It was only a matter of time. Literally. As millennials grow older, get married, have children, they are seeking out bigger houses and better schools. That means the suburbs. They are also getting tired of paying higher urban rents and watching those rents rise. Just 17 percent of millennials bought homes in urban or central […]
No one can say exactly how many properties in Portland have sunk to the status of the now-boarded-up home at 7926 SE 75th: vacant, abandoned by owners, unclaimed by banks, and attracting problems. They’re called “zombie houses,” or “vacant and distressed properties” in the parlance of city staff. Either way, they’re not available for […]
A look at any of Portland’s most vibrant neighborhoods will show that food has been central to their success. In fact, food-based businesses most often are first at the table when it comes to neighborhood development and revitalization, according to Mike Thelin. Thelin, co-founder of Feast Portland, said there are striking similarities between the design […]
Strap on your jetpack–let’s time travel to the Portland of tomorrow. Since being incorporated in 1851, The Rose City has experienced a nearly constant state of change. Once again, it seems like everywhere you turn Portland is evolving before our eyes. Our city skyline transforming, historic neighborhoods gentrifying, and housing costs running sky-high as a […]
Lead poisoning has hit the headlines during the past few months because of the situation in Flint, Michigan, where citizens have been overwhelmed by a huge, toxic-water problem. Portland, fortunately, does not have problems with lead in its water, but its denizens should be aware of lead-based paint. Lead-based paint was for all practical purposes […]
Oregon law requires that before a home can be sold, it must have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors*. Smoke alarms are required to have a hush/silence feature, and if they utilize an ionization sensor exclusively (and aren’t a part of combination detector) then a 10-year/long-life lithium battery must power it. If there is a […]
As cities develop their downtown cores to include more mixed uses and grow vibrant centers of business, Portland’s model for streetcar development is being looked at by city planners around the world. Though not new, using streetcars to spur development by providing subsidies and tax breaks are a part of what the City of Portland […]
Existing homes selling fast – record fast The volume of home re-sales has been on the upswing for four consecutive months. Rates provided by Bankrate.com. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com)—Sales of existing homes rose in July for the fourth consecutive month, lending support to economists who argue a recovery is near.
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This is an interesting article about the background of short sales and what the banks are thinking as they foreclose on homes. “But hard-pressed homeowners like Lydia Sweetland are asking why lenders often balk at a less disruptive solution: short sales, which allow owners to sell deeply devalued homes for less than what remains on […]