Portland
Business Journal published their 2015 numbers for the “Hottest Neighborhoods in the Portland Area”
Friday, January 29, 2016
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
December's Market Report
What’s the bottom line? WE NEED HOUSES TO SELL! Our inventory (houses available to sell or rent) is excruciatingly low at 3,381 active residential listings according our current Market Action report. Okay, it’s not excruciating, but it’s pretty darned low, which is painful when I am writing offers for clients that end up being outbid by 4 other offers! Gresham, where my clients’ offers are being written, only has 277 total listings, per December’s Market Report. (That's CRAZY low and includes condos, manufactured homes, mobile home/trailers, and duplexes or triplexes, as well as single family homes.)
This is the lowest inventory (the time it would take for all of the current homes listed to be sold at the current rate if no other houses were added to the market). We’re at 1.2 months, which is the lowest that it’s been since 1999. Total market time (Days On Market) increased to 56 days.
The closed 2,710 sales in December were the highest ever in the Portland Metro on record. They were 21% higher than the 2,239 closings in December of 2014 and 25.9% higher than November’s closing. Pending sales (1,936) were 16.1% stronger than in December 2014 (1,667) but fell 22.7% from the 2,504 offers accepted last month in November 2015.
Interest rates are staying low and buyers are hungry to take advantage of them. Sellers, however, may still be nervous about the crash of several years ago or haven’t been enticed to buy elsewhere yet. Call me to get a FREE Market Report on your home. Maybe you’ll be enticed to sell!
Take a peek at the Market Report here: http://www.rmlsweb.com/v2/public2/loadfile.asp?id=5879
This is the lowest inventory (the time it would take for all of the current homes listed to be sold at the current rate if no other houses were added to the market). We’re at 1.2 months, which is the lowest that it’s been since 1999. Total market time (Days On Market) increased to 56 days.
The closed 2,710 sales in December were the highest ever in the Portland Metro on record. They were 21% higher than the 2,239 closings in December of 2014 and 25.9% higher than November’s closing. Pending sales (1,936) were 16.1% stronger than in December 2014 (1,667) but fell 22.7% from the 2,504 offers accepted last month in November 2015.
Interest rates are staying low and buyers are hungry to take advantage of them. Sellers, however, may still be nervous about the crash of several years ago or haven’t been enticed to buy elsewhere yet. Call me to get a FREE Market Report on your home. Maybe you’ll be enticed to sell!
Take a peek at the Market Report here: http://www.rmlsweb.com/v2/public2/loadfile.asp?id=5879
Sunday, January 24, 2016
I Tried to Think of a Radon Pun, But There's Nothing Funny About Lung Cancer
Surgeon General Health Advisory
“Indoor radon is the
second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over
prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over
the country. It’s important to know that this threat is completely preventable.
Radon can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well-established
venting techniques.”
January 2005
January 2005
Radon. It’s on a lot of minds these days, partly due to a
recent report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showing that
Multnomah County has one of the highest rates of radon in the Pacific
Northwest. As a REALTOR™, radon is frequently on my mind because I need to
protect my clients from a serious environmental danger.
Here’s a map of the hottest zones in the Portland area http://geo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/SimpleViewer/index.html?appid=0c3757b6a8fb4dd1946633398112b003
The indoor test results summary: https://public.health.oregon.gov/HealthyEnvironments/HealthyNeighborhoods/RadonGas/Documents/final2015_summarytable.pdf
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and comes
from the natural breakdown (radioactive decay) of uranium. It is usually found
in igneous rock and soil, but in some cases, well water may also be a source of
radon.(4) Radon usually
enters homes, offices, and schools through the surrounding bedrock, though it
is possible that it enters the home and the human body through water from well
water.
“Radon gas given off by soil or rock can enter buildings
through cracks in floors or walls; construction joints; or gaps in foundations
around pipes, wires, or pumps. Radon levels are usually highest in the basement
or crawl space. This level is closest to the soil or rock that is the source of
the radon. Therefore, people who spend much of their time in basement rooms at
home or at work have a greater risk for being exposed.”(5)
There is recent concern that radon may be released from
granite countertops or tiles as well as from the home’s bedrock. Most concern
stems from an article in the New York Times discussing radon in trendy granite
countertops and that “with increased sales volume and variety, there have been
more reports of “hot” or potentially hazardous countertops, particularly among
the more exotic and striated varieties from Brazil and Namibia.”(6)
A radioactive countertop might add a fraction of a millirem (a measure of
energy absorbed by the body) of radon per hour, however, to dedicated chefs who
lean against high radon level countertops, the exposure could be exponential.
