“The least a democratic society should do is to offer people wonderful public spaces. Public spaces are not a frivolity. They are just as important as hospitals and schools. They create a sense of belonging. This creates a different type of society—a society where people of all income levels meet in public space is a [...]

Last week our house was burglarized. I believe it was a random event, and it’s been a learning process. This week we’re taking steps to minimize the risk of this happening again. We live in a very nice neighborhood, and perhaps that was part of what made our home a target.
I’m surpised that I never felt angry. [...]

Nice development from my former hometown of Milwaukee, WI

Today I’m featuring two company listings that will appeal to different buyer segments. Both are sharp & move-in ready, and represent a fine value for their respective markets.
3705 NE 114th | 2 BR | 1 Bath | 1 Car garage | Mint Parkrose Cottage | $189,900
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3551 SE Harold | 5 BR | 3 Bath | 2 [...]

My everyday bike is a Maruishi road bike I bought in Madison, WI, about five years ago from a client who ran a bike shop.  I planned to buy something new, but as I was looking around the store I found this 20+ year old rebuilt,  with a name I never heard of.  I test [...]

This past week I’ve seen a number of articles and headlines that center around a common theme, and it ties in nicely with Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative.
We know obesity is an epidemic. We know that most suburban developments are car-centric and pedestrian-hostile.  Ironically, while the exodus to the suburbs for the past 50 years [...]

Many of us know someone, or know someone who knows someone, who owns property in higher-profile foreign destinations – such as Mexico and Costa Rica. In fact, hundred of thousands of North Americans already own property outside the U.S., and the numbers will only increase.  I plan to feature both established and up-and-coming destinations.  I [...]

Metropolitan Sales Areas
What’s Your Market’s Median Home Price?
Click on your metropolitan statistical area to get the latest quarterly median home price for your market, and its percentage change from the previous year.
This housing data is provided by the Research division of the National Association of REALTORS, last updated November 11, 2009. I’ll post it again [...]

The weather was perfect today – nearly 60 and blue skies – and I saw some equally nice listings. The two I’d like to feature have great walkscores, and represent nice mid-priced and move-up priced homes.

The first is an Alberta Arts townhouse, classic on the outside and a modernist’s delight on the inside. Great details [...]

When I was growing up cars did not have cup holders. Sure, you could buy the type that hung inside the car door, but they were flimsy and really didn’t work once the car was moving!
Fast forward thirty years. The number of holders are cited by your car salesperson along with cylinders and horsepower. Today [...]

As my theme is “Smart Living from the Pacific Northwest to the Tropics” I am going to add some structure and regularity to the posts that support that ideal.  Real estate is never solely about the property being purchased; it’s about how that property fits with someone’s lifestyle, business goals, and dreams – among other [...]

Please contact me if you would like either or both of the following reports. I can email them to you in .pdf format at no charge/no obligation:
“The 2009 NAR Profile of International Home Buying Activity” and “Business Data for Engaging in International Real Estate Transactions in Oregon.” I can obtain the second report for any [...]