Lake Oswego Real Estate Weblog

West Linn Curbside Cleanup : Week of April 5, 2010

2010-03-18T12:51:00.000-07:00

The City of West Linn, West Linn Refuse & Recycling and Metro are partnering to bring free curbside clean-up on your regular garbage day during the week of April 5th. Regular household garbage is not included and must be kept separate from cleanup items.

This is a great opportunity to get rid of stuff you've been meaning to get rid of. There are rules and limits as to what will be picked up. Details are available in the April 2010 edition of "West Linn Update". You may also direct questions to West Linn Refuse & Recycling at 503-557-3900.

Lake Oswego and West Linn Market Snapshot - January 17, 2010

2010-01-17T18:37:00.000-08:00

West Linn has 269 detached homes for sale. There are 32 homes pending and 5 homes closed this past week.

Lake Oswego has 387 homes for sale, 46 pending and 7 closed this week.

Lake Oswego Market Snapshot - July 2009

2009-07-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

Housing prices in our market started to decline in late 2007. The average Lake Oswego sale price fell 4.5% in 2008 and through the first 6 months of this year it has decreased another 13%.

We are in a strong buyers’ market with sellers vying for the attention of buyers by beating the competition in price and condition.

In addition to the decrease in the number of potential buyers, those that can “afford” to sell are faced with competition from:

undervalued bank owned foreclosures
drama-priced “short sales” trying to avoid foreclosure
new construction inventory with below market financing

Distressed Property Information -zip codes 97034 and 97035

Currently Listed For Sale in RMLS
Bank Owned Properties: 10
3rd Party Approval Required -short sale?: 46

From Real Quest Investor Data
Received Notice of Default: 3
Date Set for Auction on Court House Steps: 305
REO Properties -bank owned: 10

More stringent appraisal regulations were enacted earlier this year resulting in lower mortgage appraisals in many cases. Comps used for appraisal purposes have to be within the last 90 days and the appraiser must note that the local market is in a decline and make a deduction for that. The standard Oregon sale agreement states, “If a new loan is required, this transaction is subject to buyer and property qualifying for the loan and the lender’s appraisal being not less the than the purchase price.”

Although we are in a challenging market, there are buyers looking and activity seems to be picking up. Good homes, presented and priced well are selling.

Rodeo Time

2009-07-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

Summertime is rodeo time in some of the nearby communities. St. Paul and Molalla have their big rodeo over the 4th of July weekend; the Buckeroo in Molalla holds several events throughout the summer including 4 weekends of the Willamette Valley Junior Rodeo Association (kids ages 2 through 18).

2009 Farmers' Markets are Opening Soon

2009-05-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Lake Oswego
Saturdays: May 16 - Oct 10
8:30am - 1:30pm
Millennium Plaza Park

West Linn
Tuesdays: Jun 2 - Sep 29
4:30pm - 8:30pm
1725 Willamette Falls Drive (between 10th and 14th streets)

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit for 2009

2009-05-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Federal tax credit of up to $8,000 is a great opportunity for qualified first time home buyers purchasing their principal residence before December 1, 2009.

Visit www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com to learn more and take advantage of the credit to buy a home this year. Here are some of the highlights:

A first-time home buyer is someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.
The tax credit does not have to be repaid if you live in the home for 3 years.
The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

West Linn Market Activity Aug 08 - Jan 09

2009-02-20T18:13:00.001-08:00

Lake Oswego Market Activity Aug 08 - Jan 09

2009-02-20T17:52:00.000-08:00

I spent some time this afternoon looking at data from our local MLS and compiled the charts above.

The first chart shows the number of homes listed for sale that month, how many went pending and how many sold.

The second chart shows the average list price of homes on the market that month and the average sold price.

Local Farmers' Market

2008-08-24T15:47:00.001-07:00

2008 Farmers' Markets in Lake Oswego and West Linn

The Lake Oswego Farmers' Market

Saturday: 8:30 am to 1:30pm

May 17 to October 11.

In Millennium Plaza Park at 1st and Evergreen streets downtown Lake Oswego.

Taste of Tuesday West Linn Farmers Market
Tuesday: 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

May 6 to October 14

In the Historic Willamette District on Willamette Falls Drive from 10th to 14th street.

