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May 2012 � www.AllThingsRealEstatePdx.com � 503.317.5834

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“MAY” All Your Home Dreams Come True!

South Tabor @ 3111 SE 73rd Some favorites in this Stunning Home...4 bedrooms, 3 baths, kitchen has a large nook. Huge family room,

Master Suite on Main. Oversized lot with gardens, raised beds, patio, shed & stone path. Hardwoods throughout, TWO fireplaces, leaded glass and much more. $417,000

May ���� Page 2

See our “First Impressions” article on Page 6

Why Getting Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Loan is Critical in Today’s Market

I know everyone is used to hearing about being pre-approved and pre-qualified, but very few outside of the Real Estate or Mortgage realm know the difference. In a nutshell: Pre-Qualification is essentially a look-see by a mortgage lender (often based on verbal information provided by the potential borrower) that a client may be qualified for a specific loan amount. While advisable that income documen-tation and credit report are reviewed in detail, neither is required for a pre-qualification. Hence, the negative connotation “pre-qual” letters have with the industry professionals.

On the other hand, a pre-approval is typically entails a full review of a potential borrowers’ income, credit, employment and assets as if they already had a home in mind and were going through the full loan application process. Often-times, we take it a step further and do go through the full underwriting process upfront, to ensure the buyer will not only qualify, but will be also be completely approved prior to finding a home.

So why is it so important to at the very minimum become pre-approved if not fully approved for a loan before starting the home search? The answer is very simple – when going through either one, all of the “skeletons” have to come out of the closet and all potential issues get uncovered and addressed, thus clearing the path to a smoother approval or closing process.

Home buying can be a very stressful process, especially for a new buyer or a first time buyer.

Getting through the underwriting gauntlet and getting approved before looking for a home not only reduces the stress of the impending home purchase, but also makes a buyer “golden” to the potential sellers, who no longer have to wonder about the sale falling through due to lack of approval or potential underwriting issues coming up in the process that have not been addressed before. Especially this is critical in today’s market where inventory of affordable homes is running low and homes are receiving multiple offers. I am not saying that the pre-approval or full approval prior to starting the home search is fool-proof, but it does eliminate a great deal of potential issues and pitfalls. Underwriting process is still quite tight and conservative, so there are quite more documentation requirements that may burden a potential buyer.

If you have any questions about the process and required documentation to get pre-approved or fully approved, you may contact me via email: ella@efshomeloans.com.

By Ella Gurfinkel

Mortgage Expert

www.PortlandLoanExpert.com

ella@efshomeloans.com

503-977-0810

NMLS #188161/50085/1850

Equal Housing Lender

North East Homes

ML# Address Bdr Bth SF Price

May ���� Page 3

Here Comes The Judge – In Reverse I’ve never had to appear in front of a Judge in a Court of Law. But I have learned what’s meant by “that judge face.” You know the one: a slight downturn of the mouth, not a friendly gesture to be seen, hand on chin as they weigh every word, eyes that look straight through you. It’s positively unnerving.

That’s what I found when I met with a retired judge, Thomas. He wanted to know about a reverse mortgage. Just the facts, ma’am. No razzle, dazzle for him. Thomas said he and his wife travel to Hawaii six or seven times a year and had a great opportunity to buy a place on the island at today’s low prices. They did not want any new monthly mortgage payment that would impinge on their monthly cash flow and they did not want to drain their income-producing assets to pay cash for the vacation home. Could a Reverse Mortgage help him with financing on this vacation home?

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the answer was “YES.” It is true that Reverse Mortgages must be taken out on a homeowner’s primary residence. However, the funds received from that loan can be used for any purpose, including purchasing another property such as a second home or rental property.

Thomas and his wife have lived in their downtown home many years and owned it Free and Clear.

We looked at the numbers and found that refinancing their primary residence here in Portland could give them a lump sum Benefit Amount from the Reverse equal to the purchase price of the vacation home. This meant that Thomas and his wife could enjoy two properties, have no mortgage payments on either and keep their investment portfolio in tact.

Being a judge, Thomas read every document, including the entire Note and Deed, prior to closing the loan. Although this is “Best Practice” for all borrowers, not many actually do it. He found that the stipulations made in these documents matched everything we had discussed and everything covered in the manda-tory HUD Counseling session. He started to loosen up as he expressed his appreciation that there was “no funny business” with Reverses.

In the end, I found that this Judge was just a sweetie pie who had a terrific laugh and a great smile. He does a lot of smiling now, especially as he’s enjoying those gorgeous Hawaiian sunsets.

Kris Tent NMLS #418781 Reverse Mortgage Specialist MetLife Home Loan 503-892-1054

Intergenerational gardens I am very lucky: although I am not an ornamental gardener, I happen to live in a house with a yard that explodes with color and texture each spring. And I love it. A riotous tulip magnolia shares the stage with an azalea in a shocking shade of purple, separated by the lacy burgundy leaves of a Japanese maple. Some of the most beautiful tulips I’ve ever seen--from blood-red to yellow with fiery red stripes--occupy the real estate below, along with still-blooming hellebores and a variety of cheerful purple groundcovers. There is a new surprise every day in what’s now my garden.

Of course, in addition to appreciating the results of the time and energy invested by the caretaker who came before me, I’ve made my own investments. The west side of the house is now an edible garden, which I carved out of an overgrown iris bed (which had turned into an invasive grassland between the previous gardener’s tenure and my own). And the ground level deck is more than half covered with my container plants: parsley, oregano, lavender, sage, and cilantro; daphne, columbine, and a native rhododendron; daylilies, crocosmia, and daffodils; tea, blueberries, gooseberries...and the proverbial “much, much more.”

During the winter, I experimentally transplanted four 30-year-old blueberries into a perfectly-sized “empty” space in the border; I am thrilled to see that after a strategic hard pruning, they all appear to be thriving. I planted rhubarb, which is going like gangbusters; made a home for some raspberries, which have happily leafed out; and opened up a struggling pear tree, which now has blossoms like nobody’s business. Yeah, I keep fairly busy fitting some new plants in among those which magically appear with no effort on my part.

But (and it’s a big but) I don’t own this home. And so even though some of the container plants would doubtless do better in the ground than they do in their current containers, it is difficult for me to put those precious plants in the ground. The exem-

plary work of the terrifically skilled gardener who came before is still paying off, for one. And there’s that persistent question: what if I have to move, and they can’t come with me?

Since I mostly grow edibles (and annual edibles, at that), I hope that I won’t be anywhere but here when most of the plants I’ve planted bear fruit! But especially when perennials are concerned, putting plants in the ground and getting a yield necessitates a long-term effort: maintenance is required, often with a level of skill not many possess. But I do like to think about gardens as both gifts to and collaborations with the people who will come after us...so in a way, it’s more than a little selfish of me not to allow my own plants to join the amazing community that already exists, giving the next person a chance to enjoy them all together.

In the real estate world, you’re always looking at the physical ramifications of who/what came before. Whether you’re a seller, a buyer, or an agent, you get to see the real-life effects of how people cared for properties (both structures and landscapes) in the past. On the selling side, you have to trust that the person who comes after you won’t royally screw things up; on the buying side, you have to trust that the person who came be-fore wasn’t a complete dolt. It’s hard, sometimes.

But the great thing about built (and especially outdoor) environments is that as long as they haven’t been irreparably harmed--for instance, drastically polluted--even if someone before you made bad carpet decisions or someone after you might be a yard dud, these environments always present us with opportunities to learn, grow, and enjoy. A great garden, especially, is an intergener-ational collaboration; for now, my contribution is to enjoy Donna’s work. And if a spot opens up for my plants, I will absolutely consider adding them to the ongoing effort in this space.

