Generated by All in One SEO Pro v5.0.1.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Lovejoy Real Estate | Portland Real Estate Brokerage Independent Portland Metro, SW Washington, and Willamette Valley real estate brokerage since 2003. The Turner Team at Lovejoy Real Estate: 2,500+ homes sold, buyer and seller specialists. ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Portland Real Estate Market Update: August 2026](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-metro-market-update-august-2026/) - Portland closed 1,902 homes in August 2026, down 5.9% from a year ago, and the median was $540,000. Washington County softened; NE Portland gained. - [The Best Real Estate Agent and Brokerage in Portland: An Honest 2026 Guide](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/best-real-estate-agent-brokerage-portland/) - Lovejoy Real Estate and Jenny Turner lead Portland on verifiable production, with five other strong brokerages compared. An honest 2026 guide. - [Can You Pay Your Mortgage With a Credit Card? What the Points Are Actually Worth](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/pay-mortgage-with-credit-card-points/) - Yes, Bilt lets you earn points on a mortgage, but it is a bank draft, not a card charge. Here is what a year of payments on a $3,000 mortgage actually pays out. - [Closing This Fall? Oregon Property Taxes Explained](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregon-property-taxes-buyers-hold-and-pay/) - Oregon buyers closing between September 1 and the October tax roll pay roughly 115% of last year's taxes into escrow, plus a holdback fee of about $75. - [Portland Real Estate Market Update: July 2026](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-metro-market-update-july-2026/) - Portland closed 8.1% more homes in July 2026 than a year ago and the median held flat at $555,000, even as U.S. sales slipped. What it means for you now. - [Oregon Just Ended Neighbor Appeals on a Lot of New Housing](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregon-hb-4037-neighbor-appeals/) - As of July 1, 2026, Oregon's HB 4037 bars third-party appeals, required hearings, and wide notice on housing applications meeting clear and objective rules. - [The 2026 Portland Street of Dreams: A Guide to the 50th Anniversary Show](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-street-of-dreams-2026/) - The NW Natural 2026 Portland Street of Dreams turns 50. Where the show is with interactive map, the home lineup, dates, hours, and tickets. - [Nine Must Knows About Buying and Selling in Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregon-real-estate-questions-answered/) - Straight answers to the questions Oregon buyers and sellers keep asking: buyer agreements, seller disclosures, property taxes, transfer taxes, and rates. - [Air Conditioning in Portland, Revisited](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/air-conditioning-portland-homes/) - We pulled 2,700 recent sales to see how common air conditioning in Portland homes really is. The answer climbs sharply with price. Here's the breakdown. - [Portland Real Estate Market Update: June 2026](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-metro-market-update-june-2026/) - The Portland real estate market skipped its spring lull: closed sales jumped 13.8% in June while prices held flat. What it means for buyers and sellers now. - [How Far Does Your Money Go? London vs. Portland, and the Hour-Out-of-Town Test](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-far-your-money-goes-london-vs-portland/) - London homes cost 36% more than Portland's and deliver half the space. What $540,000 buys in each city, plus Salem against England's commuter belt. - [Buying a Home in England vs. Oregon: Six Things That Would Surprise You](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/buying-a-home-england-vs-oregon/) - How home buying in England differs from Oregon, from gazumping to stamp duty, and what it reveals about the buyer protections we take for granted in Oregon. - [When Portland buyers actually show up](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/when-portland-buyers-actually-show-up/) - Portland home showings peak in May, bottom in December, and inventory has rebuilt 4x since 2021. What a balanced Portland housing market means for you. - [Zillow Estimates](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/zillow-estimates/) - Zillow just dropped the Beta tag from their name. When it was released last year, I posted this and this. What we found was Zillow didn't like bedrooms. Turning a 4 bedroom house into a 1 bedroom house added $60,000 in the Zestimate. Using our four bedroom, two bath single family rental property in Southeast, - [Aluminum Wiring](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/aluminum-wiring/) - Home inspection today revealed that the house is wired with aluminum wiring. It’s a known potential fire hazard so merits more research. The most useful reference is the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Publication 516, Repairing Aluminum Wiring, which covers how to recognize aluminum branch circuit wiring and the repair methods CPSC recommends. There are - [2026 Street of Dreams: Interactive Map of All 22 Show Homes](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/street-of-dreams-2026-map/) - Explore 22 Street of Dreams show homes on one interactive map—tap pins for photos and details, and clusters for easy viewing. - [What If Liquid Death Wrote Our Listing Descriptions?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/what-if-liquid-death-wrote-our-listing-descriptions/) - Our playful experiment shows how bold narration can replace bland MLS copy without breaking the rules of the sale. When canned water writes listing descriptions - [Portland Metro Market Update: May 2026](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-metro-market-update-may-2026/) - Portland-area closed sales are up 2.4% in 2026 while the national market stalls. What rates, rents, and inventory mean for buyers and sellers now. - [We Read a Stack of Recent Inspection Reports. The Same Things Show Up Every Time.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/common-home-inspection-findings-portland-willamette-valley/) - Most home inspection reports flag the same findings house after house. What's routine across Portland and the Willamette Valley, & the few that actually matter. - [Why August Could Be the Sweet Spot for Portland Buyers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/why-august-could-be-the-sweet-spot-for-portland-buyers/) - Take advantage of Portland's quiet August market—more homes, motivated sellers, and clearer price insights can help you buy with confidence. - [Why Oregon’s Property Tax Year Starts in July (and What It Means for You)](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/why-oregons-property-tax-year-starts-in-july-and-what-it-means-for-you/) - Understanding Oregon property tax deadlines and prorations can save you headaches during a sale. Find out how taxes are handled at closing. - [5 Clever Layout Tests Before You Make an Offer in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/5-clever-layout-tests-before-you-make-an-offer-in-portland/) - Learn how to evaluate Portland homes with quick in-person tests—perfect for avoiding layout frustrations amid narrow lots and busy schedules. - [Portland’s Late-Summer Market Update — Inventory vs. Prices](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portlands-late-summer-market-update-inventory-vs-prices/) - Learn how Portland’s real estate prices remain steady despite rising inventory, and what this shift means for buyers and sellers this season. - [Why ADUs Are a Big Win in Portland Right Now](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/why-adus-are-a-big-win-in-portland-right-now/) - Explore how ADUs are transforming Portland's housing scene—boost property value, generate income, and support multigenerational living with flexible designs. - [How to Negotiate Closing Costs in Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-to-negotiate-closing-costs-in-oregon/) - Explore how increased inventory and market changes in Portland 2025 empower buyers to negotiate closing costs more effectively. - [Navigating Multiple Offers as a Portland Buyer](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/navigating-multiple-offers-as-a-portland-buyer/) - Some Portland homes are attracting multiple offers. Get insights on crafting strong bids and the importance of pre-approval in this competitive market. - [7 Minor Updates That Can Help Your Home Sell Faster](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/7-minor-updates-that-can-help-your-home-sell-faster/) - Prepare your Portland home for the market with easy, impactful updates that enhance appeal, practicality, and value—no full remodel needed. - [Top 5 Portland Suburbs for Buyers in 2025](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/top-5-portland-suburbs-for-buyers-in-2025/) - Find out which Portland suburbs are trending in 2025— from tech hubs to historic communities — and discover your perfect place to call home. - [Should You Update Your Landscaping Before Selling?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/should-you-update-your-landscaping-before-selling/) - Discover cost-effective landscaping ideas to enhance your home's curb appeal in Portland, captivate buyers, and stand out in a competitive market. - [Portland’s Historic Homes: Charm and Challenges](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portlands-historic-homes-charm-and-challenges/) - Considering a historic home in Portland? Get expert insights on hidden costs, renovation tips, and the true value of vintage charm. - [Why Move-In Ready Homes Sell Faster in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/why-move-in-ready-homes-sell-faster-in-portland/) - Discover why move-in ready homes in Portland sell faster in 2025 thanks to updated systems, smart features, and stress-free living. - [How Portland’s Market Compares to National Trends](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-portlands-market-compares-to-national-trends/) - Want a local edge in Portland's real estate market? Find out what rising active listings and steady prices mean for buyers and sellers alike. - [Should You Buy Before You Sell in Portland?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/should-you-buy-before-you-sell-in-portland/) - Learn how Portland buyers and sellers are adapting in 2025 with contingency offers, bridge loans, and smart timing strategies for a seamless move. - [Multigenerational Living Trends in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/multigenerational-living-trends-in-portland/) - Discover why multigenerational living is on the rise in Portland and how it reshapes homeownership, family bonds, and long-term planning. - [Portland’s Urban Growth Boundary Explained](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portlands-urban-growth-boundary-explained/) - Gain insights into Portland's unique housing landscape, where the Urban Growth Boundary manages growth and shapes the future of neighborhoods. - [Should You Sell Your Home As-Is or Renovate First?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/should-you-sell-your-home-as-is-or-renovate-first/) - Explore the pros and cons of fixing up your home versus selling as-is in Portland’s competitive market to make informed decisions. - [Top Portland Neighborhoods for Outdoor Enthusiasts](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/top-portland-neighborhoods-for-outdoor-enthusiasts/) - Looking for a home that complements your active lifestyle? Learn about Portland neighborhoods ideal for biking, hiking, kayaking, and more. - [Why Real Estate Is a Smart Investment in Portland in 2025](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/why-real-estate-is-a-smart-investment-in-portland-in-2025/) - Learn why now is a strategic time to invest in Portland property, with ongoing appreciation, high rental demand, and attractive local perks. - [Common Pitfalls for Portland First-Time Buyers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/common-pitfalls-for-portland-first-time-buyers/) - Want to buy your first Portland home? Discover common pitfalls and expert tips to ensure a smooth, confident home-buying journey in Oregon's market. - [Understanding Earnest Money in Oregon Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/understanding-earnest-money-in-oregon-real-estate/) - Get insights into Oregon's real estate earnest money rules, including timelines, contingencies, and what winning strategies really look like. - [Does a Pool Add Value to a Portland Home?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/does-a-pool-add-value-to-a-portland-home/) - Thinking of installing a pool in Portland? Find out how it may impact your home's value and why maintenance matters more than you think. - [What Buyers Look for in Portland Basements](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/what-buyers-look-for-in-portland-basements/) - From ADUs to home offices, discover how Portland basements are transforming houses and what features will make your property stand out. - [Smart Home Features Portland Buyers Want](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/smart-home-features-portland-buyers-want/) - Learn what smart features today’s Portland homebuyers want—like EV chargers and smart lighting—to increase your home's value and marketability. - [The Closing Timeline: From Offer to Keys in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-closing-timeline-from-offer-to-keys-in-portland/) - Get insights into Portland's unique real estate closing timeline and practical advice to help you move from offer to ownership smoothly. - [What Makes Portland’s Housing Inventory Unique](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/what-makes-portlands-housing-inventory-unique/) - Learn why Portland’s housing options are so varied—covering classic neighborhoods and innovative infill zones—and how this affects your real estate choices. - [SE Portland Hot Spots for First-Time Buyers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/se-portland-hot-spots-for-first-time-buyers/) - Discover why Southeast Portland is the ideal first home for buyers with its charming streets, affordable prices, and vibrant community vibe. - [How to Evaluate School Proximity When Selling](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-to-evaluate-school-proximity-when-selling/) - Discover how to highlight your Portland home's location benefits near schools without violating fair housing laws. Learn effective, legal marketing strategies. - [When Is the Best Time to List Your Portland Home?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/when-is-the-best-time-to-list-your-portland-home/) - Discover the optimal time to sell your Portland home with data-driven insights on seasonal trends and market signals for a quicker, better sale. - [Why Buyers Are Prioritizing Energy Efficiency](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/why-buyers-are-prioritizing-energy-efficiency/) - Get insights on how energy-conscious upgrades can enhance your home's marketability and attract better offers in Portland. - [What to Expect at a Home Appraisal in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/what-to-expect-at-a-home-appraisal-in-portland/) - Navigate Portland’s real estate market with ease! Understand home appraisals, market stats, and expert tips to make your home-selling or buying journey smooth. - [Tips for Selling a Rental Property in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tips-for-selling-a-rental-property-in-portland/) - Thinking of selling your Portland rental? Find out how to manage tenants, price strategically, and leverage market data for a successful sale. - [First-Time Buyer Checklist for Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/first-time-buyer-checklist-for-portland/) - Discover key steps to buying your first Portland home, from pre-approval to offer strategy, with expert tips tailored to our competitive market. - [Backyard Upgrades Buyers Love in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/backyard-upgrades-buyers-love-in-portland/) - Learn how strategic backyard improvements, such as native landscaping and cozy outdoor living spaces, can help you sell faster in Portland. - [Should I Rent My Home Instead of Selling?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/should-i-rent-my-home-instead-of-selling/) - Explore the pros and cons of renting out your Portland property now, including potential income and market risks, with our detailed analysis. - [The Impact of Remote Work on Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-impact-of-remote-work-on-portland-real-estate/) - See how remote work is transforming Portland neighborhoods, creating new opportunities for buyers and fresh strategies for sellers. - [How Long Does It Take to Sell a Home in 2025?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-sell-a-home-in-2025/) - Wondering about the current Portland real estate timeline? Find out how to navigate the market effectively and sell your home efficiently in 2025. - [10 Home Fixture Trends That Won’t Age Well](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/10-home-fixture-trends-that-wont-age-well/) - Discover timeless home fixture trends that enhance your space and boost long-term value in Portland—steer clear of fleeting styles with our expert tips. - [Why the BRRR Strategy Is Gaining Popularity in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/why-the-brrr-strategy-is-gaining-popularity-in-portland/) - Learn why now is an ideal time for BRRR investors in Portland amid changing market trends and rising rental income opportunities. - [Can the Stock Market Drive Portland Home Prices?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/can-th-stock-market-drive-portland-home-prices/) - See how rising stock portfolios are empowering Portland buyers to act quicker and stronger, even with lower inventory and longer listing times. - [Rising Interest Rates: What It Means for Affordability](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rising-interest-rates-what-it-means-for-affordability/) - Understand the impact of current mid-7% mortgage rates on affordability and how to adapt your home buying plans effectively. - [The Closing Timeline: From Offer to Keys](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-closing-timeline-from-offer-to-keys/) - Get insider insights into Portland’s real estate closing timeline, empowering you to stay in control and confidently reach those final homeownership stages. - [Seven Things that Affect Housing Prices](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/seven-things-that-affect-housing-prices/) - Understand the real drivers behind mortgage rates—jobs and bond markets matter more than the Fed. Get expert insights for buyers and sellers. - [The Forty-Year-Old with a Fifty-Year Mortgage](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-forty-year-old-with-a-fifty-year-mortgage/) - The median age of a first-time buyer is climbing. Is a 50-year mortgage the solution to making homeownership more affordable? We don't think so. Agree? - [You Can’t Avoid Death and Taxes—but You Can Prepare for Both](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/you-cant-avoid-death-and-taxes-but-you-can-prepare-for-both/) - What happens to your home when you die? If you don't have a will or trust, the answer is probably probate before it can be inherited or sold. What is probate? - [Top 10 Smart Year-End Moves for Oregon Homeowners](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/top-10-smart-year-end-moves-for-oregon-homeowners/) - Smart year-end checklist for Oregon homeowners: review escrow, insurance, and finances to prepare your home and budget for a strong start to 2026. - [The Pros and Cons of Listing or Buying in Winter](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-listing-or-buying-in-winter/) - Discover why winter is a strategic time for buying or selling real estate. Learn how to leverage seasonal advantages and navigate the market effectively. - [Lovejoy Real Estate: We'll Leave the Heat on For You](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/lovejoy-real-estate-well-leave-the-heat-on-for-you/) - Understand the true cost of heating a vacant home in winter and how it can actually save you money by helping you sell faster. - [Top Ten Financial Consideration of Homeownership](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/top-ten-financial-consideration-of-homeownership/) - Understand the long-term financial landscape of owning a home in Portland, including potential gains, risks, and the importance of realistic expectations. - [Portland Real Estate Market Update: A Slow Start to 2026](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-market-update-a-slow-start-to-2026/) - Portland's 2026 housing market is softening yet stabilizing, with more inventory and cautious buyer behavior shaping the scene. - [Portland vs. Salem: What January's Numbers Tell Us](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-vs-salem-what-januarys-numbers-tell-us/) - Find out why a short drive south on I-5 changes everything in the 2026 housing market, with a detailed comparison of Portland and Salem. - [Short Sales and Foreclosures in Portland Metro](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/short-sales-and-foreclosures-in-portland-metro/) - 4,448 active listings in Portland. 31 short sales. 40 bank owned. Here's what those numbers mean — and what distressed properties actually cost buyers. - [Portland Metro Real Estate Market Update — March 2026](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-metro-real-estate-market-update-march-2026/) - Portland home sales jumped 11% in March 2026 even as the Iran war rattled markets. Here's what the data shows — and what it means for buyers and sellers now. - [Home Energy Scores in Portland and Across the State](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-energy-scores-in-portland-and-across-the-state/) - Find out how the Home Energy Score affects Portland and Oregon home sales, what buyers and sellers need to know, and the trends shaping future policies. - [Working with Lovejoy Real Estate: Why 500+ Reviews Matter](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/working-with-lovejoy-real-estate-why-500-reviews-matter/) - Looking for a reliable Portland real estate agent? See how Lovejoy's proven record of high-quality service and client trust sets us apart. - [What a Portland Buyer Wants in a Kitchen](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/what-a-portland-buyer-wants-in-a-kitchen/) - Learn how Portland kitchens are evolving in 2025, emphasizing personality, smart design, and natural light to attract modern buyers. - [Your Oregon Property Tax Bill Is Here: What to Know in 2025](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/your-oregon-property-tax-bill-is-here-what-to-know-in-2025/) - Get clear insights on Portland's property tax bills, including color codes, payment deadlines, discounts, and how to appeal your property value. - [Portland Metro Real Estate: November 2025 Market Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-metro-real-estate-november-2025-market-update/) - Explore Portland's housing market trends for November: rising inventory, stable prices, and a promising outlook for early 2026. - [Lovejoy Real Estate Launches App](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/lovejoy-real-estate-launches-app/) - Announcing the release of our Lovejoy Real Estate app in the Apple App and Google Play Stores. Search & save homes and get connected with our favorite vendors. - [Are Mortgage Rates in the Fives? Will They Stay There?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/are-mortgage-rates-in-the-fives-will-they-stay-there/) - Uncover the reality behind 'rates in the fives'—which borrowers qualify, and how market conditions can affect your mortgage rate. - [What Hidden Systems Really Cost Portland Home Buyers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/what-hidden-systems-really-cost-portland-home-buyers/) - Water heater, furnace, roof, repiping—Portland replacement costs and lifespans explained. A $600K house w/ aging systems may cost as much to own as a $700K one. - [The Discipline Dividend: Chattanooga Insights That Hit Home](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-discipline-dividend-chattanooga-insights-that-hit-home-2-2/) - Lessons from Chase Hughes: ind out how small, disciplined choices today can lead to significant outcomes in real estate tomorrow. - [RMLS Area Map and West Portland Stats](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-area-map-and-west-portland-stats/) - May's RMLS Market Action isn't out yet so I thought I would start new catagory and occaisonly post stats for the different RMLS Areas. Portland is broken up into four areas. The complete RMLS_area_map (PDF) is downloadable. The areas for Portland are defined as: 141 North Portland NORTH: Columbia River, WEST: Willamette River, SOUTH: Willamette - [RMLS May Market Action](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-may-market-action/) - RMLS keeps statistical records of our real estate market. May's Market Action was just released and it doesn't deliver the dagger to burst the bubble. What it does state is that there are more listings and fewer sales. This year, has continued to generate growth in new listings. For example, when comparing market activity for - [Market Watch](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/marketwatch/) - Quick cheating cut and paste job while vacationing in England: Home prices in 20 major U.S. cities were down 6.1% on average in the past year as of October, according to the Case-Shiller price index released Wednesday by Standard & Poor's. Since October 2006, prices in 10 cities fell 6.7% -- a record drop. The - [Portland Real Estate in 2008](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-in-2008/) - Will 2008 real estate be great? Will Portland's real estate market deflate in 2008? It's the crystal ball question. What if we head back to business school for a few minutes and try a SWOT Analysis; (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) to the market? Let's develop this together. I'll start but make no claim to - [Portland Not as Bad as the Rest](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-not-as-bad-as-the-rest/) - The Standard & Poor's Case –Shiller report is pretty much what we expected having recently looked at declining prices over the last few months in a previous post. The weight of the recent months has finally brought Portland year over year prices down -.5%. That's compared to the 20-City Composite Index which dropped 11%. Once - [Portland is Late to Housing Party](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-is-late-to-housing-party/) - Today's planned post can wait. This is more time sensitive. I can't get the graphs on MacroMarkets.com work so no visual but according to the just released Case-Shiller S&P Index results, Portland dropped 2% from between this Feb. and last Feb. There has been a monthly decline for each of the last six months. There - [Friday Portland Area Housing Market Facts](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/friday-portland-area-housing-market-facts/) - The research stems from the question, "how much should I offer a bank owned property?" The result from running some searches: In Beaverton and Tigard since 1/1/2009 bank owned single family properties priced between $200k-$400k have sold for an average of 97% of asking price (70 of them). In Portland, the same criteria yields 137 - [Portland Housing More Affordable](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-housing-more-affordable/) - The chart above is from the June RMLS Market Action. It shows the historical affordability of the Portland housing market. The National Association of Home Builders publishes the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI). CNNMoney reported yesterday on the HOI index and the most and least affordable cities but Portland doesn't get mention. Going into - [Property Investment Profile (PIP) and Market Tracker](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/property-investment-profile-pip-and-market-tracker/) - The new Property Investment Profiles (PIP) and Market Tracker reports are available for September. These reports are emailed monthly. The Property Investment Profile report is property specific. We set them up to report on comparable properties. In the case of larger condo towers, we usually set them up to be building specific. This report is - [Case Shiller and RMLS Provide Different Views of Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-and-rmls-provide-different-views-of-portland-real-estate/) - A couple of weeks ago I took a look at whether RMLS Market Action could help us predict what the trailing Case Shiller report might look like? The answer was no, at least not as reported. It was pointed out that the methodologies are different. RMLS Market Action does not include Clark County. Case Shiller - [Portland Real Estate Condo Market](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-condo-market/) - RMLS Market Action was released yesterday. The last page of the Portland Metro report focuses on condos. The median sales price is down considerably but has seen an uptick the last couple of months. Closed sales appear to be fairly consistent but the number of listed condos has declined more than 20% since November of - [Portland Real Estate Inventory](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-inventory/) - According to RMLS Market Statistical Reports in Multnomah County: There are 4804 active listings. There are 3135 single family detached listings worth a total of $1,115,941,000. The average price is $355,962 and the median price is $260,000. There are 1580 active condo and attached units for sale. The average price is $333,465 and median price - [RMLS Market Action January 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-january-2010/) - Portland real estate inventory nearly doubled in January. Inventory is a ratio of closed sales and active listings. 3937 new listings were taken in January compared to 2104 in December and closed sales declined compared to the previous month pushing inventory up. Between December 2008/January 2009 inventory increased 36% and this year's Dec/Jan increase was - [Real Estate Inventory is Seasonal](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/real-estate-inventory-is-seasonal/) - [graphs and text updated 11:50AM 2.18.10 thanks to an astute reader] In my post yesterday about January's 2010 RMLS Market Action report I said that I would go back through previous reports to see if there was a trend in inventory levels between January and the previous December. There is a seasonal New Years Inventory - [PSU Center for Real Estate 1st Quarter Report](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/psu-center-for-real-estate-1st-quarter-report/) - The Portland State University Center for Real Estate recently published their Quarterly & Urban Development Journal 2010 First Quarter report (76 page pdf). I've just started scanning through then entire report but can see the Scott Aster's "Housing Market Analysis" and Cliff Hockley's"Condominium Financing: FHA Rule Change Controversy" deserve a closer look and discussion. - [Some Portland Real Estate Markets in Positive Territory](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/some-portland-real-estate-markets-in-positive-territory/) - In PSU’s Quarterly & Urban Development Journal 2010 First Quarter report, “Housing Market Analysis," Scott Aster publishes a graph that further emphasizes that real estate local. Three of the RMLS areas studied appreciated during the first quarter of the year. The rest were all in a state of decline. North Portland is the only area - [RMLS Market Action February 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-february-2010/) - The February RMLS Market Action report on the Portland real estate market came out this morning. When I ran the Multnomah Country report yesterday I said that I thought that inventory would remain fairly static as there is an increase in listings and an increase in activity. Note the importance of methodology: my report shows - [Portland Property Tax Scam Part 2](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-property-tax-scam-part-2/) - Yesterday I wrote about a property tax reduction scam that is being investigated by the state's attorney general. For $189.00 the letter says they will file for a reduction on your behalf. So what is involved in filing for a reduction (note that this is not tax or legal advice). Google sends us to this - [Portland Real Estate Snapshot April 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-snapshot-april-2010/) - How much Portland real estate do you get for your money? Does what you want exist? I created the two graphs from RMLS Home Sales Report. The highest concentration of homes sold were three bedrooms between $200,000 - $249,999. That price range also has the largest number of active listings. For four bedrooms homes, the - [Portland Real Estate Lockbox Activity](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-lockbox-activity/) - Each week RMLS reports on the weekly activity of the Supra lockboxes that we use. The electronic, PIN number protected box tracks when Realtors open a box in real time. The reports are for the all of the Oregon lockboxes opened RMLS subscribers. They also publish one for Washington simultaneously on the RMLS blog website. - [Portland Neighborhood Real Estate Market Stats](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-neighborhood-real-estate-market-stats/) - Every month those with an interest in the Portland real estate market eagerly wait for reports to come out. RMLS Market Action is published mid-month and Case Shiller is released on the last Tuesday of the month with a three month lag. Our Market Tracker report is emailed out on the first Sunday of every - [Goldman Sachs Does Not Love Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/goldman-sachs-does-not-love-portland-real-estate/) - Goldman Sachs Global ECS Research published their "US Economic Analyst" on June 4th and they do not like Portland's real estate outlook: Our model projects the biggest price declines in Las Vegas, Seattle and Portland, due to high homeowner vacancy rates and/or rising mortgage delinquencies. Conversely, we expect modest house price gains in Cleveland, Minneapolis, - [Where in the World is Portland, Oregon?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/where-in-the-world-is-portland-oregon/) - "Portland real estate." We use the phrase all of the time. So where exactly is Portland? Wikipedia lists 21 Portlands in the United States but what is that we are talking about once we decide we are talking about Portland, Oregon real estate? The Case Shiller Index uses the Portland MSA, the 23rd largest in - [RMLS Market Action May 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-may-2010/) - The RMLS Market Action report for May 2010 was published today. I've written a post every month since 2005 when the blog began on the Portland Metro report. We've watched the Portland real estate market rise, fall and now level off, each month reporting inventory as an indicator of market health. I'm going to continue - [How Much is your Home Worth?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-much-is-your-home-worth/) - Did you get your Market Tracker report on Sunday? Market Tracker is emailed automatically from our system for any of the RMLS area zip codes on the first Sunday night of the month. We can set you up for up to ten zip codes. Use the "additional comments" portion of the form to let us - [RMLS Market Action July 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-july-2010/) - RMLS Market Action for the Portland metro area was released on Friday. Metro area inventory spiked to 10.8 from June's 7.3. The increase comes from both a rise in active listing and a slow down in closed sales. I've also started to break down inventory by RMLS area for Portland. Five areas make up Portland - [What's Selling in Portland?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/whats-selling-in-portland/) - What's selling in Portland? This morning's search shows the active listings and pending listings in Portland. I used our proprietary Client Connect search software that feeds from RMLS. Total real estate listings in Portland: Active 5835/1158 pending = 19.8% $0-$199,999: 1542 active/307 pending = 19.9% $200,000 - $399,000: 2589 active/551 pending = 21.3% $400,000 - - [Local RMLS Portland Inventory](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/local-rmls-portland-inventory/) - We saw an increase in Portland metro real estate inventory to 11 months in the recently released RMLS Market Action. For the last few months I've been tracking the local Portland RMLS areas as well so that we can see how area specific real estate can be. The upward trend continued on the east side - [Portland Case Shiller January 2011](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-january-2011/) - We're not in 2007 anymore. Case Shiller Index numbers for Portland real estate were released this morning. Since the market peaked in July of 2007 Portland has given back 27.7% according to the Index. The Case Shiller Index was set to 100 in 2000. Portland, at 135.8, is still well ahead of that but Las - [The Tale of Two Portland Real Estate Headlines](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-tale-of-two-portland-real-estate-headlines/) - "Housing prices looking up, sort of." "Portland Home Price drop 8.4%" The first headline is by Eliot Njus of the Oregonian (print version, I can't find it online). The second is Wendy Culverwell's of the Portland Business Journal. Both headlines refer to yesterday's release of the July 2011 Case Shiller Index. The two articles are - [2011 Year End Market Action Reports From OPB](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2011-year-market-action-reports/) - I'm just heading down to the OPB studio for this morning's Speak Out Loud segment at 9:00 AM. Here are the links to the December 2011 RMLS Market Action reports: - All Areas (68 pages) - Baker County - Columbia Basin - Coos County - Curry County - Douglas County - Grant County - Lane - [RMLS Market Action January 2012](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-january-2012/) - RMLS released the latest edition of Market Action yesterday. The Portland Metro market report shows that inventory bumped up from a month ago. Closed sales are up but the number of new listings is down. The 8514 active listings are the fewest in three years. With more buyers competing for fewer listings we've heard some - [RMLS Market Action April 2013](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-april-2013/) - Bad blogger, bad blogger. When you realize your last post was March's RMLS Market Action report and April's came out two days ago it's time to start typing. So here we go. There's no real surprise the inventory is low. At 3.1 months that mean that if we stopped taking new listings, the 6498 listings - [2009 Portland Real Estate Recap- RMLS Market Action Dec 09](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2009-portland-real-estate-recap-rmls-market-action-dec-09/) - We're getting a better look at how 2009 wrapped up with yesterday's release of RMLS Market Action. For the year, there were fewer closings than in 2008 but not by much (18,955 down from 19,132). The rolling 12 month average sales price was down 12.1% to $289,000 (median down 10.8% to $247,000). Compared to 2008, - [How Low Can Portland Metro Housing Inventory Go?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-low-can-portland-metro-housing-inventory-go/) - I started real estate in 2003. Only twice, has inventory hit 1.2 months: December 2015 and NOW! It rocketed to 19.2 months in January 2009. Inventory is the ratio of active listings to closed sales. If I had 100 listings and sold ten the prior month, I'd have 10 months of inventory. Tradition said that - [Market Update for Q4 2020](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/clients-update-for-q4-2/) - [Portland Real Estate: Record Low Inventory](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-metro-real-estate-freight-train/) - Wondering if now's the right time to buy or sell in Portland? Learn what record-low inventory means and how Lovejoy helps you navigate a hot market. - [RMLS Market Action September 2021](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-september-2021/) - Portland real estate market update Sept 2021. Inventory up, prices down from peak but +17.5% YoY. Expert market analysis from Lovejoy Real Estate. - [RMLS Market Action 2024 Price Changes](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2024_real_estate_market_review/) - Get the inside scoop on the 2024 Portland real estate market trends, including neighborhood breakdowns, 2025 forecasts, and advice for buyers and sellers. - [Are Automated Home Valuations Accurate?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/are-automated-home-valuations-accurate/) - Discover the accuracy of Automated Valuation Models like the Zestimate and learn how they compare to Comparative Market Analysis (CMAs) and full appraisals. - [Tips for Virtual Showings in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tips-for-virtual-showings-in-portland/) - How to make your listing shine online — and get results — in Portland’s digital-first market. Insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, your trusted partner in... - [How to Price a Unique Property](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-to-price-unique-property/) - In a city as creative as Portland, it’s no surprise that unique homes show up on nearly every block—from converted churches in. Expert real estate advice... - [Historic Districts in Portland: What to Know Before You Renovate or Sell](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/historic-districts-in-portland-what-to-know-before-you-renovate-or-sell/) - Learn the essentials of navigating renovation and sale processes in Portland’s historic districts, including permits, reviews, and market insights. - [Tips for Relocating to Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tips-for-relocating-in-portland/) - Relocating to a new city is exciting—but let’s be real, it can also be a logistical beast. Discover what makes Portland, OR a great place to live. Local... - [How to Sell a Home with Pets](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-to-sell-a-home-with-pets/) - Portland home sellers: love your furry family members, but not every buyer will. Lovejoy Real Estate brings strategic marketing and local expertise to every... - [Tips and Tricks for Leveraging AI in Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tips-and-tricks-for-leveraging-ai-in-real-estate/) - Explore the shift in real estate with AI—how it changes the game for buyers, sellers, and agents without replacing human insight. - [Pocket Listings, Private Exclusives, and the Fight Over How Homes Get Sold](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/pocket-listings-private-exclusives-and-the-fight-over-how-homes-get-sold/) - Learn how Portland's MLS handles pocket listings, from office exclusives to delayed marketing, and what options are available for privacy-conscious sellers. - [Understanding Hoarding: Challenges & Solutions in Home Sales](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/hoarding/) - Hoarding shows up in real estate more than people expect. Here's how to navigate the sale, conversation, and where to find local resources in the Portland area. - [Understanding Housing Styles of Portland and RMLS Listings](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/understanding-housing-styles-of-portland-and-rmls-listings/) - Explore Portland's diverse housing styles from Victorian to contemporary, and see what they tell you about the neighborhood's evolution. - [Selling Your Home After Retirement: What to Know Before You List in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/selling-your-home-after-retirement-what-to-know-before-you-list-in-portland/) - Considering downsizing or relocating in Portland? Learn key market insights and expert tips to navigate your retirement home transition smoothly. - [Is Your Tree at Risk? Hidden Dangers You Need to Know!](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/is-your-tree-at-risk-hidden-dangers-you-need-to-know/) - Is Your Tree at Risk? Key Questions to Ask Yourself to Determine if Your Tree Needs Inspection by a Certified Arborist 🌲 Should a buyer inspect trees? - [🍂 Ten Things for the Changing Seasons](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/🍂-ten-things-for-the-changing-seasons/) - As the clocks fall back on Sunday, November 2, we gain an hour — but let’s put it to good use. Insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, your trusted partner in... - [The High Cost of Deferred Maintenance: Why Small Fixes Now Save Big Money Later](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-high-cost-of-deferred-maintenance-why-small-fixes-now-save-big-money-later/) - Neglecting routine home maintenance can lead to costly repairs and impact your property's value. Portland real estate home values up when projects are done. - [Timing the Market vs. Investing in Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/timing-the-market-vs-investing-in-real-estate/) - Explore the challenges buyers face in today's real estate market and learn strategies to overcome affordability issues and enter homeownership successfully. - [Portland Real Estate Outlook: Why 2026 Could Be the Turnaround Year](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-outlook-why-2026-could-be-the-turnaround-year/) - Portland's housing market may improve in 2026, with signs of increased activity, more listings, and steady price growth after years of stagnation. - [Portland Metro Real Estate Market: Why Some Homes Sell Fast and Others Don't](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-metro-real-estate-market-why-some-homes-sell-fast-and-others-dont/) - Some Portland homes are getting multiple offers. Others have been sitting. Here's what's driving the split and what it means for buyers and sellers. - [Buyer FAQs: Escrow in Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/buyer-faqs-escrow-in-oregon/) - Whether you’re buying your first home or your third, the word “escrow” tends to pop up and cause some raised eyebrows. Lovejoy Real Estate helps buyers... - [The Role of Pre-Listing Inspections](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-role-of-pre-listing-inspections/) - You’ve probably heard of a home inspection happening *after* an offer is accepted—but what about before your home ever hits the. Practical home prep and... - [When Should I Consider Refinancing?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/when-should-i-consider-refinancing-what-does-it-cost-its-all-about-the-math/) - Understand the costs and benefits of refinancing in Oregon, and learn the key questions to ask before deciding if now's the right time to refinance. - [Portland’s Market Activity by Neighborhood: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portlands-market-activity-by-neighborhood-what-buyers-and-sellers-need-to-know/) - Discover Portland's diverse real estate landscape in 2025, with neighborhood insights helping buyers and sellers strategize effectively. - [Are Bidding Wars Back in Portland?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/are-bidding-wars-back-in-portland/) - Get the latest Portland, OR real estate market data. But before you assume we’re back to 2021 frenzy levels, let’s break down what’s really happening, why,... - [Portland Market Update: Mortgage Rates Hit 2025 Lows, Prices Hold Steady](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-market-update-mortgage-rates-hit-2025-lows-prices-hold-steady/) - Get key insights on Portland’s real estate trends, including rate effects, pricing strategies, and market forecasts for buyers and sellers in 2025. - [Portland Metro Real Estate Update: September 2025](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-metro-real-estate-update-september-2025/) - Get the latest insights on Portland's real estate trends in September 2025—rising inventory, improved sales, and tips for buyers and sellers. - [October 2025 Portland Metro Market Update: What Today’s Numbers Mean for You](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/october-2025-portland-metro-market-update-what-todays-numbers-mean-for-you/) - Portland’s housing market steadies in October 2025 as listings rise, prices hold firm, and buyers gain options without dramatic swings. - [Portland Real Estate 2025 Year-End Wrap-Up: Steady, Subtle, and Setting the Stage for 2026](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-2025-year-end-wrap-up-steady-subtle-and-setting-the-stage-for-2026/) - Portland's housing market in 2025 showed modest gains and stability, setting the stage for potential growth as buyer demand quietly builds. - [Portland Real Estate Market Update: February 2026 — Spring Is Knocking](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-market-update-february-2026-spring-is-knocking/) - Portland's housing market is finding its rhythm after a slow start—see how increased buyer activity and price stability signal a durable turnaround. - [Portland Real Estate Market Update: April 2026](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-metro-market-update-april-2026/) - Portland real estate market this April: flat median, busy activity. What rising closed sales and stable pricing mean for buyers and sellers. - [Understanding HOA Dues: What They Really Mean for Pearl District Buyers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/understanding-hoa-dues-what-they-really-mean-for-pearl-district-buyers/) - Uncover the truth about HOA dues: what they include, how they compare across properties, and why low fees aren't always the best choice. - [How to Use ChatGPT on Your Home Inspection Report — Without Talking Yourself Out of a Good House](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/chatgpt-home-inspection-report/) - Buyers are feeding their Portland home inspection reports into ChatGPT and panicking themselves out of good deals. 4 prompts that work — and where AI ends. - [Earnest Money and Wire Fraud: What Portland Buyers and Sellers Need to Know](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/earnest-money-and-wire-fraud-what-portland-buyers-and-sellers-need-to-know/) - Wire fraud is targeting Portland real estate transactions on both sides. Learn how buyers and sellers can protect their money before it is too late. - [What is a Starter Home in Portland?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/what-is-a-starter-home-in-portland/) - What counts as a starter home in Portland today, what you'll pay, which neighborhoods to look in, and programs that help first-time buyers. - [Portland Metro RMLS Market Action August 2021](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-metro-rmls-market-action/) - Get expert insights on navigating Portland's strong seller's market, even with slight price decreases and increased inventory in August. - [Preparing for a Portland Winter Sale](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/preparing-for-a-portland-winter-sale/) - Considering listing your Portland home this winter? Lovejoy Real Estate helps buyers navigate the Portland, OR market with expert guidance every step of the... - [Understanding Dual Agency in Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/understanding-dual-agency-in-oregon/) - Dual agency can streamline the process, but it’s not always the right move. Lovejoy Real Estate helps buyers navigate the Portland, OR market with expert... - [Tips for Downsizing in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tips-for-downsizing-in-portland/) - Downsizing isn’t just about moving into a smaller space — it’s about simplifying your lifestyle and finding a home that truly. Discover what makes Portland,... - [Can a Strong Stock Market Drive Up Home Prices in Portland?