Technology Inches Into Real Estate

How do you know when a mobile platform has entered the mainstream? When J. Lennox Scott says that making an app for it is a “no brainer.”
That’s the take on Android from the Pacific Northwest real estate scion, whose company this week released its first app for Google’s mobile platform.

The John L. Scott real estate app, available in the Android Market, uses a map-based interface for listings in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

Meanwhile, wireless analytics startup RootMetrics today released its Cell Phone Coverage Map for Android, with capabilities similar to its existing iPhone app.

As I told RootMetrics CEO Paul Griff recently on the GeekWire Podcast, I wish somebody would combine these two concepts — mashing up a real estate app with wireless coverage data, allowing people to take mobile reception into account when deciding where to live.

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Neighborhoods of PDX Are Top in Searches

If perhaps you are considering Portland Homes for Sale, you ought to be aware of the following information which was most recently released.

The Hillside, Southwest Hills and Sunnyside neighborhoods of Portland, Oregon, have been on the list of most-searched U. H. neighborhoods, using the number of searches for for-sale residences in September at Zillow.com, {the online|the web|the internet} {real estate|real-estate} {company|organization|firm} {reported|announced|revealed|claimed|noted}.

Zillow estimates the typical value of homes within the Hillside community at $562, 200, which happens to be 147 % above the approximated median valuation of $228, 000 for dwellings citywide. Plus Zillow additionally reports that the median worth of households within the Southwest Hills area is $521, 400, or 129 percent over the value estimate for the area; as well as the median worth of residences in the Sunnyside neighborhood is $291, 900, or 28 percent over average area valuation.

Four of the five most-searched U. H. areas — as well as five of the top ten — are in Portland as well as Seattle.

For this report, Zillow determined local neighborhoods with the greatest amount of home searches at Zillow.com {during the|over the|throughout the} {month|calendar month} of September.

Zillow queried 11, 005 areas inside its data bank, computing page views as well as number of residences. The “hottest” areas ended up being measured by simply looking at how many page views each one property inside a given neighborhood received, as opposed to simply the total quantity of for-sale real estate in that particular area.

Zillow also examined the quantity of properties to make sure a statistically significant sample — the query incorporated communities with 25 or more for-sale properties. As an example, a area with 500 for-sale properties together with 10 page landscapes each is less “hot” when compared to a area with a hundred for-sale houses with 50 word wide web page views each. This better tracks communities with high need to have, as opposed to just a large sum of residences.

The charts within this document compare Zillow’s home-value index for each neighborhood area to the index chart value for the complete area.

The communities within this list tended in the direction of the high outcome. All had Zillow Home Value Index valuations over those posted for their city as a whole in August. 7 out of the 10 communities had listing values greater than twice their city’s overall index valuation.

Trulia.com {reported|claimed|noted} {in|within} mid-May {that the|the fact that} {average|typical} {list|listing} {price|value} for the Portland {market|marketplace} was $343,093, {down|off} 4.6 {percent|%} from one {year|season} {earlier|previously}.

Some encouragement has come from the employment sector: Oregon’s lack of employment slide is slowing down, after a 25-month string of reports that put unemployment in double-digit varies. The rate dropped to 9. 6 percent in April, down from the peak of 11. 6 % in June year, according to the Oregonian newspaper, which said other occupation information indicated how the state’s economic recovery is developing momentum.

Nevertheless, just like metros across the nation, almost all talk of economical recovery centers around real estate.

“The housing industry seems to be the biggest danger to a sustained financial recovery in Oregon, ” based on a state Place of work of Economic Analysis prediction issued in May, that opined that although it saw signs that the Oregon market had hit bottom, prices probably had further to fall.

The culprits in declining prices, as usual, are foreclosures plus a swollen inventory of homes being sold, although there are some positives to report in both. Portland’s Regional Multiple listing service noted that inventory in April dropped to a 7. 2-month supply, a notch better than 12 months earlier and a world of improvement ever since March 2009, when it was a significant 12 months.

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Looking for a “green” home in Portland?

A Realtor’s search of current listings can yield everything from new construction boasting a green certification to an older home with added insulation, double-paned windows, a tankless hot water heater or other energy-efficient features.

Not too long ago, this type of search was far more difficult. In fact, back in 2007, when the Portland-based Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) first added a green-certification field on its listing forms, it started something new.

