Continue reading ...

Not sure what to do to get your home ready to put it on the market? This will give you some basic tips to prepare so that you can hit the market with your best foot forward. Continue reading ...

Do you have a plan in place for you and your family in case of a disaster? If you don’t it’s a good idea to make one, especially if you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters are a possibility. Many homeowners create evacuation plans for their homes and practice them with their kids, but far fewer have considered one for their pets. Take these steps to add your pets to your evacuation plan.

Assign pet evacuation to an adult.

Everyone should know how to act during an evacuation, and that includes assigning one parent or adult to the pets. This allows the other parent and the children to focus on their part of the evacuation plan, so there’s no confusion during a high-stress moment when time is of the essence.

Keep evacuation maps and pet carriers readily accessible.

If you need to evacuate, you should know exactly where every important item is. If you pets require carriers, keep them in a place that you can access easily.

Practice your plan.

Include your pets in your home evacuation drills. It’ll help you see how they will respond and make changes to your plan if necessary. Getting your dog out of a window may not be as simple as you think!

Be prepared in case you get separated from your pets.

No matter how much you drill your evacuation plan, it’s possible that a dog or cat will run off while you’re focusing on keeping your family safe. A microchip or a GPS-compatible tag can help you find your pets once it’s safe to return to the area.

A “1031 exchange” is the nickname used to discuss Section 1031 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service’s tax code. This section states that if an individual exchanges one investment property for another via a 1031 exchange, they may be able to defer capital gains (or losses) that they would otherwise have to pay at time of sale. Section 1031 applies to “property” beyond real estate, but many 1031 cases deal with buildings and land. We’ll only discuss 1031s in relation to real estate. WHY IS A 1031 EXCHANGE IMPORTANT? So why is a 1031 exchange important? It allows real estate investors to defer paying capital gains and potentially build wealth through real estate investing. Continue reading ...

Are you a renter that has become tired of paying someone else’s mortgage and not building any equity? Or a homeowner who has a growing family and is in need of more space? Whatever the case, if you are in the market for a new home there is no time like the present. Let’s explore a few tips that will help you to prepare for the home buying experience. Continue reading ...

The housing picture is likely to improve in 2018: Home prices are expected to climb, but not as fast More houses could be for sale toward the end of the year, giving home buyers a greater selection to choose from Homeowners will have more equity to borrow from Yet in other ways, 2018 might continue to be challenging, especially for home buyers. Mortgage rates are likely to rise, reducing affordability. Here are 10 housing and mortgage trends to expect in 2018. Continue reading ...

Fed rate hike is expected next week and three more increases are expected in 2018: Reuters poll The U.S. Federal Reserve is almost certain to raise interest rates later this month, according to a Reuters poll of economists. A majority of economists now expect three more rate increases next year compared with two when surveyed just weeks ago. Most economists surveyed said tax cuts were not necessary and the passage of the bill means the forecast risks have shifted toward higher rates, and faster. Continue reading ...

A home purchase brings together so many things under one roof: dreams, shelter, status, maybe a passport to better schools and neighborhoods. And one more thing: It gives you a forced savings account. Continue reading ...

Should you invest extra cash or use it to pay off your mortgage? It’s a heated debate that rivals French press versus pour-over coffee and “Star Wars” or “Star Trek.” But while all three topics might get passionate believers on both sides all worked up, investing or paying off your mortgage is a choice with serious financial consequences. Here’s how to know which way to go. Continue reading ...

A Home Energy Score is an energy audit that prioritizes energy upgrades and details the cost savings of each upgrade. It's also used as a method of comparing homes based on energy use like miles per gallon used for vehicle efficiency. Continue reading ...

Portland Neighborhoods By The Numbers: Where to Buy in 2015 Whether you're a first-time buyer, looking for a bigger place, downsizing, or renting, Portland has a hood to make you happy. Continue reading ...

Lower mortgage rates and higher rent prices make owning cheaper than renting over a 7-year period. Continue reading ...

Slowed appreciation means more leverage for buyers. Continue reading ...

The way the numbers tell it, metro home prices are nearly back to where they were at the height of the housing bubble. Continue reading ...

The past few months have cooled off somewhat — likely just the seasonal pattern, but possibly hints of sustained slowdown in price gains. So long as the limited supply of homes continues, it will remain a seller’s market. Continue reading ...

After a five-year lull, the housing boom is back in Portland’s Pearl District. Continue reading ...

Is renting or buying a better financial bet? Although the gap between renting and buying is narrowing across the U.S., homeownership is still 38% cheaper than renting. Continue reading ...

Nearly 1,400 Portland-area homes sold in January, according to numbers from the Regional Multiple Listing Service, an increase of 3.9 percent from a year earlier. Continue reading ...

You've heard the old saying - "Location, location, location." The real truth is "Location, condition, and price." And price trumps every other factor. Location affects the value of a home, but it's price that sells a home. Continue reading ...

Portland has in recent months landed a fairly steady string of outposts from technology companies that grew up elsewhere. Each has made a splash, bringing dozens of relatively high-wage jobs – even as the rest of the economy moves at a slow slog. Continue reading ...

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) New mortgage lending rules are going into effect Friday that aim to put an end to the worst mortgage lending abuses of the past. The new rules are designed to take a "back to basics" approach to mortgage lending and lower the risk of defaults and foreclosures among borrowers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which issued the new rules. Continue reading ...

More than 61% of all interstate moves made in Oregon were for people coming to live in the state, according to United Van Lines' annual migration study, which tracked 129,000 moves in the United States in 2013 Continue reading ...

(MoneyWatch) If the real estate recovery is a baseball game, we're in the fourth or fifth inning. So what will the rest of the game look like? Continue reading ...