tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18634435655829421852012-02-03T12:20:00.901-08:00Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.comBlogger1341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-67889422202931789962012-02-03T12:20:00.000-08:002012-02-03T12:20:00.959-08:00

As promised, here's the other painting of the house that is now sold - together with a little bit about the old true south-french village where it is located: Biot.The old centre of Biot is super. A very romantic, friendly French village, with tiny streets that are made attractive with plants and flowers everywhere.I have lived there myself for a couple of years and I loved it! Hence all the

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-79989361050548850412012-02-02T15:00:00.000-08:002012-02-02T15:00:06.462-08:00

English text belowVorige week had ik het al een keer over het sponsoren van "Property Thursday" door Riviera Home Finders. Onze gastheer op die dagen is de onnavolgbare Australische journalist Peter Nugent. Als je Riviera Radio aanzet kun je hem horen als presentator van de breakfast show (7 tot 11 uur) en hij is ook de presentator van de meeste sport items. Maar wie is de man achter de stem?

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-58510467806837172152012-01-30T11:26:00.000-08:002012-01-30T11:26:00.974-08:00

Last week I referred to Riviera Home Finders sponsorship of Riviera Radio's "Property Thursday". Our host during these days is the incredible australian journalist Peter Nugent. If you tune in to Riviera Radio from Monday to Friday you can hear him on the breakfast show (7-11 AM) and he is also the presenter of most sports items. But who is the man behind that friendly voice? Peter James Nugent,

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-79939255986088558792012-01-29T13:03:00.000-08:002012-01-29T13:03:00.254-08:00

Tomorrow Riviera Home Finders has another sales contract signed, sealed and delivered! Again it was our top-agent Jeroen Zaat who did the deal. The new owner as well as the seller will recieve an aquarelle - the one above painted on a piece of hand made, super rough-grain paper.The house is located in Biot (between Antibes and Valbonne) in a quiet residential area. It has a surface of 300 m² and

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-53348474586124850722012-01-28T05:12:00.000-08:002012-01-28T05:12:00.966-08:00

And another painting finished - it is still wet. It will be given by Leo and Karin of Riviera Home Finders to the buyers of this great house in the Var. The sellers get a signed print on aquarelle paper. (And if we have the house in exclusivity they both get an authentic Marina!) As you can see the house is located on the top of a hill - it is the stunning view that makes this villa so attractive

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-91124555311822013342012-01-26T14:02:00.000-08:002012-01-26T14:02:00.533-08:00

Nederlandse vertaling hieronderFor everyone who speaks english and lives in the South of France, there is a very popular radiostation to tune in to: Riviera Radio. They play great music, a mix of old and new hits. The programs are presented by English, Americans, Australians, South Africans and others. It's the kind of radio that makes you feel you are listening to your friends! Of course they

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This villa may strike you as modern, but it has a history dating back to 1935! It was designed by one of the key architects of the Palais de la Méditerranée in Nice, who lived there himself. It has the large stained glass "ocean liner" or "pâquebot" in the principle lounge area - I wrote about that a couple of posts ago... The boating theme is central to the villa’s character and it offers

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-11546901409216217702012-01-24T13:33:00.000-08:002012-01-24T13:33:00.398-08:00

English translation below Het grote Midzomernachts-feest is achter de rug. We hebben intussen een hoop verhalen gehoord over het fête de la Musique, waaruit je kon concluderen dat het allang niet meer overal voor de liefhebbers is, dat er minder op straat gemusiceerd wordt, dat het een beetje is overgenomen door de cafés die professionele bands afhuren. Maar bij ons speelden er allemaal heuse

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-86420785641920793692012-01-24T11:24:00.000-08:002012-01-24T11:24:00.088-08:00

As mentioned a week ago, I have been painting a house in Cabris for a friends' birthday. The house has a great view, all around, towards Cabris and also towards the sea. They also have plenty of olive trees (enough for their own oil!!) and last but not least, perfect rosebushes all over the place... It is a marvelous house with a great ambience - which I hope you can see in the painting:Click on

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-81469841144441520042012-01-23T08:53:00.000-08:002012-01-23T08:53:00.587-08:00

The big Midsummernight Party is over. That thursdaynight we heard stories about nowadays' fête de la Musique, how it is no longer for the real amateur music lovers and that there is not so much music in the streets anymore: the event in the big cities is taken over by the café's - they have professional bands performing that out-play the amateurs.... Well, with us it was the real thing! True

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-85709238786469551412012-01-22T12:27:00.000-08:002012-01-22T12:27:00.491-08:00

The Marina Artists team has been pretty busy lately - here are two almost identical ("spot the differences") paintings: The seller and the buyer get one at the signing next week. This fantastic villa is in Roquebrune sur Argens with the backdrop of the rocher of Roquebrune. The buyers belong to the happy few: they are retired lawyers that have properties all over the place, Isle of Wight, South

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-20290371831142755282012-01-20T11:11:00.000-08:002012-01-20T11:11:00.347-08:00

English translation belowMorgen, op 21 juni, op de langste dag, vieren we het "Fête de la Musique" hier in Frankrijk. Ik kijk er echt naar uit: iedereen mag muziek maken, op straat, zo hard als ze willen, zonder vergunning en de hele nacht. Het "Fête de la Musique" werd voor het eerst gevierd op 21 juni 1982, als idee van de toenmalige minister van Culture Jaques Lang. "La Fête is een groot