2801 NW 155th St Vancouver, WA 98685 – MLS# 12148490

Over time, RMLS added an additional field for energy-efficiency features. Now, it’s increasingly common to find some nod to energy savings or an environmentally friendly upgrade in new and pre-existing homes for sale in the metro area. The publicly accessible site, www.rmls.com, does not include the green-feature search, but Realtors have access to the industry site and can easily search for the desired green features on a client’s behalf.

17563 SW Cobb Lane Beaverton, OR 97007 – MLS# 12295452

“Everyone has a different wish list when it comes to what they’re looking for in a home,” said Kirby Gibson, a broker with Salient Properties. “But a green certification can be a major selling point, especially once people have a better understanding of what that means.”

15205 SW Warbler Way #102 Beaverton, OR 97007 – MLS# 12623613

To earn an Earth Advantage certification, a new home must be inspected by experts at least twice. Homes earn points for energy and water efficiency; indoor air quality; material conservation (such as the use of locally manufactured products); and practices used during the land development and construction process to reduce waste and prevent potential erosion. Depending on the number of points earned, a project may qualify for a Silver, Gold or Platinum level of certification.

For the home on North Princeton, Gibson can list almost two dozen green features that set the structure apart. The most unique is a ductless, mini-split heat pump that allows for zonal heating and cooling. Sleek, high-tech air-handling units are mounted high on a wall in the main-floor great room, upstairs master bedroom and upstairs hallway. They come with remote controls that make it easy to turn the system on and off, so that no energy goes to waste inside the different areas of the house.

Although green-certified homes still represent a relatively small percentage of all new home construction, the practice is expected to grow locally as well as nationwide as homebuilders continue to look for a competitive edge in the marketplace. As of early April, Portland had 307 active listings for green-certified homes, according to RMLS. Within the last 12 months, 714 green-certified homes were sold in the metro area.

Pre-existing homes with one or more energy-efficient features represent a different shade of green. Yet they can still offer reduced energy costs and support for a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

More Real Estate Listings.

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Overseas Luxury Home Market Update

Luxury-home prices in central London rose in April as demand, particularly from overseas buyers, exceeded the number of properties for sale.

Values of houses and apartments costing about 3.7 million pounds ($6 million) increased by an average of 11.4 percent from a year earlier, a London-based broker said in a report today. Prices gained 1.1 percent last month.

Overseas investors have turned to London residential real estate to preserve wealth as they face political, economic and financial upheaval in their home markets. Sales of properties valued at more than 2 million pounds were subdued in April 2011, when a higher tax rate came into effect and caused a rush of buyers trying to avoid the levies during the preceding months.

“Activity was relatively weak last April,” said Liam Bailey, Knight Frank’s head of residential research. The number of property sales agreed to in February through April was 50 percent higher than in the same three-month period a year ago, he said.

Knight Frank compiles its luxury-homes index from its own appraisal values of a sample of properties in the 13 most expensive central London neighborhoods, such as Belgravia, Kensington and Knightsbridge.

Great marketing to sell your luxury Portland home.

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What’s up with the Real Estate market in Portland Oregon?

When houѕing markets during the country ωere sinking previousΙy tһe Portland, Oregon Real Estate areа was а holdout, comparatively speaking. It hаs got, unfortunately, мade it doωn foг lost moment.
Recent data reveal to tһe tale: From the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller 20-City Dwelling Price Indөx with regaгds to March, Portlаnd’s market was one within a dοzen metros concerning the country among all tһose tracked by Case-Shiller of which hit their lowest pοints since dwөlling valυes began sliding across fouг years earlier. On а year-over-year justification, Portland prіces dipped by 7. а few perсent, pυshing them һere we are at leνels last observed іn faΙl 2004.
From the insult-to-injury category, Zillow.com also reported in early May that Portland houses have lost 30.6 percent of their value since the bubble peaked in 2007, slightly outdoing the 29.5 percent loss of value it reported nationwide. The valuation website also estimated that 36 percent of Portland homeowners are underwater, owing more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. Nationally, it said 28.4 percent of homeowners were in that boat.
Those nυmbers participate іn а raft regarding other data chronicling difficult times in Portland’s marĸet. Yөt, thoυgh agents queried by Inman News οr informatiοn certainly didn’t deny the consequences of the downturn, they dіd track record market activity — organizatiοns can bө wars, evөn — foг homөs in мost ѕectors and demographics, commonly preceded by soмe variаtion witһ tһe phraѕe “aggressiveΙy charged. “

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8 Home Buying Tips

Buying a home? These eight tips can help make your house-hunting experience positive and rewarding.

