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Earth Day Fair At Troy Field On Sat. April 14th at 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Includes more than 100 booths with educational information, products and services also includes live music, activities and food. Best of All the price is FREE!
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So let's talk about "staging" for a minute. You have heard of it in relation to the theater, right? Set the stage, set the mood, and in come the actors. Well, "staging" has become a critical aspect of home sales, especially in the current competitive market.
I was struck by this important tool sellers can use to their advantage this past weekend as I was showing an exquisite and new riverfront home. True, the home was on the river. True, the home was located just a couple hundred feet from the river park and from the wonderful shops and restaurants of the trendy Old Mill District. But there were several areas of the home which, when staged, were apparent but without staging would have been ambiguous. For instance, there were three rooms in the lower level with no closets and no windows! What to do with them? Hmmm. But with lush and precise staging, one became a Tuscan wine room, one housed audio equipment, and one became an inviting theater room that tugged at us so that we did not want to leave! A bedroom was set as a quiet and rich office.
Builders are professionals. They know what a difference excellent staging can make in selling a home for the best price possible. Staging can make us fall in love with a home. Lack of it can make us walk out of a home and never remember anything about it.
So sellers, listen to your Realtors' advice about staging. Pay a few dollars or even a few hundred dollars for staging advice. This can include a professional working with the furnishings you already have in the home or in the case of a vacant home bringing in items to catch the eye of a buyer and suggest the potential of that home for cozy family life. Staging can be as simple as a cookbook on a stand, a pot on the stove and places set for dinner at the breakfast bar plus bathrooms with towels, soap, artificial arrangements of plants and candles. I have even seen in a vacant luxury home a large basket tilted on edge in a bedroom with a jeweled peach quilt spilling out of it to suggest the bed.
If your Realtor does not suggest staging, find one who does. Unless you don't care how long your home is on the market. Does staging guarantee a quick sale? No. But not properly preparing your home for the market will guarantee a lower price and longer time on market.
Oh, and that lovely riverfront home was sold and closes in two weeks, but they are building more in the same area, some on the river and some just above it. Give me a call for a tour of these and others including a recently refurbished townhome overlooking the river in downtown Bend. Very contemporary and lovely.
Or just give me a call for staging advice -- whether to be referred to a Realtor in your area with staging expertise or a consultation at your home in Central Oregon where we can discuss the possibilities of your home.
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· Sports Clips opened in the Cascade Village Shopping Center. The hair-care chain offers haircuts to men and boys in a sports themed environment. · Allyson’s Kitchen opened in the Old Mill District. The store features cooking classes, food to go, wine, cookware, cheeses and other kitchenware items. · Rite Aid Corp. finalized the $2.7 million purchase of three separate properties in Redmond. The company plans to move its existing pharmacy to a new building at the location. The company which also has plans to open a new store in Madras, has four locations in Central Oregon. · Redmond Airport recorded 20,509 passenger boardings in February, a 214.1% increase over February 2007. Passenger boardings have exceeded every month, year over year, since 2003. · Finally, the wait has come to an end. Trader Joe’s opened their new store doors on March 28th. The store is 13,000 square-feet and is situated in the Cascade Village Shopping Center between the highway and Food 4 Less. This is the first Trader Joe’s in Central Oregon. · The Five Pine development on Sister’s east side has opened its first restaurant---Pleiades at Five Pine. The 3,000 square-foot restaurant will have 80 seats and feature Northwest cuisine. According to chef and owner David Berger the restaurant will be open seven days a week. · A new restaurant is coming to Bend. Volo, billed as an upscale yet casual restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine is scheduled to open in May. It will be located on the ground floor of Bend’s new 919 Bond building in downtown Bend. The space will occupy 4,000 square-feet according to owner Chris Jones. Jones said he would try and distinguish Volo with its design, food and ambience in an increasingly competitive restaurant environment. · Mt. Bachelor announced it has opened up 160 acres for snow riding on the backside of the mountain that was previously out of bounds. The expansion of terrain adds an additional 800 feet of vertical skiing in the Cow’s Face area. · Two restaurants have closed in Bend. Robbie J’s Bistro has closed its Mill Point Business Campus location. Chef and owner Jacques Duc, who bought the restaurant in 2005, could not be reached for comment. And, after 20 years of staying open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Denny’s restaurant has closed. According to owner Dean Moe, it just didn’t make financial sense to remain open. Moe added that, “Costs just keep going up and that building is so limited in size…there’s competition nowadays that can seat double what we can seat.” · The Old Mill District is getting its first pizza eatery this summer…Flatbread Community Oven, a Neapolitan-style pizzeria and wine bar. The Boise, Idaho-based restaurant will open its 3,100 square-foot, 