The Best of PDX Real Estate

got a permit?

clarksuz — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:16:23 +0000

Thinking about remodeling your home this year? Then you should also be preparing to get a permit from the city. Building permits are required by law and there are legal consequences if you are caught working without one.

A building inspector has the right to require you to halt and reverse your remodel if you are found to have unknowingly violated any building codes. You will then be required to get the necessary permits and correct any unsafe work, usually at a higher rate than if the proper permits had been obtained in the first place.

Trying to sell a property in today’s market that has been remodeled without permits is a property disclosure item and will likely be required to be corrected prior to the sale closing. Trust me, it’s a huge hassle to go through this process retroactively!

PDX Holiday Shopping Guide

clarksuz — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:35:29 +0000

Have you heard about Portland’s “pop-up” shops? Several temporary shops selling everything from artwork to clothing have “popped up” around downtown Portland. They feature locally designed & handcrafted items that would make excellent gifts for everyone on your list. These shops offer a fabulous opportunity to support local small businesses while completing your holiday shopping. Additionally, Thursday evenings throughout December are known as “Downtown Holidates,” which offer free parking at participating garages, special events at stores, and live music! For detailed information please visit the Downtown Portland website. The holiday season is a fantastic time to explore our wonderful city and support our local businesses–we hope you have fun completing your holiday to-dos!

Interest Rates are falling……

clarksuz — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:56:19 +0000

Wow! Today interest rates are between 3.75% and 4.07% (according to Wells Fargo). If there was ever a time to make your move to refinance or buy, this is it! The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it is going to invest in long-term Treasury securities over the next nine months, so interest rates are expected to drop even lower, if you can believe that. This move is one of many strategies to stimulate economic growth in the economy. The Clark Group can help educate you about buying a home and find the right lender to meet your needs. Visit www.movingtopdx.com and connect with a professional, knowledgeable and caring real estate team. Finding the home that moves YOU! (information sourced from http://realtormag.realtor.org/, September 22, 2011)

2011 Fall Guide: Portland-Area Pumpkin Patches and Other Fall Fun!

clarksuz — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:27:25 +0000

courtesy of bellaorganic

There are so many activities to do in Portland when the fall arrives. Families enjoy heading to one of the many farms, located just outside the city center. You can pick apples, pears, and pumpkins right now. You may want to explore a haunted corn maze with your friends or your children, and then enjoy the sweetness of a caramel apple. All of these options are yours for the taking, but figuring out where to go and how much it will cost, can be baffling. Good news because many of the activities are free or cheap! To help simplify your mission, we have included a link to PDX kid’s calendar. They have a list of the farms and other community events, so get out there and have some fun!

Finding Your Rhythm

clarksuz — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 22:14:03 +0000

As autumn fast approaches, we have suddenly found ourselves at yet, another turn of the season. For some this may mean getting back into a school routine with the kids or pruning and winterizing our gardens, and for others it may simply be an acknowledgement that the weather is getting cooler and slightly wetter and the days are getting shorter, but none the less, it is a transition for us all. In times like these, it is helpful to remember that we are adjusting ourselves to the rhythm of life. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed with what it means in your life, you may want to simplify things. Try going to bed earlier for a change. The extra rest helps the body and mind to handle the new schedule that come with the seasonal changes. It is amazing how our busy culture undervalues REST! Take more off of your social calendar for a little while and spend some quality time with yourself. There will always be “something” to do or “one more thing” that needs your attention. You can go back to the busyness of all of it when you have found some inner quietness. If you find yourself manic in the morning getting children ready for school before you need to head out the door to work, then try laying out clothes the night before for the kids (and you!) and making school lunches. This will help to ease the morning routine a bit and take out the questions of “what to eat and what to wear?”. If winterizing your yard and planting fall crops is where you are focused, then take the approach of doing a little each day, or spread the work out over the next month by making a plan for a few weekends. An all or nothing approach can be self defeating and stressful if “you can’t get it all done”. Enjoy the last days of summer as they slip into autumn, and remember to have FUN in the midst of all the work and planning. With a little foresight, flexibility and balancing of play and work, you will be able to find your rhythm!