Karen Wolfgang Independence Gardens

Northeast Portland 8 miles

May 13, 2012

1am-4pm

12143706 185 NE 183RD PL 3 1 1348 $120,000

12451681 2324 NE 86TH AVE 2 1 1376 $122,760

12374528 3154 NE 80TH AVE 3 2 1660 $125,000

12100504 4716 NE 95th AVE 1 1 1578 $130,000

12043628 10813 NE BROADWAY ST 2 2 1832 $143,600

12232999 1916 NE 101ST AVE 3 1 1906 $159,900

12383572 823 NE JESSUP ST 3 0 1620 $159,900

12621823 306 NE 184TH PL 3 2 1508 $159,900

12123761 10957 NE PRESCOTT ST 3 2 1273 $163,850

12039137 4545 NE 83RD AVE NE 2 1 2496 $165,000

12368115 2335 NE 148TH PL 2 2 1218 $169,950

12199781 3214 NE 92ND AVE 3 1 1371 $170,000

12138786 5005 NE MASON CT 2 1 690 $173,900

12241514 16133 NE MULTNOMAH ST 3 3 1616 $179,950

12245490 11711 NE SACRAMENTO ST 3 2 1558 $180,000

12667659 12704 NE HASSALO ST 4 1 1320 $184,900

12298662 8542 NE HUMBOLDT ST 3 2 1610 $184,960

12052517 303 NE 170TH AVE 3 1 2247 $204,950

12336824 2231 NE 80TH AVE 2 1 884 $209,900

12533951 5930 NE SUMNER ST 3 2 1936 $210,000

12024396 628 NE 108TH AVE 3 1 2470 $213,200

12471161 2208 NE 154TH AVE 2 2 1328 $214,000

12132691 5418 NE 35TH AVE 2 1 1440 $215,880

12105232 6450 NE 31ST AVE 3 1 1932 $219,900

12246460 1133 NE 59TH AVE 2 1 1691 $219,900

12556209 6047 NE 37TH AVE 2 1 1590 $219,900

12411639 12415 NE HASSALO ST 3 1 2323 $219,950

12614039 602 NE 94TH AVE 4 1 1200 $220,000

12538270 7505 NE PRESCOTT ST 2 2 1642 $222,000

12143668 1626 NE BRYANT ST 2 2 2122 $225,000

12135324 4346 NE 42ND AVE 3 1 2308 $234,000

12023108 1907 NE 75TH AVE 3 1 1756 $235,000

12348881 5240 NE Garfield AVE 2 2 1240 $239,900

12490402 4227 NE 79TH AVE 3 2 1521 $245,000

12232133 3106 NE 64TH AVE 3 2 2553 $247,000

12015554 5924 NE MILTON ST 3 1 1606 $249,000

12261754 3831 NE 80TH AVE 3 2 2076 $249,000

12226572 1815 NE 79TH AVE 2 2 2064 $249,900

12506136 1133 NE HOLMAN ST 3 1 960 $249,900

12096018 3304 NE 76TH AVE 2 1 1842 $250,000

12295915 3141 NE 143RD AVE 4 3 2753 $254,900

12065250 2804 NE 156TH AVE 4 3 3066 $259,000

12180013 3725 NE 81ST AVE 4 2 2232 $259,000

12595494 1051 NE 173RD AVE 5 3 2461 $259,900

12594551 625 NE 64TH AVE 2 1 1894 $264,000

12050239 1923 NE 149TH AVE 2 2 1662 $269,000

12628378 13365 NE EUGENE ST 3 2 2742 $269,000

12177616 3439 NE 65TH AVE 4 1 2108 $275,000

12047062 2435 NE 164TH AVE 4 3 2602 $277,500

12652712 4008 NE ROSELAWN ST 3 2 2028 $293,000

12231303 3736 NE 15TH AVE 4 1 2159 $294,900

12241491 3428 NE 54TH AVE 2 1 1610 $299,900

12267368 2442 NE WASCO ST 2 1 2120 $299,900

12384803 8806 NE BROADWAY ST 2 2 2514 $299,900

12626646 3542 NE 163RD PL 4 2 2372 $329,000

12276573 2914 NE 60TH AVE 3 2 2319 $330,000

12371355 6619 NE GRAND AVE 4 3 2190 $334,900

12361344 4929 NE 35TH PL 4 1 1869 $334,999

11358180 4602 NE 32ND AVE 3 2 2132 $339,900

12056687 3105 NE 59TH AVE 3 3 2077 $342,000

12221738 1347 NE 69TH AVE 4 2 2506 $349,900

12408315 4106 NE 7TH AVE 3 2 2350 $349,900

12424868 7155 N MOBILE AVE 3 2 2576 $349,999

12327361 5532 NE 32ND PL 3 1 3176 $350,000

12059415 1303 NE GERTZ RD 4 3 2595 $359,750

12405963 3921 NE 42ND AVE 3 2 2718 $364,000

12587352 6335 NE 26TH AVE 3 1 2428 $375,000

12317946 3325 NE 51ST AVE 3 1 2150 $376,900

12408153 625 NE WEBSTER ST 4 2 2026 $379,900

12543095 6215 NE 31ST AVE 4 2 2414 $379,950

12557597 4361 NE HAZELFERN PL 3 2 2532 $420,500

12189112 1131 NE Dean 4 2 2067 $424,900

12051831 3936 NE COUCH ST 2 1 2855 $429,000

12441480 6105 NE BROADWAY ST 3 3 2482 $429,000

12149974 4118 NE 18TH AVE 3 2 2388 $449,000

12355048 792 NE LAURELHURST PL 5 2 3248 $459,950

12384949 2932 NE 47TH AVE 3 2 2239 $499,900

12424377 4810 NE AINSWORTH ST 5 3 3417 $515,000

12529972 2816 NE 51ST AVE 4 3 2893 $539,000

12152578 3810 NE 28TH AVE 4 3 4389 $540,000

12502005 4918 NE 9th AVE 4 3 3103 $558,000

12316671 3424 NE 32nd AVE 3 2 2860 $565,000

12002138 2715 NE 37TH AVE 4 2 2944 $589,000

12091215 4928 NE 26th AVE 4 2 3055 $599,900

12586701 1417 NE STANTON ST 4 3 2288 $614,900

12383019 3415 NE 49TH AVE 4 4 2325 $619,900

12161140 3140 NE 19TH AVE 3 3 3261 $735,000

12581930 1026 NE 33RD AVE 3 2 3228 $749,900

12624134 2934 NE 18TH AVE 3 2 3716 $765,000

12135873 4121 NE ALAMEDA ST 5 4 4274 $899,000

ML# Address Bdr Bth SF Price

May ���� Page 4

NW & SW Condos Tackle clutter for a better sale and look like a supermodel! If your house is going on the market, it really is going on a blind date! You would like to look your best for a blind date and of course make a great first impression. All buyers look on-line first when looking to purchase, so remember the first impression starts on line.

The first step in preparing your home for sale is to de clutter your home. Buyers do not respond well to clutter while viewing a listing. It sends the wrong message on many levels. Buyers want to view the house as their dream space and clutter not only distracts but makes the buyer uneasy.

In one word, a clean space helps to ensure buyers will respond positively and may help secure your asking price.

Preparing a home is time consuming and hard work, but the more you put in to it the better your house will look.

Pack up everything that is not necessary for your daily needs. Besides, you will be selling the house and the less you have to pack the less stressful your move will be. This is a good time to assess what you want to bring with you in your new life.

Here are a few pointers for an easy process:

Leave only the coffee pot and a few decorative items on the kitchen counter perhaps an open recipe book and a bowl of fruit. Take off those refrigerator magnets full of notes and art work,

Buyers do not like seeing the owners grooming products in the bathrooms. Place everyday products in a basket and stash it away for viewings and open houses.

What about the closet? Why not pack up all those winter boots, sweaters and coats that you will not need, and prepare yourself for moving in the next few weeks or months. The closet will look neat and spacious to home buyers, and you will be prepared for moving.

Children need access to their toys, but for viewing they need to be stored in an orderly fashion. I tell my clients to edit the toys to a few favorites. Have bins and baskets on hand for a quick put away for viewings.

Bedrooms need to look like a sanctuary. If there are books and personal items and photos around the buyer will be distracted by your things and not the room.

Be sure to keep the bedroom clean with the bed made everyday and bedside tables clear of clutter.

Living rooms are usually the first room buyers will see. You only have a few seconds for a great first impression so make sure that there a not too many decorative items, and that personal collections are stored away.

Personal offices are a challenge because we tend to use them everyday. Make sure your bills are locked and stored away and that papers are neatly stacked. Assess what you really need and use everyday, and store the rest.

Finally, take a photograph of each room and study it. Look at how the buyer will see your home on-line and in person, Smile I bet your house looks more like a supermodel now!

Before: Imagine was brought in to consult the seller and help stage the home:

After: The home sold in one day with multiple offers!

