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Selecting the Best Neighborhood for You!

Friday, February 22, 2008
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties

You may have grown up in the Portland area and know exactly where to buy your first home or maybe you are downsizing and have had your next location in mind for awhile.  Perhaps you are relocating and have heard of many popular communities or neighborhoods.

If you are lucky, you will find the location of your dreams right away.  However many home buyers find themselves debating between several neighborhoods determining strengths and weaknesses for each. If on a budget or with children, it is often schools, commuting and finances that dictate location the most.

Here are some suggestions from the  Home Buying for Dummies Book.

1)  Prioritize your needs.
Buying a home on a budget means trade-offs.  For the neighborhood you dream of it may mean purchasing a smaller home.  You must decide what factors are most important to you!

2) Talk to people who live in the neighborhoods.      

People living, working and playing in the community will have the most insight into pros and cons.  The Rob Levy Team recommends taking a day or two to walk or at least drive around the neighborhood at a few different times of day.  See how far the closest gym, park, freeway and coffee shop is.

3) Get the Days-on-Market (DOM) statistics from our team.

DOM statistics show how long the average house takes to sell in an area.  (Ask a team member about this, if a property has been listed by two agents back to back it may only reflect the current listing's DOM.)  Quick sales often indicate strong buyer demand which should make you feel good about the neighborhood you are investing in.

4) Get help from a professional.

This is where we come in!  Home Buying for Dummies suggests speaking to a REALTOR, lender or appraiser to compare the upside potential of home values in each neighborhood.

In the end, only you know what neighborhood will be best for your family.  There are no guarantees with "up-and-coming" neighborhoods, but the more you put into your community the more you will get out of it.  If you have plenty of time to scope out the area before you buy maybe take a Sunday drive through some different parts of town.  You may be surprised the many secret great finds around town.  The Office of Neighborhood Involvement has reported there are more than 90 neighborhood associations in Portland!

Tualatin Can Compete – All While Maintaining a Small Town Feel!

Friday, September 14, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties

Submitted by Sandy Morley

The buzz is getting louder surrounding the vision plan and developments in Tualatin. Bridgeport Village - the new, flashy “lifestyle center” has propelled Tualatin as a destination for Portland area residents and families relocating to Oregon. The $250 million shopping center (opened in 2005) has become the “it” place for high-end boutiques and movie-goers. This isn’t the only change happening southwest of Portland.  The once country farming community has created a downtown area with a man-made lake surrounded by condos and the new development called Nyberg Woods.
 
The best part of this transformation? The city has maintained the small town feel with a focus on preserving the historical landmarks and highlighting the recreational uses of the meandering Tualatin River. While continuously growing, the community emphasizes the family-friendly atmosphere as one of the most important goals - decided by vision plan input that included nearly 4,000 residents.
 
It is not just Tualatin’s image that makes this a great community to live – the easy access to I-5 makes commuting to Portland a 20 minute drive. The long-awaited new Washington County commuter rail project (to be completed Fall 2008) will make traveling to and from town even easier. Best of all, the city is investing in constructing the commuter rail station to resemble an old brick 1920’s train station to keep with Tualatin’s small town feel. 
 
Still considered up-and-coming, there are hopes for a central gathering spot like a community center and a need for more restaurants and stores downtown. Until then, thousands of residents gather every year to taste delicious seafood at the Tualatin Crawfish Festival (number 57 this year!), dance to jazz and bluegrass at the free weekly music series Concert in the Commons, and celebrate the local history at the Tualatin Heritage Center.

Why Move to Portland, Oregon

Tuesday, September 11, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties
Submitted by Bruce Hecht
 
 
Call me smart, call me savvy, call me senseless, but don't call me to tell me that it is raining.
 
The weather, the way of life, the water, the snow, the mountains, the oceans and most importantly, the ease of life.  Combine all these factors with the ammenities of the biggest and best cities in the United States and you have Portland, the best place to live.
 
Some people believe that it is the schools that make Portland stand out most, while others often take the position that we have some of the most beautiful parks in the country. These things are all true of Portland and they go hand in hand with an overall low cost of living and excellent quality healthcare.  It is also important to note that if you are someone who likes to do a lot of travelling you are an easy flight to many popular destinations, such as San Francisco and Seattle.
It is my personal belief that Portland is the best place to live because it is the perfect combination of the four seasons.  Yes, that is correct.  Portland, Oregon has the perfect balance of weather.
 
 

Arts and Culture in Portland

Tuesday, September 11, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties
Submitted by Sandra Hanis
The season arrives for the Broadway Across America’s new Broadway theater season at the Keller Auditorium. This 2007- 2008 season includes Monty Python’s Spamalot, Camelot, and Twelve Angry Men.
Having spent this month’s mortgage on several shows while on a summer visit to New York City, I definitely intend to indulge myself with season tickets this year. Portland offers great new shows and amazing live talent for theater lovers. Even if you do no more than see one or two shows, you owe it to yourself to do so. These great programs are good for the soul as well as for the lively culture of the city. While it is an investment of time and money….I can’t think of  a nicer gift for someone you love. Why not take Grandma or even Grandpa…how many new sweaters do they need? Or introduce your teenagers to a show and dinner! Dress Up! Talk! They will benefit from the exposure to live theater. As for your sweetheart, don’t miss the obvious romantic opportunity for an evening together. Choose a play he/she will enjoy. The reward could extend after the curtain falls!

