The February First Time Home Buyer Seminar is cancelled.

This is the 57th year of this great tradition.

I want to flout condo rules and put up holiday decorations despite an HOA rule banning them. What’s going to happen to me?

• Option 1: Nothing may happen because the HOA rules aren’t enforced.

• Option 2: You might get a letter asking you to take down your decor.

• Option 3: You might get fined for breaking condo rules.

Constructive ways to balance your need to deck the halls with condo rules that ban decorations:

Talk to your neighbors. If it’s your first holiday in your new home, check with your neighbors to find out what’s really allowed. Condos that ban lights and signage most of the year may ignore illegal decorations during the holiday season. “But do understand these rules and regulations are enforceable by boards of corporations that are created contractually,” Poliakoff says.

Take your holiday case to the board. Call the president and ask if you can speak at the next meeting. Show up with a short written proposal to modify the HOA rules to allow specific kinds of decorations, like lights on balconies or door wreaths.

“Don’t criticize or start calling anyone names. Suggest to your board they amend their rules to allow for holiday decorations within limits,” Poliakoff says. Offer to write an email or letter outlining a holiday decorating exception that runs during a set period like Dec. 15 to Jan. 1.

Check state laws on condo rules. Got no satisfaction from your trip to the condo board? You might be able to appeal to a higher authority. Some states have a large body of home owners association laws that may override HOA rules in certain instances, while other states have few home owners association laws.

“There are laws in some states that do allow the display of items such as religious items or wreaths,” Poliakoff says.

If you can argue state law, sharing a copy of the law with the condo rule-makers may get them to change their minds about holiday decorations. If it doesn’t, you can consult a lawyer to find out about how much it will cost to sue your condo board to force it to follow state laws.

By: Marcia Jedd

LED holiday lights vs. old-fashioned bulbs: 6 tips to help you decide which is right for you.

1. LED holiday lights save you money. LED lights use at least 90% less energy than traditional holiday lights, according to the U.S. government’s Energy Star program.

That results in a $50 energy savings for the average family during the holidays, says Avital Binshtock of the Sierra Club in San Francisco.

Put it into perspective: The amount of electricity consumed by one 7-watt incandescent bulb could power 140 LEDs—enough to light two 24-foot strings, says Energy Star.

2. But LED lights typically cost more than old-fashioned holiday lights.

• GE 100-bulb string of Energy Star-certified LED white lights: $18.97 at Lowe’s

• GE 100-bulb string of conventional white lights: $8.97

But shop around because a growing number of retailers are offering sales on LED holiday lights and, if you can’t find a sale before the holidays, you can certainly find one after. Plus, prices will surely go down as these lights gain traction.

3. LED holiday lights last and last. LED bulbs can keep your season bright for as long as 100,000 hours, says Cathy Choi, president of Moonachie, N.J.-based Bulbrite, which manufactures LED and regular bulbs. That’s substantially longer than the life of your old holiday light strings.

4. You can string a BIG strand of LED lights. Safety wise, you shouldn’t connect more than three traditional light strings, but you can connect up to 87 LED holiday light strings, totaling a whopping 1,500 feet, Choi says. So blow your neighbor’s display away by cocooning your house in lights:

• You won’t have to buy as many extension cords.

• You can take your holiday lighting display further away from the outlet.

5. LED lights reduce the risk of fire. They stay cooler than incandescent bulbs, according to Energy Star.

6. How about that hue? Some people stick with their old lights because they don’t like the brighter hue that white LED holiday lights emit. But Choi says manufacturers now offer a “warm white” bulb that more closely mimics the glow of an incandescent light. Be sure to read the label to choose a bright or warm white and to ensure what you’re purchasing isEnergy Star-certified.

Colored and color-changing LED holiday lights are more vibrant than conventional lights, making your display easier to see from the street, Choi says.

By: G. M. Filisko

I wrote a great article last year on the process for appealing your property taxes if you feel your tax assessed value is too high.  Remember the window of opportunity is very small

Dunthorpe is one of Portland’s most exclusive (and expensive) neighborhoods.  One reason is the Riverdale Schools and others include close proximity to downtown Portland, large lots and possible river views.  This particular home is on a half acre and has been completely remodeled.  The price is good too.

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 11034830 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

Seems to me this question has been around for about five years now.  The rule of thumb is that if your interest rate drops by 1% or more and you intend to live in your house for at least five years, the answer is yes.

You may have heard about HARP 2.0 in the news lately and like most people have been totally confused.  This program is designed to help homeowners who are current with their payments to refinance into a lower interest rate even if the value of their home is less than the mortgage balance.  This article does a pretty good job of explaining who would benefit from this program.