Lisa Shipley

Owner / Certified Home Stager / Redesign / Color Consulting / Painting

503 643 0282

info@connectingpeopletospaces.com

www.connectingpeopletospaces.com

Beaverton Farmers Market May 12th - November 17th Sat. 8:00 am - 1:30 pm June 20th - August 29th Wed. 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm On Hall & 5th St. beavertonfarmersmarket.com Shemanski Park Farmers Market May 2nd - October 31st Wed. 10:00 am - 2:00 pm SW Park Ave. & SW Salmon St. portlandfarmersmarket.org Hillsboro Farmers Market April 28th - October 27th Sat. 8:00 am - 1:30 pm Main St. & 2nd Ave. hillsboromarkets.org Hillsdale Farmers Market May - November Sun. 10:00 am - 2:00 pm SW Capitol Hwy & Sunset Blvd. hillsdalefarmersmarket.com Lake Oswego Farmers Market May 19th - October 13th Sat. 8:30 am - 1:30 pm Millennium Park at First & Evergreen ci.oswego.or.us/farmersmarket

FARMERSFARMERSFARMERSFARMERS

MARKETMARKETMARKETMARKET

Buckman Farmers Market May 3rd - September 27th Thur. 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm SE Salmon St. & SE 20th Ave. portlandfarmersmarket.org Portland Farmers Market March 17th - December 15th Sat. 8:30 am - 2:00 pm SW Park Ave. & SW Montgomery St. portlandfarmersmarket.org Hillsboro at Orenco Station April 29th - October 28th Sun. 10:00 am - 2:00 pm NE 61St. & Cornell hillsboromarkets.org Sherwood Farmers Market May - September Sat. 9:00 am - 1:00 pm SW Pine St. between First & Railroad sherwoodmarket.blogspot.com Main St. & 2nd Ave. hillsboromarkets.org

NW 23rd Farmers Market June 7th - September 27th Thur. 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm NW 23rd Ave. & NW Savier St. portlandfarmersmarket.org Hollywood Farmers Market May - November Sat. 8:00 am - 1:00 pm NE Hancock between 44th & 45th hollywoodfarmersmarket.org Cedar Mill Sunset May 12th - October 27th Sat. 8:00 am - 1:30 pm NW Cornell, Across from Sunset High cmfmarket.org West Linn Farmers Market June 22nd - August 24th Wed. 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Willamette Falls Dr. & 13th westlinnfarmersmarket.com

Courtesy of Rick Herz @ Fidelity Title

12548545 7720 SW BARNES RD G 1 1 624 $69,990

12114535 6815 SW CAPITOL HILL RD

#10 2 1 1059 $80,000

12523515 2680 SW 87TH AVE #27 2 1 687 $84,900

12407318 602 SW NEVADA ST B 1 1 654 $110,300

12487110 840 NW NAITO PKWY H-2 1 1 700 $123,500

12644043 7510 SW BARNES RD A 1 1 812 $125,000

12436334 7925 SW 40TH AVE C 3 2 1144 $139,900

12342279 8349 SW 24TH AVE #8 2 2 1252 $141,000

12289737 859 SW BROADWAY DR #41 1 1 530 $149,900

12094441 4460 SW SCHOLLS FERRY RD

#2 2 2 1305 $155,000

12329992 1910 SW 18TH AVE #23 1 1 680 $159,000

12174580 4880 SW SCHOLLS FERRY RD

#8 2 1.1 1120 $165,000

12462355 1500 SW PARK AVE #102 1 1 597 $165,000

12578172 411 NW FLANDERS ST #404 1 1 725 $165,000

12639727 6665 W BURNSIDE RD #413 2 2 1126 $169,900

12693341 4460 SW SCHOLLS FERRY RD

5A 2 2 1305 $169,900

12468641 7315 SW BEAVERTON HILLS-

DALE HWY #103 3 2 1520 $170,000

12015744 2021 SW MAIN ST #35 1 1 646 $171,600

12588615 118 NW KING AVE #33 1 1 521 $175,000

12569500 1631 NW EVERETT ST #303 1 1 500 $179,900

12106970 2941 SW MILES ST 2 1 911 $182,000

12508349 4970 SW LANDING DR #101 2 2 913 $194,900

12168346 1400 NW IRVING ST #113 0 1 563 $199,500

12640613 3812 SW KELLY AVE #7 2 2 994 $200,000

12670403 111 SW HARRISON ST 3B 1 0.1 725 $219,000

12222221 3601 SW RIVER PKWY #2406 1 1 845 $222,000

12466359 255 SW HARRISON ST 23C 1 1 611 $222,000

12645060 2211 SW 1ST AVE #401 2 1.1 1166 $224,500

12184181 310 NW UPTOWN TER 1A 2 1.1 1104 $228,500

12673094 1030 NW 12TH AVE NW

#206 0 1 607 $229,000

12073678 1500 SW PARK AVE #416 1 1 597 $232,000

12316160 0305 SW MONTGOMERY ST 1 1 790 $237,000

12656005 1926 W BURNSIDE ST #1009 1 1 859 $239,900

12634894 3601 SW RIVER PKWY #505 1 1 830 $250,000

12347335 2211 SW 1ST AVE #901 2 1.1 1166 $259,000

12312755 1400 NW IRVING ST #624 1 1 828 $260,000

12399781 1255 NW 9TH AVE #403 1 1 800 $264,000

12162144 1410 NW KEARNEY ST #516 1 1 847 $265,000

12281310 1132 SW 19TH AVE #709 1 1 662 $269,000

12394792 5150 SW LANDING DR #111 2 2 1042 $269,000

12225241 7836 SW 31ST AVE 2 1.2 1298 $269,900

12313803 4416 NW BARNES RD 2 2 1040 $272,500

12532134 5170 SW LANDING DR #104 2 2 1003 $289,000

12501594 1500 SW 11TH AVE #704 1 1.1 725 $299,000

12632431 2211 SW PARK PL #804 2 2 959 $299,000

12133499 2141 NW DAVIS ST #204 1 1 893 $317,000

12565478 2060 NW VILLAGE CIR 2 2.1 1686 $320,000

12327024 726 NW 11TH AVE #204 1 1 752 $329,000

12060574 2039 NW VILLAGE CIR #10 2 2.1 2114 $338,988

12588228 1030 NW 12TH AVE TH8 1 1.1 942 $367,900

12388843 411 NW FLANDERS ST #705 2 2 1448 $379,000

12232262 1001 NW LOVEJOY ST #602 1 1.1 873 $399,900

12394563 333 NW 9TH AVE #1213 1 1 1025 $399,900

12203950 1001 NW LOVEJOY ST #413 1 1 870 $399,990

12251359 5630 SW RIVERSIDE LN #17 2 2 1850 $410,000

12463974 949 NW OVERTON ST #1410 1 1 987 $412,500

12369065 1400 NW IRVING ST #308 1 1.1 1245 $425,000

12575576 820 NW 12TH AVE #316 2 2 1182 $439,900

12441159 823 SW PENNOYER ST TH-I 2 2.1 1763 $499,000

12029890 1616 SW HARBOR WAY

#604 2 2 1536 $519,000

12264522 2445 NW WESTOVER RD

#206 2 2 1571 $574,000

12234451 937 NW GLISAN ST #431 2 2 1500 $599,000

12231798 937 NW GLISAN ST 237B 2 2 1610 $599,950

12568961 5672 SW RIVERPOINT LN 2 1 1673 $610,000

12664582 1500 SW 11TH AVE #1504 2 2.1 1248 $624,900

12270887 1414 SW 3RD AVE #2403 2 2 1909 $675,000

12597467 1926 W BURNSIDE ST #1605 2 2 1693 $699,500

12237648 1414 SW 3RD AVE #2202 2 2 1902 $749,000

12329173 725 NW FLANDERS ST #402 2 2.2 2441 $749,900

12455662 949 NW OVERTON #102 1 2.1 2001 $760,500

12634734 1221 SW 10TH AVE #1605 2 2 1519 $850,000

12208399 922 NW 11th AVE #1206 2 2.1 1760 $879,000

12176310 949 NW OVERTON #311 3 3 2342 $934,000

12166423 2529 NW WESTOVER RD 3 3.1 2562 $1,050,000

12490610 2351 NW WESTOVER RD

#804 2 2.1 2095 $1,075,000

May � Page 5

Considering QR Codes? Be Mobile Friendly

Promoting your website with a QR Code is a popular and effective way to drive traffic from mobile users. However, linking the code to a website that isn't mobile friendly will leave a bad impression. Put yourself in the shoes of a mobile user. They want a professional looking solution in a mobile friendly experience. If you provide that, your promotion will be successful. If not, you're better off not using them.

Deliver on Your Commitments

When working with your customers, whether new or returning, be sure that when you make commitments you can de-liver on them. There is no faster way to lose customers than making promises that you cannot keep. This is true whether you are quoting a price on a project, offering to have a product delivered on a certain day or stating project specifications. Say what you are going to do and do what you say.

Audit Your Customer Service Experience

One simple way to see your company from

your customers' view point is to audit the buying experience. Go through the process

of buying your product or service from research through purchase. If you can't do it

yourself (because you're too close to it), have a friend do it for you. Take good notes every

step of the way and review each one for areas of improvement. It's a simple and

inexpensive way to improve the buying experience.

