September 24, 2010
Real Estate in Portland
Do you know that recently Portland was ranked number 1 greenest city in the United States of America by a very popular science magazine? In 2008 Portland got this award of being the greenest city among all the cities of the United States. Even before this, in the year 2006 the city got another award for being the number one in sustainability among all the fifty largest cities in the whole of the United States of America. This was awarded by the famous Sustain Lane Media Company. Thus we can gather from the above facts that Portland happens to be a place where anyone would like to settle down. It is a place where you wish to bring up your children and raise your family. The real estate in Portland is booming and so are realtors in Portland.
The Rose city or Portland has many unique as well as diverse neighborhoods. With a population of more than 550,000 Portland is considered to be one of the most populous cities of Oregon district. It is also considered to be the third among the most populous cities in the United States after BC, WA and Vancouver and Seattle. Even with its huge population Portland stays to be very green and sustainable place. Thus we can easily derive the fact that real estate is on a boom in Portland nowadays. The Portland has a thriving economy and with its two awards it has definitely become a place where everyone would love to have a home.
The city of Portland has been divided into different neighborhoods or regions. If you are looking for some real estate in Portland then you need to search by these regions:
South Portland
Downtown Portland
South East Portland
South West Portland
North Portland
North East Portland
North West Portland
East Portland
Beaverton houses abound in plenty. If you are searching for good homes for sale Washington County you can find a lot of options. The city has charming bungalows to hillside palaces. If you are looking for modern apartment or condominiums you will get that too. The city has different kinds of homes to suit everyone’s needs. The real estate market here offers homes for people from all walks of life. With its populous neighborhoods the real estate in Portland offers a distinctive and diverse culture and society for the newcomers. It is definitely a place where you would love to spend the rest of your life.
September 23, 2010
Checklist for Selling a Home in Portland
When you try to sell your home, try to make it look like no one lives there. It sounds silly, but no one wants to see your fridge door with hundreds of magnets and pictures. Purchasers are not fancy about seeing your laundry on the floor or the baby’s diaper pail full to the brim. So here are some good tips to follow in order to get your house sold in Portland:
1. Paint all rooms a neutral colour if they are brightly coloured. Areas such as bedrooms, bathrooms and so on should be a taupe or beige colour which most purchasers can imagine their own furniture in. In Homes for Sale in Portland everyone can see the potential of your home in neutral shades.
2. Call a junk man or garbage removal company and start loading up the truck. Nothing is sacred, put all unused or overgrown articles in the dumpster or truck. Fill it and fill it again
3. Remove anything that smells old or musty such as old sofas or blankets from the basement. Old clothes in bags or boxes might have a damp and musty smell. Get rid of these culprits
4. Clean up the basement and wash all floors or steam clean carpeting. Repaint any cement floors and fix up the laundry center. Use organizational cupboard and storage units to store all articles.
5. Go through the bathrooms and remove any old prescriptions, old bottles of cream or shampoos, stuff that clutters up the vanity. Everyone takes out their makeup and brushes.
6. Get one bottle of hand wash and use it for hand washing and one set of hand towels that are set out for company. Put all other family towels away in individual bedrooms.
7. Bedrooms must be de-cluttered and all bedding washed and changed. Fresh bedspreads or duvets should be used and all toys and stuffed animals put into storage until after the sale.
8. Put all good items which you don’t need any more into a yard sale. Get rid of old furniture, clothing, kitchen gadgets and appliances, nick-knacks and old books. Make it a neighbourhood sale.
9. Now sterilize the kitchen from top to bottom, including the cupboards, pantry, sinks and counters, fridge, stove and dishwasher. Everything gets a super scrub using a disinfectant.
10. Clean the bathrooms similarly from top to bottom and remove all mould or mildew signs. Tiles and tub should glisten. See your realtor before you redo a bathroom in Portland.
11. The foyer should be free of shoes and backpacks, coats and bags. Pretend that it is the first thing that the purchaser sees and smells and it should pass the test for cleanliness and tidiness.
12. The living room should be free of any magazines or newspapers, ash trays, and used dishes. Polish all furniture and vacuum thoroughly. Spray with Febreeze or another air freshener.
13. If you have a dining room, set up a table of your best dishes and sterling. Put candles on the table and napkins, lower the lights and set up the room as if you were having company.
14. Turn on all lights and open a window in all rooms during the warmer weather or make sure the thermostat is set to 70 degrees for comfort.
15. If you have an air conditioner, put it on low during the cool seasons and full during the hotter days of summer. Portland homes for sale can weather any temperature.
16. Put out a vase of flowers, make a dozen cookies before the viewing or Open House. Now ask a neighbour or friend to go through the house and make comments or suggestions.
17. Do whatever it takes, inside or outside, to put your house on the market and get it sold! Good Luck! See your realtor when listing your home for sale in Portland.