Good News if You Want to Refinance

clarksuz — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:48:32 +0000

The Obama administration announced that they would extend the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) that has already been in effect for the past two years. Obama seems to be rallying for “responsible home owners” and wants to continue to extend this program designed to let home owners take advantage of the current low interest rates. How long will it last? Who knows, but it is a great option for those of us who thought 6% or 7% was just fine 5 years ago, compared to 7%-8% in the early 1990′s. It can put thousands of dollars a year back into your pockets, if you qualify. The HARP program was originally designed for people who could not qualify for loans from private companies, so Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae offers loans at lower rates and allows borrowers to mortgage debts up to 125 percent of the value of their homes.The new guidelines may be different, and the Obama administration plans to announce the details of this loan program in coming weeks. The Clark Group can help connect you with a professional mortgage lender to get this process started. Visit our website at www.movingtopdx.com and stay tuned…

Incentives

clarksuz — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:35:03 +0000

With more banks and mortgage companies facing high inventories of REOs (Real Estate Owned), banks are teaming up with companies to offer incentives to purchase these vacant, and sometimes deteriorating properties. For example, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are trying to liquidate its REOs, the National Mortgage News reports. By the end of 2010, Fannie Mae was authorizing lenders to offer the HomePath program for Fannie Mae REOs. In the program, which is available to individual buyers and investors, home buyers do not need perfect credit and can put down as little as 3 percent of the property price, qualifying for a loan up to 97 percent of the purchase price. Wow! Some cities are coming up with their own programs to stimulate sales. JPMorgan Chase recently teamed with Detroit city officials to offer down payment assistance to police officers and city employees who purchase a vacant home in the city over the next two years. The first buyers will receive $25,000 in down payment assistance, while 60 other buyers will receive up to $15,000. (sourced from www.realtormag.realtor.org, August 30, 2011) What will we see in Portland? That is yet to be seen, but incentives are out there, and The Clark Group is ready to help you make the right choice when it comes to buying a home or selling property. What are you waiting for?

12465 SW Winter Lake Drive- MLS#11255780 $215,000

clarksuz — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 05:36:34 +0000

This contemporary ranch is nestled in the Summerlake Community. The house is appointed on an over-sized private lot, on a cul-de-sac, just steps to the park. It features a great one level living floor plan with vaulted ceilings, a wood burning fireplace, 3 beds, 2 baths, 2 car garage, and a new high efficiency furnace. This won’t last long. Visit our webpage for more information.

Whole-house remodel, common in Portland

clarksuz — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 23:50:19 +0000

Do you see that home that looks straight out of something from That 70′s Show or Ozzie and Harriet? Well, it’s a hidden gem, a diamond in the rough. Many buyers are choosing a home with the thick brown shag and the flecked Formica counter tops, and not just because it’s hip, but because the price is right and the design opportunities are ripe. Right now, more than half the housing stock in Portland is over 25 years old. With the right house and the right neighborhood, it can make sense to do more than just cosmetic updates. The market has also motivated sellers to tackle those home projects they have been putting off before selling their property. So before you pass up that cosmetic fixer in the neighborhood you want, consider the possibilities!

Back to School Shopping Tips

clarksuz — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:59:08 +0000

It’s that time again! School is just around the corner, so soaking up the last few days of summer might be what you are focused on. For others, the shopping has begun and the timely process of picking out school supplies and clothing. We can offer some tips for you to help lighten the burden. 1) Take inventory- look at what you have form last year or what might be lying around the house before you do a blind shopping run at the local Target. 2) Set a budget-Decide how much you are willing to spend per person a few days in advance. Include children in the process of creating the budget to teach them responsible money management. 3)Shop with a list- You are much more likely to stick to it, if you have written it down and you know what you need to buy. 4) Know what your child’s school allows-. Schools will often provide parents with a list of required items for the school year which can help determine what you need to purchase. These lists are also available at many retail stores and on school websites. Additionally, many schools have specific dress codes, so keep these restrictions in mind before spending money on clothes the school may not allow. 5) Check for refund and exchange policies. Be sure you can exchange or return items purchased during this time period. Keep in mind some items may be non-refundable or have restocking fees associated with a return.