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I haven't gotten around to my blog in a long time - work has been really busy and that involves running all around the city plus a lot of time at the computer.

Now I have a better chance of getting things done while I'm on the road. For my birthday, Norris got me a sweet little laptop that weighs less than 3 lbs and is about the size of a file folder. I seem to be able to pick up wireless almost anywhere. (except from the network in OUR house. I hope we figure it out soon or I'll go crazy!)

I thought it might be fun to put up pictures of the houses I've been touring, or my clients have been buying or selling, so you can see where I've been!



Lovely home next to the Japanese Gardens and listed on the Historic Register. They just don't build houses like this anymore! Simply glorious!

Another beautiful colonial on a sweet little cul de sac. Currently available, folks! Snap it up! You can be my neighbor!

Lucky newlyweds coming home to this adorable house. The interior is seriously Pottery Barn Catalog material. Absolutely wonderful!Congratulations, L & J!

This one sold in just a few days. Look at the clematis! Just after it sold, the entire vine was covered in blossoms!

This is a first home for one of the sweetest clients ever! Set in a nice, wooded setting & the downstairs neighbor is growing tomatoes and I know she'll share!

This is the house that Dave took from a tired old rental into a cool craftsman. We're currently looking for his next project.

Wouldn't you like to sip a cold one in this courtyard? I get to! They're friends! I want my own courtyard!

Look how cute L's condo is! I totally covet that red ottoman! How cute is that going to look in the Pottery Barn House up above?

So this is the end of today's tour. I didn't even have time to get to some of the houses that we looked at but nobody bought. There's a great selection of million dollar houses in Portland and I've seen the best of them lately... I'll try to do more soon!

But it's my birthday and I want to go to the MAC, do a little shopping, and I have a date with the sun and a chaise at the pool.

Affordable Red Wine

I recently bought a bottle of wine somewhere, and Norris opened it on Monday night to serve with our dinner....

It was a 2005 Estancia Monterey Pinot Noir......and Yum! I enjoyed it so much (but I was worried that it wasn't one of my cheap every day bottles - the kind of wine I stockpile) and I couldn't wait to go out and find some more to see if I could afford to buy a bunch.

I checked at the Thriftway where I usually shop. Hmm. Not there. Not at Trader Joe's. Finally after scouring the aisles at Fred Meyer, I found it on sale for $16.49, minus 10% for the 6 bottles I bought - so about $15.

I hope you try it and I hope you like it. It tastes a lot more expensive than it is!

Other red wine suggestions from Gourmet for everyday drinking

• DeLoach Pinot Noir 2005, California $12
• Gallo Sonoma Reserve Pinot Noir 2004 Sonoma County $15
• TwoTone Farm Merlot 2004, California, $10
• Bulletin Place Merlot 2005, South Eastern Australia $8
• The Magnificent Wine Company House Wine 2005 columbia Valley $10
• Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel 2004, Lodi $15

• Caparzo Sangiovese 2004, Tuscany $14

Some housing markets turn to gold, others go cold

Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain prices climbing
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

While home prices lulled in many regions across the country during the descent from a prolonged real estate Gold Rush, rapid appreciation has continued in major Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain markets.

The U.S. Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, a federal agency that monitors government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, reported that Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and Oregon had the steepest home-price appreciation in fourth-quarter 2006 compared to fourth-quarter 2005.

In fourth-quarter 2006, the top five metro areas for year-over-year price appreciation on OFHEO's list were in Oregon, Washington, Utah and Idaho, while the sharpest metro-area price declines were in Indiana, California and Michigan. OFHEO's first-quarter-index report is due out later this month.

Seattle and Portland were among the strongest markets in fourth-quarter 2006 for home-price appreciation among 20 U.S. markets featured in the monthly Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Home Price Index.

While price growth has been slowing, it is still strong -- this year will be a good year, he said, though 2006 was not as strong as 2005, "and I think 2007 is not going to be as good as 2006." Single-family home sales fell 12 percent in 2006 compared to 2005, and affordability is a growing problem.

Nationwide, the median price of resale homes fell about 2.7 percent in fourth-quarter 2006 compared to fourth-quarter 2005, the National Association of Realtors reported, while the Census Bureau reported that the median new-home price dropped about 2 percent.

NAR reported that the Cumberland, Md.-W.V., metro area had the strongest price appreciation in the first quarter compared to first-quarter 2006, followed by Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas; Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss.; Salem, Ore.; and Bismarck, N.D. Other markets that were on the top-10 list for price appreciation were in New Mexico, Utah, Washington, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Salt Lake City and Salem, Ore., were in the top five for price appreciation in NAR's fourth-quarter report, and markets in New Jersey and Texas also topped the list.