June 2008 Market Activity

2008-08-24T15:37:00.001-07:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego - West Linn Market Area
From RMLS published data

For the Month of June 2008
Active Listings: 1,222
New Listings: 333
Pending Sales: 90
Pending Sales 2008 vs. 2007: -38.8%
Closed Sales: 77
Average Sales Price: $590,800

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 445
Average Sales Price: $553,800
Percent Change: 4.3%*

*% Change is based on a comparison of the rolling average sale price for the last 12 months (7/1/07-6/30/08) with 12 months before (7/1/06-6/30/07).

December 2007 Market Activity

2008-04-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego - West Linn Market Area
From RMLS published data

For the Month of December 2007
Active Listings: 762
New Listings: 100
Pending Sales: 71
Pending Sales 2007 vs. 2006: -5.3%
Closed Sales: 84
Average Sales Price: $667,000

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 1,434
Average Sales Price: $567,900
Average Appreciation: 7.8%*

*comparing the last 12 months (01/1/07 – 12/31/07) with the 12 months before (01/1/06 – 12/31/06)

November 2007 Market Activity

2007-12-20T11:59:00.001-08:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego - West Linn Market Area
From RMLS published data

For the Month of November

Active Listings: 886
New Listings: 191
Pending Sales: 75
Pending Sales 2007 vs. 2006: -22.7%
Closed Sales: 101
Average Sales Price: $592,900

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 1346
Average Sales Price: $562,200
Average Appreciation: 5.1%*

*comparing the last 12 months (12/1/06 - 11/30/07) with the 12 months before (12/1/05 - 11/30/06)

Emergency Supply List

2007-12-11T18:06:00.001-08:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

This list of emergency supplies relates to my last post about preparing your home for winter.

Candles, matches (or lighter)
Flashlight, batteries
Hand crank or battery operated radio
Weather radio
Extra batteries
Bottled water
Non-perishable food
Hand operated can opener
Paper plates, plastic eating utensils
Paper towels
Propane or charcoal for outdoor grill
Extra firewood
Fuel for generator (keep generator outdoors when in use)
Snow shovel

Prepare Your Home for Winter

2007-12-11T18:02:00.001-08:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

With winter settling upon us it's time to prepare your home for the cold.

The tasks aren't overwhelming when you tackle them one at a time.

This list is not all inclusive, just some of the things I think of as we head into the cold weather.

Shut off and drain outdoor faucets when you think a hard freeze is coming
Learn how to turn off water at its source so you can stop leaks immediately if they start
Take care of known issues with pipes that freeze. Heat tape can be used to keep them warm during extremely cold weather
Close foundation vents when really cold weather is expected
Drain garden hoses, roll them up, and store them inside
Set sprinkler system to “off”, turn off water and drain the pipes
Clean gutters and downspouts
Trim tree limbs that are hanging over or touching the roof
Cover outdoor furniture or store it inside
Have chimney inspected and cleaned
Close fireplace damper when not in use

October 2007 Market Activity

2007-11-26T10:44:00.000-08:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego - West Linn Market Area
From RMLS published data

For the Month of October

Active Listings: 940
New Listings: 237
Pending Sales: 101
Pending Sales 2007 vs. 2006: -24.6%
Closed Sales: 98
Average Sales Price: $595,300

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 1240
Average Sales Price: $560,400
Average Appreciation: 3.8%*

*comparing the last 12 months (11/1/06 - 10/31/07) with the 12 months before (11/1/05 - 10/31/06)

Lake Oswego Holiday Events 2007

2007-11-13T16:51:00.000-08:00

November 23rd - 5pm - 8pm
Holiday Tree Lighting Downtown Lake Oswego
Lighting of of the giant Sequoia tree near Safeway on A Street and lights at Millennium Plaza Park

December 1st and 2nd - 9am -5pm
Holiday Market
West End Building, 4101 Kruse Way

December 1st and the 7th to the 20th
Christmas Ship Parade on Willamette River
Viewing at Foothills Park Saturday December 8th at 6pm

September 2007 Market Activity

2007-11-07T10:46:00.000-08:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego - West Linn Market Area
From RMLS published data

For the Month of September

Active Listings: 1009
New Listings: 253
Pending Sales: 113
Pending Sales 2007 vs. 2006: -19.9%
Closed Sales: 81
Average Sales Price: $547,700

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 1140
Average Sales Price: $557,300
Average Appreciation: 3.7%*

*comparing the last 12 months (10/1/06 - 9/30/07) with the 12 months before (10/1/05 - 9/30/06)

National "Do Not Call" Registry

2007-10-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

You can register your home or cell phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry.

