Real Estate Information

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, or OMSI, is a 219,000 square-foot state-of-the-art science center. Originally, conceived more than 100 years ago by naturalist John Cyprian Stevens, the museum itself began to take shape after World War II. Today OMSI boasts a 300-seat dome-screen OMNIMAX Dome Theater (the first in the Northwest), a 200-seat Kendall Planetarium, and the USS Blueback, the last non-nuclear powered submarine built by the Navy. With five exhibit halls, OMSI offers hundreds of interactive displays and exhibits, and is ranked as one of the top science centers in the country.

Turbine Hall provides a window into how technology and the physical sciences are changing the world. Visitors can build an aqueduct, program a robot, and even feel an earthquake.

The Science Playground offers children ages 6 and younger a place to play with sand and water, puppets and books, and more in this fun and funky exploration area.

Life Science Hall explores the mystery of life, including growth, development, and aging, and how technology shapes health care.

Earth Science Hall focuses on the science of our planet, and includes exhibits on environmental hazards and global climate. 

Kendall Planetarium “blends art, science, fantasy, and fun.” It is the largest and most technologically advanced planetarium in the Pacific Northwest, offering multimedia presentations on astronomy and space science.

The OMNIMAX Dome Theater features a five-story domed screen covering more than 6,000 square feet of projection surface. It also has a 2D IMAX projection system with the largest frame in the motion picture industry.

USS Blueback

The USS Blueback was the first battle-ready class of submarines to use the teardrop hull and was in official operation in the Pacific Ocean for more than 30 years. It has appeared in a variety of films and television programs. Visitors can peer through a periscope, touch a torpedo, and climb the crew’s quarters, while learning how a submarine works.

OMSI offers a world of new experiences for the young and old alike. Rotating exhibits document the science and wonder of the world around us, and have included such diverse presentations as those celebrating Leonardo da Vinci, the human body, sharks, dinosaurs, and even the literary works of C.S. Lewis.

Entrance into OMSI requires an admission ticket or a museum membership.   Members are allowed unlimited access to the museum itself, and receive special discounts and guest tickets.  And through OMSI’s participation in the Association of Science and Technology Centers, members can also gain access to over 200 additional science centers and museums throughout the country.  An OMSI membership provides incredible learning and recreational opportunities for those who like to explore, dream, and grow!

Portland Walking Tours

As one of USA Today’s Top Five Walking Tours in the country, Portland Walking Tours offers 5 tours (Cultural, Sub-Culture, Supernatural, Indulgent, and Culinary) every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and have just added one more tour to celebrate our “City of Roses.”

Best of Portland Tour

This cultural tour highlights the city’s artwork, parks, fountains, bridges, trains, streetcars, and more. Best of Portland was named “Best Way to Fake Being a Native” by Willamette Week. The tour begins outside the Broadway entrance of the Hilton Hotel at SW Broadway and Salmon and leads to the waterfront.

The tour offers a history of Portland, including the inside story of the city’s eleven bridges. Tour participants will get the inside story on “The City that Works,” the bronze drinking fountains, and over 30 pieces of public art.

Underground Portland

This tour focuses on the corrupt and shady history of the city, winding through Old Town and Chinatown to the legendary ‘Portland Shanghai Tunnels’ beneath the city. The tour begins outside of Old Town Pizza on Davis. In addition to the history behind the city’s Shanghai tunnels, other highlights include the varied locations that The Simpsons television show is based on. You will also visit the site of “the most arrested man in the Northwest,” and the storied locations and buildings that once hosted notorious criminal activity.

Beyond Bizarre

Showcasing just why “Keep Portland Weird” is Portland’s unofficial slogan, this tour offers the wacky, the paranormal, and yes, the weird, using real ghost hunting equipment to visit famous haunts and hauntings. Portland Walking Tours is an official member of the International Ghost Hunters Society, and have a paranormal expert and a clairvoyant available for the tour itself. Highlights include glimpses into the profession of documenting, identifying, and understanding paranormal activity, as well as tales of dark secrets and strange rituals. The tour begins outside of Old Town Pizza on Davis.

Chocolate Decadence

This tour showcases local chocolate vendors and chocolatiers. You will learn about chocolate’s lineage from bean to confection. Participants will indulge in truffles and caramels, gelato and sorbet, cookies and croissants, and while also tasting Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris from the Willamette Valley. The tour begins inside and upstairs in the mezzanine library of the Heathman Hotel.

Epicurean Excursion

Portland has become of the country’s premier destinations for great cuisine. This tour is for foodies who want to build on their culinary knowledge and skills, learning what it means to be a locovore, the philosophy of F.L.O.S.S. (Fresh, Local, Organic, Seasonable, and Sustainable), and the history of the Slow Food Movement. The tour also includes “Portland’s Liquid Assets”: the microbrews, wines, spirits, coffees, sodas, and teas that make the city proud. The epicurean delights will be diverse and plentiful, and include artisan doughnuts, pizzas, chocolates, pastries, sandwiches and much, much more. The tour begins inside and upstairs in the mezzanine library of the Heathman Hotel.

