Entries by altpdx

HELOC Balances Have Risen 27%—So Why Do Financial Advisers Agree It’s Still the Best Option for Certain Homeowners?

Arecent report from the New York Federal Reserve Bank revealed that U.S. consumer debt reached a record high of $18.2 trillion in the first quarter of 2025. Mortgages accounted for the largest portion, totaling $12.8 trillion—an increase of $199 billion from the last quarter in 2024. Serious delinquency rates also rose, with 4.3% of total debt now classified as delinquent. Notably, […]

/by

Mortgage Rates for New Homes Are Typically Lower, New Research Finds

Homebuyers who purchase newly built homes are typically saving about half a percentage point on their mortgage rate, likely due to incentives from homebuilders, new research has found. Last year, the average mortgage rate for buyers of new-construction homes was 6.1%, compared with an average of 6.6% for buyers of previously owned homes, according to the Realtor.com® economic research team’s New Construction […]

/by
,

Oregon’s 2025 James Beard Award Winners Are Here

Image: PORTLAND MONTHLY COMPOSITE, SEAN PAVONE/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM, AND COURTESY JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION at the 35th annual James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards, James Beard Foundation CEO Clare Reichenbach opened the event with a speech highlighting the crucial roles immigrants play in American dining. Minutes after she finished her speech, Portland picked up its first (and only) award of […]

/by

This Is the Right Way To Mow Your Lawn To Boost Curb Appeal, According to Landscapers

Getty Images As a seller, you want your front yard to make a good first impression. House hunters might see a dozen homes in one weekend—you want yours to stand out. Lawn striping might just give your curb appeal an edge. Lawn striping is a mowing technique that creates a pattern of alternating light and dark green stripes on your lawn, similar […]

/by

Aging in Place in the Vertical City: Elevators Are Now a Must-Have for Some Homeowners

There was a time when a private elevator was the ultimate status symbol—a feature you’d find in sprawling estates or penthouses perched high above the city. But in today’s housing market, that once-exclusive perk is transforming into a practical necessity for a surprising range of homeowners. Driven by an aging population and the realities of urban living, more people are seeing […]

/by

Putting an Extra $2K Toward Your Home Loan Can Save You $110K

Owning a home comes with an array of expenses, but savvy saving can help take the burden off of the lengthy mortgage and put money back into your pocket faster. Jewel Addison, a real estate broker in Fairbanks, AK, shared her tips in a recent Facebook Reel. Her advice to homeowners with a mortgage: Put a little more […]

/by

Spend $150 and Instantly Elevate Your Curb Appeal With This Simple Upgrade

Devin Lucas, a real estate attorney, broker, and real estate agent in Orange County, CA, says there’s one home feature that’s often overlooked but is “surprisingly impactful” for buyers. It’s a first impression detail that he says “can set the tone for the entire showing.” This very important feature? The mailbox. Whether out on the edge of […]

/by