1. Location counts. You’ve probably heard the old real estate joke about “location, location, location,” but the point still bears repeating. Location is crucial. How far are you really willing to commute to your place of employment? How good are the local schools, shopping centers, public transportation, seniors services and other public amenities? Will your new home be next to a vacant lot or a commercial property? Even a picture-perfect dream home can be a mistake if it’s in an undesirable location, and a poor-location home can be a particularly bad choice if you anticipate reselling the home within a few years.

2. Make a list. Do you (and your spouse, if you’re married) really know what you need and want in your home? You’ll save yourself many hours of shopping (and potentially arguing) if you make a list ahead of time. Zero in on the features you must have, would like to have, definitely don’t want and would prefer not to have. Your goal is to find the right home for your family without falling in love with one that doesn’t suit your needs. Tip: Start compiling your wish list by thinking about what you like and dislike about your current home.

3. Do your homework. Not long ago, consumers had very little access to information about recent home sales prices, market trends, homes on the market, neighborhood statistics and the home-buying process. Today, all this information and more is available on the Web. Go surfing. Get educated. Become empowered.

4. Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Your top-dollar home price is a function of your household income, your creditworthiness, interest rates, the type of loan you select and how much ready cash you have for the down payment and closing costs, among other factors. Rather than guessing or estimating how much you can afford to spend, ask a lender or mortgage broker to give you a full assessment and a letter stating how much you’re qualified to borrow. The true amount may be much more or much less than you think.

5. Use a checklist. Touring multiple homes is a confusing experience for most people. Rather than relying on memory, make notes about the homes you visit. Turn your priorities into a personalized home-shopping checklist and use it track the features of each home.

6. Wear comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes. House-hunting can be tiring, especially if you’re relocating to a distant community and want to see a dozen homes in one day. There’s no sense in torturing your feet unnecessarily.

7. Be prepared to make an offer. House-hunting can also be frustrating, especially if you know in your heart you’re not really emotionally or financially ready to buy a home. If you’re not ready, don’t put yourself through the exercise. If you are ready, go through a blank purchase contract ahead of time so you’ll know what decisions you’ll face when you make an offer.

8. Relax. Granted, buying a home is a major life-altering event. But it’s not worth making yourself insanely crazy or super-duper stressed. Save time at the end of your house-hunting expedition to unwind, calm your thoughts and emotions and keep the whole experience in perspective.

For more real estate information visit: http://mportlandrealestate.com

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Mansion Featured in HBO’s “Entourage” Finally Sells for $4.2 Million

Luxury HomeThere are many Portland Luxury Homes that are similar in style but none of which have gotten the exposure that this Encino California mansion has over the last few years.

Listed first at $5.75 million, some lucky soul out there got the price down to $4.2 million for the seven-bedroom, eight-bath mansion. Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of the property is the pebbled motor court out front where Turtle and his fleet of company cars opened the second-to-last season in the summer of 2010. Or maybe it’s the pool Vinny almost drowns in. Additional features include a theater, seven fireplaces, two-story ceilings in many rooms, and the ability to claim your place as the ultimate bachelor pad.

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Favorite Real Estate Websites in the Portland Area

There are a lot of real estate websites in the Portland metro area. Here are some of our favorites to search for homes in the various suburbs of the Portland Metro area:

http://www.portlandoctopus.com – A great site for Portland neighborhoods, and real estate by zip code.

http://lakeoswegorealestatesearch.com – ever wanted to live on your own private island?  There’s one for sale on Lake Oswego right now.  Too much money? This site will help you find something in your price range.

http://sherwoodarearealestate.com – for our friends just South of Portland, this site offers the ability to search all the homes for sale in the Sherwood and Tualatin area.

http://jewelofthepearl.com – a pretty kick ass site if you’re looking for condos and lofts for sale in Portland’s Pearl District neighborhood.

http://clackamasorrealestate.com – Looking out East? Check out Clackamas County or the Happy Valley area.  This site has great info for both…

http://matinrealestate.com – On the Western front, namely the Beaverton Hillsboro area, this site provides info and a view of the homes for sale in the area.

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Home Buying Guide

Property management is the operation, control of (usually on behalf of an owner), and oversight of commercial, industrial or residential real estate as used in its most broad terms. Management indicates a need to be cared for, monitored and accountability given for its usable life and condition. This is much akin to the role of management in any business. Visit http://pdxpropertymanagement.com for more information on Portland property management services.

