Portland Real Estate Blog

This is a top 100 real estate blog in the world according to Feedspot.com. In particular, this is a local real estate blog written by a top 1% real estate agent in the U.S., Stephen FitzMaurice, Realtor. Stephen regularly reports on the greater Portland metro area’s real estate market including annual housing forecasts and best time to sell or buy a home reports. He gives home selling and home buying professional advice. He also writes informative articles on Portland neighborhoods and suburbs as they relate to the real estate market. Finally, he writes to inform the general public about real estate agents, such as annual average real estate agent commission reports and more.

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buried portland oil tank

How Much Does it Cost to Decommission an Oil Tank?

October 30, 2023

If you’re planning to sell your Portland home, you’ll want to think about potential home hazards that might need to be addressed before putting it on the market. If you have an older home, chances are, it has (or had) a heating oil tank, whether it’s in use or not. To ultimately make the sale, you may need to get a certification letter from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and/or have a new site assessment done. This can apply even to those who have had their oil tanks previously decommissioned but not certified through Oregon DEQ. If the previously decommissioned oil tank fails a modern soil sample test, and a second decommission can be required. Testing and decommissioning are...

Tualatin, Oregon Real Estate Market Report with 2024 Forecast

October 27, 2023

Every month we provide an analysis of real estate conditions in one of Portland’s desirable suburbs to provide helpful insight for your buying and selling decisions. To learn more about our local housing market and discover the other suburbs we have covered, check out our Portland Suburb Real Estate Market Reports. If you’re interested in the greater Portland metro 2024 forecast, go here. In this article we are featuring the suburb of Tualatin, located 12 miles south of Portland’s city center on I-5. Contained mostly within Washington County (with a small portion in neighboring Clackamas County), Tualatin offers a myriad of recreational opportunities for its residents to enjoy. With over 200 acres of parks, trails, and natural areas, there are...

portland mold test home inspection

Test for Portland Mold, Home Inspection Tips

October 23, 2023

An unmistakably mold-stained wall, ceiling, or shower stall ranks among the least appealing sights in any home, let alone one you’re shopping on the red-hot Portland real estate market. Today, we’re going to take a look at how to identify and test for mold, how to clean it up, and how to hopefully mitigate some of the specific root causes of the issue to prevent future growth — all in the interest of safeguarding your well-being and presenting your home for sale in the best possible light! Introducing Portland Mold Molds refer to a widespread and incredibly diverse group of fungi that comprises anywhere from tens to hundreds of thousands of species. We tend to have a negative connotation of mold,...

Portland, Oregon Real Estate Market, November 2023 Report

October 20, 2023

The Portland housing market is currently marked by inventory saturation, reduced buyer traffic and diminishing sales. These conditions are working in favor of buyers by providing greater choice and more competitive pricing. With a likely drop in inventory over the next several weeks, these ideal conditions may not last long, though the market should continue to favor buyers over the next couple of months. Let’s explore the figures and statistics contributing to the current state of the Portland real estate market. Portland Home Buyer Traffic is Decreasing After picking up slightly at the beginning of September, buyer traffic has been slowly decreasing (as we predicted last month). Due to the dependable seasonal cycles of our local real estate market, we...

costs of owning a home

The True Cost of Owning a Portland Home

October 17, 2023

Ready to take advantage of Portland’s real estate market and invest in a home? Now’s a great time to start thinking about the costs of home ownership — whether you’re paying in cash or taking out a mortgage. While your mortgage lender can help you figure out what kind of monthly payment you can afford, as a real estate agent, I also like to remind people to budget out the funds they’ll need to cover the regular expenses of owning a home. The Cost to Own a Home in Portland, Oregon vs. the U.S. In a list of 50 major US cities listed by bankrate.com in order of best places for first-time homebuyers, Portland landed right in the middle —...

how to sell a home now

Home not selling? 3 Steps to Get it Sold Fast.

October 16, 2023

Unless you have avoided the news for the last year or so, it is clear that the real estate market is leaning toward buyers around the country. This can only make things feel even more frustrating if you’re one of the few homes that are not selling. How Slow is the Portland Real Estate Market Right Now? Get our latest Portland monthly real estate market report here.As of Oct. 2023, days on market in Portland, Oregon is increasing, and averaging over 40 days on market. Days on the Real Estate Market in Portland by Home Value As is typical, the more expensive homes are staying on the market longer, but even the most affordable segment of the Portland real estate...

portland home appraisal value

Portland, Oregon Home Appraisal FAQ

October 13, 2023

What’s the difference between the home inspection and the appraisal? Home inspections and appraisals have a lot in common: both are key to the home sale transaction, both involve a third party coming into the home to form an assessment, and both can be stressful for home buyers and sellers!  That’s about where the similarities end. A home inspection differs from an appraisal in that the inspection is performed on the buyer’s behalf, and the results will help shape the sales contract. A home appraisal is performed for the sake of the mortgage lender, and the result will only affect how much money the lender is willing to pay for the home. While a home inspector looks at the “guts”...

Yamhill County

Oregon County Spotlight: Yamhill County, “In the Heart of the Willamette Valley”

October 9, 2023

There are five counties that make up the greater Portland metropolitan area within Oregon: Multnomah County, Clackamas County, Yamhill County, Washington County and Columbia County. In this article we’ll be featuring Yamhill County, nestled in the heart of Oregon wine country in the Willamette Valley. Geography Yamhill County’s northern boundary lies about 15 miles southwest of Portland and it is bordered by Polk County to the south. The eastern portion of Yamhill County lies within the Willamette Valley, with the Willamette River serving as its eastern boundary. The Willamette Valley was recently named one of the World’s Greatest Places in 2023 by TIME magazine. This area is defined by the rich farmland that produces an abundance of hazelnuts and hops...

portland real estate attic remodel

Portland Attic Remodeling Ideas: All Budgets

October 6, 2023

As available housing inventory in the Portland real estate market continues to remain low, and the forecast for the real estate market in 2024 doesn’t predict any increase in inventory, homeowners are looking for more creative ways to use space and maybe even generate a little extra rental income. Got an attic? You may be wondering what you can do with it. Many of our real estate clients have successfully capitalized on attic space, turning them into beautiful retreats from the rest of the house. Though attics have a lot of potential, knowing the rules before you get started can save you a lot of hassle. Before you get lost in beautiful photos of attics gone live-able, check out our...

portland adus

Portland, Oregon ADU Guide. Everything You Need To Know

October 2, 2023

Are ADUs a passing craze or a trend that’s here to stay? From the looks of it, at least in Portland, it’s the latter. Thanks to the city’s new ADU rules and regulations, Portland homeowners can now capitalize on this new trend, not only creating consistent monthly rental income but also adding to the value of their homes for resale. ADUs can vary in size and price, within certain ranges, and the rules and regulations around their construction are different from those for standard-size single-family dwellings. Adding an ADU to your property or buying a home with an existing ADU can transform you into a landlord if you choose to use it for long-term rental income. See all homes for...