REAL ESTATE NEWS

Portland homeowners ask me about improvements all the time. Will a new kitchen increase value? What about a new roof? New windows? But there's another improvement that's especially relevant to Portland's older housing stock: Earthquake retrofitting. So does bolting your house to the foundation and strengthening the cripple walls actually increase the home's value? My answer is: It can — but I wouldn't expect a simple dollar-for-dollar return. Why Earthquake Retrofitting Matte

If you own a house in Portland, you might have more options for your property than you realize. Portland's Residential Infill Project expanded the types of housing that can be built in many neighborhoods traditionally filled with single-family homes. Depending on your property's zoning and characteristics, you might be able to add another dwelling, build a duplex or even develop several smaller homes. But just because the zoning allows additional housing doesn't automatically

When you're selling your house, you probably assume you can take most of your belongings with you. And for the most part, that's true. But what about the refrigerator? The chandelier? The mounted television? The smart thermostat? Just because you purchased and installed something doesn't necessarily mean you can take it when you move. And for buyers, just because something was in the house during your showing doesn't automatically mean it's included in the purchase. Here's wh

Most homeowners assume their property ends wherever the fence is. And in many cases, that's probably pretty close. But here's something worth knowing: A fence isn't necessarily a legal property boundary. Whether you're buying a home, preparing to sell or planning improvements to your yard, understanding where your property actually begins and ends can prevent some expensive problems. Your Fence Might Not Be on the Property Line Fences are often installed based on convenience

If you're planning to sell a home in Vancouver or elsewhere in Washington next year, there's a number worth knowing before you start calculating your proceeds. Washington's Real Estate Excise Tax brackets change January 1, 2027. REET is a tax on the sale of real property in Washington and is generally paid by the seller. Washington Department of Revenue The confusing part isn't really the tax itself. It's how the brackets work. The New 2027 REET Brackets Beginning January 1,

One question sellers sometimes ask me is: “What happens if I sign a listing agreement and then decide I don't want to work with that Realtor anymore?” The short answer is that a listing agreement is a contract, so you should never assume you can automatically cancel it without consequences. But in practice, many agents and brokerages will agree to release a seller who clearly wants to move on. Not all of them will. That's why the cancellation language is something I think sel

AI can write a listing description in seconds. It can analyze market data, organize property information, answer questions, generate marketing, search huge amounts of information and increasingly help consumers find homes. So it's reasonable to ask: Why would we still need Realtors? My answer is probably a little different than you'd expect from a Realtor. AI Will Replace Parts of My Job I don't think pretending otherwise helps anyone. There are plenty of things agents histor

A big backyard used to mostly mean more grass to mow. Today, I look at it differently. When I'm walking a property in Portland or Vancouver and see a large yard, oversized garage, basement, or unused side yard, one of the questions that comes to mind is: Could another dwelling work here? The answer is increasingly maybe. ADU Rules Have Changed Portland's residential zoning has become considerably more flexible. A house can generally have one ADU, and qualifying properties can

Remote work has changed the way a lot of people shop for homes. When someone is going to spend eight or more hours a day working from their house, things that might have once been considered “nice extras” can become a pretty big part of the buying decision. Here are a few features I think buyers--and sellers--should be paying atention to. 1. A Real Office Space The dining table can technically be an office. That doesn't mean buyers want to use it as one. A dedicated room with

You listed your home. The first few weeks passed without an offer. Then you did what seemed like the obvious thing: you reduced the price. And still…nothing. If you're selling a home in the Portland metro area this summer, that can be incredibly frustrating. But before assuming something is fundamentally wrong with your house, it's worth looking at what is happening around you. The summer 2026 housing market has become noticeably quieter. That doesn't mean homes aren't sellin

Earnest money sounds pretty straightforward: a buyer makes an offer and puts some money down to show the seller they're serious. But once you get into an actual transaction, the questions start. Who holds the money? Can the buyer get it back? Does the seller ever get to keep it? What happens to it at closing? Here's the simple version. What Is Earnest Money? Earnest money is money a buyer agrees to deposit as part of the purchase contract. It helps demonstrate to the seller t

Updated August 5, 2026 The 2026 NW Natural Street of Dreams is underway, celebrating its 50th anniversary with luxury custom homes, new construction and design ideas throughout the Portland area. This year’s event combines a traditional featured neighborhood in Oregon City with additional homes located throughout the region. Visitors can explore custom luxury homes, production homes, semi-custom construction and alternative housing concepts. The Street of Dreams is also a use

You accepted a great offer on your home, made it through inspections, and everything appears to be moving toward closing. Then the appraisal comes back lower than the buyer’s offer. What happens now? A low appraisal does not automatically mean the sale is over, but it can create an appraisal gap that the buyer and seller must work through before closing. What Is an Appraisal Gap? An appraisal gap is the difference between the buyer’s agreed purchase price and the value determ

The Portland real estate market is more active than it may seem, but that does not mean every home is selling quickly--or for the price the seller originally expected. Buyer activity has improved compared with last year, and more homes are successfully going under contract. At the same time, more than one--third of Portland-area listings have experienced a price reduction. Recent market tracking placed the percentage of reduced listings at approximately 37.5%. So, how can sal

Buying a home that needs work can sometimes be a great way to get into a neighborhood you otherwise could not afford or to buy a home with good bones and make it your own. The challenge is that many buyers do not have the cash available to purchase a home and then immediately pay for a new roof, kitchen remodel, electrical upgrades, flooring, or other major improvements. That is where an FHA 203(k) renovation loan can come into play. FHA has made several changes to the progra

Buyers usually form an opinion about a home pretty quickly. Before they start thinking deeply about the roof, sewer line, square footage, or offer terms, they are reacting to how the home feels when they walk in. That first impression matters because it can either make a buyer feel comfortable and interested, or it can make them start looking for reasons to move on. This does not mean every home needs to be fully remodeled or professionally staged. But it does mean sellers sh

There is no shortage of home-selling advice online. Much of it focuses on small details like baking cookies before a showing, buying trendy decorations or choosing the “perfect” day to list. Those things are not what determine whether a home sells successfully. In the real world, most home sales come down to a handful of major decisions. The right price, the condition of the property, how it is presented, how buyers experience it and how the offers are handled all have a much

Buying a home is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with important financial steps that begin well before closing day. One of the most helpful ways to prepare as a buyer is to understand which costs may come up early in the process, when those funds are typically due, and how they fit into your overall purchase. While every transaction is different, most buyers should be prepared for two general categories of funds: costs that may be needed shortly after offer acceptanc

When preparing to sell, one of the most common questions homeowners ask is: What sells better, a vacant home or an occupied home? The answer depends on the property, the price point, the local market, and how well the home is presented. But in most cases, the homes that perform best are the ones that help buyers quickly understand the space and imagine themselves living there. That is where home staging before listing can make a major difference. According to the National Ass

Investing in real estate can seem like a daunting task, especially when you do not have a large amount of capital to start with. However, the good news is that you do not need a fortune to begin building wealth through property. With the right strategies and knowledge, you can enter the real estate market even with limited funds. This post will guide you through practical steps and real estate investing tips to help you get started confidently. Understanding Real Estate Inves