highly recommend conducting a short term radon test before listing the home on the market. It doesn’t cost much and is very much worth knowing the results before you’re in the middle of a transaction!

Most people start with a short term test to determine whether or not further testing is necessary. The test takes between 2-7 days and are then mailed to a lab to determine the results. These are available at most home improvement stores and online.

Long term tests measure radon levels between 90 days and a year. They are more accurate than short term tests because radon levels can vary significantly from day to day and month to month. These tests are usually available through state agencies and online retailers.

Continuous radon testing devices plug into an outlet and can be used for both short and long term testing. They will give you a running average radon level. These are available from online retailers such as Amazon.

Home buyers: It’s important to note that if you purchase a home in summer and conduct a radon test, you should conduct another test in winter when radon levels are more likely to be an issue.

SHOULD I TAKE ACTION?

One out of every 15 homes in the U.S. have radon levels that should be lowered. Fortunately, reliable techniques exist to reduce radon levels in homes so that almost any home with high radon levels can be fixed. If you have a radon problem, you can hire an experienced radon contractor or accomplish the repairs yourself.

The EPA recommends doing a second test if an initial short-term test registers 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. A long term test is ideal, but you can perform a second short term test if you need results quickly. If the second test results in levels higher than 4 pCi/L, consider taking action to mitigate radon levels in the home.

WHAT CAN I DO TO MITIGATE RADON IN MY HOME OR REDUCE RISK?

Ventilation = good Ventilation = good

It does take more than just sealing cracks in the foundation to mitigate radon risk and/or exposure. Active soil depressurization or fan and exhaust systems have proven to be cost-effective and reliable.

Radon that escapes out into the air is not a problem as it quickly becomes diluted. Therefore, ventilation is key. Ventilation can be increased through opening doors, windows, and vents. Many people like to block their crawlspace vents in winter and/or install additional insulation in their crawlspace. Blocking crawlspace vents provides very minimal energy savings so unplugging these vents and possibly moving some insulation around may be all it takes to mitigate a mild to moderate radon problem. A heat recovery ventilator (air-to-air heat exchanger) can also be installed to increase ventilation.

All information above is provided for educational purposes. It is always recommended to consult a radon professional if you have any concerns about radon in your home.

– Brandi Whitaker

Success with Elevate!

Posted on by Marika Feibel

The Elevate Real Estate Program can transform your life and bank account. With my customized platform, I’ll show you how to use real estate to make smart financial decisions that will pay off and elevate your lifestyle for years to come. My mission is to help clients achieve financial freedom from their real estate investments while providing outstanding customer service throughout the process.

If you look at economists’ charts on real estate investments you’ll find that, when considering real estate as a long term investment, you can earn investment income for yourself to help prepare for other areas of your life such as retirement.

About 10 years ago Rebecca Ostrom reached out and was interested in learning more about the Elevate Real Estate Program to earn money for retirement. When we met initially we discussed her options and what she was comfortable with. Together we came up with a game plan to purchase a property that she could use to generate revenue. As her trusted real estate adviser I was by her side every step of the way and I’m beyond pleased with her outcome.

“Opportunities for growth can often be the positive outcome of unanticipated changes in life. With equity in hand from the sale of a jointly owned property I purchased a home with long term residency in mind. After a few years and as the result of a robust housing market I began to reconsider my options. I discussed with Marika if it seemed feasible to purchase a condo as my primary residence and then retain my current home as a rental property. She encouraged me to explore and suggested I discuss financial strategy with a trusted lender. I did just that and went on to purchase the condo. I began to once again seek change and hoped I might benefit from the continuing boom in the housing market. I consulted with Marika and within a five-year period was able to profit from the sale of both properties and grow my assets with limited tax implication. This investment approach boosted my retirement savings and provided another resource in order to grow my nest egg further. I look forward to the next real estate adventure with Marika and the opportunity to once again benefit from her wisdom, encouragement, and stellar work ethic.”