Ask Tony and Libby Kelly any questions you may have when getting ready to sell your house. They have years of experience in the Portland area. You will get a better price if you follow the advice above.
August 24, 2010
Home Inspection before you Close the Deal in Portland
In the past ten years or so, it has become almost a necessity to have your dream home inspected by a registered home inspector prior to closing the deal. Years ago, we went full blast into a house not always aware of its pitfalls and lengthy list of repairs. We are talking about resale homes or homes which have been lived in before in Portland.
A home inspector will come to the house, for a set fee, with his ladder and flashlight, check list and various other tools and do a very thorough search of your house from stem to stern. There will be nothing left unturned from the garage, cellar, septic tank to the roof and all that is in between. There are many different inspectors available and you should shop around and get references. The basic list of checks is available online which should act as a guideline for the basic inspection. The inspector could give you a ball park figure of what it would cost to fix the items or you should hire a contractor to do a written estimate. Every resale home in Portland should have a comprehensive check done.
However, more features of the home need to be checked. A comprehensive check of the home, as part of a conditional offer on a resale home, should be done automatically. This will give the buyers peace of mind that they know what, if anything needs repairs and how much it could cost, based on a contractor’s evaluation. A simple glance at the floors and walls is not enough. Real Estate in Portland is cautioning for better home inspections before a deal is signed.
Make sure that the inspector checks for pests which could eat away and rot the wood in your home, the presence of any chemicals or old insulation such as formaldehyde, asbestos, rodents or any foundation issues below the grade. Pay particular attention to rot, mildew or dampness.
If you find that the house has too many repairs to make and they are prohibitive for you to undertake, the conditional offer may become null and void. Talk this over with your agent and lawyer first. If the repairs are as simple as repairing a set of kitchen cupboards, you might wish to take this on yourself. Remember that there are other houses to look at and it is a buyer’s market right now. The interest rates are phenomenal and the world is your oyster. Don’t feel pressured into buying a house which requires extensive renovations and repairs. Furthermore, if you have the inspection done, and it shows little repair is required, then you can command a higher price in the real estate market in Portland.
Whatever your decision, Tony and Libby Kelly will be pleased to offer their advice on any home or inspection questions.
August 23, 2010
Be Energy Efficient in Beaverton
This summer make sure that your house is kept conditioned in every sense of the word. Here are the main sensible ways in which you can avoid huge energy bills during the summer.
• Make sure your central air-conditioning system runs efficiently by keeping it clean. Have it checked annually by a professional in your real estate area of Beaverton
• Keep the air-conditioning off during the day while you are at work. Turn it on just before bed-time to cool the house down before retiring for the night.
• Clean or replace your furnace filter at least every 90 days, even during the summer, since your A/C uses the furnace’s motor. Clean filters can save up to 5 per cent in annual energy use. This will assist in saving money to put toward your new home in Beaverton.
• Install a programmable thermostat, which is more accurate than a mercury-filled one and adds flexibility in warming and cooling. Set the temperature above 25 degrees or higher in the summer to save on energy costs. If you want it cooler, consider that every degree below 25 degrees could add an extra 3 to 5 per cent to your energy bill.
• Turn off the lights, ovens and coffee makers when they’re not needed. Your A/C unit will thank you for it, as it will have less hot air to contend with.
• Close doors and windows. Don’t let warm air in and cool air out. Keeping drapes closed on sunny days can save on electricity costs.
• Shade the windows. Awnings, trees and shrubs can also help to reduce A/C costs. Look at Homes for Sale in Beaverton
• Dust off those ceiling fans. Turn them on before turning up the A/C to help lower the temperature.
• Open the windows at night when the breezes and cooler air can help to lower the house temperature. Close them and the drapes in the morning to keep the cool air inside.
• Ceiling fans are still a bargain for bedrooms and living rooms. Check the building recycling stores for older models
• Don’t keep opening and shutting the fridge or freezer doors. Take out all the ingredients you will need for a meal and then keep the door shut.
• Have cold drinks in a jug with ice on the counter for children to help themselves. Water is the best!
• Children and seniors should stay in the shade, have plenty of drinks and cold treats and have a fan nearby when sleeping
• Pure cotton, linen or silk clothing is the best to wear during a hot, humid day
• Let babies have a nap in a diaper only when it is hot and humid
• Have a quick cool shower instead of a hot bath.
• Allow children to play in a wading pool or a sprinkler for the lawn with an adult supervising
• Water your lawn on the days allowed and in the evening to prevent burning the grass
• Enjoy the summer, ride a bike and have a picnic supper! Your new home in Beaverton will be a treat this summer and autumn.
Make sure you talk to Tony and Libby Kelly who showcase homes in Beaverton. They have been featured on the HGTV “House Hunters” and “My House is Worth What”
August 21, 2010
Accept an Offer on your House in Beaverton
Six tips that will give you the 23confidence to know when to accept, reject or counter an offer on your home.