David J. Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia
University in New York, said the cancer risk from granite countertops, even
those emitting radiation above background levels, is, “on the order of one in a
million.”(7)
The EPA states that any radon exposure carries some risk(8)
however the EPA recommends homes be corrected if the occupants’ long term
exposure will at or above 4 picocuries (the measure of the rate of radioactive
decay) per liter (pCi/L) or higher.(9)
According to the EPA, the average indoor radon level is
about 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). People should take action to lower
radon levels in the home if the level is 4.0 pCi/L or higher. The EPA estimates
that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States has elevated radon
levels.(10)
What can you do?
According to the EPA, every home in the US should be tested
for radon. Do-it-yourself radon test kits are available for $25 or less at most
hardware stores.(11) Most home inspectors do the test for about $150
during a new home inspection.
About.com says this:
Both short-term and
long-term tests are available to test for radon.
Short-term tests
Short-term tests are
the fastest way to detect elevated radon levels in your home, and are performed
over a period of 2 to 90 days (most test kits are done over 2 to 4 days).
Do-it-yourself short-term kits are available at most hardware stores, and can
also be ordered online or by phone (see below).
Long-term tests
Long-term tests are
conducted over a period more than 90 days. Radon levels fluctuate throughout
the year, and are highest during cold weather when heating is used and windows
are closed. These tests can give an indication of what the average level of
radon is in your home year round.
Devices
Both passive and
active devices can be used for radon testing. Passive devices, such as charcoal
canisters, do not require power, and are widely available. Active devices
require power to run, and can provide continuous monitoring of radon levels.
These devices are usually used by a certified radon testing company rather than
as a do-it-yourself test, and are usually more expensive.
How to Test for Radon
Carefully read and
follow the manufacturer’s directions on your radon test kit. Some of these are
very specific – for example, if your test is left out for more than the
required amount of time, improperly sealed, or there is a delay between the
test time and when you mail the test, your sample may be rejected. Most test
kits recommend the following:
• Place the test kit in the lowest
area of living space in your home
• Keep windows and doors closed
(except for entering and leaving) for 12 hours prior to testing your home, and
throughout the duration of the test (short-term tests)
• Avoid placing the test kit in the
kitchen, bathrooms, hallways, laundry room, and rooms that may be drafty
• Place the kit at least 20 inches
off the floor
(http://lungcancer.about.com/od/causesoflungcance1/a/radontesting.htm)
Take your reading. If your reading is at or above 4 pCi/L
you will need to investigate mitigation options.
(1)
http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-05/documents/citizensguide.pdf
(2) http://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/indoor/indoor-air-pollutants/radon.html
(3)http://www.radon.com/radon/radon_facts.html
(4) www.radon.com/radon/radon_facts.html
(5)
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/pollution/radon
(6)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/garden/24granite.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
(7)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/garden/24granite.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
(8)
http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-05/documents/citizensguide.pdf
(9) http://sosradon.org/node/130
(10)
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/pollution/radon
(11)http://lungcancer.about.com/od/causesoflungcance1/f/granitecountertops.htm
Christy Walton, Broker
RE/MAX Select
goodnightchristy@gmail.com
o.503.477.9745
f.320.205.1628
c.503.793.3345
http://www.goodnightchristy.com
http://goodnightchristy.blogspot.com
Finding the perfect home for your "Goodnight".
Licensed in the state of Oregon
Thursday, January 21, 2016
PPS Boundary Change
Not sure if you've seen this, but Portland Public Schools is contemplating a boundary change on the West Side.
Take a look: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/files/enrollment-transfer/GGS-West-Side-Boundaries-WEB.pdf
One page on the link talks about next steps.
Here is the proposal, provided by PPS:
Take a look: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/files/enrollment-transfer/GGS-West-Side-Boundaries-WEB.pdf
One page on the link talks about next steps.
Here is the proposal, provided by PPS:
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Prepping for Your Open House
Getting your house ready for open houses seems like a total pain, especially after you’ve already done so much work to get ready to list your home. This is when your house meets real people, though, not just the Realtor Mafia. These are neighbors who will tell their friends, people who are just starting on their house hunting journey, and clients wandering through with agents. This is the time for your home to shine!
Here are a few tips to get your house ready to impress:
Clean up the clutter. All of it. Even if you don't think it's clutter, pick it up and put it away.
Lower the toilet seat lids. Please.
