Inspiration For Today
INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
Liz Warren
Displaying blog entries 721-730 of 1880
INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
A holiday tradition on Mt. Hood is to trek out into the forest and make an adventure of finding and cutting your holiday tree. For only $5.00, a permit will allow you to cut a holiday tree up to 12 feet high. There are permits for trees taller than 12 feet at an additional cost. Limit is 5 trees per household.
Clackamas River and Zigzag Ranger Districts Christmas Tree Permit Requirements
Permits may be purchased at Ranger Stations or at the following local stores in Sandy and Welches.
ACE Heritage Hardware, 39181 Pioneer Boulevard, Sandy, OR. 503-668-8731
Open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Hoodland Thriftway, 68280 East Highway 26, Welches, OR. 503-622-3244
Open Daily: 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
There's a nip in the air and the hot chocolate is going out the door on Mt. Hood in preparation for lots of snow coming our way. Direct from KOIN News weather you can see the accumulations at each elevation. Government Camp is at 4,416 feet so expect over two feet at that location! The bottom of the hill at Kiwanis Camp Road (Forest Service Road 39) off Highway 26 is about 3,200 feet.
Skiers and boarders are getting excited for area openings! Check the links below to see status of your favorite area. They may be opening as soon as Friday!
The numbers are still up for October 2016 sales on Mt. Hood. Despite huge obstacles in appraisal delays, which are causing many closings to take 60-90 days, more than likely these sales started in August and were just now coming to completion!
Sales were scattered throughout all property types and areas. A couple of leased land cabins closed, two Mt. Hood RV Village units closed (Mobile homes with rental spaces), a couple of Timberline Rim and Twinberry Loop homes, plus three Government Camp properties including two chalets over $500,000 and one Collins Lake Condo unit. Buyers are still taking a great advantage of low interest rates that are starting to creep upwards.
Getting a mortgage these days is filled with massive amounts of documentation, strict regulations red tape and on top of that a huge shortage of appraisers in the Northwest. The further away from urban centers the more delays you will face! What once was a thirty to forty five day process is now becoming a sixty to ninety day process. Not only is the Mt. Hood area, only one hour from Portland, facing extended closings, if you're in Southern Oregon or at the coast you need to count on a ninety day closing.
I've had three transactions assigned to appraisers coming from the Bend area to get the work done for the loan! Portland's mass influx of new residents has shaken the mortgage process and most appraisers are looking for the short drive near PDX vs. the hour East to service Rhododendron, Welches and Brightwood and Government Camp. It's not just the Northwest though, appraisals are affecting all other areas of the country too. Part of the problem is the amount of education and training it takes to become an appraiser. The bar for entry is too high! Current costs of appraisals on the mountain run $600.00 plus. Many I've seen have reached the $700-$750 range. Add on the expedited appraisal fee and we are talking $900 plus.
The impact of the appraisal issue hits both buyers and sellers.
*Delayed closings are rampant!
*Buyers loose their lock on interest rates.
*Try to plan a move without knowing when the appraiser will take place.
*Excessive fees to buyers to "expedite" their appraisal.
Here are few articles I found online that discuss some of the issues and resolutions. Bottom line: if you want your house to close by June 1st and move into your new home by the beginning of summer, I suggest you get under contract by March to get that accomplished which changes the mind set of most buyers and sellers in the process. Currently we don't see any resolution to the problem in the near future so it's best to plan ahead.
Southern Oregon Appraisal Delays
Only eight appraisers in Clatsop County: Astoria, Oregon
The system is broken: Bend, Oregon
INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
As we head into fall, the past month of October was still packed full of pending sales and 20 completed sales, probably finishing up summer contracts that have been going through the mortgage process. I'm warning buyers and sellers that some transactions are taking 2 to 3 months to close due to extensive appraisal waiting times.
October saw higher sale prices making the average sale price $326,700 for the month. Closed sales for the year so far has hit 171! With only 60 active listings the inventory is thinning quickly with continued high demand and low supply. Interest rates are inching up after the election results so any first time home buyers should make their move now!
September 2016 saw a huge number of closed sales for Rhododendron, Welches, Brightwood and Government Camp. Area 153 in the multiple listing service reported 27 residential sales closed for the month.
Rising equities in Portland, new residents and increased density in Portland has caused an uptick in buyers for the Mt. Hood area. This includes full time and second home buyers heading for the Cascade Foothills. Our properties are much more affordable than inside the urban growth boundary making mountain living very attractive to many!
Timberline Rim, which is Mt. Hood's largest subdivision running along the Sandy River, saw seven sales close for the month. The "Rim" as locals call it, is one of the most affordable areas to purchase on the mountain. Most homes were built within the last twenty five or so years so they are relatively new compared to many of our 1930's and 40's cabin which frequently have financing challenges.
Speaking of affordable, two tiny homes at the Mt. Hood RV Village Resort changed hands. These properties have recreational amenities with indoor pool and weight room plus gated access for security. Downsizers love these properties and the space rent runs in the area of $550 a month.
forest service cabin inventory is way down with multiple offers on many cabins as soon as they hit the market. Only about five cabins are currently for sale. Three closed in September. These are great getaways for urban dwellers who need space to relax and get away from the crowds of big cities and small spaces.
Here are the twenty seven sales that closed in September.
Listen to the sounds of the Sandy River from your front deck at this Rhododendron location in the Mt. Hood Cascade foothills. This home is "like new" and it was just finished. Four bedrooms and three and a half baths gives plenty of room to spread out! I love the great room with kitchen and family room area complete with propane fireplace and tons of windows letting in natural light. An island and breakfast bar is great for entertaining. Granite counter tops, built in desk and butler bar are just a few of the bonuses in this home.
All bedrooms are upstairs with a master bedroom and bath to die for. Tub and tiled shower! All the bedrooms are spacious. Bonus room upstairs great for media room, office or kids play room. This sun filled area has skylights and a wet bar.
The property is over a half acre and is flat and usable. Plenty of room for a pole barn too!
This location is a recreational paradise with Sandy Basin Mountain Biking trail down the road and minutes to the Mt. Hood National Forest for hiking. Skiers will enjoy the easy access to the mountain with a quick 20 minute drive to the slopes.
Tons of room for family and friends in your new Mt. Hood home only one hour to Portland! asking $495,000
$495,000
More details on 64100 E. Relton Road
Displaying blog entries 721-730 of 1880