Median year-over-year price change for fourth-quarter 2006
City Case-Shiller* NAR (existing homes) OFHEO Zindex (Zillow) DataQuick



National 0.4 -2.7 5.9 -0.48 N/A

Portland, 11.57 11.2 13.45 11.39 10.6
Seattle 13.05 11.3 14.5 12.87 11.3

*based on average monthly price change for 3 mos. of the quarter

More Seller Tips

Unclutter a Messy Room

The first step is to completely unclutter every room. To get top dollar, put half your possessions in storage. This means it might not be feasible to live in your home comfortably while it's on the market, but it's a worthy sacrifice. (PODS are a great way to only pack it once - and you unload it in your new house)

The Perfect (if Unrealistic) Closet

Put the bulk of your clothing in storage, and leave a lot of space between hangers. Leave a only a few select items of neatly-pressed clothing hanging. Keep one or two pairs of shoes in shoeboxes.

Keep the Bathroom Basic

In the bathroom, you should have some pretty towels and a bar of soap, and not much else. Remove everything from the countertops and empty the medicine cabinet. Put everything in storage except a couple rolls of toilet paper. Put candles around the bathtub and remove your razor, shaving cream and half-empty shampoo bottles.

Tend the Walls and Floors

A fresh coat of paint goes a long way toward making your home look fresh, clean and move-in ready. Clean the carpets. If they're stained or at all worn out, then replace them. After an exhausting move and a pricey purchase, a buyer doesn't want to envision their first tasks as busting out the paint and paying for new carpeting.

Remove Frightful Furnishings

Look at your furniture with a critical eye. If you've been flopping your tush into your easy chair every night for the last eight years, it's probably looking a little sad. Remove or toss anything old, ratty or dirty. If you have nice furniture, then leave the nicest pieces in the house. If not, then purchase a few inexpensive, sleek pieces

Home Improvements Count

Make a list of every single improvement you've made to the property since you've lived there, the timeframe the improvement was made and approximately how much it cost. Also make a list of everything you personally love about the home. Ask your Realtor to put this information in your listing, and include it on your flyer.

Show It Off

Make your home super easy to show for real estate agents. Use a lockbox. Your showing instructions should be "show anytime." If you prefer a call first, then the instructions should be, "Call first, leave a message and go." When a realtor calls, keep it brief and don't bother giving any extra information. It should already be in your flyer.

Scram, Get Lost and Make Yourself Scarce

Try to be out of the house before the buyer arrives. The majority of buyers will feel tense and intrusive snooping around and opening closets and cabinets when the seller is there. If the buyer arrives before you can get out of the house, then make them feel welcome and leave promptly.
Don't come back until they're gone.

Find a Sitter for Fido

It may not seem feasible or practical to have pets relocated while your house is on the market, but if you truly are seeking top dollar, you need to have a pet-free household. Many people are sensitive to odors and pet dander, so clean thoroughly once you find alternative living arrangements for your pet.

When Your Hard Work Pays Off?

Don't dare price your home high in this market. Be extremely careful to price your home very competitively from the beginning, when the largest number of buyers will see your listing. Then work with the offer when it comes in!

Seller Tips

1. Price It Right

It's stressful trying to sell your home when new home sales are slowing and prices are falling. Home prices across the nation fell nearly one percent in January from one year ago, according to the Standard & Poor's housing index. Growth hasn't been this slow since 1994. So setting the right price for your home is more important than ever. "If you really want to stimulate a sale, you should underprice your property by just a hair," says Susan Singer, a New York-based real estate broker with Corcoran. By shaving just a few thousand dollars you can generate more foot traffic and create a buzz.

2. Make It Inviting

There's no faster way to turn off a potential buyer than to overwhelm him with a home stuffed with kids' toys, family knickknacks and a stinky kitty litter. Even stodgy furniture can make a property more difficult to unload. That's why many high-end real estate agents employ professional "home stagers" when they want to guarantee a quick sale. Staged properties tend to sell faster and for more money than ones that aren't prepped in this fashion. For anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, these folks will do everything from remove clutter and rearrange furniture to rent all new furnishings. Fortunately, there are some inexpensive things homeowners can do on their own to attract a buyer. Whether you live in a cozy Cape Cod or a 4,000-square-foot McMansion, make your space feel as open and clean as possible. Get rid of clutter, organize the closets and remove all personal items that may make it more difficult for someone to imagine living in your house, says Michael Corbett, author of "Ready, Set, Sold!"

3. Minimize Surprises

A home that's in good working order will always sell faster than one that needs pricey repairs. That's why I recommend having your property inspected before you put it on the market. The benefits are twofold. First, it's always cheaper and faster to make your own repairs rather than have a buyer drag out the negotiating process to accommodate any necessary work. Second, you'll also avoid any nasty last-minute surprises that could derail a deal should the buyer's inspector discover you need, say, to replace the roof.