The Lowdown on the Mortgage Market

Tuesday, September 11, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties
Submitted by Shawn Headlee
Good Morning All,
 
How about those Oregon Ducks!! I hope you all got to enjoy the game this weekend. 
 
It was a rough day on Friday for the stock market, but the bond market did well where rates are concerned. The 30 year fixed is approaching 6%. This is mostly due to the markets believing that the economy is slowing. Country Wide Financial announced today that they were laying off approximately 12,000 employees. I don’t think CWF is going to go bankrupt, but this is a sign of how bad the mortgage market has become.  
 
Housing inventory is up and rates are down, that is a great recipe for a strong buyers market. It has been a few years since we have seen one of those!!
 
Have a great week!

Keeping It Healthy in Portland

Tuesday, August 28, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties
Submitted by Clinton Downs 
In our office we have an almost daily check in about where we are with our workouts- and we put pressure on each other to make sure we are getting our physical exercise in. And, evidently, our office isn’t the only one. According to the Trust for America’s Health, Oregon is the 49th Least Inactive (or, if you’re a glass-half-full type of person, Oregon is the 3rd most active state), with only 17.4% of Oregonians reporting that they do not engage in any physical activity.
It’s been a cool and sunny summer to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, either biking, running or even walking. Here are some websites to help you plan:
 
Drive Less, Save More (great biking and walking resources!) (http://www.drivelesssavemore.com/travel/)
All Getaways (great walking maps all over Portland from their guidebook) (http://www.allgetaways.com/region.asp?areaid=100173)
The Oregonian’s Running Blog (http://blog.oregonlive.com/runoregon/)
 
And to see how many Oregonians have fun while also exercising, check out the Oregonian’s coverage of the Hood to Coast relay. (http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonianspecial/2007/08/hood_to_coast_2007.html)

Bike Commuting in Portland

Tuesday, August 28, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties
Submitted by Bruce Hecht
 
As bike commuting continues to grow in Portland Oregon, more and more future home
owners try to buy homes that are inline with bike path, bike lanes or bike trails that will get them to their jobs.
 
Bike commuting in Portland Oregon is up 80% from 1997 to 2006!  The highest in the United States.  The problem is, when the riders get to work, many of them have found that they forgot something they need to wear to be dressed for work.  No problem say the store workers of many of the local downtown area merchants, they are ready for them on a moments notice when they come in.
 
There are a few sites you can go to, like www.bta4bikes.org.   This site helps you learn more about what the current riders do, where they go and how they converted from car commuters to bike commuters.
 
Only in Portland Oregon can you find bike commuting going up and car driving going down.

Choices Abound on Portland’s South Waterfront

Tuesday, August 28, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties
Submitted by Sandra Hanis
 
In spite of a gorgeous river running through the city, until recently Portlanders haven’t had many waterfront choices in housing. All of that has changed! Unfortunately, too many residents are unaware of their good fortune.
This last week, I showed several gorgeous, nicely appointed properties to an investor from out of the area. These clients recognize the bargain that these condo homes are…and are buying this home as a second residence. To benefit you will need to contact a knowledgeable agent and The Rob Levy Team looks forward to assisting you with this search. Through extremely good planning many units have great views and even if not riverfront, many homes take advantage of nice side views. The entire area is under construction with plans for recreation, dining and amenities for daily life! Today the construction makes the search a little confusing but buyers with some vision will benefit from their foresight!

Condition of the Mortgage World

Tuesday, August 28, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties
Submitted by Shawn Headlee 
Good afternoon all,
 
The mortgage world is still in a contraction this week. Wells Fargo just sent out an email that they will no longer do Home Equity Lines over 90%. The norm used to be 100%, but with those loans being too risky, they are getting eliminated. 100% financing still exists, but it is just one loan and is required to have Mortgage Insurance. This gives the lender more security is case the borrower defaults. Hopefully this will all settle down over the next couple of months.
 
Have a great week!

The Best Motocross Anywhere is in Portland

Tuesday, August 07, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties
Submitted by Bruce Hecht
 
I was working with a buyer in the recent past who was moving to Portland Oregon for only one reason, motocross!
 
I have been working with hundreds of buyers in all of the years that I have been selling real estate in Portland Oregon.  Many people move here for the weather, the mountains, the rivers, the lakes, the parks, the ocean . . . and of course, for our very comfortable, yet diverse background of the current residences.
 
But I have never being selling a home to a buyer that wants to move to Portland Oregon, invest in some real estate because of motocross!
 
The greater Portland Oregon area is home to many indoor and outdoor tracks and venues for all kinds of skill levels.  As a mater of fact, just a short drive north on I-5, from Portland Oregon, one of the largest International competitions just took place.  Thousands of riders and spectators came from all over the world.
 
As a matter of fact, 3 of the top 12 riders in the world live in the great area.  So broaden your activity interests and grab the handle bars and ride.

Contact Information

Photo of The Rob Levy Team Real Estate
The Rob Levy Team
Prudential Northwest Properties
9600 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 100
Portland OR 97225
(503) 906-1444
Fax: (503) 520-2203
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