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-39887843877031673652012-01-19T13:55:00.000-08:002012-01-19T13:55:00.499-08:00

The 21st of june, on summer solstice, we celebrate the Fête de la Musique here in France. I really look forward to that: everybody can make music, in the streets, loud as they like, without a permit and all night long. The Fête de la Musique was launched on June 21 1982, as an idea of the French minister of Culture Jack Lang. "La Fête" has become very successful in France and officially it

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-77857731848066889172012-01-18T09:21:00.000-08:002012-01-18T09:21:00.901-08:00

Close to Valbonne (Riviera Home Finders headquarters) and all the other lively Riviera villages and cities - yet quiet and away from daily business and noise, lies Cabris, a beautiful village 550m up the Plan de Provence hills. From the top of the village, you have a truly spectacular view towards the sea.The village of Cabris dates back to 1000, though the way it looks nowadays, reflects the

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-15107343919844044932012-01-17T14:02:00.000-08:002012-01-17T14:02:00.755-08:00

Nederlandse vertaling hieronderToday was fathers' day - also at Riviera Home Finders: we have a lot of fathers working for us, so today no houses were sold. Anyway, mothersday is more popular here in France: 67.4% of the French doesn't think fathersday is a big deal, where 50% thinks Mothersday is very important (Mothersday is a full week of mommy-pampering over here!) Funny detail: Dads are the

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-63641292572292587232012-01-17T08:44:00.000-08:002012-01-17T08:44:00.444-08:00

The Profitability of Real Estate Business by Khurram ShehzadDO NOT RELY ONLY ON YOUR LUCK: Some people think to be successful in any Business is Luck. But I think more than luck is consecutive struggles and stability one is to maintain in order to be successful in his Business.BUILD-UP YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP (P/R): Real Estate Business primarily depends upon the P/R. Initially, when you

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-61771325479049052842012-01-17T08:42:00.000-08:002012-01-17T08:42:00.148-08:00

Commercial Real Estate Fundamentals are Strong by Brian Patton, CCIMThe bad news of the residential market over the last few months begs the question of what will happen to the commercial real estate market in the coming year. In order to gauge investors' expectations for 2008 in this market segment, a group of leading research companies recently surveyed more than 1,000 developers and

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-40794579414904463232012-01-17T08:41:00.000-08:002012-01-17T08:41:00.837-08:00

The Financial Language of Real Estate by Brian Patton, CCIMThere are three primary finacial terms that affect how we determine the value of real estate. Without a working knowledge of these terms, investors and Realtors are at a disadvantage in the market place. These terms may sound difficult to grasp but are an integral part in understanding how we determine the value of real estate and are

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-11153474468370763372012-01-16T14:12:00.000-08:002012-01-16T14:12:00.459-08:00

English version below Valbonne had afgelopen vrijdag een heel hoog "makelaarsgehalte": Het Riviera Home Finders team was in z'n geheel op kantoor om plannen te maken, strategieën uit te stippelen, elkaar weer eens te zien en bij te praten. James uit de Languedoc was er, Elayne en Jean Paul uit de Luberon, die hebben uren in de auto gezeten om ons te bereiken en natuurlijk de mensen uit St Tropez,

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-8297571846303409262012-01-16T12:10:00.000-08:002012-01-16T12:10:00.940-08:00

My latest aquarelle is for a villa with a stunning seaview in Ste Maxime... It was sold by Riviera Home Finders Var-colleague Valérie Chandler. The new owners have definitely good taste - and it is impossible not to love Ste Maxime!! It is located in the Golfe de Saint Tropez, faces straight south and is sheltered from most of the mistral by mountains. It is a truly beautiful location with an old

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Finding the Next Emerging Market in Real Estate by Pauline FelwardAhead of the curve, in at the ground floor, before the rush - all of these terms are music to the ears of professional property investors, and are the keys to successful portfolios. Getting into a new market before the majority of the growth curve has happened is the way to make money, and the real skill comes in spotting where

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Canyon Lake Real Estate Still Doing Well by Sean DonahoeI was recently in Canyon Lake, Texas looking at real estate, deep in the heart of Texas Hill Country. Just north of San Antonio, Canyon Lake is one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen. Now, just so you understand, I currently like in California High Desert which surrounds me with sand and Joshua trees. So arriving in Canyon Lake,

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-12336398615751526092012-01-13T15:08:00.001-08:002012-01-13T15:08:00.061-08:00

Focus Patience in Miami Real Estate Investment by Jron MagcaleMiami is a place of potential when it comes to real estate investment and all that. For now we can see progress in the market in which we can really say that Miami real estate is on the rebound, due to the overwhelming economic crisis that drops in the country. Right now I think there is mixed emotions on Miami real estate, if we try

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Phoenix Real Estate, No more Mr. Nice Guy? by Gary KiernanIn the extremely competitive real estate market that is gripping the nation, and particularly the greater Phoenix area, should your agent be a nice guy?Let me explain. First of all, should your real estate agent be a "nice"guy? (or gal, I know!) Well, whether you are selling or buying, what you need most of all, in any market, but

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Tips In Getting The Right Price For Your Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Home by Vanessa DoctorThere are hundreds of tips on the Internet that can help you out in selling your home in Fort Lauderdale real estate. But deciding on the right price for it might need some planning on your end to break even on all the investments you made on the property and getting a good amount of profit after the