4. Get the Word Out

Make sure you have an eye-catching online listing. Some 80 percent of people start their real estate searches online, according to the National Association of Realtors. While it used to be enough to simply slap up one or two blurry photos, buyers now prefer a slew of pictures so that they don't waste their time touring a home that doesn't meet their requirements. What should your listing include? If you really want to stand out from the competition be sure your broker uses a professional photographer. Make sure to include a shot of the outside on a sunny day, and one of the kitchen, living room, dining room and a bedroom.

5. Throw In a Little Something Extra

As home sales have stalled, we are once again seeing motivated sellers offer traditional incentives, including paying for closing costs or points on a mortgage, says Walter Molony, a spokesman for the National Association of Realtors. Such tactics are especially attractive to first-time shoppers who can afford mortgage payments but struggle to come up with the down payment and closing fees. Here are a couple more ideas. If you installed a 40-inch plasma TV with a surround-sound stereo system in the living room, offer to include it with the house. Chances are you won't be able to take it with you anyway. If you're selling a second home on the water, throw in the Jet Ski and dock rights. If you pad the asking price by just a couple of thousand dollars, you'll still come out ahead!

Lucy

Just returned from a visit where we met the newest family member - Lucy -


Isn't she cute? 3 mo. old...


Claire and TJ are grooving in to life with a puppy.

Current Obsessions

I'm fickle and move on quickly, but I'm currently obsessed with:

Elephant's cream of mushroom soup and chewy Italian bread with european butter

York peppermint patties

My Old Navy jogging shorts

Fresh pear, bleu cheese, glazed almonds & baby greens topped with Trader Joe's pear vinigrette dressing

Zipping through books to find the perfect book club selection.

Moisturizing like crazy to keep from losing my tan

That uphill treadmill at the MAC that burns 500 calories in 30 minutes if you really haul ass!

What's up with me?

It's been forever since I blogged about my life and what's happening around here. So let's catch up.



I've been getting so busy that I'm actually working almost as many hours as a normal person does in a week - my shopping is waaaaay down! Of course the hours have been crazy and I've been out lots of nights and weekends - the one thing that keeps hordes of people from being Realtors - but I don't mind, really I don't. If I have the time, I'll post photos of all the houses that my clients have been buying and selling... that should be fun!



We took the boys and one of their girlfriends to Mexico for a week. (the other girlfriend is on a totally different spring break schedule, so she was going to class, poor girl!) What q pleasure having a sweetie like Noel to fill in the spot normally occupied by Claire, who had to work on a big shindig in Hawaii and couldn't get away to join us. This was our first family vacation without Claire. I'm hoping that by next year she can take some time and join us - but she's only been working since Feb, so it was too early to start going on vacations already!



Here I am in my happy place. Various photos of my feet on vacation are posted above my desk. The thought of another vacation in the sun is what I work for!

Picture the table to the right of me... one or two books, a magazine or two, sunscreen, and a margarita. And the hotel charge card.

I read five books on this vacation! Two for my book club, others I had stashed in the suitcase. By the end, Norris and I were foraging in the lending library at the hotel.

Claire's job is amazing and she's learning a lot! She does all the promotions and events for a publishing company in AZ. It's a dream job and we're so glad she found it! We'll be spending her birthday with her, and just booked tickets and a hotel yesterday.

Whit is turning 21 in a few weeks and he and Noel are going to celebrate with Claire & TJ. Apparently Whit is playing on an intramural softball team and taking a soccer class. It's nice to go into college with a bunch of credits earned in HS so you can take classes like ping pong, soccer and yoga.

Cam is planning to live with Whit next year in the house we bought in Eugene. I feel sorry for the neighbors because I assume the drum set, synthesizer and a bunch of stray musicians will go along with him. He and Keith are planning a European trip around a concert in Zurich - last night the three of us had an online chat about the itinerary and we're getting into full planning mode. I'm quite jealous and starting to think about a fall trip.

I'm off to Florida with my Philadelphia girlfriends in May. I haven't seen them since last July and we always have such fun. I think it's going to be more beach chairs, magazines and Corona.



Boomer had his spring haircut and he's been wearing a girly sweater to stay warm. (it was on sale!)

My best friend Laura recommended "Younger Next Year" by Chris Crowley & Henry Lodge and it's a great book on taking care of yourself. It recommends "cutting out the crap" and that's what I'm trying to do, though a little candy never hurt anybody. I'm also kind of hooked on working out at the MAC. We'll see how long this lasts, LOL! But I'm feeling great!

I'm sure there's more happening in our life, but that's enough for now.

