Another image of the May 1948 flood that swamped many low lying areas along Portland’s waterfront. This photo looks north along NW Front from under the Steel Bridge ramp. Union Station is to the left and the Broadway Bridge in the background. The industrial property along the right was decades away from becoming McCormick Pier Condos.

(City of Portland Archives)

Of course it’s nice that the seller will pay to have the termite problem treated, which could cost around $1,000 or so.  Even though the termites will be gone, you have to wonder about the damage to the structure.  In the more severe cases, damage to the structure can cost up to 50 times the cost of the treatment.  The last thing you want is to move into a home that you know has been treated for termites, only to find the structure to be in very bad shape.

If any type of damage was done to the wooden structure of the home, you may need to get immediate repairs.  While some damage may be visible, there are other types of damage that may seem invisible to the naked eye.  To find out just how bad the damage is, carpets and rugs will need to be lifted, furniture and appliances…

Of course it’s nice that the seller will pay to have the termite problem treated, which could cost around $1,000 or so.  Even though the termites will be gone, you have to wonder about the damage to the structure.  In the more severe cases, damage to the structure can cost up to 50 times the cost of the treatment.  The last thing you want is to move into a home that you know has been treated for termites, only to find the structure to be in very bad shape.

If any type of damage was done to the wooden structure of the home, you may need to get immediate repairs.  While some damage may be visible, there are other types of damage that may seem invisible to the naked eye.  To find out just how bad the damage is, carpets and rugs will need to be lifted, furniture and appliances…

Real estate buying can be a daunting task to carry out for someone with no prior experience. Availability of numerous resources to choose from on real estate Port Orford Oregon can lead to information overload. How to get all this information sorted out and organized is vital when making property purchases.

One needs to conduct thorough research on housing costs for a particular area before attending a home auction. Newspapers, journals and websites are a good place to start as these have information on foreclosures and average time taken on the market by homes. Such research will help a person to avoid spending more money for a unit than it is worth. This way, a lot of cash which can be used for other purposes is saved.

Knowing the number of sex offenders living in a potential new neighborhood and their proximity to the home under consideration is important for…

Real estate buying can be a daunting task to carry out for someone with no prior experience. Availability of numerous resources to choose from on real estate Port Orford Oregon can lead to information overload. How to get all this information sorted out and organized is vital when making property purchases.

One needs to conduct thorough research on housing costs for a particular area before attending a home auction. Newspapers, journals and websites are a good place to start as these have information on foreclosures and average time taken on the market by homes. Such research will help a person to avoid spending more money for a unit than it is worth. This way, a lot of cash which can be used for other purposes is saved.

Knowing the number of sex offenders living in a potential new neighborhood and their proximity to the home under consideration is important for…

The easiest way to get the best real estate Coos Bay Oregon would be to consider things such as the amount of space that you would require in order to be comfortable in your new home. Do not force yourself to purchase a smaller property than you would need simply because you want to save money. If you buy real estate with this approach, you would constantly feel the need to upgrade to a property that you are able to get more use out of. Instead, you want to think about how much growth your family is likely to go through in the near future. Getting a home with enough bedrooms and bathrooms would always be the best route to select when you are investing in Coos Bay Oregon real estate. Additionally, you should spend some time thinking about how important the location is to you, you may want to…

According to United Van Lines, a full service moving company which has been tracking national migration patterns since 1977, ranked Oregon the number two in-migration state in 2012 (second only to District of Columbia), for the third year in a row.

As our economy continues to improve, with low vacancy and continued in-migration from other states, my guess is that we will continue to see the price increases we have been seeing over the past ten months.

History of the Garage

It’s an integral part of most of our homes and something we take for granted.  Usually your garage is used to house your car, but oftentimes it’s another storage room, converted bedroom, or even rehearsal space for a band!  How did this space come to be, however?  Today’s infographic shows the evolution of the garage from converted free-standing horse carriage houses to an actual part of our homes.

An exceptionally clear image of the area between Duniway Park and the Ross Island Bridge in South Portland in 1938. The 4th Avenue (Barbur Blvd.) extension was complete but Harbor Drive (and I-5) were still in the future.