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Miami Condo Real Estate Can Potentially Be your Best Bet by Jron MagcaleSo what are the good things to consider when you are looking at investing your money with? Actually there can be a lot, not just looking on it in a way that people will commonly take but rather using my own point of view. Miami condo real estate is something that people are looking at a grade in which has improvement on a

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Get In Touch With A Realtor To Help You In Your Sarasota Real Estate Acquisition by Vanessa DoctorA realtor is a big help when you plan to purchase a property in Sarasota real estate. Rather than blindly going into the project on your own, you can hire a realtor to find the perfect residential or commercial unit that will fit your home and financial requirements.Why A Realtor?A realtor, or

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-1504082777844641392012-01-13T14:13:00.000-08:002012-01-13T14:13:00.887-08:00

English translation below Ik kreeg een uitnodiging voor een vernissage in Nice - en het leuke van hier in Zuid-Frankrijk wonen is, dat dat om de hoek is, dat je daar gewoon lekker op een rustige middag naartoe kunt gaan. En even langs de antiekmarkt én nog even met de voetjes in het prachtige azuurblauwe en alweer heel lekker warme zeewater. Het leven aan de Côte d'Azur is goed! En het werk van

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-76034107888666091272012-01-11T19:02:00.001-08:002012-01-11T19:02:00.946-08:00

Starting Out Your Miami Real Estate Investment by Vanessa DoctorMiami real estate offers tons of commercial and residential properties you can use as business niche if you want to invest in the city. But if you have no idea on how to begin, then here are some tips on how to get started on this major project.Tip # 1: Check Out The Market FirstBefore you start your investment in Miami real estate

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Selling Your Sarasota Real Estate Property with Great Deal by Eliza Maledevic AysonGetting the right real estate agent can help you out in selling your home in Sarasota real estate market. If you have to sell your property, you have to know that there lots of things that entails to it.For some, selling there home can be a daunting experience, but you can reduce the stress if you do the things

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Options a Plenty in Miami Real Estate by Jron MagcaleThere are great things to be seen in the big market such as Miami real estate. I think that going into thinking Miami real estate business there are lots and lots of things to behold and also getting into the market's fast track is always a big options for investors. The main things that people have agreed on taking initiatives are the big

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-57974931977322253812012-01-09T13:50:00.000-08:002012-01-09T13:50:00.688-08:00

And another one finished! This one is in Auribeau. A lovely family with 2 young kids will have the time of their life this summer! Oftewel - weer eentje klaar! Deze staat in Auribeau, waar een hele leuke familie met twee kinderen de tijd van hun leven gaat hebben!

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-77302339273554634322012-01-09T11:09:00.000-08:002012-01-09T11:09:00.454-08:00

Maybe you do not think "Antibes" immediately if you see this... It is an aquarelle of a stained glass window (a "vitrail") in a beautiful villa that my colleague Chris Davenport of RHF-Antibes just sold. The aquarelle is for the former owners... The house itself is more than worthwhile and I'll write a post about it as soon as the other painting (for the new owners) is finished - but first a bit

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-41017534356002099872012-01-07T13:15:00.000-08:002012-01-07T13:15:00.968-08:00

The Riviera Home Finders team is selling like crazy! I have a full time job making aquarelles of the sold properties... We give them away to new owners and to the seller. This villa with beautiful pool (though you don't see that on the painting) is located in Mouans Sartoux, close to Mougins and Cannes. The new owners definitely have a good timing - they moved in just before the summer and will

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-41130425309266965402012-01-07T10:42:00.000-08:002012-01-07T10:42:00.310-08:00

Riviera Home Finders is still going strong, despite the crisis... The first in June is sold by Leo and Karin, RHF's Real Estate couple for the Var - you can safely say they're on a roll! Karin and I worked hard on the original aquarelle for the new owners: They will receive it this week at completion, in the office of the notaire as a present - we do this for all our clients - instead of a bottle

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-71716165490865926032012-01-06T14:11:00.000-08:002012-01-06T14:11:00.199-08:00

Nederlandse vertaling hieronderWhen I'm talking about dream properties on the Côte d'Azur, I normally refer to the romantic, real stone house, or castle, or village with blue shutters and a lot of bougainvilla and lavender... But Riviera Home Finders have houses for everybody's taste! How about this spectacular property, an architect's loftstyle villa of Californian inspiration, in Ramatuelle,

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-42564967052110426652012-01-05T12:37:00.000-08:002012-01-05T12:37:00.319-08:00

Als ik het heb over droomhuizen aan de Côte d'Azur, heb ik het meestal over het romantische huis of klein kasteeltje, of heel dorp van echte steen, met blauwe luikjes en bougainville en lavendel. Maar we hebben bij Riviera Home Finders ook andere huizen, zoals dit werkelijk fantastische, onder architectuur gebouwde huis in Ramatuelle. Er zijn verschillende films gedraaid in dit huis, dat de stijl

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-49695214373048214092012-01-03T11:38:00.000-08:002012-01-03T11:38:00.193-08:00

English version below Nieuw frans beleid: positief voor onroerend goedDe uitslag van de franse verkiezingen is wereldwijd goed ontvangen. Frankrijk begint aan een nieuwe periode, met Nicolas Sarkozy aan de leiding. Ook de economen hebben de verkiezing van Sarkozy met enthousiasme begroet, ze rekenen op voortvarende plannen, die belastingvermindering, hervorming van de arbeidsmarkt en het

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Let's Dig Deep with Miami Foreclosure Real Estate Investing by Jron MagcaleIt is always a big deal on a real estate market to identify which specific market that will be feasible to invest with. The knowledge on it is pretty much simple when you try to dissect the facts on it. There are things to consider in its market, especially in a growing and emerging category that has been getting raves.