One important role of a “Property Management” is that of liaison between the Owner of record and the actual tenant/leasee tenant, providing a buffer for those owners who are desiring to distance themselves from their tenant constituency. Duties of property management generally will include a minimum of these basic primary tasks;
A. The full and proper screening or testing of an applicant’s credit, criminal history, rental history and ability to pay.
B. Lease contracting or accepting rent using legal documents approved for the area in which the property is located.
C. Mitigation and remediation regarding any maintenance issues, generally within a budget, with prior or conveyed consent via a Limited Power of Attorney legally agreed to by the property owner.
There are many facets to this profession, including managing the accounts and finances of the real estate properties, and participating in or initiating litigation with tenants, contractors and insurance agencies. Litigation is at times considered a separate function, set aside for trained attorneys. Although a person will be responsible for this in his/her job description, there may be an attorney working under a property manager. Special attention is given to landlord/tenant law and most commonly evictions, non-payment, harassment, reduction of pre-arranged services, and public nuisance are legal subjects that gain the most amount of attention from property managers. Therefore, it is a necessity that a property manager be current with applicable municipal, county, state and Federal Fair Housing laws and practices.
Property management, like facility management, is increasingly facilitated by computer aided facility management (CAFM).

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Buying A Home with Resale Value

Buying Homes with Resale Value

Portland Real Estate View is the one of the major factors that affects the resale value when buying homes. Buying homes with a pleasant view of a beach or the horizon often sell at a premium above similar homes without the view.

Though you may place a considerable dollar value on the view, future buyers may not be so like-minded. It may take you longer to find a buyer when it comes time to resell the house. Or you may end up dropping your price to more nearly match other sales prices in the neighborhood.

In short, if you are buying a house with a view, try to pay as little extra as possible. Otherwise, you might not get your money back.

Most real homes today are usually concentrated on the building itself but the lot is important too. Home with a good resale value should have lots that are as level as possible.

Assuming the property is in a typical neighborhood, the lot should be rectangular with no odd shaped lots or oddly situated lots.

Courtyard sizes are smaller in modern homes than in older homes, but there should still be a decently sized front and back yard.

Do not buy an over-landscaped property, either. You would normally pay a premium for that, which you may not be able to recover when you sell. You will get your best value if the house is moderately landscaped or under-landscaped for the area. Check this website out for more information on Portland homes.

You can always perk up the landscaping during your ownership by humanizing the grass and adding bushes and trees. Just do not waste too much.

In each residential neighborhood, houses will vary in size and rooms, but they should not be too different. If resale value is an important consideration, you should not buy the largest model in the neighborhood.

When determining market value, the homes nearest to yours are most important. If most of the nearby houses are smaller than your house, they can act as a drag on appreciation.

On the other hand, if you buy a small or medium house for the neighborhood, the larger homes can help pull up your value. This is one of those times where determining your “wants” versus your “needs” can be extremely important.

Buying what you need in a more prestigious neighborhood may provide more financial reward than getting what you want in a less desirable neighborhood and according to Inman News Portland fared better than most metro areas in this last “recession”.

Three and four bedroom houses are the most popular among homebuyers, so if you can stick in that range you will have more potential buyers when it comes time to resell.

There ought to always be at least two bathrooms in a house, preferably at least two and a half. One bathroom with a place to wash up for day-to-day visitors, one for the master bedroom, and at least one to be shared by the other bedrooms.

Walk-in closets are extremely desirable for the master bedroom. For the rest of the house, just be sure there is ample closet space. Don’t disregard space for linens and towels.

Garages add to the resale value and you should always make sure to get at least a two-car garage. Lately, three-car garages have become desirable in some areas of the country.

The laundry facilities should be located somewhere convenient on the main floor of the house, but not in a place it will create an eyesore. Think about whether you want to walk up and down stairs when carrying loads of laundry.

Family activity centers on the kitchen, so this is the most important room of the house. Larger kitchens are better, and they should be provided with modern appliances.

Obviously, the dining room and breakfast nook should be located adjacent to the kitchen. In newer houses, the family room should also be extremely close to the kitchen.

There should be easy access to the back yard, as there will be occasions for barbecues and outdoor entertaining.

In addition, it should be a short trek between the garage to the kitchen so hauling groceries in from the car does not become a horrendous chore.

Swimming pools do not provide as much added value as they once did. Safety issues about families with younger children have become more publicized than in the past, so families with small children tend to avoid homes with pools.

As a result, having a pool may actually reduce the number of potential homebuyers when you try to resell the home.

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