Roses Gone Wild

This tour reveals the facts, secrets, mysteries, and stories behind the world-famous International Rose Test Garden. Learn the truth behind a successful rose, why the legendary blue rose is excluded from the garden, who the “Rose Bro’s” are, with the stunning views of the city as a backdrop. This tour begins across from the Rose Garden store at the International Rose Test Garden.

Guided walking tours provide a great way to experience the city up-close and personal, while learning the fascinating history of what makes Portland so unique. So, put on those comfortable shoes and explore!

Each September Mt. Angel celebrates Oktoberfest, which be held this September 15-18. Located 18 miles northeast of Salem on Highway 214, Mt Angel boasts Bavarian style storefronts and Benedictine Abbey built in 1883, and sits high on a bluff with views of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and Willamette Valley. Oktoberfest actually means Harvest Celebration, and in Germany, fall festivals occur at the end of the harvest season. In Mt. Angel, Oktoberfest always begins the second Thursday after Labor Day, when the hop harvest is usually in. It is Oregon’s largest folk festival.

There will be live music, free kindergarten with rides and shows, Alpine food chalets, arts and craft show, traditional Biergarten, Weingarten, Prostgarten, and Alpinegarten, community Glockenspiel, Bavarian folk dances, and more. Ladies dirndls and lederhosen are also available for purchase.

Most events at Oktoberfest are free, with a nominal cover charge for entry into the Biergarten, Weingarten, Prostgarten, and Alpinegarten. An All Festival Pass is $25.00, and includes unlimited entry. A Day Pass is available for unlimited entry to entertainment venues, and is $4.00 until 5 pm, and $5.00 after 5 pm. Leashed pets are welcomed and seeing dogs are allowed within the venues. Oktoberfest is also handicap friendly.

Directions

From the north on I-5, take the Woodburn exit #271 and follow State Highway #214 to Mt. Angel (approximately ten miles).

From the south on I-5, take the Keizer-Chemawa exit #260B at Salem. Turn right (east) through the Hwy. 99 intersection. Continue east and follow signs to Mt. Angel (approximately 17 miles).

Memorial Day is traditionally the kick-off weekend of the camping season in Oregon.  Outdoor enthusiasts of all ages, excitedly fire up the RV’s and dust off the camping equipment, in search of the perfect spot to reconnect with nature after the rigors of a long winter. However, in their haste to grab a hold of this famous three-day weekend and squeeze every liberating second out of it, many lose sight of the true meaning the behind the holiday.

Originally known as “Decoration Day,” Memorial Day is commemoration of the lives lost by U.S. soldiers in the ongoing fight for our country ‘s freedom. First enacted to honor the lives of those who fought and died during the Civil War, Memorial Day has grown into the key day of remembrance for all Americans who have given the ultimate sacrifice for what we have today.

In this time of economic strife and worldwide political unrest, it is all too easy to forget the men and women who fought to make this three-day weekend possible. So as you are firing up the Coleman and getting ready to hook that salmon you’ve been dreaming about all winter, take a moment to reflect on all that our servicemen and women still endure to this day to ensure not only your lifestyle, but your freedom.

With that being said, did we mention that it’s camping season! Here are three of the most desirable camping spots around the Portland area.

Wyeth:  Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, seven miles east of Cascade Locks (exit 51).

A small forest camp in the Columbia River Gorge, Wyeth has easy access to Interstate 84 for further exploration of the gorge, its campsites are huge and the location is amazing. While exploring the area be sure to check out Multnomah Falls, one of the most picturesque attractions in the greater Portland Area.

Tollbridge: Hood River County Park, 20 miles south of Hood River.

This is a multi-purpose park, with good RV and tent camping, plus grassy areas for sports and picnicking. Tollbridge is on the East Fork of the Hood River, with good access to the Gorge and Mount Hood.

Barton: Clackamas County Park, 10 miles west toward Estacada from Interstate 205.

Barton is a full-service park on the Clackamas River.  With tent and RV loops, and large grassy play and picnic areas, Barton is a great family friendly camping option. Barton also features a busy boat launch for fishing and rafting.

Well there you have it. A lesson in civic appreciation and an itinerary for this summer’s camping destinations, all in the same blog.  So this Memorial Day, be safe, have fun, and remember what it is that you are really celebrating.

The Portland Saturday Market is in full swing! On Saturdays from 10 am-5 pm and on Sundays from 11 am- 4:30 pm you can make your way to Southwest Portland at North Waterfront Park and Ankeny Plaza for food, music, art and much more. Whether you are a family or a single looking to shop and mingle, the market offers a full day of fun, food, music and art. If the 38th season of the event follows the past 37, it won’t disappoint the growing number of supporters and visitors who have helped make it what it is today.

Each year the Saturday Market runs throughout Spring, Summer and Fall. This year the Market will end December 24th.

As the US comes out of the recession, it seems some areas are doing better than others and Kipplinger this week gave some encouraging news when it picked the top 11 cites in the USA to make a comeback, it listed Portland, Oregon as one of them.   The full article can be READ BY CLICKING HERE

Also good news for the Pacific Northwest is Seattle was also on the list.   The Portland area is prime for a comeback according to Kipplinger due to the investment in clean energy, and the high tech field.  There have been many solar power companies putting facilities here, and Intel (the states largest private employer) announced it is bringing 1000 new jobs too.  These jobs tend to be well paying, and bring in an educated workforce.