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/can-a-strong-stock-market-drive-up-home-prices-in-portland/) - Explore how financial optimism fuels home buying in Portland, from move-up purchases to investor activity, backed by July 2025 market stats. - [Lovejoy Real Estate’s Strategy: 500+ 5-Star Reviews Explained](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/lovejoy-real-estates-strategy-500-5-star-reviews-explained/) - See what sets Lovejoy apart with genuine care, strategic innovation, and unmatched client loyalty in Portland’s competitive real estate scene. - [NE vs. SE Portland: Which Fits Your Lifestyle?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/ne-vs-se-portland-which-fits-your-lifestyle/) - Deciding where to buy in Portland? This guide highlights the distinct scenes, housing styles, and amenities in NE and SE neighborhoods. - [July 2025 Market Update – Portland Metro](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/july-2025-market-update-portland-metro/) - Stay ahead with our analysis of current patterns: rising inventory, shifting prices, and negotiation tips for the evolving Portland Metro real estate landscape. - [Before and After: A Property Transformation](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/before-and-after/) - See instead of visualize perfection. We tackled and managed the projects to update this property from donations and junk removal to paint and staging. - [Why Now May Be the Best Time to Explore New Construction in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/why-now-may-be-the-best-time-to-explore-new-construction-in-portland/) - Explore why now may be the ideal time to buy new construction in Portland. Incentives, energy efficiency, and builder perks give buyers an advantage. - [Portland Metro Market Update: Why Prices Remain Resilient Despite Slowing Activity](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-metro-market-update-why-prices-remain-resilient-despite-slowing-activity/) - Portland's home prices defy market slowdown as higher-end sales dominate. Learn how quality homes and regional trends influence prices. - [What Is Earnest Money—and Why It Matters in Oregon Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/what-is-earnest-money-and-why-it-matters-in-oregon-real-estate/) - Learn what earnest money is in Oregon real estate, how it shows buyer seriousness, and what happens to it if a deal falls apart. Mistakes can cost thousands - [Portland Real Estate Market Update: May 2025](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-market-update-may-2025/) - Explore the key stats from May 2025 vs. May 2024 in the Portland real estate market, including price growth and inventory levels. - [HOAs in Oregon: What Buyers Need to Know Before Signing On](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/hoas-in-oregon-what-buyers-need-to-know-before-signing-on/) - Considering buying a condo, townhome or house in Oregon with an HOA? Here's what you need to know before making a decision. - [Lonely? Apply for a Loan Before Reading This](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/lonely-apply-for-a-loan-before-reading-this/) - Learn the difference between hard and soft credit pulls before applying for a mortgage or HELOC. Take these steps before applying to prevent unwanted calls. - [Flambient Photography, the Best of Real Estate Photography](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/flambient-photography-the-best-of-real-estate-photography/) - At Lovejoy Real Estate, flambient photography is our go-to technique for capturing stunning real estate images that attract buyers and elevate property value. - [April Showers Sprout New Listings: Portland Real Estate Market Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/april-showers-sprout-new-listings-portland-real-estate-market-update/) - Learn how Portland's real estate market is evolving with more homes hitting the market, buyers showing up, prices rising steadily, and luxury activity shifting. - [Is Sweat Equity Dead?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/is-sweat-equity-dead/) - In today's real estate market, the traditional idea of "sweat equity" — where buyers purchase fixer-uppers and invest their own. Explore real estate... - [National Housing Market Stumbles — But Portland Charts Its Own Course](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/national-housing-market-stumbles-but-portland-charts-its-own-course/) - Learn why Portland's real estate market remains resilient and promising in 2025, offering stability and growth amid national uncertainty. - [Home Energy Scores in Portland & Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-energy-scores-in-portland-oregon/) - Home Energy Scores are required in Portland but a growing number of cities have adopted. What you need to know as a buyer and seller of Oregon Real Estate. - [What is a Short Sale? Short Sales in 2025](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/what-is-a-short-sale-short-sales-in-2025/) - What is a short sale? Short sales were the norm during the housing crash but have been rare ever since. We explore the implications of selling or buying. - [Portland Real Estate Market Update: Q1 2025 Shows Steady Gains Across the Board](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-market-update-q1-2025/) - Get a comprehensive look at Portland's real estate market performance in Q1 2025, showcasing increased listings, sales, and prices. - [Pandemic Real Estate, 5 Years Later: How Portland’s Market Surged—And Settled](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/pandemic-real-estate-5-years-later-how-portlands-market-surged-and-settled/) - Lovejoy Real Estate was referenced in a recent Wall Street Journal article highlighting some early covid buyers who regretted their move. - [How Tariffs Are Impacting Portland’s Housing Market](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-tariffs-are-impacting-portlands-housing-market/) - Uncover the effects of global trade policy on local real estate, including how tariffs are influencing new construction and pricing in the market. - [Portland Real Estate Market Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-market-update-feb-2025/) - From winter storm effects, questionable economic times, to market resilience, we compare February 2024 to February 2025 in Portland real estate. - [PODs vs Pack Rat: A Storage Container Review](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/pods-pack-rat-storage-container-review/) - Unbiased comparison of PODs and Pack Rat containers: dimensions, doors, seals, delivery, ordering process, and costs discussed in detail. - [How the Short Sale was Won](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/short-sale-won/) - There are currently 3386 homes for sale in Portland according to RMLS. 703 (21%) are listed as short sales and of those 251 do not have at offers that have been submitted to the bank for approval. There are 278 "pending" sale which means that new offers won't be submitted to the bank until the - [About Turner Realtors](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/about-turner-realtors/) - Visit our website: Turner Realtors at Prudential NW Properties. There are hundreds of real estate agents in Portland. Charles and Jennifer Turner are the right ones for you. Working as a team, we bring the skills and experience of two people working exclusively for you. No single Realtor can provide the experience and training of - [RMLS Status in Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-status/) - Learn the meanings of Active, Bumpable, Pending, and more in Oregon real estate. Understand RMLS codes for property statuses in this guide. - [Neighborhoods and Districts](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/neighborhoods-and-districts/) - Since buying property in the Historic Alphabet District, I've become much more educated about where it is and what it means to live inside of the District. Our current house is just two blocks away from our new house (under major remodeling) but is outside the District. I've been trying to set up a property - [Portland Real Estate and Natural Disasters](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/are-you-prepared-for-a-disaster/) - Learn about the potential hazards in Oregon and how to protect your home from Extreme Heat, Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Floods, Wildfire, and Winter Storms. - [Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sex-drugs-and-rock-and-roll-update/) - Thinking of buying a house? Meth labs can leave properties unfit for habitation. Learn the signs of a potential meth lab and how to protect yourself. This post also includes resources for cleaning up meth-contaminated properties. - [Film Buffs Who Live in Portland Visit Northwest Film Center](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/film-buffs-live-portland-visit-northwest-film-center/) - The Portland Art Museum Northwest Film Center is a wonderful asset to all who live in Portland. This is a facility that truly encompasses every aspect of film. Film buffs who live in Portland are invited to come to view a film, attend a film festival or exhibition, take a class or enroll children in - [Garage Floors: Epoxy, Urethane and Polishing](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/garage-floors-epoxy-urethane-and-polishing/) - Get the latest Portland, OR real estate market data. Picking a topic this week has been a challenge. Stay informed with Lovejoy Real Estate. - [Carbon Dioxide in Your Home Follow-Up](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/carbon-dioxide-in-your-home-follow-up-2/) - Yesterday I wrote about the tragic death of a family dying in a $9M home in Aspen that they had bought at charity auction. The post listed carbon monoxide detectors sold online. We went to Costco last night and paid $29.99 for the one we bought. The graphic below is a scan of a portion - [Residential Real Estate Left Out of Redevelopment Projects?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/residential-real-estate-left-out-of-redevelopment-projects-2/) - The Burnside Bridgehead is moving forward without residential real estate in the mix as reported by the Portland Business Journal this week. "The new plan taking shape emphasizes action and jobs, not condominiums, office towers and big box retailers." The revised, lower cost project reflects neighborhood sentiment and economic reality [Skyscraperpage.com forum on the subject]. - [Does Anyone Win in a Housing Market Crash?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/does-anyone-win-in-a-housing-market-crash-2/) - Portland real estate market data and trends. I thought I might write something scentilating regarding lead based paint but... Expert analysis from Lovejoy Real… - [A Kinder, Gentler, Blog](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/a-kinder-gentler-blog/) - It seems like with increasing frequency I am having to write some variation of this post. Clearly as the housing market has shifted, views of its future have polarized. A lot of statistical data on the market isn't good. That can't really be argued. There are positives too. What the result will be is any - [FSBR- For Sale By Realtor](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/fsbr/) - Sometimes things just happen. There are a few faithful readers that don't see the value in a Realtor. Put a sign in the yard and sell it. That simple. I have to admit that its pretty ironic that I put a sign in the yard and it sold. But was it really that simple?Back when - [July RMLS Market Action](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/july-rmls-market-action/) - RMLS Market Action for July just hit my inbox. Nothing really shocking in my opinion; inventory is up yet again (though not quite as high as in January). I maintain that you can't put a lot of stock in the 12 month appreciation numbers as you are still factoring in some high months from the - [First Thursday, May 1st](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/thursday-1st/) - Join us for first Thursday from 6-9PM at our office to meet Maria Huppi and see her art. 818 NW 14th Ave. in the Pearl District across the street from REI: I am a mouth painting artist. I became a quadriplegic in 2000 when a wind storm caused a tree to fall on the roof - [Portland Area School Primer](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-area-school-primer/) - What School Will My Child Attend? Explore new construction home options in Portland, OR with expert buyer representation from Lovejoy Real Estate. - [How Interest Rates have Hurt and Saved the Real Estate Market](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-interest-rates-have-hurt-and-saved-the-real-estate-market/) - Homeowners with locked-in low interest rates have "saved" the real estate market from a potential slide by keeping their homes off the market. - [Arms Length Short Sales](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/arms-length-short-sales/) - One of the features of a short sale is that the transaction must be "Arms Length." This means than an immediate family member or business partner or business associate can not buy your house if it is a short sale. The reason is that neither the seller, the buyer, nor their associates can benefit from - [Short Sale Flow: Chart for Buyers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/short-sale-flow-chart-for-buyers/) - The process for buying a short sale is similar to the purchase of a conventional or bank owned property with a few key additions. The biggest difference is that a short sale adds at least one more decision maker: the bank (there may be loans with multiple banks or multiple loans with the same bank). - [Updated Short Sale Flowcharts](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/updated-short-sale-flowcharts/) - We've updated the flowcharts that we created to explain the short sale process. There are three perspectives: Short Sales for Buyers, Short Sales for Sellers and an Overview of the Short Sale Process. Those are the links to the original posts. These are the revised charts: Every short sale is different and may or may - [Is the Distressed Property Era Over in Portland?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/distressed-property-era-portland/) - Is the distressed property era over? In Portland, the answer appears to be, "yes" but keep reading as to why that's not entirely true. "Distressed Properties" are those that are either short sales or bank owned (also know as REO- Real Estate Owned) In October 2011, I wrote that 20% of all active listings in - [A Potentially Sweeter Holiday for Short Sales](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/potentially-sweeter-holiday-short-sales/) - Just in time for the holidays, a bill is heading to President Obama’s desk to allow tax relief for those with short sale mortgage forgiveness in 2014. In short (no pun intended), a short sale is a real estate transaction in which the amount paid for a property falls short of the balance and fees - [Day One of the Listing](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/day-one-of-the-listing/) - This is the first post on the sale of our property at 74 NE Ivy. I'll write about the sale as often as pertinent. We bought the house as a fixer in 2001 for $142,000 on contract from the seller and proceeded to do a permitted remodel into 2002 before making it a rental property. - [Replacement Properties](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/replacement-properties/) - We now have accepted offers on two properties for our 1031 Exchange of NE Ivy. Cash flow has become the biggest issue. Simply said, neither property does. Rentals are tough (or at least the no-brainer they used to be). Used to be that 20% down was good enough to create positive cash flow. That's no - [Cash out of 1031 Exchange](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/cash-out-of-1031-exchange/) - We've decided to take some of the proceeds from the sale of NE Ivy (the relinquished property in 1031 speak) and pay the capitol gains on it. The majority of the money is being used for the down payments on two new properties. The trick is that the IRS doesn't allow the 1031 Exchange company - [RMLS Market Action for June 2007](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-for-june/) - I received my emailed copy of RMLS Action yesterday and don't really know what to make of it. It looks like the appreciation numbers (8.9%) in the last twelve months are starting to make more sense. The effect of really strong months a year or more ago are getting dropped and I expect that by - [Short Sale Flow: Chart for Sellers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/short-sale-flow-chart-for-sellers/) - There is an overall big picture for short sales but the process is different for the buyer or seller. This flow chart outlines the process for the seller. This is a simplified version of a complex process so do your due diligence. The term “Short Sale” is used to refer to those real estate transactions - [Short Sale Process Flowchart](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/short-sale-process-flow-chart/) - Short sales are going to be a part of the Portland real estate market for quite some time. In its simplest form a short sale is where one or more lenders must approve a real estate sale because they are going to receive less money than they are owed. A short sale can have major - [10 Must-Have Home Organization Tips](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-organization-tips/) - Whether you're spring cleaning or just want to make life easier, here are ten... Step-by-step guidance from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's trusted real estate… - [Matterport Virtual Reality: The Future Is Here](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/matterport-virtual-reality-future/) - Have you ever seen a house that looked so beautiful from the outside that you just had to see what it looked like inside? Maybe it's even been on the market and you've been tempted to call your favorite Real Estate agent (hopefully that's us!) to get a tour and see inside. Thanks to the - [10 Unique Places to visit in Salem, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/unique-salem-spots-to-visit/) - Salem, Oregon, and the surrounding Mid-Willamette Valley are known for their natural beauty, historic landmarks, and diverse food. Insights from Lovejoy... - [What’s the Difference Between a Home Inspection and an Appraisal?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/whats-the-difference-between-a-home-inspection-and-an-appraisal/) - Buying a home is a significant investment, and before closing the deal, you'll need to go through several processes to ensure. Lovejoy Real Estate helps... - [Why Photography Matters in Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/why-photography-matters-in-real-estate/) - Are you looking to sell your home and wondering how to make it stand out from the rest? Lovejoy Real Estate brings strategic marketing and local expertise... - [Events To Check Out in May!](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/events-to-check-out-this-month/) - May 2023 Events Oregon Wine Month All Month Long Multiple Locations Cinco De Mayo Fiesta May 5th-7th Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Discover what makes... - [Navigating Low Inventory as a Buyer](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/navigating-low-inventory-as-a-buyer/) - Are you feeling like it's impossible to find your dream home in this low-inventory market? Discover what makes Portland, OR a great place to live. Local... - [Neighborhood Spotlight: Tigard, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/neighborhood-spotlight-tigard-oregon/) - Ahoy there, adventurous readers! Discover what makes Tigard a great place to live. Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate. - [Get your home noticed & maximize profits in a low inventory market](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/get-your-home-noticed-maximize-profits-in-a-low-inventory-market/) - The spring Portland real estate market is officially in bloom. Exceptional luxury homes in Portland, OR. Lovejoy Real Estate delivers white-glove service... - [Why Aren't Portland Home Prices Crashing?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/why-arent-portland-home-prices-crashing/) - Have you been keeping an eye on the housing market lately? Lovejoy Real Estate helps buyers navigate the Portland, OR market with expert guidance every step... - [Out & About: What's happening in the Willamette Valley in April?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/out-about-whats-happening-in-the-willamette-valley-in-april/) - More outdoor events are starting to pop up this month in the Willamette Valley. Discover what makes Salem, OR a great place to live. Local insights from... - [Out & About - What's Happening in April](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/out-about-whats-happening-in-april/) - More outdoor events are starting to pop up this month from Vancouver to Corvallis! Discover what makes Portland, OR a great place to live. Local insights... - [4 Key Tips for Selling Your Home This Spring](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/4-key-tips-for-selling-your-home-this-spring/) - Hey there Portland to Willamette Valley area home sellers, spring is finally here! Lovejoy Real Estate helps buyers navigate the Portland, OR market with... - [Our Favorite Female-Owned Businesses](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/our-favorite-female-owned-businesses/) - Check out this list with a few of our favorite local, female-owned businesses you can support on this day and every day of the. Insights from Lovejoy Real... - [Out & About: What's happening in March!?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/out-about-whats-happening-in-march/) - Check out what's happening this month from Vancouver, Washington to Salem, Oregon! Discover what makes Portland, OR a great place to live. Local insights... - [March Home Maintenance Checklist](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/march-home-maintenance-checklist/) - No need to get overwhelmed by March spring cleaning — take it room by room in manageable groups of threes. Seasonal real estate insights for buyers and... - [Spring Cleaning - Where to donate locally](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/spring-cleaning-where-to-donate-locally/) - To help, here are a few local places in Portland and the Willamette Valley that we trust will make the most of your generous. Discover what makes Portland,... - [Planning to Sell your Home in 2023?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/planning-to-sell-your-home-in-2023/) - Selling your Portland Metro or Willamette Valley home doesn't have to be a source of stress and anxiety. Lovejoy Real Estate brings strategic marketing and... - [Why Today’s Housing Market Isn’t Headed for a Crash](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/why-todays-housing-market-isnt-headed-for-a-crash/) - 67% of Americans say a housing market crash is imminent in the next three years. Lovejoy Real Estate helps buyers navigate the Portland, OR market with... - [Fixer-Upper: Dream Home or Money Pit?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/fixer-upper-dream-home-or-money-pit/) - There are so many charming homes filled with character spread through different neighborhoods all over the Portland area. Discover what makes Portland, OR a... - [February Home Maintenance Checklist](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/february-home-maintenance-checklist/) - A new month means a new home maintenance checklist. Explore new construction home options in Portland, OR with expert buyer representation from Lovejoy Real... - [Office Remodel Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/office-remodel-update/) - The Lovejoy Office remodel is finally starting to feel like we have an end in sight! Insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, your trusted partner in Portland... - [Out & About: Events to check out this month](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/out-about-events-to-check-out-this-month/) - February 3rd-11th Opening Fire Performance at Pioneer Courthouse Square with other pop-up art installations throughout Portland. Insights from Lovejoy Real... - [The 3 Factors That Affect Home Affordability](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-3-factors-that-affect-home-affordability/) - If you’ve been following the housing market over the last couple of years, you’ve likely heard about growing affordability. Insights from Lovejoy Real... - [Lovejoy Real Estate Concierge Program](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/concierge-program/) - Level up with the Lovejoy Concierge Program to transform and sell your home with zero upfront cost or interest. Lovejoy Real Estate brings strategic... - [Advantages of Multi-Generational Homes](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/advantages-of-multi-generational-homes/) - Are you a millennial looking for a new home? Lovejoy Real Estate helps buyers navigate the Portland, OR market with expert guidance every step of the way. - [December 2022 Market Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/december-2022-market-update/) - Get the latest Portland, OR real estate market data. The December market update definitely showed some signs of slowing down. Stay informed with Lovejoy... - [Your guide to Silverton, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/your-guide-to-silverton-oregon/) - Fifteen miles East of Salem along Hwy. Insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, your trusted partner in Portland Metro and Willamette Valley real estate. - [Your guide to easy house plants](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/your-guide-to-easy-house-plants/) - You CAN keep your houseplants alive. Seasonal real estate insights for buyers and sellers in Portland, OR from Lovejoy Real Estate. - [7 To-Do’s to Prep Your Home to Sell this Spring](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/7-to-dos-to-prep-your-home-to-sell-this-spring/) - Did you know the spring market in Oregon historically starts about February 1 st and goes through Mid-May. Lovejoy Real Estate brings strategic marketing... - [Planning to Retire? It could be time to make the move.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/planning-to-retire-it-could-be-time-to-make-the-move/) - It Could Be Time To Make a Move. Lovejoy Real Estate brings strategic marketing and local expertise to every home sale in Portland, OR. - [Neighborhood Spotlight - St. Johns](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/neighborhood-spotlight-st-johns/) - Situated on the peninsula where the Willamette and Columbia Rivers meet, the St. Discover what makes Portland, OR a great place to live. Local insights from... - [NEW PROGRAM: 100% Conventional Financing for First-Time Homebuyers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/new-program-100-conventional-financing-for-first-time-homebuyers/) - When our preferred lender told us about this new program for first-time home buyers, our team was EXCITED! Expert guidance on navigating interest rates when... - [Top 5 tips for selling your home with kids](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/top-5-tips-for-selling-your-home-with-kids/) - Let's talk about selling your home and moving with kids - here are our 5 do’s and don’ts! Lovejoy Real Estate brings strategic marketing and local expertise... - [Adulting 101 - Wills, Trusts, Charitable Giving & More](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/adulting-101-wills-trusts-charitable-giving-more/) - Most people think of themselves as being in more debt than what they are worth. Insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, your trusted partner in Portland Metro... - [Neighborhood Spotlight - Pearl District](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/neighborhood-spotlight-pearl-district/) - The Pearl District is located centrally in Portland, Oregon. Discover what makes Portland, OR a great place to live. Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate. - [3 Ways you can use your home equity](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/3-ways-you-can-use-your-home-equity/) - If you’re a homeowner, odds are your equity has grown significantly over the last few years as home prices skyrocketed and you. Lovejoy Real Estate helps... - [Holiday Decorating](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/holiday-decorating/) - Holiday Decorating Mode: ACTIVATED Post-Covid, the Holidays are looking a little different, and we are excited to see where the. Expert real estate advice... - [Portland to Mid-Willamette Valley Holiday Light Displays](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-to-mid-willamette-valley-holiday-light-displays/) - Looking for a little sparkle this holiday season? Seasonal real estate insights for buyers and sellers in Portland, OR from Lovejoy Real Estate. - [Winter Home Maintenance Checklist](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/winter-home-maintenance-checklist/) - Don't let the cold weather catch you unprepared! Seasonal real estate insights for buyers and sellers in Portland, OR from Lovejoy Real Estate. - [It's Giving Tuesday](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/its-giving-tuesday/) - It takes a community to make a change. Discover what makes Portland, OR a great place to live. Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate. - [Holiday Gift Guide](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/holiday-gift-guide/) - Fin d the best gifts this season at a local small business! Click Here for our complete Holiday Gift Guide! - [Spooktacular October Events](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/upcoming-events/) - The leaves are turning yellow and pumpkin spice lattes are in full force which can only mean one thing - fall is officially here! Insights from Lovejoy Real... - [Neighborhood Spotlight - Lake Oswego](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/neighborhood-spotlight-lake-oswego/) - Everything you need to know about Lake Oswego real estate. The beautiful Oswego Lake is the centerpiece for the suburban community of Lake... Lovejoy Real… - [Neighborhood Spotlight - Beaverton, OR](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/neighborhood-spotlight-beaverton-or/) - Everything you need to know about Beaverton real estate. If you are looking for a suburban neighborhood feel within minutes of Portland... Lovejoy Real Estate… - [RMLS Market Action Report - July 2021](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-report-july-2021/) - Portland real estate market data and trends. The RMLS Market Action Report for July didn’t provide for any surprises, but it... Expert analysis from Lovejoy… - [The Benefits of Homeownership](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-benefits-of-homeownership/) - The benefits of homeownership are undeniable, some even consider it to be the... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [RMLS Market Action June 2021](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-june-2021/) - The state of the Portland real estate market was confirmed by June's RMLS Market Action: crazy; crazy good for sellers and crazy frustrating for buyers. Inventory is one of the market indicators we look at. Conventional wisdom used to say that market equilibrium is six months. Anything below that is a seller's market and above, - [Top Four Seller Questions](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/top-four-seller-questions/) - Tips for selling your Portland home. Selling your home can feel intimidating for many reasons. It’s easy to imagine... Work with Lovejoy Real Estate to get top… - [Covid-19 and Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/covid-19-and-real-estate/) - What will Covid-19 do to the real estate market? That's a really good question... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [RMLS Market Action Feb. 2019](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-feb-2019/) - I have to confess I've been a remiss blogger lately. But here we go... RMLS Market Action for February 2019 was released today. Portland Metro inventory remains low at 2.7 months. What does inventory mean in real estate? Inventory is the ratio of active listings to closed sales. If there are 100 homes on the - [Air Conditioning in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/air-conditioning-portland/) - As Portland heads towards a record number of 90 degree days in July, I thought I would take another look at the percentages of homes for sale in Portland with air conditioning. There are currently 2544 active residential listings in the city of Portland. 1255 (49.3%) of those listings are described in the listing as - [Can a Seller Record or Video Us During Our Showing?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/seller-record-video-showing/) - We live in a digital world. We have to assume that anything we do may end up online with millions of viewers. That said, there are limitations. In Oregon, recording a phone call requires one-party concent. Recording video without audio, does not require concent. This includes nanny/security cameras. It all changes when audio is recorded. - [Will I Need a Home Energy Score in Portland?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-energy-score-portland/) - The Home Energy Score is coming to Portland on January 1, 2018. At that time, all homes listed for sale (including For Sale By Owners (FSBO)) will need to have a score before being advertised for sale. There are two determinants as to whether a property requires the Score: property type and location. Property Type: All - [Home Energy Score Starts January 1st in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-energy-score-starts-january-1st-portland/) - Sample Home Energy Score What is the Home Energy Score? In its simplest form... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [RMLS Market Action April 2017](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-april-2017/) - Spring has sprung, maybe the rain will stop. Portland remains one of the hottest markets in the country. Over the past 12 months, the average sales price has increased 11.3%. Demand is clearly outpacing supply and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Fears of a bubble and a burst are valid but there has - [Best Beer Neighborhoods in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/beer-neighborhoods-portland/) - Everything you need to know about Portland real estate. *** Note: we usually don't do guest posts here but I wrote a piece for Trulia... Lovejoy Real Estate —… - [Oregon lawmakers want to make it easier for first time homebuyers to save for a down payment](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/first-time-homebuyers-savings-program/) - It's no secret to most everyone in the Portland metro area that homes are quickly becoming less affordable for first time home buyers. Oregon lawmakers are trying to help first time homebuyers make it easier to save money to purchase their first home. How would they do it? The Oregon First-Time Homebuyers Savings Program (HB2996 and - [RMLS Market Action: February 2017](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-market-overview-feburary-2017/) - The latest Portland market update is out and the Portland Real Estate Market seems to be picking up, if only slightly. February saw a drop in closed sales, but an increase in activity as both new and pending listings increased over January. The drop in closed sales is generally linked to activity in earlier months, - [RMLS Market Action: December 2016](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-december-2016/) - We've reached the end of one of the most exciting years in Portland real estate in recent memory. This past year was one that saw prices rise to all time highs multiple times, and saw homes go pending with multiple offers the second they went on the market. Things have leveled out a fair amount in - [Thank you for helping to make 2016 one of our best years ever](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/helping-2016-years/) - As the holiday season wraps up and we start a new year, we get the chance to look back and ponder what took place over the last year. 2016 was quite the year for us, and we just can't wait to see what 2017 brings to our team. We couldn't have done all of this - [RMLS Market Action: October 2016](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-october-2016/) - The traditional seasonal cool down of the market seems to be taking shape in Portland. With the latest numbers in the RMLS Market Action, the winter season is typically a slower season in real estate as focus tends to shift from buying a new home to vacations and the holidays. New listings, pending sales, and - [RMLS Market Action: September 2016](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-september-2016/) - The latest RMLS market action is out, and we see that the market is continuing to even out after the last year or so that saw the Portland market explode. Month to month over the last 2-3 months, the market is certainly headed away from being the hot seller's market it was early this summer. Homes - [Vendor Spotlight: SONS Carpet Cleaning](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sons-carpet-cleaning/) - Being in real estate, we see all sorts of homes every day. Since we see so many homes, we're also often relied upon to be a trusted source of information for clients who need things done at their home or related to their homes. We wanted to share some of our favorite people and companies we know - [RMLS Market Action August 2016: Taking a longer look at the market](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/august-2016-market-action/) - To some, the latest edition of the RMLS market action may look like the market might be on a downturn first glance, and it certainly does without context. Zooming out and taking a longer look at what the market has done over the last year paints a much different picture. Looking at the numbers month - [What We Loved at Street of Dreams 2016: Gorgeous Outdoor Spaces](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-street-dreams-2016/) - As our team does every year, we went down to Street of Dreams to check out the selection of handpicked luxury homes to see what real estate trends are next, to get some inspiration for our own homes, and just to gaze at some fantastic homes. We then asked our team to pick out something that they enjoyed - [What We Loved at Street of Dreams 2016: Art Imitating Nature](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/street-of-dreams-2016-art/) - Recently, our team ventured to Street of Dreams 2016 in West Linn to get a look at out this year's selection of homes to see what real estate trends are happening in the luxury market and to get some inspiration for our own homes. We wanted to get some unique perspectives on each of the homes, so we - [What We Loved at Street of Dreams 2016: Wine Cellar](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/street-of-dreams-2016-wine-cellar/) - As our team does every year, we headed to Street of Dreams to check out this year's latest selection of gorgeous luxury homes to see what real estate trends are next, to get some inspiration for our own homes, and just to gaze at some fantastic homes. We asked our team to pick out something that they - [Using Drone Photography to Enhance Your Real Estate Listing](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/drone-photography-enhance-real-estate-listings/) - With technology advancing at a constant rate these days, it's sometimes hard to keep up. This is especially true in the real estate world. There is constantly a new way to enhance your listing and make it stand out. It's tough to wade through all the different ways to make your listing unique to find - [RMLS Market Action: June 2016](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-june-2016/) - The Portland Metro area RMLS Market Action for June 2016 was just released, and the numbers look a little more promising for buyers than they have in recent months. Inventory has slightly increased, Prices are increasing - but not at as dramatic rates as months past - and the number of active listings is the highest - [RMLS Portland Market Action: May 2016](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-portland-market-action-may-2016/) - Recently there has been a lot of suggestion that the red hot Portland real estate market may be cooling down a bit. People feel like they are seeing less activity on the market, more houses available, etc. Is this true? Is the market finally levelling off? Or is this all just rumors? Lucky for us, - [New Development in Portland: Five Unique Projects](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/new-development-in-portland/) - If you've spent any time in Portland in the last couple of years, you've... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [How Much Are Home Inspections Going to Cost You?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-inspections-cost/) - After you've gotten your offer accepted on a home, the next step most buyers... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Multiple Offers: Rising Above the Crowd](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/multiple-offers/) - If you've been looking to buy a home in the Portland Real Estate market in the... Step-by-step guidance from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's trusted real… - [RMLS Portland Market Action: April 2016](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-portland-market-action-april-2016/) - The Portland Market Action report from RMLS for April 2016 was just released, and may be a little early to speculate, but it could be quite the summer for real estate in the Portland Metro area if the market continues to trend like it has been. On the sales side, all of the numbers are up - [Does Portland have a good bike score?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-bike-score/) - We've talked about walk scores in the past on the blog, but what if your preferred method of transportation is via bike? Using your bike as your primary mode of transportation certainly isn't something Portlanders are unfamiliar with. According to Forbes, Portland is the 3rd most bike friendly city in the US, and you've surely seen plenty of - [Portland Home Prices Lead the Nation](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-home-prices-lead-nation/) - Experts are turning in more in depth analysis and issuing predictions for the US housing market for the rest of the year. The Portland home market is one of the fastest-growing in the nation. January 2016 was the fourth straight month where the price gains of metro Portland real estate led the rest of the - [Tour the Retro Homes of People Who Live in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tour-retro-homes-people-live-portland/) - Come out to see how those who live in Portland have restored historic homes to fit into today’s modern standard. The Old House Revival Tour will take place on Saturday, April 9th 2016 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Guests can explore eight historic homes and also visit with homeowners and contractors who have been - [Portland Home Sales See Strong Gains in February](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-home-sales-strong-gains-february/) - The National Association of Realtors has just released the Pending Home Sales Index for February. The PHSI is based on contract signings and is a sign of how the market will perform in the coming months. February’s PHSI was 109.1, which is 3.5% higher than January’s 105.4. It’s also 0.7% higher than February 2015. Anyone - [Oregon Rail Heritage Center Is a Fun Place for Those Who Live in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregon-rail-heritage-center-fun-place-live-portland/) - The Oregon Rail Heritage Center is an interesting place for all who live in Portland to visit. This can be an especially great place for families with little ones who love trains. Come often to see the changing exhibits about the history of the railroad in Oregon. In addition to the exhibits, guests are able - [Should You Get Solar Panels for Your Portland Home?