Right now each registration only lasts for 5 years.

To verify that your phone number is registered and to check when it is scheduled to expire, click here to visit the Federal Trade Commission’s “Verify A Registration” service.

Farmer's Market Season is Ending Soon

2007-10-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

This year's Lake Oswego Farmer's Market is coming to an end on Saturday October 13th.

West Linn's Farmer's and Artist's Market has already closed for the season.

Check out the Oregon Harvest Schedule to see when fruits and vegetables are in season in Oregon.

August 2007 Market Activity

2007-09-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego - West Linn Market Area
From RMLS published data

For the Month of August

Active Listings: 1037
New Listings: 326
Pending Sales: 103
Pending Sales 2007 vs. 2006: -34.4%
Closed Sales: 128
Average Sales Price: $559,100

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 1048
Average Sales Price: $559,200
Average Appreciation: 6.3%*

*comparing the last 12 months (9/1/06 - 8/31/07) with the 12 months before (9/1/05 - 8/31/06)

Turn in your Unwanted Electronics at Intel Sept 22

2007-09-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

E-Waste Collection and Document Shredding Event
Saturday September 22, 2007

Local residents are invited to bring their obsolete electronic equipment for recycling to the Intel Hawthorn Farm Campus in Hillsboro this Saturday.

A shredding truck will be available during the event to shred confidential personal documents.

Open to all residents and schools in the Greater Portland Area.

Date: Saturday, September 22, 2007
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Place: Intel Hawthorn Farm Campus, HF1 Parking Lot
5200 NE Elam Young PkwyHillsboro, OR 97124
Fee: There is a $5.00 fee (cash only) per monitor and per TV. Receipts will not be provided. All other items will be taken free of charge.

What will be accepted:
Computer CPUs
Copiers
TVs – 27 inches or less and no consoles
Monitors
Cell Phones & Accessories
Printers
Telephones
Scanners
Fax Machines
VCRs/DVD Players
Cables and Wire
Digital Cameras
Tabletop Stereos
Paper

What will NOT be accepted:
Household electronics and large appliances
Televisions that are larger than 27 inches
Microwaves
Refrigerators
Washers/Dryers
Hazardous Waste Materials

What will happen to the materials you drop off?
Items that can be salvaged will be taken by Students Recycling Used Technology (StRUT), an organization founded by Intel, which gives students an opportunity to refurbish computers and then place them in schools throughout Oregon and Washington. StRUT uses a program called Killdisk to wipe hard drives.

Material beyond repair or donation will be taken to Earth Protection Services Inc. (EPSI) in Tualatin for responsible recycling. The recycler will not wipe hard drives since the material goes directly to a shredder.

If you want to clear information from your hard drive before you recycle, there is software available that clears data from hard drives.

July 2007 Market Activity

2007-09-06T17:14:00.000-07:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego - West Linn Market Area
From RMLS published data

For the Month of July

Active Listings: 1025
New Listings: 306
Pending Sales: 116
Pending Sales 2007 vs. 2006: -21.1%
Closed Sales: 138
Average Sales Price: $565,700

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 914
Average Sales Price: $559,400
Average Appreciation: 9.3%*

*comparing the last 12 months (8/1/06 - 7/30/07) with the 12 months before (8/1/05 - 7/30/06)

June 2007 Market Activity

2007-07-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego - West Linn Market Area
From RMLS published data

For the Month of June

Active Listings: 931
New Listings: 348
Pending Sales: 147
Pending Sales 2007 vs. 2006: -10.9%
Closed Sales: 129
Average Sales Price: $636,200

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 850
Average Sales Price: $564,900
Average Appreciation: 12.6%*

*comparing the last 12 months (7/1/06 - 6/30/07) with the 12 months before (7/1/05 - 6/30/06)

May 2007 Market Activity

2007-07-12T14:08:00.000-07:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego - West Linn Market Area
From RMLS published data

For the Month of May

Active Listings: 871
New Listings: 349
Pending Sales: 158
Pending Sales 2007 vs. 2006: -1.9%
Closed Sales: 153
Average Sales Price: $580,600

