Monday, June 8, 2009
Showings are up!!!
RMLS statistics show that showings are up 8.1 percent!!! That is good news for Portlanders because RMLS covers a large area. Some of the areas it covers have a slower market than ours. That means Portland market is returning to a more balanced market!!! Don't forget real estate is local.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Builder learns by sleeping in his unsold McMansions
According to the Chicago Tribune, an Atanta based builder has been getting a reality check on his building practices. He has been touring his unsold housing stock by sleeping in one per night. He is finding that small is probably better. His houses average 3,400 sq ft. Susan Susanka has been singing this tune for years!! I am glad it's finally getting heard by McMansion builders!
Yes I do have an opinion about this! I do think we should be looking at adding smaller housing stock. Portland metro has seen very few homes being built that are 2 bedrooms with a small footprint. Perhaps there is a market there. I think so especially if it is greened or at least pink!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Interterest rates and it's affects on home purchases~ Don't wait!
borrow $100,000 @ 5 percent and pay $536.82
borrow $90,000 @ 6 percent and pay $539.60 (a 10 percent decrease)
If the market declines 10 percent and the interest rates go up... affordablity isn't going to get better.
Look at interest rates at higher interest rates
borrow $100,000 @7 percent and pay $665.30
borrow $100,000 @ 8 percent and pay $733.76
We are not likely to see interest rates like we have today.
borrow $90,000 @ 6 percent and pay $539.60 (a 10 percent decrease)
If the market declines 10 percent and the interest rates go up... affordablity isn't going to get better.
Look at interest rates at higher interest rates
borrow $100,000 @7 percent and pay $665.30
borrow $100,000 @ 8 percent and pay $733.76
We are not likely to see interest rates like we have today.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Biggest MLS system in the country is going green!!
I have been working on getting the biggest MLS system in the country greened for several years now. I have partnered with another Realtor in Virginia, Adam Gallegos. I will keep this updated!!
Monday, March 16, 2009
greening MLS's another Realtor contacted me about greening the biggest MLS system in the county
I am excited to announce that the biggest MLS system may soon be greening their system. I have been trying to do this for several years. Now is the time. I am hoping that the east coast will soon have a greened MLS. I have looked at their listing from a few times and have offered a proposal several times.
I would love to see all the MLS's in the country become greened, but it is slow moving and there is a lot of resistance to it.
I am hoping that NAR adopts the best practices for greening MLS's that I will be presenting in Portland at the MLS provider's conference connections2009.
If these changes are adopted it might be possible to package loans for homes that are greened or are greener together. We will see what happens. My belief is that greened homes are worth more and I also believe those buyers are more responsible
I would love to see all the MLS's in the country become greened, but it is slow moving and there is a lot of resistance to it.
I am hoping that NAR adopts the best practices for greening MLS's that I will be presenting in Portland at the MLS provider's conference connections2009.
If these changes are adopted it might be possible to package loans for homes that are greened or are greener together. We will see what happens. My belief is that greened homes are worth more and I also believe those buyers are more responsible
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The EPA is asking for advice
The midwestern portion of the EPA has been asking about my favorite topic- "green listings and how to enable buyers and sellers to get the applicable info". I am excited about this because if my idea spreads all over the US then the banking industry will have to "get it" too. They are the most conservative part of the chain. A few years ago I was trying to get banks to package green home loans together. I have a belief that green buyers are more conscientous and would be less likely to default. Banks now are getting more interested in this factor now that we have all had to pick them up. So now might be the right time to have these changes take place.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Trees in Portland
There have been another 300 plus trees planted in north portland this year. SE Portland had a planting by bike! I applaud that planting! From my perspective as a neigborhood coordinator and someone who cuts out the car as she can, I see this a a specialty planting. Not everyone is able to bike. But I love the idea!!
Trees make a big difference to a neighborhood. They filter our air and make it cooler in the summer. For an individual house: if you plant a diciduous tree to the south or the west of your house, it will decrease your need for cooling. Coneferiuos trees are needed to in urban canopies to decrease the winds in the winter. The other thing they do is they are active in cleaning our air all year. I have noticed that coniferous trees are the types of trees we are needing most in portland.
Trees make a big difference to a neighborhood. They filter our air and make it cooler in the summer. For an individual house: if you plant a diciduous tree to the south or the west of your house, it will decrease your need for cooling. Coneferiuos trees are needed to in urban canopies to decrease the winds in the winter. The other thing they do is they are active in cleaning our air all year. I have noticed that coniferous trees are the types of trees we are needing most in portland.
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