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Thanksgiving Events in Portland

Wednesday, November 27, 2013
by Rob Levy

Thanksgiving is just about here and with that comes some fun traditions here in Portland, Oregon!

After you have enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner with family and friends, the Holiday Season kicks off the morning of Friday, November 29th with the annual Macy's Holiday Parade in downtown Portland. Kids and parents alike will enjoy the festive parade floats, marching bands and gigantic inflatables! This free holiday celebration will get started at 9:00 AM and last approximately an hour, giving your little ones just enough excitement for the morning. The parade will begin at the downtown Macy's, located at 621 SW 5th Avenue, and will wrap its way through the streets of downtown Portland. You can take a look at the parade route on Macy's website.

Later that evening, head out to Pioneer Square for the classic Tree Lighting Ceremony. The 75-foot Douglas fir tree was already erected on November 15th, but it remains to be decorated with lights and ornaments! The free celebration is set to start at 5:30 PM, but event goers are encouraged to show up early to get the best spot. There will be a visit from Santa for the kids, a marching band, carolers and a sing-along led by several special guests, including Pink Martini's Thomas Lauderdale, the 234th Army band and the Pacific Youth Choir.

This will be an exciting way to start the Holiday Season! Have a great Thanksgiving!

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Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show

Monday, November 25, 2013
by Rob Levy

With the Holiday Season about ready to begin, a fun tradition for many families and friends is to take the dazzling light show displays! One such holiday light show that began showing each year since 1993 is the Winter Wonderland Experience, which is hailed as the "Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi." Now in its 21st year, this annual light show is sure to captivate audiences of all ages!

From Thanksgiving through Christmas Night, you can venture over to the Portland International Raceway and take in the fantastic drive-through light showing, featuring a number of light displays. Many of these displays are fully animated, including such favorites as the 12 Days of Christmas, Santa on the Ski Slope and Flying Reindeer that dash through the air right over your car!

In addition to the light extravaganza, there a some special events. You can join hundres of runners in the Winter Wonderland Run and Walk Race on Saturday, November 30th. The start time for the race will be at 5:00 PM and concluding at 7:00 PM. Distances include courses from 2 - 6 miles. On Monday, December 2nd, you can take in the lights with a leisurely stroll at the Gentech Dentist Walk Night. No cars will be allowed on the track from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM and you are encouraged to bring the kids and even the family dog! Another fun event is on Monday, December 9th in which you can ride your bike through the holiday light gala during the 5th Annual Bike the Lights, put on by Bike Gallery. This biking event will begin at 5:00 PM and will last until 9:00 PM. Proper lighting is required for this, as well as helmets for riders 16 years or younger.

This is a charity event presented by Columbia Humane Society, with over $551,000 and over 41 tons of food contributed. This will be a fun way to take in the Holiday Experience!

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Portland Residential Home Prices Continue Upward Trend

Monday, November 11, 2013
by Rob Levy

The effect of the economy on the real estate market has been talked about frequently over the last couple of years. As with everything else, the downturned economy meant that builders stopped building and houses stopped selling. There is, however, good news for homeowners that were concerned about the value of their home. Research shows residential real estate prices up for 17 consecutive months. According to Property Wire, the latest index shows that the national median home value was up 6% from a year ago.

March of 2012 was considered to be the bottom of the housing crisis. Since then, house prices have risen 23%. While this is still 26% from the peak prices seen in 2006, it gives everyone is the housing industry hope for a complete recovery. A large portion of the increase is due to cash buyers and investors. With foreclosures and short sales still on the market, interested buyers have begun to dwindle the supply again. More confidence in the economy has encouraged homeowners to sell, buy, and build again.

Portland is an area that has seen a tremendous increase in home values. Values peaked in April with a 12% increase over a year earlier. Analysts speculated that the area couldn't continue such rapid growth over the long term, and the rates have started to slow. Increased interest rates are blamed for a portion of the slowdown. Also considered at fault are state laws that affected the foreclosure process. Those legal challenges have now been worked through and the Portland real estate market is continuing to heal and return to normal.

With the news that residential real estate prices up for 17 consecutive months and the knowledge that the Portland area is seeing a slowdown in the rise of home value, these are signals that now is a great time to invest in real estate.

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Home Inspections

Monday, November 4, 2013
by Rob Levy

One of the first things people should consider when purchasing a home is an inspection. A certified home inspector will ensure that major components of a home are looked at carefully so that buyers will know whether or not the property they are interested in has major issues. The results of this inspection are very useful when it comes to negotiating the selling price, and can save people a great deal of heartache later down the road.

The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) is a North American organization that serves to promote awareness as to the importance of home inspections. This group’s members adhere to rigid guidelines known as Standards of Practice, which has essentially become the gold standard in the industry when it comes to home inspections.

Some of the things that are usually covered in a home inspection include mechanical items such as plumbing, heating and cooling, electrical wiring and major appliances. Floors, walls, ceilings, doors, windows and the roof are typically examined as well. Inspectors may also look at the amount of insulation in an attic in order to determine if a home would be energy efficient.

Buyers typically spend around 15 minutes inside a home when they are looking at it. In order to see every component of a house, individuals would need to spend around two hours or more in the home. Not only that, but accessing the roof or attic would require the use of special ladders that not many people have access to.

Sellers could also benefit from having a home inspection performed on a property they are placing on the market. That’s because inspectors provide homeowners with a report that outlines deficiencies. After examining this report, homeowners could make any needed repairs before the property is offered for sale, thereby increasing the amount they could ask for the home as a result.

Home inspector qualifications vary from one state to the next, and not all inspectors check the same components of a home. As a result, consumers should obtain a list of items to be checked so they can make sure that all the important elements of the home are looked at by the inspector they choose.

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