Real Estate Information Archive

Blog

Displaying blog entries 1711-1720 of 1903

1925 Original Zig Zag Riverfront Cabin

Monday, February 16, 2009
by Liz Warren

1925 Original Cabin

Step back in time and enjoy today's updates in this 1925 original located along the ZigZag River in Rhododendron. Nestled in the tall firs and cedars of the Mt. Hood National Forest, this cabin is close to all mountain activities from ski areas to hiking to golf. Only 15 minutes to skiing!

The cabin has been refurbished down to the studs. Fir floors, a propane fireplace, updated electrical and many other upgrades have been completed.

All the sleeping areas are upstairs with one private bedroom and loft areas.

The kitchen boasts new cabinets, built in sitting benches, tile countertops, bead board ceiling, pened windows, and even a washer dryer.

The cabin has one of the largest bathrooms I've ever seen with the amenities of refurbished clawfoot tub, pedestal sink, rebuilt tile shower, tile flooring and stained glass windows!

$160,000 Take a tour of this little gem here.

This is the perfect weekend getaway to avoid those long drives in winter back from skiing.

Add Comment

Morning Coffee

Monday, February 16, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Never think that God's delays are God's denials."
~ Author unknown

WHERE THERE'S SMOKE . . . !

A lone shipwreck survivor on an uninhabited island managed to build a crude hut in which he placed all that he had saved from the sinking ship. He prayed to God for deliverance, and anxiously scanned the horizon each day to hail any passing ship.

One day he was horrified to find his hut in flames. All that he had was gone. To the man's limited vision, it was the worst that could happen and he cursed God. Yet, the very next day a ship arrived. "We saw your smoke signal," the captain said.

Hmmm! Ever have a big sale fall through? Been disappointed when a friend or loved one failed to come through for you when you needed them? Have you wondered why a goal or objective wasn't achieved as expected?

If you're over the age of 18, you've probably noticed that we don't get everything we would like, exactly when we think we should. Yet, it's amazing how certain things just show up in our lives when we least expect to see them - like the rescue ship.

It is often said that we "shouldn't get too attached to outcomes." We can set objectives, believe they can be achieved, and work to make them happen, but it's best not to get too attached to the outcome. What appears to be a worthy goal may go down in flames, only to be replaced with a magnificent result we had not anticipated.

When you find your hut in flames and fear the worst, think back to this oft quoted reminder: "Fear knocked at the door - faith answered - no one was there!"

Add Comment

January Sales Figures Are In!

Monday, February 16, 2009
by Liz Warren

The market action statistics for the Mt. Hood area in multiple listing service just came out for the month of January 2009. Take a look at the numbers:

There were a total of six sales in the month of January. Pending sales are at five currently. Four of these are homes and one is land. There were no land sales or commercial sales in January.

Here are the six sales in January:

These sales included one forest service cabin in the Mt. Hood National Forest and one Government Camp Condo at Eidelweiss. The balance were scattered throughout the lower cascade area, mostly in Rhododendron.

Currently pending sales show five in the bucket. Lets hope the stimulus plan with the up to $8,000 tax credit with "no payback" will spur this market into orbit with these incredible interest rates!

Add Comment

Mt. Hood Area First Time Home Buyers

Sunday, February 15, 2009
by Liz Warren

 If you are ready to purchase your first home in the Mt. Hood area from Welches, Government Camp, Rhododendron to Brightwood, you should take advantage of this updated First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. Here is the revised edition!

 

Add Comment

Custom Built One Level Resort Home

Saturday, February 14, 2009
by Liz Warren

Live the good life at the Resort at the Mountain! Custom built three bedroom, 2.5 bath home all on ONE LEVEL. If you are looking for a home with two master suites, this is it! Completely repainted and new carpeting on its way, you will love this entertainer's delight.

Huge deck off the kitchen and dining area that runs the entire length of the home. Perfect for summer barbeques or just to sit and watch the territorial views and golfers as they walk by on the par three fairway of Foxglove.

Skylights, windows everywhere, let the light shine in. High vaulted ceilings make a grand entry way with hardwood floors and a toe warmingwood stove. The living room has a nice brick fireplace too.

There's a newer heat pump installed and the roof has just been cleaned and treated. All the hard work is done. It's time to enjoy this great home.

You'll love this gourmet kitchen with granite counter tops, a cooking island and TONS of cabinets. The pantry is handy too.

Each master suite has a spacious bathroom with tubs and showers. The vinal is getting redone too.

Enjoy the common areas at the Resort including nature trails along the Salmon River, a heated swimming pool and tennis courts. World class dining at the Altitude on property.  Don't forget the recent purchase of the resort which is undergoing 17 million dollars of renovations.

Welches is only 15 minutes to premium ski areas and boasts year round skiing on the Palmer lift at Timberline. Since this home is only 45 minutes to the airport it has a great location for family to fly in for a visit or as a quick drive up from Portland.