Portland's location as a city of about 2.25m people and next to a state of 37m people (California) seems poised for more growth once the economy improves, and this is a great step in the right direction.

The city of Portland, Oregon is making the most of their team's inaguual season of MLS play. It's clear the Portland Timbers fans are passionate about soccer and have showed there support by selling out all 12,500 season tickets packages that were available at the newly renovated JELD-WEN Field (formerly PGE Park). Fewer than 500 single game tickets remain for the entire season.

The Timbers play their home opener on April 14th against the Chicago Fire. It's sure to be the loudest event southwest Portland had heard in quite some time.

As a Timbers season ticket holder I cannot wait for the excitement and electricity that will be shared with each and evey fan throughout the stadium.

Go Timbers!

Even with the super low rates of today, refinancing may not always be the best option.  "What?" you say. Are you nuts Rob? Rates are at historical lows.

This is all true, but keep in mind that in the US the way interest is calculated, the majority of it is paid in the first half of the loan period, so if you recently took out the loan, you are probably better off refinancing even if the rate drop is minimal. SEE CHART AT BOTTOM FOR EXAMPLE.

In my case my wife and I were 79 months into a 15 year (180 month) loan, so about half way. On a 15 year you really start paying off a lot of principal about 5 years in (its about 12 years on a 30 year).  In our case the rate drop was over 1% and the payment drop was $890 a month.  Now that's a lot cheaper I know, but it also started all over again on a 15 year mortgage so it wouldn't be paid off for 15 years and for the next five as above I would be paying mostly interest all over again.  BUT - I got to thinking, what if I took out the new loan and kept paying my OLD payment, what would the accelerated payoff now be?  Well guess what, it works out to be paid off within two months of if I do nothing and keep the current loan. So to be clear the advantage of getting the new loan would be that I have $890 a month less debt and of course over the long run pay a lot less interest.

So the advantage here (smaller payment commitment) outweighed the negative (longer term) as it makes it $890 a month easier to qualify for any future loan.  As a result, we decided to take out the new loan and I am making my OLD payments just like I used to using Wels Fargo Bill Pay where I simply typed in a monthly auto-pay of the old payment.

You can and should check this for yourself with an online calculator.  TRY THIS MORTGAGE CALCULATOR  where you can type in additional principal paid monthly and see the results.  Go ahead and play with it, it's amazing.  The chart showing where you actually start paying off any decent amount of principal is below.  This example is for a $250,000 mortgage over 30 years at 4.5%.

Well, its that time of year again, our first big rainstorm of the season is about to hit the Portland area tonight AND our property tax bills have arrived in the mail.  As in every year, I then get emailed a lot asking how to appeal them.   Keep in mind that its tough in Oregon as we have two values.....  The RMV or real market value and the "Assessed Value' which is limited (with exceptions) to a maximum (MAV) of 103% of the previous years assessed value.  Your taxes are paid on the assessed value, regardless of what the RMV says the value is.

If you want to look into appealing, follow THIS LINK to the State of Oregon site.  Keep in mind you MUST appeal before the end of December.

I have also included pages to the tri-county tax offices.  Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas as well as Yamhill along with Clark County, Washington.  Click on the appropriate county name to access the page.

As always, if you have questions please feel free to email or call us. We also suggest you contact competent legal assistance if pursuing a challenge.

Thanks, have a wonderful weekend and Go #1 Ducks!  ROB

And here is why……  I know prices are dropping still (although last month they went up slightly) but is this a good time to buy?  The answer is a resounding YES.  If you bought a $200,000 dollar home (and for the purpose of illustration obtained a $200,000 loan), and that house drops 10% in the next year the math is easy, you just lost $20,000   BUT - and this is a big BUT - if you obtained a loan today for that house at 4.25%, and if that same loan in one year costs 6% then the difference in payment is a lot LESS if you buy the house now.  ($200k @ 4.25% = $984 / $200k @ 6.0% = $1,199) for a difference of $215 every month  Over 30 years that difference is a whopping $77,400!  One thing we have been assured of is that interest rates have to and eventually will be going up as the economy improves.

 DID I MESS UP BY MISSING THE OBAMA TAX CREDIT? NO!

At the end of April (when the tax credit expired) the interest rate was hovering around 6.0% so as stated above you would be spending $77,500 more if you bought a house on April 30th vs. today.  Despite what you read and see, homes ARE selling.  Our team has been having a stellar year selling lots of homes for our sellers and finding quality homes at good prices for our buyers.  We have become experts at distressed sales (short sales) and are CDPE certified, and I am even listing and selling some bank owned homes (REOs).  For the third year in a row, our team is Prudential’s top Portland Realtor and  this is largely due to the generous referrals from you, our buyers and sellers, so thanks for that!  We are well aware that you have a choice in Realtors, we feel that now more than ever experience counts and we all thank you for choosing our team now and in the future.