Open all of your blinds all the way, not just to the “open twist”. If you can, remove your curtains (but leave the sheers) so they don’t bring any hint of darkness into the room. Make sure your windows are clean, too! Use a newspaper or microfiber towel to avoid lint.
Unlock your doors so people can venture into the yard and garage.
Turn on all the lights. ALL of them. Use warm colored light bulbs to warm up the space. The bright white cool colored bulbs that I love so much highlight flaws. You don’t want to allow any dark corners or “atmospheric” rooms. You want rooms to be light and bright and look bigger! Hopefully your ceilings are bright white (you did that, right?) and shining a light onto the ceiling will open up the room. Check out your lights, if they have dead bugs in them, vacuum them out! If your lampshades are dusty, replace them.
Use white in the bathroom. As much white as you can. Hotels use white to “prove” that rooms are clean and white in the bathroom will show that the bathroom is bigger and make it look new. After you clean the bathroom until it gleams and make sure the counter is bare of everything but a nice milled soap or fancy lotion and hand soap, add a white shower curtain; fresh, fluffy white towels folded in thirds, and clean white bathroom accessories. You can skip the bathmat, just make sure the floor is spotless.
If your bathroom lighting fixtures are dated, a quick trip to Home Depot or the like for a new light can update the whole room. Also, if your cabinet handles are dated, update those with something fresh. You can get fancy glass handles from Aquila Art Glass’s Hot Knobs shop http://www.aquilaartglass.com/ or Etsy. You can also pick up some shiny brass or brushed nickel knobs from the hardware store. (Hint: this also applies to the kitchen!)
Even though we took all of those family photos and distinctive artwork down when we were getting ready to list your house, give some serious thought to replacing some of your wall art with mirrors. They will make each room look lighter and bigger, especially if they face a window or a small collection of house plants. Speaking of walls, scrub your light switch plates or replace them.
Polish those wood floors and store your rugs. You don’t want your pristine rugs to get ruined and you never want to have shabby ones on display. Remove area rugs from the kitchen to create an illusion of more space and showcase that spotless floor.
Set your table with white dishes, sleek silverware, and new looking glassware atop a neutral tablecloth or place mats. A bright runner or napkins with liven it up. A vase of fresh flowers will make the room smell great and look pretty and welcoming.
Open all of the doors and windows for an hour or two to let fresh air in and stale air out. Make it easy on yourself and don’t cook “fragrant” food the night before. Also, take out the trash in all rooms.
Remove all of your fridge magnets - even the cute ones or the ones holding up pictures of your grandkids. Clean out the fridge. Scrub it down. They will look in there. Trust me. I’ve seen it. Make sure the outside has no fingerprints or smudges, especially if your appliances are stainless. Don’t forget to give the stove hood and back splash a once over, they get gunky. Give your kitchen cabinets a once over, while you’re at it. You don’t need to organize them, but if there is anything that you’re never, ever going to eat, get rid of it.
Clear off the counters. All food, appliances, pens, notepads, the cute duckies, the canisters, rubber bands, even the pretty bowl of fruit should go. "Appliances" means the coffeemaker and toaster, too. Do it and stop complaining that everyone drinks coffee and eats toast. Put it all away. Keep your houseplants in one corner. Bare counters are good counters. Totally bare, not just shoved to the back to line the wall. Naked counters. The counters should gleam. If you have granite, invest in some granite polish.
Remove your jewelry, valuables, prescription drugs, and anything that would pain you to lose. Unfortunately, not everyone is honest. We wish they were, but we are dealing with the public.
Here are a few tips to get your house ready to impress:
Clean up the clutter. All of it. Even if you don't think it's clutter, pick it up and put it away.
Lower the toilet seat lids. Please.
Open all of your blinds all the way, not just to the “open twist”. If you can, remove your curtains (but leave the sheers) so they don’t bring any hint of darkness into the room. Make sure your windows are clean, too! Use a newspaper or microfiber towel to avoid lint.
Unlock your doors so people can venture into the yard and garage.
Turn on all the lights. ALL of them. Use warm colored light bulbs to warm up the space. The bright white cool colored bulbs that I love so much highlight flaws. You don’t want to allow any dark corners or “atmospheric” rooms. You want rooms to be light and bright and look bigger! Hopefully your ceilings are bright white (you did that, right?) and shining a light onto the ceiling will open up the room. Check out your lights, if they have dead bugs in them, vacuum them out! If your lampshades are dusty, replace them.