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How To Purchase A Sarsota Real Estate Property When You're Far Away From The City by Vanessa DoctorSarasota real estate offers the best deals on quality residential properties for anyone who wants to settle down in the area. But how can you find the perfect home in the city when you're not even in it?Many out-of-town homebuyers are usually depressed over the fact that the home they want to

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Great Escape with Miami Condo Real Estate by Jron MagcalePeople say that condos are the newest trend for finding a home and one place that caters to this is Miami. So let me ask you, are you interested in buying a Florida condo? If you are, you are urged to examine the Miami area, if you haven't already done so. Miami, Florida is often referred as one of the best places to live or vacation in

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Earn a Lot in Investing at Sarasota Real Estate Market by Eliza MaledevicDo you want to get your properties in Miami real estate market? If so, a good real estate agent can help you out in finding the properties for you.Getting a home requires hard work, time, effort, preparation and patience. And you might fall for the wrong investment if you are not familiar with the market. So, if you wish

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-58081203433425531842012-01-02T13:28:00.000-08:002012-01-02T13:28:01.619-08:00

English translation belowDeze week té hard gewerkt, maar nu eindelijk weer een beetje tijd om wat te posten... De komende dagen zal ik flink wat aquarellen laten zien, ik ben hard aan het schilderen want er is een hoop verkocht, maar voordat ze klaar zijn, wil ik jullie aandacht vragen voor een geweldig iets dat we te koop hebben bij RHF International! (het staat in mijn collega James Edgecombe's

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-35202156895047181752012-01-01T12:36:00.000-08:002012-01-01T12:36:00.068-08:00

Nederlandse vertaling komt morgenAfter a lot of hard work, I finally have time today to actually post again! Hi! Good to see you. The coming weeks you'll have to see a lot of my paintings I am afraid, but before they are finished, I really want your attention for this wonderful object -and dream- we have for sale at RHF International (it's my colleague James Edgecombe's region, the Pyrenées

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-64010317468857831442011-12-31T08:13:00.000-08:002011-12-31T08:13:01.201-08:00

Oregon’s foreclosure rate climbed 11.60% in November compared with October, and was up 55.27% from November 2006.Nationally, the foreclosure rate actually dropped in November by about 10%, but was up 68% from November 2006.The foreclosure rate in Oregon is one in every 1275 households. On a national level, the rate is one foreclosure for every 617 households.Currently, Oregon ranks 25th in the

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-43736340910225572202011-12-31T07:33:00.000-08:002011-12-31T07:33:00.620-08:00

"Am I forgetting anything? What do I need to know?"These are two common questions that homebuyers ask, even those that have plenty of experience in real estate. And since I've always stressed that real estate is local, there's a great resource available to you if you're in the market to buy a home in Portland.The Oregon Real Estate Agency created The Oregon Buyer Advisory. It's a publication

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-4899987692424928342011-12-31T06:19:00.000-08:002011-12-31T06:19:00.220-08:00

Portland is getting more expensive. Forbes magazine looked at inflation in the 40 largest metro areas in the U.S. to see where prices were rising fastest.Resetting mortgages, rising food prices and runaway fuel costs are the biggest sources of the pain.Here are the top 10 cities with the highest annual inflation rates:Seattle, 5.82 percent Dallas, 5.82 percent Washington, D.C., 5.74 percent

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-11197844320687509002011-12-31T06:06:00.000-08:002011-12-31T06:06:00.196-08:00

New construction has been very hot in the Portland real estate market during the last few years. And new homes continue to sell well. Having researched some developments for some out-of-state clients, I feel like I’m finding a little more inventory in the suburbs. In fact, I received notice from one new developer that it’s raising the compensation it offers brokers for bringing in buyers. The

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-22589452951661939412011-12-30T08:50:00.000-08:002011-12-30T08:50:00.468-08:00

Earlier this month, I posted the 2006 Cost vs. Value report which stated the return for remodeling projects in Portland.I received good response to that blog post. And while I don’t have any more Portland specific statistics, I do have figures relative to Oregon, Washington, California, Hawaii, and Alaska.ADDITIONSBathroom AdditionJob Cost – Resale Value = Cost Recouped$34,311 - $31,195 = 90.9%

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-77151189975529354592011-12-30T06:46:00.000-08:002011-12-30T06:46:00.630-08:00

Portland’s quality of life has once again resulted in another accolade. This time AARP Magazine ranks Portland as one of the top five cities in the country to live and retire.Regarding Portland, the magazine says “European charm meets environmental nirvana in this environmentally progressive city. 50-plus residents love the miles of safe bike lanes and the revitalized Pearl District.”The

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-1112650312105658752011-12-30T06:23:00.000-08:002011-12-30T06:23:00.270-08:00

I had to pass this along… it was too funny not to.This comes from a Realtor in Knoxville, Tennessee. I think you’d hear some sellers in Portland say the same thing.

