Upgrades to Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient
An energy efficient home has many benefits. Environmental impact, increased home value, and cost-savings are chief among them. This has been brought to the forefront in 2018 in our market as Home Energy Reports are now required for homes sold in the city of Portland. Buyers are looking for homes that have been designed with the… Read More ›
Ask the Experts: The 2018 Housing Market
Most experts are expecting the 2018 housing market to look very similar to 2017, which was characterized by low inventory and high prices. However with the recent passage of the tax bill, some experts are anticipating prices won’t rise nearly as fast because of the new law. Others say it will help first-time home buyers… Read More ›
Oregon Still Ranked in the Top 3 States for Relocation
For the 5th consecutive year, Oregon ranks in the top 3 most popular states for relocation, finishing second in 2017. Our beautiful state held first place from 2013-2015 before falling to third in 2016. The Mountain and Pacific West regions continue to be a big draw, as Idaho fills the 3rd spot and Washington comes… Read More ›
Is Fall the Time to Buy Your First Home?
Generally it is thought that Spring is the best time to buy, as the market is flooded with new listings. However, the following article reveals that Fall is the sweet spot for high inventory and low prices, which is exactly what first time home buyers need! Check out the article here.
Home Prices in Oregon
Home prices in Oregon are still climbing, although not quite at the rate they have been. The following article from Oregon Business Magazine gives a great description of the current market and how things look going forward. You can see the full article here. Housing prices continue to rise, but slowly According to the Federal… Read More ›
Realistic Expectations
As Rick touched on in our last Spokesman article, the Wilsonville Real Estate Market is shifting. In 2016 sellers could expect their home to receive multiple offers in the first week. In 2017, many homes are taking much longer to find the right buyer. Rick expands below: Recent months have seen a slight shift in… Read More ›
The Importance of Accurate Home Pricing
In Oregon, the housing market is slowing down creating more balance between buyers and sellers. Many homeowners are looking at 2016’s numbers and expecting their home to sell for top dollar in less than week. However, the reality is that in 2017 buyers are taking much more time to find the right home before making… Read More ›
How Accurate is Your Zestimate?
Has researching the value of your home left you scratching your head? In The Laue Team’s most recent Wilsonville Spokesman article, Principal Broker Rick Brainard shares the risks of relying on online sources like Zillow’s “Zestimate” to calculate the true value of your home: With its introduction in 2006, Zillow changed the way the public… Read More ›
10 Questions to Ask Your Contractor!
Most homeowners have some concerns when it comes to hiring home improvement professionals. Some are afraid of overpaying, some worry that they’re hiring an unqualified professional, and others wonder about the character of the individuals they’re inviting into their homes. Asking these ten questions can help alleviate all of these concerns. 1. How long have… Read More ›
Winter Preparation Checklist
Give your home a once-over and tend to winter preparation tasks and repairs before the year’s first frost. “Getting the exterior of the home ready for the cold winds, snow and ice is critical for keeping Old Man Winter out and keeping it warm and toasty inside,” says Reggie Marston, president of Residential Equity Management… Read More ›
Portland Housing Market Forecast in 2017
  We have seen a double digit growth in Portland housing market in 2015 and 2016.  In 2015, the home value here has increased about 17% and so far in 2016, it has increased nearly 13% since January according to Zillow.  Many potential home buyers and sellers wonder what the real estate market will look like… Read More ›
Seattle Family Almost Doubles Its Space Without Adding On!
“Warm, modern and family,” is how Lauren Zerbey describes her 1910 home in Whittier Heights, Seattle. A lot has changed since she and her husband, Kyle, both architects, bought and began remodeling the house nine years ago. After strategically upgrading systems and reconfiguring the first floor of the home in the first six years — doing most of the… Read More ›