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Give your Home A “Screen Test” as you Evaluate Curb Appeal

You know the f e e l i n g … . y o u drive up to a home as a pro-spective buyer and think “No, thanks.” Even though we know

we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, we can’t help it.

Real estate experts agree: enhancing your home’s curb appeal can dramatically improve its resale value. In fact, some agents report that without strong curb appeal, buyers might not even consider looking inside the home.

As a seller, you have probably done the basics to make your home shine: land-scaped your yard into top shape, planted cheery flowers, maybe even given your front door a fresh coat of paint.

But have you ever thought how your screens might be impacting the whole look of your home?

Torn screens, bent frames or other unsightly damage can give the impression that other maintenance in the home might have been overlooked and buyers see dollars they will have to spend. Repairing or replacing these damaged screens is a necessity as you prepare your home for sale. Kraft Screen & Door's expert team specializes in convenient on-site screen repair to help your home make a great first impression.

In addition to your screens being in tip-top shape and squeaky clean, that’s not the only screen-related way you can improve your resale value!

Kraft Screen & Door, a local family-owned business, can show you the many options available to spruce up your screens. As the largest screening and shading company in the Portland area, Kraft offers a wide variety of high-quality products. The friendly Kraft

specialists can help you evaluate your needs and suggest innovative products that can improve the appearance and value of your home.

Some of the latest and most sought-after screening features include:

• Retractable Screens: Buyers will appreci-

ate your desire to update the functionality of doors and windows with this wonderful option that allow your screens to “disappear” when not in use. These screens retract into a mere 2” housing to allow for an obstructed view of the outdoors. Available in a wide variety of designer colors and several mesh options, they enhance the appearance of windows and can be custom-made to fit almost any door frame or window.

• Retractable Awnings: Now you see it, now

you don’t! Let spring home buyers picture themselves enjoying every minute of their outdoor living space! Retractable awnings can operate either manually or with a motor and be adjusted to different angles.

• Porch and Gazebo Enclosures: Outdoors is

the new “in.” A screened-in gazebo or porch will add instant value to your home! Choose from a wide variety of attractive framing colors and mesh options.

The key adage in real estate might be “location, location, location,” but you don’t want to lose the buyers at your doorstep once they reach your location! By upgrading your home’s exterior, including window and door screens, you have nothing to lose in this competitive market…except your house to a new owner!

Visit us today at kraftscreens.com or call 503-678-6160 for more information and a free estimate as we walk you through the many options available to increase the resale value of YOUR home!

First Impressions Count!

May � Page 6

Walk-Through Aviary, Herding Dogs - Herding Goats

and Sheep, Walk on the Wild Side Exotic Animal

Display, Alpaca Display, PetSmart Center Stage with

Guest Speakers, Petting Zoo, Family Fun Zone - Facepainting,

Bouncy House and Blow-Up Slide, Adoptions, Exhibitors,

Shopping, and More! Free Amazing Classes All Weekend Long:

Please check back for the list of free classes provided by the pet

experts (gardening with your pet, emergency pet preparedness

and pet reiki are examples)

Show Dates & Hours:

Saturday, May 5th, 10:00am – 6:00pm

Sunday, May 6th, 10:00am – 6:00pm

Location:

Portland Metropolitan Expo Center

Admission:

Regular $8.00 | Seniors 55 & over $6.00 | Kids 6 – 12 $4.00

| Kids 0-5 Free | Active Military Free

Pets $1.00 or one can of pet food

Bring your pet and donate to AniMeals. AniMeals is a

not for profit program that brings food to cats & dogs

belonging to homes that receive home-delivered meals. This is Hazel, I belong to Dana & Gary

Griggs @ Windermere!

The Northwest Pet and Companion Fair

Dec � Page 7

ML# Address Bdr Bth SF Price

May � Page 7

NW & SW Homes Tales From The Crawlspace

SPRING AT LAST! Oh heaven’s I certainly hope so by the time you’re reading this… In the early spring it’s time for all of us to plan our annual “dry weather chores”. There is always home mainte-nance that is best dealt with when the weather is dryer. Additionally, in the spring everything grows, absolutely everything. As the flowers bloom and we turn our smiles up and open our windows to take in some fresh air (now and then). There are also many unwanted things that start to grow better now as well. Lots of pollen in the air, it’s a good time to replace furnace air filters more frequently and to consider putting in a better, tighter or HEPA type filter.

Mold grows now too. 75% of all the calls I receive to diagnose mold problems come in the spring. I suspect most people would think it’s a bigger issue in the winter when our houses are closed up and it’s raining more. However, the furnace on wit forced air heat tends to keep things dry inside at least the air. If there are heavy moisture intrusion problems this won’t stop mold growth but milder issues can be held in check by the dry air of forced draft heating.

Everything that makes the flowers bloom in the spring, makes the mold grow as well. I also think that we all become more aware of the smells around us at this time, when most of the air begins to smell so wonderful. Regardless, now is often the time when people begin to notice the odors asso-ciated with mildew and mold. First, DON’T PANIC! (For you hitchhiker’s guide fans). Most mold issues are really only “housekeeping” issues. This does not mean you’re a bad housekeeper, it just means that the mold or mildew isn’t pervasive enough to require professional remediation. I recommend a product called Sporicidin® Antimi-crobial Soap to all my clients. It’s used in most hospitals as a regular cleaner (don’t worry it won’t make your house smell like a hospital, yuck). Sporicidin is not very expensive and a terrific, true antimicrobial to have around. You can order it online to be delivered to your house or pick it up at most medical supply stores. DO NOT USE BLEACH! Bleach is actually mostly water, it will kill the surface mold but it can actually feed the imbedded mold spores and make it come back even worse. Besides it smells horrible and ruins your hands.

Anyway, clean up and black or brown mildew or mold looking deposits. If the situation seems to be too significant to simply clean up, or you are unable to determine the source of the moisture intrusion, call an expert. Mold isn’t mold unless a qualified lab runs tests on samples taken by a technician. I also do Thermal imaging scans and trace moisture intrusion with moisture meters in order to find the true source of the problem. I do not recommend simply trying to remediate the

“damage” the repair costs can somehow skyrocket and once you’re in to it, it’s harder to figure out what went wrong. I don’t believe most people or companies are dishonest but I do have a fundamental problem with mold remediation companies to test and diagnose mold problems and then profit from the repair work. If it seems like it might be a conflict, it probably is. There are several other testing/diagnosis options, Property Exam is only one. I only recommend you find out as much as you can about what you are dealing with before someone starts tearing out walls and flooring. Just a thought…

Besides potential mold issues, plan your annual dry weather maintenance. I’ll talk more about these things in detail next month. When you get a week of dry weather, someone needs to go up on your roof and clean off any debris. If you have moss up there, broom it off (should have moss treated the roof in the fall within the last 3-5 years). Inspect for cracks in the exposed sealant. Plan to do some roofing seal service by the end of summer. Sometime soon it will be a good time to pressure wash or clean off any decks or siding that are discolored. If you have siding that has any moss on it, you can get a terrific “spray on and forget” product at home depot or shipped to you. It just connects to your hose and you can spray it on the cladding. Within a week or so, all the fungus will simply fall away. Have a look at your exposed woodwork. This includes wood decking, railing, siding trim (or siding itself) window & door trim, roof soffit & fascia trim. If you can clearly see the grain in painted wood, or the wood itself, plan on painting or touch up painting before next fall. If your stained decking hasn’t been stained in the last 3 years or so, plan on staining it again. New home buyers, most likely your wood deck or fence wasn’t stained originally or only got a light staining.

Usually builders don’t stain decking because it “takes” better if it’s allowed to “season” a little. Don’t go through another winter without getting a good stain seal on the wood surfaces. Often people decide to let cedar decking and fencing alone to turn grey. This is a poor choice in our climate. It shortens the expected useful service life of the deck or fence considerably. Fungus gets into the wood and accelerates deterioration. A nicely stained deck can last indefinitely if you take care of it. Everybody let’s get out and enjoy the spring season and break out the barbeque! If it’s still raining when you read this, send me an email & I’ll reply with plans for an Arc.

Scott Harris PropertyExam.com

The chart below shows the number of Bank Owned and Short Sales in all

areas of the RMLS™ system during 2011.

• Comparing 2010 to 2011 distressed sales as a percentage of closed sales increased from

29.0% to 33.1% • New listings dropped from 45,907 to 33,940 which is a 26.1% decrease • Short sales comprised 15.3% of new listings and 10.8% of sold listings in 2011, up 3.0% and

2.5% from 2011 respectively as a percentage of the market. • Bank owned properties comprised 13.4% of new listings and 22.3% of sales in 2011, rising

slightly from 12.6% and 20.7% respectively in 2010.