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 613
Average Sales Price: $550,400
Average Appreciation: 13.3%*

*comparing the last 12 months (6/1/06 - 5/31/07) with the 12 months before (6/1/05 - 5/31/06)

April 2007 Market Activity

2007-05-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego - West Linn Market Area
From RMLS published data

For the Month of April

Active Listings: 771
New Listings: 311
Pending Sales: 146
Pending Sales 2007 vs. 2006: -7.6%
Closed Sales: 130
Average Sales Price: $582,200

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 452
Average Sales Price: $540,100
Average Appreciation: 14.1%*

*comparing the last 12 months (5/1/06 - 4/30/07) with the 12 months before (5/1/05 - 4/30/06)

March 2007 Market Activity

2007-05-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego - West Linn Market Area
From RMLS published data

For the Month of March

Active Listings: 704
New Listings: 348
Pending Sales: 141
Pending Sales 2007 vs. 2006: -10.8%
Closed Sales: 138
Average Sales Price: $523,900

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 313
Average Sales Price: $518,900
Average Appreciation: 13.1%*

*comparing the last 12 months (4/1/06 - 3/31/07) with the 12 months before (4/1/05 - 3/31/06)

Local Area Farmers' Markets

2007-04-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®
Here's the summer of 2007 information for the Farmers' Markets in Lake Oswego and West Linn. Both open up in May and close in October.

Lake Oswego (503) 635-0391
May 19 - October 27
Saturdays 8am to 1pm
Millenium Park (First and Evergreen)

West Linn (503) 408-5209
May 2 - October 24
Wednesdays 3:30pm to 8:30pm
1725 Willamette Falls Drive (Old Town Willamette)

You can find information for Farmers' Markets in other local cities at www.oregonfarmersmarkets.org

February 2007 Market Activity

2007-03-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego - West Linn Market Area
From RMLS published data

For the Month of February
Active Listings: 641
New Listings: 216
Pending Sales: 152
Pending Sales 2007 vs. 2006: 12.6%
Closed Sales: 97
Average Sales Price: $496,700

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 174
Average Sales Price: $533,700
Average Appreciation: 15.0%*

*comparing the last 12 months (3/1/06 - 2/28/07) with the 12 months before (3/1/05 - 2/28/06)

Search the Web for Information your Agent Won't Talk About

2007-03-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Because of fair housing laws there are topics a Realtor won't be able to discuss. When I work with clients my general rule is "Talk about the homes but not the people", however clients want to know about the quality of the schools, neighborhood demographics, crime statistics, etc. Not only do I encourage buyers to drive around the area on their own but also to search the internet for the information they need.

Here's a link to an article from The Wall Street Journal that gives ideas on finding the information your agent can't discuss.

http://www.realestatejournal.com/buysell/tactics/20070316-hoak.html?mod=RSS_Real_Estate_Journal&rejrss=frontpage

January 2007 Market Activity

2007-03-02T17:24:00.000-08:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego / West Linn Area
From RMLS published data

For the Month of January
Active Listings: 668
New Listings: 280
Pending Sales: 127
Pending Sales 2007 vs. 2006: -9.9%
Closed Sales: 75
Average Sales Price: $586,100

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 75
Average Sales Price: $586,100
Average Appreciation: 15.3%*

*comparing the last 12 months (2/1/06 – 1/31/07) with the 12 months before (2/1/05 – 1/31/06)

Oregon is Nation's Number 2 Destination for Moving Vans

2007-01-31T11:38:00.000-08:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

According to a study from United Van Lines, Oregon is just behind North Carolina in "in-migration" from other states. Popular areas are along the I-5 corridor and Bend with more people moving from California into Oregon than from any other state. I guess I can't blame them as mild, sunny winters can get pretty boring!

from StatesmanJournal.com
read the article at:
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007701280329

2007-01-24T22:23:00.000-08:00

2006 Market Statistics for Metropolitan Portland by Area

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Statistics collected from published RMLS data

Here are the statistics for the whole Portland area. RMLS does not break it down to specific cities so feel free to contact me if you wonder where your city falls (Tualatin is part of the Tigard / Wilsonville area).

