Living in Portland

1) it is NO MORE difficult to get a mortgage today than it was 8-10 years ago.  Interest rates are still under 6%.  The main difference is that you can no longer have a credit score under 580, in most cases, you need a downpayment to purchase now, and you must PROVE your income with […]

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In the City of Portland you can go to their web site www.PortlandMaps.com and look under crime.  This is map driven and will allow you to look at specific addresses.  For the rest of the Metro Area you can go to this national site which also allows you to compare one City against another.      http://www.areaconnect.com/crime/compare.htm

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In Portland Oregon new standards are being set when it comes to selling or buying a home, most informed buyers are requiring that you first have a sewer scope, this process is complete after a small camera is fed through the existing line exposing any Gaps, breaks, pooling, or root intrusion and also determining the overall quality of […]

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Coming off a somewhat slow 2007, I see 2008 shaping up just like any other year.  We usually start getting busy by the end of February and are in full swing by March.  As a Buyer Agent my business this year is right on track if not a bit ahead.  I talk to other Agents […]

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Removing ceiling asbestos before selling your home can be a plus to the Buyer and may improve the value of your home.  The process can be messy and time consuming, so professional removal is probably best for most homeowners.
There are guidelines governed by the Environmental Protection Agency for the removal of asbestos.  It can be […]

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 The South Waterfront residential towers offer an unprecedented combination of urban sophistication and access to nature. The Meriwether, John Ross, Atwater Place, and 3720 are some of the most thoughtfully designed buildings available in Portland and the Pacific Northwest. The towers were designed to minimize light pollution by refracting light, which saves energy and helps […]

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Sherwood was just ranked 18th best Places to Live by Money Magazine.  Lake Oswego is the only other Oregon city on the list and it ranked 32nd.  The criteria used to determine the top cities in the US are:  “low population (less than 50,000), good schools, safe streets, economic opportunity, things to do and a sense […]

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When searching for your home to purchase, it’s a good idea to take your time and check out neighborhoods unless you know right where you want to be.  Once the area(s) you’re interested in have been narrowed down, check these neighborhoods different times of day.  You’ll want to be aware of the traffic during rush […]

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A Home Warranty is actually a maintenance contract that can be purchased at the time a home is sold.  The cost is between $350 and $400.  There are several companies that offer this service and each is a bit different.  My favorite is Warrantech www.warrantechadvantage.com because they not only cover the Buyer, they cover the […]

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Here is a new site that maps garage sale listings from craigslist and puts them on a google map! It makes it really easy to find garage sales anywhere around Portland by viewing the map. You can even save sales to the Trip Planner and get printable detailed directions from one sale to the next! The […]

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