Portland Metro when comparing percentage share of the market 2010 to 2011

12041987 8922 NW GERMANTOWN RD 2 2 1496 $154,900

12097128 5800 SW TAYLORS FERRY RD 3 1.1 1296 $180,000

12365835 4443 SW CORONADO ST 3 2 1059 $199,000

12583499 9029 SW 7TH AVE 3 1.1 1040 $199,500

12508445 10165 SW WALKER RD 3 2 1456 $209,900

12621181 3210 SW SPRING GARDEN ST 3 2 1076 $209,900

12164144 2906 SW SPRING GARDEN ST 2 2.2 1790 $229,000

12349779 7720 SW 82ND AVE 2 2 1407 $239,200

12243890 2643 SW HUME ST 2 1 1362 $248,900

12641440 8360 SW RIDGEWAY DR 4 2 3330 $249,000

12183366 2375 SW 76TH AVE 3 2 1894 $250,000

12582109 11101 SW 45TH AVE 3 2.1 1586 $259,990

12276071 6130 SW MULTNOMAH BLVD 3 2 1422 $265,000

12276337 4610 SW VESTA ST 4 2 1716 $267,000

12113265 9938 SW 57TH AVE 3 2 1348 $270,000

12492933 3230 SW DOLPH CT 3 2.1 2520 $270,000

12303491 5435 SW VERMONT ST 4 3.1 3286 $274,900

12698635 6324 SW RADCLIFF ST 4 2 2248 $279,000

12613068 4350 SW ALTADENA AVE 2 1 2012 $285,000

12682805 3071 SW FLOWER TER 2 1 1582 $289,698

12357638 5428 SW SHATTUCK RD 5 2 2016 $309,900

12466514 4410 SW CULLEN BLVD 3 1.1 1367 $320,000

12401899 8531 SW LEAHY RD 3 2 2172 $325,000

12460861 9304 SW 12TH DR 3 2 1100 $325,000

12660775 8312 SW 45TH AVE 3 2 2335 $325,000

12676617 702 SW CHELTENHAM ST 3 2 1517 $329,000

12519425 11737 SW 35TH AVE 3 2.1 2000 $329,900

12362345 6501 SW MOONSHADOW CT 3 2.1 2130 $359,000

12426706 1248 SW DICKINSON LN 4 2.1 2290 $365,000

12662487 3810 SW 90TH AVE 4 2.1 2917 $379,900

12110246 6432 SW LOOP DR 3 3 3188 $385,000

12421054 2008 SW CANBY ST 3 3 2315 $389,900

12696547 214 NW SEBLAR DR 4 2 2002 $399,000

12643510 8324 SW 2ND AVE 3 2.1 2099 $399,900

12235279 6005 SW 33RD PL 4 2.1 2400 $415,900

12135189 614 SW ARBORETUM CIR 5 2.1 3468 $424,900

12454915 3130 SW GRACE LN 4 2 2846 $425,000

12548367 9555 SW LANCASTER RD 3 3 3659 $429,762

12318098 5910 SW HAINES ST 3 3 2414 $439,000

12560047 3105 SW RALEIGHVIEW DR 3 2 2022 $439,000

12111429 10029 NW ENGLEMAN ST 3 2.1 2104 $439,900

12524025 833 SW PALATINE ST 4 2 2636 $445,000

12604615 5908 SW ILLINOIS ST 5 3 3073 $449,000

12248673 3434 SW HAMILTON CT 5 3 3192 $450,000

12566827 4249 SW CHESAPEAK AVE 4 3 2540 $469,900

12401974 0230 SW CANBY ST 3 2.1 2606 $475,000

12089535 4910 SW SCHOLLS FERRY RD 4 3 4324 $495,000

12074650 7164 SW LA VIEW DR 3 2.1 2266 $499,000

12467991 102 SW PENDLETON ST 3 2.1 2053 $499,000

12405962 2875 NW UPSHUR ST 3 1.1 2514 $499,900

12220595 3035 SW CARSON ST 4 2.1 3006 $539,000

12464529 1240 SW CARDINELL DR 3 2 2390 $539,000

12153286 1457 NW MORGAN LN 5 3.1 3067 $539,900

12638113 3434 SW CORBETT AVE 3 1.2 3636 $547,000

12063648 3804 SW SCHOLLS FERRY RD 3 2 3450 $549,900

12269052 7350 SW GABLE PARK RD 3 2 2921 $575,000

12322191 218 SW CLARA MAE WAY 3 2.1 2593 $584,900

12654131 5755 SW ABERNATHY CT 4 3.1 3346 $585,000

12534859 10745 SW MOAPA AVE 3 2 2294 $599,000

12354884 10285 SW RIVERSIDE DR 4 3 2661 $599,900

12375036 13626 NW SKYLINE BLVD 3 1 1962 $625,000

12141573 3606 SW MOUNT ADAMS DR 3 2.1 3012 $635,000

12687839 6101 SW 67 PL 5 3.1 3534 $639,950

12518911 4342 SW LOBELIA ST 4 3.1 3407 $649,900

12076415 2256 SW HUMPHREY PARK RD 3 3 3440 $650,000

12060271 3338 NW FRANKLIN CT NW 5 1.1 3763 $675,000

12233520 2830 SW WEST POINT AVE 6 3 3456 $675,000

12551463 636 SW ARBORETUM CIR 3 3 2300 $679,000

12437747 6385 SW ARROW WOOD LN 4 3 3618 $689,900

12195764 4440 SW 75TH AVE 4 3.1 4287 $695,000

12384318 5550 SW DOGWOOD LN 5 3.1 5032 $695,000

12643872 1835 SW ELIZABETH ST 3 2.1 3514 $699,900

12022062 9400 SW PANORAMA PL 5 3.1 4840 $720,000

12019055 8834 NW SHEPHERD ST 4 3.1 3626 $724,999

12181810 2527 NW PINNACLE DR 4 3.1 3257 $725,000

12506586 8231 NW HAWKINS BLVD 4 3.1 4341 $750,000

12101756 6141 SW CANYON CT 3 2.1 3190 $760,000

12153261 3810 NW DEVOTO LN 5 4 3808 $769,000

12082785 2872 NW CUMBERLAND RD 5 3.2 4020 $800,000

12372365 6439 SW HAMILTON WAY 4 2.1 3363 $849,500

12346728 2547 NW NORTHRUP ST 5 3 4689 $865,000

12495804 9726 NW SKYLINE HEIGHTS DR 4 3.1 5425 $899,900

12259650 3021 NW GREENBRIAR TER 4 2.1 4296 $925,000

12465129 2320 SW 17th 3 3.1 3480 $995,000

12646694 8912 NW HERRIN CT 4 3.1 4633 $995,000

12116420 3200 NW GREENBRIAR TER 4 3 3563 $999,000

12445918 1870 SW PALATINE HILL RD 4 3 3460 $1,049,000

12417984 12931 NW SPRINGVILLE RD 3 3 2841 $1,100,000

12034248 9941 NW UPTON CT 5 4.1 5027 $1,149,900

12099635 830 NW POWHATAN TER 4 2.1 5425 $1,295,000

12522830 2719 NW WESTOVER RD 4 3.2 4468 $1,390,000

12516171 3415 SW BRENTWOOD DR 5 5.1 6423 $1,395,000

12393475 3917 NW LEWIS LN 4 4.1 5662 $1,399,000

12637030 2025 SW MOUNT HOOD LN 5 3.1 5335 $1,490,000

12057326 1017 SW MYRTLE DR 4 3.1 4676 $1,695,000

May � Page 8

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Courtesy of “The Scene Marketing Group” Facebook Page and The Harvard Business Review

May � Page 9

North Homes & Condos

ML# Address Bdr Bth SF Price

Landscaping for your ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit)

There are many benefits that come with building an ADU and your new garden can now mirror the same space-saving and thoughtful concepts as your converted property. Whether you’ve convert-ed your garage to a living space and have not lost any garden, or whether you’ve built your ADU in your yard and need ways to replace the “green,” the following are just a few basic tips that can help you redefine your new layout, ensure that neither structure dominates the other and provide you with a well-balanced home and garden.

As a result of building the ADU, your yard is now made up of many useful smaller spaces that can benefit both structures. These areas can act as pri-vacy buffers as well as connectors, depending on your use for your ADU.

If you are renting it out, a sense of privacy through landscaping can enhance the livability of both homes. This can be achieved through petite trees and airy shrubs strategically located where their interest can be seen. You can double up on this sense of space by planting graceful flowering vines right under the trees and allowing the vine to coil around the limbs. Whether you are passionate about natives, fragrance, wildlife-attracting plants or edibles, the plant list is generous and will ensure privacy and purpose too.