– Rebecca Ostrom

The Elevate Program has shown a consistent success rate with my clients and it can help you too! Rebecca’s story is just one. Helping her secure a nest egg for the future was very rewarding for me. Knowing that there’s money set aside if something should come up is comforting. If you’re interested in learning how to navigate this system please call or email me today! I would love to discuss some options with you and see how we can get the ball rolling on your financial goals.

-Marika Feibel

Portland Zoning Changes

Posted on by Alison Derse

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW (AND PROBABLY A BIT MORE)

The joy of understanding zoning. The joy of understanding zoning.

Depending on whether or not you’ve received snail mail concerning zoning changes, and depending on whether or not you read the fine print, your Portland home may undergo a change of zoning next year. This leads to a lot of questions and one very important piece of advice:

  1. Why is the zoning changing?
  2. When does the new zoning take effect and who does it impact?
  3. Where can I go for more information?
  4. Can I stop the change or change my current zoning?
  5. How does zoning work?
  6. What does this mean for home buyers and sellers?
  7. Most Important Advice Ever

1. Why is the zoning changing?
For the past ~8 years the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) has been working on a new Comprehensive Plan for the City of Portland. This is a long range (20 year) planning tool that sets the framework for physical development in the city. Most of the legislative work is done but there are always additional projects in the works that you can comment on and provide testimony for (such as Central City 2035).

2. When does the new zoning take effect and who does it impact?
Approximately 24,000 homes will be affected by the zoning changes (including yours truly!). These changes are going to be effective on January 1st, 2018. However, there is the possibility that it could go into effect later than this date depending on the state acknowledgement process.

3. Where can I go for more information?
To find out whether or not any particular home will undergo a zoning change, you can visit this website. To find out what your current zoning is, visit this website and enter your address. Feel free to contact me for help and any questions you might have.

4. Can I stop the change or change my current zoning?
There’s no way that I know of to stop the zoning change if you are part of this particular update because it was adopted by the City Council in December of 2016. However, zoning changes all the time and there are a lot of factors to consider if you think your property should be zoned differently.

While your current zoning may not allow for the development that you want, your property may be part of future zoning changes (comp plan). If so, you may be able to go through a quasi-judicial process to apply for a zoning change which will have a good chance of success. Otherwise, you can apply for a change of zoning but there is absolutely no guarantee of success. Either of these processes carries a high cost and should be carefully considered. Input from professionals is crucial.

5. How does zoning work? (high level overview)
Your base zone may be something like R2.5 or R5. R means residential and the number corresponds to the number of units that can exist per thousand square feet (2.5 = 1 unit per 2500 square feet). Except when it doesn’t… don’t ask. It can be more complicated than this based on other rules, such as location (for instance a corner lot may allow for more density) and overlay zones (such as design overlay zones that require certain design elements). Specific overlay zones, plan districts, and other regulations will all impact the development potential for your property.

Zoning is (unnecessarily?) complicated so don’t expect to understand everything just from knowing what the code is for your zone. You can consult your realtor for help to better understand your situation.

This is a zone map of a little piece of Portland. You definitely do not need to understand what all this means. This is a zone map of a little piece of Portland. You definitely do not need to understand what all this means.

6. What does this mean for home buyers and sellers?
For buyers and sellers, zone changes can certainly impact the highest and best use for your property. A change from R1 to R5, R10 to R20, etc. may mean that a property no longer has the development potential it once had. Or the property may be changing to allow for higher density development. For a seller, knowing and understanding the current and planned zoning is crucial.

For buyers, understanding the zoning of both the home that you are interested in, as well as all the neighbors, can make a huge difference in whether or not it makes sense to buy the property. For instance, the home you are wanting to buy might be zoned for lower density residential but the corner lot next to it may be zoned for higher density development. Even if that corner lot only has a single level house on it now, it could be developed into a 3-story complex in the future!

Most Important Advice Ever (well, maybe not ever but it’s still good advice)
There’s a lot more to selling and buying homes than listing on the MLS or placing an offer. Find a real estate agent with the knowledge, smarts, and time that will do the work for you to maximize your dollars! (Along those lines, feel free to contact me anytime.)