• Review the bidding price for your home in Beaverton
Unless there is a hot prospect looming on the horizon, most real estate agents will suggest accepting an offer if it is within three to five percent of your asking price.
• Consider the buyer’s contingencies for a sale in Beaverton
They may only want to buy your home pending its inspection, the sale of their house or other conditions such as repairs or inclusion of appliances. You can negotiate these points by presenting a counter-offer.
• Determine the buyer’s ability to pay for a home for sale in Beaverton
A lender qualification letter will reveal if the buyer has the funds to make monthly mortgage payments.
• Carefully review any seller-binding stipulations in the contract
Pay special attention to escape clauses that allow the buyer to cancel the deal and walk away.
• Make sure all agreements between you and the buyer are in writing for any Property for sale in Beaverton
The purchase agreement should state any conditions and agreements such as inclusion of the refrigerator or repairs to the home. The maximum amount you’ve agreed to pay for repairs should also be included.
• An accepted offer becomes a binding contract when you are interested in real estate in Beaverton
There is no way to change your mind without both the buyer and seller agreeing to all changes. Be sure you understand the
entire Offer to Purchase document and all the clauses. If you are in doubt, have your lawyer review an offer before you sign your acceptance.
You can always trust the word of Tony and Libby Kelly who will work tirelessly for you when it comes to finding a home in Beaverton, Oregon.
July 8, 2010
Beaverton Real Estate
Beaverton is a city in the Washington county of United States. It is the second largest city in this county.
Historically Beaverton Real Estate was set in pace when in 1915 Ford Motor Company stared their dealerships here and the employees of that dealership started the local community. Later on, Premium Picture Production Company came to work there and the associates of the company also contributed in some extent in forming a part of the local community of Beaverton, sharing a small portion of contemporary Beaverton Real Estate. These are however just two instances. Beaverton history details settlers who cam from various walks of life to find peace and prosperity here.
However, the nature of Beaverton Real Estate market has gone under a sea change, at least from economic perspective, but the tune of the city has remained unchanged. Still the nature of market has maintained its practical modality and booming prospect for the realtors, as well as investors and residents.
If you are an interested buyer, looking for a new home in Northeast Pacific, then Beaverton real estate is a good choice for you. Beaverton is a first-rated town, which has direct, and multiple accesses toward varied economic opportunity and great commuting facilities to the nearby towns.
While opting for Beaverton real estate, don’t just fall for the spectacular and convenient locations, which make this a great place to live. Make sure your go the right legal way by hiring a local reputed and enlisted realtor to help you in finalizing the deal.
May 6, 2010
Family Friendly Neighborhoods in Portland
If you’re looking to buy a home in a more family-friendly neighborhood, Portland has plenty to offer.
There’s Northwest Portland, which has some of the most beautiful homes for sale in Portland. Northwest Portland is a great neighborhood, but it’s also very urban. This area has long been one of Portland’s most desired neighborhoods for various reasons. One of the biggest reasons why everyone wants to live in Northwest Portland is its convenient location to downtown. From Northwest Portland you can easily take a bus or train, ride your bike or even walk to downtown. This neighborhood is also conveniently located close to several freeways, making commuting easy. Northwest Portland features a variety of homes for sale, from well-maintained older homes to various new apartment buildings. Residents of Northwest Portland are able to enjoy a variety of eclectic shops in the area, which includes trendy shopping and great dining. The neighborhood of Northwest Portland offers both charm and character for its wide variety of residents, and the area caters to everyone from students to the upper-middle class.
Laurelhurst in Northeast/Southeast Portland is one of Portland’s very first planned neighborhoods with roads slightly curved so as not to be a grid. It has really nice homes and is a little quieter than Northwest Portland, mostly because Laurelhurst is composed of all single-family homes and no apartment complexes. The area is considered one of Portland’s more exclusive areas, with some nice but expensive homes. This completely residential neighborhood in Portland also boasts the beautiful Laurelhurst Park, which features a man-made lake.
Sellwood in Southeast Portland is quaint, quiet neighborhood along the Willamette River and south of downtown. This neighborhood is more removed than the previous two, and has some beautiful homes for sale. The area is best known for its antique stores, which set the neighborhood’s whimsical mood. Overall, the area has a peaceful feeling to it, in large part due to the old classic homes found there. Although Sellwood isn’t one of the trendiest places to live in Portland, it is a perfect neighborhood for the homebuyer who is looking for a tranquil neighborhood to live.
A few miles from downtown is Beaumont-Wilshire, which is a slightly more conservative neighborhood that offers some posh, classic Portland homes. This neighborhood is located in between the close-in urban neighborhoods and the less desirable outer-82nd Avenue neighborhoods. Beaumont-Wilshire is a little more conservative than the other neighborhoods that cater to young residents. It has some very luxurious homes but, like most other Portland neighborhoods, some of the homes are smaller and more modest than others.