If you are using your ADU to accommodate a relative, you probably want to maintain some sense of community while preserving the privacy component. Communal pathways and sitting areas can still be a great place for plants. Stagger-ing heights and seasonal interest along the margins of pathways and patios can add enough square footage of growing space while meeting access needs and sitting areas. These shared spaces can still act as privacy screens between both homes when you build arbors, pergolas or trellises. By designing these garden structures with an airy feel

you can avoid cutting up the spaces and will maintain a functional connection.

Using vertical space is a great opportunity to create a shared theme and there are many edible and flowering vines that will work well against both homes. These climbing plants can grow up the facades with the help of materials that either fit with a more traditional architecture, such as custom made wood or iron trellises, or focus on a more contemporary look with the use of cable wire and bold industrial hardware. Choosing an appeal-ing climbing structure will protect your siding and ensure an added layer of design.

While small, your ADU’s porch can host containers substantial enough for a personalized garden. Reclaimed whiskey or wine barrels are large enough to grow a plethora of plants and allows your tenant or relative an individual area.

Enhancing the livability of both your main home and your ADU can be achieved with a thoughtful landscape design, tailored-made to your needs, likes and situation. A functional and usable garden can add substantially to the value of your property and ensures that your main home and ADU is surrounded by a healthy, attractive and productive garden.

Make the most of your space! Jo Racklin

ADU's, basement and attic conversions, outdoor living rooms, inspired storage solutions.

P: 971 219 2529 E: racklinrenovations@gmail.com www.racklinrenovations.com

Divorces, Houses, and Mortgages: Three Scenarios Walking the Tight Rope

Going through a divorce disrupts nearly every aspect of a person’s life from their spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being, all the way down to their financial health and the roof over their head.

In my 10+ year mortgage career, I ’ve reviewed over 10,000 mortgage applications between the origination side of the business where I now work and the distressed mortgage world where I worked from 2008-2010. Divorces stand out on a credit report like a sore thumb. It’s typically a 1-2 year window of delinquent payments on a majority of credit accounts, where previously and since then, the payment history was perfect.

Here are three loan scenarios I’ve worked on, navigating the world of divorce decrees and underwrit-ing guidelines:

1. Mr. wanted to buy a house after the divorce was finalized. He was concerned that he wouldn’t be able to qualify because he was still on the mortgage with his ex-wife, who’s 100% responsible for the mortgage. As long as the recorded divorce decree (must be recorded) states that she is 100% responsible for the mortgage from the marriage, it will not be used as a factor in the underwrit-ing decision or work against his debt-to-income ratio, even though it appears on his credit report. And even if she was under-water in the home, that mortgage wasn't used against him qualifying for his new house.

2. "Extenuating circumstances" are often referred to in the dialogue between a homebuyer who’s had their name and personal credit attached to a short sale, where their ex-spouse did a short sale after their divorce was finalized.

I experienced this one last year. The ex-wife was awarded the home in the divorce with the husband paying $300/mo to subsi-dize the mortgage payment. She

had a job opportunity out of state and decided to sell the house as a short sale (underwater by $50,000). Two months before the close of escrow, the ex-wife had moved and chose not to make th e f i n a l tw o mor tg age payments. She informed her ex-husband and he in turn chose not to send her the final two $300 checks.

No problem, right? Actually, big problem. Even though he wasn’t awarded the house in the divorce, he was legal-ly obligated to pay her $300/mo for the mortgage payment, regardless of whether she made the payment or not. The underwriters conditioned him for a copy of every $300 cancelled check from the date the divorce was finalized to the day the short sale closed (approximately 13 m o n t h s o f c a n c e l l e d checks). Unfortunately, the buyer couldn't provide cancelled checks for the final two payments and the loan application was denied.

The “extenuating circumstances” caveat that Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA extend to people who have lost homes to reasons outside their control, no longer applied in this scenario. He didn’t fulfill his contractual obligation stipulated by the recorded di-vorce decree, and would therefore have to wait the full three years that Fannie, Freddie, and FHA require after having a short sale to buy a house again.

3. Mr and Mrs were getting divorced. There was a pre-nuptial agreement that stated Mrs is to receive $2,000,000 if they get divorced. Mr had all of his assets in securities and didn’t want to liquidate and pay capital gains taxes. The home was owned free a n d c l e a r a n d w o r t h $6,000,000. The best option was to do a $2,000,000 cash out refinance to finalize the divorce.

There were a few obstacles in this scenario:

a)Mr. has taken paper losses on his last three years of tax returns, even though his 10 year rolling average income was $700,000+/yr. Lenders don't like to see any losses on a tax return, even if it was just losses against investment holdings and n o t a c tu a l h i t s t o h i s income. Cash flow was not a problem in this case.

b) Banks don’t like giving $2,000,000 cash out loans, even on p r o p e r t i e s w o r t h $6,000,000. (Remember, 95% of the mortgage market is govern-ment backed and rarely do loans exceed $417,000).

c) The home was very unique and there were no comparable properties. Banks like suburban tract homes that can easily be valued because there are so many to reference. Underwriters look at worst-case loss scenarios and look to minimize their exposure and a unique home like this could become very costly if taken back in foreclosure.

Despite the obstacles, the loan closed after several months of hard work. The borrower received a $2 million, 5 year interest-only mortgage that provided the cash to pay out his ex-wife and finalize the divorce. He accomplished his goal of not liquidating any securities that would have triggered capital gains taxes. He did, however, liquidate his munici-pal bond fund and invested in a 5 year CD at the bank that issued the mortgage, as a quid pro quo to receiving such an unusual mortgage. (Banking relationships and large deposits go a long way with portfolio lenders as opposed to banks that sell loans into the secondary market to government entities like Fannie, Freddie, and FHA).

