Your dad’s neighbor just called to tell you that your 79-year-old father sideswiped his parked vehicle and nearly hit a child standing nearby. Was it an isolated slip-up or the sign that it’s time for your dad to think about giving up his car keys? More importantly, how do you begin the discussion about such a potentially volatile subject?

Sensitive issues like this prompted …

For years, buyers and sellers have been waiting for that singular event to occur that would cause a quick market recovery. But 2012 will mark the fifth or sixth year of the real estate recession, depending on who you talk to. I predict those consumers who have not already done so will drop…

When life-changing events occur — marriage, divorce, death, incapacity, interstate moves or estate planning — a little bit of legal housekeeping goes a long way toward protecting your ownership and preserving your enjoyment of your real estate. The legal housekeeping will vary from event to event and person to person.

I found a great article by Harvey S. Jacobs  in the Washington Post…

If you have been in your home for a while you may be restless for change. The great part about having a home of your own is you can make improvements and give your home a chance to evolve over time. You just need to help your home live up to its potential!  Click on Neighborly News for more.

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

Or why multiple, smaller reductions in price can backfire.

Dian Hymer put together a great article to addressing this topic in today’s real estate market. During the bubble housing market, a price reduction was considered a stigma. This was a time when most listings sold reasonably quickly. A price reduction meant there was probably something wrong with the property.  That is not the case today. …

Great article by: JOHN MORELL, This Old House magazine  

It’s that time of year that we should be thinking and taking action to not only conserve fuel but conserve our wallet. …

For a while now you’ve been hearing, “its a good time to buy”.  That has been correct for some time.  I’ve advised the same.  But I also said to many of my clients and friends just wait, there will be the moment that says “now”.  That time is here.  Now!  It’s the time!

We may or may not be at the total bottom, but I believe we will look back at this timeframe as having been an ideal time to buy and build equity. Financing challenges and financial strains put this opportunity out of…

The Value of Homes Increase with a Simple Paint Job

The above sentence is still true today but what it really does in a buyer's market is make the home more appealing, more marketable, more likely to get chosen with the huge selection buyers have.

Any homeowner who is looking to increase the value of their home should consider a simple paint job. Min Zar Ni, owner of Singapore House Painting Services, offers these tips for those who are thinking about…

I am an advocate of sellers obtaining home inspections prior to an offer to purchase is received.  It can save thousands of dollars for the seller in the end.  Many sellers will shy away from pre sale home inspections because they don't want to spend the money or they fear disclosing what they learn.  However, . . . . . . . . . .

Attention Sellers:  Take control of  your property with home inspections and avoid unwelcome surprises. 

Typically, home sellers often wait for a…

I am an advocate of sellers obtaining home inspections prior to an offer to purchase is received.  It can save thousands of dollars for the seller in the end.  Many sellers will shy away from pre sale home inspections because they don't want to spend the money or they fear disclosing what they learn.  However, . . . . . . . . . .

Attention Sellers:  Take control of  your property with home inspections and avoid unwelcome surprises. 

Typically, home sellers often wait for a…

Or why multiple, smaller reductions in price can backfire.

What are Hidden Gems all about? Some Hidden Gems are about homes for sale. In Joshua Bagby's role as a part-time real estate photographer, he sometimes run into homes that for one reason or another he thinks are worth more than a teeny, tiny ad in the newspaper. They should be shouted out. Normal real estate ads are pretty skimpy. They often don’t tell the story of what a property offers. They’ve got tiny photos that are hard to…

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

Gerry Stewart, Principle Broker, is an ambassador for the Salem Chamber. Gerry has been a licensed real estate broker for over 30 years, State of California instructor,…

Choosing to put your house on the market is rarely easy, but if you must sell to move onto the next phase of your life, then you want to make sure your house is purchase-ready to get the most out of your investment. .. .(Click here for Neighborly News)

Gerry Stewart is an ambassador for the Salem Chamber. Gerry has been a licensed real estate broker for…

I've been asked the question many times so I thought I'd answer it, finally. There is still a lot of talk about the expiration of the homebuyer tax that occurred at the end of April. Good move, bad move, do it again, extend it longer and so on. Even California did their own tax credit of $10,000 through the end of this year.…

For More Information: Larry Sigurdson Contact Number: (503)…