Entries by altpdx

Put the ‘Pow’ in Your Powder Room With These 5 Budget-Savvy Décor Ideas

Glamming up a guest bathroom is often a lower priority than, say, modernizing your kitchen or replacing your roof. But as the holidays approach—and your regular guests come a-calling—you might be looking for ways to spruce up your spare loo on the cheap. This week we gathered five trendy decor looks from Instagram—with affordable ways to get these […]

What Is Georgian Architecture? Symmetry and Sophistication Reign Supreme

Georgian architecture is an architectural style characterized by symmetry, balance, and proportion that traces its origins back to 18th century England. You’ll find this popular design scheme across the nation, though it’s concentrated in the Northeast, particularly in New England. Photo by Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd. Georgian architecture landed in the United States in […]

8 Real Estate Documents to Keep—and What Happens If You Don’t

After a real estate sale, there are a lot of documents to organize. But do you have to keep them all? After all, you don’t want to have to file all of it if you don’t have to; but you also don’t want to chuck something crucial. Your closing company is required by law to keep a […]

How To Sell Your Home During a Real Estate Slowdown

Selling a home is no longer the easy feat it was last year—or even six months ago. Between the news that we already seem to be slipping into an unofficial recession and a serious home market slowdown, many sellers feel like they’re facing a Sisyphean task. The Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate hike of 0.75% is expected to push up […]

34 Reasons to Love Portland’s Parks

PRETTY MUCH all of Portland’s more than 150 parks have a claim to fame. That’s what made it so difficult to narrow down this list—we could fill the rest of the pages in this magazine with our thoughts on where best to play disc golf (Pier Park) or go geocaching (there’s an easy one under a rhododendron bush at Laurelhurst Park, […]

How Long Does It Take to Improve Credit Score Enough to Buy a Home?

Having good credit helps you prove your creditworthiness to potential lenders. If you’re hoping to buy a home, having a good credit score is key, since it helps you qualify for a mortgage. So if your credit score is low, indicating bad credit, knowing how long it takes to raise it to the home-buying range can help you plan. Credit […]

Want To Buy a Historic Home? Know the Benefits and Risks

For many, buying a historic home is a dream. If you’ve ever gazed wistfully at a listing for a neglected Victorian manse or eagerly searched for midcentury modern homes in your area, you understand the appeal of owning a home with a fascinating history. But actually buying and owning a historic home is a real commitment—one that can come […]

How To Ace a Home Inspection and Sell Your Home Fast

The home inspection can be a particularly stressful part of the homebuying process for buyers, but the equally anxious seller might be waiting with bated breath for the results as well. The buyer is typically responsible for scheduling and paying for the home inspection, but if the house is revealed to have major issues, the seller can be […]

7 Tax Benefits of Owning a Home: A Complete Guide for Filing This Year

You may recall the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—the most substantial overhaul to the U.S. tax code in more than 30 years—went into effect on Jan. 1, 2018. The result was likely a big change to your taxes, especially the tax perks of homeownership. This revised tax code is still in effect today. You may […]