Ted Spradlin ENG Lending

12055078 7112 N RICHMOND AVE #4 2 1 866 $74,900

12186984 451 N HAYDEN BAY DR 1 1 576 $95,777

12243566 176 N HAYDEN BAY DR B 1 1 728 $135,000

12292758 3621 N ALASKA PL 3 1.1 1288 $136,700

12144578 6239 N COLUMBIA WAY 3 1 864 $139,500

12224947 470 N HAYDEN ISLAND DR 2 1.1 1184 $139,777

12414143 3421 N ARLINGTON PL 2 1 780 $144,000

12286272 3051 N HOUGHTON ST 3 2.1 1296 $144,600

12055097 10246 N LEONARD ST 3 1 1320 $149,000

12346191 9235 N SEWARD AVE 3 1 928 $159,900

12417507 8817 N DWIGHT AVE 2 1 681 $159,900

12617025 9837 N VAN HOUTEN AVE 3 1 1861 $159,999

12120805 8032 N SEWARD AVE 2 1 750 $161,000

12481435 8244 N CHAUTAUQUA BLVD 2 2 1866 $165,000

12122730 10258 N ALLEGHENY AVE 3 1 960 $174,900

12375103 4905 N MINNESOTA AVE 3 2 2064 $175,655

12141390 8806 N DWIGHT AVE 3 2.1 1621 $179,900

12425077 9525 N HODGE AVE 2 1 712 $179,900

12484421 8821 N FOSS AVE 2 1 1118 $179,900

12629686 7729 N IVANHOE ST 2 1.1 1638 $185,000

12108827 5015 N OBERLIN ST 3 1.1 1008 $189,000

12114053 9038 N GILBERT AVE 3 2 1824 $189,000

12207599 1329 N WATTS ST 3 2.2 1492 $195,000

12426891 4103 N MICHIGAN AVE 2 1 1299 $197,600

12399352 8748 N ENDICOTT AVE 3 2.1 1556 $199,900

12014748 4040 N MONTANA AVE #3 2 1 837 $204,900

12569370 6717 N SENECA ST 3 1 1080 $205,000

12397265 311 N HAYDEN BAY DR Bld J 2 2 1090 $209,777

12061005 9509 N WOOLSEY AVE 4 2.1 1891 $209,950

12337187 6813 N MICHIGAN AVE 4 1 2239 $211,300

12495705 7916 N KELLOGG ST 2 1 1852 $215,000

12160628 7027 N LANCASTER AVE 3 1 1654 $220,000

12574826 2416 N RUSSET ST 2 1 1544 $226,800

12055062 6907 N MACRUM AVE 3 1 1830 $227,500

12614644 7104 N CAMPBELL AVE 3 1 1182 $229,000

12450502 7304 N ALBINA AVE 3 2 1704 $235,000

12370667 6208 N YALE ST 4 2 1604 $239,900

12418094 3271 N RUSSET ST 2 1 1718 $242,000

12466283 4637 N COMMERCIAL AVE 3 1 1694 $250,000

12005302 6835 N CONCORD AVE 2 0.2 1564 $255,000

12537549 6036 N MISSOURI AVE 3 1.1 2666 $259,900

12475743 9956 N CENTRAL ST 4 2.1 1512 $260,000

12540946 1533 N WYGANT ST 3 2 1916 $265,000

12537944 5715 N MINNESOTA AVE 2 1 1592 $275,000

12595344 7906 N NEWMAN AVE 3 2 1980 $289,000

12417207 848 N BUFFALO ST 3 2 1354 $289,900

12290287 4766 N AMHERST ST 2 2 1950 $308,000

12585908 1637 N WINCHELL ST 5 2 2620 $309,900

12358359 6234 N DETROIT AVE 2 1 1932 $317,526

12620752 7812 N Haven AVE 4 3 2103 $349,900

12387817 7753 N EDISON ST 3 2.1 2130 $359,000

12093471 6922 N TYLER AVE 3 2.1 2520 $365,000

12045201 1727 N TERRY ST 4 3 2420 $369,000

12151891 8108 N PORTSMOUTH AVE 4 2 2301 $369,000

12568941 7503 N KERBY AVE 4 3 2464 $378,900

12620121 631 N Winchell 3 2.1 2170 $379,900

12461240 707 N HAYDEN ISLAND DR

#308 2 2 2193 $389,900

12544841 3508 N MISSOURI AVE #1 3 2.1 1907 $399,000

12224682 2967 N WILLAMETTE BLVD 3 2 1720 $409,000

12677664 5743 N HAIGHT AVE 3 1.1 2532 $409,000

12521940 6434 N MOORE AVE 3 2 2468 $429,900

12284850 6970 N WABASH AVE 3 2 3436 $449,900

12432422 255 N LOTUS BEACH DR 3 3 3126 $475,000

12574869 2153 N ALBERTA ST 4 1.1 2886 $525,000

12456658 3905 N OVERLOOK TER 6 5 4897 $590,000

12275981 3001 N WILLAMETTE BLVD 3 2.1 3112 $629,900

12168757 375 N LOTUS BEACH DR 3 2.1 3218 $665,000

South East Homes ML# Address Bdr Bth SF Price

Tips For Sellers: #2 - It Just Makes “Sense”

May � Page 10

“All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason.” - Immanuel Kant

In “Tips for Sellers – Part 1”, we talked about what you could do to the outside of your home before putting it on the active market for sale. In Part 2 we’ll take a look at the inside of your home and suggest things you can do very inexpensively to put your home in its very best position to make a potential buyer feel welcome. It is imperative that you take an unbiased look at the inside of your home – as if you are walking in the door for the first time. A great way to do this is to use your 5 senses. Here are some tips for preparing your home for sale “sensibly”.

The first thing a potential home buyer will notice upon entering your home is how it smells. Odors from pets, cigarettes, cooking odors and even heavy duty cleaning (chemical) smell can leave a lasting negative impres-sion. Buyers are more likely to remember the “cat-box-odor” than they are the expensive hardwood floors you just installed. Your teenager may love the smell of patchouli incense, but it may leave a potential buyer with his nose searching for the door! Pay special attention to the laundry room and bathrooms. Musty, moldy smells could make a buyer think of the health risks associated with other kinds of mold. Make sure that if you use a fragrance or room freshener in your home that you use it sparingly. Try using just one or two scents throughout your home. “Piňa Colada” in the bedroom, “Pine Forrest” in the bathroom, “Warm Apple Pie” in the kitchen and “Spring Garden”

in the living room can be a little overbearing. Studies show that “comfort” smells like sugar cook-ies, bread baking, or French vanil-la are appealing to most people.

Stand in the center of your home – or the room where people tend to gather most often. Now, close your eyes and listen. What do you hear? Are there plumbing noises you haven’t heard before - a faucet dripping or a toilet running? These are usually very easily fixed if caught early. Listen again. Is there a television on in every room or a stereo left on by mistake? In preparation for a viewing of your home, be sure all of the televisions and musical devices are turned off and leave the radio set to an easy listening or classical station playing softly.

Move room to room and pay special attention to the places people “touch”. Light switches, door handles, door jambs, kitchen appliances, mirrors and windows all get soiled very easily and very often, especially if there are children at home. From the time he was small, my son couldn’t walk out of the living room without jumping up and “touching” the top of the entry-way. I though it was cute – until he could actually reach it! Fingerprints are distract-ing – anywhere – so pay close attention to those “touchy areas”.

Think about the first thing you notice as you walk into each room of your home. What do you see? Make sure that each room is well lit – no burned out bulbs. It is very important to use the appropriate wattage of bulb for each fixture as well. Using a high wattage bulb in a fixture that requires a low wattage bulb can be a safety hazard. Speaking of safety, make sure that all toys are put away. Little toys lying about

can be very dangerous if stepped on or tripped over. Probably the least expensive and most effective tip is this: De-clutter everything. Eliminate the piles of old newspapers, file away the mail, and put away the stacks of clean laundry. Leave nothing that could be distracting to a potential buyer. Organize your closets and cabinets (yes, buyers will look in there). Be consistent. See that the beds are made, floors are vacuumed, swept and mopped, and the furniture is dusted or polished daily. If you have lots of furniture that make your rooms look crowded, consid-er renting a short term storage unit to store some of the larger pieces.

Be tasteful in your decorating and remember, “Less is best”. It is very important to leave enough room for a potential buyer to imagine their belongings in your home. For example, large collections can be very distracting and take away from the versatility of particular areas of your home. A few family pictures are great, but a gallery of your ancestors up the stairway and down each hallway can hamper a buyer’s vision. Again, renting a storage unit for large pieces of art or decorations is well worth the cost. Use neutral colors when painting that would likely blend easily with a potential buyer’s own furniture.

Once you have assessed your home – in every “sense” of the word, turn on some soft music, pop some cookies in the oven, place some fresh flowers on the table, and put the welcome mat out. If I can be of any help to you in the sale of your home, please don’t hesitate to contact me at loripalermo@comcast.net.

By Lori Palermo – Oregon Real Estate Queen

Have you been thinking about putting solar on your home, but were not

sure if solar was right for you? Sign up today, and receive a free solar site

assessment. Northeast Coalition of Neighbors has partnered with Mr. Sun

Solar, Umpqua Bank and Neil Kelly to offer area homeowners an easy and

affordable pathway to solar as well as opportunities to improve their

homes’ comfort with energy efficiency improvements. Tax credits and cash

incentives, along with a variety of financing and ownership options, provide

homeowners with an affordable pathway to energy independence.

Attend our final free workshop on Saturday, May 12th and learn

how solar energy can work on your home. The workshop will cover

the basics of going solar, explain tax credits and cash incentives,

and review financing and lease options.

Final Solarize Workshop:

May 12th, 11am Umpqua Bank, 1745 NE Alberta Street

Register for Solarize Northeast today at Solarize.necolation.org or

contact Gene Lee at Solarize@necoalition.org, 503-823-4113.

Registration deadline is May 15th.

May 15th, 2012

Last Day to

Register

Win a $50 G i f t Card to McMenamins!! Email Kevin Weintz @ Fidelity Home Warranty, put “All Things Real Estate” in the Subject Line and we will draw the winner on May 31st!! Kevin.weintz@fnf.com

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12349058 8636 SE HOLGATE 3 1.1 1415 $147,500

12214737 16317 SE SALMON ST 3 1.1 1028 $153,500

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12362400 5625 SE NEHALEM ST 3 1 1220 $200,000

12316351 13803 SE KNIGHT ST 4 2.1 1522 $204,900

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12525812 2421 SE 12TH AVE 4 2 1831 $309,950

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May � Page 11

By Betty Benson, Rubbish Works of Portland

The Less They See, the More You Get…

Buying a home can be an intense process, and selling a home offers its own unique set of challenges. When preparing your home for sale, you only have one chance to make a

permanent impression on

potential buyers.

Is your home appealing from the curbside? Potential home buyers really do judge a book by its cover, and those important first impressions are based first upon the overall exterior view from the street. Pruning and trimming overgrowth or adding some fresh bark can help improve the look and feel of your property, as can the removal of any unwanted

junk or debris.

Next, you’ll want to consider the inside view of

things. Buyers tend to “move into the home”

mentally, by visualizing their own interiors. If you want your house to sell itself, do your best to make your rooms look open and spacious. Unnecessary furniture, decorations and personal items should be removed. By

removing your personal trinkets from view, you make it possible for potential buyers to visualize

making the space their own… making it home.

