Every week I talk to Portland homeowners who are seriously considering crossing the river. Some are motivated by taxes. Some want more space for their money. Some are just ready for a change of pace. If you’ve been eyeing Clark County — whether that’s Vancouver, Camas, Washougal, or somewhere farther north like Ridgefield — here’s […]
The Richmond neighborhood is situated in southeast Portland and incorporates both the Hawthorne and Clinton/Division areas giving residents easy access to two distinct, vibrant, walkable areas full of an eclectic collection of retail, coffee shops, art galleries, entertainment, restaurants, markets, and nightlife. Many area businesses maintain strong ties to their past, like the Bagdad Theater […]
For decades, Northeast Portland’s Concordia neighborhood was one of the most rundown areas in the city. Thanks to urban renewal efforts it’s now one of the most vibrant NE areas PDX has to offer, largely due to the exceptional diversity the neighborhood boasts, with many African-American and Latino-owned businesses calling the area home. Also central […]
Recently, a couple came to me seeking a second opinion on a mortgage process that suddenly wasn’t going as they’d expected. The loan their broker had offered them on the $715,000 property (with 10% down) came in at a very reasonable 4.25% and initially, they believed they were headed toward a typical closing. However, 20 […]
The upscale Lake Oswego community, less than 10 miles south of Portland, Oregon and situated neatly between the Pacific coast and Mount Hood, offers residents easy access to season sports like hiking, skiing, and snowboarding as well as summer beaches and their quaint coastal communities which are popular year-round. With a sweet, small-town feel, Lake […]
With interest rates currently at historic lows, many homeowners, even those who have only recently closed on their home purchases, are considering the pros and cons of refinancing. Freddie Mac reported in August (2019) that the average conventional 30-year loan is just 3.6 percent and 15-year loans are at 3.05 percent – that’s nearly one […]
Montavilla is one of Portland Oregon’s many close-in metro areas that feels more “neighborhoody” than urban while offering easy city access. This increasingly popular Northeast / Southeast neighborhood was even voted one of the ‘Top 10 U.S. Neighborhoods’ in 2017 by Lonely Planet. Local History Originally named “Mount Tabor Village” in the 1890s, the area […]
What Is Home Insurance? In most cases, when you use financing to purchase a new home you will need to purchase home insurance (also known as homeowners insurance) before the transaction closing date. Home insurance covers the lender’s investment as well as your own in the case of things like disaster, damage, fire, vandalism, theft, […]
As recently as 2010, Portland’s South Waterfront neighborhood, located in the intersection of the Willamette River and Downtown PDX, was essentially empty – populated by undeveloped lots and mostly unused buildings. When the neighborhood was first slated for growth, Portland’s Office of Planning and Sustainability offered this “Vision for 2035”: “…a dense, vibrant, walkable, distinctly […]
Portland, Oregon’s Southeast Foster-Powell neighborhood, affectionately referred to as FoPo, is one a few remaining truly affordable neighborhoods for families looking to purchase real estate. It’s affordable, mainly because it’s still considered to be ‘up and coming’ but ask any neighbor in this compact ‘hood and you’ll quickly learn that those who call this area […]
Rose City Park Neighborhood Overview 1907 was an important year in the growing city of Portland, Oregon. It was the year the Rose City Park neighborhood was platted; the same year as the very first Portland Rose Festival and the year the Portland Railway trolley service started running from the downtown area making it easier […]
Had you not lived in Portland in the 90s you might never guess that The Pearl District, a vibrant neighborhood full of high-end art galleries, expensive high rises, and upscale dining and shopping was previously the Northwest Industrial Triangle: a low-rent industrial area occupied by railroad yards and warehouses on unfinished lots. Prior to that, […]