Use white in the bathroom. As much white as you can. Hotels use white to “prove” that rooms are clean and white in the bathroom will show that the bathroom is bigger and make it look new. After you clean the bathroom until it gleams and make sure the counter is bare of everything but a nice milled soap or fancy lotion and hand soap, add a white shower curtain; fresh, fluffy white towels folded in thirds, and clean white bathroom accessories. You can skip the bathmat, just make sure the floor is spotless.
If your bathroom lighting fixtures are dated, a quick trip to Home Depot or the like for a new light can update the whole room. Also, if your cabinet handles are dated, update those with something fresh. You can get fancy glass handles from Aquila Art Glass’s Hot Knobs shop http://www.aquilaartglass.com/ or Etsy. You can also pick up some shiny brass or brushed nickel knobs from the hardware store. (Hint: this also applies to the kitchen!)
Even though we took all of those family photos and distinctive artwork down when we were getting ready to list your house, give some serious thought to replacing some of your wall art with mirrors. They will make each room look lighter and bigger, especially if they face a window or a small collection of house plants. Speaking of walls, scrub your light switch plates or replace them.
Polish those wood floors and store your rugs. You don’t want your pristine rugs to get ruined and you never want to have shabby ones on display. Remove area rugs from the kitchen to create an illusion of more space and showcase that spotless floor.
Set your table with white dishes, sleek silverware, and new looking glassware atop a neutral tablecloth or place mats. A bright runner or napkins with liven it up. A vase of fresh flowers will make the room smell great and look pretty and welcoming.
Open all of the doors and windows for an hour or two to let fresh air in and stale air out. Make it easy on yourself and don’t cook “fragrant” food the night before. Also, take out the trash in all rooms.
Remove all of your fridge magnets - even the cute ones or the ones holding up pictures of your grandkids. Clean out the fridge. Scrub it down. They will look in there. Trust me. I’ve seen it. Make sure the outside has no fingerprints or smudges, especially if your appliances are stainless. Don’t forget to give the stove hood and back splash a once over, they get gunky. Give your kitchen cabinets a once over, while you’re at it. You don’t need to organize them, but if there is anything that you’re never, ever going to eat, get rid of it.
Clear off the counters. All food, appliances, pens, notepads, the cute duckies, the canisters, rubber bands, even the pretty bowl of fruit should go. "Appliances" means the coffeemaker and toaster, too. Do it and stop complaining that everyone drinks coffee and eats toast. Put it all away. Keep your houseplants in one corner. Bare counters are good counters. Totally bare, not just shoved to the back to line the wall. Naked counters. The counters should gleam. If you have granite, invest in some granite polish.
Remove your jewelry, valuables, prescription drugs, and anything that would pain you to lose. Unfortunately, not everyone is honest. We wish they were, but we are dealing with the public.
Any other questions on how to prep for your open house? Drop me a line at goodnightchristy@gmail.com
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Keeping Portland Weird
In the name of keeping Portland weird, the World Naked Bike Ride (if you're not sure what that is, let me help - 10,000 nude Portlanders riding bicycles as a means of protest) has announced the date for 2016's ride.
The Naked Bike Ride has run since 2004 and was designed as a protest against our dependence on oil and for bicycle riders' rights (with a dash of body positivism thrown in for good measure).
Some riders add body paint, backpacks, or costume pieces (note that I avoided saying "bits" because I'm classy like that) to bare skin. A few shy riders wear lingerie or underwear. Joining in the riot of flesh is the crowd that pours from restaurants and bars, staring, cheering, and in some cases, stripping down, too. Every once in awhile, there's a protester or three, but general revelry and music tend to drown it out.
The date for this year's World Naked Bike Ride is Saturday, June 25. The meetup place and route will be announced closer to the event to lessen disruptions and discourage people from lining up on sidewalks.
~Yours, clothed,
Christy
goodnightchristy@gmail.com
The Naked Bike Ride has run since 2004 and was designed as a protest against our dependence on oil and for bicycle riders' rights (with a dash of body positivism thrown in for good measure).
Some riders add body paint, backpacks, or costume pieces (note that I avoided saying "bits" because I'm classy like that) to bare skin. A few shy riders wear lingerie or underwear. Joining in the riot of flesh is the crowd that pours from restaurants and bars, staring, cheering, and in some cases, stripping down, too. Every once in awhile, there's a protester or three, but general revelry and music tend to drown it out.
The date for this year's World Naked Bike Ride is Saturday, June 25. The meetup place and route will be announced closer to the event to lessen disruptions and discourage people from lining up on sidewalks.