Proper preparation of your home is a key factor that determines how quickly the home will sell, and for how much. Purposeful staging of outdoor and indoor spaces assures the best

price in the shortest span of time.

Rubbish Works can help you make these preparations.

We offer a convenient, cost-effective, on-demand solution for rubbish removal that is

customized to meet the needs of both individu-als and businesses. This time of year especially, many of our real estate clients are in need of someone to quickly clean-up for an open house or remove debris before presenting a

property for sale. This is where we really shine.

Our quick junk removal process can help you sell or rent your property sooner, and with less hassle to you. With Rubbish Works of Portland, you can count on total professionalism, prompt and through attention from a fully licensed and

insured crew, and a focus on reuse and recycling that means you can rest easy knowing your rubbish will be handled

appropriately.

Think of Rubbish Works of Portland first for pre-staging clean up and rubbish removal, uncertified wood stove removal and documen-tation, abandoned junk removal, and take advantage of our special realtor/client

discounts.

Call Rubbish Works today at 503-349-1190 or go

on-line to www.rubbishworks.com/portland

Let’s Talk Rubbish

Water

Trees should be watered regularly during the first three summers after planting. Water deeply twice a week with five to ten gallons. Our videos offer quick tips on how to use an ooze tube or a drilled bucket to water your trees.

Weed & Mulch

Keep an 18-inch radius of weed-free, mulched area between the trunk and other plants. Weeds and grass absorb water that should be reaching the tree's roots. In addition to reducing weed growth, mulching minimizes scarring from lawn mowers and weed whackers. But be sure to clear the mulch away from the tree in a three-inch radius to prevent fungus growth or infection.

Fertilizer

Fertilizer should not be applied during the first year after planting.

Pruning

During the first year after planting, only broken or

dead branches should be pruned. In the second year, if the tree is growing well, it should be pruned only where branches rub together. Suckers or young shoots growing from the base of the tree should be removed at all times.

Never top a tree!

Topping can send a tree into shock by removing too much food-producing foliage at once, and it increases the chance of infection.

Insects and Disease

If you suspect that your tree is infested or diseased, clip a small leaf sample and bring it to a local nursery for advice.

Stakes and Tree Ties

Stakes and ties should be removed one year after planting. Loosen ties if they become tight around the trunk or begin to chafe away the bark.

Tree Care FREE Rain Garden 101

Workshop in

Hollywood!

Event date: May 6,

2012 12:30 - 4:30 PM

Event location:

Hollywood Library, 4040 NE Tillamook

Listing sponsored by East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District

Contain that rain! A rain garden is a sunken garden bed that captures stormwater and allows it to soak back into the ground naturally, all while adding beauty to your yard! Part of a larger effort to restore overloaded urban streams, this workshop provides step-by-step details on how to plan, design and build your own rain garden. Join your neighbors and find out how rain gardens can benefit the fish, wildlife, and people that are connected to our local waterways. You’ll learn how to:

◊ assess your property to decide the best rain garden

location

◊ calculate impervious surfaces to figure out how big

your rain garden should be

◊ determine soil suitability

◊ choose appropriate plants for and how to maintain

your new rain garden

Workshop also includes a field trip to a nearby rain gar-den. Participants will receive a free comprehensive man-ual. Space is limited and advanced registration is re-quired. Call a friend and register today while spaces are still available! This workshop is hosted by your friends at the City of Portland's Willamette Watershed Group.

Recycling And Reusing Greeting Card

By Green Living Tips | Published 01/28/2012

Greeting Cards Can Be Recycled And Reused

Do you have a stash of greeting cards you've received -

Xmas, birthday, or whatever occasion - that you really

don't want to keep any more? The recycling bin is certainly

a greener option that disposing of them with your

household waste, but they can also be reused.

Even though around half a billion email greeting cards are

sent each year globally, paper based cards are still very

popular as you can see from the following statistics from

the Greeting Card Association:

- 7 billion greeting cards are purchased by Americans

annually.

- The average US household buys 30 greeting cards a year.

- Over 2 billion boxed and individual Christmas cards were

sold in the USA last year.

- There are over 3,000 greeting card publishers in the United

States

Some people love to hang onto cards they receive as they

become a part of family history, others are quite happy to

let them go soon after the event.

While unwanted greeting cards can be put in your

recycling bin; there are also organizations that can make

use of them. These groups are practicing the second of the

3 "green" R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

For example, check with your local childcare center or

primary school as they may be able to re use the card

fronts as craft materials.

In the USA, one of the world's oldest greeting card reuse

programs is run by St. Jude's Ranch for Children in Nevada -

a refuge for abused, abandoned and neglected children.

Children and volunteers make new cards of out card fronts

sent in, which are then sold to the public. The children are

also paid for their efforts, with the money they receive

being divided between spending, savings and a fund for

outings and such.

Unfortunately, St. Jude's cannot accept Hallmark, Disney or

American Greeting cards. They don't state why, but after

digging around it appears to have to do with copyright

and the copyright holders having "ka-ching" related issues

in someone else generating revenue from their designs -

even if it's a charity helping abused kids.

Anyway, you can learn more about sending card fronts or

buying the cards the children of St. Jude's Ranch make

here - they accept card front donations from all over the

world.

Greeting Card Crafts

If you're looking for some ideas for your own craft projects - Sherri Osborn's page has some ideas with instructions, as

does this page on Squidoo.

Greeting Card Industry Waste

It seems something greeting card companies are still

having challenges with is oversupplying the market. As I

researched for this article, I came across a number of posts

from people stating they have worked in the industry as

merchandisers for greeting card companies and witnessed

shocking levels of waste. One person said they were supposed to apply dye to the surplus greeting cards to

make them totally unusable before throwing them out.

It appears at times thousands of surplus cards are thrown

out with general waste and winding up in landfill - whether this is an issue more at the retailer's end rather than the

card companies, I'm not sure as I don't have a good

understanding of how the industry works.

While waste isn't the exclusive domain of the greeting card industry by any means, if the above is true, maybe some of

these companies should expend more effort on waste

reduction rather than worrying about a non-profit organiza-

tion re-using cards that have already been *bought*.

They'll not only save valuable resources, but a stack of

money too.

Choosing More Earth Friendly Cards

A few years back, environmental issues didn't seem like

such an important topic for the greeting card industry

generally; but to its credit, cards printed on recycled paper are far more common these days thankfully, so keep an

eye out for those when making a selection. There will

usually be some sort of labeling on the back of the card

indicating recycled content status.

Buying a recycled card and then recycling or reusing a

card made from recycled content just makes even better

use of wood, other resources and energy!

May � Page 12

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Real Estate Photography Tip: Rule of Thirds

One of the first lessons in photography composition is the Rule of Thirds and rightly so as it is the basis for balanced and compelling photos. Some beginni ng photographers believe that composing a photo

means placing your main subject in dead center. The Rule of Thirds gives a nice composition without resorting to a bulls-eye technique.

The concept of the rule of thirds is to imagine breaking an image down into thirds (both horizontal-ly and vertically). For example, draw an imaginary tick-tack-toe grid on your view finder or display screen, like the grid pictured above. In fact, many digital cameras allow you to place a grid on the display screen, check your owner’s manual. With this grid in mind the ‘rule of thirds’ now identifies four important parts of the image that you should consider placing points of interest in as you frame your photo. Not only this – but it also gives you four ‘lines’ that are also useful positions for elements in your photo.

The theory is that if you place points of interest in the intersections or along the lines that your photo becomes more balanced and will enable a viewer of the image to interact with it more naturally. Studies have shown that when viewing images that

people’s eyes usually go to one of the intersection points most naturally rather than the center of the shot – using the rule of thirds works with this natural way of viewing an image rather than working against it. Here are a couple of examples. In the photo below, I wanted to highlight the curve of the

stairs leading to the home's main floor and the walk way leading to the upstairs bedrooms. Imagine the tick-tack-toe grid on this image. I placed the stairs leading down on the lower grid line and the upstairs railing on the right vertical grid line. By doing this I believe I created an interesting photo that is pleasing to the viewer and also leads the eye through the photo.

In this photo of the large, jetted soaking tub I place the top of the tub on the lower third if the view finder or bottom line of the imaginary grid.

Rules are meant to be broken and ignoring this one doesn’t mean your photos will be unbalanced or uninteresting. However, someone told me long ago that if you intend to break a rule you should always learn it first to make sure your breaking of the rule is more effective!

Kent Skewes

503.708.2486 | www.BareFootStudio.biz