Take a tour here

$370,000

 

Add Comment

Oregon's 150th Birthday Event

Friday, February 13, 2009
by Liz Warren

February 14th is the day that Oregon became the 33rd state in the US. It was in 1859 specifically. To mark this event the Villages at Mt. Hood is offering a pictorial postal cancellation for the 42 cent commemorative stamp, designed by local historian Gary Randall.

The cancellation will be offered at the Hoodland Fire Station in Welches from 10:00 am through noon. The postmasters from the Welches, Brightwood and Rhododendron post offices will be available to hand cancel envelopes. This event is also a fund raiser for The Villages of Mt. Hood.

Add Comment

Historical Chart of Interest Rates

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
by Liz Warren

Take a look at the chart below provided by Freddie Mac showing the average interest rates over the years. If this isn't the best time to buy a home, I don't know what is!

Add Comment

Morning Coffee

Monday, February 9, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

Everyone says it differently, but the message is the same.
Here are three oft-quoted thoughts on "thinking":

"You are what you think about all day long."
"Your life is what your thoughts make of it."
"As you think, so shall you be."

THINK!

What is a thought? Scientifically speaking, it is nothing more than a random electrical impulse in the brain. If you are relaxing, not focusing on any particular thoughts, your brain continues to fire off those random impulses which, in turn, are triggering random, unfocused thoughts - like the itch on your arm, how hummingbirds fly, or your Aunt Ellen's new car.

What's interesting is that everything in sight of you right now is the result of someone's focused thoughts. The computer screen, the window nearby, and the chair in which you are sitting came into existence as the result of a single focused thought. Henry Ford thought about a V-8 engine for his cars, and then insisted that his engineers create it. Jonas Sauk thought about eliminating polio - and did.

Whether you choose to focus your thoughts or not, your day will be filled with them. They just don't stop. But wait - there's an "Aha!" or a "Voila!" in here for you. Just think of the possibilities when you realize the power of thought - and put it to work for you. The amazing thing about thoughts is that you have complete control over them. You either put these electrical impulses to work for you through focused attention - or they happen anyway, but in a random, impotent manner akin to a static electrical discharge.

Everything tangible in our world today was created by an action, preceded by someone's thought - from a straight pin to a Pentium processor, from a blight-free American chestnut tree to your garage-door opener. So - what thoughts will you be having today?

They don't have to be life-changing or global in scope to make your personal world better. They need only be focused. Just remember, you control your thoughts - and their possibilities are endless.

Add Comment

Mt. Hood Market Lags National Trends

Thursday, February 5, 2009
by Liz Warren

The Mt. Hood real estate market has always lagged national trends. The Portland metro market survived 2007 fairly well and in 2008 the trend hit the metro area and has since, as the stock market declined and job losses increased, has slowed substantially.

Zillow.com a popular data mongering site tells us prices declined another 11.6% nationally last year. Some parts of California and Florida have seen price declines of 50% or more! The 4th quarter of 2008 equaled the losses of all of 2007! Sources tell us the peak to trough, which have not hit yet but predictions are that it will be in the 4th quarter of 2009, our national values will have declined around 36 to 40%! Peak market hit in 2006 and we are edging towards the bottom we hope.

Did you know that approximately 20% of home sales last year were foreclosures? Markets which had the greatest run ups are of course having the greatest declines- Bend, Or. Stockton, Calif., Las Vegas, Nv. The Stockton market will have a peak to trough decline of around 67%!

Market conditions are local. The majority of our local market is second homes. We could see a longer recovery and bottoming in our market because of the lag time we always experience. We were last to the party and probably the last to leave making me believe we may be pushed into 2010 for stabilization. The stimulus package may help us climb out of this excessive inventory situation sooner than later though! In general the Portland homeowner equities are large and therefore they may have a quicker stabilizing than other large metro areas. Unemployment numbers may keep us behind though.

Add Comment

$15,000 Possible Tax Break for Home Buyers!

Thursday, February 5, 2009
by Liz Warren

Wow! Is this really happening? There's a possible $15,000 tax break for home buyers in the new stimulus package and the Senate has oked it at this point. Current law gives a $7500 tax incentive for first time home buyers but this new proposal would allow a tax credit of 10 percent of the value of new or existing residences, with  a $15,000 limit.

This pending bill will help get the foreclosure and swelling inventory of homes off the market and will help stabilize home prices. Congress will make their decision in about ten days on this bill so stay tuned.

Add Comment

Displaying blog entries 1711-1720 of 1903

Syndication

Categories

Archives

Contact Information

Photo of Liz Warren Real Estate
Liz Warren
Merit Properties Group - Keller Williams Realty PDX Central
Box 131
Welches OR 97067
Direct: 503-705-3090
Send an Email