~Yours, clothed,
Christy
goodnightchristy@gmail.com
Saturday, January 9, 2016
House Porn
I look at houses. A lot. I love looking at houses. Not just available houses here in Portland that I'd like to help someone sell or buy, but houses all over the world. Every once in awhile, I'll share some of the amazing ones I see here.
Note: I am not involved in any of these transactions nor am I being paid to advertise the listings. Seriously, they are house porn to me. If you would like to BUY one of these homes, however, I am happy to refer a local agent to you.
The 10 Most Beautiful Homes on the Market in 2015
Here's one of those homes, called Chetstone Manor. I want this home for my own. Alas, my husband refuses to move to Connecticut from Oregon. He's so mean, don't you agree?
I do not know who owns the copyright on the photo. I stole it shamelessly from the home's website.
Note: I am not involved in any of these transactions nor am I being paid to advertise the listings. Seriously, they are house porn to me. If you would like to BUY one of these homes, however, I am happy to refer a local agent to you.
The 10 Most Beautiful Homes on the Market in 2015
Here's one of those homes, called Chetstone Manor. I want this home for my own. Alas, my husband refuses to move to Connecticut from Oregon. He's so mean, don't you agree?
I do not know who owns the copyright on the photo. I stole it shamelessly from the home's website.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
About that snow...
Here in Portland, we don't salt icy roads. A few main roads and freeways get a deicer solution but most just have pebbles laid down for traction. Right. Pebbles. Our car paint and undercarriage really appreciate the lack of salt, but, seriously, pebbles? Why not just use salt like the rest of the civilized world? It works a LOT better than a bunch of windshield weapons.
It's all about protecting the environment. Rock salt damages the soil, gets into the water supply through the runoff, kills plants (remember the Biblical threat of salting fields?) and animals can eat it in dangerous quantities.
I agree with the policy of not using rock salt on our roads - until I have to drive on them, then I get grouchy. The snow and ice don't usually last long, thank goodness. (Of course, now I will have jinxed us all. Sorry Portland!)
ETA: Here's another article on the pollution effects of using salt on the road - Does Salt Harm the Environment
Here's what KATU news has to say about treating the ice:
PORTLAND, Ore. — Icy roadways and sidewalks made any kind of travel -- driving or walking -- treacherous over the past few days. Now that things are thawing out, it is firing up an old debate: why don't we use salt to melt the ice?
It comes down to protecting the environment: rock salt is not good for it. But with a record number of people getting injured from falling on the ice, some are wondering if it is worth a little harm to keep people safe.
On Tuesday night, there were a few lingering patches of snow along sidewalks and streets in downtown Portland. Enough to remind us what was.
"The sidewalks were like, pretty treacherous," said Copeland Downs, a native Portlander. "People were using crampons, kind of mushing about."
"We've been through worse storms. Luckily this kind of thing only happens once every year or two," said Dylan Rivera, spokesperson for Portland's Bureau of Transportation.
Portland road crews treat 25 percent of the city's roadways - only the most heavily traveled - with a chemical called magnesium chloride, that helps break down the ice. But some say it is not enough.
"When entire roads turn into giant sheets of ice, and there's clearly no intention of doing anything with it. You know, it's all fun and games until somebody eventually gets hurt," said Eric Shulein, who commutes into downtown.
"Historically, I think the city's pretty underprepared for a lot of weather events. It's pretty pathetic in some ways," Downs said.
Rock salt is used across the country, including surrounding states. The Washington Department of Transportation combines rock salt with magnesium chloride to melt the ice.
"Rock salt is another tool in the toolbox that might be used in situations, in particular conditions," said Dave Thompson, Oregon Department of Transportation spokesperson.
He's referring to the two places it is used, and both see heavy snow: Far southwestern Oregon on the California border and far southeastern Oregon. These are both pilot programs. But for the rest of the state, it is a no go.
"The short-term relief for a few isolated areas, it's not worth the long-term consequences for the environment," Rivera explains, and adds they are all ears if people in the community want to open the conversation again.
"I think they take it a little too far. It's a major safety concern," Shulein counters. "The entire city shuts down whenever these minor (events happen) what happened the other day was minor."
Be careful on the roads out there, especially in the West Hills and on hilly streets! If your driveway has a steep grade, just stay home! Please, if at all possible, Portlanders, stay home in the crummy weather!
Remember, even when there's snow and ice, I'm still a real estate agent! If you'd like to have a FREE home market evaluation, just drop me a line!
It's all about protecting the environment. Rock salt damages the soil, gets into the water supply through the runoff, kills plants (remember the Biblical threat of salting fields?) and animals can eat it in dangerous quantities.