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-21372034407629657192011-12-29T07:33:00.000-08:002011-12-29T07:33:00.227-08:00

The average market time for a home in Portland is currently 39 days. That’s slightly less than last year when the average was 41 days.Here are the average days it’s taking to sell a home in Portland:DOM - Area25 – North Portland29 – Northeast Portland33 – West Portland35 – Northwest Washington County35 – Hillsboro, Forest Grove36 – Beaverton, Aloha37 – Southeast Portland41 – Lake Oswego, West

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-30338625240931632402011-12-29T07:03:00.000-08:002011-12-29T07:03:01.610-08:00

The price decline trend that has dominated the headlines nationally and locally continues, but Portland is one of a few cities posting month-to-month gains, according to the latest Case-Shiller Report.Home prices tumbled a record average of 15.8%, while Portland prices fell 5.2%. These numbers reflect activity from May 2007 to May 2008. Portland’s drop ranks it fourth best (if there is ever

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-40437006938259860272011-12-28T08:46:00.000-08:002011-12-28T08:46:00.738-08:00

The Urban Land Institute has named Jamison Square in the Pearl District as one of the nation’s top 10 urban parks.Also on the list: Allegheny Riverfront Park, Pittsburgh; Campus Martius Park, Detroit; Capitol Plaza, New York City; Chess Park, Glendale, Cal.; Heart of the Park at Hermann Park, Houston; Pier A Park, Hoboken, N.J.; South Boston Maritime Park, Boston; and Wade Oval, Cleveland.

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-2983658642698964712011-12-28T07:47:00.000-08:002011-12-28T07:47:00.383-08:00

Since it’s Friday, how about some lightheartedness?Portland’s Voodoo Doughnut has been named one of America’s best doughnuts.Here’s the link and an excerpt:America’s best doughnuts"Voodoo Doughnut operates in its own twisted world fueled by animosity toward convention: Here, doughnuts are decorated with toppings like Fruit Loops, Tang and—yes! —bacon. This hipster-friendly hole-in-the-wall in

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-7877346732465115332011-12-28T05:30:00.000-08:002011-12-28T05:30:03.634-08:00

Pricing is a major issue in Portland right now. I cannot stress this enough. There are many challenges that homeowners (sellers) face when listing their home for sale. They range from buyers on the sidelines to buyers with shaky financing to high inventory levels that the real estate market in Portland hasn't seen in years. Considering these factors, pricing has to be on target. Well priced

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-56162559696509292542011-12-27T11:09:00.000-08:002011-12-27T11:09:00.114-08:00

At my weekly broker’s meeting today, we discussed what’s happening in Portland’s real estate market. There seems to be a consensus among the real estate agents that national news of the national housing slowdown is affecting perception with some Portland buyers.There have been several recent headlines that mentioned it’s a buyer’s market. And that’s true on a national level. But here in

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-40632568768590637922011-12-27T09:03:00.000-08:002011-12-27T09:03:00.063-08:00

Up. Down. Boom. Bust. Appreciation. Depreciation.Depending on which news report you see or read, that’s the Portland real estate market, right? It seems everyone has a study, a report, an analysis, or a forecast. And what you think of our market may just depend on which study you believe.Generally speaking, Portland fares pretty well in these reports compared to national trends and

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-58850182138228084622011-12-27T06:40:00.000-08:002011-12-27T06:40:00.267-08:00

Year-to-date in 2007, there have been roughly 15,000 home sales in the Portland metro area. That’s a decrease of nearly 1,300 sales compared to this time in 2006.Here are the actual number of closed sales for Portland and the suburbs:2010 – Southeast Portland1754 – West Portland1612 – Northeast Portland1490 – Beaverton, Aloha1164 – Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood, Wilsonville1103 – Hillsboro, Forest

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-10711300461678694012011-12-26T08:15:00.000-08:002011-12-26T08:15:00.800-08:00

Double-digit appreciation has been prevalent throughout the Portland metro area for 2006, but with the real estate market slowing down, appreciation rates figure to do so as well.At this point, only one area has dipped into single figure appreciation and that’s Northwest Washington County.Here are the appreciation rates for the last 12 months in terms of average sales price:Rate - Area20.5% -

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-18881725845095629872011-12-26T06:40:00.000-08:002011-12-26T06:40:00.409-08:00

Home sales in Portland have slowed because less people are buying. There are less people buying, in one respect, because first time home buyers are sitting on the sidelines. But why?Home prices are up, true. Then again, so are interest rates. And that’s one factor buyers can control, sort of.You see, buyers can raise their credit scores which can equate to better loan terms and lower interest

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-24641280806603529192011-12-25T06:54:00.000-08:002011-12-25T06:54:00.740-08:00

One of the great things about Portland is that the people here are active. They’re on their bikes, walking the dog, running, exercising, protesting, keeping “Portland weird.”And we didn’t need a study to point it out, but all of this activeness isn’t self-centered. In fact, Portland ranks sixth in the country for percentage of residents who volunteer. According to a federally funded report by

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-35094842430623737982011-12-25T06:38:00.000-08:002011-12-25T06:38:00.463-08:00

While it’s true that condos in downtown Portland and the Pearl District have been in high demand, sales of these properties have been strong throughout.Here are the average sales prices and appreciation rate increases for condos in the Portland real estate market for the last four years:Year - Rate - Avg. Sales Price2006 - 12% - $230,9002005 - 17% - $205,9002004 - 7% - $173,5002003 - n/a -

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-777603090508130522011-12-25T06:31:00.000-08:002011-12-25T06:31:00.166-08:00

Portland is the 9th best walking city in the U.S., according to Walk Score, a website that grades neighborhoods and addresses based on the proximity of amenities within walking distance.San Francisco, Boston, and Chicago ranked 1st, 2nd, & 3rd.As for Portland, the study said, “The top 7 neighborhoods in Portland are Walkers' Paradises. 45% of Portland residents have a Walk Score of 70 or above.

