I’m proud to be a member of FIABCI. It provides excellent value-added services for my clients, and has provided me a wealth of professional and educational opportunities. (You may have to zoom in) or click here for the pdf file

While not the intent of the U.S. News piece, it’s a good reminder to never follow the hype. Buy property and live in places that suit your lifestyle best. Just a few years ago, Bend was flooded with speculative buyers and ranked consistently as a top destination for retirement. Today, the bottom has fallen out [...]

The minimalist+ home is designed with a simplicity of form that quickly reveals a commitment to an uncluttered modern way of living that combines light, space, social responsibility, technology, value and energy within a smart home that expands our experience while reducing our environmental impact. For more information visit our website.

An interesting conversation with Richard Florida, a professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. Florida is probably most well-known for writings on the creative class and urban regeneration.

I just learned of this today.  The intro sounds a little too much like morning drive-time radio, but the content is very good. I’ll check back periodically to evaluate it as well.

Interactive map that includes median sales prices and median commute times in all Metropolitan Sales Areas; also includes year-to-date price change comparison. View Metropolitan Sales Areas in a larger map

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 [...]

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 [...]

I thought I’d share an article that bodes well for many Portlanders.   More buyers are being lured to the simplicity that smaller homes bring. Plus, these homes are situated within walking distance to restaurants, shops, bike paths, and transportation options. By Kristine Hansen | December 2009 After Sarah Susanka published The Not So Big House [...]

This was shared with me by an area lender – Dakota Gale.  Dakota works with clients across the home-buying spectrum, and is an excellent resource.

Realtor.org, October 9, 2009 Banks are backing away from short sales, forcing sellers to pay extra at closing or demanding a promissory note for the amount due. One-third of borrowers owe more on their mortgages than their properties are worth, according First American CoreLogic. When their situations were really tough, most banks preferred short sales [...]

The weak U.S. Dollar is good news for foreign investors! Now foreign investors can buy more real estate for their same financial investment because of their increased purchasing power.  Even in comparatively strong residential markets like Portland, prices can be considerably lower than in competing cities. And with direct flights to major hubs like Tokyo [...]