I agree with the policy of not using rock salt on our roads - until I have to drive on them, then I get grouchy. The snow and ice don't usually last long, thank goodness. (Of course, now I will have jinxed us all. Sorry Portland!)
ETA: Here's another article on the pollution effects of using salt on the road - Does Salt Harm the Environment
Here's what KATU news has to say about treating the ice:
PORTLAND, Ore. — Icy roadways and sidewalks made any kind of travel -- driving or walking -- treacherous over the past few days. Now that things are thawing out, it is firing up an old debate: why don't we use salt to melt the ice?
It comes down to protecting the environment: rock salt is not good for it. But with a record number of people getting injured from falling on the ice, some are wondering if it is worth a little harm to keep people safe.
On Tuesday night, there were a few lingering patches of snow along sidewalks and streets in downtown Portland. Enough to remind us what was.
"The sidewalks were like, pretty treacherous," said Copeland Downs, a native Portlander. "People were using crampons, kind of mushing about."
"We've been through worse storms. Luckily this kind of thing only happens once every year or two," said Dylan Rivera, spokesperson for Portland's Bureau of Transportation.
Portland road crews treat 25 percent of the city's roadways - only the most heavily traveled - with a chemical called magnesium chloride, that helps break down the ice. But some say it is not enough.
"When entire roads turn into giant sheets of ice, and there's clearly no intention of doing anything with it. You know, it's all fun and games until somebody eventually gets hurt," said Eric Shulein, who commutes into downtown.
"Historically, I think the city's pretty underprepared for a lot of weather events. It's pretty pathetic in some ways," Downs said.
Rock salt is used across the country, including surrounding states. The Washington Department of Transportation combines rock salt with magnesium chloride to melt the ice.
"Rock salt is another tool in the toolbox that might be used in situations, in particular conditions," said Dave Thompson, Oregon Department of Transportation spokesperson.
He's referring to the two places it is used, and both see heavy snow: Far southwestern Oregon on the California border and far southeastern Oregon. These are both pilot programs. But for the rest of the state, it is a no go.
"The short-term relief for a few isolated areas, it's not worth the long-term consequences for the environment," Rivera explains, and adds they are all ears if people in the community want to open the conversation again.
"I think they take it a little too far. It's a major safety concern," Shulein counters. "The entire city shuts down whenever these minor (events happen) what happened the other day was minor."
Be careful on the roads out there, especially in the West Hills and on hilly streets! If your driveway has a steep grade, just stay home! Please, if at all possible, Portlanders, stay home in the crummy weather!
Remember, even when there's snow and ice, I'm still a real estate agent! If you'd like to have a FREE home market evaluation, just drop me a line!
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Snow!!!
It doesn't snow often here in Portland, but when it does, the entire city shuts down! The kids got an extra day off school after the holiday break when it iced over the snow. My driveway was like glass! We didn't have a lot, but here's a little picture out a window.
Monday, January 4, 2016
My Pretty Postcard
when I'm not trying to make clients happy, I make masks! It comes in handy when I send out postcards. I have a ready-made source of cover art
Should you be interested in my masks, feel free to explore my work at GoddessMasks.
Here's a postcard I made with some of my work on it.
Should you be interested in my masks, feel free to explore my work at GoddessMasks.
Here's a postcard I made with some of my work on it.
12/16/15 Neighborhood note
Holiday Greetings!
It’s your friendly, neighborhood REALTOR™, Christy Walton, here. I hope my little note finds you and yours in good health and enjoying the holidays. The rain we’ve had this December has sure put a damper (pun intended) on getting ready in my house!
The real estate market is going through a little bit of a holiday slowdown. The inventory of available houses is tightening and the days-on-market is increasing. It’s completely normal during the holidays and starts in October of every year but we DO have houses being sold in our neighborhood (from SE 162nd to 184th and between SE Division and Powell) left and right!
Here are the numbers for Portland:
Here are the
numbers for our neighborhood. We’ve had twelve sales in the last month.
|
Average
Days On Market:
|
31 / 42
|
|
Median
Days On Market:
|
21 / 26
|
|
Average
Sq. ft.:
|
1719
|
|
Median
Sq. ft.:
|
1812
|
|
Average
List Price:
|
$241,196
|
|
Median
List Price:
|
$258,999
|
|
Average
List Price/Sq. ft.:
|
$140
|
|
Average
Sold:
|
$238,729
|
|
Median
Sold:
|
$258,500
|
|
Average
Sold Price/Sq. ft.:
|
$139
|
If you’d like me to prepare a FREE comparable market analysis for your home, just give me a call!
