Let's Talk Oregon Real Estate

I adore this designers dramatic dark brown walls. Jeff mentions that a dark wall color does not mean the room will look smaller, which makes a lot of sense as dark colors are considered receding. The best thing about dark or very rich wall color is the way you can play with contrast. This top designer does this by collecting and displaying white pottery.

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Ultra Elegant Living ~ Rich European ambience, poised on a magnificent mountain side perch in gated community. Custom built home with over 6,515 sq ft of luxury. Perfect for lavish entertaining, and everyday living. Two master suites, gourmet kitchen, marble floors, media room, library, five curved iron wrought decks, elevator. A true architectural gem.

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As your Sherwood Realtor, I am committed to putting your home in front of millions of potential buyers by syndicating to the most Popular Real Estate Websites and Search Engines. As you know, more interest can lead to a higher closing price.

Take a look at our sample tour : www.tourfactory.com/630631

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As we look back at the real estate boom, it’s clear that many of us got used to the idea of quick home price appreciation. Real estate speculation became a game not just for investors, but for anyone with some equity and the desire to move. As we become accustomed to the post-boom market, our expectations for home price appreciation need to evolve as well.

From 1980 through 2010 (including six months forecasted for this year), home values appreciated on average 25% every five years. This average appreciation rate incorporates the post recession boom of the late 80s, the housing downturn of the early 90s, and the more recent boom and financial crisis of the past decade. The years since 2000 have been anything but normal. As a nation, we experienced extremely high real estate appreciation rates between 2002 and 2007, which were followed by historic price declines over the past three years. Though these appreciation and depreciation rates vary depending on area and price range, what seems to be true for all price points and regions is that homes are once again places of shelter—not get-rich-quick investments.

From this point forward, most homeowners will want to stay in their homes for three to five years to build up enough equity to make selling and moving a sound financial decision. This is because most major real estate economists anticipate that we will not see moderate appreciation in home value appreciation until 2011 and very gradual year-over-year improvement into the next decade.

The multi-year recoup period is historically normal: annual appreciation rates averaged 4.6 percent (compounded) per year since 1980, despite the many ups and downs over the past years.

Since they will most likely want to stay in their next home for at least three to five years, today’s buyers need to consider their near- and long-term plans as they shop. Growing families, retirement, children going off to college, or any other factor that could affect their budget or the amount of space they’ll need over the next several years should be taken into account.

Many homeowners and would-be buyers are wondering if it is a good time to sell or buy. We have seen valuations stabilizing in many areas and price points, and since current historically low interest rates equal greater purchasing power, sellers and buyers need to consider their individual situations carefully.

As normal appreciation rates return and become more familiar, we must realize that while real estate is still a good long-term investment, a home is about far more than money—it’s there to provide shelter, comfort, and a safe place for families to gather.

Source: U.S. Census, National Assocation of REALTORS, Moody's Economy.com

PORTLAND – Parenting magazine named Portland one of the top 10 American towns for raising children.

The “Best Cities for Families” annual list recognized Portland for its flourishing farmers markets, interactive activities for kids at the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry, and Jamison Square, which has a fountain that draws kids to its cool mist on hot days, among other highlights.

Before evaluating the cities, Parenting conducted a nationwide survey of moms through its MomConnection® research panel to establish the primary factors they consider when choosing a town to live in. Their choices were (in order of priority): quality of schools; affordability and availability of quality housing; low crime rates; job availability and growth; number of registered sex offenders; recreational opportunities; quality/quantity of pediatricians/family physicians; commute time and distance; proximity to a good children’s hospital; quality/quantity of childcare facilities and preschools; and air quality.

After evaluating all the rating factors, Parenting identified the following ten towns as the overall Best Cities for Families:

1. Arlington, VA

2. Austin, TX

3. Madison, WI

4. Ann Arbor, MI

5. Lexington, KY

6. Portland, OR

7. Spokane, WA

8. Scottsdale, AZ

9. Omaha, NE

10. Raleigh, NC

“We’re thrilled to be able to share these rankings with families around the country who are looking for the perfect place to raise their kids,” said Susan Kane, Parenting’s editor-in-chief. “Moms made it clear to our researchers that finding the right town is about more than just location – they value the quality of schools, low crime rates, and so much more.”

Portland also made the Top 10 list for safe cities compiled by Parenting Magazine.

www.HomesByMichelleJohnson.com Search. Find. Buy. Smile.

We are excited to share with you our new quarterly Portland Metro Newsletter, recently named the most "up-town" real estate publication in Portland.

You can expect to find the following information in each elegant issue...

- A quick snap shot of recent data from our Portland Metro real estate market along with a simple and concise interpretation to keep you up-to-date.

- Various real estate or home ownership articles that we feel could be of relevance to you and your Oregon family.

- The dates of local Portland Oregon events that may be of interest to you along with websites in case you would like more information about any particular one.

- Home design ideas and of course Beautiful Oregon homes!

All delivered straight to your home mailbox....go to www.SherwoodLiving.com to subscribe!

Update tips for every budget: $100, $1,000 or $5,000. Take on several small projects or focus on one or two larger ones.

Reinvent the kitchen

$100: Install elegant cabinet knobs and drawer pulls for an instant makeover.

$1,000: Brighten the kitchen with a variety of lighting, such as under- and above-cabinet fixtures, pendants above an island or recessed lights. You can also install a sleek new sink and faucet.

$5,000: If your appliances are outdated, you may want to purchase a new cooktop, range and/or dishwasher. Look for styles with universal appeal (that means no avocado green!). If your cabinets are less than stylish, consider refacing them for a fresh new look 

Impress potential buyers with these home-update tips for every budget: $100, $1,000 or $5,000. Take on several small projects or focus on one or two larger ones. 

Click the above photo to view more Home - Update Tips.

Unless your bank account can cover a check for hundreds of thousands of dollars, you’ll need to borrow money to purchase a house. That’s where your mortgage loan enters the transaction. However, you should start the process of securing financing before you make an offer on a home so when the time comes, you’ll be ready, willing and able to purchase the property.

There are two preliminary steps available to most consumers: pre-qualification and pre-approval. Even though these terms sound interchangeable, they mean very different things.

Pre-qualification
If a lender pre-qualifies you, it gives you an idea of how much money you might be able to borrow. You provide the lender with your income, debts and important details of your credit history. The lender crunches some numbers and comes up with how many dollars the bank might let you borrow. He’ll give you a conditional qualification letter, which determines your likelihood of securing such a loan.

Of course, the lender hasn’t yet verified the information you provided. And he hasn’t guaranteed anything. Your loan application could be rejected.

Check out this easy to use real estate glossary.

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