By Maria Schmidlkofer, J.D.

Estate planning is a serious business. Meeting with clients often dredges up emotions and issues in the family that are necessary to discuss in order to fully discover a client’s goals and values and to design a plan that successfully transitions the family legacy from one generation to the next.



Estate planning concepts can be more enjoyable to learn in a hypothetical situation, however.  I was reminded of the…

For almost three years my mom's residence is a retirement center. The incident that brought change of address was a case of medication mismanagement.  Mom was seeing a lot of different doctors for a variety of different things.  Mom was very active and outgoing.  She swam everyday.  Mom lives in a different state than I do so I wasn't always around her.

The decline occurred over a years time. …

Families everywhere are leaving the traditional home office behind and opting instead for a more family friendly creative space. The modern-day craft room is a place where adults and children can congregate together, where you can pay your bills while keeping an eye on members of the family.  Click on the link for more information about this shift in home design.  Read more  …

Seeing something in your mind before you move all the furniture around just is not my best skill.  If you are like me, you might enjoy reading on.

You just finished arranging all the new furniture and placing the rug in your freshly painted room, and yet it feels empty and unfinished. More . . http://ow.ly/9lZdY

Chris Stewart, SRES is a Real Estate Broker with Windermere Pacific West Properties in…

Friends were over the other night.  Sally asked me what kind of drapery rod I had and where did it get it.  She wanted one just like it!  I was astonished mostly because once I bought it, I never looked at it again.  I certainly didn't know what it was called.

The next day, I did what I usually do.  I googled drapery rods and began plowing through information.  W0w, there is a whole industry just for rods.  I learned that the right decorative rod can turn up the "wow" volume of your…

It seems that every year I lose more friends to death.  The more friends you have and the older you are, the more often this is going to happen in your life.  Death is something we humans don't do well.  We plan for the entrance to this world but we don't plan for the exit.  Here is some information on - Efforts to Simplify End-of-Life Care Wishes http://ow.ly/9Ap8o

Chris Stewart, SRES is a Real Estate Broker…

One of the first spaces new homeowners usually want to set up is the kitchen. And for good reason. The kitchen is usually the go-to spot in the home, where the day begins and ends. Guests will also gravitate toward this high-traffic area because there is usually a lot going on — cooking, drinking and conversation. For more thoughts, read on. http://ow.ly/9lYOc

Many people in this era of minimal design are forgoing the traditional frame when it comes to displaying their art. Often the art is so strong on its own that there is no need for a frame, and some abstract paintings were never intended for a frame to begin with. For more read on  http://ow.ly/9lYZm

Chris Stewart, SRES is a Real Estate Broker with Windermere Pacific West Properties in Salem, Oregon. One…

Happy Easter to all our friends, colleagues and clients.  We are truly blessed here in the Willamette Valley and are grateful for your continued support!

Chris Stewart, SRES is a Real Estate Broker with Windermere Pacific West Properties in Salem, Oregon. One of her specialties is working with boomers and seniors over 55 who are downsizing, changing lifestyle, moving into retirement, or moving into assisted living. She is an active book club member and former…

Thinking about purchasing a home? Read on as this may impact you and how much you can afford. http://ow.ly/9lUZt

Chris Stewart, SRES is a Real Estate Broker with Windermere Pacific West Properties in Salem, Oregon. One of her specialties is working with boomers and seniors over 55 who are downsizing, changing lifestyle, moving into retirement, or moving into assisted living. She is an active book club…

I had lunch with my friend, Libby Crom, last week at Cristo's.  it is one of her favorite places. During our conversation and laughter about the latest movie we saw, we started speaking in earnest of some of the things her clients face.  Libby provides services and solutions to…

According to national color expert Kate Smith, people have conflicting emotions regarding their homes during these economically challenging times. Homeowners want to embrace their need for change and feel positive about their living space by purchasing new products, while being financially and environmentally responsible.…

MADELINE PHILIPS'S life has gone through many aesthetic phases. In the 1950's, there was the matching monogrammed bath-towel phase (a must). In the 60's, it was the olive-green phase, in which she swaddled the living room and dining rooms entirely in olive-green, including the piano (which she painted). But no phase, past or present, could have prepared her for the next one: the 11-by-18 phase.

Sometime in the next few months, Mrs. Philips, an 80-year-old widow, will leave the…

  The best advise I can provide to mature householders who are planning to downsize is to get your kids to clear our their own stuff, treasures and rubbish long before you begin to think about downsizing.

In this video "Opening the Lines of Communication," Mary Alexander from Home Instead Senior Care offers more tips for effective communication with seniors -- starting with when and how to begin the dialog. A good rule of thumb is to start talking while your aging parents are fairly healthy, and there are no apparent concerns. Home Instead recommends following the…

All my years in real estate and a term exists I have not heard.  Many sellers are afflicted.  The term is Endowment Effect.  Google endowment effect and you get a list of many research papers on this subject.

A behavioral economics term defined by …

There are many reasons why you may want to hunt for a new home in today’s economy.  You may be looking or your first home and want to take advantage of today’s low rates.  You may want to move to another place to accommodate a changing career or to find a different school for your children.

Or maybe you simple need more space or less space.  A new addition to the family may quickly make you realize you’re running out of room or a someone leaving the nest and you may need less room. …

The Fair Housing Council of Oregon has put together some very useful information on dealing with smells in a home that is for sale.  Smells Don’t Sell Article 

Chris Stewart, SRES, is a Real Estate Broker with Windermere Pacific West Properties in Salem, Oregon. One of her specialties is working with baby boomers and seniors who are downsizing, changing lifestyle, moving…

In my desire to purge, I have been trying to find the best ways to get rid of things; . . (continue)

Chris Stewart, SRES, is a Real Estate Broker with Windermere Pacific West Properties in Salem, Oregon. One of her specialties is working with baby boomers and seniors who are downsizing, changing lifestyle, moving into retirement centers, or moving into assisted…

It was an open house.  The buyers came in, fell in love, and wanted the home.  The only problem was, it had just sold. . . . . (continue)

Chris Stewart, SRES, is a Real Estate Broker with Windermere Pacific West Properties in Salem, Oregon. One of her specialties is working with baby boomers and seniors who are downsizing, changing lifestyle, moving into retirement…