If you do, now is the time to cast your vote in the Reader's Choice contest for Best Botanical Garden in the United States! The competition is fierce and filled with great ideas for botanical gardens to visit on your next domestic trip.
Open year-round, the garden is home to more than 2500 rhododendrons, azaleas, and other plants. Early blooms begin in late February, but peak viewing is in late April; mark your calendars! And in the meantime, show those Pacific Northwest beauties a little love.
Months of inventory jumped up, reflecting the rise in listings that is typical when we come out of the holiday months. So, although we only have .2% more new listings than January 2023, we are up 89.2% from December 2023. The seasonal slowdown and a jumpy interest rate environment still have us scratching our heads when it comes to predicting prices and trends.
While some inventory lingers (especially those properties that are not "dialed in"), the winners are flying out the door with multiple offers and going well over the asking price. The continuing low inventory situation has motivated buyers, and they do not seem hesitant to jump on houses that "have it all." Move-in ready in a great location is a sure bet to draw folks out of their holding pattern. And with contractors being easier to book right now, sellers who make their homes picture-perfect are reaping the rewards.
Before it gets cold, the second best time to protect them is now. Last month's weather events reminded us that though it's impossible to eliminate the risks inherent in home ownership, we can share tools and information to help minimize them. There are many ways to prepare your home plumbing for winter weather. We've lumped them into two categories.
Responsive preparations: the stuff you can do when you hear a forecast for temperatures at or below freezing
Protect external faucets: Here is a fantastic video that serves as a primer on the two types of exterior faucets and shares instructions on preparing each for winter weather.
Close off foundation vents and fill vent openings with wood or foam blocks.
Do not turn off your furnace if you'll be away from home for multiple days. Leave it on a low setting instead; this might not keep things warm enough to prevent your pipes from freezing, but it could help. If you're away when the weather shifts, call a neighbor or a friend to go over and turn the furnace on.
Open cabinets under sinks to allow free flow of the heat circulating in your house around the pipes.
Learn where your property's main water shutoff is if you don't already know.
Adaptive preparations: those you consider as you perform routine seasonal maintenance or renovate your property
Insulate pipes that run through crawlspaces or along an outside wall without insulation.
Replace galvanized steel or copper pipes with PEX or plastic for greater resilience.
Teach everyone in your household where the main water shutoff is. This article will help you get started if you need to locate yours. This guide has images of common shutoff valve types.
Drain your sprinkler or other irrigation systems at the end of the fall season. If your system has a backflow valve, it needs a yearly inspection. We recommend Green Leaf Irrigation and Landscaping.
In the event of a water emergency, the Regional Water Providers Consortium has this solid guide for what to do if a pipe bursts in or around your home.
We know that home maintenance can be overwhelming, but over the years, we have also seen how much it pays off for our clients in both the short and long run. If you ever have questions about home maintenance, please reach out! We're here to help!
Do you know about Oregon Black Pioneers? They are Oregon's only statewide African American historical society and have a treasure trove of historical information they share with the public in various ways.
In addition to online and in-person exhibits, they offer free lesson plans for educators about the history of contributions of Black Oregonians. In January, they kicked off their second season of Black History Quest, engaging experts and novices alike to "take on questions that have perplexed researchers of Oregon's African American history."
This month, they partnered with the Oregon Coast Visitor's Association to share stories about Black History all along the Oregon Coast.
We know that's not really how it works, but we also know that new beginnings are powerful. We let ourselves lean into hopes and dreams when we feel like we're looking at a clean slate.
According to data collected by Forbes Health, the three most common New Year's Resolutions for Americans are to improve fitness, finances, and mental health. One way to consider tackling all three is to find a volunteer opportunity with a local organization. Think about it: many volunteer gigs involve moving your body around, you don't generally spend money to volunteer, and helping others is a wonderful way to boost your mental well-being!
If 2024 is the year you become (or recommit to being) a volunteer, we recommend perusing this thorough lineup of opportunities>>
Months of inventory jumped to 3.5 in November, reflecting that although new listings are down 17% from October 2023, the sales pace is still leaving existing inventory at its highest level in 3 years. The main issue here is the number of closed sales sitting at 26% below what it was year-to-date.
Although the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell by about 0.5% last week following the Federal Reserve's decision to hold its baseline rates, the overall increase in interest rates has not corresponded with commensurate price reductions. This interest rate environment makes Buyers want to see the value more than ever, and thus, properties that are not priced well are lingering.
Most folks predict that 2024 will bring further interest rate reductions, but there is no crystal ball, and folks who need to buy now are looking for properties that meet their needs for the long run and hoping to get them at a discount to make up for the cost of financing. Lastly, as is always the case, quality properties in good locations are still getting lots of attention and, in some instances, garnering multiple offers.
View the most recent market action report here>>
For those of you who prefer a little more action in your market action report, let us know how you like this new video overview>>
The Love Portland Group | Cascade Hasson Sotheby's International Realty
Chris Bonner, Principal Broker | Lee McKnight, Broker | 1500 NE Irving, Suite 110 - Portland Oregon 97232
