Happy Sunday to you. And given the amount of time we spend in our garages on weekends, today seems to be an appropriate day to share this interesting infographic about the history and evolution of the humble garage in the U.S. Original content by IFA Insurance. Click on the image to enlargen.  

As the Portland real estate markets revs into its busy season, the increased pace of sales along with the relatively flat supply of new homes listed on the market is making for continued slim pickings for buyers. March 2013′s statistics show it to be the busiest March since 2007 with 2,600+ contracts pending and 2,200

The pace of sales in the Portland metro real estate market is returning to ‘normal’ levels, with closed and pending home sales in February at the highest levels since the peak periods of 2007-2008. This steady recovery comes in the face of near record low inventory — only four and a half months of availabl

Inventory levels continue to plague the Portland real estate market in January, with just 6,366 homes and condos available for sale. Pending and closed sales are up from a year ago, but new listings lag behind January 2012 levels. Low interest rates and low inventories are fueling average and median sale hikes, now 5.4% and

A little late to the statistics review party this month, but finally here to close out 2012. The year ended with mixed trends: more sales, fewer listings, and higher prices. The total sales volume in 2012 across the Portland metro area reached $6.45 billion, compared to $5.2 and $5.3 billion in 2011 and 2010 respectively. [

The real estate market in the Portland metro area began its seasonal wind-down in November, with closed sales and new listings shrinking from the stronger-than-usual fall volumes. The month ended with just 7,200 units active on the market — the lowest number of active listings going back to May 2006. At just around 4

Another delicious Portland time-lapse video for your Friday enjoyment. We live in a gorgeous city. Portland, Oregon HD Timelapse from 5dNEP on Vimeo.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend! A little Black Friday humor for ya’…. Given all of Portland’s rail transportation options, here’s a public service reminder when crossing or approaching rail areas. It’s a dumb way to die. Here are some close calls captured on Tri-Met’s Westside Express Servic

Does staging my home really pay off? If you were selling a car, would you get more money if you washed and waxed it? Probably… Or reverse this question…. If I tried to sell a dirty car, would I get less money for it? Absolutely! Here is a home that clearly shows the benefits of [...]

Marketing matters. When exceptional marketing combines with the right price, anything is possible. In today’s market, high quality photography, videography, and presentation stands out. Here are just a handful of last month’s successes. 913 SW Westwood - $400,000 This classic Hillsdale bungalow features an expan

During the winter holidays, many sellers withdraw their homes from the market or wait until after the first of the year to sell. Most often, it’s because of family visits and holiday celebrations. However in today’s market, having your home up for sale during the winter holidays can give you a competitive edge.

When sellers list their homes with me, I promote their listing throughout M Realty and create a buzz before the house is even listed in MLS. Sharing your listing with my real estate community before it hits the market ensures that your property gets maximum exposure. We’ve had lots of success recently with pocket list

Portland’s real estate market continues to show strength as it heads into fall and what is normally a quiet transaction season. Over 2,100 homes closed escrow and another 2,177 entered into sale contracts in October throughout the Portland metro area. Home sales were up 42% over last October and up 11% over September.

Whether you grew up going to The Nutracker every year or the ballet isn’t normally your thing, The Nutracker at the Oregon Ballet Theater is something you can’t miss during the holiday season. Every year the snowflakes, toy soldiers, and rat armies come to life and create a world of wonder and imagination for bo

Most of us have heard about many wonderful large charities and organizations in the area, such as the Salvation Army and the Oregon Food Bank, but there are also many smaller nonprofits in Portland creating a difference in an amazing way. The Piano Santa Foundation makes a huge impact in the musical lives of children [...]

There’s nothing like discovering your next favorite spot in town—especially when it’s a bakery like Saint Honore. This boulangerie is a local neighborhood shop with locations in NW Portland and Lake Oswego. Aside from a mouth-watering array of classic French pastries, there are also delicious baguette sandwich

Some were a little surprised at the strength of the September results for the Portland metro real estate market, but the tea leaves in August weren’t all that hard to read. The housing market started September with 2,387 homes in pending status and ended with 2,058 — substantially stronger than the Septembers of

August proved to be a robust month in the Portland real estate scene, with over 2,300 homes changing hands. A similar number of properties received acceptable offers and went ‘sale pending’ during the month as well, portending a busy September. With four months left in the year, the Portland’s housing mark

The Portland metro real estate market has likely hit its peak for 2012, with July results showing consistent price increases and steady activity. Just under 2,000 units closed escrow in July, down from 2,224 sold properties in June but still a couple hundred units above last year’s mark. July marked the sixth straight

We’ve certainly seen signs of a recovery in the Portland real estate market, but have enough factors changed that we can see the housing bust of the late ’00′s in the rear-view mirror? The economics editor at the Wall Street Journal seems to think so. Excerpts from the article. Economists aren’t alwa

Portland’s torrid spring/summer real estate pace continues, according to June 2012′s results. Over 2,200 homes changed hands, the highest number since August 2007. Interestingly, buyers had nearly twice the inventory to sort through in August 2007 than they did in June 2012. Currently, the market has 3.9 months&

It’s starting to feel like 2007 all over again. May’s real estate activity was the highest since August 2007 — the zenith of the Portland housing bubble (for sale price) — with closed sales at 2,098 units sold. Sold properties jumped 20% over last month alone, leaving the market with just 4.2 months

Check out this collection of bridge illustrations by Portland creative April Black as part of her ‘Make Something Everyday’ series. It even includes the under-construction Caruthers light-rail bridge.   Hat tip to Stumptown Magazine.

Scarcity continues to be the main story in the latest sampling of Portland’s real estate market statistics. April ended with just over 8,500 homes active on the market — a 4.7 month of supply at the current (and increasing) rate of sales. Northeast and Southeast Portland are showing under 3.5 months’ avail

It seems Portland photographers are vying for the “Top Portland Time Lapse Video Award”. That’s fine with me. Another beautiful example, Finding Portland: Finding Portland from Uncage the Soul Productions on Vimeo. Video by Uncage the Soul Productions.

Portland area home buyers are snapping up properties at a higher rate and faster pace in 2012 thus far than they did in 2011. Through the first quarter, the metro area has seen a 12% increase in sold homes compared to last year–the best 1st quarter performance since 2007. Properties are taking a full month [...]

Put ‘time-lapse’ and ‘Portland’ in the same sentence and I’m hooked. Here’s another from John Eklund. Watch it in full screen or from the Vimeo page for better resolution. If you missed the earlier Portland time-lapse find by Lance Page, catch it here. Hat tip to Rick Turoczy for the find

A look back at Portland’s real estate market performance in February. March’s update will be available in the third week of April. Market Summary February 2012 Prev. Month – January 2012 Last Year – February 2011 Median Sale Price $211,000 $207,500 $213,700 Average Sale Price $255,100 $249,100 $244,5

Highlights of the inaugural month of the 2012 real estate season included strong closed and pending sale figures (the best January since 2007), a bump in new listings, and a reduction in market time. However, January results also revealed continued low inventory levels and a dip in the median sale prices from a year ago. [.

Riffing on the explosively viral ‘Sh*t Girls Say‘ video meme, it was only time before a Portland version emerged. Given the Portlandia mania, it would be tough to pull off something totally fresh. A few clinkers here, but offset by a number of classic Portland truisms.   How long before the inevitable Vanco