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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date of death appraisal oregon

Getting a Date of Death Value from a Realtor in Oregon

August 15, 2022

Determining the value of an estate can be a hassle but is typically required in order to pay the proper amount of taxes. Often called an inheritance tax, all assets of the deceased be properly valued at the date of death or six months following the date of death. The executor is required to explain how the value was determined and must include proof. Appraiser or Realtor? When it comes to real estate, often a licensed real estate appraiser is hired to perform the date of death appraisal. Certainly this is a fine path to take. It is also possible for the executor to “substantiate” the value of the real estate property with alternative documentation. Once such possible alternative to...

selling a home for the first time

Selling a Home for the First Time? 5 Things Your Agent May Not Tell You

August 12, 2022

Real estate agents want your business and they especially want a new listing. While most agents are trained and licensed to put your interests first, it is also important to learn the essentials and advocate for yourself. We will help you understand the basic costs of selling a home (beyond commissions), the best time of the year to sell a home, what statistically makes a home sell, the basics on Realtor commission, and some basic rules of thumb when negotiating with a home buyer during your home sale. In our opinion, five things to know about home selling that the real estate agent you’re talking with may not tell you. 1. The cost to sell a home (beyond commissions). The...

sherwood oregon real estate market and map

Sherwood, Oregon Real Estate Market Update

August 10, 2022

We stay on top of all real estate market activity in Portland’s suburbs and report our findings to you in our Portland Suburb Real Estate Market Reports. The suburb of Sherwood, just 16 miles southwest of Portland, offers a unique lifestyle with easy access to city amenities, and we’ve deemed it one of the safest suburbs in the Portland metro area. In this article, we’re reporting on how the real estate market is performing in Sherwood, Oregon. Sherwood, Oregon Decline in Real Estate Inventory According to Fidelity National Title, as with pretty much all of Portland’s other suburbs, inventory in Sherwood is low, holding it in this perpetual seller’s market we’ve seen for the past two years. Sherwood’s Real Estate...

oregon county map

Moving near Portland, Oregon? Check out these 7 County Options.

August 8, 2022

When looking for a new home near a city center like Portland, Oregon, how much do you consider the county where the property is located when making your decision? Counties have important features and facets that can impact quality of life, and their boundaries are not always clear. County policies and practices trickle down to suburban cities and towns, then to individual neighborhoods. Portland is located in Multnomah County, but Multnomah reaches beyond the confines of the city’s boundaries. Also, Portland’s tri-county area consists of Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties, Oregon’s three most populated, with 1,826,725 total residents, according to Census.gov‘s 2021 report. Multnomah County makes up 803,377 of that number, with Washington County at 600,811 and Clackamas County at...

buried portland oil tank

How Much Does it Cost to Decommission an Oil Tank?

August 5, 2022

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. Testing and then decommissioning is voluntary during your home ownership, but often becomes involuntary after a buyer’s home inspection. Discovered leaking oil tanks...

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Beaverton, Oregon

August 3, 2022

A known city in its own right, Beaverton is nestled between the Tualatin Valley farmlands and the West Hills and one of Portland’s fastest-growing, thriving suburbs. With a population of 97,494, up from 89,803 in 2010, it’s easy to see why so many people are making Beaverton home. The city’s 16 square mile land mass, Washington County’s second largest city, is only seven miles west of Portland and boasts over 100 parks, restaurants, shops, wineries, historic landmarks, and highly recognized corporations. In 2021, we deemed Beaverton the top Portland suburb. We thought we’d take an even closer look to see what makes Beaverton such a unique city. Here’s what we found. Beaverton, Oregon Wants to Make the World a Better...

RIP2 Portland Residential Infill Project Update

August 1, 2022

In our recent article, Top 5 Portland Real Estate Market News Stories so Far 2022, we touched on the most recent update on the Portland Residential Infill Project (RIP1): the development and implementation of RIP2. Portland’s residential infill project, in addition to new home construction rates, and updated ADU (additional dwelling unit) guidelines, help us understand whether or not Portland’s housing supply will increase enough (or not enough) to meet housing demand over time. Here, we’re delving deeper into the expansion of Portland’s new zoning, RIP2, that will allow the construction of multiple additional dwelling units (ADUs) on single-family lots with fewer restrictions. In June, 2022 RIP2 passed and is in effect throughout Portland, Oregon. First, let’s look at what...

portland realtor home value estimate

Portland Home Value Estimate, Realtor Vs. Online 2022

July 29, 2022

The real estate market is shifting fast in Portland, Oregon and around the country. We’ve got your latest month by month report on the Portland market here. If you’re looking for tips on remodeling to improve your home value before going to market, we’ve got that too. You Can’t Trust Online Home Value Estimates When the real estate market is shifting fast, online estimates designed by algorithms get worse and they weren’t good to begin with. In fact, Zillow’s Zestimate is so bad, it nearly bankrupted the company in 2021 when they briefly turned into an online cash home buyer before loosing half a billion dollars in the process. But again, when the real estate market is actively shifting, the...

homes with bathroom suite sell for more

Homes with a Bedroom Suite Sell 25% Faster and for 5% More than those without.

July 27, 2022

Waking up and strolling over to a bathroom without entering an open hallway or main living area in your home is a big deal. A bathroom directly connected to a bedroom, an en suite, French for following or after, is a desired convenience that causes homes to sell for more, a lot more. Perhaps you’re considering adding a suite to your home to increase home value or you’re contemplating the future resale value of a home you want to buy. Either way, let’s find out exactly how more homes with bathroom suites sell for than those that do not have them. To figure this out I’m looking at a select number of homes that fit within what I’d consider to...

questions to ask buyers agent interview

5 Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Buyers Agent

July 25, 2022

Purchasing the wrong home in the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time can cost a home buyer money, peace of mind, and cause undo stress for years on end. So why do many buyers pick their closest friend or the first referral that comes along to be their buyer’s agent? For starters, they might think the job, of being a buyer’s agent, isn’t a big deal. Open doors, write up an offer. But for those that have owned multiple homes or moved around a bit, they know how to choose the best buyer’s agent that will not only open a door for them, but will also help them make the best possible decision for themselves or their family – for...