April 14, 2010
Where to live in Tigard, Oregon
Tigard, Oregon is located approximately 10 miles southwest of downtown Portland.
The neighborhoods in Tigard cater to families and Tigard houses are often single family homes. Approximately 75 percent homes are owned in the city. Tigard is quickly becoming a desired home for many families due to the highly regarded school system, which attracts families from all over the country.
Tigard is growing at a fast rate and so are the housing options available. There are various older neighborhoods that are in beautiful condition and offer residents both comfort and affordability. In addition to these well established, historic neighborhoods, Tigard also offers new neighborhoods with new homes that continue to provide Tigard residents with an excellent atmosphere to raise a family.
One of the fastest growing areas in Tigard is Bull Mountain, which is known for its breathtaking views of the Willamette Valley and the Cascade Range. The neighborhood of Bull Mountain has truly transitioned from rural to residential recently as the area that was once known for it’s large lot sizes and large homes has been replaced with new homes on smaller lots. Despite the downsize in home and lot size, Bull Mountain remains a highly sought after place to live in Tigard due to it’s close proximity to the city and it’s quaint, friendly neighborhoods.
Another area of Tigard that many residents choose to live is King City. Located directly south of Bull Mountain, this area was originally built as a planned adult community. It is now primarily residential with a wide variety of new construction projects that offer affordable, single family homes near King City’s signature 17 acre public park.
Lake Oswego is also one of Tigard’s premier residential neighborhoods. Incorporated in 1910, this area offers some of the finest houses in Tigard that are nestled among beautiful scenery that overlooks the 405-acre Oswego Lake. Living near the lake provides residents with easy access to boating, swimming and water sports during the summer month for the city of just over 35,000 people. There are also many housing options in Lake Oswego including the original “LO” neighborhoods that offer a taste of England. These homes are reminiscent of English cottages and Tudor-style homes.
These are just a couple of the excellent choices for neighborhoods in Tigard. Not only does Tigard offer a variety of neighborhoods to choose from but it also offers a variety of homes. From old neighborhoods and old homes to new neighborhoods and new homes, Tigard has it all. And the cities convenient location to all urban amenities in a rural atmosphere makes it the perfect place to relocate and raise a family.
March 25, 2010
Living in Tigard, Oregon
Tigard, Oregon is a friendly, small-town community located just minutes southwest of Portland in Washington County. Incorporated in 1961, Tigard retains an old-town atmosphere while offering residents all the amenities of a modern city.
The community of Tigard is tight-knit and friendly. Among the common services, the Tigard community strives to offer a local government, school, citizen groups, businesses and individuals who are supportive of each other. The city as a whole promotes community participation through its Neighborhood Networks program, which incorporates all 13 geographic areas of the community in the decision-making process.
The neighborhoods in Tigard are family-oriented and quaint. Tigard features neighborhoods that are both new and old. The older neighborhoods are comfortable and in good condition while the new neighborhoods continue to grow by leaps and bounds. The new neighborhoods of Tigard, including the fastest growing are of Bull Mountain, offer residents brand new homes, the same comforts of a friendly neighborhood and modern amenities.
Overall, Tigard offers a variety of real estate options. From small condos and starter homes to upscale estates, Tigard has something for everyone.
In addition to the vast scenery, great school system, and affordable housing prices, Tigard’s location poises the city for future growth and success.
Portland, Oregon housing options
Portland, Oregon is often referred to as a big city with a small town feel. If you are looking to relocate to a city with breathtaking scenery, mild weather and a great location, Portland could be the place for you.
One of the major reasons you should consider living in Portland is the lowing housing costs. In fact, Portland boasts the lowest housing costs of the major metropolitan West Coast cities. Compared to Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, Portland is a bargain of a place to live offering all the urban amenities at affordable prices.
In addition to the low housing costs, Portland real estate market offers a wide variety of housing options to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a high-rise condominium or a classic Victorian style home, Portland has it all, and all within close proximity to central destinations.
The up-and-coming areas of South Waterfront and Pearl District, near downtown Portland, offer a variety of urban living options. These areas have real estate options such as high-rise condominiums and hip brownstones.
Portland also offers a variety of housing options for those who are looking for something a little more traditional. Portland has many historic, tree-lined neighborhoods with Victorian and Craftsman quality.
There’s also a selection of new housing options to be found.
If you’re not looking to invest in a home, Portland also offers an assortment of apartments to choose from throughout the city and surrounding areas. In the downtown area, you can find historic buildings that feature trendy Manhattan-style lofts. In the city’s suburbs, you can find larger and more affordable apartments.
If you’re looking for affordable housing in city with its own unique character, Portland may be the right place for you.