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/solar-panels-portland-home/) - Many homeowners are looking for green energy solutions for their Portland home. One idea to look into is solar power. Solar panels can cut down costs and also drastically reduce the amount of carbon dioxide a home uses. Installing solar panels could be a great idea, but there are many things to keep in mind - [BikeBar is the Brewpub for Cyclists Who Live in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/bikebar-brewpub-cyclists-live-portland/) - Cyclists who live in Portland are welcome to head over to BikeBar, a bicycle- and family-friendly brewpub and restaurant. Proudly serving up Hopworks beer, there’s a great variety to choose from. Try India red ales or pale ales, wheat beers, ciders, stouts, or lagers. BikeBar is the place to go for lunch or dinner and - [Selling a Portland Home? Price It Right for the Market](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/selling-portland-home-price-market/) - If you’re thinking of selling your Portland home, one of the most important things you can do is get your house appraised and set the asking price in accord with the appraiser’s evaluation. It is very common for homeowners to believe that their homes are worth several thousand dollars more than they actually are. When - [Live in Portland and Celebrate Paddy’s Day](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/live-portland-celebrate-paddys-day/) - Irish folks who live in Portland are smiling at Paddy’s 2016 St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. This downtown Portland property shuts down the street for an Irish party like no other each March 17th. In its 7th year, Paddy’s annual event brings a bit of Irish culture to the neighborhood. Opening at 11 a.m. the soulful - [Timing Is Everything When Selling a Portland Home](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/timing-selling-portland-home/) - If you’re thinking of selling a Portland home, a new study will be of interest to you. This study found that homes sold in late spring, defined as May 1st through 15th, sell on average 18.5 days faster and for one percent more of the listing price than homes sold at other times of the - [Outdoor Enthusiasts Who Live in Portland Enjoy Forest Park](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/outdoor-enthusiasts-live-portland-enjoy-forest-park/) - If you live in Portland or nearby, embrace nature at Forest Park and feel your spirit rejuvenate. With over five thousand acres of glorious wilderness there is plenty of outdoor space to explore. Located at NW 29th Avenue and Upshur Street to Newberry Road, the park has a multitude of trails and pathways waiting for - [The Portland Home Market is Moving Fast](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-home-market-moving-fast/) - For the first time, metro Portland real estate has made it to realtor.com’s “hotness index”, coming in at number 16 for February 2016. A Portland home sold in an average of 45 days in February, down considerably from January’s 73 days. The usual pattern is to have a slow market through the winter months, with - [Get Home Tips if You Live in Portland at the Home and Garden Show](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-tips-live-portland-home-garden-show/) - Home owners who live in Portland can leap into Spring and get inspired at the Portland Home and Garden Show. Held at the Portland Expo Center February 25 through the 28th, this annual event packs the Portland property with a vast number of vendors offering goods, services and advice. The resources are here for projects - [Quick and Easy Solutions to Make Your Portland Home Shine](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/quick-easy-solutions-portland-home-shine/) - Make your Portland home shine with a few of these ideas that cost less than $20.00. Fresh flowers add a vibrant touch to a home, but are expensive to keep well stocked. Consider a houseplant or a potted orchid to add the same effect. Also freshen up the look of your kitchen sink by adding - [Chowder Lovers Who Live in Portland Go to the Chowder Challenge](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/chowder-lovers-live-portland-chowder-challenge/) - All who live in Portland are invited to come and help crown a new (or possibly returning) chowder champion. Twelve restaurants and pubs from around the region will come see who will take home the Chowder Cup in the 10th annual Chowder Challenge. The event will take place on Saturday, February 20th, 2016 from 12 - [Ideas to Improve the Curb Appeal of Your Portland Home](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/ideas-improve-curb-appeal-portland-home/) - Curb appeal can add a great amount of value to your Portland home. Curb appeal not only makes your home more attractive to potential buyers, it can also increase the value by up to 17%. There are many small and big improvements that you can do to really make your house shine as people drive - [Get Lunch at Elephants Delicatessen and Live in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/lunch-elephants-delicatessen-live-portland/) - Elephants Delicatessen has been serving delicious food to those who live in Portland for over 30 years. Stop into one of the many locations around the Portland metro area and sit down to a fine meal. Patrons can also order food to take back to their Portland property, have a sack lunch delivered, or consider - [Tips to Spruce Up Your Portland Home: Living Room Edition](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tips-spruce-portland-home-living-room-edition/) - There are many simple and cost effective ideas to revitalize one of the most used rooms in your Portland home, the living room. A no brainer to breathe new life into your living room is to choose new curtains. However, an idea you may not have considered is to use shower curtains to make over - [Live in Portland and Learn About Japanese American History](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/live-portland-learn-japanese-american-history/) - All who live in Portland are invited to come and learn more about Japanese American history at the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center. Located in Portland’s Old Town neighborhood, which is where Japantown once prospered in the Portland area, this facility offers a permanent collection as well as rotating exhibits. Come take a stroll through the - [Portland Home Sales Way Up in December 2015](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-home-sales-december-2015/) - December was a surprisingly active month for home sales throughout the country. The western quadrant of the country was especially active, including metro Portland real estate. Prices rose 8.2% from December 2014 to December 2015. Additionally, existing home sales jumped 11.9% in comparison to December 2014. This was in part because of a holdover from - [Experience Exotic Plants that Live in Portland at Hoyt Arboretum](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/experience-exotic-plants-live-portland-hoyt-arboretum/) - There are an abundance of outdoor activities available to all who live in Portland. The Hoyt Arboretum is one place that offers trails, programs, rentals, as well as the chance to view rare and endangered plants. Because of the temperate Pacific Northwest climate, the arboretum has the ability to house a wide variety of plants, - [Portland Home Projects with High Return on Investment](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-home-projects-high-return-investment/) - It is always a good idea to think about the return on investment before deciding on improvements for your Portland home. Sure, there is value in pursuing a project because it will make you happier in your home, but also think about how it will affect your home’s resale value. Some costly projects such as - [Looking to Live in Portland? First Time Buyers and Boomers Lead the Market](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/live-portland-time-buyers-boomers-market/) - The real estate market is changing, as more first time buyers are able to enter the market. As home values increase, more people are able to upgrade to a larger home, creating entry-level homes. People who live in Portland or are looking to move into the city will have more options as the market moves. - [Attend Events Near Your Portland Home at the Crystal Ballroom](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/attend-events-portland-home-crystal-ballroom/) - A favorite spot for many who call Portland home is McMenamins Crystal Ballroom. Located on W. Burnside in downtown Portland, this property includes Ringlers Pub, Lola’s Room, the Crystal Hotel, and the Crystal Ballroom. This historic building hosts an impressive calendar of shows and is also available to rent for special occasions such as weddings, - [All We Wanted for Christmas was some Inventory](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/wanted-christmas-inventory/) - Realtors and homebuyers spent the holidays wishing for more inventory. They didn’t get it. The just released RMLS Market Action reports just 1.2 months of inventory for Portland Metro, the lowest level since 1999! Metro is a five country area, if we look closer we find that North Portland’s inventory is .82 months, .92 months - [Foodies Who Live in Portland Will Love Eat Adventures Food Tours](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/foodies-live-portland-love-eat-adventures-food-tours/) - Eat Adventures Food Tours offer a great way to learn about the city of Portland and indulge in samples of its tastiest cuisine. Tours here are unique in that participants move from place to place in the comfortable “Eat Van”. This mode of transportation creates a casual and cozy atmosphere, perfect for interacting with the - [Tips for Updating a Portland Home Kitchen](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tips-updating-portland-home-kitchen/) - Whether you’re considering putting your Portland home up for sale or you’d like to keep your new year’s resolution to have a tidier house, the kitchen is a good place to start with upgrades and improvements. The kitchen is the heart of the house, and it should be both functional and attractive. Before rushing out - [Live in Portland and Repay Student Loans with New Program](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/student-loan-assistance-program-helps-young-adults-live-portland-home/) - For young people who live in Portland and are struggling with repaying student loan debt, a new program could be a lifeline. The program, called the Revised Pay as You Earn program (REPAYE), caps student loan payments at 10 percent of discretionary income. Discretionary income is calculated as the difference between the adjusted gross income - [Sample Spanish Tapas Near Your Portland Home at Bar Vivant](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sample-spanish-tapas-portland-home-bar-vivant/) - Travel to the tapas bars of San Sebastian in Spain without having to go far from your Portland home. Bar Vivant strives to offer an authentic experience of Spanish bar food--really, really good bar food, as they say. This is the place to meet up with friends, for good drinks and eats, while chatting about - [Chocolate-Loving Portland Home Owners Love Pix Patisserie](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/chocolateloving-portland-home-owners-love-pix-patisserie/) - Anyone with a sweet tooth living in a Portland home should head out to Pix Patisserie for the best desserts in Portland. Stop in to try their famous macarons, which come in a dizzying array of flavors. From hazelnut to Scotch whiskey to chocolate, you’ll never go wrong. They hand-dip and mold their chocolates in - [Rates Are Rising; Act Soon to Live in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rates-rising-act-live-portland/) - If you’d like to live in Portland and are starting a search for the right Portland property, you might want to decide sooner rather than later. Because of the continuing health of the economy, the Federal Reserve has raised the interest rate that banks charge each other for short term loans by a modest 0.25%. - [Portland Home Owners Decorate for the Holidays on Peacock Lane](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-home-owners-decorate-holidays-peacock-lane/) - Start or continue a holiday tradition by visiting a neighborhood where each resident decorates their Portland home for Christmas every year. This neighborhood, located in the southeastern part of Portland between SE Stark Street and SE Belmont Street and one block east of SE 39th, is truly a sight to see. Bring the whole family - [Want to live in Portland? Check Out Credit Unions to Get a Home Loan](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/live-portland-check-credit-unions-home-loan/) - If you want to live in Portland and are considering buying Portland property, you need to be aware of financing options for your mortgage. Commercial banks are an obvious choice, and most of us see advertisements for their services on a daily basis. Another option to consider is a credit union. Whereas commercial banks are - [Enjoy the Christmas Ships Parade Near Portland Homes](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/enjoy-christmas-ships-parade-portland-homes/) - Bundle up the family and come to the river’s edge to watch the Christmas Ships. This event has been a holiday tradition since 1954, when the first, lone sailboat decked out with green and red ribbons cruised the currents. In the years following, skippers from the metro Portland real estate area and beyond have joined - [Tour Portland's Parish Restaurant](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tour-portlands-parish-restaurant/) - The 3D Matterport home tours are cool. There's no better way to see inside a house without actually being there. The best analogy we've found is, "Google Street View inside a home." We've take our Matterport camera out on the town and did a 3D tour of The Parish. The Parish and it's neighboring - [Portland Home Furnace Maintenance Tips](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-home-furnace-maintenance-tips/) - Preparing for the cold winter months is very important for all who own a Portland home. By taking the time to keep up on proper maintenance and being mindful of the changing seasons, homeowners can get the most life and efficiency out of their furnaces. By far, the most important and easiest part of furnace - [If You Live in Portland, Get to CiderFest](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/live-portland-ciderfest/) - All who live in Portland are invited to celebrate all of the incredible ciders that are made in the Pacific Northwest. Come on out to the Eastburn on Saturday, December 5th, 2015 for this fun event. The 2nd Annual Ciderfest runs from 4 p.m. until midnight. Everyone who attends will be able to taste some - [Eco-Friendly Decorating Tips for Your Portland Home](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/ecofriendly-decorating-tips-portland-home/) - Many homeowners are looking for ways to make their Portland home more eco friendly. This has become very important as we have become more aware of our carbon footprint. There are many ways that we can all choose environmentally friendly options for our home that still keep it looking stunning and comfortable. Here are a - [Runners who Live in Portland Run the Turkey Trot at the Zoo](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/runners-live-portland-run-turkey-trot-zoo/) - Before indulging in a decadent Thanksgiving dinner, those who live in Portland can go for a morning run with friends and family in the annual Oregon Zoo Turkey Trot. The race begins at 8 a.m. with the 4 mile fitness walk and run. Circulating in waves, runners with strollers or little ones in back packs - [What School Will My Child Attend in Portland? Version 2016](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/school-child-attend-portland-version-2016/) - Normally we'd refer anyone asking about what schools a particular house is assigned to to look it up on Portland Public School's Look Up page. It's still a great resource but needs to be taken with a grain of salt and potential reality check as PPS looks at moving school boundaries throughout the Portland Metro - [Live in Portland and Learn the City's History at Oregon Historical Society](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/live-portland-learn-citys-history-oregon-historical-society/) - You don’t have to live in Portland for long to realize that the city is rich with history. The Oregon Historical Society is dedicated to preserving that history and bringing it to life for today’s Oregonians. The museum has both permanent and rotating exhibits. The permanent exhibit entitled “Oregon My Oregon” won the 2005 MUSE - [Tips for Getting a Portland Home Ready to Sell](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tips-portland-home-ready-sell/) - Selling a home is an intensely emotional experience for many people. Most of us form an attachment to the place we’ve lived in. However, in order to be successful in selling a Portland home, we advise our clients to be clear-headed and think of things from the perspective of a buyer. First of all, it’s - [Irving Street Kitchen a Great Spot for Date Night for Couples Who Live in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/irving-street-kitchen-great-spot-date-night-couples-live-portland/) - A perfect date night location, couples who live in Portland enjoy fine dining at Irving Street Kitchen. Start off the evening with a glass of red or white wine and a decadent appetizer such as rosemary citrus marinated olives. The dinner menu accommodates all tastes with various selections including shrimp and dirty rice stuffed Dungeness - [What Sellers Need to Know About Portland Home Comps](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sellers-portland-home-comps/) - Whether you’re buying or selling a Portland home in metro Portland real estate, you’re probably crunching numbers based on “comps”, that is, on recent comparable sales. While this sounds like a straightforward concept, for many people it ends up feeling opaque and complicated. Over time, most real estate agents develop a clear sense of which - [Fall Market Predictions for Those Who Live in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/fall-market-predictions-live-portland/) - The fall market is in full force, with both good and not so great news for people looking to live in Portland. Low inventory is predicted to continue. As of August, for existing homes, there was about five months’ worth of inventory on the market, which is a drop of 1.7% from last year. For - [Live in Portland and Taste the Best Wine at Pairings](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/live-portland-taste-wine-pairings/) - On a modest corner of Northeast Portland property, sits a shop dedicated to a whole new approach to the world of wines. Pairings Portland is not only a wine shop, but it is also a classroom committed to spreading the wisdom of wine, as well as a bar that serves wine. The shop’s unique perspective - [Portland Home Owners Honor Veterans with Parade](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-home-owners-honor-veterans-parade/) - Honor all veterans who call Portland home and those who live all over the country by attending the Ross Hollywood Chapel Veterans Day Parade. This has been a tradition for over 40 years and is a fun time for all who attend. Come on out on Veterans Day, November 11, 2015 at 9:45 a.m. to - [Simple Ways to Protect Your Portland Home from Water Damage](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/simple-ways-protect-portland-home-water-damage/) - If you own a Portland home, it’s important to take steps to protect your investment. With the wet climate here, metro Portland real estate is most in danger from water damage. Fortunately there are several steps you can take to prevent damage due to storms. Install rain gutters and be sure to direct the flow - [Sail the Portland Spirit and Live in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sail-portland-spirit-live-portland/) - The Portland Spirit is a beloved piece of life and culture for those who live in Portland, and has been a main feature of the Portland waterways for many years. Every evening she hosts a dinner cruise from 7 until 9:30 p.m., where guests are able to enjoy a fine dining experience unlike any they - [Visit Endangered Species That Call Portland Home at the Zoo](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/visit-endangered-species-call-portland-home-zoo/) - Get wild at Oregon Zoo, where 59 endangered and threatened species call Portland home. Visitors enter through the Great Northwest and continue into Pacific Shores and Asia, wandering through Fragile Forests and into Africa. Oregon Zoo Foundation's mission is to educate the public while providing homes for rare, endangered and threatened species from around the - [Portland Home Sales and Supply Increases Steadily](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-home-sales-supply-increases-steadily/) - Sales for new Portland home construction is on the rise in the Metro Portland real estate market and around the nation. Both August and July saw significant increases in home sales, in comparison to last year. For the first time since 2008 more Americans have purchased new homes and at a faster rate than in - [Know Before You Owe Makes Portland Home Loan Documents Easier to Understand](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/owe-portland-home-loan-documents-easier-understand/) - October has brought the roll-out of a new initiative from the Consumer Finance Protection Board. Nicknamed the “Know before you owe” rule, it is designed to insure that consumers understand the terms of their home loans before they sign on the dotted line. If you’re considering purchasing a Portland home, you need to pay attention - [Kruger's Farm a Favorite for Families Who Live in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/krugers-farm-favorite-families-live-portland/) - Kruger’s Farm has taken their beautiful Portland property on Sauvie Island and turned it into a festive salute to Pumpkin Season on the Farm. People who live in Portland are familiar with the high quality of Kruger’s Farm produce provided at the St. John’s Marketplace and the Hawthorne Market, and those who can make it - [Our Best Tips for Portland Home Shopping in the Fall](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tips-portland-home-shopping-fall/) - Summer and spring tend to be the most intense seasons for the metro Portland real estate market. Families want to find a new Portland home before the school year starts. Many people find they have more energy during the warmer months. However, buying a home in the fall can be a great idea. Some sellers - [Learn Photography Near Your Portland Home with Outdoor Viewfinder](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/learn-photography-portland-home-outdoor-viewfinder/) - Explore the unmatched natural beauty that is available to explore for those who call Portland home. A neat way to see some really beautiful areas of the Pacific Northwest while also honing in photography skills is to take a tour with Outdoor Viewfinder. All participants are given one-on-one attention to improve their photography. No matter - [History Buffs Who Live in Portland Love Pittock Mansion](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/history-buffs-live-portland-love-pittock-mansion/) - A wonderful way for those who live in Portland to learn more about their beloved city is to visit Pittock Mansion. This beautiful piece of architecture that overlooks the city’s skyline was built in 1914 for the Pittock family, a very active and influential family that directly aided in the extensive growth of Portland. Henry - [Learn About Your Portland Home with Sea to Summit Tours](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/learn-portland-home-sea-summit-tours/) - Explore the world around metro Portland real estate with Sea to Summit's three-hour Portland Oregon Tour. The tour is a wonderful way for locals to delve into the history of their community, for tourists to get a good feel for the outdoor spaces of the city, and for people in town shopping for a Portland - [LIVE in Portland: Author Readings at Powell's City of Books](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/live-portland-author-readings-powells-city-books/) - Used and new books sit together on the shelves of Powell's bookstores, the beloved Portland original. The four-story flagship store, Powell's City of Books, is one of the most famous bookstores in the world and carries over one million books. For people who live in Portland, the bookstores are a go-to venue for book releases - [Should I Sell with a Tenant in My Home?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sell-tenant-home/) - It's clear that selling a tenant occupied home can be challenging: The are notice requirements (that can be negotiated) The tenant may be non-cooperative (they may be great) The may refuse to leave for showings (and talk negatively about the landlord and property) The property may not be in "showroom condition" for showings Showing may - [Case Shiller Climbs to 3% Below 2007 Peak](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-climbs-3-2007-peak/) - The Case Shiller report for May was released this morning and shows that Portland has climbed back to near pre-crash levels. From a peak of 186 in August of 2007 to a valley of 129 in February 2012 all the way back to 18 today! Portland's 7.4% year-over-year increase matches Seattle's as the fourth fastest - [7 Staging Tips to Win with Buyers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/7-staging-tips-to-win/) - Practical advice for Portland homebuyers. This Guest Blog was written by the Professional Stagers at Chancellor Designs... Get expert guidance from Lovejoy… - [May 2015 RMLS Market Action Report](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/may-2015-rmls-market-action/) - The just released May 2015 RMLS Market Action shows a 1.7 month inventory, which is the lowest we've seen in 10 years. In addition, average prices have increased and the market time has dropped to a staggering 55 days. This amount includes the time in escrow, which means homes spent an average of a couple of - [Home Odor Removal](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-odor-removal/) - Does your home have a strong odor problem? If you have pets, smoke or cook aromatic food, it may. If your home has gone through remediation because of fire or flooding, it also might need home odor removal. It’s not something many homeowners want to think about. Typically when we discuss odor removal, the options include - [March Case Shiller - Showing Promise](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/march-case-shiller-showing-promise/) - This morning, S&P Dow Jones Indices posted the latest results of the S&P/Case Shiller Home Price Indices. Case Shiller looks at information with a 60 day lag, so this latest report covers March 2015. The Case-Shiller Indices compare home prices by looking at actual current home sales and comparing them with previous selling prices for that home. A - [The April 2015 RMLS Market Action](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/april-2015-rmls-market-action/) - The April 2015 RMLS Market Action report for the Portland metro was just posted today. It covers the home sale data for the previous month - in this case, April. The data shows another drop in inventory in months. This trend has kept us at 2005 inventory levels while we are seeing a significant increase in available - [February Case Shiller: Solid Growth](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/february-case-shiller/) - The February Case Shiller Index was just released this week. This report covers home price changes over 20 metropolitan areas and always has a 60 day lag. The latest data shows continued solid growth with a 0.68% monthly change for the Portland Metro. This is higher than the 0.50% increase for the 20 city composite. - [The ABCs of Loan Pre-Approval](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/loan-pre-approval-abcs/) - Portland home financing guidance. This guest blog post about the loan pre-approval process has been written by... Lovejoy Real Estate helps buyers navigate… - [6 Home Improvement Projects that Add Value](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-improvement-projects-that-add-value/) - Your home is an investment. Home improvements, repairs, and renovations can add... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Low Real Estate Inventory in the Portland Metro](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/low-real-estate-inventory-portland-metro/) - The March 2015 RMLS Market Action report released Monday shows the Portland Metro housing inventory at 1.9 months! It hasn't been that low since September 2005. The number of homes listed has been rising over recent months but that is counter balanced by even more rapid sales which pushes the inventory ratio down. The Portland metro for this - [Listing Photography - the Good, the Bad, the Ugly](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/listing-photography-needs/) - Tips for selling your Portland home. You may have seen our Facebook post about real estate photography gone horribly... Work with Lovejoy Real Estate to get… - [Competing with Multiple Offers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/competing-with-multiple-offers/) - What does it take to purchase a home in today's market? More than you might... Step-by-step guidance from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's trusted real estate… - [February Residential Review from the RMLS - 2015](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/february-residential-review-2015/) - Our latest infographic featuring the February Residential Review for the Portland Metro can be found below. As the data shows, the sales price saw a slight draft - though not significant for this time of year. The number of new listings hitting the market has increased, but there is still a high demand, as seen in the continued - [Construction on the N Williams Corridor](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/n-williams-corridor/) - Since mid-September, the N Williams Corridor has been a haven for this construction activity, as the city improves the safety for this bicycle byway - a project three years in the making. The expected benefits should benefit those who travel through this area soon. This $1.5 million grant-funded project is intended to create a safer place - [Calculating a Good Investment Property](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/calculating-a-good-investment-property/) - Portland real estate investment insights. If you've decided that purchasing an investment property is right for you, the... Expert advice from Lovejoy Real… - [Jan 2015 RMLS Portland Market Action Shows Increased Inventory, Decreased Average Price](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/jan-2015-rmls-portland-market-action/) - The latest RMLS Portland Market Action data was released last week, and our latest infographic is below. Two notable points in this data are the inventory level and the average sales price change. As the infographic notes, there was an increase in new listings and a decrease of closed sales compared to December 2014, which pushed - [Turned Down for a Mortgage? What to Do Next](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/turned-down-for-a-mortgage/) - Portland home financing guidance. One reason it is recommended to get pre-approved for a mortgage early in the... Lovejoy Real Estate helps buyers navigate… - [5 Things To Consider When Buying a Home](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/5-things-to-consider-when-buying-a-home/) - Practical advice for Portland homebuyers. Is Buying a Home Right for me? Buying a home used to be the default American... Get expert guidance from Lovejoy Real… - [Portland Distressed Properties - 3 Things for Buyers to Know](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-distressed-properties-update/) - Practical advice for Portland homebuyers. Are Portland distressed properties on the upswing? The current data, provided... Get expert guidance from Lovejoy… - [RMLS Portland Market Action & 2014 Year End Review](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-portland-market-action-year-end/) - The RMLS Portland Market Action report recently released for December 2014 offers insight not just to last month, but as a year-in-review. Our most recent infographic (shown below) provides a visualization of the trends of the last three years. The main theme? It's a seller's market so buyers need to position themselves to compete. One of - [NBC Segment on Mortgage Interest Rates](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/nbc-segment-mortgage-interest-rates/) - NBC Nightly News just aired a segment on mortgage interest rates and a renewed refi craze. 30 year rates are down from 4.5% this time last year to 3.81%. The experts crystal ball is that rate will remain low but now is the time to act if you are thinking about a refi. Does a - [2015 FHA Mortgage Insurance Changes](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/fha-mortgage-insurance-changes/) - Before the year even started, 2015 was deemed the "Year of the First-Time Homebuyer." If the latest changes to the FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) is any predictor, this moniker is likely to ring true. The FHA mortgage insurance changes coming into effect on January 26, 2015 will save first time homebuyers entering into an FHA loan a lot - [4 Reasons Why You Should Get a Pre-Approval Letter for Mortgage](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/pre-approval-letter-for-mortgage/) - Portland home financing guidance. If you're considering purchasing a home, you're likely to be asked "have you... Lovejoy Real Estate helps buyers navigate… - [Portland Radon Action for Area Homeowners](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-radon-action-homeowners/) - Source: Oregon Health Authority The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [October 2014 Portland Case Shiller - Showing Continued Strength](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-october2014/) - The latest Portland Case Shiller Index report is out. As always, it covers the data from 60 days ago, meaning this report centers on data from October. Both the National Index and the Composite Index were down slightly. In addition, the City Composites also showed a decrease of -0.1% for October. It's notable that San - [South Waterfront: Portland’s Newest Neighborhood](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/south-waterfront-portlands-newest-neighborhood/) - Everything you need to know about Portland real estate. Once discounted as a failed experiment , the South Waterfront in Portland is a... Lovejoy Real Estate —… - [Buying and Selling in Winter](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/buying-selling-winter/) - "Honey, let's bundle the kids up and go look at houses in this cold, wet, miserable weather. It will be fun," said no one. The winter months see a slow down in the number of new listings and the number of active buyers. But, those that come to market and continue to look at homes - [RMLS Market Action September 2014](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-september-2014/) - RMLS Market Action for September is hot off the presses and here's our monthly info graphic we produce monthly in-house. Want to know the amount of equity in your home? We offer a no cost/no obligation custom report of your property. - [Case Shiller June 2014](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-june-2014/) - The Case Shiller has a 60 day lag so this morning's monthly report reflects June 2014. Portland has climbed to 168.97, just 9.5% lower than July 2007 high of 186.51. That's significant as the increase from this time last year is 9.1%. The graph above shows Portland's Case Shiller Index and a 4% average increase - [RMLS Market Action July 2014](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-july-2014/) - RMLS Market Action for July 2014 was released on Friday and our custom info graphic distilling the information from the report is hot off the presses today. Available listings in the Portland Metro area remains under three months for the 4th month in a row. Inventory, the ratio of active listings to closed sales shows - [Search by Walk Score](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/search-walkscore/) - We're often asked for walkable neighborhoods. We've got the ability to search by Walk Score right here. Scroll down below text here to see the homes and condos that rate 95 and higher. You can adjust the search to your needs. Walk Score says: Walk Score Methodology Walk Score measures the walkability of any address, - [Is it Better to Rent or Buy in Portland?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rent-buy-portland/) - Is it better to rent or buy in Portland? We see lots of static graphics with various scenarios that try to answer the question. This morning, I posted a link to the New York Times' interactive rent versus buy calculator on our Facebook Page but decided that it would make a good post here too. - [97003 and 97078 Zip Codes Coming to Beaverton](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/97003-97078-zip-codes-coming-beaverton/) - Beaverton zip codes are bursting at the seams. Beginning July 1st, two new zip codes will be instigated. According to KOIN 6, the streets listed below will retain their zip codes. How will this impact real estate searches? We've seen changes in street names (Portland BLVD to Rosa Parks and 39th Ave. to Caesar Chavez) - [Counting Bathrooms in RMLS](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/counting-bathrooms-rmls/) - There is often confusion about counting bathrooms in RMLS. Standard convention says that two full and one half bath would be 2.5 baths. That's pretty clear until you have two full and two half baths. Now we have a problem. .5 + .5 = 1 added two two full equals 3 baths. But we just - [RMLS Market Action March 2014](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-march-2014/) - March 2013's 3.1 months of housing inventory ties the lowest levels we've seen in the last two years according to the latest RMLS Market Action report. We saw the same level in April and August last year. Actual closed sales are down slightly compared to March of 2013 but the drop in listings is what - [Case Shiller Portland: Flat is Good](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-portland-flat-good/) - The national Case Shiller report for December 2013 was released this morning. Portland remained flat in December at 159.84. During the traditional "slowdown season" of real estate, the Portland market has hovered at this level since August. The Case Shiller Index report has a two month lag and reports on the Portland Metro MSA. This - [emee Home Comfort Heating Control System](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/emee-home-comfort-heating-control-system/) - Our house was pretty much a gut remodel. All the systems were new-to-the-curb and I was never happy with the HVAC system. We've got a high end variable speed furnace with AC but in reality we would have been better off with two separate systems to heat and cool the four floors. One system can't - [Lenders Share Their Favorite Offerings](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/lenders-share-favorite-offerings/) - We work with some great lenders. Every lender out there offers the standard 20%... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Case Shiller: Portland Real Estate Market Unseasonably Strong](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-unseasonably-strong/) - The November 2013 Case Shiller report was released yesterday. There was a slight dip in the Portland index but a drop of less than a point at this time of the year shows the market remains strong. Historically real estate has seen about 4% appreciation. If we apply that to the Portland real estate market - [Reading MLS Numbers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/reading-mls-numbers/) - The MLS (Multiple Listing Service) number is essentially the serial number of a listing. In RMLS the first two digits denote the year: 13208782 shows that the property was listed in 2013. So what do the next six numbers tell us? Absolutely nothing. The last six digits are randomly assigned. Up until a couple of - [The "New" Real Estate Market in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/real-estate-market-portland/) - What a difference a couple of years makes! In February of 2011, I ran a search in RMLS that resulted in 4208 active listings in Portland. 441 of those were bank owned (REO) and 750 were short sales. REOs made up 10.4 of the market and 17.8% were short sales. I ran the same search - [RMLS Market Action November 2013](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-november-2013/) - RMLS Market Action for November was released yesterday and we have our new infographic ready! The Portland real estate market has slowed some but we expect that with the holidays. We typically expect to see fewer buyers and sellers in the market at this time of year but they are usually more motivated- it's not - [Portland Case Shiller September 2013](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-september-2013/) - Case Shiller's September 2013 housing report was released yesterday. The two-month lagging report show that the Portland real estate market edged up from August. The 160.18 is up less than a point but more importantly has rebounded 30 points from the March 2012 low of 129! That means that the pool of underwater houses has - [RMLS Market Action October 2013](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-october-2013/) - RMLS Market Action for October 2013 is hot off the press and it shows that housing inventory in the Portland Metro area dropped to 3.4 months. Inventory was 3.7 months in September and 3.8 months this time last year. The average sales price is $314,100 which is a slight drop from September but up 13.5% - [Neighbor's Tree Blocks My View](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/neighbors-tree-blocks-view/) - I got a call today from a home buyer asking if there are any view ordinances preventing neighbors from planting trees that will eventually block their view? The answer would logically apply to an existing tree as well. I wasn't entirely satisfied with my Google search to figure out the answer but I was leaning - [RMLS Market Action September](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-september/) - We're trying something new this month with September's RMLS Market Action: an infographic (click the image to enlarge): Please note- image is copyrighted. Feel free to share, please do not edit our contact info out or yours in. - [RMLS Market Action August 2013](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-august-2013/) - RMLS Market Action for the Portland Metro real estate market just went to to press. Inventory, the ratio between the number of active listings and the number of closed listings, continues to hover around three months. Previously, pundits have said that six months of housing inventory is the neutral point between buyer and sellers but - [What's My Home Worth?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-worth/) - What's my home worth? The answer is the foundation for intelligent decision making. No matter what type of evaluation is done, the result is a matter of opinion. There are three basic types of home valuations: Completely automated reports like those from Zillow (Zestimate), Trulia or our Market Snapshot, which is a Realtor.com product. These - [Will My Transaction Close? RMLS Market Action July 2013](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/transaction-close-rmls-market-action-july-2013/) - July 2013's RMLS Market Action was published yesterday. Inventory remains tight and consistent at 2.8 months and other metrics are in positive territory as well. The average sales price is $326,500 compare to $287,000 this time last year. Here's a metric we've never looked at before: the ratio of accepted offers to closed offers. We - [Portland Makes CNBC Top Ten](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-cnbc-top-ten/) - I haven't been the best at writing timely posts lately but a recent post garnered me a quote in the CNBC Top 10 Turnaround Towns for 2013 where Portland came in 8th. "Our team has been closing a record number of transactions in the last few months," Turner Team realtor Charles Turner wrote in a - [RMLS Market Action June 2013](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-june-2013/) - June 2013's RMLS Market Action shows a slight cooling compared to May but still way ahead of May 2012. Inventory climbed to 2.9 months which is still an indicator of a seller's market. Six months has traditionally been viewed as the neutral point between a sellers market and buyers market but I think in this - [Air Conditioned Homes in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/air-conditioned-homes-portland/) - Air conditioning in Portland? Our heat wave is tapering off to more comfortable conditions but it's unlikely we've seen the last of the hot days of summer. Heading over to our trusty RMLS search we find 717 homes for sale in Portland out of 2151 active listings have central air conditioning (33%). Digging into the - [RMLS Market Action May 2013](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/may-2013-rmls-market-action/) - Housing Inventory = Number of Closed Transaction/Number of Active Listings = Two point five months! The last time we saw Portland Metro housing inventory this low was in May, 2006. May's RMLS Market Action tells us that every metric of the Portland real estate market is strengthening. Days on Market is 85 days compared to - [Portland Case Shiller March 2013](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-march-2013/) - The Portland Case Shiller Index continues its upward trajectory. The latest report, March 2013, was released this morning. Portland's index has climbed to 145.52. That's a 16 point game from where the index was at this time last year! The rapid increase borders on being a little scary but it also is a huge help - [Million Dollar Homes in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/million-dollar-homes-portland/) - Remember mixed tapes? My ex-girlfriend from college made me one that included Barenaked Ladies 'If I had a Million Dollars" which include the lyrics, "If I had a million dollars / well, I'd buy you a house." If you decided to buy a million dollar house in Portland today you'd have a choice of 128 - [Our New Brand: Carrington Real Estate Services](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/brand-carrington-real-estate-services/) - On May 7th, the Atlantic & Pacific Real Estate name went the way of the dinosaurs and we rebranded to Carrington Real Estate Services. Over the last 18 months you've grown accustomed to the orange and green signs outside of our listed properties. Now you'll see our fresh new look of the Carrington Real Estate - [RMLS Market Action March 2013](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-march-2013/) - How low will it go? RMLS Market Action for Portland real estate was released yesterday. Metro inventory dropped to 3.2 months which is the lowest it's been since June 2006. "Metro" is a five county area so when you look at the closer-in areas the picture changes: North Portland: 2.6 months Northeast Portland: 2.2 months - [How do I find a Portland Address?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/find-portland-address/) - You can't buy a house if you can't find the house. Finding a Portland address... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [Portland Real Estate Market Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-market-update/) - When the Portland Business Journal's January 2013 Case Shiller Index headline is, "Housing recovery starts to look like a boom," y'all better be paying attention. Long the messenger of doom and gloom Portland's 8.3% year over year increase is something that's hard to ignore. That said, the Portland index slid a little between December and - [Case Shiller Looks Strong in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-strong-portland/) - A little tardy with regarding last week's December 2012 Case Shiller Index but here we go. The Index in Portland dropped .78 of a point in December. Even though that's more than the .5 it lost in December 2011 and many areas posted positive December 2012 numbers the reason for the title of this post - [RMLS Market Action January 2013](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-january-2013/) - All of the conversations I have been having with Realtors lately center around a the theme, "I am loving this market, just wish there were more houses to show my clients." December gave us the lowest Portland housing inventory we'd seen in years. Inventory climbed to 4.7 months in January but there were only six - [FHA Bridal Registry Gift Funds No More](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/fha-bridal-registry-gift-funds/) - A few weeks ago I found a reference to an 1997 HUD directive for the creation of FHA Bridal Registry Gift Fund accounts. Google was little help in uncovering what the in-and-outs about the program. There are lots of references to it on Realtor websites, recent blog posts and the like but not one of - [Make Your In-Laws Sleep in the Yard. Build an ADU.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/inlaws-sleep-yard-build-adu/) - I love my in-laws but I don't particularly want to live with them. That said, there are certain life events that might necessitate that later on. What would we do? Where would we put them? Maybe an ADU would be the answer. An accessory dwelling can be internal to the main house, attached or detached. - [November 2012 Portland Case Shiller Dips](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/november-2012-portland-case-shiller-dips/) - The loss of .31 of a point in November 2012 ended seven straight months of gains for Portland's Case Shiller Index. The Index, at 142.13 is nearly nine points higher than it was this time last year and closely matches February and October 2010, and November 2004. The Index is up 12.5 points (10%) since - [Zillow, Truila, SmartZips, Tax Records and an Apprasial Oh My](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/zillow-truila-smartzips-tax-records-apprasial/) - We have an rental property that we had a full blown appraisal on about 90 days ago. It came back at $315,000 which is about what I expected given that it does not have the showroom ready curb appeal that I would want if listing it for sale. While testing out Realtor's Property Resources site - [RMLS Market Action- Year in Review](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-year-review/) - The December 2012 RMLS Market Action gives us the complete picture of the 2012 Portland real estate market. There 17,84 fewer new listings than 2011. Coupled with 3,340 more closings than 2011, inventory was driven to lows we haven't seen since 2006. The low inventory has created the first seller's market we've seen in years. - [RMLS Inventory in Review](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-inventory-review/) - When RMLS Market Action was released this afternoon the first thing I noticed was that December's inventory is the lowest shown on the graphic. The write-up doesn't help as it just says it, "is the lowest in months." A quick dive back into the December 2006 & 2009 Market Actions helps paint a better picture - [Case Shiller in 140 Characters](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-140-characters/) - Portland's Case Shiller this month is really only worth a twitter type post: "PDX CS up 1pt in Oct to 142. Down 1pt same period in '11 & '10 so good news. Winter key to recovery picture. Market strong at year end." 138 characters, 'nuff said. - [November 2012 Market Action Cools Down](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/november-2012-market-action-cools/) - 'Tis the season to expect real estate markets to slow down. Right on cue, all indicators were off from October but that doesn't mean the market is in free fall. Inventory remains historically low for this time of year. At 4.2 months, that's less than half of November 2010's 10.2 months and well ahead of - [Portland Case Shiller up for Sixth Straight Month](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-sixth-straight-month/) - The Case Shiller Index was released this morning for the September 2012 reporting period and for the sixth consecutive month, the Portland MSA has increased. Today's 141.10 is the highest since November 2010 and 11.5 points above the March 2012 low. The next few months will be the most telling as we head into the - [RMLS Inventory- How Low Can It Go?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-inventory/) - RMLS Market Action for October 2012 was released yesterday and inventory has dropped even further to 3.8 months. 2012 has seen fewer new listing than 2011 but an increase in closed sales has pushed inventory levels even lower. At the end of October there were only 7981 active residential listings! That's a huge drop from - [How Do Property Values Down But Taxes Go Up?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/property-values-taxes/) - You probably got your property tax bill in the mail a couple of weeks ago. If... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Portland Case Shiller Up, Again](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller/) - The Case Shiller Index for Portland continued to climb in August. The market looks much better than it did last year but history also paints a cautionary tale. The graph below shows the Index for Portland for the last two years. We're showing the change from the previous month and the change from 12 months - [Portland Real Estate Market Continues to Gain](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-market-continues-gain/) - RMLS Market Action was released this morning just after I hit "post" on the time lapse video so today is a twofer. New listings are down compared to last year and last month but inventory returned to 4.6 months which is better for the overall health of the market than last month's 3.9. Year-to-date the - [Time Lapse from Kings Heights Listing](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/time-lapse-kings-heights-listing/) - We took this time lapse video last week during the full moon from the deck of our listing in Kings Heights in NW Portland. It starts late afternoon and goes through the moon coming up out of the east. - [Is Vacant Property Registration a Good Idea?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/vacant-property-registration-good-idea/) - I'm recycling this photo from a February posting on, ' How often will my home... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Case Shiller Continues Climb](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-continues-climb/) - The July 2012 Case Shiller Index was released this morning and Portland continues to climb. At 140, the Index has climbed back up to November 2010 levels from its January through March 2012 low of 129. That's an eight percent increase but we have to look at 2011 for potential warning signs: in 2011, the - [RMLS Market Action August 2012- Good News](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-august-2012-good-news/) - RMLS Market Action for August 2012 was released yesterday and almost all metrics are better than they were last month and last year. Inventory dropped back to 3.9 months. The same as June which is the lowest level in years. Inventory is a good measure of urgency and competition. Fewer houses means buyers are competing - [Portland Rent Versus Buy](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-rent-buy/) - Is it cheaper to rent or buy a home in Portland? It depends. There are so many factors that determine the answer but Trulia released a report today showing that it is cheaper to own than rent. The article also shows the importance of taking all the deductions possible to make that math work. Appreciation - [NW Portland Gets New Master Planned Community](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/nw-portland-master-planned-community/) - Con-way has long owned the majority, but not all, of land to the west of I-405 by the NW Vaughn exit around NW 21st. Development plans have been in the works for years and a coming closer to fruition. Historically the area has been known as Slabtown and abuts the Alphabet District but that may - [Portland Case Shiller for June 2012 Increases](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-june-2012-increases/) - The Case Shiller Index for June 2012 was released on Tuesday. For the second month in a row, Portland showed strong gains, increasing 2.5% to 138.51. Combined with the 2.6 % gain from April to May, the Case Shiller Index for Portland is up 3.0% in the last year. It's good news but has a - [Last Weekend of 2012 Portland Street of Dreams](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/weekend-2012-portland-street-dreams/) - Tomorrow marks the closing ceremonies for the 2012 Portland Street of Dreams in at the Vineyard in West Linn. This has to be my "better late than never" post on the subject as I misplaced my notes from my visit a few weeks ago. Overall, the show is making a progressive return to to dreamy. - [July 2012 RMLS Market Action](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/july-2012-rmls-market-action/) - RMLS Market Action for July 2012 was just released and it shows positive metrics compared to July of last year. Inventory has bumped up to 4.6 months which is probably healthy for the overall market; if inventory stays too low for too long its going to put unsustainable pressure on the market. All measures of - [Street of Dreams meets London Shard](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/london_shard/) - What does the London Shard, pictured here to the left of Tower Bridge, have to do with the 2012 Portland Street of Dreams? Very little, but as a comparison, you could by EVERY house in this year's show four (maybe five) times over and still have money left over to fill all the garage spaces - [Case Shiller Up But too Early to Call Bottom?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-early-call-bottom/) - We'll start with a little self-congratulatory pat on the back: this is the PortlandRealEstateBlog.com's 1000th post! The May 2012 Case Shiller Index was released this morning and all 20 regions tracked were up. Portland was up 2.6% from 131.62 to 135.09. It's only the second increase in a row for Portland but we're starting to - [Street of Dreams Discount Coupon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/street-dreams-discount-coupon/) - Everyone loves a deal. Here's a weekday deal for the 2012 Street of Dreams. Two cans of food for each person gets you $2 off each admission ticket. You can download the coupon here. We'll be heading over there on Monday for Realtor Day. - [Countdown for 2012 Portland Street of Dreams](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/countdown-2012-portland-street-dreams/) - The 2012 edition of the Portland Street of Dreams will take place at The Vineyard in West Linn starting on July 28th. A couple of months back I wrote a preview piece. I wrote back in May that there are seven homes in the show and that one was pre-sold and the others were on - [What is SSP- Short Sale Pending?