News Headlines for Portland, Oregon : 2012 Quarter 2

6/30/2012

The State Wants More Taxes. Oregon Realtors Want More Sales. Big Shocker Huh!

The new measure 79 on the ballots is about transfer taxes on real estate that benefits the Local and State Governments. The government is always looking for more ways to make money and putting a tax on real estate sales is what they are shooting for now. This is nothing new to Oregon and if this tax goes into place you can be sure that it will be more difficult to buy or sell a home not to mention more money directly out of your pocket. The yes on measure 79 website has a calculator to help you see the potential impact. If you put in $281,000 (which is the average sales price in Portland ending May 2012) the calculator estimates the amount of additionally tax would be $5535.70. This is substantial.

To visit the website and see the additional amount you have to pay more when you sell

6/22/2012

45 Degrees Central A $90 Million Dollar Investment in Beaverton

Located directly across from Nike World Headquarters this 26 acre land development will bring, 220 single family homes, 140 condominiums and a dense urban feel with no yards. It will have a clubhouse, pool, and park. There was talk of building a hotel and know the thought is to build an athletic facility where you can buy a membership. The condos will range from $90,000-$180,000 while the single family homes will range from $235,000-$250,000. This is a perfect location for people who work at Nike as you would walk to work and if you work at Intel it's one short Max ride away.

To learn more about the KGW news article

6/15/2012

Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building

It's just a really cool building. Cool design, cool innovations, cool energy efficiency. Some of the highlights are that the total renovation costs will add up to $152,000,000. The cistern collects water used for the toilets, the elevators generate their own power, the windows are shaded by aluminium. The new tenants will be the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Bureau of Land Management, the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Program and Forest Service.

To catch more of the Oregonian article

6/4/2012

Affordable Housing in Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood?

A four story apartment building in the 4400 block of NE Fremont is slated to be constructed after Everett Custom Homes finishes the acquisition of the land. There is slated for approximately 60 1 bedroom units and now they are thinking it might have more like 56 units with some of those being 2 bedrooms. Currently there are concerns about no additional parking, no mixed use retail space and the development not fitting into the area because it attracts only single people.

To catch more of the KATU news article

5/29/2012

One Quarter of US Homes Sold Are Foreclosures

In the first quarter of 2012, twenty-six percent of all homes sold were in some stage of foreclosure. This is an increase of 8% from the previous quarter. The average home price purchased in some kind of for closure was $161,214.

To catch the full article from Realty Trac

5/18/2012

Three Sky Rise Apartment Buildings Slated to Begin Construction in the Lloyd Blocks

The Lloyd District home of the Rose Garden, Memorial Coliseum, Lloyd Shopping Center and many big office buildings and the Light rail are now going to have three new friends. One building will be 13 stories high, another 18 and the tallest will be the maximum zoning height for the LLoyd District area at 32 stories tall. These massive projects which are slated to begin by year end should help local businesses flourish and local construction jobs also flourish.

To catch more of the KATU news article

5/8/2012

Are You A Senior? Then Live In Style!

Here are three Oregon senior communities you can grow old and enjoy. They offer retirement living, assisted living, personal care and memory care. In add it on you receive, wellness care, physical activities, events and much more. The three communities are:

Edgewood Point Assisted Living, SW Scholls Ferry Rd.
7733 SW Scholls Ferry Rd
Beaverton, OR 97008

Stoneybrook Assisted Living, SW Hollyhock Circle
4650 SW Hollyhock Circle
Corvallis, OR 97333

Somerset Assisted Living, Cason Road
8360 Cason Road
Gladstone, OR 97027

To catch more of the Information about Living In Style at these communities visit

4/29/2012

National Open House Weekend

Portland area Real Estate Agents are participating and joining in on the National Open House weekend from the National Association of Realtors. Its a time to get out shopping and enjoy the great weather Portland summers have to offer!

To catch more of the Oregonian Article

4/21/2012

Please Take My Home Back

Newberg women tries to give her home back to Bank of America and they wont' take it back. Interest, homeowner's association dues and penalties accrue. Find out how she is dealing with it!

To catch more of the KATU Video

4/12/2012

Who Cares About Walkability Anyway

Portlanders have always lead the way with creating and wanting "walkable neighborhoods". That is people would prefer to drive less and do more local shopping within walking distance. It turns out the rest of the nation agrees and is following suit. According to the National Association of Realtors 80% of people look for homes in pedestrian rich areas and furthermore 60% would even sacrifice home size if they could drive less. Our company uses a walkability score on all of our listings on our website and so do some of the other larger brokerages such as Windermere and John L. Scott. If you are reading this and have no idea what I'm talking about go to walkscore.com here.

To catch more of the Oregonian Article

4/2/2012

Why Foreclose, Take Advantage of Doing A Short Sale

Banks prefer you sell your home for less than you owe rather than foreclose. In fact short sales are so prevalent that 17% of all transaction across the country are short sales ending February. America's largest mortgage servicer has doubled the number of short sales approved. Lenders follow their money and they realize they make more doing a short sale in fact some stats have them making 20% more than a foreclosure. The owners of the home make out too because it shows good faith on their part in solving the problem rather than just dumping it so they not only have peace of mind but also it's reflects much better on their credit report.

To catch more of the CNN Money Article

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