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-53707128408614510212011-12-24T06:57:00.000-08:002011-12-24T06:57:00.293-08:00

How much has real estate in Portland appreciated over the last 12 months? That depends on where you live because some areas more than triple the least performing communities.Here are the appreciation rates for Portland and the suburbs year-to-date in 2007:Rate - Area13.4% - Gresham, Fairview, Troutdale12.6% - Lake Oswego, West Linn11.7% - Hillsboro, Forest Grove10.6% - Southeast Portland10.4% -

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-9206856015401284022011-12-24T05:59:00.000-08:002011-12-24T05:59:00.057-08:00

I have a dog, but if I’m selling my home, my dog is going for a walk. Or he’s running errands with me. Or something. Anything, but staying home.As a Realtor, I come across my fair share of dogs. Unfortunately, that’s not a good thing. Even the friendliest of dogs can make homebuyers uncomfortable and that’s the feeling most opposite you want in a buyer.Real estate agents ask sellers to leave

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-43354348558400060342011-12-23T07:44:00.000-08:002011-12-23T07:44:01.496-08:00

Forbes has ranked the top 10 most overpriced cities in the U.S. and Portland… isn’t on the list.The following cities have the least affordable housing, highest cost of living, lowest salaries, and least job growth- at least according to Forbes.Top 10 Most Overpriced Cities1. Essex County, Mass., just north of Boston2. San Francisco3. San Jose, Calif.4. Honolulu5. New York City6. Cambridge, Mass.7

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-4323689106216769322011-12-23T06:54:00.000-08:002011-12-23T06:54:00.096-08:00

My blog readers know I’m a big fan of sewer scopes. In my opinion, they’re well worth the $100 or so homebuyers in the Portland area spend.I’ll get to two examples that highlight their importance. But first, what is a sewer scope? It’s the examination of a home’s sewer line conducted by sending a camera from a home’s clean-out all the way to the city main. The scope searches for root

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-20773209314003426822011-12-23T06:30:00.000-08:002011-12-23T06:30:02.157-08:00

It’s always been normal for the parents of first-time homebuyers to guide them or give them advice during the process.But I’m seeing this more lately. Perhaps the mortgage mess that’s hit the housing industry is bringing more parents into the financing aspect of buying a home. Or maybe all the national headlines about the state of housing have raised fears and brought out a parent’s natural

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-60640190106897879302011-12-22T06:18:00.000-08:002011-12-22T06:18:01.199-08:00

I feel like a broken record stating that inner city homes in Portland are selling faster than the suburbs, but it is what it is.The three areas with the fastest market time (or least amount of time on market) are North Portland, Northeast Portland, and Southeast Portland.Here are the current average days on market (DOM) listed from quickest to longest:54 – Northeast Portland62 – North Portland62

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-10438811844924760282011-12-21T08:41:00.000-08:002011-12-21T08:41:00.254-08:00

When it comes to selling real estate, the Gresham-Troutdale-Fairview area is currently taking the longest time.These eastside suburbs to Portland now have an average market time of 90 days- three full months. Ninety days was unheard of when we were in a seller’s market, but the Gresham area isn’t alone; company is right behind.Here are the average market times (days on the market) to sell a home

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-30980780941563641032011-12-21T07:52:00.000-08:002011-12-21T07:52:00.313-08:00

The trendy Nob Hill neighborhood in NW Portland is close to getting some new neighbors. That’s because The Vaux, a new condo development, is close to completion.I have a client under contract to purchase a condo at The Vaux and we’ve been told that completion should be mid-September. That said, early October is also a possibility. It’s my understanding that residents of the north building will

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-48135890069203628182011-12-21T07:02:00.000-08:002011-12-21T07:02:01.806-08:00

What’s the population in Portland? How big are the suburbs? The Population Research Center at Portland State University has published its’ 2006 preliminary population estimates. Here are the estimates:Population = City84,270 = Beaverton14,705 = Canby9,670 = Damascus9,585 = Fairview20,380 = Forest Grove97,745 = Gresham9,210 = Happy Valley84,445 =

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-19271462369869210072011-12-21T05:47:00.000-08:002011-12-21T05:47:03.958-08:00

It’s Portland. People walk. People bike. People use public transportation. People like close-in.Personally, people tell me all the time they want to live in neighborhoods where all of the above apply. It helps that many of Portland’s “charm and character” neighborhoods (Irvington, Grant Park, Laurelhurst, Richmond, Sellwood, Nob Hill, etc.), are lush with parks and trees that fit the

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-10862278233500811402011-12-20T17:54:00.000-08:002011-12-20T17:54:00.414-08:00

I came across this on You-tube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t29fgA5M7VAThis comes from the film Koyaanisqatsi (a Hopi word meaning life out of balance). From roughly minute 3 to minute 6 of this clip are shots of the notorious St. Louis public housing project Pruitt-Igoe, a subsidized housing project that was so awful, it was never more than 60 percent occupied. The eleven building complex of

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-9353434099442385562011-12-20T09:39:00.000-08:002011-12-20T09:39:00.284-08:00