(City of Portland Archives)

An exceptionally clear image of the area between Duniway Park and the Ross Island Bridge in South Portland in 1938. The 4th Avenue (Barbur Blvd.) extension was complete but Harbor Drive (and I-5) were still in the future.

(City of Portland Archives)

Did you know that buying a home after bankruptcy in Oregon requires a waiting period before qualifying for an FHA, VA, USDA, or Conventional mortgage program?  And, how soon you can purchase after the bankruptcy (the length of the waiting period) depends on what type of home mortgage loan you plan to use.  Why?  Because FHA, VA, USDA, and Conventional financing all have different qualifying guideline requirements for people who have experienced a chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy.

Buying a home after a chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy in Oregon is not as difficult as you may think!

See below for details:

FHA Home Loan After Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

• 2 years from date of discharge with re-established credit paid as agreed or no new credit obligations incurred

• Less than 2 years, but not less than 12 months from date of discharge may be…

Did you know that buying a home after bankruptcy in Oregon requires a waiting period before qualifying for an FHA, VA, USDA, or Conventional mortgage program?  And, how soon you can purchase after the bankruptcy (the length of the waiting period) depends on what type of home mortgage loan you plan to use.  Why?  Because FHA, VA, USDA, and Conventional financing all have different qualifying guideline requirements for people who have experienced a chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy.

Buying a home after a chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy in Oregon is not as difficult as you may think!

See below for details:

FHA Home Loan After Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

• 2 years from date of discharge with re-established credit paid as agreed or no new credit obligations incurred

• Less than 2 years, but not less than 12 months from date of discharge may be…

Very little has changed in this quiet neighborhood in the last 70+ years. This view is east on SE Ash St. looking to 44th Avenue.

(City of Portland Archives)

Stay organized and focused on your quest for a new home, to make the search easier and avoid surprises later

In the hunt for the perfect house, it’s easy to get swept away by a home’s most charming details (a gracious front porch) and play down the important stuff you’ll be kicking yourself for later (the price is over budget). And if you are touring multiple open houses each weekend, keeping everything straight can get complicated.

Set your priorities and streamline the house-hunting process early on, and you can breathe easier knowing you have a handle on things. It’s probably the most important purchase you will ever make, so take a few deep breaths and make a plan before diving in — you’ll be glad you did.

These 12 tips can help you stay organized and focused on the important things during your house hunt.

Traffic is heavy where W. Burnside meets SW 18th and 19th Avenues and Alder Street in this 1938 photo. Hard to tell what traffic control system they had in place at that time but it looks like all directions are on the move, including pedestrians. Part of Portland Firefighters Park can be seen on the left.

(City of Portland Archives)

Traffic is heavy where W. Burnside meets SW 18th and 19th Avenues and Alder Street in this 1938 photo. Hard to tell what traffic control system they had in place at that time but it looks like all directions are on the move, including pedestrians. Part of Portland Firefighters Park can be seen on the left.

(City of Portland Archives)

This 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in Sandy, Oregon was built in 2001 and features 1298 square feet. It last sold for $134,900 on 12/28/2001. My Broker’s Price Opinion: $165,000.

In the recent past, I have been posting some of my Broker’s Price Opinions (what banks call it when they pay you to provide an opinion of value of a property), and I would post what the home last sold for along with today’s value. I used to consistantly see a 35-50% haircut in today’s value versus what the place last sold for. That has been changing. I realize this particular place was last sold over a decade ago, however, it is amazing to me how fast this market has taken a turn and the upward pressure on prices we have been seeing lately.

This 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in Sandy, Oregon was built in 2001 and features 1298 square feet. It last sold for $134,900 on 12/28/2001. My Broker’s Price Opinion: $165,000.

In the recent past, I have been posting some of my Broker’s Price Opinions (what banks call it when they pay you to provide an opinion of value of a property), and I would post what the home last sold for along with today’s value. I used to consistantly see a 35-50% haircut in today’s value versus what the place last sold for. That has been changing. I realize this particular place was last sold over a decade ago, however, it is amazing to me how fast this market has taken a turn and the upward pressure on prices we have been seeing lately.

A lot of change is happening in Oregon real estate right now. The good news is that most of that change is very positive.

For a current and comprehensive view of our local housing market, check out this free edition of the Oregon Real Estate Update.