Christy Walton, Broker
RE/MAX Select
1233 NW Lovejoy
Portland, OR 97209
goodnightchristy@gmail.com
http://www.goodnightchristy.com
c.503-793-3345
Licensed in the state of Oregon
11/24/15 neighborhood news
Hello!
I’m Christy Walton, a local
REALTOR™ and I live in the neighborhood – really! You may have seen me walking my greyhound. My teenager goes to school at Centennial
and my son goes to daycare in the neighborhood. I’m not a stranger that doesn’t
think about our neighborhood, and just sends out monthly mailings. I care about
the neighborhood and the wonderful people that live here!
The Portland real estate market
is still having an inventory shortage. Local real estate agents have qualified
buyers that need to move but have very few choices! Home inventory in Portland
is low, and I am hearing from other agents and prospective buyers that they
just can’t find what they are looking for. This is still causing some house
prices to rise and I’m still seeing a lot of multiple offers for the most
exquisite and desirable homes.
The real estate market has been a
little weird for the last few years. Many homeowners who considered moving felt
the market was still too uncertain after the recession and have been waiting
for the new, higher price bubble to pop. As a real estate professional, I’m
thrilled to report that we still have a positive outlook for those who are
thinking about selling one home and purchasing another (we have big meetings to
analyze and learn about economic trends and the numbers are there!)
Are you worried about listing
your home in the winter? Time Magazine says, “… it
actually pays to list in the winter, when buyers tend to have more urgency…”
(http://time.com/money/4083196/winter-home-sale-tips)
In the last six months, this
neighborhood (from SE Division to SE Powell and SE 162nd to SE 184th)
has sold forty-six homes in an average of 36 days on the market. The average
sales price $205,578.
Last month, five homes sold in an
average of 28 days on the market, with an average sales price of $174,379. Does
Zillow say something different for you? Give me a call to find out WHY!
If you’ve been thinking about
selling, give me a call. I will prepare a FREE, no obligation, no pressure
market report for your home.
Regards,
Christy Walton, Broker
RE/MAX Select
GoodnightChristy@gmail.com
http://www.GoodnightChristy.com
o.503.477.9745
c.503.793.3345
Finding the perfect home for your "Goodnight".
Licensed in the state of Oregon
RE/MAX Select
GoodnightChristy@gmail.com
http://www.GoodnightChristy.com
o.503.477.9745
c.503.793.3345
Finding the perfect home for your "Goodnight".
Licensed in the state of Oregon
14 Furniture arranging Tricks that will make your home feel bigger
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You can also find more infographics at Visualistan
Checklist for My Ideal Home
When you start thinking of moving house and when you start looking at potential new homes, here are a few things to think about:
Checklist for My Ideal Home
Address:
Area of town
Number of bedrooms
Number of bathrooms
Total square footage
Office/den/bonus room
Purchase Price
Terms of HOA (e.g., month-by-month, yearly)
Location (e.g., near shopping, near bus)
On-site parking
Security system
Heating (e.g., central, forced air)
Cable
High-speed Internet access
On-site storage
Laundry facilities
Fireplace
Vaulted ceilings
Floors (e.g., carpet, hardwood, tile)
View (e.g., water, city, mountain)
Fitness facility
Pool
Club room
Social events
On-site management
Age of building
Other features
Checklist for My Ideal Home
Address:
Area of town
Number of bedrooms
Number of bathrooms
Total square footage
Office/den/bonus room
Purchase Price
Terms of HOA (e.g., month-by-month, yearly)
Location (e.g., near shopping, near bus)
On-site parking
Security system
Heating (e.g., central, forced air)
Cable
High-speed Internet access
On-site storage
Laundry facilities
Fireplace
Vaulted ceilings
Floors (e.g., carpet, hardwood, tile)
View (e.g., water, city, mountain)
Fitness facility
Pool
Club room
Social events
On-site management
Age of building
Other features
A few notes on Pricing
A Few Notes on
Pricing
While current local market
conditions indicate a rise in home prices due to a dearth of listings, leading
to some multiple offer situations, the market shows that the homes that command
higher offer prices and multiple offers are in excellent condition and in
excellent locations. Market conditions demand properties that are in good
condition. Buyers want houses that are magazine and television perfect and
move-in ready.