I met with some new clients from the Midwest recently and they have Lake Oswego on their mind.Even though this Portland suburb has an outstanding reputation for its’ school district, these clients are more interested in Lake Oswego because it just feels right. They like the First Addition neighborhood and the nearby “village” (shops & stores). These house hunters also like Lake O’s proximity to

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-28167412121798717102011-12-20T09:00:00.000-08:002011-12-20T09:00:11.737-08:00

Did you know that landscape construction work is regulated in the State of Oregon and law requires this work to be done by licensed landscape businesses?Not to be confused with landscape maintenance, construction work includes: the installation of lawns, trees, shrubs, and other nursery stock; plus the installation of irrigation and drainage systems for landscape plantings.The construction and

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-61525935967436739712011-12-19T09:56:00.000-08:002011-12-19T09:56:00.527-08:00

People in Portland love their city and their neighborhood, but an increasing number of homeowners are spending at least half of their income on housing.That led to a low percentage – 40% - of city residents who gave their neighborhood a positive rating for affordability in the city’s annual survey of residents and audit of city services.Right now, there are roughly 18,464 households in Portland

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-37889166775534029732011-12-19T08:46:00.000-08:002011-12-19T08:46:02.149-08:00

Lake Oswego and West Linn continue to rank as the most expensive areas/suburbs in the Portland, Oregon area. Meanwhile, North Portland is the least expensive part of Portland.Here are the current average and median sales prices for real estate in Portland:Average - Median = Area$533,000 - $449,900 = Lake Oswego, West Linn$450,800 - $376,000 = West Portland$401,600 - $363,000 = Northwest

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-24505016674885226592011-12-19T07:38:00.000-08:002011-12-19T07:38:00.351-08:00

Real estate appreciation keeps cruising right along with double-digit gains in every area of Portland metro.During the last 12 months, the median price of a Portland home has appreciated 17.6%, while the average sales price has increased 17.4%.Here are the appreciation rates for Portland’s suburbs and the city itself spanning the last 12 months:Rate - Area26.1% - Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood,

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-17195336373410243312011-12-19T06:58:00.000-08:002011-12-19T06:58:00.137-08:00

Lake Oswego, the area of Portland where home prices are the most expensive, is tops for longest average time on the market.Meanwhile, North Portland, the area of Portland where homes are the most affordable or least expensive, is where homes are selling fastest in the metro area right now in 2007.Here are the current average market times, days on the market, for home sales in Portland and the

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-75079242806263633282011-12-18T11:00:00.000-08:002011-12-18T11:00:00.845-08:00

I’ve heard people say “no news is good news,” but does that apply to Portland’s real estate market? Really, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing right now.You see, the latest data from the RMLS shows that housing inventory in Portland is now at 8.3 months. This represents November’s activity and is a very slight drop from October’s 8.4 months and September’s 8.6 month supply.The

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-63967197120299883682011-12-18T09:30:00.000-08:002011-12-18T09:30:00.539-08:00

The suburbs of Sherwood and Lake Oswego have made Money Magazine’s 2007 list of “Best Places To Live.”Sherwood ranked 18th out of the top 100, while Lake Oswego ranked 32nd.This year, Money Magazine said it focused on “smaller places that offered the best combination of economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a real sense of community.”As for Sherwood, here’s what the

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-57791883470395590372011-12-18T06:53:00.000-08:002011-12-18T06:53:00.286-08:00

I stumbled upon a real estate story based out of Minneapolis the other day. It dealt with a homeowner who sold her home after a long time of being on the market. And while the seller was in the Midwest and not Portland, I thought her comments and lessons learned could certainly be useful to people here. The homeowner's husband was transferred so Lucie Amundsen stayed behind to sell the house.

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-25641472366630303322011-12-17T15:12:00.000-08:002011-12-17T15:12:00.514-08:00

Money Magazine has published America’s Best Places To Live and two Portland suburbs made the list of top 90 cities.It should be noted that Portland did not make the list in 2006, but neither did any city with more than 300,000 residents. It appears Money focused on smaller cities with lots of green space this year. Here is the snapshot of Portland.Hillsboro, which is west of Portland, ranked

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-10251740152541380522011-12-17T08:47:00.000-08:002011-12-17T08:47:00.911-08:00

Except for North Portland, home sales in November of 2006 were down across the board compared to 2005.Here is the number of closed sales November 2005 vs. November 2006 for the Portland, Oregon metro area:2005 vs. 2006 = Area350 vs. 273 = Southeast Portland257 vs. 230 = Beaverton, Aloha250 vs. 192 = Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood, Wilsonville243 vs. 223 = Northeast Portland232 vs. 150 = Gresham,

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-34636708537717929652011-12-17T07:28:00.000-08:002011-12-17T07:28:00.621-08:00

I received a call from a homeowner in Dallas,Texas, the other day. He wanted to talk about what his money would buy in Portland. Unfortunately, I knew I was about to be the bearer of bad news.Reason being is that Portland’s real estate market tends to give people a good old case of sticker shock unless their used to west coast or east coast prices. Californians, people from Seattle, people

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-88676835024747902182011-12-17T07:00:00.000-08:002011-12-17T07:00:03.850-08:00

Corvallis, Oregon has been named the most secure place to live in 2007 by Farmers Insurance.“Health, prosperity, safety and security are all desirable aspects when it comes to seeking a place to live, work or raise a family.” And apparently Corvallis has this more any other city regardless of size.When it comes to large cities, such as Portland, with more than 500,000 residents, San Jose ranks