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/ssp-short-sale-pending/) - A few months ago RMLS added the short sale pending field to listings. In a traditional sale, the life of a listing is Active --> Pending --> Sold. When a property is changed to Pending in RMLS it is removed from search engines and is off the market. With a short sale, the bank has - [RMLS Market Action June 2012](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-june-2012/) - Portland real estate inventory continues to drop and June 2012's 3.9 months is the lowest since March 2007 according to the June 2012 RMLS Market Action released yesterday. It's important to note that this is a totally different market than 2007. The market peaked in July 2007 and there were nearly twice the number of - [Eminent Domain and the Sellwood Bridge](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/eminent-domain-sellwood-bridge/) - Let's start with a disclaimer: this is not legal advice. If you have an eminent domain question or issue, contact an attorney. Eminent domain in its simplest form is the government's right to take private property with just compensation regardless of whether the owner wants to sell or not. If the government can't reach an - ["Local" Portland Inventory Lower then "Metro" Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/local-portland-inventory-metro-portland/) - When RMLS released the May 2012 Market Action report last month it was hard to ignore 4.2 months of inventory as being the lowest it has been post-bubble. That 4.2 months represents the Portland Metro area, which for RMLS, is made up of a five country area. Turning to the second page of the report, - [Portland Case Shiller Up for 1st Time in 7 Months](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-1st-time-7-months/) - The April 2012 Case Shiller report was released today and Portland reported its first gain in seven months. The current Portland index is 131.62. That's 31.62 points above the reset point at 100 in January 2000 but well off the index high of 186.51 in July of 2007. The index has lost .9% over the - [Market Tighter at Lower End](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/market-tighter/) - There's been a lot of talk lately about low inventory and how quickly houses are selling. We all know that real estate is local, even down to the neighborhood level within cities but our market is also price driven. These stats were compiled yesterday. We searched for residential properties listed in Portland. The "Active" column - [RMLS Market Action May 2012](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/may-2012-market-action/) - Is this picture and accurate representation of our market? The May 2012 RMLS Market Action was released yesterday and Portland Metro inventory has dropped to 4.2 months. RMLS: Home sale price measures were all positive in May. The median sales price rose 6.6% when comparing May 2012 with the same month in 2011 and 0.9% - [HUD Good Neighbor Next Door](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/hud-good-neighbor-door/) - I can picture the guy standing out front spinning the sign saying, "This house 50% off!!!" The HUD Good Neighbor Next Door program does just that for qualified buyers: Law enforcement officers, pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade teachers and firefighters/emergency medical technicians can contribute to community revitalization while becoming homeowners through HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door - [Case Shiller March 2012](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-march-2012/) - The Case Shiller report for March 2012 was released yesterday. The report is released on the last Tuesday of each months and reports for a period ending sixty days prior. "Portland" is defined as the Portland/Vancouver MSA and covers seven counties. In contrast, RMLS Market Action defines "Metro Portland" as a five county area and - [Lack of Inventory Frustrates Some](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/lack-inventory-frustrates/) - We're hearing more tales of multiple offers, buyers writing strong offers and getting beat out, and talks of this being the beginnings of a seller's market. We ran some reports in the different RMLS areas for detached houses under $300,000. This is what we found: RMLS Area Location Houses Available 141 N. Portland 93 142 - [Home Inventory Drops More: RMLS Market Action May 2012](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-inventory-drops-rmls-market-action-2012/) - The supply of homes for sale in the Portland market continues to drop according to the RMLS Market Action report released today. The general convention is that six months of inventory indicates a neutral market but that number should probably be revised downwards as I think buyers are more willing to walk away than they - [2012 Portland Street of Dreams May Preview](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2012-portland-street-dreams-preview/) - Sometimes you're just in the right place at the right time. I'd been thinking that it was about time to head out to the 2012 Portland Street of Dreams site in West Linn and happened to be somewhat nearby so decided to see how things are progressing. Little did I know there was a free - [Portland Real Estate Market Better Than Some](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-market-2/) - February's Case Shiller Index was released today. CNN's headline reads, "Home Prices Lowest Since 2002." For Portland, home prices sit at July 2004 prices: 129.60 which represents a .36 slide from January's Case Shiller Index. Case Shiller reports lag 60 days and are released on the last Tuesday of the month. After the Index was - [Competing in tight markets](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/competing-tight-markets/) - Portland real estate market data and trends. We're hearing it more and more: multiple offer situations on properties in... Expert analysis from Lovejoy Real… - [RMLS Market Action- Low Inventory](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-inventory/) - RMLS Market Action for March 2012 was released yesterday. Inventory has dropped to recent low levels at 5.0 months. The pending and closed sales are up both when compare to last month and last year. New listings are down compared to last year but up from February. We appear to be seeing another shift in - [Portland Case Shiller January 2012](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-january-2012/) - Portland's Case Shiller report for January 2012 looks like deja vu all over again. The Index dropped 2% from December, mirroring the start to 2011. In 2011 the Index posted losses for the first three months of the year followed by six straight months of gains. The small gains fueled a lot of optimism and - [How Social Media Cost Johny $5000](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/social-media-cost-johny-5000/) - We've often told sellers that when a buyer walks through the house they... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [RMLS Adds Short Sale Pending (SSP) Status](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-adds-short-sale-pending-ssp-status/) - 321 properties in Portland had their RMLS status changed to Short Sale Pending (SSP) yesterday. A short sale is a real estate transaction where the proceeds of the sale will not fully pay off the creditors that are owed money. Short sales are subject to the approval of at least one third party. Each creditor - [February Strong Month for Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/february-strong-month-portland-real-estate/) - I'm still trying to compose myself after heading over to the Portland Business Journal to grab the link to the story discussing Portland unemployment at the bottom of this post. I was shocked to see this headline: "Portland homes prices up 4.3 percent". What's truly amazing about it is headlining a positive about the Portland - [A "Different & Better" Bank Listing Time Lapse Video](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/bank-listing-time-lapse-video/) - Tips for selling your Portland home. Part of our motivation in joining Atlantic Pacific Real Estate in November was... Work with Lovejoy Real Estate to get top… - [Mirgration Helps Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/mirgration-helps-portland-real-estate/) - Interactive maps make me happy which makes this a happy post. MetroTrends has a nifty interactive map that show migration to and from the 100 largest metro areas. Relocation to Portland remains strong; over the last ten years Portland has seen a migration inflow. Seattle is our largest trading partner and we've actually exported more - [Natural Disasters and Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/natural-disasters-portland-real-estate/) - It was less than three minutes after an earthquake hit the San Francisco Bay... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [Is it Cheaper to Own or Rent in Portland?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/cheaper-rent-portland/) - Is it cheaper to own or rent a home? I did a Craigslist search for a close in home with the complete property address listed so I could then research what I thought it would sell for as a comparison. I happened to find a home that sold for $150,000 at the end of last - [Portland Median Home Prices](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-median-home-prices/) - CNN/Money reported today that median home prices have reached a ten year low. They graphed the decline since 2007 on a national basis. We've taken their national numbers (sourced from the National Association of Realtors) and added RMLS data for "Portland Metro" and ten of the RMLS areas reported in RMLS Market Action. The median - [How Often Will My House Get Shown?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/house-shown/) - Once upon a time, before my time in real estate, a potential buyer had almost... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [The Best Schools in Portland?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/schools-portland/) - "Good schools" is often one of our client's top criteria. As Realtors, the problem we face that it is largely a subjective decision and subject to change. It is similar to the "safe neighborhood" conversation: you can tell us what neighborhoods you want to search based on them but we can't tell you where you - [Portland Real Estate Loses Traction](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-slips/) - Six continual months of (minimal) Portland real estate price appreciation has slipped away in the last two month. The Case Shiller Index, released this morning shows Portland lost 2.18 points to end November at 133.26, essentially the same level as February of last year. The Case Shiller Index reports "Portland Metro" as the seven county - [This Week's Real Estate News](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/weeks-real-estate-news/) - Here's four real estate related stories in the media this week. The first is yours truly on OPB's Think Out Loud discussing the same year end Portland real estate market data cited in the second Portland Business Journal article. The third article from the USA Today is more of a national story but interesting nonetheless. - [Buying a Bank Owned Property Part 2](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/buying-bank-owned-home-part-2/) - Practical advice for Portland homebuyers. Yesterday I wrote Buying a Bank Owned Property Part 1 . Today we'll dive right... Get expert guidance from Lovejoy… - [Buying a Bank Owned Property Part 1](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/buying-bank-owned-property-part-1/) - In its simplest form purchasing a home can be broken into three parts: 1) find house; 2) buy house; 3) get keys to house. Generalizations pretty much end there. The three legs of the current real estate market are the traditional sale, the short sale and bank owned property (aka: Real Estate Owned (REO)). There - [RMLS Reports Lowest Portland Inventory Since June 2007](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-reports-lowest-portland-inventory-june-2007/) - RMLS has released the year end December 2011 Market Action report. Portland Metro inventory is 5.3 months. This is the lowest inventory level since June of 2007 (5.0 months). Inventory is the ratio of the number of closed listings for a month divided by the number of active listings. There are fewer closed sales and - [This Week's Real Estate Headlines](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/weeks-real-estate-headlines/) - I collected a few real estate related articles this week. The first couple of... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Portland's 2012 Real Estate Market Will Either Go Up or Down](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portlands-2012-real-estate-market/) - Predictions for Portland's real estate market is that it will either go up or down. Or be flat. Depends on who you ask. Housing Predictor gives their 2012 prediction: Portland should witness an increase in sales in 2012 but a weak job market and lay-offs among high-tech firms in the region will keep home sales, - [Real Estate Rental Scams](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/real-estate-rental-scams/) - If there is a legitimate endeavor you can pretty much guarantee there is a scam to go with it. While most "for rent" postings are probably legit we've seen numerous scam attempts over the years using a property that is listed "for sale" as bait. I wrote this post about Craigslist in 2009. One of - [Portland Real Estate Shedding Less Blood Than A Year Ago](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-shedding-blood-year/) - October 2011's Portland Case Shiller Index was released yesterday. Portland slipped slightly over the previous month from 136.10 to 135.44. October's pricing nearly mirrors January's 135.80 but the 12 month average still makes the Portland Business Journal's headline, "Home prices down 4.7% in past year." True but this time last year it was down 7.8% - [Do You Match the Profile?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/match-profile/) - I just downloaded the 100+ page National Association of Realtor's 2011 Profile of Buyers and Sellers. Obviously there's a lot to read there but these are the highlighted stats listed for buyers: Characteristics of Home Buyers Thirty-seven percent of recent home buyers were first- time buyers, a drop from 50 percent in 2010. The typical - [Portland housing market resolving for better 2012?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-housing-market-resolving-2012/) - Writing for me is like going to the gym. Love doing it but get out of the habit and it's hard to get back to. Today's release of RMLS Market Action should get me back in the groove. Inventory is four months lower than it was this time last year. That partially because there are - [Please Excuse the Dust. We've Moved.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/excuse-dust-moved/) - We are excited to announce that we are now the Turner Team, Inc at Atlantic & Pacific Real Estate (US), LLC. The decision to leave Prudential Northwest Properties was the hardest business decision we have ever made. We leave our old home with nothing but fond memories and the nicest things to say about their - [RMLS Market Action and the NBA](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-nba/) - RMLS Market Action for October 2011 was released yesterday. The average price of residential property in Portland is $258,700. The median price is $221,000. So what does the NBA lockout have to do with that? CNBC reports that the average NBA player has lost $220,000 in wages thus far due to the lockout (Kobe has - [Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/imitation-sincerest-form-flattery/) - Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It's also a copyright violation. This post should duplicate, just like all of my other posts, on http://www.portland-property-management-companies.info/blog/. It's a site that I have no affiliation with and have certainly not given them permission to repost my content. Looks an awful lot like the post I wrote that day: - [Portland Home Ownership Rates](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-home-ownership-rates/) - I asked our fans on Facebook for a topic idea for today. Raqon was the first to respond with: "How about this: Switzerland- country with one of the top income per capita,yet 70% of all Swiss are renters." Interesting unto itself but a little hard to tie back to Portland real estate which is something - [Portland and Vancouver Bank Owned Properties](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-vancouver-bank-owned-properties/) - We hear a lot of talk about the shadow inventory that banks are holding off the market so that they don't flood the market. We ran some searches in RMLS to count how many homes for sale are bank owned. We didn't look at every single metro Portland location but our fifty searches revealed that - [PRB goes to Las Vegas](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/prb-las-vegas/) - We'd had a trip to Vegas planned for some time and when we received an email from Prudential Americana Group, Las Vegas agent Nancy Storey. We met Nancy at the Summit Conference in San Francisco in September and decided that we should drive around and take a look at some areas. We also have local - [Excel Geek's Guide to Multnomah County Property Taxes](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/excel-geeks-guide-multnomah-county-property-taxes/) - Multnomah County property tax statements came in the mail yesterday. We got... Step-by-step guidance from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's trusted real estate… - [RMLS Market Action September 2011](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-marekt-action-september-2011/) - RMLS Market Action for September 2011 was released on Friday afternoon. I'd consider the report mostly neutral. Inventory, median price, pending and closed sales were up but average price and the number of new listings decreased compared to August. Note that an increase in inventory is not considered a positive though at 6.7 months it - [Home Buyer Credit- One Year Later](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-buyer-credit-year/) - The Home Buyer Credit came to an end on September 30th, 2010 and is now mostly forgotten. Now's as good as time as any to remind you to consult your accountant about the Credit if you received it and are thinking about selling or moving out. There were various iterations of the Credit. The 2008 - [PDX and Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/pdx-portland-real-estate/) - Traffic notwithstanding it takes about twenty minutes to get to Portland International Airport from downtown Portland. Its convenient proximity to so much of Portland also means that flight paths can be disruptive. Though the majority of takeoffs and departures run along the Columbia River, that isn't always the case. The cool factor of living on - [Portland Real Estate Prices to Rise 5.9%?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-prices-rise-59/) - I’m sitting here listening to Steve Job’s commencement address to Stanford’s class of 2005 for the second time (on my MacBook). It’s 15 minutes well spent. Five minutes into the speech he says that, “you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.” He was talking about his time at - [Oscar the Grouch's Luxury Second Home?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-oscar-grouchs-luxury-home/) - A little Friday afternoon fun for you. Gregory Kloehn has taken your standard dumpster and turned it into a luxury "home." There are granite counters and hardwood floors, an outdoor shower and grill. Relax under the rooftop awning and enjoy the sunset (and pray the garbage truck isn't in the neighborhood). Portland Real Estate Blog - [The Portland Real Estate Market and Beyond](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-portland-real-estate-market-and-beyond/) - RMLS Market Action for August 2011 the Portland Metro area was released last week. Inventory dropped to 6.2 months from July's 7.0 months, and average and median prices slid a little. This month's report seems to continue a recent trend of a combination of good news tempered with not-so-good news and vice versa. Inventory is - [Good Walking Neighborhoods in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/good-walking-neighborhoods-in-portland/) - One man's garbage is another man's treasure. He might want to walk for exercise while she may want to walk from restaurant to shopping to more shopping. Walkscore.com has become a very popular real estate resource. Enter and address and based on its criteria it gives a score between 1-100. According to WalkScore, Portland has - [For Rent and For Sale- At The Same Time?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/for-rent-and-for-sale-at-the-same-time/) - Can I have my house listed for sale an d rent at the same time? In theory yes... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Wait Until After Closing To Go On Shopping Spree](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-wait-until-after-closing-to-go-on-shopping-spree/) - My friend's Facebook page has been counting down the hours to the Ducks game on Saturday night. What better way to watch the big game on a brand new big screen TV? I'd have to agree. Sounds like a great idea but if you are in escrow STOP! My friend is not in escrow and - [Portland Case Shiller June 2011](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-june-2011/) - Portland's Case Shiller Index for June 2011 is up two one hundredths from May. The change, while nonexistent for all intensive purposes, marks the third consecutive month of increases in the Index. The last time there were three consecutive months was the same period last year. Last year's increases were then followed by nine months - [Third 2011 Portland Street of Dreams House "Sale Pending"](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/third-2011-portland-street-of-dreams-house-sale-pending/) - And then there were two. Only two of the five homes for sale in this year's Portland Street of Dreams in Tigard, off Bull Mountain road remain on the market. Pahlisch Homes house is listed for $850,000 and Dreambuilder Custom Home's is listed for $338,810. This year's Street of Dreams has enjoyed an increase in - [Helping Responsible Homeowners Act Could Stimulate Economy](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/helping-responsible-homeowners-act-could-stimulate-economy/) - The Helping Responsible Homeowners Act could allow for people to refinance Fannie Mae and Fredie Mac loans regardless of whether they have positive or negative equity. If you are current on payments and your property is worth less than it was when you bought it shows that you are meeting the obligation that you signed - [Portland Home Inventory Low in North and NE Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-home-inventory-low-in-north-and-ne-portland/) - RMLS Metro Portland home inventory climbed to 7.0 months from June's 6.0 months but City of Portland housing inventory only climbed .3 months to 5.5. This is the third consecutive month that Portland inventory has remained below six months, the inventory level that has traditionally been considered the point between buyer and seller markets. Anything - [RMLS Market Action August 2011](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-august-2011/) - RMLS Market Action for August 2011 was released yesterday. Inventory is up to 7.0 months. Six months has been considered the equilibrium in the past but with the market changing so much in the last few years one has to wonder if there will be a new normal? There are just under 12,000 home for - [2011 Portland Street of Dreams Report](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2011-portland-street-of-dreams-report/) - I attended Realtor Day at the Street of Dreams on Tuesday. Before we get to the houses on The Street, it should be noted that the parking at SW 144th and Bull Mountain Rd. is pretty rough terrain and very dusty. I was glad I was driving the SUV and not the low-to-the-ground sedan. Buses - [2011 Street of Dreams Underway (and coupon)](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2011-street-of-dreams-underway-and-coupon/) - The 2011 edition of the Portland Street of Dreams is underway. The show runs through August 26th and you can use this coupon Monday-Friday. It is a paper coupon and not valid for online sales. We're heading up to the show today so will have more pictures and impressions online soon. Each of the five - [RMLS Year Built Descriptions](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-year-built-descriptions/) - I ran a search last month in RMLS looking for something very specific: homes for sale that were new but older than 2010. It should have been an easy search. But early a third of the results were either owner or tenant occupied. Realtors clearly weren't understanding the definition of "new". It can't be new - [Dual Agecy in Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/dual-agecy-in-oregon/) - The relationship between Realtors and their clients is defined by agency. The... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [2011 Portland Street of Dreams Promo Code](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2011-portland-street-of-dreams-promo-code/) - The 2011 Street of Dreams is just a week away but if you buy your tickets online through July 31st you can take advantage of a $2.00 of discount code "DREAMS" on the Ticket Oregon website. Regular price tickets are $12 and children under 10 are free. When I put a single ticket in the - [Live in it Like it is Listed](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-listed/) - Tips for selling your Portland home. There are a lot of questions you should ask your Realtor when you are... Work with Lovejoy Real Estate to get top dollar. - [Portland's Case Shiller Rockets Skyward](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portlands-case-shiller/) - The title of this post might be stretching it a little but in light of most of the recent death-of-real-estate-media coverage I'm taking a little liberty with it. The May 2011 Case Shiller Index for Portland is up 1.66 points. That's the highest increase since May 2010 and only the second increase, joining last month's - [More Portland Houses Close with Cash](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/more-portland-houses-close-with-cash/) - July 2007 is considered the peak of Portland real estate's boom. Since then, the housing market has dropped nearly 30% in the Metro area. The way people are paying for homes has changed greatly too and that has affected the type of homes that are favored by buyers. When mortgage money was widely available the - [2010 Street of Dreams in 2011](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2010-street-of-dreams-in-2011/) - I was driving along NW Skyline this afternoon and from there you can see a new home going in at the bottom of the cul de sac on NW Cresap Lane, the site of the 2010 Street of Dreams. There are still numerous empty lots on the street. portland real estate blog: 2010 Street of - [2011 Portland Street of Dreams Photos](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2011-portland-street-of-dreams-photos/) - I was somewhere near the neighborhood so decided to take a walk around the 2011 Portland Street of Dreams site on SW 155th Terrace off of Bull Mountain Rd. With only a couple of weeks until show time there is a lot of activity. The street has 16 lots. There are two houses that are - [2011 Portland Street of Dreams](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2011-portland-street-of-dreams/) - Last year we ran a whole series of posts for the 2010 Street of Dreams on NW Cresap Lane. This year's show is on Bull Mountain so regular construction updates made less sense at $4 gallon. The 2011 Portland Street of Dreams runs August 6th - 28th and is located at SW 155th Terrace. Parking - [The Most Expensive Condos For Sale In Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-most-expensive-condos-for-sale-in-portland/) - We posted the most expensive homes for sale in Portland yesterday. Today we have the most expensive condos in Portland. Condos For Sale In Portland Oregon $2,000,000 - $3,000,000 $3,000,000 - $4,000,000 $4,000,000 - $5,000,000 Over $5,000,000 $3,475,00 2336 SW OSAGE SW ST 800, Portland, OREGON 97205 Beds: 4 Baths: 4 $2,700,000 1221 SW 10TH - [The Most Expensive Homes for Sale in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-most-expensive-homes-for-sale/) - The average piece of Portland real estate costs an average of under $300,000. If you had ten or more times that to spend on a house these would be some of your option. These homes are currently listed for sale. Detached Homes For Sale In Portland Oregon $2,600,000 - $3,000,000 $3,000,000 - $4,000,000 $4,000,000 - - [RMLS Market Action June 2011](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-june-2011/) - RMLS Market Action for June 2011 was released just before happy hour on Friday afternoon. I've updated our graph of housing inventory levels in the Portland and local market areas and the trend continues that City inventory averages about a month less than Portland Metro as reported in Market Action. North Portland has just 4.2 - [Will Southeast Lead Portland's Comeback?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/will-southeast-lead-portlands-comeback/) - It doesn't take long to find two sides that don't agree (NBA, NFL, US Government) and predicting a real estate comeback is no easier but if there was a front runner I'd be backing Southeast Portland right now. The Portland Business Journal reported last week on Waverly Commons, a new 18 home subdivision at SE - [Case Shiller April 2011](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-april-2011/) - "How's the market?" Our business coach wisely points out that, "It depends." What are you trying to do in the market? The Case Shiller report for April 2011 was published last week. If you read didn't read anything more than the headline in last week's Portland Business Journal or didn't make it all the way - [Portland Schools](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-schools/) - I was asked today for a good resource for Portland schools. There are lots of them. Some are subjective, some provide rankings, some confirm what school your child will go to within a school district. Schools are either of utmost importance or of no importance for individual buyers but is probably one of the most - [RMLS Market Action May 2011](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-may-2011/) - RMLS Market Action for May 2011 is out with mixed news. The average sales price in Portland is down from April 1.8% to $262,400. During the same period the median price increased .1% to $220,000. The average sales price has dropped 7.3% over the last year. Inventory levels continue to decline. New listings have dropped - [Class Action Lawsuit Against American Home Shield (AHS)](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/class-action-lawsuit-against-american-home-shield-ahs/) - American Home Shield current and past policy holders may have already received a letter informing them that they may qualify to be a part of a class action lawsuit brought against the home warranty company. The Abney Class Action Settlement website has all of the documents associated with the case. While both parties vigorously maintain - [Got Trash, Portland? Meet the Bagster](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/got-trash-portland-meet-the-bagster/) - Got trash? The Bagster might be your solution. For all intensive purposes the Bagster is a 8' x 4' x 30" dumpster that would fit under your bed when not is use. Load it with up to 3300 pounds of just about anything nonhazardous and call to have it picked up. Amazon sells the Bagster - [Portland Real Estate Roundup](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-roundup/) - We've been working on a lot of behind the scenes stuff lately that has drawn me away from writing. Here's an update of various things that have been going on: 1) We're trying out two different property search engines. There is the current version on the sidebar and another one our PDXRelocations website. Both search - [RMLS Market Action: April 2011 Release](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-april-2011/) - RMLS Market Action for April 2011 was released yesterday with mostly positive month-over-month news. I consider a .1 month drop in inventory a positive even though mathematically a loss. The average sales price went up from $261,000 to $267,300 and the median price also increased. The average sales price over the last year has declined - [City of Portland "Get Legal Program" No More- Updated](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/city-of-portland-get-legal-program-no-more/) - File this under the list of things you didn't know were gone until you needed... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [Friday Portland Real Estate Facts](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/friday-portland-real-estate-facts/) - As of right now: there are 4277 residential properties for sale in Portland 354 of those are bank owned 783 of the 4277 active listings are short sales 3103 of the listings are detached, single family house 848 of the listings are condos there are 1291 pending sales there are 249 active listing priced under - [Case Shiller Portland February 2011](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-portland-february-2011/) - Case Shiller's monthly real estate report was released this morning. Portland lost a little more ground in February (Case Shiller reports with a sixty day lag and "Portland" is the seven county MSA). The current Portland index of 133.66 is nearly identical to October 2004's 133.6. Portland peaked in July 2007 at 186.51. At - [RMLS Market Action: March 2011](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-march-2011/) - RMLS Market Action for March 2011 in the Portland Metro area shows some strong gains from February. Inventory dropped 35% from February to 7.1 months. I've updated the tracking of the local Portland RMLS areas and what is most striking is that North, Northeast and Northwest (Washington County) Portland have inventory levels below six months - [Electrical Panels in Home Inspections](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/electrical-panels-in-home-inspections/) - Over the years we have seen just about every type of electrical panel installed with just about every degrees of competency. Just because a panel is new doesn't mean that it was installed correctly. Make sure you have it inspected. Here' are four samples of what you might see in order of oldest to newest: - [Free Portland Real Estate?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/free-portland-real-estate/) - Free Portland real estate? There has to be a catch. Of course there is. Adzookie wants to paint your house (the picture to the right is from their site and is a mock-up). You don't get to choose the colors as your home is now a billboard. Reported by CNNMoney.com yesterday, Adzookie posted an online - [One Day on Market Sale Pending at Over Asking](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/one-day-on-market-sale-pending-at-over-asking/) - No joking, even on April Fools Day. Portland's real estate market hasn't seen many situations like this recently. In 2006 and 2007 multiple offers and bidding wars weren't that uncommon. The days of "stick a sign in your yard and it probably will sell" are gone which is probably for the best. Buyers are more - [Portland's New Construction Limited Tax Exemption (LTE) Program](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portlands-new-construction-limited-tax-exemption-lte-program/) - All things being equal which Portland home would you buy? The one eligible for a tax exemption? The City of Portland Housing Bureau has a program where new construction houses in certain areas (mostly around Lents (from SE 60th to 136th) and North Portland) of the City are eligible for a 10 year property tax - [Austrailian V. Portland, Oregon Real Estate and HB 2839](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/austrailian-v-portland-oregon-real-estate-and-hb-2839/) - The State of Oregon is considering a bill that would change the face of real estate disclosure. In the past sellers have disclosed what they know about a property. House Bill 2839 would require a seller to investigate what they do not know when it comes to the energy efficiency of their home. "House Bill - [RMLS Market Action February 2011](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-february-2011/) - Portland real estate housing inventory has been roughly between 10 and 11 months for the last eight months with the exception of December's blip. The general thought is that six months is equilibrium between a buyer's and seller's market so we're still a buyer's market by that standard. Whether or not you should list your - [Carbon Monoxide and Oregon Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/carbon-monoxide-and-oregon-real-estate/) - Do you have to have carbon monoxide detectors when selling a home in Oregon? Yes. As of April 1, 2011 House Bill 3450 requires that carbon monoxide detectors be provided by the seller of Oregon real estate: Home sellers of one-and two family dwellings, manufactured dwellings, or multifamily housing units containing a carbon monoxide source - [2010 Portland Street of Dreams Site Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2010-portland-street-of-dreams-site-update/) - I drove by NW Cresap Lane, home of the 2010 Portland Street of Dreams, this afternoon so decided to take a turn up the street. There is no new building activity on the site, just the three completed houses seen at the show. The sign at the entrance of the street looks like this today: - [Chasing the Real Estate Market](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/chasing-the-real-estate-market/) - I pulled up a listing history in RMLS and found that the listing was first listed at $215,000 in November of 2009 and is now priced at $199,500. The price has crossed the $200,000 threshold so should see a new pool of buyers even though the listing has been on the market for more than - [Portland Short Sale and Bank Owned Property](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-short-sale-and-bank-owned-property/) - Searching RMLS for residential property this morning there are 4208 Active listings in Portland. Of those, 441 (10.4%) are bank owned. There is a single listing over $1,000,000 priced at $1.7M. 750 (17.8%) are listed as short sales. There are four short sales listed over $1,000,000; the most expensive being $3,490,000. Though short sales occur - [Portland Real Estate: Got Cash?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-got-cash/) - When RMLS Market Action came out last week it was hard not to notice a sharp drop in average sales price. In conversations about it, we thought that we were seeing more cash deals which presumably have a lower sales price. We were right but mostly wrong. There are more cash deals but not as - [Case Shiller December 2010 for Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-december-2010-for-portland-real-estate/) - The Case Shiller index lags real time by sixty days so we won't be able to see if their results match RMLS for Portland real estate January. The Case Shiller Index dropped from 139.92 to 138.23. That's a pretty small drop compared to the 10% loss reported by RMLS in their last report for average - [Portland Real Estate Listing Inventory](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-listing-inventory/) - Yesterday's post was about the Portland Metro RMLS Market Action report for January. Last April I started tracking how the five RMLS areas that make up the City of Portland track compared to the five country Portland Metro area that the report covers. City inventory is 10.0 months compared to Metro's 11.3. "West Portland" which - [RMLS Market Action January 2011](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-january-2011/) - January 2011 RMLS Market Action for Portland real estate came out today. There was a sharp spike in inventory to 11.3 months which makes December's 7.9 months an anomaly in light of the previous month's inventory levels. Most of the increase can be attributed to a large increase in new listings. I'll post the City - [New HAFA Rules Effective Today to Speed Short Sales](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/new-hafa-rules-effective-today-to-speed-short-sales/) - Last week on our Facebook Page we ran a contest asking, "what percentage of listings in Portland are short sales?" The answer is 17.% (and was worth a $15 Starbucks card). New rules go into effect today that should help speed up the short sale process. The rules are effective today, February 1. It - [Should I Buy or Sell Real Estate Now?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/should-i-buy-or-sell-real-estate-now/) - Is now the best time to buy a home? I'm seeing more "buy now" before the market and interest rates climb. From the looks of current interest rates, at around five percent, we may have seen the bottom of that graph. Then again, we thought in April of last year we might be looking a - [Case Shiller November 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-november-2010/) - Tuesday's Case Shiller reporting November 2010 was of no surprise: down from the previous month. The Index for Portland is 139.92 which puts the Portland real estate market back where it was in March 2005. The 139.92 is actually an average of the three price tiers in Portland. For November: Low (under $207,443): 144.00 Middle - [Arousing & Provocative Real Estate (PG)](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/arousing-provocative-real-estate-pg/) - Marketers knows sex sells. Conventions have Booth Babes, a local real estate team had a billboard imitating the Sex in the City girls and I'm sure you could build a tidy little niche in a South Beach type market showing property with a limo or oversized Hummer with hostess. Nonetheless, its not a marketing angle - [Portland 2010-2011 Remodeling Cost Versus Value](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-2010-2011-remodeling-cost-versus-value/) - Each year the National Association of Realtors, in conjunction with Hanley... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [FHA Financing and Condos](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/fha-financing-and-condos/) - Perhaps the biggest advantage of FHA financing over conventional financing is the ability to put as little as 3.5% down. Compare that to a "standard" 20% conventional loan and it is easy to see how the buyer pool changes. The rates are typically a little higher and you have to carry mortgage insurance with an - [RMLS Market Action December 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-december-2010/) - December 2010 RMLS Market Action for the Portland real estate market came out yesterday afternoon. Portland had a rough year but that may have laid the foundation for a stronger 2011. The median sales price is down 2.9% and the average sales price is down 2.7% for the year. Days on market also dropped 6.6% - [Mortgage Interest Rates Tick Up](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/mortgage-interest-rates-tick-up/) - I wasn't a Realtor when interest rates were in double digits and we're a long way from that now but rates do matter. In January of 2010 a 30 year mortgage was quoted at 4.75% for a qualified buyer. In November, it was 4.25% and today is back to 4.75% (note that these are base - [Happy New Years and Happy Birthday](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/happy-new-years-and-happy-birthday-2/) - Today is the first business day of 2011 but we have already been busy with showings, offers and open houses. We're looking forward to building on 2010 which was our most successful year to date. We're now the Turner Realtors Team, Inc. at Prudential Northwest Properties Incorporating our business is the next logical step as - [Bed and Breakfast in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/bed-and-breakfast-in-portland/) - Our listing at 2415 NW Lovejoy Street is nearly 8000 square feet including the basement and has seven bedrooms. During a recent open house I was asked, "what about turning it into a bed and breakfast?" The City of Portland has an answer for that: a permit is required. A buyer purchasing a property that - [Case Shiller October 2010. Ouch.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-october-2010-ouch/) - I titled last month's Case Shiller report, "Reasons Fear and Optimism." The Portland real estate market didn't fare well in October according to the report released this morning: While the composite housing prices are still above their spring 2009 lows, six markets – Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, Portland (OR), Seattle and Tampa – hit their lowest - [John Ross Sells Out](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/john-ross-sells-out/) - I just received an email from the sales team at the John Ross in the South Waterfront. The units are sold out. There are six resale units listed in RMLS. It's taken five years to sell through the 303 units. Back in September of 2005 I wrote about who the buyer's of the John Ross - [RMLS Market Action November 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-november-2010/) - As mentioned on our Facebook page, I held off on posting the latest RMLS Market Action report yesterday so that I could get some clarification on the numbers being reported. Inventory is down to 10.2 months. It's worth noting that in both 2008 and 2009 inventory climbed between October and November. This month's report says, - [Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregon-homeownership-stabilization-initiative/) - Some relief may be coming to Oregon residents that are having a hard time paying their mortgage because of a reduction of income through unemployment or a reduction in employment. The Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative (OHSI) application window begins on Friday, December 10th. Oregon has $100,000,000 to spend through the program. The OHSI FAQ page - [Case Shiller September 2010- Reason for Fear and Optimism](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-september-2010-reason-for-fear-and-optimism/) - Portland's Case Shiller Index for September 2010 took a 1.9% hit from August and is now at 144.30, May 2005 levels. The index is down 3.6% since September 2009. On a national basis the Composite 10 Index was down .5% for the month but up 1.6% in the last 12 months. The Composite 20 Index - [The Pros and Cons of Listing in Winter](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-listing-in-winter/) - Tips for selling your Portland home. Let's start by wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. It looks like the... Work with Lovejoy Real Estate to get top dollar. - [Multnomah County Foreclosure Auction](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/multnomah-county-foreclosure-auction/) - There are 74 homes in Multnomah County coming up for sale at auction next week. The combined unpaid balance on the loans is $15,764,16. 13 were foreclosed on by Wells Fargo 19 were foreclosed on by Mortgage Electronic Registration* 5 were foreclosed on by Bank of America 3 have NW addresses The average unpaid balance - [October 2010 RMLS Market Action](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/october-2010-rmls-market-action/) - You'll have to look pretty hard for good news in the October 2010 RMLS Market Action. One bright spot is that there is an increase in the number of closed transaction through October 2010 compared to 2009. This is coupled with a decrease in the number of pending transactions. It means that fewer transactions are - [Serious Sunday Real Estate Humor, sort of.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/serious-sunday-real-estate-humor-sort-of/) - There have been some pretty funny text to video movies produced for real estate over last few months. From a sarcastic view of the short sale process to some outright profane conversations between an agent and their potential client. Can text to video be used with a more serious real estate application? Regular readers will - [Portland Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Better than Buyer Tax Credit?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-mortgage-credit-certificate-mcc-better-than-buyer-tax-credit/) - Practical advice for Portland homebuyers. The Portland Housing Bureau runs a program called the Mortgage Credit... Get expert guidance from Lovejoy Real Estate. - [Portland Housing Affordability](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-housing-affordability/) - The comments from my August Case Shiller post is the root of today's post about Portland housing affordability. The basic question: is Portland (and has it been) affordable? According to the Case Shiller report, Portland housing prices have dropped to July 2005 prices. Meanwhile, the Affordability Index has hit about the same level as September - [Do You Have A Heating Oil Tank?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/do-you-have-a-heating-oil-tank/) - Is there an in-ground oil tank in your yard? You don't care because you don't plan on selling anytime soon and you don't want to know the answer because you'll be required to clean it up if there is an issue. MISTAKE. Most tanks were left in place when the owner switched to natural gas - [Portland Real Estate Case Shiller Report August 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-case-shiller-report-august-2010/) - Portland, along with 16 of the other 20 areas tracked by the S&P's Case Shiller report, slid in August to 147.2. The drop of about a point still leaves Portland at roughly June 2005 pricing and almost at the same level as the 20 City Composite Index which is at October 2003 levels. Portland has - [Portland Real Estate Property Taxes](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-property-taxes/) - If you own property in Multnomah County you've probably got mail today: your property tax bill. The bill includes the 2010-2011 Property Tax Statement Guide. The bills come in two colors: green and yellow. Ultimately you are responsible that the taxes get paid regardless of color but "a yellow statement means a mortgage company or - [Your Credit and Buying Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/your-credit-and-buying-real-estate/) - Your credit score is one of the most important factors in your ability to qualify for a loan and then getting the best rates. If you are considering applying for a mortgage you may be well served doing a little investigation of your own before having a third party pull it for you. Is the - [Bounced Out of Buying a Home by NSF Checks](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/bounced-out-of-buying-a-home-by-nsf-checks/) - Boxes packed; 72 hours from closing. First time buyer is excited and seller is moving up to a bigger home in a location they love. Poof! Both deals dead over bounced checks. We represented the seller, not the buyer. We'd never represent both sides of the transaction as we do not do dual agency transactions. - [Home for the Holidays](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-for-the-holidays/) - There are ten weeks left in 2010 so if you have a 2010 goal of buying a house it is time to start getting serious about it. While I've never been a proponet of "everyone should buy now!" campaigns there are some things that those on the fence should consider. On a traditional or foreclosure - [RMLS Market Action September 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-september-2010/) - September 2010's RMLS Market Action was released on Friday and as mentioned over the weekend on our Facebook Fan Page, Portland's city inventory remains below the inventory reported as the five county metro area. I started tracking the five RMLS areas in April and this month added the thicker average line to the graph. The - [QR Codes in Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/qr-codes-in-real-estate/) - I haven't written much in the last couple of weeks here. I've never been one to post about the latest farmer's market or team sports schedule. If I'm going to write, it's going to be about real estate. Much of what I have been working on is more agent and business centric. It will improve - [Going, Going, Gone! Condos Going to Auction](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/going-going-gone-condos-going-to-auction/) - Real estate auctions in the Portland area are no longer surprising. The Atwater Place auction led the way last year with an auction that sold off 40 units in under 90 minutes. The John Ross resisted for awhile by initially lowering prices and then holding their own auction of luxury condominiums earlier this year. The - [2010 Portland Street of Dreams Recap](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2010-portland-street-of-dreams-recap/) - I took a final trip up to NW Cresap Lane on Monday to wrap up my series on the 2010 edition of the Portland Street of Dreams. What I found wasn't catastrophic but disappointing nonetheless. Two of the three homes are now closed sales and are occupied evidenced by cars in the driveway and confirmed - [Portland Case Shiller Remains Flat for July 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-remains-flat-for-july-2010/) - We spent last week in Washington DC at the Prudential Real Estate Summut Conference. Most introductions start something like this. "Hi, I'm Charles from Portland." "How's the Portland Market?" The Case Shiller housing market data for July 2010 was released this morning a the Portland real estate market remains largely flat, dropping four tenths of - [Portland Real Estate Prices Up but...](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/porltand-real-estate-prices-up-but/) - RMLS Market Action for August is out and prices are up slightly but the rest of the data leaves room for pause. The median price is up 1.8% over last month and the average is up .8% to $299,300. Inventory, the ratio of active listings and sold properties for the month, is up to 11 - [Today Show Rent or Buy](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/today-show-rent-or-buy/) - The Today Show ran a segment on rent versus buy this morning. Portland gets mention, not as a buy town but as one of the best places to rent (attributed to Trulia). Overall, it presents a balanced view of the considerations, pluses and minuses of the two choices. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, - [Can Real Estate in Portland Sell Quickly?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/can-real-estate-in-portland-sell-quickly/) - On Sunday, I wrote my real estate humor post on Tracey missing out on her dream house because Jack beat her to it using technology rather than running shoes. It was humor mixed with a little reality. My scenario of what happened after the TV commercial ended turns out not to be all that far - [Why Tracy Lost Her Dream Home](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/why-tracy-lost-her-dream-home/) - OnPoint Community Credit Union is running a fairly new TV commercial. Tracey... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [New FHA Rules Change Payments](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/new-fha-rules-change-payments/) - On October 4th, FHA rules will change regarding Mortgage Insurance Premiums collected up front and the monthly rate charged. Any FHA case number issued after October 4th will be subject to the new rules. The application for a case number takes place after there is an accepted offer on a specific property. I worked with - [Curb Appeal](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/curb-appeal/) - Curb appeal is one of the most important factors in selling a home. It starts with the ability to take a good picture so that when it is viewed online, the buyer actually wants to make the effort to go out and see it. Once they arrive, they need to get out of the car - [Portland Case Shiller June 2010 Shows Increase](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-june-2010-shows-increase/) - In what seems like a sea of bad real estate and economic news, the Case Shiller Index reports for the third consecutive month slight increases in the Portland real estate market, mirroring the national indexes. The report, which lags 60 days and uses the seven county Portland MSA to define "Portland," shows that housing prices - [Short Sale Approval Process](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/short-sale-approval-process/) - I missed a couple weeks of Sunday real estate humor but this should make up for it. Ever wonder how short sales really work? I'm not sure what the original source was of this humor video. I first saw it months ago but it was only posted a few days ago where it is now. - [State of the Portland Real Estate Market](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-market/) - Portland real estate market data and trends. Unless you were stuck under a box in your basement this week it would have been... Expert analysis from Lovejoy… - [Street of Dreams' Forest Edge and IdeaBox](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/street-of-dreams-forest-edge-and-ideabox/) - We visited the last two houses at the Street of Dreams last night. The $1.7M Forest Edge by Elite Development is clearly the dreamiest of the show. Not a surprise as you could by the IdeaBox ($148k), The Maybeck detached condominium ($549k), and any one of the three detached houses on NW Cresap Lane for - [2010 Street of Dreams Coupon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2010-street-of-dreams-coupon/) - There's a $3 off coupon on the front page of this morning's home delivered Oregonian. It is a physical coupon to be redeemed at the ticket office, not a discount code. We're going to visit the Indigo (open only on weekends), IdeaBox and the $1.7M home this weekend. They are off-site from NW Cresap Lane. - [South Waterfront Closer Evolving into Neighborhood](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/south-waterfront-closer-evolving-into-neighborhood/) - The ribbon cutting ceremony for the South Waterfront's Elizabeth Caruthers Park is THIS THURSDAY, AUGUST 19th, from 5:30-8:30. It's an important step forward for an area that has struggled to bring services to its condo tower residents. The Meriwether Condominiums opened in 2006. Residents at the time knew it was going to take a number - [FHA Loan Changes in the Works](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/fha-loan-changes-in-the-works/) - Federal Housing Administration (FHA) home loans make up 30% of all home loans; up from 3% in 2006. Whereas a "normal" loan requires 20% down, a home can be bought with an FHA loan for as little as 3.5% down. Defaults are up too which means they need to tighten lending requirements and fees. As - [2010 Street of Dreams Discount Coupon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2010-street-of-dreams-discount-coupon/) - Here's a discount coupon for this year's Street of Dreams. It's valid for tickets on site, not online. - [Street of Dreams Review and Pictures](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/street-of-dreams-review-and-pictures/) - We held our client appreciation event at the 2010 Portland Street of Dreams yesterday and had a chance to walk through the three on site single family homes and two of the detached condominiums in neighboring Macleay Overlook. The show pass is good for the main site and three other locations where the $1.7M home - [Show Time! Portland Street of Dream Pictures.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/show-time-portland-street-of-dream-pictures/) - The 2010 Portland Street of Dreams kicks off tonight with the Midsummer's Night Dream charity event. I decided that on the day of opening night my presences wasn't going to help the cause taking pictures of the last minute touches. Instead, I thought we'd look back at some of the pictures I've taken since January. - [J.D. Power and Associates Honors Prudential Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/j-d-power-honors-prudential-real-estate/) - J.D. Power and Associates announced today that the Prudential Real Estate Network ranked “Highest Overall Satisfaction for Home Sellers among National Full Service Real Estate Firms” in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Home Buyer/Seller Study. This marks the second time in three years that Prudential ranked highest in seller satisfaction! - [Portland Case Shiller May 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-may-2010/) - The Portland real estate market ranks sixth of the 20 cities tracked by Case Case Shiller report that came out this morning for May. It may be surprising to many but the 147.98 (up from 146.25 in April) lags behind only five cities since 2000 when the Index was set to 100 across all 20 - [It's Not All Short Sales and Bank Owned](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/its-not-all-short-sales-and-bank-owned/) - Short sales, foreclosures and bank owned properties may be the buzz words of today's real estate market but an RMLS blog post shows us that short sales and bank owned properties make up less than 20% of the properties listed for sale. In Portland, there are 5604 active residential listings. Three hundred fifty three of - [Portland Street of Dreams July 23rd Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-street-of-dreams-july-23rd-update/) - Cresap Summit, the 2010 Portland Street of Dreams site, is such a busy place right now that I had to park in Macleay Overlook and walk down the path to NW Cresap Lane. Macleay Overlook is home to the detached condo that is a part of the show. Spade and Archer Design Agency are putting - [Portland Real Estate Fixers and Rehab Projects](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-fixers-and-rehab-projects/) - Once upon a Portland real estate market, fixer properties were hot commodities. They were easy to finance and the market allowed a lot, if not too much, forgiveness for what might be considered sub par remodels. Appreciation allowed for some leeway if the buyer was planning on holding the property as well. Today's market doesn't - [Portland's Alphabet District](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portlands-alphabet-district/) - The Oregonian ran a feature story yesterday about the Alphabet District in Northwest Portland on the front of their real estate section. The story does not appear to be on Oregonlive.com yet. Our www.AlphabetDistrict.com website is cited as a neighborhood resource and I am quoted. We'll be posting some more news about that site soon - [Two Weeks Until 2010 Portland Street of Dreams](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/two-weeks-until-2010-portland-street-of-dreams/) - Two weeks is all that remains until the 2010 Portland Street of Dreams is open for business. There has been an amazing amount of progress since my visit last Friday. Spade and Archer Design Agency was busy at work in the Renaissance Homes house staging the rooms while Earth Advantage was setting up blow test - [RMLS Market Action June 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-june-2010/) - The Portland real estate market continues to plod along according to June 2010 RMLS Market Action statistics reported on their website. Last month I started to break the Portland inventory numbers down to a smaller area as the Portland Metro area reported by RMLS encompasses five counties. The metro chart is on the right and - [Lower Interest Rates Repace Tax Credits?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/lower-interest-rates-repace-tax-credits/) - Portland home financing guidance. Lower interest rates may have replaced the Home Buyer Tax Credits for now. The... Lovejoy Real Estate helps buyers navigate… - [Hire a Licensed Contractor and Get a Permit](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/hire-a-licensed-contractor-and-get-a-permit/) - The questions are right there on the Seller's Property Disclosure Statement: Are there any additions, conversions or remodeling? If yes, was a building permit required? If yes, was a building permit obtained? If yes, was a final inspection obtained? Enjoy this week's Sunday real estate humor and thanks to Nancy for sending it our way: - [Renaissance Homes' Street of Dreams "The Graduate"](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/renaissance-homes-street-of-dreams-the-graduate/) - This is the July 9th construction update video of Renaissance Homes' 2010 Portland Street of Dreams entry, "The Graduate." - [2010 Portland Street of Dreams July 9th Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2010-portland-street-of-dreams-july-9th-update/) - There are just thee weeks until the 2010 Portland Street of Dreams kicks off with A Midsummer Night's Dream Charity Benefit at Cresap Summit on Friday, July 29th. I'd like to thank Renaissance Homes for giving me access to their home for the next few Fridays so that Ican complete the series I have been - [The Accuracy of Zillow's Zestimate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-accuracy-of-zillows-zestimate/) - How much is my Portland home really worth? Zillow's Zestimate says it is worth $z but my Realtor/appraiser/neighbor says it is worth $x. What gives? Any estimate of value is an opinion, the market eventually determines value. Zillow provides their own answer as to what a Zestimate is : How do we come up with - [The Internet and Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-internet-and-real-estate/) - This morning I received an email from Realtor.com. The first lines read: "90% of home buyers are using the internet to find their next home with over 1 in 3 finding the home they purchased online." The percentage is even higher from some demographics. That's a statement that is important to Realtors, buyers and sellers - [Oregon Home Buyer Advisory: Pest and Dry Rot](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregon-home-buyer-advisory-pest-and-dry-rot/) - Practical advice for Portland homebuyers. Continuing our series on the Oregon Home Buyer Advisory. We’ve covered the... Get expert guidance from Lovejoy Real… - [A Different Real Estate Perspective](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/a-different-real-estate-perspective/) - The common phrase gets modified and a little humor added in real estate: the grass is always greener over the septic tank. Problems with public school funding is not just a Portland issue. I picked up the print version of the San Francisco Chronicle yesterday and the head line of the Bay Area section reads, - [This Home Pretty Much Sucks](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/this-home-pretty-much-sucks/) - San Pablo, California Realtor Cindi Hagley gets creative by telling the truth about her listing: Have a fun and safe Fourth of July. - [Obama Signs Home Buyer Tax Credit Closing](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/obama-signs-home-buyer-tax-credit-closing/) - It should come as no surprise the President Obama signed the legislation that extends the Home Buyer Tax Credit closing period to September 30th. This extension does not open up eligibility to anyone that wasn't already in a qualified transaction by April 30th. It should help many of the 180,000 home buyers that were in - [Happy New Tax Year](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/happy-new-tax-year/) - Portland property taxes run July 1 to June 30th of the following year. For Multnomah County we usually see tax bills in early October. This means that if you close on a house today, unless something out of the norm has been negotiated, you would owe the full year taxes by the November 15th due - [Home Buyer Tax Credit News- Congress Extends Closing](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-buyer-tax-credit-news-congress-extends-closing/) - Past my bedtime so a little cut and paste [this assumes that President Obama signs the bill]: From: NAR Government Affairs RE: Tax Credit Closing Date Extension/Flood Insurance Extension DATE: 30 June 2010 After a close brush with the deadline, Congress has passed an extension of the Homebuyer Tax Credit closing deadline, the Homebuyer Assistance - [Case Shiller April 2010 for Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-april-2010-for-portland-real-estate/) - Case Shiller for April 2010 came out this morning and Portland saw a bump up from March. The current report puts Portland real estate prices at 146.25. That's up 46.25 points from when the index was reset to 100 in January of 2000 but down 40.26 from the July 2007 peak. It also stops a - [2010 Street of Dreams Site Video](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2010-street-of-dreams-site-video/) - There's a little over a month until the 2010 Street of Dreams kicks off at Northwest Portland's Cresap Summit. Three houses are under construction. One of those has a sold sign in the window and the other two, plus an additional lot, are listed for sale in RMLS. Here's a short video of the site - [Sunday Real Estate Humor. Is This Your Realtor?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sunday-real-estate-humor-is-this-your-realtor/) - This weekend's humor is brought to us by Chafin on Youtube. One side of "the real estate bloodbath," as it was described to me, was that many Realtors were forced out of the business. We can only hope that the parodied Realtor here was one of them. Enjoy. - [A Dreamy Commute from Cresap Summit](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/a-dreamy-commute-from-cresap-summit/) - The 2010 Portland Street of Dreams is just over a month away and it's time to ramp up the posts as they head to the finish line. The show runs July 31 to August 29. At 6:30 on a Saturday morning, there isn't much sign of life anywhere in Portland. I took some pictures and - [4774 Bradford Loop Video](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/4774-bradford-loop-video/) - Listing videos are becoming an increasing popular way for buyers to look at homes online. We've been doing virtual tour and floor plans for years so this is just one more way to make sure our listings are getting seen as many ways as possible. [Updated 6/28/10 with version that will display on iPhone/iPad]. I - [Real Estate Lingo](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/real-estate-lingo/) - Real estate is full of acronyms. One of this blog's most viewed posts is "What... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [National Association of Realtors Report on Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/national-association-of-realtors-report-on-portland/) - The National Association of Realtors has published it's 2010 first quarter report on the Portland real estate market. The report, like Case Shiller, uses the seven county Portland MSA. The report does an excellent job of comparing the Portland market to the national market and has some good foreclosure statistics. The three year equity positions - [New Category: Real Estate Humor.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/new-category-real-estate-humor/) - Real estate is serious business. It's the largest financial transaction that many people will make in their lives. That said, there's a light side too. I've created a "real estate humor" category and will try to make it a regular Sunday feature. Today we have "How to Buy a Bank Owned Property" from some robots - [FHA Funny](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/fha-funny/) - Portland home financing guidance. I'm not feeling overly creative this morning but this is worth a good laugh... Lovejoy Real Estate helps buyers navigate… - [Is the Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/is-the-home-buyer-tax-credit-extended/) - Is the Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended? No. The Senate approved a proposal yesterday to extend the CLOSING period of the tax credit from the current June 30th to September 30th. If you weren't eligible for the credit today you won't be when and if the Senate and House vote to pass the actual legislation - [What Portland Public School Will My Student Attend?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/what-portland-public-school-will-my-student-attend/) - *** Updated 6/23/10- See below What Portland schools will your kids go to school next year? The year after that? When we ask clients what their new home must include, "good schools" is more often than not part of the answer. Even without kids, buyers understand that when they becomes sellers their buyer may have - [Burning Down the House: Oregon Style](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/burning-down-the-house-oregon-style/) - On August 1st a new real estate law will come into effect aimed at helping the environment: non-certified wood burning stoves must be removed from a home prior to closing (or within 30 days if the buyer is taking responsibility). How do you know if your stove is certified? If it was manufactured before 1998, - [South Waterfront Front Page News. Salpare Bay in Oregonian Again](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/south-waterfront-front-page-news-salpare-bay-in-oregonian-again/) - If you picked up yesterday's print Oregonian you'd have seen Ryan Frank's featured cover story on the lack of low income housing in the South Waterfront. Low income housing has always been a part of the plan for the area but it is yet to materialize. Ryan has moved from the real estate desk to - [Oregon Home Buyer Advisory: Professional Home Inspections](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregon-home-buyer-advisory-professional-home-inspections/) - I've started writing a series on the Oregon Home Buyer Advisory. We've covered the sections on Sewers & Septic Tank and Death, Crimes and External Conditions. Today we'll go to the beginning of the Advisory and cover the Professional Home Inspection: OBTAINING A PROFESSIONAL HOME INSPECTION IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING A BUYER CAN - [City of Portland Scopes Sewers. You Should too.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/city-of-portland-scopes-sewers-you-should-too/) - The cover story of the June 2, 2010 Willamette Week reports on issues surrounding Portland's sewer system. According to the report, 12,000 homes are at risk of sewer backups due to aging and clogged lines beyond the curb- homeowners are responsible for the lines from the house to the curb. Why are homes with good - [Lessons from the Red and Black Cafe in Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/lessons-from-the-red-and-black-cafe-in-real-estate/) - Social media is clearly here to stay and the local story of the Red and Black... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [New Construction Condo HOA Dues](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/new-construction-condo-hoa-dues/) - If you are buying a new construction condo you may want to investigate when you will start paying the full HOA dues that have been quoted. If the developer has not turned the HOA over to the home owners yet, the full amount may not be due- lower occupancy translates to lower utility bills for - [Deaths, Crimes and External Conditions and Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/deaths-crimes-and-external-conditions-and-real-estate/) - Last week I wrote about the Oregon Home Buyer's Advisory and the section on Sewers & Septic Tanks. There are over a dozen buyer due diligence items in the Advisory so it makes sense to go through all of them in the next few weeks. Today: "Death, Crimes and External Conditions:" In Oregon, certain social - [2010 Portland Street of Dreams June Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2010-portland-street-of-dreams-june-update/) - I made a quick trip up to NW Creasap Lane yesterday during a break in what was the third wettest May on record in Portland. I expected that I'd have the cul-de-sac to myself but I was wrong. There was a contractor working on one of the three houses under construction. There are eight lots - [Mobile Searching for Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/mobile-searching-for-portland-real-estate/) - Want to find out more about the home your just drove by? There's a website for that. Rather than an app, it will work with all mobile web browsers. There are lawsuits over patents using the GPS feature of phones to locate a listing. m.TurnerRealtors.com will allow you to search all RMLS shared IDX listings. - [More !@#y Portland Sewer Situations](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/more-y-portland-sewer-situations/) - If you are a regular reader of the Portland Real Estate Blog then you should see a theme developing: scope your sewer! We've come across yet another sewer issue that would have been discovered with a $95 scope: the sewer line is not connected to city sewer but to a (now very full) septic tank, - [Specially Assessed Historic Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/specially-assessed-historic-portland-real-estate/) - I've been doing some new research on historic homes for our AlphabetDistrict website. The Special Assessment of Historic Property Program is managed by the Parks and Recreation Department's State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Last year, Senate Bill 192 changed some features what is commonly known as the historic tax freeze. The SHPO Program Information sheet - [March 2010 Case Shiller for Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/march-2010-case-shiller-for-portland-real-estate/) - The Case Shiller Index for Portland remained flat in March 2010. The Index for Portland is 143.61, down .08 from February. Seasonally adjusted, the Index was up .16. The Index is at the same level as April/May 2005. Since March of 2009, the Portland Index has dropped from 147.68 to 143.61. The National 20 Composite - [One Percent Gets You Five](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/one-percent-gets-you-five/) - Do interest rates matter? For quite a few years now we've all been hearing that "rates are at historic lows and will only go up." It was true then and it seems to be true now and the statement fuels the "Buy Now" debate. I think we are better served by educating and giving the - [RMLS Market Action April 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-april-2010/) - April 2010's RMLS Market Action reports that inventory is down to 7.3 months. All look back at over a decade of Aprils in Portland real estate inventory: 1999- 6.1 months 2000- 6.4 months 2001.7.2 months 2002-4.5 months 2003- 4.1 months 2004- 3.0 months 2005- 1.8 months 2006- 2.4 months 2007- 4.4 months 2008 10.3 months - [PSU Center for Real Estate Quarterly May 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/psu-center-for-real-estate-quarterly-may-2010/) - 113 pages is a lot of reading for a beautiful Friday afternoon so Dr. Mildner... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Lead Based Paint Affects Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/lead-based-paint-affects-portland-real-estate/) - On April 22nd, 2010 Oregon law changed regarding lead based paint. The standard earnest money agreement (offer between the buyer and seller) includes a contingency for the buyer's right to conduct a lead inspection. Houses built before 1978 may have been painted with lead based paint. The law prescribes and dictates how lead based paint - [2010 Street of Dreams May Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2010-street-of-dreams-may-update/) - There are now four houses under construction on NW Cresap Lane, the home of the 2010 Portland Street of Dreams. KGW's Joe Smith's television news clip isn't online but the story is. In part: "We're building the first ever leed Street of Dreams house," said Randy Sabastian, owner of Renaissance Homes. This is Sabastian's seventh - [Some Options If You Are Delinquent On Mortgage Payments](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/some-options-if-you-are-delinquent-on-mortgage-payments/) - Portland home financing guidance. The following eight are things that you need to consider before listing your... Lovejoy Real Estate helps buyers navigate… - [Google Mortgage Comparison](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/google-mortgage-comparison/) - I mentioned in this morning's post that interest rates are low. Google has a Mortgage Comparison search engine which is interesting, if not somewhat misleading. Note that the image does not mention ads but the url is: https://www.google.com/comparisonads/mortgages. I've found it listed as both a sponsored link and a separated result between the sponsored and - [Life After Tax Credit](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/life-after-tax-credit/) - The Homebuyer Tax Credit died quietly and lonely on Friday April 30th at the stroke of midnight. There were no attempts at resuscitation and even previous supporters agreed that the Credit had served its purpose and that it is time to move on and let the real estate market stand on its own. It's going - [Home Buyer Tax Credit By The Numbers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-buyer-tax-credit-by-the-numbers/) - The Home Buyer Tax Credit expires tomorrow: $8000- amount that qualified first time home buyers are eligible for $6500- amount that qualified repeat home buyers are eligible for $7500- amount that first time buyers were eligible for in the first version (which must be repaid) 85- votes by Senate in November 2009 to extend the - [Case Shiller January 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-january-2010/) - The January 2010 Case Shiller report came out this morning. Nineteen of the 20 real estate markets tracked lost ground compared with the previous month. San Diego was the only market in positive territory. The Portland market dropped to 143.69, down from 147. 29 in December. Case Shiller reports come out the last Tuesday of - [How Long is Your Portland Commute?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-long-is-your-portland-commute/) - Usually when we ask clients about their desired commute it is phrased something like, "Not more than 10 miles" or "less than 30 minutes." So how about 650 miles? The Wall Street Journal has a story today about Bay Area-ites moving to both Portland and Seattle while keeping their jobs down there. In their cases - [Now Would Be a Good Time to Let the Buyer Tax Credit Die](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/now-would-be-a-good-time-to-let-the-buyer-tax-credit-die/) - A Realtor advocating the end of the Home Buyer Tax Credit? In some ways, yes. Don't get me wrong, the Credit has helped our industry without a doubt but we all know it is not something that is going to go on forever and it can't be extended every time it gets set to expire. - [Radon Can Be Anywhere](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/radon-can-be-anywhere/) - I've written a fair amount about radon in the past, the vast majority (if not all of it) relating to residential real estate. Yesterday's article in the Camas-Washugal Post Record reminds us all that radon can be found anywhere, including the workplace. In a press release issued yesterday, (Mayor Sean Guard) said radon is a - [BMP-Bumpable in Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/bmp-bumpable-in-portland-real-estate/) - In 2006, I wrote the post "What Does Bumpable Mean?" It is one of the most read posts ever. The Cliff Note version is that the seller accepts the buyer's offer that is contingent on something else, usually the sale of the buyer's existing home. The buyer has a set amount of time to sell - [RMLS Market Action March 2010](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-march-2010/) - Portland real estate inventory dropped 40% between February and March! After a two month spike with over 12 months, inventory levels have returned, at least for now, to the levels that we saw during the last half of 2009. There were positive changes in all of the market metrics: average sales price, median sales price, - [Portland Trail Blazers and Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-trail-blazers-and-portland-real-estate/) - The Portland Trail Blazers are the only top tier professional sports team in Portland until the Portland Timbers move up to MLS soccer next year. Much of the city lives and breaths our playoff bound team; especially this time of year. I am sure there are all sorts of economic analysis of the impact that - [Home Buyer Tax Credit Time Lines](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-buyer-tax-credit-time-lines/) - There is no sign that the $8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit or the $6500 Tax Credit are going to be extended. If you want to take advantage of either you must have an accepted offer by Friday, April 30th. The transaction must close by June 30th. The "standard" inspection period for an Oregon - [Real Estate Cash Out Refinancers May Owe IRS](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/real-estate-cash-out-refinancers-may-owe-irs/) - Your home may have been an expensive ATM machine. When the Portland real estate market was hot, the fees for refinancing and equity lines seemed minor compared to the cash that it could release, us included. Some of the money went to house related projects, some did not. Here's the rub and you need to - [This is a Great Time to Buy a Home](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/this-is-a-great-time-to-buy-a-home/) - I didn't write the title of this post. It is the first line of the cover story of the April 8th Portland Tribune. A combination of factors contribute to a more optimistic outlook: Low interest rates (I received a 4.875 quote this morning which is down from last week's low 5s) The impending expiration of - [This Weekend is "National Open House Weekend](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/this-weekend-is-national-open-house-weekend/) - April 10th and 11th is the National Association of Realtors "National Open House Weekend." We're holding the following houses open this weekend: 3326 SW 64th Place, Portland: Sunday 1-4 5529 NE 16th Avenue, Portland: Saturday 1-4 & Sunday 1-4 5411 SE Hawthorne, Portland: Sunday 11-4 424 N Bridgeton Road, Portland: Sunday 1-4 5210 NE Everett - [South Waterfront John Ross Auction](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/south-waterfront-john-ross-auction/) - Fifty John Ross condos in the South Waterfront go on the auction block this Sunday. Almost five years ago, I wrote this post on "Who Buys New Construction Condos?" It provided a demographic breakdown that the Oregonian published of the 200 pending buyer contracts: 52% are between 20-30 years old 20% between 30-39 20% between - [March Portland Real Estate Stats](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/march-portland-real-estate-stats/) - Many of you are signed up for our Market Tracker reports (sign up here). The reports go out on the first Sunday of each month. If you don't want to sign up, you can always check out the graphs on our PDXBuyers website. The links below will send show the four graphs for each zip - [Time to Audit Your Property Insurance?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/time-to-audit-your-property-insurance/) - PITI: Principle, Interest, Taxes and Insurance are the four components that make up an impounded mortgage payment. Impounds the additional money collected by the mortgage company, and held in an escrow account, so that they can make insurance and tax payments on your behalf. Property insurance is really the only portion of the payment you - [April 2010 Portland Street of Dreams Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/april-2010-portland-street-of-dreams-update/) - I beat the rain up to NW Cresap Lane, the 2010 Street of Dream site. Construction is now underway on two lots and there is a third on PortlandMaps. I talked to the framer working on one of the homes and he said that they had two crews working and would complete in 11 days - [Turner Realtors Team Calls it Quits](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/turner-realtors-team-calls-it-quits/) - The blogosphere naysayers were right. Sharp declines in the Portland real... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Case-Shiller Portland January 2010 Dips](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-portland-january-2010-dips/) - The Case Shiller Index for January 2010 in Portland is 147.29. That's a drop from December of 1.8% and a 12 month decline of 4.9%. The current index is about the same as May/June 2005. That's in contrast to the 10 City Composite and 20 City Composite indices which have both returned to "autumn 2003 - [Short Sales and the Home Buyer Tax Credit](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/short-sales-and-the-home-buyer-tax-credit/) - June 30th, 2010 is 93 days away (8,035,200 seconds for fans of Rent). Lack of indicators, to the contrary, make us believe that you have until then to close any contract that allows you to take advantage of the federal home buyer tax credits. A short sale is unlikely to qualify in that time frame - [Five Weeks Left for Home Buyer Tax Credit](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/five-weeks-left-for-home-buyer-tax-credit/) - On November 7th, 2009 the First Time Home Buyer Credit was extended and expanded to provide a $6500 credit to existing homeowners that qualify under a set of rules. The Credit was set to expire November 30th. It had been an active topic of congressional conversation for months prior. April 7th is just nine days - [Military Personnel and The Home Buyer Tax Credit](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/military-personnel-and-the-home-buyer-tax-credit/) - It's not news that the home buyer tax credit is set to expire on April 30th. In order to take advantage of the $8000 First Time Buyer credit or the $6500 credit, you must have an accepted offer by that date and the transaction must close on or before June 30th. The exception is for - [PortlandMaps Shows 3rd 2010 Street of Dreams House](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portlandmaps-shows-3rd-2010-street-of-dreams-house/) - PortlandMaps now shows a third permit for the 2010 Street of Dreams on Creasp Lane. The show is in August: "The 2010 homes will be more moderate in size and price, but still emphasize luxury living and innovative building and design. They are expected to range in price from $750,000 to $900,000 and in size - [Portland Property Tax Reduction Scam](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-property-tax-reduction-scam/) - Have you received a letter like this in the mail? We received the one below in the mail on Saturday. The info provided on the letter is all available through public records but the Attorney General's office says it is a scam. The California based company doesn't do what they say they are going to - [What Professional Real Estate Inspections Should I do?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/what-professional-real-estate-inspections-should-i-do/) - The home inspection is a standard part of most Oregon real estate transactions. The buyer has the right to waive the contingency but it is highly recommended that the home inspection takes place as soon as practical so that other inspections can be scheduled if there are areas of concern. The Oregon Real Estate Agency - [Striking Oil. Oil Tank Locate Update.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/striking-oil-oil-tank-locate-update/) - Last week I wrote about the oil tank locate inspection I attended. The result was inconclusive. There is no DEQ record of the permitted tank being removed but no tank was found. Alpha Environmental had a nagging feeling that a second look was in order. The tank was found on Sunday! The tank was located - [Portland Real Estate Listings Increase](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-listings-increase/) - About a month ago I ran the same report for Multnomah county real estate active listings. This month, the report shows an increase in listings to 5,129 from 4,804. The number of listings in the market is one of the two components that make the the "Inventory" ratio reported monthly by RMLS. The Areas are - [Oil Tank Locate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oil-tank-locate/) - Oregon DEQ records are the most solid evidence that an oil tank has been removed and decommissioned. Buyers of any Oregon real estate become the responsible party for soil contamination at closing which makes finding out if there is/was an oil tank an important part of buyer due diligence during the inspection period. I attended - [South Waterfront's John Ross Units go to Auction](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/south-waterfronts-john-ross-units-go-to-auction/) - Rumors started a couple of weeks that units in the John Ross might be coming. They are. KGW reported this morning and Ryan Frank at the Oregonian wrote yesterday that the John Ross is following in the footsteps of the Atwater Place auction and going to auction on April 11th. The Mirabella, a senior community, - [Miapolis Proposed as World's Tallest Building](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/miapolis-proposed-as-worlds-tallest-building/) - Stranded on an island in Miami? You may survive. Our friends at EarthTechling.com wrote about the proposed Miapolis in Miami. It would be the world's tallest building. What does that mean in Portland terms? The 3200' LEED Platnum building (according to the Miapolis homepage) would be roughly six times the height of the US Bancorp - [2010 Portland Street of Dreams March Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2010-portland-street-of-dreams-march-update/) - I stopped by the 2010 Portland Street of Dream site on Friday and took these pictures. Framing has begun on one of the lots and there has been activity on a couple of the others as well. I started visiting NW Creasp Lane about every thirty days at the beginning of January. February's post was - [2010 Portland Tour of Remodeled Homes](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2010-portland-tour-of-remodeled-homes/) - This weekend, March 6th and 7th, is the Home Builders Association of Metro Portland 2010 Tour of Remodeled Homes. The HBA also sponsor's the Street of Dreams. Eighteen homes are featured in this year's show and they are located all over the metro area. The $17.50 ticket (one size fits all, including children) is valid - [SE/NE 39th Ave. Becoming Cesar E Chavez BLVD](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sene-39th-ave-becoming-cesar-e-chavez-blvd/) - I posted this picture yesterday on the photo.blog but it merits a blog posting as well. The city has began the five year, $86,000 process of changing the signs from 39th Avenue Cesar E. Chavez Blvd. The signs will coexist for five years and then the 39th signs will be removed. I have not driven - [Luxury Buildings Still in Trouble](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/luxury-buildings-still-in-trouble/) - The John Ross graces the cover of this week's Portland Business Journal. 2121 Belmont is on the cover of today's Oregonian. Neither story tells a happy tale. 2121 Belmont was built to be sold as luxury condos at the peak of Portland's real estate market. Nearly nonexistent sales dictated a conversion to apartments but the - [Portland Case Shiller Price Tiers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-price-tiers/) - When we talk about the Standard and Poor's Case Shiller Index we are most often talking about the National index (there are 10 and 20 city composite indices) or the Portland index from the Home Price Value report (as I wrote yesterday). Case Shiller also publishes a more targeted report which breaks each reported MSA - [Portland Case Shiller December 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-december-2009/) - The monthly Case Shiller report (what is Case Shiller?)was released yesterday for December 2009. Standard and Poor's website was having server problems yesterday and the report was unavailable for some of the day. Portland's real estate market ended the year flat with a slight drop to 149.95 from November's 150.38. The questions we can't quite - [Portland Real Estate Blog Goes to Vancouver Olympic Game](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-blog-goes-to-vancouver-olympic-game/) - We decided that having the 2010 Winter Olympic so close it would be a shame not to make the trip north. Sure, our hotel room would probably costs a quarter of what it does today but even if we don't get to an event (ticket off in our future), the atmosphere is great. Watching the - [Oregonian Article on Street Trees and Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregonian-article-on-street-trees-and-real-estate/) - Last Friday, The Oregonian ran an article that I was interviewed for regarding street trees in Portland. In part, Matthew Preusch writes: Any Portlander who has ever strained at a rake in fall or tripped over an uplifted sidewalk knows about the costs associated with street trees, those growing in the grassy strips between the - [NW 23rd Construction- Shops are open](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/nw-23rd-construction-shops-are-open/) - NW 23rd is closed in both directions for three weeks: Beginning Monday, February 8, NW 23rd will be closed to all traffic between Everett and Glisan. NW Flanders will be closed at NW 23rd. Traffic will not be allowed to cross NW 23rd at Flanders. NW Flanders between 22nd and 23rd and between 23rd and - [Oregon Wood Burning Stoves Go Up In Smoke](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregon-wood-burning-stoves-go-up-in-smoke/) - The Oregon Senate passed "Heat Smart" Bill 102 last year in an effort help clean up the environment by exorcising over 300,000 non-certified wood burning stoves from Oregon homes. The latest revisions to the Oregon Property Disclosures look like this regarding wood burning stoves: Stoves that are not certified or installed without a permit must - [$38M of Portland Real Estate?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/38m-of-portland-real-estate/) - Singer Alan Jackson has his house listed for sale in Nashville, Tennessee for $38,000,000. If you were buying real estate in Portland (limited to Portland city limits) you could buy: The most expensive property ($8,750,000) almost four times. The seven most expensive houses listed for sale ($33,397,695 to own all seven). 129 houses priced at - [$8000 & $6500 Home Buyer Tax Credit Review](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/8000-6500-home-buyer-tax-credit-review/) - The Home Buyer Tax Credit is no longer front page news but that doesn't mean it should be forgotten. Under the current rules, enacted in November, a first-time buyer or qualifying repeat buyer, must be in contract by April 30 and close on the property before July 1. The income limits changed from the original - [Portland Case Shiller Index November 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-index-november-2009/) - The Case Shiller real estate report was released this morning for November 2009. Overall, results were mixed with relatively small gains and losses nationally. Portland's Case Shiller Index is now 150.38, up half a point from October's 149.88. Only five of the twenty tracked markets saw gains. Four cities hit new lows in the last - [Portland Street of Dreams: Now and Then](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-street-of-dreams-now-and-then/) - In 2008, the Case Shiller Index in Portland dropped from 178 in January to 158 by December. The real estate market was falling while the 2008 Street of Dreams homes were being constructed in Happy Valley. There were six homes in the 2008 show. Two sold, two are actively listed and two were taken off - [Portland 2009 Street of Dreams: Whatever Happend To?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-2008-street-of-dreams-whatever-happend-to/) - This years Street of Dreams is billed as having houses under $1,000,000 in Northwest Portland. Last year's show was nine condo units in the Pearl District. Whatever happened to them? The three Waterfront Pearl units were taken off the market when the building was turned over to the lender in a Deeded in Lieu of - [Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource SFR](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/short-sale-and-foreclosure-resource-sfr/) - Turner Realtor Team members Jennifer Turner and Susan Horvat have completed the NAR's SFR designation. Adding to the alphabet soup of Realtor initials, SFR stands for Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource. The SFR press release cites, "According to a recent NAR survey, nearly one-third of all existing homes sold recently were either short sales or - [REDC Holding Feb 8th Portland Real Estate Auction](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/redc-holding-feb-8th-portland-real-estate-auction/) - Back in September, I attended the first REDC Portland real estate auction out at the Portland Airport Sheraton. The group is returning for a second auction on February 8th. At the first auction, properties sold for an average of 44% of the "previously valued at" price. I do not know what percentage of the winning - [Federal Reserve Beige Book on Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/federal-reserve-beige-book-on-real-estate/) - The Portland real estate market is a part of the Federal Reserve's 12th... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [2009 Real Estate Recap Part Two: Radon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2009-real-estate-recap-part-two-radon/) - January is National Radon Action Month. Don't get me wrong, radon wasn't discovered last year. But over the last few years, it has become on of the most common Portland real estate inspections buyers have and one that often yields results that need attention. Radon is not isolated to one part of town. We had - [Portland RMLS Number Primer](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-rmls-number-primer/) - The MLS number is a quick and easy way to identify a listed property. For RMLS of Portland it has always been a seven digit number and the first number described the year it was made active: 9xxxxxx was listed in 2009. The lower the rest of the number, the closer to the beginning of - [2009 Portland Real Estate Recap Part 1](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2009-portland-real-estate-recap-part-1/) - Rather than trying to look back at 2009 in a single post, I've decide to break it into parts as there are so many components and not all of the data is out yet. No two people have the same views or situation when it comes to real estate. For some, it was a great - [2010 Portland Street of Dreams Site](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2010-portland-street-of-dreams-site/) - While I work on the first hand-written post of the year, here's part of a press release from the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland announcing the 2010 site in a new development in Forest Heights. This year's show will return to single family residences after last year's Pearl District condo show. The 2010 show, - [Happy New Years and Happy Birthday](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/happy-new-years-and-happy-birthday/) - Today is the PortlandRealEstateBlog's 5th birthday. Back then it was just Jenny and I. Now there are the six of us. The Case Shiller Index was 133 (October '04) and is now 150 (October '09) having peaked at 186 in August '07. This is the 721st post. I'll write more next week looking back at - [Portland Real Estate Remodeling](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-remodeling/) - The cost versus value of remodeling is one of the major real estate questions that homeowners face. I wrote this post about the National Association of Realtors 2008 Cost Versus Value Report a couple of months ago. Hanley Wood has a much more regional tool for the cost versus value of projects. The link is - [Case Shiller December 2009 for Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-december-2009-for-portland-real-estate/) - Death, taxes and Case Shiller on the last Tuesday of the month. Pretty much like clockwork but the Case Shiller Index for Portland, and other markets, hasn't been quite as painful as the first two in recent months. The Portland real estate market remains flat, posting a .1% loss from September. The Portland Case Shiller - [Happy Christmas from the Portland Real Estate Blog](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/happy-christmas-from-the-portland-real-estate-blog/) - Merry Christmas to all of our readers. Charles, Jenny, Annie, Lisa, Susan and Vicki - [Portland Real Estate HOA Dues](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-hoa-dues/) - Home Owner Association (HOA) dues are a function of most condominium complexes... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [Portland Real Estate Slows Down For Holidays](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-slows-down-for-holidays/) - RMLS reports on the lockbox activity on a bi-weekly basis. Although real estate takes place 24/7/365, most took a break on Thanksgiving. Showings have dropped the last three non-holiday weeks reported. About this time last year the local real estate market ground to a near halt as winter storms shut most of the city down - [More RMLS Market Action 11/09](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/more-rmls-market-action-1109/) - I had an appointment this morning at a listing just after Market Action was published so only covered inventory in this morning's post. Pending sales are up over 2008 but closed sales are down. That says that more transactions are failing in escrow. A reminder that an accepted offer does not equal a "SOLD" sticker. - [RMLS Market Action November 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-november-2009/) - RMLS of Portland just released their Portland real estate market data for November 2009. Inventory ticked up a little from October's 6.5 months. The 9% increase is less than the month on month increase in 2008 but in 2007 the inventory level remained almost static for the same period. Must run. More later. - [Carbon Monoxide Death in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/carbon-monoxide-death-in-portland/) - Portland's "Arctic Blast" claimed one life yesterday and left a woman in the hospital reports KGW. The cause: carbon monoxide from a natural gas heater that wasn't vented properly. I wrote this post last year after a family of four was killed by carbon monoxide in Colorado. I bought our detector after writing that post. - [Cold Weather Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/cold-weather-portland-real-estate/) - I woke up this morning thinking it was colder than normal in our bedroom even though the thermostat is set to run on a program. In a deja vu moment I remember that when it gets below freezing, not only do we have to turn off the out door hose spigots but also disconnect the - [Generational Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/generational-real-estate/) - The recently released National Association of Realtor's "Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers" reveals that the median age of a buyer is 39 (30 for first time buyers and 48 for repeat buyers). The median age of a seller is 48. The median age of a Portlander is 37 and according to RMLS Market Action - [Tenant Rights for Foreclosures in Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tenant-rights-for-foreclosures-in-oregon/) - We often hear of the "Shadow Market" of homes that are not in the Portland real estate market statistics reported; there is a large inventory of home out there waiting to be listed. Other factors of a "shadow market" include sellers that are waiting for the market to improve and foreclosed homes that banks are - [Thanksgiving Wishes and Safety](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/thanksgiving-wishes-and-safety/) - It's been four years since the roofers caused a fire at our house on Thanksgiving. Thankfully the house was still in the remodeling stage, we weren't living there and nobody was hurt. The sounds of the fire department cutting into the roof is still a vivid memory. These folks won't so lucky with a turkey - [St. Vincent Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Glove Dance](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/st-vincent-breast-cancer-awareness-pink-glove-dance/) - This is a pretty cool fund-raising concept: the Pink Glove Dance. The email I received from my aunt, a nurse in Toronto: Emily (MacInnes) Somers created, directed and choreographed this in Portland last week for her Medline glove division as a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. This was all her idea to help promote their - [Case Shiller Portland September 2009 Part 2](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-portland-september-2009-part-2/) - As reported earlier this morning, Case Shiller's housing market data is now available. These graphs show a selection of real estate markets, primarily on the west coast. The top one starts in January 2003. The lower expands out 2009. Portland is the thick line in both graphs. Miami hit 280.87 in December 2006. At that - [Portland Housing Data Case Shiller Index September 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-housing-data-case-shiller-index-september-2009/) - Yesterday I took some data from RMLS Market Action to see if it gave any indicator of what today's Case Shiller report would look like and also reposted two articles written in advance of today's report. Nothing stood out from the graphs but one comment reminds us about the difference in methodology. This links to - [In Advance of Case Shiller](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/in-advance-of-case-shiller/) - News outlets are buzzing in advance of tomorrow's Case Shiller report: Reuters: * What: S&P/Case-Shiller September home prices indexes * When: Tuesday, Nov. 24, 9 a.m. (1400 GMT) * Economists' median forecast: +0.8 pct for 20-city index -9.0 pct yr-over-yr 20-city NEW YORK, Nov 23 (Reuters) - U.S. home prices likely rose in September for - [Can RMLS Market Action Predict Case Shiller?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/can-rmls-market-action-predict-case-shiller/) - The Case Shiller Index is released on the last Tuesday of each month (tomorrow). The Index has a three month lag; tomorrow's report will tell us about September. RMLS Market Action comes out midway through the following month; we already have data through October. Without a massive amount of statistics, does RMLS Market Data predict - [Portland Real Estate Blog: who we are not.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-blog-who-we-are-not/) - Ghost writers are nothing new. Some will, most will not, be surprised that the content for some real estate blogs is written by others and posted under the author's name. That is not the case here. I write my own content or cite where it came from. I was surprised to learn yesterday that their - [Windy Day for Oregon Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/windy-day-for-oregon-real-estate/) - Dorothy and Toto received the ultimate relocation package out of Kansas thank to wind. Last night, a storm blew in from the Oregon coast and through Portland and the surrounding areas taking down trees and knocking out power. Wind gusts hit 49mph in the West Hills and over 90mph at the coast. As of now, - [Portland RMLS Market October 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-rmls-market-october-2009/) - October 2009 RMLS Market Action for Portland was released yesterday. The complete RMLS report for all areas is here. The 6.5 months of inventory is the lowest it has been since August of 2007 and is down 67% since January's all time high. Inventory is a ratio of the number of months it would take - [Schools and Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/schools-and-portland-real-estate/) - No two buyers have the same needs. One might be all about the views the house has. Others will gladly sacrifice the house in lieu of access to schools. One of the most common search criteria in a home search is schools. Similar to views, schools aren't set in stone; boundaries can change, once respected - [Home Maintenance](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-maintenance/) - Why do today what you can put off and pay more for later? Non-problems become small problems and small problems can become really expensive problems, eventually leading to the sort of housing situation to the left. Bob Vila has a good checklist of home maintenance items that should be checked bi-annually. - [How the Homebuyer Tax Credit Changes](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-the-homebuyer-tax-credit-changes/) - The National Association of Realtors published a chart showing how the Homebuyer Tax Credit changes when President Obama signs the legislation into law; expected to happen today. One item that I question on the chart is the need to sell your home if you qualify for the $6500. I don't see that in the text - [Congress Votes to Approve Homebuyer Credit Extension](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/congress-votes-to-approve-homebuyer-credit-extension/) - It's no longer the $8000 First Time Homebuyer Credit. It's now the $8000 First Time Homebuyer Credit or $6500 if You Have Lived in Your Home for Five of The Last Eight Years and Buy a New Home Credit (if you qualify). The Senate voted last night and the House voted today (403-12) on H.R.3548 - [Buyer Credit Close to a "Done Deal"](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/buyer-credit-close-to-a-done-deal/) - According to Real Estate Economy Watch, the first time homebuyer credit extension is close to a done deal. After two weeks of delay, the Senate last night cleared the way to pass a seven month extension and expansion of the tax credit for homebuyers. By an 85 to 2 roll call vote, the Senate voted - [Atwater Place Year End Sale](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/atwater-place-year-end-sale/) - Accredited Marketing Partners has launched a new promotion for the South Waterfront's Atwater Place Condominiums. "Auction Prices" through November 15th according to the commercial on KGW. The new website is www.atwaterplacesaleevent.com. We commented last night driving home on I-5 that there were noticeably more lights on in the South Waterfront than we've grown used to - [Senate Agrees to First Time Buyer Credit and Expansion](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/senate-agrees-to-first-time-buyer-credit-and-expansion/) - Just reported on MSNBC "Senators agree to extend homebuyer tax credit" Senators agreed to extend the existing tax credit for first-time homebuyers while offering a reduced credit of up to $6,500 to repeat buyers who have owned their current homes for at least five years, said Regan Lachapelle, a spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Harry - [The $7290 First Time Buyer Credit?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-7290-first-time-buyer-credit/) - There are lots of different ideas about how Congress is going to address the First Time Home Buyer Credit which ends at the end of November. The only thing that is clear is that the topic is being actively discussed in Congress . On Monday I wrote about the Bloomberg article that reports the Credit - [Case Shiller August 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-august-2009/) - Case Shiller for August reports that the Portland housing market is up from July but not by much and behind the national average. Portland increased from was up .40 points to 150.4. The national 20 city index was up 2.3 points. The Portland real estate market has risen 3.61 points since its low in April. - [First Time Buyer Credit News Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/first-time-buyer-credit-news-update/) - Time is running out for the First Time Buyer Credit but Congress seems to be moving towards an extension. The possibility of writing an offer and closing on a short sale property before the deadline passed weeks ago. The comfort zone for closing a "regular" sale has passed and gotten to the risk of not - [Washington County Property Taxes](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/washington-county-property-taxes/) - Multnomah County has long been heralded for its PortlandMaps website as the resource for just about everything relating to the public record for real estate inside of Multnomah County. But what about Washington County permit and tax information? Washington County's online presence now has InterMap. From Intermap, if you click on Assessment & Taxation Information - [2010 Portland Property Taxes](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2010-portland-property-taxes/) - Portland area property tax bills are in the mail and available online for Multnomah County (note the disclaimer on their site). The one I am looking at now reveals: the Real Market Value is down two percent from 2009. The tax assessed value is up exactly three percent. The total dollar amount due is up - [Remodel Before Selling?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/remodel-before-selling/) - Tips for selling your Portland home. Every year, the National Association of Realtors publishes a cost value report... Work with Lovejoy Real Estate to get top… - [RMLS Market Action September 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-september-2009/) - RMLS Market Action September 2009 was released today (Portland Metro or whole report). Inventory dropped slightly from August which contrasts with rises month-over-month in 2007 and 2007 between August and September. Cumulative days on market is 144 days but a quick search in RMLS shows that 243 properties sold in the last two months with - [Trimet Portland to Milwaukie Light Rail](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/trimet-portland-to-milwaukie-light-rail/) - Access to public transportation is a key factor in may home buying decisions. The appeal of not needing a car or needing to rely on one for everyday use is very appealing. RMLS has both BUSLINE and LT-RAIL as search enabled fields (there is no streetcar field at this time). There are currently 870 listings - [Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/service-members-home-ownership-tax-act-of-2009/) - The house passed legislation last week extending and clarifying the First Time Buyer Credit for those in the military. The Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009 allows service members who are deployed overseas and therefore do not maintain their tax credit-eligible home as their primary residence for three years to keep the credit. - [Selling and Buying Real Estate In Winter](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/selling-and-buying-real-estate-in-winter/) - If you got out of bed in Portland or the surrounding area this morning it appears that our summer/fall-like weather is gone. There are more Facebook status updates about today's weather than Obama got for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. The image on the left is an illustration of the first thing a buyer sees - [John Ross Responds to Atwater Place Auction](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/john-ross-responds-to-atwater-place-auction/) - The John Ross in the South Waterfront has lowered prices in response to the recent auction of 40 Atwater Place units last month. Unit 2901 was first listed March 3, 2006 for $1,074,800. It is now listed for $579,000. The lowest priced unit listed in RMLS is $169,950. I've always liked the idea of the - [Two Turner Team Announcements](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/two-turner-team-announcements/) - First, we would like to welcome Vicki Gile to our team. She's an experienced agent and we're thrilled to have her. The Team is now Jennifer Turner, Annie Domenici, Lisa Carter, Susan Horvat, Vicki and myself. Second, we've launched a photoblog as a part of this site. We'll be adding pictures related to Portland real - [Portland Weather is Local](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-weather-is-local/) - We did a few tours last week for a company that is relocating 61 employees to the Portland area. The common concern (they are coming from California) is the weather. The typical Portland weather forecast comes from the airport. Portlanders know that it is usually colder on the east side (PDX is reporting 3 degrees - [Deadlines in Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/deadlines-in-portland-real-estate/) - Real estate is time line specific. The closing date is a drop dead date. The seller doesn't have to extend if the underwriter is still working on the buyer's loan. With the market flattening out, if not heading up, sellers may not be as motivated to follow through on an offer that was at their - [Think Out Loud OPB Show on Home Buyers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/think-out-loud-opb-show-on-home-buyers/) - I was on the OPB's Think Out Loud program discussing The First Time Buyer Credit this morning. I come on the show 36 minutes in: Think Out Loud Home Buying (mp3). I'd like to see the credit expanded to all primary residence purchases without increasing it from the current $8000 to see if that can - [Portland July 2009 Case Shiller Housing Data](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-july-2009-case-shiller-housing-data/) - Are we looking back at the bottom? Who knows? After peaking in July 2006, the Portland housing market dropped nearly 40 points by April of this year. May offered a minimal bump, June added one point and July added two more to get Portland back to 150.06. There is a three month lag in available - [This American Life Talks the Mortgage Meltdown](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/this-american-life-talks-the-morgage-meltdown/) - NPR's This American Life program was titled "Return to the Giant Money Pool this weekend." It is a 58 minute podcast that can be streamed for free through this week. Then it will be available in the archives. I got to listen to about a quarter of the show live yesterday and will go back - [Why We Live in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/why-we-live-in-portland-2/) - When it's dark at 4:30 in the afternoon and raining, this video will be a great reminder as to why we choose to live in Portland. Trying to decide what to do this weekend? Your answer may be right here. From the Pacific Ocean to Mt. Hood and most things in between. © 2009 Travel - [Not All Real Estate Auctions are the Same](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/not-all-real-estate-auctions-are-the-same/) - I attend two Portland real estate auctions in the last couple of weeks. The first, run by REDC featured bank owned properties throughout the area. The second hosted by Accredited Marketing Partners focused solely on the South Waterfront's Atwater Place. In both cases, registered buyers could work with their existing real estate broker, required an - [Should the First Time Buyer Credit be Extended?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/should-the-first-time-buyer-credit-be-extended/) - Practical advice for Portland homebuyers. The National Association of Realtors estimates that an additional 350,000... Get expert guidance from Lovejoy Real… - [Home Improvement Show Lowers Ticket Prices to Auction Benefitting Make-A-Wish](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-improvement-show-lowers-ticket-prices-to-auction-benefitting-make-a-wish/) - Here's a reminder that The Oregon Remodelers Association's 34th annual Home Improvement Show auction event will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon and southwest Washington is at 5:00PM this Thursday, September 24th, the first day of the show. Like the rest of the show, is at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland (not the Expo - [Atwater Place Auction Raises Over $18M](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/atwater-place-auction-raises-over-18m/) - It was all over by 5:30. In 80 minutes, Accredited Marketing Partners sold 40 of the 41 Atwater Place South Waterfront condos on the auction block to a standing room only crowd. I clocked the shortest auction at 31 seconds. The longest was 160 seconds. They move through a property, from brief description to "sold - [Cavet Emptor Your Portland Real Estate Search](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/cavet-emptor-your-portland-real-estate-search/) - (Google likes my typo of caveat so much we'll leave it be). Searching for real estate went from book to computer based years ago. The online tools have evolved so that the consumer side of a search provides almost all the information that is available to Realtors. The difficultly isn't in setting up searches, it - [NW Hoyt Sold](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/nw-hoyt-sold/) - Our project at 2356 NW Hoyt has closed. The recorded sales price was $912,500. It was not bank owned or a short sale. The buyer would have liked to have paid less and we would have like a little more out of it. It was not a financial disaster or boom. The house was on - [RMLS Market Action August 2009: Mixed Results](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-august-2009-mixed-results/) - RMLS Market Action for August 2009 was just released. Inventory rose for the first time this year but is 21% lower than it was this time last year. At the current rate of sales, it would take 7.8 months to sell all the existing properties on the market. Prior to July, the last time inventory - [Jumbo Loans](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/jumbo-loans/) - Jumbo loans are harder to qualify for and more expensive than conventional loans that have a loan limit of $417,000 (including FHA). The chart below shows the maximum sales price given some of the standard down payments. Closing costs are not considered below. % Down Loan Limit Max Price Down Payment 3.5% $ 417,000.00 $ - [REDC Portland Auction Recap. SOLD!](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/redc-portland-auction-recap-sold/) - I attended the Portland edition of REDC's/Auction.com real estate auction this morning. Our out-of-town client was the winning bidder on a property via the webcast. I tracked the sales prices of the 26 properties and the graph shows the sales price in relation to the published catalog value: the overall average was 44% (three of - [KOIN Coverage of Atwater Place Auction](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/koin-coverage-of-atwater-place-auction/) - KOIN News ran a piece on the Atwater Place auction occurring on September 20th. If you plan on attending an auction, it is vital to do your homework in advance. Each real estate auction has different registration requirements and some are conducted in person, via the web or a combination of the two. Most allow - [Who Needs to Test for Radon in Portland? Everyone.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/who-needs-to-test-for-radon-in-portland-everyone/) - The Oregon Health Division has a spreadsheet of radon levels tested around Portland. I created the graphs below using their data. The general recommendation is that any home testing over 4.0 pCi/l should have radon mitigated as it is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking. It is important to take both graph - [Breathing Easy: What Home Buyers and Sellers Should Know About Radon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/radon/) - The EPA rates radon as the number two cause of lung cancer. This is the PSA video they published regarding radon. It's a little long at 13 minutes but it has some serious information presented in a lighthearted way. Radon has been around longer that real estate but only recently has radon become one of - [Pearl District Versus South Waterfront](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/pearl-district-versus-south-waterfront/) - Is the Portland's South Waterfront competitive with the Pearl District? Let's look at the two areas of concentrated high rise buildings and see how they compare according to RMLS. Note that the stats here rely on what was entered into RMLS so probably does not include most sold by the sales office directly to buyers. - [South Waterfront on Auction Block](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/south-waterfront-on-auction-block/) - Buying real estate at auction usually conjured up visions of the county courthouse steps and massive fixer projects. The last couple of years has changed that. We've seen numerous builders unload inventory of new construction homes in the Portland area via auction. On September 20th you'll have the opportunity to buy brand new luxury condominiums - [The Fifty Dollar House Revisited](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-fifty-dollar-house-revisited/) - Some readers may remember a brief mention of the Fifty Dollar House raffle in a January post. Basic premise was to sell a bunch of tickets and a lucky winner would get the house. There was national TV coverage of it at the time and there was a winner (who subsequently put the house on - [Job Loss Protection for Portland Real Estate Buyers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/job-loss-protection-for-portland-real-estate-buyers/) - In most cases, your lender will verify that you are employed the day they fund your loan. After that, you're on your own; mortgage banks really don't care how they are getting paid as long as they are getting paid. Unlike some car dealerships, if you lose your job you can't just hand the keys - [Has Portland Real Estate Caught Up?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/has-portland-real-estate-caught-up/) - Has the Portland housing market caught up with other markets? For the last couple of years we have all heard words to the effect of, "Portland reached its peak about a year after other markets and therefore will lag a year behind finding bottom." You can't argue the first part. Phoenix had its highest Case - [Portland Development Commission May Have $50,000 For You](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-development-commission-may-have-50000-for-you/) - The Oregonian reports today about the funds our area has received from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Through the program managed by the Portland Development Commission, eligible buyers in eligible neighborhoods can by eligible houses by making use of a $50,000 interest free second loan. The map below is from the PDC Website and is a - [Case Shiller Portland Reports First 1 Point + Gain Since May 2007](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-portland-reports-first-1-point-gain-since-may-2007/) - The Case Shiller report for June 2009 on real estate was released a few minutes ago. The Portland index is 1.5 points since May. This is the first full point-plus gain for the index since April/May 2007. Prior to last month's .12 gain, there had been eleven consecutive months of decline. Portland's Case Shiller Index - [Encore Special for Street of Dreams](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/encore-special-for-street-of-dreams/) - This offer came as part of an email I received and is reprinted here (including this paragraph) with Hoyt Street Properties' approval. They provide "courtesy to brokers" so the buyer can work with their existing Realtor (or us) as their representative without affecting the offer. The seller can adjust the unit prices at any time - [Oregon Remodelers Benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregon-remodelers-benefit-make-a-wish-foundation/) - The Oregon Remodelers Association's 34th annual Home Improvement Show auction event will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon (and southwest Washington). The event is at 5:00PM on Thursday, September 24th, the first day of the show, like the rest of the show, is at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland (not the Expo Center). Guests - [Time Running Out for First Time Homebuyer Credit](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/time-running-out-for-first-time-homebuyer-credit/) - The way the first time home buyer credit is written now, you have until November 30, 2009 (109 days as of 8/13) to close on your new home (if you qualify for the credit). Realistically, its earlier than that as Thanksgiving falls on November 26th. I'd be planning on closing no later than November 20th - [RMLS Market Action July 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-july-2009/) - The Federal Reserve meeting ended its two day meeting today without changing interest rates. CNN reports, "Central bank says the long decline for U.S. economy appears to have ended, although it's likely to remain week for awhile." RMLS just released its latest Market Action report with some strong numbers for July: Closed sales in the - [Monday Morning Miscellaneous Portland Real Estate News](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/monday-morning-miscellaneous-portland-real-estate-news/) - A few thing worth noting in the Portland real estate market: The Portland Business Journal reported in Friday's edition that Buena Vista Custom Homes has been disolved by the Secretary of State's office. One of the marquis Portland area builders fell victim to the housing decline and heavy investment in Happy Valley. I showed a - [Banks Don't Want to Own Homes but...](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/banks-dont-want-to-own-homes-but/) - Banks may not want to be home owners but the New York Times cover story written by Peter Goodman (and reprinted on the front page of the Oregonian this morning), shows that they may be motivated to drag out the short sale process for as long as possible in order to extract fees. Rather than - [Heat Rises for Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/heat-rises-for-portland-real-estate/) - It was warm yesterday. I showed property from 4-6PM to an out-of-town buyer. The temperature never dropped below 104 according to my car. One of the six houses had built-in air conditioning. One of the others had a window unit (that was not mentioned in the listing). A couple were totally shut up and another - [Feeling the Heat in Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/feeling-the-heat-in-portland-real-estate/) - This week's record setting is going to be one of those "you only need air conditioning a couple of week's a year in Portland" weeks. I ran some searches in RMLS to see where we find cooling systems installed. My criteria was area 148 (West Portland), detached houses and had "Heat Pump or "Central Air" - [Case Shiller Gains In Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-gains-in-portland/) - The Case Shiller Index reports for May 2009 was released today. Portland gained .13 of a point. The important part of that, at least for those that want to see the market rebound, is that it was not a continuation of the downward trend we have started to expect. Seattle lost about half a point - [Miscellaneous Monday Morning Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/miscellaneous-monday-morning-portland-real-estate/) - One of the best views of downtown Portland is from the I-5 Marquam Bridge. At this time of year the setting sun highlights the city, reminding us of why we live here. Last night I got reminded three times as I drove our toddler on laps around the I-5/405 loop in an failed attempt to - [Painting the Town Green. Painted Grass Update.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/painting-the-town-green-painted-grass-update/) - Two weeks have passed since the grass was painted. The pictures are taken from the same spot though the bottom one has the afternoon sun on it. Overall, the color has held better than I thought it would after two weeks. - [Make-A-Wish Summer Wishes](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/make-a-wish-summer-wishes/) - This Saturday is the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon Jr. Board's Summer Wishes event at Motocorsa in northwest Portland. I am a member of the Junior Board. The format is a repeat of last year's event with a fashion show featuring local designers and a silent auction. Online ticket sales ($35) go through noon on Friday - [Virtual Staging a Home](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/virtual-staging-a-home/) - Photographic evidence used to be as close to the truth as you were ever going to get. What you see is what you get. Computers and technology have changed that for both the better and worse. A couple of weeks ago I wrote about painting your lawn green for curb appeal (update coming soon). An - [Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2009 (HERA) Coming July 30](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/housing-and-economic-recovery-act-of-2009-hera-coming-july-30/) - The next part of the government's mortgage reform comes into effect on July... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [RMLS Market Action June 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-june-2009/) - Portland real estate inventory dropped to 8.2 months, the lowest level since August 2007 according to the RMLS Market Action report released today. Many say six months of inventory is market equilibrium. Anything higher indicates a buyer's market and anything less is a seller's market. Is that an outdated model in a new economy? Monthly - [Portland Neighborhood Associations Without Borders?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-neighborhood-associations-without-borders/) - Could someone living by Oaks Park in Southeast be a member of the same neighborhood association as someone living on Tomahawk Island on the Columbia River? In theory. Joesph Hopkins writes in Northwest Waterfront Living (which is a pullout section of Freshwater News), that Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz told the Waterfront Organization of Oregon - [Portland Street of Dreams Going Vertical](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-street-of-dreams-going-vertical/) - This year's Street of Dreams is in the Pearl District starting Saturday, August 1. The show features nine units in four developments: The 114 unit 937 Condominiums Pearl Condominiums at Block 90 Hoyt Street Properties' Encore on the Park Three units in the two tower Waterfront Pearl This year's $15 (adult) ticket is the Pearl - [Curb Appeal: Paint the Grass?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/curb-appeal-paint-the-grass/) - Which side has been watered? Neither. Which side has been Photoshopped? Neither. Which side has been painted? The one on the left. I didn't get down and roll on it but it does look pretty close to healthy grass even up close. From a distance it certainly adds to the curb appeal. It's the first - [DEQ Oil Tank Lookup](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/deq-oil-tank-lookup/) - Even in the world of "seller to make no repairs" oil tanks are something that we've even seen banks take care of prior to closing when revealed during the inspection period. PortlandMaps has always been the first place to begin the investigation as to whether or not a property has a below ground oil tank - [Buyers, Forms, Attorneys, Realtors Oh My!](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/buyers-forms-attorneys-realtors-oh-my/) - Practical advice for Portland homebuyers. Mr. Thrifty, asks the following regarding Realtors giving legal advice: Charles... Get expert guidance from Lovejoy… - [Turner Realtors Launches iPhone App](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/turner-realtors-launches-iphone-app/) - We've just released the latest version of our iPhone for Portland real estate. You can download it from the iTunes here or search Turner Realtors in the App Store. This is the first mention of the app as I wasn't happy with the first version and I'll be the first to admit that it could - [Texting for Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/texting-for-portland-real-estate/) - We've started making a transition to non-paper fliers at our listings. Replacing the flier box with a 11x15 sign. We are still putting paper fliers inside the property. The weather-proof sign solves some common paper flier problems: Damp/soggy fliers Waste (the sign backing can be reused) Out of date information Complete lack of information if - [Case Shiller Portland Continues Decline](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-portland-continues-decline/) - The Case Shiller Index for Portland continued to decline in April of 2009. The decline was not universal across the index, San Francisco, Seattle and Denver were among a few of the cities that posted increases. Las Vegas decline from the previous month was 4 points. Portland's index of 146.85 returns Portland housing values to - [Real Estate Downsizing Complete](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/real-estate-downsizing-complete/) - I closed the door at our apartment for the last time at 6:20 AM this morning. CBS Films has left town and we are back in our house. The experience of living in the Pearl District in just over 1000 square feet with a wife, dog, toddler and home office proved very doable but at - [Condos Snag One of the Best Views In Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/condos-snag-one-of-the-best-views-in-portland/) - The odds are that if you don't like the view from your condo there isn't much you can do about. For the owners of the 165 condos on The World cruise ship condo, their view often changes multiple times in a week. This morning they woke up in downtown Portland. The units range from studios - [RMLS Market Action May 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-may-2009/) - The image below is a snapshot of the just published RMLS Market Action for May 2009. The decrease in inventory (a ratio of the active number of listing (14,493) and rate of sales) can be attributed to an increase sales activity as the number of listings has increased. Between January 2007 and May 2007, inventory - [Pick Me! I Want to Be Your Portland Realtor](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/pick-me-i-want-to-be-your-portland-realtor/) - My title statement of this post may or may not be true. We're always looking for clients both through referrals and other sources of business but there's a chance that you don't want to work with me (or another member of the team) and vice versa. Sunday's Oregonian featured real estate story is all about - [Market Tracker and Property Investment Profile for May 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/market-tracker-and-property-investment-profile-for-may-2009/) - Prudential Northwest Properties' Market Tracker and Property Investment Profile (PIP) are now out of for May. Market Tracker is zip code specific. You can view the reports online on our PDXBuyers.com website. The PIP is property address specific and is emailed to your InBox automaticly each month. We can also set up Market Tracker to - [More on the $8000 First Time Buyer Credit](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/more-on-the-8000-first-time-buyer-credit/) - Here's some more information on using the first time buyer credit at closing: Under the guidance, FHA-approved lenders can develop bridge loans that home buyers can use to help cover their closing costs, buy down their interest rate, or put down more than the minimum 3.5 percent. The loans can't be used to cover the - [Moody's Not Singing the Blues For Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/moodys-not-singing-the-blues-for-oregon/) - The graphic above is a snapshot of an interactive graphic in this article at MSNBC. The article begins: If you want to be in the right place when the recovery starts, that place may be in Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas or Washington. The recession didn't start at the same time in every state, and it - [First Time Buyer Credit as Down Payment on Again?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/784/) - According to a press release issued today by HUD, using the $8000 first time buyer credit as your down payment is back on: For Release Friday May 29, 2009 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 offers homebuyers a tax credit of up to $8,000 for purchasing their first home. Families can only access - [You've Got to Make Your Bed if Your House is For Sale](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/youve-got-to-make-your-bed-if-your-house-is-for-sale/) - There are a couple of real estate adages that sellers can live by: You don't live in your home when it is not for sale the same way as when it is listed. If you want to guarantee a showing don't make your bed; the closer it looks like a bomb went off in your - [Case Shiller March 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-march-2009/) - The Case Shiller report for March 2009 was released on Tuesday. The Portland index is 147.68, about the same level as June 2005. Ryan Frank over at the Front Porch details how Portland's rise and fall lagged behind many of the other cities in the index. I previously wrote "What/Who is Case Shiller." The first - [Portland Property Search on the Blog?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-property-search-on-the-blog/) - We're going to try offering a property search engine that allows you to access all shared IDX RMLS listings right here on the blog. The version below is one of a few that are available. Your feedback will help decide if we keep it, dump it or change it. What do you or don't you - [The $400,000 Question: Which House?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-400000-question-which-house/) - I've looked at about 20 properties with an out-of-town buyer in the last 48... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [You Cannot use $8000 First Time Buyer Credit for Down](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/you-cannot-use-8000-first-time-buyer-credit-for-down/) - HUD announced this week that last week's announcement was null and void. Reported here and most outlets regarding real estate, it was thought that qualified first time buyers would be able to use the $8000 credit as a part of their down payment. Lenders, home builders and real- estate agents had reacted favorably to the - [Portland South Waterfront Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-south-waterfront-update/) - My property search of the Portland's South Waterfront shows 110 active listings in RMLS. They range in price from $170,000 to $1,999,000. Both units are in the John Ross. The South Waterfront was not insulated from the real estate market decline. The Adrea (the far left building in the picture above) was converted to apartments - [Use Your $8000 First Time Buyer Credit as Your Down Payment](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/use-your-8000-first-time-buyer-credit-as-your-down-payment/) - ***Update: No longer true. New post 5/20/09. The US Department of Housing and Development has approved a plan which will allow qualified buyers to put their $8000 first time buyer credit towards their down payment. It must be used in conjunction with and FHA loan. How the secondary financing works: The tax credit advance, when - [RMLS Market Action April 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-april-2009/) - Today's RMLS Market Action reports the first drop in March to April inventory since 2004. The drop in inventory is attributed to the increase in pending sales as the actual number of active listings increased to . Inventory calculated as the number of active listings divided by their rate of sale. The market still lags - [Renaming 39th to Chavez Might Obscure Real Estate History](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/renaming-39th-to-chavez-might-obscure-real-estate-history/) - The debate to change the name Portland's SE 39th Avenue to Cesar Chavez continues. Portland's Planning Commission voted 7-1 on Monday to keep the process moving. Would a name change have a positive or negative (or any) impact on the street's real estate? There are at least two components that I can think of. I'm - [You Find the Darnedest Things in Portland Sewers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/you-find-the-darnedest-things-in-portland-sewers/) - Sewer scopes reveal all sorts of things: cracks, roots, clogs, transitions from terracotta to cast iron, and even completely shattered or nonexistent lines. This was a new one for us: the yellow conduit at the top of the sewer houses an active gas line! Portland's sewer system is decades old but people are still converting - [Real Estate Teams](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/real-estate-teams/) - If you are reading this on Thursday, May 6th, I am somewhere off the coast of Washington racing from Astoria to Victoria, BC aboard Riva, the J-46 sailboat that I crew on doing the Oregon Offshore race. If I was a sole practitioner I would need to use another Realtor that I was comfortable with - [Realtor.com: Why Would a Buyer Use over Local Sites?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/realtorcom-why-would-a-buyer-use-over-local-sites/) - I returned a call from Realtors.com yesterday which turned out to be a sales call to upgrade to their premium service for listings. Agents that do not pony up $67 per month do not have all the available data for their listings displayed. There are 16 available photos in RMLS for the listing I used - [National Housing Market Improving. Portland to Follow?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/national-housing-market-improving-portland-to-follow/) - There is a familiar refrain that, Portland real estate trails the national real estate market by months if not years. The national market moves and Portland eventually follows. The graph, which compares the Portland market (PORX) to the 10 (CSXR) and 20 (SPCS20R) national indexes, suggests that that's not necessarily true. The appear to mirror - [Building Burns While Residents Watch From Balcony](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/building-burns-while-residents-watch-from-balcony/) - The fire alarms went off in the Wyatt last night at about 6:30. A pleasant voice states, "a fire has been detected on your floor. Please evacuate the building by the stairs; do not use the elevators." We packed up the toddler, dog and dinner guest and headed out into a smokey hallway and down - [Jumbo Loans Returning to Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/jumbo-loans-returning-to-portland-real-estate/) - Portland home financing guidance. When the mortgage market collapsed fixed rate jumbo loans disappeared... Lovejoy Real Estate helps buyers navigate mortgage… - [Subscribe to the Portland Real Estate Blog](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/subscribe/) - Subscribe in a reader It appears that during the transfer to our new host we may have lost some of the subscribers to the Portland Real Estate Blog feed. You can start or renew your feed to the blog by clicking the link above or on the right sidebar. End - [Portland Case Shiller February 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-february-2009/) - February 2009 proved another tough month for the Case Shiller Index for Portland. The index gave up another 3 points; down to 150.8. This puts the current index at June/July 2005 levels and a 12 month decline of 14.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial was down 36.7% for the same 12 month period. End - [Real Estate's Dirty Laundry](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/real-estates-dirty-laundry/) - I'm sure I wasn't the first and I know I wasn't the last since we just discovered the issue in a house we inspected: install a dryer vent when remodeling! Seems obvious that a laundry facility, a standard washer and dryer requires: A power source for both machines (appropriate electricity and possibly gas). Hot and - [Do I Have to Pay the $8000 First Time Buyer Credit Back?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/do-i-have-to-pay-the-8000-first-time-buyer-credit-back/) - Practical advice for Portland homebuyers. There are hundreds of forums outlining the $8000 First Time Buyer Credit. I've... Get expert guidance from Lovejoy… - [Saturday Morning Portland Real Estate Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/saturday-morning-portland-real-estate-update/) - When I picked up my copy of the Oregonian this morning, I was expecting my ritual dose of bad news. We'd spent the previous evening watching the Blazers nearly snap victory from the jaws of defeat so knew that story was going to be on the cover but the one below it really caught my - [Moving Day. We're on Wordpress now.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/moving-day-were-on-wordpress-now/) - We've made the switch from our previous platform to a Wordpress site powered by Dakno/BrokerTec. We're excited about the new look and tools that will be available us. End - [FBI Cracks Down On Oregon Mortgage Fraud](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/fbi-cracks-down-on-oregon-mortgage-fraud/) - The Oregon Office of the FBI is cracking down on real estate related mortgage fraud in conjunction with the US Attorney General's Office. The dedicated web page on mortgage related fraud in Oregon is very interesting. The first scheme target is homeowners by Foreclosure Specialists: Foreclosure Rescue Schemes One of the biggest concerns for consumers - [American Home Shield (AHS) Listing Coverage](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/american-home-shield-ahs-listing-coverage/) - I'm looking at an electrical invoice for $385 for one of our listings. The seller paid the $60 deductible on the American Home Shield warranty that we provide (through Prudential Northwest Properties) during the listing period. The rest of the invoice is covered by AHS.End - [If Houses Could Talk](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/if-houses-could-talk/) - "Where's it hurt? What Happened?" Our toddler is barely talking but he can point to what hurts and how it happened. The last couple of days I've shown some houses and that small bit of communication would go a long way. As a commodity, it doesn't matter why the seller is selling a house but - [Real Estate Takes Over Oregonian Business Section](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/real-estate-takes-over-business-section/) - There are three or four real estate related articles on the cover of today's Oregonian business section depending on how you count them. Ryan Frank (of Front Porch fame) reports that JLS Homes is liquidating homes to avoid bankruptcy. The potential sale of 70 homes, most of them at a loss, may allow them to - [Radon's Role in Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/radons-role-in-portland-real-estate/) - We'll write more about radon and real estate soon but it is worth mentioning now that we are 0-3 on our last three radon tests. All three of our buyer's inspections have come back with higher than acceptable levels. The EPA publishes A Citizen's Guide to Radon: Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas. You can't - [RMLS Market Action March 2009 Neighborhood Breakdowns.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-march-2009-neighborhood-breakdowns/) - The chart above is from the March 2009 Market Action (click to enlarge). The four areas that make up Portland have all seen a significant drop in pending sales compared to last year (16%-30%) whereas Gresham/Troutdale, Oregon City and Milwaukie/Clackamas saw an increases (1.7% and 7.3% and 10.7% respectively). The 12 month rolling average sales - [RMLS Market Action March 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-march-2009/) - Did Portland real estate hit bottom in January? Are we looking back at the bottom or a bump? Portland housing inventory dropped again in March 2009 to 12 months RMLS Market Action reports. January had the highest ever recorded inventory at 19.2 months, it dropped to 16.6 in February and March levels are close to - [How Many Listings Are There In Portland?