– Brandi Whitaker

The Oregon Energy Fund: Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Posted on by staff

We recently chatted with Brian Allbritton, the executive director at the Oregon Energy Fund. This is a local non-profit we definitely stand behind because it is a way for neighbors to assist their neighborhood. Here’s a little more about the history of the organization, how it works day to day, and how you can help – it’s easy!

History of the Oregon Energy Fund

The Oregon Energy Fund started in 1989 and has been helping people for nearly three decades. Though it wasn’t always called the Oregon Energy Fund (it was most recently called HEAT Oregon), it has been dedicated to what the organization stands for since the beginning: helping people in crisis pay their utility bills.

Former governor Victor Atiyeh recognized there was a problem in Oregon: there were too many people that needed help that had no recourse. In these cases, people were financially stable enough in good times to make them ineligible to receive federal or state assistance in bad times. Even a minor crisis easily kept them from paying their utility bills.

Mr. Atiyeh, along with several other politicians and energy executives, got together to figure out how to address this need. Now present in each and every Oregon county, the statewide non-profit has been operating without a single government dollar ever since.

Need for the Fund

There are many residents that receive no form of government assistance but would require help should an emergency arise. Emergencies such as big snowstorms, car accidents, or bad illnesses can mean a change in income and even unexpected bills. Fines on unpaid utility bills and reconnection fees for shut-off utilities compound the problem.

The need for emergency utility assistance has only grown since the fund began. Rent increases continue in much of the state, especially Portland, and wages are not keeping up with the cost of living. This is why the Oregon Energy Fund helps roughly 10,000 of our neighbors each year.

How People Get Assistance

The Oregon Energy Fund partners with organizations in each county. These are often community action agencies but are sometimes social services organizations. The organizations are there for the community — they meet with applicants, review needs, and determine eligibility.

Residents receive a one-time grant which the Oregon Energy Fund uses to directly pay the vendors, relieving those in need. The Oregon Energy Fund takes the weight of unpaid bills off the shoulders of people in crisis.

How You Can Help

The Oregon Energy Fund accepts donations and offers an option for recurring donations. You can visit their website to set it up. If you’re looking for a way to help your neighbors that has a very real and significant impact, this is a great and easy way to do it!

By partnering with highly effective agencies in each county, the Oregon Energy Fund can assure you that your money is being used in the most efficient way possible to help those around you.

Your donation ensures that Oregonians have somewhere to turn for help when they need it. Facing a change or cancellation to your utilities is a personal and detrimental problem. Together, we can work to solve it!

Design on a Dime

Posted on by Alison Derse

Many of my home buying clients ask me questions such as “How much will it cost to remodel the kitchen?” or “What do you think it would cost to re-tile this bathroom?”. I always give them same answer – it depends. It depends on a number of different things:

  • Who you hire to oversee the project, if any. Maybe a general contractor is not needed?
  • What finishes you use. Will you purchase a slab of Carrara marble for the bathroom vanity or are you OK with quartz? Maybe a butcher block countertop from IKEA could work perfectly in the kitchen?
  • Who the contractors are that you will use. Sure, companies such as Hammer & Hand are very good at what they do, but they also charge a premium for their services.

Bottom line is, there are ways to cut financial corners without compromising the final outcome of the project. My advice is to pay with sweat equity rather than check equity.

Case in point, the main floor bathroom at my personal home was outdated and not at all suitable for a family of four. There was a pedestal sink that didn’t even have space for a bar of soap. The wainscoting was outdated and there was a laundry chute that was begging for one of our daughters to get stuck in.

With a vision, hard work & a few cuts & bruises we were able to transform the space quickly, and more importantly, on budget.

  • The vanity was purchased on Craig’s List for $200.
  • The quartz surface is a beautiful remnant which cost less than $500 including fabrication and installation.
  • My wife did the plumbing all her myself after a quick lesson from her dad and by watching YouTube videos.
  • At the end of the day, we spent around $3,000 with professional tiling of the shower & wall taking the majority of the expense.