RMLS Area	Area	Median Sales $	Average Sales $	Appreciation %*
141	North Portland	$235,500	$253,700	17.5
142	Northeast Portland	$265,000	$295,800	15.4
143	Southeast Portland	$234,500	$280,500	15.8
144	Gresham / Troutdale	$248,000	$289,200	15.2
145	Milwaukie / Clackamas	$307,200	$347,800	20.3
146	Oregon City / Canby	$286,000	$370,800	15.6
147	Lake Oswego / West Linn	$443,800	$454,100	16.7
148	West Portland	$378,100	$467,500	10.3
149	NW Washington County	$359,000	$341,600	7.6
150	Beaverton / Aloha	$251,000	$273,200	12.7
151	Tigard / Wilsonville	$322,000	$363,000	8.6
152	Hillsboro / Forest Grove	$260,000	$306,800	15.9

*appreciation percent based on comparison of average sale price for the last 12 months with the prior 12 months.

As I mentioned in an earlier post 2006 turned out to be the second highest total sales volume year for the Portland Metro area.

2006 volume was $10.4 billion
2005 volume was $10.6 billion

2000 - 2006 Home Sales Statistics: Lake Oswego - West Linn

2007-01-18T20:24:00.000-08:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego - West Linn Market Area

Statistics collected from published RMLS data

	Average % Appreciation *	Average $ Sales Price	Number of Closed Sales
2006	16.7	528,100	1,560
2005	13.6	452,600	1,884
2004	14.8	397,000	1.810
2003	4.5	345,000	1,834
2002	6.8	329,800	1,691
2001	-5.4	308,500	1,715
2000	9.5	325,700	1,430

*appreciation percent based on comparison of average sale price for the last 12 months with the prior 12 months.

2006 turned out to be the second highest total sales volume year for the Portland Metro area.

2006 volume was $10.4 billion
2005 volume was $10.6 billion

December 2006 Market Activity

2007-01-18T08:47:00.000-08:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

Lake Oswego / West Linn Area
From RMLS published data

For the Month of December
Active Listings: 623
New Listings: 110
Pending Sales: 75
Pending Sales 2006 vs. 2005: -21.9%
Closed Sales: 85
Average Sales Price: $454,100

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 1,560
Average Sales Price: $528,100
Average Appreciation: 16.7%*

*comparing the last 12 months (01/1/06 – 12/31/06) with the 12 months before (01/1/05 – 12/31/05)

Snow Day in Portland

2007-01-18T08:23:00.000-08:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®
Tuesday January 16, 2007

Last night the weatherman said we might get a little snow..."a light dusting, up to an inch in some areas, but turning to rain as temperatures rise".

I woke up at 5am, looked outside and thought, "No snow. Good, I'll be able to meet clients at the Bryant Road house, no problem." I crawled back into bed and dozed off. 55 minutes later it seemed unusually bright on the ceiling. The ground was totally covered in snow!

This is Indy enjoying himself as I shoveled the driveway.

"Housing Market Pain Not Revealed by Stats"

2007-01-12T17:30:00.000-08:00

"Home sellers are crying but the data doesn't seem to reflect their woes."
from CNNMoney.com

Here's an interesting article that addresses the question, "Why is there a disconnect between the media headlines concerning real estate market woes and the actual statistics?"

read the article at http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/11/real_estate/housing_pain_statistics/index.htm?postversion=2007011118

Consumer Handbook on Adjustable Rate Mortgages

2007-01-04T19:48:00.000-08:00

The Federal Reserve Board has put out a handbook on adjustable rate mortgages that "explains how ARMs work and discusses some of the issues that borrowers may face."

"It includes ways to reduce the risks and gives some pointers about advertising and other ways you can get information from lenders and other trusted advisers."

"Important ARM terms are defined in a glossary. And the Mortgage Shopping Worksheet can help you ask the right questions and figure out whether an ARM is right for you."

The sections above in "quotes" are taken directly from the Federal Reserve's site.

You can read it online at: http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/arms/arms_english.htm

Also available in Spanish at: http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/arms/arms_spanish.htm

Interesting Article Links....