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-79704684836873859522011-12-17T06:08:00.000-08:002011-12-17T06:08:01.650-08:00

North Portland used to be the least expensive area in Portland metro, but this decade has seen an explosion in people wanting to live in some of its neighborhoods such as Arbor Lodge, University Park, Mississippi, and Kenton.So with that desire, prices have gone up and North Portland no longer holds the “least expensive” title. That now belongs to the Gresham-Troutdale area.Here are the average

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-59416484321756215172011-12-16T06:56:00.000-08:002011-12-16T06:56:00.575-08:00

We’re past the midway point for 2006 and the Portland real estate market is strong. The average sales price of a Portland home has appreciated 17.4% during the last 12 months, while the median sales price has increased 17.6%.Here are the average and median sales prices of homes in Portland, year-to-date:Average – Median – Area$519,300 - $440,000 – Lake Oswego, West Linn$450,100 - $375,000 – West

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-52775753264447229582011-12-16T06:28:00.000-08:002011-12-16T06:28:01.486-08:00

At a time of the year when both the heat and home sales tend to heat up, the Portland real estate market has lost its’ sizzle.Housing inventory has now reached 5.0 months, which according to the National Association of Realtors, is the perfect balance between buyers and sellers. This means that if no other properties were listed for sale, the supply of homes in Portland metro would dry up in 5.0

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-56932839995346267682011-12-16T06:13:00.000-08:002011-12-16T06:13:00.457-08:00

I love my company, especially my branch office. It's filled with warm, caring, generous people and I'm fortunate to be a part of this group. One of the reasons I'm proud to be with REMAX Equity Group and my branch, specifically, is that it's so giving. Right now, the Equity Group Foundation is in the midst of the 2008 Miles for Smiles campaign which benefits the Cleft Palate/Craniofacial clinic

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-53227959902027463752011-12-15T06:00:00.000-08:002011-12-15T06:00:16.623-08:00

The RMLS released its latest report late Monday with no, quite frankly, earth shattering news. It’s more of the same old, same old which means Portland’s feeling the housing slowdown, but not as badly as other major cities.Looking at the data, what I found interesting was that homes prices were down, but to a lesser degree than earlier this year even though housing inventory ticked up again.The

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-86519580800937900722011-12-15T05:58:00.000-08:002011-12-15T05:58:00.312-08:00

I will be hosting a broker’s open house today in Ladd’s Addition. It’s from 11am-1pm and I invite any Realtors with buyers (or buyers for that matter) wanting to live close-in in SE Portland to attend. The address is 2044 SE 12th Avenue; a property that… oh just see for yourself in this video tour:Ladd's Addition Condo For Sale

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-56465227506128109292011-12-14T11:04:00.000-08:002011-12-14T11:04:00.624-08:00

Hello Buyer’s Market.Housing inventory in Portland is now at 5.1 months- meaning that if no other homes were added to the market, the supply of homes for sale would dry up in 5.1 months.This is the highest inventory Portland has experienced in almost three years, since January of 2004. It’s also the first time Portland has witnessed housing inventory of more than 5.0 months in that time span.It’

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-88606620300930970972011-12-14T07:53:00.000-08:002011-12-14T07:53:00.852-08:00

The number of homes for sale in Portland is growing- up 21.3% from this time in 2005- signaling the slow movement away from a seller’s market.Portland’s real estate market now has an inventory of 2.6 months. That means that if no other listings were added to the market, the supply of homes would dry up in 2.6 months. These numbers reflect activity thru June 2006.And while 2.6 months of

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-81082282724801208632011-12-14T05:45:00.000-08:002011-12-14T05:45:00.473-08:00

Someone in California, who said he was an investor, called me the other day. Portland's real estate market was about to tank, he read. This investor had read a report somewhere that prices would fall by almost 15% in Portland. And he was wondering if I thought this would be a good time to scoop up property. What do you think I said? I told him 15% seemed kind of high. I told him that home

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-23552792966833856842011-12-13T20:35:00.000-08:002011-12-13T20:35:00.756-08:00

I am home from recruiting MBA students in Dubai and Cairo.Cairo is one of the greatest cities I have ever visited; the architecture, street life, and, oh yes, the antiquities are beyond compare. The people there were exceptionally hospitable, and the streets are safe, if heavily littered. I bought some cool if corny papyrus paintings; the Nefertiti will hang in honor next to my velvet Elvis.I

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-82863445108323732812011-12-13T15:24:00.000-08:002011-12-13T15:24:00.900-08:00

You might recall that several months ago I interviewed a client of mine who purchased a fixer in North Portland with intentions of flipping the house. Well, it's been almost five months of blood, sweat, and tears, but the house hit the market today for resale.It’s a ranch home in North Portland’s Portsmouth neighborhood. As the listing agent, of course I’m going to say nice things about the house

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1863443565582942185.post-45020994246525006872011-12-13T10:31:00.000-08:002011-12-13T10:31:00.972-08:00

Portland is the fifth best city in the country for urban walking, according to a new book.According to "The Option of Urbanism: Investing in a New American Dream," by Chris Leinberger, Portland ranks only behind Washington, D.C, Boston, San Francisco, and Denver as a walkable city.Here are the top 10 walking cities:Washington, D.C.BostonSan FranciscoDenverPortlandSeattleChicagoMiamiPittsburghNew

Kiss of lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092588369902641367noreply@blogger.com0