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-many-listings-are-there-in-portland/) - RMLS reported that there was 16.6 months of inventory Portland in February. This image will scroll through all the breakdown as to where those listings are in different price ranges. The graphs will update monthly but depending on how they behave on the blog, may be moved to another location. ***scrolling didn't work so here - [Announcing www.PDXBuyers.com](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/announcing-wwwpdxbuyerscom/) - Regular readers have probably noticed fewer posts here over the last month. I haven't been idle but have been building a new website. www.PDXBuyers.com is our newest site. It has a couple of features that I believe are unique to our site (at least for now). The first feature is the introduction of Market Tracker - [Portland Case Shiller Index Retreats to August 2005 Level](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-case-shiller-index-retreats-to-august-2005-level/) - Case Shiller released their report for January today and I don't think that it will be a surprise to anyone that the January 2009 Index dropped from December's 158.5. At 153.8, it's about the same level reported in August of 2005. The 20 city index is down 19% from January 2008. Portland is down 14%. Is - [Market Tracker for 97214](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/market-tracker-for-97214/) - Here's some sales and market data for the 97214 zip code. End - [FHA Loans, Condos in Portland and the First Time Buyer Credit](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/fha-loans-condos-in-portland-and-the-first-time-buyer-credit/) - Keeping in mind that everyone's situation is different and qualifications vary from buyer to buyer but if my understanding of the First Time Buyer Credit and FHA financing is correct, the government will pay qualified buyers to buy a qualified property. A qualified buyer in this case is FHA approved, is considered a first time - [Market Tracker Portland Real Estate 97209 Data](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/market-tracker-portland-real-estate-97209-data/) - The four graphs in this post are from our monthly Market Tracker report which is delivered to your email inbox monthly. You can subscribe to up to ten zip codes by contacting us. You can read our privacy policy on either the TurnerRealtors or PDXRelocations website- we do not share your information. Today's report is - [Portland Metro Schools](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-metro-schools/) - In an economy where almost everyone is cutting back, local public school districts are no exception. The Oregonian reported on Friday that Portland Public Schools has cut $9M from its $469M budget. Most of the districts reported cuts of about 2%. The effects of the cuts vary from school to school. Portland is not cutting - [New Portland Neighborhood Descriptions on PDXRelocations.com](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/new-portland-neighborhood-descriptions-on-pdxrelocationscom/) - We've swapped out all of our old neighborhood descriptions with new ones written especially for us and the PDXRelocations website. There are 28 neighborhoods that can be accessed from the links on the left sidebar or via the interactive map. We'll continue to add pictures (if you have good ones that represent a neighborhood, send them our way).End - [RMLS Market Areas and Median Prices Mapped](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-areas-and-median-prices-mapped/) - Each month when RMLS publishes their data in Market Action, it is broken into areas. The areas are numbered using the same system that the Oregonian uses to separate their real estate classified ads. I added the area numbers in the graphic above (click on it to enlarge) for clarification as often Realtor-speak simply refers - [RMLS Market Action February 2009](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-february-2009/) - All I can do is report the numbers. Inventory numbers are lower but you can't definitively define why. December's weather sucked, the holidays, economic uncertainty, what-have-you; all that was all reflected in January. Now we still have economic uncertainty and what-have-you. Closed sales and pending sales numbers are down from this time a year ago but both up since January - [Earnest Money Dispute Shooting](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/earnest-money-dispute-shooting/) - Disputes in real estate are nothing new. Today it got taken to a violent level: Police say the shooting was the result of a dispute over earnest money. "Through the course of the investigation we found there was a dispute between the victim and the suspect over earnest money. Of course, this is a realtor - [Oregon HB 2696 Regarding Taxing 1031 Exchanges Being Withdrawn Today](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregon-hb-2696-regarding-taxing-1031-exchanges-being-withdrawn-today/) - In a down economy the money has to come from somewhere. One idea was taxing the 1031 Exchange which has traditionally been a nontaxable event on both state and federal taxes. The bill would have made the Exchange a taxable event in Oregon. The summary at the header of the bill reads: Requires addition to - [Why the Pearl District is Turning Into a Self Parody?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/why-the-pearl-district-is-turning-into-a-self-parody/) - Everything you need to know about Pearl District real estate. Somewhat regular commenter, Mr. Thrifty, poses the topic of this post on the... Lovejoy Real… - [Details of $75B Loan Modifications and Refinances Released](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/details-of-75b-loan-modifcations-and-refinances-released/) - CNNMoney reports on the details of the real estate stimulus. In part: The multipronged fix calls for companies to help as many 4 million struggling borrowers by modifying loans so housing payments are no more than 31% of monthly gross income. Separately, homeowners who haven't missed a payment can refinance into lower-cost loans even - [Decades of Real Estate Appreciation](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/decades-of-real-estate-appreciation/) - National real estate appreciation data (according to the National Association of Realtors): 1970-1979 = 142% appreciation 1980-1989 = 52% appreciation 1990-1999 = 45% appreciation 2000-2008 = 42% appreciation Prime rate (not mortgage rates) since 1930. Source: Moneycafe.com. Click image below to enlarge: I'd be happy to post historic real estate appreciation data that - [Times Have Changed](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/times-have-changed/) - Three years ago signs like this advertising furniture stores and the like didn't make us think twice. They weren't always true (a few of the stores in Sausalito have been going out of business since I was first there 30 years ago) but this is real. Newhomesale.org is the website dedicated to liquidation of Legend Homes - [Portland Real Estate Vis-a-Vis Price Ranges](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-vis-a-vis-price-ranges/) - Has the change in market conditions changed what is selling in the Portland housing market? I thought we'd take a look this morning at four price ranges from this year and last year. I used January of this and last year as our time frame. I searched RMLS areas for North, Northeast, Southeast and West - [Portland a Top 5 Market?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-a-top-5-market/) - Two articles in the last coupe of days worth noting about the national and local real estate markets. The first, Realty Times is very BUY NOW. I've said it before so will say it again, "buy now" campaigns don't make me happy. The decision to buy is personal and individual. Get off that Fence! by - [After a Night on the Sofa](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/two-weeks-after-downsizing/) - I spent the night on the sofa. I didn't do anything. I'm not in trouble... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Case Shiller December 2008 Portland Real Estate Results](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-december-2008-portland-real-estate-results/) - Case Shiller was released this morning for December 2008. Portland continued its decline to 158.5, down 13.1% from this time December 2007. That's down 15% from the peak in July of 2007. The 158 figure drops Portland to September 2005 levels. The Dow Jones closed yesterday at 1997 levels yesterday. On a national basis Forbes reports: - [Realtor Busted by Electronic Calling Card](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/realtor-busted-by-electronic-calling-card/) - According to Hillsboro police, a Realtor was arrested last week after using his ActiveKey to gain access to homes listed for sale. One seller came home to find the Realtor in his living room having a cocktail! The ActiveKey is a coded cellular device issued to each Realtor (for a fee). By entering a personal - [Beware of Craigslist Scams Advertizing Property for Rent](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/beware-of-craigslist-scams-advertizing-property-for-rent/) - I just received and email suggesting that the Craigslist posting advertising our property for rent is a scam. They are right. There is an individual using the email address solomonandy18@(deleted).com as their reply. A Google search of the email address reveals two other Craigslist ads with the same reply email (one in Stockton and the - [Who is a First Time Buyer According to the IRS?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/who-is-a-first-time-buyer-according-to-the-irs/) - The Obama's stimulus package has altered the the First Time Buyer Credit to be a true credit and not a loan that must be repaid. The two images here show how the IRS defines who is and is not qualified to take the credit in 2008 and are taken directly from IRS Form 5045 for - [The EPA, What it means for Oil Tank Clean Decommissioning in Portland, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-epa-what-it-means-for-oil-tank-clean-decommissioning-in-portland-oregon/) - Just after 8 o'clock yesterday I received and email from a past client that... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [19.2 Months of Inventory. What it Means to You as Seller.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/192-months-of-inventory-what-it-means-to-you-as-seller/) - RMLS Market Action reported the highest level of inventory in recorded history this month. Inventory is calculated by taking the current number of active listings and dividing it by the number of closed sales (14,006 listings/732 closed sales). In January 2006, there were 6.2 months of inventory. Between March and September of 2005 inventory never - [RMLS Market Action January 2009: Portland Inventory Soars](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-january-2009-portland-inventory-soars/) - While the snow fell, inventory soared to a record 19.2 months. The total number of active listings appears to be about the same as it was in January 2008 but the slow in sales (732 in 2009 compared to 1085 in 2008) means the listing will take longer to sell in this market. The 732 - [Obama Stimulus Package Fixes $7500 Tax "Credit"](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/obama-stimulus-package-fixes-7500-tax-credit/) - According to the email just sent out by NAR President Charles McMillian, the approved Obama Stimulus package fixes what the government was calling a credit but was really a loan. It also says that the credit, now a true credit, raises to $8000. Smart Money does a good job of Explaining What it Means to - [Oregon Catches Up with the National Real Estate Market](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregon-catches-up-with-the-national-real-estate-market/) - Oregon Catches Up with the National Real Estate Market- and not in good way. KGW.com has an online story on foreclosures this morning from the AP: Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) -- Like the rest of the U.S., Oregon saw home prices soar during the housing bubble despite relatively stagnant wages. Now it's - [Fannie Mae's Property Website: HomePath.com](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/fannie-maes-property-website-homepathcom/) - The first to FAQs on Fannie Mae's website probably describe it best: Why does Fannie Mae have properties for sale? Fannie Mae works with all of its partners to help homeowners prevent and avoid foreclosure; however, sometimes it is unavoidable. When foreclosures occur on mortgages in which Fannie Mae is the investor, our goal - [Present Not Clear for Clearwire in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/present-not-clear-for-clearwire-in-portland/) - It would be hard to live in the Portland area and be completely unaware that... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [Reports on Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/reports-on-portland-real-estate/) - The AP released a somewhat positive real estate story yesterday. KGW released their own story which was not so rosy based on a report from Zillow.com. The AP story starts: WASHINGTON (AP) — An index that tracks signed contracts to purchase existing homes rebounded in December, as buyers snapped up properties at deep discounts, especially - [Toddlers and Condos Oh My](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/toddlers-and-condos-oh-my/) - There is a comedian's sketch about baby proofing the stove: turn it on high and... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Researching the Move- Tradeoffs](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/researching-the-move-tradeoffs/) - Once we knew we were moving we pretty much had to decide right then where we... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Case Shiller November 2008 Released Today](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-november-2008-released-today/) - The S&P released Case Shiller's housing numbers for November. It comes as no surprise that it was down from the previous month and is now at 162.62, about the same level as November 2005. The peak was June 2007 at 186.51. These are Portland numbers, not the national numbers. Case Shiller reports on resale properties. - [The Downsizing Experiment](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-downsizing-experiment/) - An unsolicited chain of events over the last couple of weeks has given us an... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Year Ends with Market InAction- RMLS Dec. '08](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/year-ends-with-market-inaction-rmls-dec-08/) - No real surprise that Portland's 2008 real estate activity ended with a thump. We've traditionally seen a slow down in our business during the holidays and then the Arctic Blast brought showings to an almost standstill. One of the few showings that we did have on a listing has resulted in a pending sale. None - [Changes to RMLS- But No Raffle Field Yet!](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/changes-to-rmls-but-no-raffle-field-yet/) - There were a few changes to RMLS last week. It is now possible to list a house as an auction or with a price range. Some firms (Prudential has Value Range Marketing) have a range program where the seller will respond to all offers in a range. The idea being that getting the conversation started - [What do the Blazers and Real Estate Have in Common?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/what-do-the-blazers-and-real-estate-have-in-common/) - If last night's Blazer win against Detroit serves any educational point, it is this: you never know what's going to happen before the final buzzer. Those that left with time left on the clock (oops) had probably written the Blazers off. At halftime, it looked pretty bleak and the odds of a Blazer win looked - [Lights Out](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/lights-out/) - The odds are if the power is out, you're not reading this now. Either that our your laptop battery might well be preserved for something else. Regardless, what happens when the power goes out? For some, it's an excuse to cuddle up in front of the fire and light some candles. For others, it can - [KOIN News 6 Covers NW Hoyt Restoration Project](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/koin-news-6-covers-nw-hoyt-restoration-project/) - Mike Donahue from KOIN News 6 was out at our NW Hoyt project yesterday to witness Earth Advantage's physical air loss test for their a new pilot program which is supported by the Energy Trust. We never expected to be perfect. The historic single pane windows don't help efficiency but are an important feature of - [Happy Birthday Portland Real Estate Blog](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/happy-birthday-portland-real-estate-blog/) - It's hard to believe that I've been writing this forum for four years now. When I started writing the blog in January of 2005, the Case Shiller Index for Portland was 135.46. It peaked in July 2007 at 186.51. With the exception of two reporting periods, the Index has dropped every month since the peak. - [The Colder Side of Portland Real Estate- Ice Dams](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-colder-side-of-portland-real-estate-ice-dams/) - It may not be totally obvious that this is a picture of a frozen downspout. It's solid from one end to the other. The tell tail sign of problems seems to be dirty icicles forming on the siding. This indicates that the water has already entered the exterior and exited. It's what is not exiting - [Ice Damage](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/ice-damage/) - I thought we were living in our own little private (cold) hell this morning: water inside at NW Hoyt running down the kitchen wall and marking the ceiling. Turns out we weren't (keep reading). The water eventually traveled to the basement as well. What's going on? We figured on three options: 1) a broken pipe - [Portland Snow Day Reflections](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-snow-day-reflections/) - I just walked over to Zupan's and back to get the ingredients for French Onion soup. In the last 24 hours I've come to the conclusion that people are much friendlier in this frigid weather. Yesterday as I trudged down 24th a guy rolled down his window and asked if I wanted a ride! I've - [Yes Virginia, it snows in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/yes-virginia-it-snows-in-portland/) - I'm pretty sure that I have never seen 12+ continuous hours of snow in Portland in the 15 years that I have been here. It is still coming down! We're downtown at 24th and NW Lovejoy and at 9:25PM have over 7" of fresh snow!!! How about you?End - [Federal Housing Authortity (FHA)](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/federal-housing-authortity-fha/) - FHA guidelines are changing in 2009. The first thing to be aware of is that FHA.com is not sponsored by the Federal Housing Administration. They don't hide the fact and it appears to have valid info on it but the real site is FHA.gov. I'm having a hard time finding what I know is somewhere - [National Association of Realtors (NAR) Goes Green](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/national-association-of-realtors-nar-goes-green/) - A few years ago, I was critical of the EcoBroker designation in this post and this one. My issue with it was that it was just another way to add to the alphabet soup after a Realtor's name and that it is pay-to-play with no endorsement from a national body (or at least one that - [Below Freezing Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/below-freezing-real-estate/) - We had to cancel five of our six open houses yesterday. Driving to them didn't seem like a good idea. I held NW Hoyt open though since I can walk there and had much more traffic than I would have expected; both walkers and those that had driven down to NW 23rd for some weekend - [Coat Drive and Open Houses Dec. 14th](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/coat-drive-and-open-houses-dec-14th/) - Due to snow, all of our open houses other than 2356 NW Hoyt are canceled. I can walk to Hoyt and if you'd like to visit I'd encourage you to either walk or take public transportation. Tonight's low temperature is forecast to be 30 degrees. Transitional Youth, founded by Prudential Northwest Properties' president, Bert - [RMLS Market Action November](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-november/) - Slow sales have sent inventory skyrocketing to 15 months. The average sales price is down 10.5% since last November. The median price is down 7%. North Portland is the only area reporting "Total Time on Market" under 100 days (98). Pending sales have dropped between 14.8% and 38.5% since the same time last year. The - [Freezing Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/freezing-real-estate/) - KGW along with other weather forecasters are warning us that a "deep freeze" is heading our way. Today's seven day forecast has a low of 16 on Monday and 17 on Tuesday! The online graphic and TV broadcast do not match. I've talked previously about making sure that listings are ready for showings in winter - [When is the Right Time to List?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/when-is-the-right-time-to-list/) - Tips for selling your Portland home. There isn't a right or wrong answer in determining when to start actively... Work with Lovejoy Real Estate to get top… - [Carbon Monoxide Kills Family of Four](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/carbon-monoxide-kills-family-of-four/) - I'm almost finished with writing a post on a different subject but this is more important. In real estate, we test and test and test through the transaction; oil tanks, radon, pests, and the list goes on. Oregon real estate law has a provision for smoke detectors. Carbon monoxide? It's rarely mentioned in real estate. - [Short Sales and First Time Buyers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/short-sales-and-first-time-buyers/) - Wikipedia describes a short sale as: A short sale occurs when the proceeds of a real estate sale fall short of the balance owed on the property.[1] In a short sale, the bank or mortgage lender agrees to discount a loan balance due to an economic or financial hardship on the part of the mortgagor. - [Case Shiller September 2008](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-september-2008/) - Case Shiller for September 2008 continued its downward trend. The Portland index is down to 169.67 compared to August's 171.93 and a high of 186.51 in July 2007. September's mark is at about the same level we had in March 2006 (169.87). The index is down 9.0% from its high. The S&P500 index is down - ["First Time Buyer Tax Credit" Revisited](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/first-time-buyer-tax-credit-revisited/) - It's old news now. The IRS is offering a $7500 tax credit to first time home buyers. Keep reading. If you don't own and have not owned a home in the last three years, you can take a $7500 credit (not a deduction) off your tax bill. That means, for a transaction that closes by - [Is Portland Real Estate Selling?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/is-portland-real-estate-selling/) - I'm using Prudential Northwest Properties Transaction Platform which gets it data feed from RMLS to search for properties listed in Portland excluding any suburbs. Between October 1st and October 31st, 2008, 637 properties listed in RMLS sold (864 sold in the same time frame in 2007). In 2008, they ranged from an in-park double wide to - [RMLS Market Action October 2008](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-october-2008/) - RMLS Market Action for October was just released. Nothing really surprising in the broad numbers. Inventory is up to almost 12 months. Accepted, closed and pending sales are down from this time a year ago. Average and Median prices are also down for the Portland Metro Area. The following breakdown "is based on a comparison - [www.PDXRelocations.com. Our New Website.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/wwwpdxrelocationscom-our-new-website/) - I'm pleased to announce the launch of of our latest website, www.PDXRelocations.com. It is a targeted Portland Relocation website for those moving to or new to the Portland area but the content is relevant to even the most knowledgeable Portlander. We've licensed copy from First Book's Newcomer’s Handbook® for Moving to and Living in Portland. - [Ready. Set. Rain. Winter Real Estate.](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/ready-set-rain-winter-real-estate/) - Weather reports this time of year are pretty straight forward in Portland; rain with the chance of more rain and the possibility of more rain, maybe even snow after that. We set our clocks back (we might have remembered to change the smoke detector batteries at the same time and settle in for dark cold - [WSJ Reports on Negative Real Estate Equity](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/wsj-reports-on-negative-real-estate-equity/) - The Wall Street Journal has a semi-interactive map showing state's homeowner's negative equity positions across the country. Nevada heads the list at 47.8%. New York is at the other end of the spectrum at 4.4%. Oregon is at 7.7% with another 2.2% within five percent of falling into negative territory. The title of the page: - [Portland Real Estate News](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-news/) - A few tidbits: Those of you Oregonian readers may have read Ryan Frank's piece yesterday on the front page of the business section with a picture of our sign outside of our NW Ryan listing. Yes, it's still available. It is online here. The Oregon Association of Realtors has canceled it's RealtorVision campaign. I - [Case Shiller August 2008](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-august-2008/) - In August 2007, the Case Shiller Index for Portland was 186.0. The August 2008 Case Shiller Index released today is 171.93, down 7.5% (wish I could say the same for my 401k). Ugly but not as ugly as the national picture: WASHINGTON (Thomson Financial) - Home prices in major US cities posted record year-over-year declines - [Changes in Lending Shrinks Buyer Pool](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/changes-in-lending-shrinks-buyer-pool/) - Loose lending rules helped pump up the real estate market. When lending tightened the buyer pool shrunk. I think the squeeze is on the buyer with good but not excellent credit. There are still 3% FHA loans and the USDA rural loans are up to 102%. VA loans have a 2% funding fee that the - [Wild Ride](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/wild-ride/) - Up, down, up, down goes the stock market. The market is an instant pulse of the economy compared to housing reports that take time to flush out. CNN reports: Home construction tumbles: Housing starts fell to a 17-year low in September, according to a government report released Friday before the market opened. Starts fell to - [RMLS Market Action September '08](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-september-08/) - Things are tough. During our sales meeting today an agent said he has 17 listings. Fifteen of them are short sales. He said that some banks he has worked with have agreed to losses of over six figures; another won't budge on $2000. We've seen some amazing things happen in our economy in the last - [Smart Money's 25 Cities Ready To Rebound](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/smart-moneys-25-cities-ready-to-rebound/) - The print version of November's Smart Money has a story on 25 real estate markets ready to rebound. Portland isn't one of them. Seattle is #25. The story claims that the complete list of 100 markets can be found online at smartmoney.com/mag but I can only find October articles. I expect the site will be - [No on Oregon Measure 63](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/no-on-oregon-measure-63/) - Youtube video added 10/13 @ 4:45PM I haven't sat down and read through the... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [God and Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/god-and-real-estate/) - Photo credit: Mike Zacchino, The Oregonian Portland has made national news. CNN has clips running of the house in SW Portland that slid down the hill. The Today Show, incorrectly according to local reports, is saying that the slide was caused by recent rain. Geologists on Last night's KGW report said that the house is - [RMLS and Photos](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-and-photos/) - We live in an ever increasingly digital age. A picture was worth a thousand words and was as close to the truth as you were likely to get. With mainstream digital photography and photo editing software, a photo may not be the truth. The impetus of this post comes from another real estate related blog - [Is Fannie Mae Setting a Precedent?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/is-fannie-mae-setting-a-precedent/) - CNN reported this story on Friday. I'm conflicted. It's sweet but rewarding someone for inflicting harm on themselves? Not as though Fannie Mae can afford charity these days. Addie Polk, 90, of Akron, Ohio, became a symbol of the nation's home mortgage crisis when she was hospitalized after shooting herself at least twice in the - [Market Tracker and Property Investment Profile](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/market-tracker-and-property-investment-profile/) - There was great response to these tools when I wrote about them a year back so here's a second look at Prudential Northwest Properties' Market Tracker and Property Investment Profile. Market Tracker is a monthly email that generates its report based on zip codes. Up to ten zip codes can be tracked. All you need - [Case Shiller July 2008 Results](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-july-2008-results/) - Really briefly, Case Shiller for July came out today. Portland's index is 174.21, down from June's 175.03. This second graph shows the same index since Jan. of 2006. - [KGW Your Money Blog](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/kgw-your-money-blog/) - I'm sitting here watching the 5PM news. KGW is running a series this week on the Your Money blog. Monday night was about retirement, Tuesday, tonight, is Investment Tips, and Wednesday night is "real estate advice from the experts." There's no link for it yet but it should be the latest post the Your Money - [Lien on Me](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/lien-on-me/) - In the last few weeks we've seen three big Portland area builders in trouble... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Today's, Mostly, Real Estate News](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/todays-mostly-real-estate-news/) - First cup of coffee and the morning edition of the Oregonian. Some of the front page section headlines: Front page of sports: GIANT KILLERS III- Okay, not really real estate related but Oregon State Beating #1 USC 37-21 helps put Oregon on the map. And it's one of the few bits of cheery news! I'm - [Using a Self-Directed 401k to Buy Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/using-a-self-directed-401k-to-buy-real-estate/) - ***This is not a 'how to use your 401k to buyer real estate.' It requires both legal and tax advice from the appropriate professions. I'm writing this because it is real estate related and I think it is interesting and it clearly isn't for everyone. I don't know anyone personally that has done it. Smart - [Real Estate is Hyper Local](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/real-estate-is-hyper-local/) - It has been said before that real estate is local. One market does not necessarily predict another. National numbers have not reflected Portland; Portland was definitely late to the "party" as property values fell. But what about within a single market itself? Ryan Frank of the Oregonian published this graphic on his Front Porch blog. - ["This may be the best week in 20 years to buy a house."](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/this-may-be-the-best-week-in-20-years-to-buy-a-house/) - "This may be the best week in 20 years to buy a house." This is what Dave Ramsey says in the first couple of minutes of last night's radio show. "This weekend may be the very best day...Great time to buy." The podcast is a 20mb file. He says he's never made a statement like - [Big Look Task Force Town Hall Comes To Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/big-look-task-force-town-hall-comes-to-portland/) - Mr. Thrifty posted this comment to a previous post at 6:16 PM on September 18th... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [Portland Public Schools 2008 Report](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-public-schools-2008-report/) - For many, schools are one of the most important factors in choosing a home. A few days ago we received Portland Public Schools, "Moving Forward Together: Report on Our Schools 2008" in the mail. The report is a little hard to follow online as the print version is 26x8. The cover page is the last - [RMLS Market Action August 2008](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-august-2008/) - August continues the recent declining trend in our market. "The average sale price for August 2008 was down 9.7% compared to August 2007, while the median sale price dropped 6.7%. Month-to-month, the average sale price and median sale price are both down when compared with July’s levels; the average sale price dropped 2.7% ($331,300 v. - [Legend Continues Building Their Legend](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/legend-continues-building-their-legend/) - We should see RMLS Action at any time but in the meantime I thought this was of note: The Oregonian reports Legend Homes has come to an agreement with their lenders to continue building homes. Courts has frozen their cash since filing bankruptcy in June. The agreement will allow them to be able to build - [Mortgage Rates](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/mortgage-rates/) - Graph pretty much speaks for itself. Enjoy the sun.Portland Real Estate Blog - [Changes to RMLS Market Action](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/changes-to-rmls-market-action/) - In the next few days we should be seeing the August edition of RMLS Market Action. The report is changing: We’ve added a new column to the Residential Market Highlights and the Area Report in Market Action called Total Market Time. This new calculation will help our REALTOR® subscribers better manage the expectations of their - [Guest "post". Rent Versus Buy Calculator](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/guest-post-rent-versus-buy-calculator/) - Credit where credit is due: pdxrealestateoutsider gets all the credit for this. He created the calculator and gave me permission to talk about it here. This is the link to his rent versus buy calculator. His complete post is here. It goes over all of his assumptions in building the calculator and is important to - [What is the Government Going to do with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/what-is-the-government-going-to-do-with-freddie-mac-and-fannie-mae/) - It looks like a federal bailout of mortgage backers Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae may happen as early as today. "It could cost taxpayers billions." It is reported that a million more houses will enter foreclosure in 2008 compared t 2007. Freddie and Fannie back more than half of the country's mortgages. I don't see - [Charles' Real Estate Platform Part 4 (City Permits)](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/charles-real-estate-platform-part-4-city-permits/) - Charles, what is your platform regarding permits and the buyer's agent's... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Charles' Real Estate Platform Part 3](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/charles-real-estate-platform-part-3/) - Niche marketing. It applies to all facets of business and real estate is no exception. For me, the niche should follow your passion and/or expertize. If you have the passion, learn the expertize. If you have the expertize and don't have the passion it may not work out. I don't think your niche has to - [Schools Taxing New Construction (CET)](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/schools-taxing-new-construction-cet/) - New construction homes in Portland. This was just sent to me in an email: LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ADOPTING NEW TAX... Lovejoy Real Estate guides buyers through… - [What/Who is Case-Shiller](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/whatwho-is-case-shiller/) - Map of the 20 cities included in the Case-Shiller Composite 20 (Graphic: Standard and Poors). "Case-Shiller reports ____", "RMLS reports ______", etc. We are inundated with data but what does it mean? When a report refers to "Portland," what does that mean? The answer isn't the same from each source reporting. Case-Shiller reports "Portland" as - [Case Shiller June and NAR Report](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-june-and-nar-report/) - Case Shiller for June is just out. The results for March through June are 174.39, 174.87, 175.3, and 175.03 respectively. The graph here tracks back to February 2006 and compares Portland to the Case Shiller 20 Composite. Also on the cover of the O's Business Section: "Home Sales Surprisingly Stronger" (Oooo, 'NAR Propaganda'). NAR reports - ["FORE"closure](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/foreclosure/) - I made brief mention of the Oregonian story on Sterling Bank foreclosing on 15 Buena Vista Custom Home's properties. Buena Vista is not alone. A quick search on RealtryTrac on our TurnerRealtors.com website shows that there are 571 homes listed as foreclosures (it isn't possible to get an accurate count from RMLS as "Third Party - [Two Days of Oregonian Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/two-days-of-oregonian-real-estate/) - Yesterday's Oregonian business section was laying folded on the office coffee table this morning. Top story: "Boom builder faces home foreclosures." It wasn't until I got home and read the headline on the other side, "Bailout inevitable for giant mortgage firms, experts say." We'll come back to these; maybe not today. This morning's How We - [Charles' Real Estate Platform Part 2](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/charles-real-estate-platform-part-2/) - Continuing to build on yesterday's post about what I think about various... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Charles' Real Estate Platform Part 1](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/charles-real-estate-platform-part-1/) - Politicians have platforms on the issues that matter to their constituents... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [NW Natural Street of Dreams or Avenue of Nightmares?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/nw-natural-street-of-dreams-or-avenue-of-nightmares/) - Eighty thousand people attended the 2007 Street of Dreams in Oregon City. Four of those luxury homes are for sale and two are pending transaction. This year, only one of the homes is currently for sale. Having learned from public comment last year, they've revamped bigger is better and paid more attention to what will - [RMLS July Market Action](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-july-market-action/) - RMLS Market Action reports that our market is pretty static and didn't really include any surprises, good or bad. Average sales price is down 3.5% compared to July 2007 and activity remains way off last year's numbers. We can't say that we've reached bottom as we continue to trend in a downwards direction. Don't ask - [Hoyt's History](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/hoyts-history/) - 2356 NW Hoyt, Portland Oregon is registered with the National Register of Historic Places as the G. & G. C. House. It is a contributing property in the Historic Alphabet District in Northwest Portland. When we purchased the house in May of 2008, that was the known history of the 1906 home. Two events have - [Realtors on the Rise](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/realtors-on-the-rise/) - Rismedia is a real estate industry publication. We are featured in this month's issue on page 123 as one of the fifty Realtors on the Rise selected from hundreds of applications. This didn't happen just because of the two of us. Lisa Carter and Susan Horvat have been a part of the Turner Realtors Team - [Monday Morning Real Estate Muse](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/monday-morning-real-estate-muse/) - 1) Freddie Mac reported losses of $1.9B and Fannie Mae lost $2.4B. Fed Chairman, Paulson, says they will not be injecting public funds into either enterprise. 2) 2356 NW Hoyt is one of about 39 surviving homes in Northwest that was designed by Joseph Jacobberger. The Abstract of Title shows that the property was sold - [Turner Realtors Team Adds Returning Realtor](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/turner-realtors-team-adds-returning-realtor/) - Annie Domenici begins her second tenure with Prudential Northwest Properties to as a member of our Turner Realtors Team. Annie's return from ReMax provides us with experience and a greater ability to meet our client's needs. Her familiarity with Prudential allows her to start at full speed. Please help welcome her to the Team. She - [Radon and Portland Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/radon-and-portland-real-estate/) - What should you inspect for? I can't answer that. Both the image and this link go to a map of Oregon with county-by-county expected radon levels. The Oregon Real Estate Agency publishes the Oregon Property Buyer Advisory. It oultines issues that buyers can inspect for one of the items is radon. What is radon? According - [Shocking Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/shocking-real-estate/) - If you look closely at the lower left wire, you'll see why I ran off on Tuesday rather than writing a long post about Case Shiller. We'd had PGE out last year to our rental property when the electrician said whatever was going on was a PGE issue; they came out and fixed. When things - [Rain Water, Driveways and Dry Wells](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rain-water-driveways-and-dry-wells/) - Many buyers have "must haves" on their list of criteria for a home. For many, especially in urban neighborhoods, that includes off street parking. 2356 NW had no off street parking but now it does. Our permit to put the driveway in did not mention storm water management; it is under the minimum square footage - [Case Shiller May 2008](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-shiller-may-2008/) - This will be brief as the electrician that was to give 30 minutes notice called from the doorstep of the property. New Case Shiller numbers already alluded to in the comments of another post: Portland's current index is 175.53. It was 174.87 in April. The peak was 185.67 in August, 2007. - [Misnamed (?) Portland History?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/misnamed-portland-history/) - Steady progress on our 2356 NW Hoyt property. The driveway was cut in last week down the side of the house. We thought there may have been a driveway there in the past; the curb had been patched along where the curb cut would have been. It wasn't confirmed but made even more plausible since - [$300 Billion and the Housing Market](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/300-billion-and-the-housing-market/) - The combined net worth of the six richest individuals in the world is $310B (forbes.com). On Friday, the senate passes a bill that would put $300B towards rescuing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and supporting mortgagees who in over their heads (and can document it). President Bush is likely to sign the bill into law - [House Falls Off Supports in Salem](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/house-falls-off-supports-in-salem/) - A house that was undergoing a foundation replacement in Salem collapsed last night. The news clip in the Statesman Journal was posted at 12:07 AM last night so there are no useful pictures and the details are pretty sketchy. Please post more or I will work on it later in the day. Update: pictures here. - [Of Mice and Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/of-mice-and-real-estate/) - Staging is debatable. Do I stage? With what? How much stuff is enough? Every agent and professional stager will have a different answer. What I am sure is that in the non-existent "Staging Your Home Guide" by Turner, Turner & Turner, there is no mention of pest control devices as being appropriate staging pieces. I - [Part Time/Rookie Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/part-timerookie-real-estate/) - Should real estate agents be required to close a certain number of transactions a year without having to work in conjunction with a Realtor that meets or exceeds that threshold? What would that threshold be?Portland Real Estate Blog - [Portland Developer Goes Belly Up](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-developer-goes-belly-up/) - It's not the first story of its kind and probably not the last. Sunday's front page Oregonian article detailed the rise and fall of Ryan Olsen Development in their story, Portland-area Builder Implodes. I don't know the stories behind other builder's woes or Ryan personally but the article felt more personal and well, sad. Olsen - [When Your House has a Name](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/when-your-house-has-a-name/) - Realtor Beige, the paint preferred by Realtors nationwide. Walk into any paint store and they'll know what you want but they won't have a paint by that name. Neutral is good. Many remodels, cosmetic or otherwise are a matter of personal choice that you might plan to live with for years. No problem. Su casa - [Washington Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/washington-real-estate/) - This is my first blogging foray over the Columbia River. I'm not licensed in Washington but Jenny is and has numerous transactions going on up there right now. Since she has clients that are interested in the happenings up there we'll give this a try. If it is well received, I'll post similar reports when - [Are Banks Digging Their Graves Willingly?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/are-banks-digging-their-graves-willingly/) - The feature story in July 7th's Business week is somewhat mind boggling. The Housing Abyss story is fairly long but the idea of "buying and bailing" followed two paragraphs later by the common damage to foreclosed homes makes one think that 2+2=5 in bankland: [An agent] in Henderson, Nev., says he has been flooded with - [Porland Real Estate History](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/porland-real-estate-history/) - This graph is a part of the June RMLS Market Action. It shows the number of quarterly closings over the last 12 years. It's a great representation of where we are and where we have been. - [RMLS June Market Action](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-june-market-action/) - Three posts in one day! RMLS Market Action for June just came out. The median sales price in the Portland area is $289,000, a 2% drop from June 2007. The average sales price is $348,800. That's down 1.1% from June 2007. Days on market are about the same as last month. Inventory is fairly static - [Fed Cracking Down on Mortgage Lending](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/fed-cracking-down-on-mortgage-lending/) - The headline reads, "Fed adopts plan to curb shady mortgage practices." I found the story on Yahoo Finance after watching the same story on Headline news. The bullet point version (my comments/questions in italics): -- bar lenders from making loans without proof of a borrower's income. Sounds like the end of "No doc" and stated - [Monday Morning Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/monday-morning-real-estate/) - It's not all about real estate. "It's the economy, stupid." Real estate is commonly credited with keeping the economy afloat during the last decade. Now we have to wonder whether the economy can save real estate. The Oregonian AM print edition: Feds step in to aid mortgage giants CNNMoney: Rescuing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac CNNMoney: - [Who is Blogging Portland Real Estate?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/who-is-blogging-portland-real-estate/) - The PortlandRealEstateBlog will turn 200,000 page views today or tomorrow (I'll... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [I-5 Portland/Vancouver Bridge and Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/i-5-portlandvancouver-bridge-and-real-estate/) - Disclaimer: my knowledge of the politics and the pros and cons of a new bridge over the Columbia River is limited to the couple of newscast that I have seen in the last couple of days. Last night, Portland's City Council after much public debate, approved the bridge with a four page letter attached. It - [Real Estate and Video](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/real-estate-and-video/) - If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is a video worth? I'm not sure so we thought we'd give it a try. We've been using the Flip video camera for a few months now. It's a great tool to help a buyer remember what the inside of their house looks like. But a - [Where the Streets Have No Comps](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/where-the-streets-have-no-comps/) - Not all houses have good comparables. It might be the biggest house in the neighborhood (where we expect a lower cost per square foot), a contemporary amongst traditional homes, an odd shaped home (octagon) or simply a house in an area that has not had a lot of sales recently. How do you price one - [Hoyt Progress](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/hoyt-progress/) - Steady progress over at 2356 NW Hoyt. We're just over a month into construction. Thus far: Pipe Repair Services burst a new sewer line and water line from the curb to the basement. John's Waterproofing installed the Water Guard system around the perimeter of the basement. American Plumbing has almost finished installing the rough-in plumbing - [The Future of Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-future-of-real-estate/) - I was just forwarded the PowerPoint presentation that Chrisopher Lee of CEL & Associates, INC. used during his "Get Ready For The Age Of Real Estate" presentation at PSU's Center for Real Estate June 5th. The 84 slide presentation is interesting but most of it isn't applicable to this forum. What did strike me as - [How Personal Is Real Estate?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-personal-is-real-estate/) - I flew home on Horizon Airlines University of Oregon logo-ed plane a couple of days ago. It got me to thinking. How does a Beaver fan like being trapped in a plane with the Oregon logo staring back from the wingtips. In the event of a crash, the last thing they see is the O - [How Do Rate Changes Affect Mortgage Payments](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/how-do-rate-changes-effect-mortgage-payments/) - The Federal Reserve held interest rates today. What does that mean to a buyer? A 30 year loan at 6% interest costs $500 per month per $100,000 borrowed in interest. Add .25% and the payment goes up to $520.83. On a $400,000 loan, that's an additional $999.84 a year in interest payments. A drop in - [Case Shiller Report June 24, 2008](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-schiller-report-june-24/) - Today's Case Schiller Report has Portland up .3% between April and March (click on the image to enlarge). One month of positive after months of decline doesn't give us much to sink out teeth into. It could be caused by an actual improvement, a seasonal up tick, or any number of other factors. Only time - [If You Have $125,000,000](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/if-you-have-125000000/) - What to do with $125 million burning a hole in your pocket? You could by 372 homes at Portland's average price of $335,700 (year to date) or you could buy Donald Trumps house- the one he doesn't live in. You can watch the youtube version here. Or the Forbes.com version here. Neither allows for embedding - [Heavy Rain in Portland Yesterday](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/heavy-rain-in-portland-yesterday/) - We had a very isolated storm yesterday at 2356 NW Hoyt. During the process of replacing the sewer line yesterday the backhoe nicked the waterline. There's no fault as "Call Before You Dig" had been called and the utility lines were all marked. Turns out that the waterline is not a straight connection. They caught - [Portland Ranks High Globally- But not the Best](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-ranks-high-globally-but-not-the-best/) - The Mercer 2008 Quality of Living Survey was just realesed. The rankings are based on a point scoring index, which sees Zurich scoring 108, while Baghdad scores 13.5. Cities are compared to New York as the base city, with an index score of 100. The quality of living survey covers 215 cities and is conducted - [Rambling About (Portland) Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rambling-about-portland-real-estate/) - For lack of a specific topic today: Heard somewhere: Foreclosures are up 50% from this time last year nationally. Nevada is worst off. The Oregon Association of Realtors held a very nice fundraising event that the Oregon Golf Club Thursday night benefiting OAR's Home Foundation. 