7 Modern Tips to Update Your Home

Everyone loves to update their homes, and if you live in an older home in an appreciating neighborhood, it can be a fantastic investment. There are some pitfalls to avoid, which can cost a homeowner quite a bit of money because of no return on investment. However, it's better to focus on what TO do and stay the course.

1. Raise the Roof!!!

Not literally, but gut the attic, and raise the ceiling in, at least, the living room. Older homes typically have 8 foot ceilings, and it's one of the first characteristics that buyers notice. It's relatively inexpensive, when you compare your return on investment, to demolish the ceilings of your older home and sheetrock over your new, vaulted ceiling. It's amazing how much larger and lighter your home will feel.

2. Knock Down Walls

Literally, knock down as many walls as you can and still retain the integrity of the home, and the NECESSARY separation of rooms. If you compare older homes to newer homes, you'll notice that older homes are typically "choppy" while newer homes feel "open and flow well." This is due to "line of sight." Newer homes opt for less separation in rooms. You can create this same feeling by demolishing a half-wall that separates your kitchen from the living room or knocking down the wall between the living room and dining room to create one grand room. You'll be AMAZED at the difference it makes.

3. Overhaul Your Kitchen and/or Master Bathroom

These are the two rooms in the house that you can ALMOST go overboard on and still get your money back when you sell the home. Refinish or replace the cabinetry, put in new tile and sinks - even install a new, stand-up shower! When (or if) you put your home on the market, you should see a GREAT return on investment.

4. Add a Master Bathroom

The 1-Bathroom houses from the 1970's and earlier are now obsolete. Americans have decided that we like a private bathroom for ourselves and another bathroom for our guests and children. While 90% of the house additions are bad ideas because they don't flow well or create poorly usable space, a master bathroom addition is a fantastic way to add more square footage, and more value to your home. Make SURE that your builder ties in the new slab to the old, and make sure that the addition is done properly. A poorly designed or executed addition never adds value - most buyers immediately imagine demolishing the work. And be sure it's properly permitted!

5. Xeriscape Your Lawn

It's trendy, it's cheap - it should be a go! Xeriscape = a trademark used for a landscaping method that employs drought-resistant plants in an effort to conserve resources, especially water.

Your home's curb appeal is the first thing that buyers notice, and it's how buyers decide whether or not they'll "click on your house" online to further investigate the interior. You can xeriscape a ¼ acre lot for around $3000, and you'll more than make up for that when your home goes on the market. Furthermore, it's environmentally & fiscally responsible. Stop wasting water!

6. Paint!!!

It's fairly obvious, but painting your home modern, neutral colors makes a HUGE difference in the appearance of the home. And when you factor in the cost - roughly $0.75/s.f. - it would be a HUGE mistake to forego painting your home when you decide it's time to modernize it. If you're planning on staying in the home for some time, paint it whatever colors you wish, but plan on repainting right before it's time to put it up for sale. If you plan on updating your home in order to sell it, go with neutral colors so that it will appeal to the widest audience. **Ask me about color consultants - I can refer you to someone wonderful!**

7. Put in Wood Floors

You won't ALWAYS get your money out of installing wood floors. If you're in a great area, and it's time to replace the floors, look at the cost difference between tile, pergo, and wood. If your home will sell for $250k+ then forget about pergo and, if you choose tile, make sure it's not cheap tile. If the cost difference between wood and your other options is negligible, then go with wood - it appeals to the most buyers.

Updating your older home can be very fun, very rewarding, and potentially very lucrative. Older homes in established neighborhoods are ripe for updating and can draw a premium on the marketplace. It's a great investment!

Postage

Beginning May 14th, new higher postal rates will go into effect. If you don't want your loved ones - not to mention your creditors - waiting by the mailbox, now is the time to prepare.
The cost of postage for a standard one ounce first class letter is increasing from 39 cents up to 41 cents.

And you know the drill - each time the post office bumps up the rates by a penny or two, it requires an annoying trip to the post office to purchase a book of one or two cent stamps.

But now - you can wave goodbye to those pesky one and two cent stamps that clutter up your desk or your wallet...the post office has finally created a stamp that will last "FOREVER".
The new stamp is called the "Forever" stamp and was created to do just what the title states....last forever. Once the stamp is purchased, the stamp can be used forever to mail one-ounce First-Class letters anytime in the future regardless of postage increases. The current price of each Forever stamp is 41 cents, and you can buy Forever stamps at that rate until the next postage increase.

When the postal rates increase in the future, new Forever stamps sold at that time will go up in price too - but you can use up all your previously purchased Forever stamps without having to deal with buying and using the inconvenient make-up stamps for the difference.

Forever stamps can now be purchased online at www.usps.com or at post offices nationwide.