2007-01-02T17:06:00.000-08:00

America's Fastest Appreciating Housing Market: Salem, Oregon
from CNNMoney.com
read the article at http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/real_estate/best_worst/9.html

Frommer's Top Travel Destinations for 2007: Portland, Oregon
from Frommers.com
read the article at http://www.frommers.com/destinations/article.cfm?destid=2529&articleid=4056&t=Frommer%27s%20Top%20Travel%20Destinations%20for%202007

Top 10 News Stories in 2006 from The Lake Oswego Review
from LakeOswegoReview.com
read the article at http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/news/story.php?story_id=116742490409063700

City Population Information

2006-12-22T16:49:00.000-08:00

Here are 2006 population figures according to data published by the Population Research Center at Portland State University:
State of Oregon 3,690,505
Portland 562,690
Lake Oswego 36,350
Tualatin 25,650
West Linn 24,180
Wilsonville 16,885

Information for other cities is available at http://www.pdx.edu/prc/

First Time Homebuyer Class

2006-12-20T07:38:00.000-08:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®
Thursday January 11th at 6:15pm
Lake Oswego
Purchasing a home can seem a bit scary but it is a business transaction that thousands of people do every day. Come spend a little over an hour with us and we'll run through the steps required. Let us take some of the mystery out of it and answer any questions you may have.

The class will be informal, sitting around a conference table as the three of us share what we know. And, of course, there is no charge to attend and there will be no pressure to do business with us, although we think we would be a good choice should you decide to purchase a new home!

Presenters will be:
Grace Orphanides, Broker with The Hasson Company
Aaron Foster, Mortgage Advisor with Alpine Mortgage, LLC
Mark Miller, Principal Broker with The Hasson Company

Topics Covered Include:

Financial preparation

Qualifying for a loan

Types of loans available

Finding the right home

Making an offer

Property disclosure

Inspections

Escrow

This is not limited to first time homebuyers, anyone interested in gaining knowledge about the home buying process is welcome to attend.

Class will be held at The Hasson Company Realtors office in Lake Oswego,
close to the intersection of Kruse Way and Boones Ferry.
Plenty of parking in the lot.
15400 SW Boones Ferry Road
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Register now for Thursday January 11th, 2007 at 6:15pm in Lake Oswego.
Please call one of us:
Grace 503.218.4553
Aaron 503.718.9820
Mark 503.534.1591

November 2006 Market Activity

2006-12-18T21:53:00.000-08:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®
Lake Oswego / West Linn Area
from RMLS published data

For the Month of November
Active Listings: 715
New Listings: 190
Pending Sales: 97
Pending Sales 2006 vs. 2005: -4.0%
Closed Sales: 115
Average Sales Price: $480,400

Year to Date
Closed Sales: 1,534
Average Sales Price: $533,000
Appreciation: 18.2%*

*comparing the "average sales price" of the recent 12 months (12/1/05 – 11/30/06) with the 12 months before (12/1/04 – 11/30/05)

Emergency Supplies

2006-12-18T08:09:00.000-08:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

This list of emergency supplies relates to my last post about preparing your home for winter.

Candles, matches (or lighter)
Flashlight, batteries
Hand crank or battery operated radio
Weather radio
Extra batteries
Bottled water
Non-perishable food
Hand operated can opener
Paper plates, plastic eating utensils
Paper towels
Propane or charcoal for outdoor grill
Extra firewood
Fuel for generator (keep generator outdoors when in use)
Snow shovel

Preparing Your Home for Winter

2006-12-16T10:33:00.000-08:00

by Mark Miller, Lake Oswego, Oregon Realtor®

With the winter weather we've been having here in the Pacific Northwest these last few weeks I thought I should post some ideas for preparing your home for winter. Subscribers to my occasional email service received this a few weeks ago (you can sign up to receive these occasional emails at www.MarkMillerHomes.com)

The tasks aren't overwhelming when you tackle them one at a time.

This list is not all inclusive, just some of the things I think of as we head into the cold weather.

Shut off and drain outdoor faucets when you think a hard freeze is coming
Learn how to turn off water at its source so you can stop leaks immediately if they start
Take care of known issues with pipes that freeze. Heat tape can be used to keep them warm during extremely cold weather
Close foundation vents when really cold weather is expected
Drain garden hoses, roll them up, and store them inside
Set sprinkler system to “off”, turn off water and drain the pipes
Clean gutters and downspouts
Trim tree limbs that are hanging over or touching the roof
Cover outdoor furniture or store it inside
Have chimney inspected and cleaned
Close fireplace damper when not in use