Designing on a budget forces creativity and affords such a sense of accomplishment when the project is complete. We can’t wait for our next design on a dime project!

– Calle Holmgren

What Is the Best Time of Year to Buy a House

Posted on by staff

When the sun’s away, the inspector will… scratch his head?

When is the best time of year to buy a home here in Portland? We get asked that a lot, and it’s a tricky beast of a question. Probably, it comes down to your priorities as a buyer. What worries you most about choosing a “good” house? As the season changes from long, very warm and sunny days into short, rainy, cool ones, there are some challenges that emerge with respect to the inspection process. However, there are also some hidden benefits to a Winter purchase.

Here are some things to consider:

  1. Air conditioning can only be effectively tested when the outside temperature is above 65F. The cooling element will not be fooled into a setting request for 55F when it’s 52F in the yard… or even vice-versa. All the inspector can check is whether the unit powers up and doesn’t make any troubling noises. Similarly, it is difficult to test the “heat” aspect of a “heat pump” on a day where everyone who can be swimming, is.
  2. The roof – or parts of it – may be subject to a “from the ground” inspection if the pitch is significant; the more wet and cold (read: slippery) the conditions, the more likely you’re going to hope the inspector’s corrective vision prescription is up to date, and/or there are a minimum of raindrops on his eyeglasses. That said, if the roof is leaking, you’ll need rain for a sure assessment of where and how much… not to mention for proof to a skeptical seller.
  3. The basement may indeed be dry as a bone whether there are gaping cracks in the earth or tsunami conditions outside. It’s hard to have confidence in August, but you sure will in December!
  4. Do the gutters work? Only the rains will tell the unvarnished truth.
  5. Is the landscaping thriving or dying? A Spring or Summer sale will give you great confidence about the seller’s assurances of great bounty. Almost everybody’s yard looks like a gravesite in February.

When all is said and done, a good home inspector will do the very best they can to sniff out clues during unhelpful seasons or weather conditions. Your Realtor may have recommended them, but it is YOU who hires them. Don’t hesitate to call them ahead of your inspection to ascertain their approaches to air conditioners in November, or to a low-pitched roof that got too icy under a freak storm the night before – will they come back at no charge when the conditions return to normal?

Generally speaking, be informed of, and prepared for the limitations that the seasons can inflict upon a productive examination of everything you want to know about your house – before the deed has your name on it!

As the snow and ice melt away… so do the distressed sales

Posted on by Eric Hagstette

New research from RMLS shows that the percentage “distressed” property sales & listings in our local and regional market continues to dwindle, making up just a small portion of our sales. “Distressed” properties, often referred to as “foreclosures” (technically named REO or bank owned) and short sales (when debt on a property exceeds market value) were certainly a factor in the market a couple years ago. However, in the Portland metropolitan area, urban planning from years past and lack of sprawl have somewhat insulated our property owners from the total devastation that other over built markets experienced as a result of the housing meltdown.

With that said, we continue to hear rumors and rumblings of “the shadow inventory” (the stock piles of foreclosed properties that the banks might be sitting on). Does this shadow exist? Who knows??? But with barely 3 months of housing inventory and the voracious appetite of the buyers shopping the market, we feel pretty good about the stability of our market. At Inhabit, we coach our clients to play by the #1 rule of real estate: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! Purchasing property in the right location should keep you liquid and “in demand” in good markets and bad.

Portland metro when comparing percentage share of the market 2012 to 2013:

  • Comparing ’12 to ’13, distressed sales as a percentage of closed sales decreased from 28.2% to 13.2%.
  • New listings rose from 32,011 to 35,524 which is a 11.0% increase.
  • Short sales comprised 6.4% of new listings and 8.0% of sold listings in 2013, down 5.7% and 4.3% from 2012 respectively as a percentage of the market.
  • Bank owned/REO properties comprised 3.3% of new listings and 5.2% of sales in 2013, decreasing from 10.4% and 15.9% respectively in 2012.

Below is a chart showing  the number of bank owned/REO and short sales in all areas of the RMLS system during 2013.

For more numbers and information, visit http://rmlscentral.com