Prices and days-on-market
statistics for homes that are not in perfect condition, that do not show well
due to wear and tear, structural issues, or with dated finishes and floorplans
are not selling as quickly or with very high prices. Cosmetic issues, such a
being dated or needing new carpets and paint negatively affect both price and
on-market time. Structural or repair issues such as dry rot, plumbing problems
and vermin significantly affect price. In addition, lenders using both federal
and local programs frequently will not lend on properties with structural
issues.
Real estate estimate
websites, such as Zillow, estimate only by giving a cursory examination to the
current comparable neighborhood data and tax records, not a property
visit. Zillow is based on a computer
algorithm that only encompasses number data like square feet, bedrooms,
bathrooms, remodels, etc. from county and listing records and may include local
short sales and REO's in the sale price algorithm. RMLS is no longer giving
Zillow the data feed, so Zillow data for the Portland area is more inaccurate
than ever. Only the companies that
provide the feed themselves (RE/MAX does) and individual agents who upload
their listings by hand make up the Zillow data for Portland. A computer program
can not accurately estimate property valuation as there are a variety of
amenities, neighborhood information, and specific
property features that factor into the value of each property. Only an
appraisal report will be more accurate than a comparative market analysis (CMA)
from a real estate professional.
Christy Walton, Broker
RE/MAX equity group
goodnightchristy@gmail.com
http://www.goodnightchristy.com
o.503-495-5793
c.503-793-3345
Finding the perfect home for your
"Goodnight".
Licensed in the state of Oregon
A wee bit about me
Christy has heard every "The Waltons" joke ever written and knows all about "Goodnight, John Boy" and "Goodnight, Christy"!
She's also moved a lot, living in 18 different houses so she knows all about looking for the perfect home. Though Christy has lived in Oregon since 2005, she's lived in the San Francisco area; Los Angeles; and Atlanta, Georgia. Christy has also lived in Milan, Italy; and Manila, The Philippines.
Before starting in her career in the real estate world in 2002, Christy worked managing a fabric and craft store and spent close to 15 years in theater - most of that as a stage manager. She also is an artist, making carnival masks for wearing and wall. You can see those at www.GoddessMasks.com.
Christy is a casual, knowledgeable, professional, non-intimidating real estate broker. Her job is to find out what you want and need in a home and neighborhood and then work hard to make you happy! She specializes in that annoying, scary paperwork and is always here to explain it so you understand it, too.
Real estate transactions often bring stress and hassle and can be among the biggest financial decisions that people make. Christy's goal is to provide a relaxed, pleasant, positive, and stress-free experience for her clients. Christy works tirelessly with her clients to find the best ways to fulfill their real estate goals! She works with a skilled, experienced team consisting of fellow agents, mortgage brokers, title and escrow officers and home inspectors to ensure her clients' real estate needs are filled.
When she's not out with buyers or sellers or making masks, Christy reads voraciously, volunteers with the local greyhound adoption group, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Clark, and playing with her two children, teenager Chiara and wee beastie, Cooper.
Let Christy help you find the perfect home for your “Goodnight”.
Christy Walton, Broker
RE/MAX Select
1233 NW Lovejoy
Portland, OR 97209
goodnightchristy@gmail.com
http://www.goodnightchristy.com
c.503-793-3345
Licensed in the state of Oregon
www.facebook.com/goodnightchristy
https://twitter.com/CisMasque
my pretty office
I'm redoing my blog from my old RE/MAX site. Darn it, I was just getting used to doing it!
I moved over to RE/MAX Select to get out of a GIANT office and into one that's more cozy and friendly. A dear friend announced that he was opening an office just as I moved on so it was a perfect fit! I loved the idea of joining something brand new and fresh, yet with familiar faces and, of course, that powerful RE/MAX brand!
We're at
1233 NW Lovejoy in the Pearl!
One thing we do is stay open for each first Thursday and celebrate art with a little wine and some cheese. We have a rotating collection of curated artwork in the office. Come take a peek. There's always something new and beautiful!
Here are a few photos of my gorgeous office! This time, the artwork is by:
I moved over to RE/MAX Select to get out of a GIANT office and into one that's more cozy and friendly. A dear friend announced that he was opening an office just as I moved on so it was a perfect fit! I loved the idea of joining something brand new and fresh, yet with familiar faces and, of course, that powerful RE/MAX brand!
We're at
1233 NW Lovejoy in the Pearl!
One thing we do is stay open for each first Thursday and celebrate art with a little wine and some cheese. We have a rotating collection of curated artwork in the office. Come take a peek. There's always something new and beautiful!
Here are a few photos of my gorgeous office! This time, the artwork is by:
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