8549 NW Ryan is now $679,000. Down $20,000 from the - [RMLS Market Action for May](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-for-may/) - May was better than April but this May was worse than last May. For the second consecutive month, both median and average prices declined. Inventory declined 1.1 months (11%) between May and April (it increased in 2007 by .1 month (3%)). My prediction for May stating that May might be "surprising" landed with a bit - [Today Show on Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/today-show-on-real-estate/) - Matt Lauer just interviewed Barbara Corcoran, "Today Show's real estate guru". I was typing as I listened- I doubt the interview is online. I'll let folks comment (or not) and then chime in later. Under-price your home 10-15% compared to the rest of the market. Get rid of clutter. Take pictures on a sunny day - [NAR's Dr. Yun in Portland Last Week](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/nars-dr-yun-in-portland-last-week/) - I didn't attend NAR's chief economist, Laurence Yun's, speech last week but here is KOIN's news story on the event. He is confident that in five years that Portland prices will be up 30 percent. It's a bold statement and I think I betting on Big Brown on Saturday to win the Triple Crown would - [Portland Real Estate Timing](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-timing/) - If you look at a calendar and don't look out through your windows, you'll see... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [Portland Street Trees](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-street-trees/) - Screwed up yesterday. Could have been fined. Long story short: don't touch a Portland street tree without a permit. We hired an arborist to clean up, not cut down, the street trees that haven't been maintained in years at NW Hoyt (PGE cuts the portion in the wires but nothing else). Ironically, the stop work - [Earth Advantage: Energy Proficiency Certificate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/earth-advantage-energy-proficiency-certificate/) - One of the first things I started to consider once we had an accepted offer on the NW Hoyt house was what we could do to be green and more efficient. There is a natural disconnect between efficiency and age. There are some unique challenges when rehabbing older houses, especially historic registry ones. We don’t - [Searching Foreclosure Properties](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/searching-forelclosure-properties/) - We've got a new feature on our website which, unfortunately, is a sign of the times: the ability to search by zip, city or map for properties in foreclosure. Added 2:20PM. A property returned from the search will result in a response like this, the service is provided by Realty Trac: This property is an - [G. & G.C. Sweet House](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/g-gc-sweet-house/) - Saphhire Development LLC closed on its new project on Friday. The home is listed on the historic Registry as the G. & G.C. Sweet House and is a contributing property to the Alphabet District. I haven't been able to find anything about the Sweets online and will hopefully have more luck at the State Historic - [Case Shiller May 27 2008](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/case-schiller-may-27/) - Yup, I missed Tuesday's Case Schiller Report. Between February and March, Portland's Index dropped from 176.24 to 174.39. A small decline but a decline nonetheless and return to April/May 2006 levels. I also found this article, on the back page of Realtor Magazine (NAR's publication), an opinion piece that says Case-Schiller is a conflict of - [Flipping/Rehabbing/Remodeling and the CCB](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/flippingrehabbingremodeling-and-the-ccb/) - We've discussed this before ( I think I am going to adopt the phrase "home rehabber" instead of flipper to my personal activities) but if you are considering getting into the rehabber/flipping business in Oregon, you're going to have to be a licensed contractor. For the purposes of our home rehabbing, I am the managing - [The Care and Feeding of Septic Tanks](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-care-and-feeding-of-septic-tanks/) - I met with a septic pumping company this morning as an inspection for one of our pending transactions where we are representing the buyer. Unlike a connected sewer system, a septic system requires a little more attention. They recommend: The system should be pumped every three years- this is a 1500 gallon system. Nothing non-biodegradable - [Oregon Realtor Vision](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregon-realtor-vision/) - The Oregon Association of Realtors is advertising heavily this morning. KGW had a commercial and I just heard another one on Charlie FM for "Realtor Vision... because Realtors see things we don't." This is the first time I have looked at the site and it looks like it has some good content. But since I - [2356 NW Hoyt](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/2356-nw-hoyt/) - We're just a week away from closing and though nothing is official until it is recorded at the county office, I am comfortable saying that Sapphire Development LLC's new rehab project is at 2356 NW Hoyt in the Alphabet District. It is a 1906 home that has been largely untouched and certainly not remodeled recently. - [Flag Lots](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/flag-lots/) - What is a flag lot? A flag lot is is a lot that has no direct street frontage. The lot is accessed by a driveway, usually down the side of another house. The picture highlights a flag lot. There is no direct method to search out flag lots (or exclude them from) an RMLS search - [Buyer Due Diligence Update II](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/buyer-due-diligence-update-ii/) - Alpha Environmental is working on decommissioning the leaking oil tank. At last check, the hole had been dug out about four feet beneath the bottom of the tank. The top and bottom of the tank have been cut out and the walls retained to help maintain the integrity of the hole. Standing next to the - [RMLS Reports First Average Price Decline Since 2001](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-reports-first-average-price-decline-since-2001/) - It's not often that you get three posts on one day but RMLS Market Action for April just hit the streets. The trends are largely what we would expect to see in keeping with Case Shiller and other reports: "Also of note was the first decline in average sale price since August 2002 and in - [Portland Spaces Condo Graphic](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-spaces-condo-graphic/) - Portland Spaces is one of our city's newest magazines. I received a clip of the condo graphic via email a couple of days ago with no source so it took a little tracking down. Portland Spaces has graciously allowed it to be reproduced here as it appeared on page 34 of May/June issue. A little - [Repost of Comment](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/repost-of-comment/) - Welcome to the Portland Real Estate Blog three ring circus. In the main ring we have Portland Real Estate. In the ring to your left have those that believe the Portland real estate market is in the tank and has 30% of value or more to give back. In the right hand ring, we have - [Termination Agreement](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/termination-agreement/) - NW Ryan is back on the market. The transaction failed today through no fault of the seller or the property. The cash buyer walked away from the transaction and forfeited their earnest money. This is only the second time in five years that I have seen a buyer walk at this stage in a transaction - [Net or Gross Based Commission?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/net-or-gross-based-commission/) - Question, Charles: This seems to vary from broker to broker, but what is your... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Monday Morning Real Estate May 12](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/monday-morning-real-estate-may-12/) - I'm actually not lacking for post ideas but I thought this topic might be a good way of doing a little house keeping here at the Portland Real Estate Blog. I'm finding it more and more frustrating to write a post about A and then spend the day reading comments about X that have nothing - [“Green” Certified Homes Sell for More in Portland Real Estate Market](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/green-certified-homes-sell-for-more-in-portland-real-estate-market/) - Portland real estate market data and trends. I'm not usually one for a cut and paste post but this one came to my email from... Expert analysis from Lovejoy… - [Thursday Open Forum](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/thursday-open-forum/) - If you are reading this on Thursday, you are warmer and dryer than I am. Depending on how late in the day it is, I am either crossing, or have crossed the Columbia River Bar for the start of Oregon Offshore which is a sail boat race from Astoria to Victoria BC. We should finish - [Buyer Due Diligence 5: Stucco](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/buyer-due-diligence-5-stucco/) - Rewriting this as somehow it saved the title and nothing else. Stucco has been around for 100s of years. It's recent history is scared by EFIS which was a synthetic stucco which has a history of failing or being improperly installed. For us, the question is less about whether it needs work or not but - [Buyer Due Diligence 4: Lead Based Paint](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/buyer-due-diligence-4-lead-based-paint/) - Unless it has already been stripped, a 1906 home has lead based paint. The Oregon Earnest Money Agreement (the purchase contract) has a provision for testing for lead based paint separate to the professional inspection period. For you and I, the Cliff Note version is, "don't eat the paint." It is more serious for children - [Buyer Due Diligence Update](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/buyer-due-diligence-update/) - I'm still holding off giving the address of the house that we are buying (I want to wait until I have loan approval which will require the results of the appraisal taking place today). Without discussing the financials of the transaction, this is where we stand: We did not have a professional inspection. This is - [The Dangers of Under Pricing Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-dangers-of-under-pricing-real-estate/) - House is listed at X and offers A, B and C come in. They know they are... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [I Can Be Your Dual Agent & Mortgage Broker!](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/i-can-be-your-dual-agent-mortgage-broker/) - Holy crap that's a bad idea. But, according to the email I just got it is all perfectly legal (Prudential would fire me but I could go out on my own and do it). "Hi Mr. Buyer, I have this home listed so I am under contract with the seller but I can write it - [Definition of a Flipper](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/definition-of-a-flipper/) - Just over a year ago I wrote a thread that digressed into a discussion on... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Does Your Home do the Walk?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/does-your-home-do-the-walk/) - Fun website that one of our clients found and shared. They are moving from a home with a walkscore of 15 to making an offer on a home with a score of 80. What is Walk Score? We help homebuyers, renters, and real estate agents find houses and apartments in great neighborhoods. Walk Score shows - [Buyer Due Diligence Part 3: Thar's Oil in Them Thar Ground](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/buyer-due-diligence-part-3-thars-oil-in-them-thar-ground/) - The house we are buying has fairly new oil furnace (2000 according to PortlandMaps' online permits). PortlandMaps also shows an oil tank installation of a 675 gallon oil tank in 1950. Sampling the soil around the tank was a no brainer. Pray for good news, don't expect it. We didn't get it. I knew it - [Buyer Due Diligence 2: Sewer Scope Results](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/buyer-due-diligence-2-sewer-scope-results/) - Practical advice for Portland homebuyers. A lot has been going on in the background for our project home purchase. I'm... Get expert guidance from Lovejoy Real… - [A Career in Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/a-career-in-real-estate/) - Would I become a Realtor in today's market? Hmmm? Not without a long look at how I was going to make a living at it. Business plan and all. Maybe there is a niche that isn't being served and I am confident I can crack it. I think the biggest mistake Realtors make is getting - [The FUJIMO of Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-fujimo-of-real-estate/) - Fujimo was a beautiful red sailboat that raced on San Francisco Bay in the 80s. Rumor has it that Fujomo was the owner's acronym for !@# You Jane I'm Moving Out. Urban legend or not, you don't want your home to become the real estate equivalent of Fujimo. The decision of when and how a - [Oregonian Outlook 2008](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregonian-outlook-2008/) - The Sunday Oregonian was at the front door this morning. Included is Outlook 2008, 68 pages on the O's outlook of everything Portland; including eight pages of real estate. I haven't read it yet. It is interesting to note though it does contain a lot of ads, it does not have the header that is - [Understanding Portland Property Taxes](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/understanding-portland-property-taxes/) - I'm researching property taxes for Multnomah County as I will probably appeal the values on our new project house. This is what I have found. The Exception below answers what sort of remodeling triggers a new assessment. Each individual property is taxed on its assessed value. A property's assessed value is the lower of its - [Buyer Due Diligence Part 1](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/buyer-due-diligence-part-1/) - With our accepted offer yesterday, I have 10 business days for the inspection period. I have to decide what inspections to do. The Oregon Property Buyer Advisory should be my guide. It begins: A real estate licensee is vital to the home buying process and can provide a variety of services in locating property, negotiating - [Speechless in Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/speechless-in-real-estate/) - The cat seems to have my tongue. I'm having a hard time deciding if I am nuts, brilliant, a glutton for punishment, lucky or stupid. The truth probably lies somewhere in between and honestly I don't need help figuring this part out even though I'm sure you'd like to comment. We bought a house today - [RMLS Market Action Condo Stat and Retraction](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-condo-stat-and-retraction/) - Portland real estate market data and trends. I'm not defending the condo graph from the previous post regarding March RMLS... Expert analysis from Lovejoy Real… - [Is Your House Really For Sale?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/is-your-house-really-for-sale/) - A quick post for the day. How easy is it for your house to be shown? RMLS gives... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [RMLS Market Action March](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-march/) - Let's dive right into it. Nothing shocking here regarding inventory. Still high overall but down from the previous month. That follows the history of the previous two years. When comparing March to February 2008, closed sales were up 22.2% (1,691 v. 1,384) while pending sales also increased 5.5% (1,938 v. 1,837). On the other hand, - [Portland Real Estate Blog Topics](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-blog-topics/) - I almost got out of bed last night (even though it is 5AM now) to write some... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [In your opinion, is 8549 NW Ryan properly priced?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/in-your-opinion-is-8549-nw-ryan-properly-priced/) - Yes, I think it is properly priced, to answer haha's comment on yesterday's post. The market will tell me whether I am right or not. Make an offer and we will find out! A little history for those who haven't been reading previous posts. Tuesday, I wrote The Tale of Two Fliers which compared the - [Oregonian Interviews Realtors (but not me)](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregonian-interviews-realtors-but-not-me/) - Front page story of today's Oregonian business section . The Portland-area... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [Curb Appeal: The Tale of One Fence](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/curb-appeal-the-tale-of-one-fence/) - If you can't get them in the door, you can't sell it. The fence at our new SW Orchid listing wrapped all four sides of the property with a gate of equal height across the driveway. It was an expensive project that provided great privacy but killed curb appeal. The "new" fence will be finished - [The Domain of Realtors](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-domain-of-realtors/) - Our website is www.TurnerRealtors.com. The National Association of Realtors clearly defines how the trademarked name "Realtor®" can be used in an Internet address: 1. The term REALTOR®, whether used as part of a domain name or in some other fashion must refer to a member or a member's firm. 2. The term REALTOR® may not - [Tale of Two Real Estate Fliers](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/a-tale-of-two-f/) - This was the post that I sat until until the property was officially listed... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [National Press Loves Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/national-press-loves-portland/) - Portland is CNN Money's #6 Best Place to Live and Launch. In case you've given up "launching" and have emptied out the nest, Forbes ranks Portland high for places for empty nesters to live. And so that this isn't just a puff post about Portland, HousingTracker issues some tough love.Portland Real Estate Blog - [Portland Real Estate Reflections](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-real-estate-reflections/) - It's been nice to get away for a week and have a chance to relax, reflect a... Local insights from Lovejoy Real Estate, Portland's neighborhood real estate… - [The Price is Right](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/the-price-is-right/) - House is listed for X. What should I offer? Continuing the train of thought... Lovejoy Real Estate — Portland's trusted real estate experts since 2005. - [Mexico](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/mexico/) - From one extreme to the other: snow in Portland and 90 degrees plus down here in Ixtapa where we'll be for a few more days. There is a large partial construction site right across from us. What I hear, from those that know, is that Mexico is full of partial construction projects. They open with - [Portland Monthly: "Buy Here Now"](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-monthly-buy-here-now/) - April's Portland Monthly just hit the news stands and mailboxes. Portland Monthly has a history of collecting some of the best data regarding Portland; other annual issues include, schools, doctors, attorneys and this month, real estate. Typically the rankings are available online but the stories aren't. The website hasn't been updated yet from the 2007 - [Willamette Week Story on Portland Affordability](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/willamette-week-story-on-portland-affordability/) - I got a call on Wednesday from a Willamette Week reporter who is/was writing a piece on Portland housing affordability and what it would look like in ten years. After about 20 minutes of conversation as we were winding down he threw in that the piece would only be about 100 words. We emailed back - [What You Said About Portland Livability](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/what-you-said-about-portland-livability/) - The City of Portland's Auditors Office ran a survey. The 2007 results are all online and the site works really well. The home page is here. I think one of the most interesting questions is how residents of a neighborhood view livability in Portland as a whole. Irvington residents have the best view of Portland - [Craigslist Listed Property Rental Scam in Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/craigslist-listed-property-rental-scam-in-portland/) - This is posted on RMLSWEB, the agent side of RMLS.com. I know an agent that was holding an open house as people came by to check out the "rental." It has come to our attention that some homes that are posted for sale on Craigslist are being fraudulently re-posted as low-rate rental listings on Craigslist. - [Fed Rate Cuts Will Lead to Lower Mortgage Rates](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/fed-rate-cuts-will-lead-to-lower-mortgage-rates/) - It might but this reports my CNBC's contributing editor Barry Habib says differently: Fed Rate Cuts Do Not Equal Lower Mortgage Rates. Stocks and bonds compete for money and when stocks like Fed rate drops money goes into the market like it did yesterday. Therefore bonds don't do as well and mortgage rates don't drop.Portland - [Market Data Conflicts](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/market-data-conflicts/) - Yesterday, commenter Squeezed supplied us with a link to this chart on housingwatch: It shows a median price drop from $369,000 to $332,900 or a 10% drop this year. Heading out to the homepage of the site, I found the following disclaimer/methodology: These are asking prices and not final sale prices of homes in various - [Sad Day in Portland Real Estate Blogging](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sad-day-in-portland-real-estate-blogging/) - Apparently people know me better than I know me. There's another Portland real estate related blog that makes that clear and is so derogatory and uninformed/hateful that it can't be left without comment. For those of you that think you know me but have never met me I'll make the same offer here that I - [RMLS MARKET ACTION FEB!!!](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/rmls-market-action-feb/) - Not what I expected. 2.4 months of inventroy whacked off last month's staggering numbers that was a massive increase over the previous month. The report states: Compared with January 2008, closed sales were up 27.6% (1,384 v. 1,085) and pending sales rose 9.9% (1,837 v. 1,671). On the other hand, compared with February 2007, the - [Your First Home?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/your-first-home/) - Following Tuesday's post on Starter Homes I thought we'd try to get some more reader involvement on their first home purchase. I think we'll find every answer is very different. TiP made a very good point at the end of the comments in that post that we all come from different places. I didn't experience - [Real Estate Reality](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/real-estate-reality/) - Active Rain is a real estate website with a member's only portion. There is a conversation over there about NAR not posting a Realtor's comment in disagreement with NAR which in a nutshell boils down to a classic quote: "(NAR) pumping sunshine up the skirts of the consumer will lead to distrust, so when there - [Fannie Mae Home Valuation Protection Code](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/fannie-mae-home-valuation-protection-code/) - Fannie Mae is working with regulators to set standards for home appraisals. The Fannie Mae Home Valuation Protection Code. From the press release: First, to help ensure appraisal independence and valuation protection, Fannie Mae will adopt a Home Valuation Protection Code. The Code establishes requirements governing appraisal selection, solicitation, compensation, conflicts of interest and corporate - [Second Buena Vista Second Auction](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/second-buena-vista-second-auction/) - Since the Oregonian links links have a habit of dying and the article is short, in it entirety here: Second Buena Vista house auction a more moderate success Posted by Anne Saker, The Oregonian March 08, 2008 15:48PM The first auction of his empire went so well that Roger Pollock put on another one today, - [Debt Exceeds Equity](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/debt-exceeds-equity/) - Foreclosures are up and for the first time ever, the country's property mortgage debt exceeds equity. December 2006's rate of people behind on payments: 6.1%. Now up to 7.9 percent in December 2007...Portland Real Estate Blog - [Oregon Real Estate Commissions](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregon-real-estate-commissions/) - A couple of years ago, I looked down at the caller ID on my phone and saw a California area code. "This is Charles." "I am moving to Oregon and looking for an agent. I will expect a 2% rebate of your commission." "Commission rebates are legal in California but not in Oregon. I can't - [Market Tracker](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/market-tracker/) - Portland real estate market data and trends. Market Tracker is just what the name implies. It is a Prudential Northwest... Expert analysis from Lovejoy Real… - [Who is the Market?](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/who-is-the-market/) - Who is the market? We all come from different situations and there is no way to know every combination but does this describe you? Every real estate transaction requires a willing and able buyer and seller. You might be in more than one category and more than one sub-category. I doubt that this is a - [Pearl District: The Casey Broker's Open](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/pearl-district-the-casey-brokers-open/) - We went down to The Casey last night for their broker's open. Stepping out of the elevator into the 13th floor unit reveals some terrific views and a balcony that provides a sense of vertigo through its clear railings. The universal comment as people walked in was, "I didn't expect the views." Moving up to - [Migration to Portland: Good For Housing Market](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/migration-to-portland-good-for-housing-market/) - Portland State University's Population Research Center puts out an annual report on population. Looking at Multnomah County, we added 8,480 people between 2006 and 2007 and 49,549 since 2000. That's a steady 1% increase per year. Obviously not everyone one of them is a home buyer but the vast majority do need somewhere to live. ## Pages - [Home](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/) - We left a national franchise to build something better. Portland, SW Washington, Willamette Valley. 2,500+ homes sold since 2003. No pressure. Ask us anything. - [CONTACT US](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/contact-us/) - Reach the Turner Team at Lovejoy Real Estate. Northwest Portland office, plus Vancouver, WA and Salem. Call 503.501.2490 or send us a note. - [Home Sale Calculator](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-sale-calculator/) - Estimate your net proceeds selling a Portland-area home after commissions, closing costs, and loan payoff. Know your number before you list. - [Mortgage Calculator](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/mortgage-calculator/) - Estimate the monthly payment on a Portland-area home: principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. Run the numbers before you start touring homes. - [Affordability Calculator](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/affordability-calculator/) - Estimate what you can afford in the Portland metro. Weigh income, debt, and down payment against current Oregon rates, then talk it through with us. - [Blog](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/blog/) - Portland real estate analysis from the Turner Team: monthly RMLS market data, neighborhood trends, and what the numbers mean for buyers and sellers. - [Terms of Use](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/terms-of-use/) - Terms of use for lovejoyrealestate.com, operated by Turner Team Inc. DBA Lovejoy Real Estate. - [Portland Oregon Neighborhoods](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-neighborhoods/) - Portland neighborhoods by character, housing stock, and live RMLS market data — from the Alphabet District to Laurelhurst, Woodstock to Forest Heights. - [Selling your home](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sell-your-home/) - Every seller starts somewhere different. Move-in ready or needs work, we price it, prep it with Market Ready, and list it on both RMLS and WVMLS. - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/faq/) - Straight answers on commissions, buyer agreements, timelines, and how we work across Portland metro, SW Washington, and the Mid-Willamette Valley. - [Career](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/career/) - Three ways to build a real estate career at Lovejoy: Team Agent, Legacy, or Pettygrove referral-only. In-house marketing and support so you can sell. - [OUR TEAM](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/our-team/) - Meet the Turner Team agents at Lovejoy Real Estate — matched to you by neighborhood and transaction type across Portland metro and the Willamette Valley. - [Beaumont Village, Wilshire Park, and Rose City Park](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/beaumont-village-wilshire-park-rose-city-park/) - Beaumont, Wilshire Park, and Rose City Park: three NE Portland neighborhoods with early-20th-century housing stock, mature street trees, and commercial districts on NE Fremont and NE Sandy. - [West Hills, Raleigh Hills, West Slope](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/west-hills-raleigh-hills-west-slope/) - West Hills, Raleigh Hills and West Slope: hillside neighborhoods west and south of downtown Portland, in Portland proper and unincorporated Washington County. - [Dunthorpe & Riverdale](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/dunthorpe-riverdale/) - Dunthorpe and Riverdale: large-lot homes on the Willamette in unincorporated Multnomah County, served by the Riverdale School District. - [Willamette Heights](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/willamette-heights/) - Willamette Heights and the adjacent Forest Park neighborhood: hillside homes on wooded lots along the Forest Park boundary, minutes from NW 23rd. - [Kenton, Arbor Lodge, and Portsmouth Neighborhoods](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/kenton-arbor-lodge-portsmouth/) - Located on the peninsula between the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, the neighborhoods of Kenton, Arbor Lodge, and Portsmouth fill in the middle of the North Portland peninsula, sitting east and southeast of St. Johns. The three neighborhoods share the Interstate corridor and cover a wide range of housing stock, from historic bungalows to modern infill, - [Linnton and Sauvie Island](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/linnton/) - Linnton & Sauvie Island offer a perfect blend of nature and city access. Hike Forest Park or relax by the Columbia River in these Portland Real Estate gems. - [West Linn, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/west-linn-oregon/) - West Linn, Oregon real estate guide: Willamette River bluffs, West Linn-Wilsonville schools, Wilderness Park, and live RMLS market data. - [Tualatin, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tualatin-oregon/) - Tualatin, Oregon real estate guide: Lake at the Commons, Tigard-Tualatin School District, and live RMLS market data at the metro's southern edge. - [Tigard, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tigard-oregon/) - Tigard, Oregon real estate guide: neighborhoods, schools, Cook Park, Bridgeport Village, Fanno Creek Trail, and live RMLS market data. - [Sherwood, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sherwood-oregon/) - Sherwood, Oregon real estate guide: Main Street downtown, Sherwood School District, Tualatin River Refuge, and live RMLS market data. - [Oregon City, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/oregon-city-oregon/) - Oregon City real estate guide: historic downtown, Willamette Falls, neighborhoods, schools, and live RMLS market data at Portland's southern edge. - [Hillsboro, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/hillsboro-oregon/) - Hillsboro, Oregon real estate guide: Silicon Forest tech hub, Intel campuses, Hillsboro School District, and live RMLS market data. Lovejoy Real Estate. - [Gresham, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/gresham-oregon/) - Gresham, Oregon real estate guide: neighborhoods, schools, MAX access, Springwater Corridor, and live RMLS market data at Portland's eastern gateway. - [Beaverton, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/beaverton-oregon/) - Beaverton, Oregon real estate guide: neighborhoods, schools, live RMLS market data, Cedar Hills Crossing, Beaverton School District. Lovejoy Real Estate. - [Mid-Willamette Valley Communities](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/mid-willamette-valley-communities/) - Explore homes and neighborhoods across the Mid-Willamette Valley — Salem, Keizer, Silverton, Stayton, Dallas, Canby, and more. RMLS and WVMLS listings included. - [Sellwood & Garthwick](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sellwood-garthwick/) - Sellwood and Moreland run along the east bank of the Willamette River in southeast Portland. The commercial core is at SE 13th and Bybee, with Sellwood south of Bybee and Westmoreland to the north along SE Milwaukie Avenue. Brooklyn occupies the stretch further north along Powell. It combines two adjacent historic neighborhoods: Sellwood, the older - [Portland's Woodstock Neighborhood](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/woodstock/) - Find out why Woodstock in SE Portland is a hidden gem, offering a mix of green spaces, local eateries, and convenient transportation. - [East/West Moreland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/eastwest-moreland/) - Considering a move to Southeast Portland? Discover the allure of Eastmoreland & Westmoreland; Rich with history, diverse architecture, and convenient location. - [Mt Tabor](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/mt-tabor/) - Find out why Portland real estate homebuyers are drawn to the Mt. Tabor & South Tabor neighborhoods for their historic charm and convenient accessibility. - [Ladd’s Addition, Clinton, and Colonial Heights](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/ladds-addition-clinton-colonial-heights/) - Ladd’s Addition, Colonial Heights & Clinton offer unique Portland Real Estate with historic homes, rose gardens & top restaurants near Hawthorne & Division! - [Kerns, Buckman, Hosford-Abernethy, and Brooklyn](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/kerns-buckman-hosford-abernethy-brooklyn/) - Discover Portland's vibrant neighborhoods of Inner Southeast Portland: Kerns, Buckman, Hosford-Abernethy, Ladd's Addition, & Brooklyn, each with its own charm. - [Belmont & Hawthorne Area](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/belmont-hawthorne-neighborhood/) - Discover the historic homes, local businesses, and cozy cafés that make Hawthorne and Belmont two of Portland's most lively neighborhoods. - [Alphabet District, Nob Hill, Slabtown](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/alphabet-district-nob-hill-portland/) - Discover NW Portland's Alphabet District & Nob Hill. Explore historic homes, trendy shops on NW 23rd, and vibrant culture in this iconic neighborhood. - [The Alberta Arts District, Concordia](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/alberta-arts-district-concordia/) - Alberta Arts District & Concordia homes, market trends, schools & local favorites — everything you need from a team that specializes in NE Portland. - [South Burlingame, Burlingame, Tryon Creek](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/south-burlingame-burlingame-tryon-creek/) - South Burlingame, Collins View & Marshall Park provide quiet charm, lush parks & city access. Explore real estate in these scenic Portland neighborhoods. - [Irvington, Sabin, and the Lloyd District](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/irvington-sabin-lloyd-district/) - Discover Portland Real Estate in Irvington, Sabin, and the Lloyd District. Find historic homes, local shops, and easy access to downtown living. - [Lair Hill, Terwilliger & John's Landing](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/lair-hill-terwilliger-johns-landing/) - Discover Portland Real Estate in Lair Hill, John’s Landing & Terwilliger Blvd—beautiful homes, top restaurants & easy downtown & OHSU access! - [Forest Heights](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/forest-heights/) - Discover Forest Heights, a scenic Portland Real Estate community with modern homes, lush trails, and top-rated schools—just minutes from downtown. - [Bridlemile & Vermont Hills](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/bridlemile-vermont-hills/) - Find out why Bridlemile & Vermont Hills are popular among Portland real estate homebuyers, offering a serene suburban feel with access to city conveniences. - [Kings Heights and Hillside](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/kings-heights/) - When it comes to Portland real estate, the King’s Heights/Hillside neighborhood is defined by its serenity and proximity to everything "Portland." - [Hillsdale, Multnomah Village](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/hillsdale-multnomah-village/) - Explore Hillsdale & Multnomah Village, two vibrant Portland Real Estate communities with top-rated schools, local shops, scenic parks, & easy access to downtown - [Laurelhurst](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/laurelhurst/) - Laurelhurst: Where historic homes meet city convenience. Explore this sought-after Portland Real Estate neighborhood with parks, dining, and easy transit access - [St. Johns](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/st-johns/) - Find your home in St. Johns! This Portland neighborhood blends history, nature, and a lively local scene, with great parks and the iconic St. Johns Bridge. - [Calculating a Good Investment Property](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/calculating-a-good-investment-property/) - Calculating a Good Investment Property If you’ve decided that purchasing an investment property is right for you, the next step is to figure out what constitutes a good investment. You can check what we look for in an investment property– the post is older, but the idea is the same. Once you know what type - [Alameda, Grant Park & Hollywood](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/alameda-grant-park-hollywood/) - Explore the blend of convenience and neighborhood tranquility in Alameda, Grant Park & Hollywood District-some of Portland's most desirable places to call home. - [Pearl District Neighborhood Profile](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/pearl-district/) - The Pearl District blends modern condos & historic lofts with top dining, boutique shopping, & parks. Explore Portland real estate in this sought-after area. - [Portland Metro Cities](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-metro-cities/) - Find the right Portland suburb: compare prices, schools, commutes, and market trends across nine cities plus Portland itself. - [Lake Oswego Real Estate Profile](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/lake-oswego/) - Looking for luxury homes near Portland? Lake Oswego offers lakefront estates, great schools, and vibrant amenities. Explore Portland Real Estate today! - [RMLS IDX Compliance Test](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/idx-compliance-tester/) - [IDX Compliance](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/idx-compliance/) - Listing from RMLS IDX 3#3 RMLS logo + source. On the detail page and every RMLS card. Sold ▦ View all 43 photos $625,000 ↓ $25,000 from $650,000 Sold 6#6 RMLS status. Active shows plainly; non-active shows the written-out RMLS status on the photo and here. MLS# 573125554 7407 N POLK AVE N, Portland, OR - [The Lovejoy App](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/app/) - Download the Lovejoy app for full MLS access, instant notifications, and dedicated homeowner resources, helping you make informed property decisions. - [About Us](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/about-us/) - Meet the team behind $1B+ in Portland Metro & SW WA -area real estate sold. Locally owned, independent, and recognized by RealTrends & Best of the Rose City. - [Stayton](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/stayton/) - Find your ideal home in Stayton, Oregon, offering a relaxed lifestyle, picturesque surroundings, and a variety of real estate options. - [Woodburn, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/woodburn-oregon/) - Explore Woodburn, Oregon — a vibrant, culturally rich Willamette Valley city with easy I-5 access between Salem and Portland. - [Sublimity, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sublimity-oregon/) - Explore Sublimity, Oregon — a small Cascade foothills community near Stayton and Silver Falls State Park with rural character and a close-knit community feel. - [Silverton, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/silverton-oregon/) - Discover Silverton, Oregon — a charming historic town 14 miles east of Salem, known for Silver Falls State Park, the Oregon Garden, and a thriving arts scene - [Mt. Angel, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/mt-angel-oregon/) - Discover Mt. Angel, Oregon — a historic North Marion County community with German-Benedictine heritage, world-famous Oktoberfest, and warm small-town character. - [Monmouth, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/monmouth-oregon/) - Monmouth, Oregon is a Polk County college town with a vibrant downtown, Western Oregon University, and a friendly small-city atmosphere 15 miles west of Salem. - [Independence, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/independence-oregon/) - Discover Independence, Oregon — a historic Willamette River city in Polk County with a charming downtown, riverfront park, and small-town community spirit. - [Dallas, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/dallas-oregon/) - Discover Dallas, Oregon — Polk County’s seat city, 15 miles west of Salem, with a vibrant downtown, parks, and access to Willamette Valley wine country. - [Canby, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/canby-oregon/) - Explore Canby, Oregon — a welcoming Clackamas County community with top schools, beautiful parks, and a small-city feel between Portland and Salem. - [Keizer, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/keizer-oregon/) - Explore Keizer, Oregon: a vibrant Willamette Valley city just north of Salem with top-rated schools, beautiful parks, & a strong sense of community. - [Salem, Oregon](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/salem-oregon/) - Explore Salem, Oregon’s diverse neighborhoods — from the historic downtown core to West Salem, South Salem, North Salem, and East Salem. - [Privacy Policy](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/privacy-policy/) - PRIVACY POLICY Last Updated: May 14, 2026 Introduction Turner Team Inc. DBA Lovejoy Real Estate (“Lovejoy Real Estate,” “Turner Team,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy outlines our policies and practices regarding the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of your personal information when you interact with www.lovejoyrealestate.com, our - [Relocation](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/relocation/) - Relocating for work? We handle relo packages, compressed timelines, and remote buying across Portland metro, SW Washington, and the Willamette Valley. - [BUYING A HOME](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-search/) - Search homes for sale in Portland, the suburbs, and SW Washington with Lovejoy Real Estate. Local agents, honest advice, and a clear process from search to close. - [Welcome](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/welcome/) - Local and secure. We are local and independent and don't sell your data to third parties. Upgrade your home search experience to the Lovejoy Real Estate App. - [Mississippi District & Boise-Eliot](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/mississippi-district-boise-eliot/) - Historic Boise-Eliot and North Portland's Mississippi Avenue corridor — Victorian homes, local dining, Yellow Line MAX access, and real estate listings. - [Market Ready Transformations](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/market-ready-transformations/) - Selling your home for top dollar today's markets means exceeding buyer's expectations. These transformation using our Market Ready program show what's possible. - [Home Search](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/home-search-2/) - [reviews](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/reviews/) - We feel we’re pretty great at what we do. More importantly more than 200 five star Goolge reviews and 300 five star Zillow reviews agree. Posted on Google Nolan Gordin 17 days ago Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 10/10 amazing to work with! Andreea was an exceptional agent to - [First Time Buyer](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/first-time-buyer/) - Your concerns as a first-time buyer about owning a home are real. We'll guide you through the process from the beginning steps to receiving keys. - [Elementor #12672](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/elementor-12672/) - We’ve updated our neighborhood profiles to include over 500 photos on our Pinterest boards. Links to these ‘hoods are always available on the sidebar to the right. Neighborhoods Alameda, Grant Park & Hollywood Beaumont Village, Wilshire Park, and Rose City Park Belmont & Hawthorne Boise-Eliot, The North Mississippi District, and Overlook Bridlemile & Vermont Hills - [Elementor #377](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/elementor-377/) - [What’s My Home Worth](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/whats-my-home-worth/) - What's My Home's Value? - [Sell My Home](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/sell-my-home/) - [Opt Out](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/opt-out/) - OPT OUT POLICYThe Turner Team frequently provides users the opportunity to opt-out of receiving communications from us and/or our partners at the point where we request your information. Also, in our e-mail communications you will find instructions for unsubscribing. KW seeks to comply with the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 and will always strive to maintain - [Tfdocs](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/tfdocs/) - TF Charles and Jenny joined Tom Ferry coaching in 2011. Charles attended a “free” event and signed up for Core coaching without telling Jenny first, a clear violation of the $500 rule ($6000 contract). The needle really started to move when we moved up to Elite and then joined Team+ when it was announced and - [BPdocs](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/bpdocs/) - BluePrint Documents BluePrint ResourcesPresentation Slides: Recruiting Agents to Grow your TeamRecruiting Pamphlet 2022 Lovejoy Real EstateOnboarding GuideRun ads on wizehire. They have a free DISC that applicants can fill out.Trello onboarding (click to enlarge): - [Portland Neighborhoods](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/portland-neighborhood-overview/) - Portland Oregon Neighborhoods The Rose City is home to many unique and diverse neighborhoods with homes ranging from hillside palaces to charming bungalows. Whether you are looking for a modern loft or suburban paradise, there is something for everyone. The following neighborhood guides will introduce you to some of the more popular neighborhoods, and we ## Categories - [Uncategorized](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/uncategorized/) - [Because I Can](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/because-i-can/) - [Case Shiller Index](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/case-shiller-index/) - [Home Inspections](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/home-inspections/) - [Real Estate News & Tips](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/portland-real-estate-general/) - General Portland real estate education, tips for buyers and sellers, and neighborhood insights from Lovejoy Real Estate. - [Downsizing Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/downsizing-real-estate/) - [First Time Buyer](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/first-time-buyer/) - [Investing in Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/investing/) - [Fixers and Remodeling](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/fixers-and-remodeling/) - [Insurance for Real Estate](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/insurance/) - [Miscellaneous Portland](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/miscellaneous-portland/) - [DIY and Organization](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/diy-and-organization/) - [New Construction Complexes](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/new-construction-complexes/) - [Pearl District](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/pearl-district/) - [Portland Street of Dreams](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/street-of-dreams/) - [Market Activity & Data](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/rmls-market-action/) - Monthly Portland-area market reports, rate commentary, RMLS data, and price/inventory analysis from the Turner Team. - [Finance & Mortgage](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/finance/) - [Energy Score](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/energy-score/) - [Street of Dreams 2016](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/street-of-dreams-2016/) - [Real Estate Humor](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/real-estate-humor/) - [1031 Exchange](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/selling-74-ne-ivy-1031-exchange/) - [Short Sales](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/short-sales/) - [Matterport 3D Camera](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/matterport-3d-camera/) - [First Thursday](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/first-thursday/) - [Vendor Spotlight](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/vendor-spotlight/) - [Lovejoy News](https://lovejoyrealestate.com/category/lovejoy-news/) - Company news, milestones, app launches, awards, and updates from Lovejoy Real Estate and the Turner Team.