On Friday 11/11/11 it’s Veterans Day, Thanksgiving is coming up, and believe it or not, Santa and all the trimmings are almost here. Here are some things to do in Portland, Oregon midst the beautiful fall foliage.

• Hollywood District Veterans Day Parade. The 37th annual parade travels between Northeast 40th and 48th avenues along Sandy Boulevard. Concludes with a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Flag Pole, Northeast 48th Avenue and Sandy Boulevard; covered seating will be available for seniors and those with disabilities. Starts at 9:45 am.
• Veterans Day Ceremony at University of Portland (5000 N. Willamette Blvd.). Brig. Gen. David Enyeart is the featured speaker at the annual ceremony at the Praying Hands Memorial to recognize campus members who have served during times of war. A 21-gun salute and Air Force jet flyover also will take place. Starts at 11 am
• Free admission at the Zoo. The Oregon Zoo will mark Veterans Day by offering free admission for military veterans and active military personnel, as well as family members who accompany them. Families of deployed military personnel also will be given free admission.
• Thanksgiving Reunion Farmers Market in Lake Oswego. Millenium Plaza Park. Listen to live music, take hayrides and welcome back vendors from the summer season farmers market who will sell farm fresh produce, salami, cheeses, salsa, hummus and other items designed for holiday meals and gifts. 11/19/11, 11 am to 2 pm.
• Turkey Trot at the Zoo is a Thanksgiving Day morning event geared to the entire family
  - walkers, runners, and kids. More info at http://www.orrc.net/races/turkey_trot/turkey_tba.htm
• Visit Santa at Lloyd Center. Visit Santa Nov. 11-Dec. 24 (closed Thanksgiving). 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon-Sat, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun, plus special hours Christmas Eve (see website). Santa takes a break 1-2 p.m. and 5:15-6 p.m. Mon-Sat and 2-3 p.m. Sun. On the first level in front of Nordstrom.
• Visit Santa at Clackamas Town Center. Visit Santa Nov. 12-Dec. 24. Noon-6 p.m. Sun, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon-Sat, through Nov. 23 (closed Thanksgiving); 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri, Nov. 25; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon-Sat, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun, Nov. 26-Dec. 23; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. Santa takes breaks 1-2 p.m. and 5-5:30 p.m. Mon-Sat (12:30-1:30 p.m. Dec. 24) and 2-3 p.m. Sun.
• Santa at Pioneer Place, Portland. Visit Santa Nov. 19-Dec. 24 (closed Thanksgiving). 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon-Sat, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 24. Santa takes a break 1-2 p.m. and 5:15-6 p.m. Mon-Sat and 2-3 p.m. Sun. Dogs and cats are invited to visit Santa 6-8 p.m. Mon, Nov. 28-Dec. 12.
• Santa’s Arrival Parade | 9:00am – 10:00am
  Join Pioneer Place and Pioneer Courthouse Square in welcoming Santa to Portland! He’ll be arriving to Pioneer Courthouse Square on Saturday November 19^th at 9am.  Join us in a family-friendly procession down SW Morrison to Pioneer Place.  Get ready for a morning of songs, snow and surprises!
• Tree Lighting Ceremony| 5:30pm
  Be Merry at the Square! On the day after Thanksgiving, Portlanders will gather at the Square to celebrate the official start of the season by lighting the spectacular 75ft Tree provided by Stimson Lumber Company.  This year’s event will feature a holiday sing-a-long featuring Pink Martini, members of the Oregon Symphony, and the Pacific Youth Choir.  With a big tree, lots of lights and a great community sing-a-long this is an event you won’t want to miss!
• 47th Annual Tree Lighting in Lake Oswego. Millennium Plaza Park, Friday, November 25, 5pm. An evening of holiday lights, caroling, music, and refreshments. Gather at the corner of 5th Street & A Avenue to see the lighting of the Bigelow Plaza Holiday Tree, then parade to Millennium Park for the lighting of the Millennium Tree. A visit from some special friends makes this a delightful family event!

By Linda Gemal  -  503-803-8000  -  Linda@RejuvenateYourHome.com

Zillow recently released a report of the 10 most searched US neighborhoods on their website during the month of September.  Portland had three neighborhoods listed in the top 10.

Number 1 overall was the Hillside neighborhood in Portland which is located just west of downtown Portland and also called the West Hills. This is an affluent area with views of the city and the river.

Number 3 overall was the Southwest Hills neighborhood in Portland which is located just southwest of downtown Portland. This is also an affluent area with close proxcimity to downtown, the south waterfront and OHSU.

Number 9 overall was the Sunnyside neighborhood in Portland which is located on the east side of I-205 and about eight miles from downtown Portland. This area has a lot of newer homes that were started just before the boom and is an affordable area averaging less than $300k.