98-seat restaurant in a corner space facing the Deschutes River according to owner Robert Lumsden III. The restaurant is expected to open by June and employ 50 people. · Fireside Red, an American tapas lounge has opened in The Old Mill District. Co-owner Michael Jasilewicz said the restaurant will offer Spanish-inspired small plates and meals ranging from brunch to dinner. The restaurant will employ 45 workers and will hold 90 seats inside and 100 outside on the deck, which has a view of the Deschutes River. · The population growth bumped in Deschutes County up to 58th out of the nation’s Top 100 fastest-growing counties in 2007. · Klamath Falls-based South Valley Bank & Trust submitted site and design plans to the city of Madras for a new bank at the north end of town. The bank, which has locations in Bend, Redmond and Prineville, also is preparing to submit plans to the city of Sisters for a bank just off Highway 20, near the planned Ray’s Food Place. · Kohl’s, a national department store chain, has filed preliminary building plans to open at the Bend Promenade according to documents submitted with the city. The nearly 69,000 square-foot store is proposed for vacant land located on the backside of the mall, between the Bend Parkway and Macy’s. · Christy Kabachoff, former owner of one of Bend's favorite restaurants Zydeco, has purchased TLC Restaurant and Catering and is open for business on NW 2nd Street, call (541) 382-1646). "Congratulations, Christy! I know the food will be fresh, natural and delicious!"
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Despite recent turns in the housing market, it is still smart to buy your home as soon as possible.
Equity appreciation is one of the best ways to realize short and long term financial gains. On average, appreciation is at 6% a year, a consistent, if not conservative rate, especially if it is a primary residence. Bend has seen much higher appreciation over the last several years. However, for planning purposes you should stay with 6%. Equity in a home is an important ongoing financial resource, used wisely. As a mortgage gets paid down and the value appreciates, the equity (monetary value beyond what is owed on the property) can become available in the form of an equity loan or a line of credit. The interest on these loans offers the added financial benefit of being fully tax deductible. One smart way to use these loans is to pay off debts that have higher interest rates and are not tax deductible.
Remember, though, that equity loans and lines of credit must be paid off when the house is sold, so factor that into any profit you may expect to gain. Some of you may think that it’s a scary market right now. But investing in a home is still one of the best ways to build long-term wealth and create short-term tax advantages. (Excerpted from Ownership Advantages, The Bulletin)
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Part 2 21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 22. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present. 23. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 24. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special. 25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. 26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?" 27. Forgive everyone everything. 28. What other people think of you is none of your business. 29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time. 30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch. 32. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. 33. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 34. The best is yet to come. 35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 36. Do the right thing. 37. Call your mother and father often. 38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: "I am thankful for __________." "Today I accomplished____________." 39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed. 40. Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride
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Part 1 1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant. 2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to. 3. Buy a TIVO, tape your late night shows and get more sleep. 4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement: "My purpose is to___________ today." 5. Live with the 3 E's: Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy. 6. Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did in 2007. 7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives. 8. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6. 9. Dream more while you are awake. 10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat fewer foods that are manufactured in plants. 11. Drink green tea & plenty of water and eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts. 12. Try to make at least 3 people smile each day. 13. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life. 14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment. 15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime. 16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card. 17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away. 18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
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The State of Bend Oregon Real Estate Despite recent turns in the housing market, it is still smart to buy your home as soon as possible.
Equity appreciation is one of the best ways to realize short and long term financial gains. On average, appreciation is at 6% a year, a consistent, if not conservative rate, especially if it is a primary residence. Bend has seen much higher appreciation over the last several years. However, for planning purposes you should stay with 6%. Equity in a home is an important ongoing financial resource, used wisely. As a mortgage gets paid down and the value appreciates, the equity (monetary value beyond what is owed on the property) can become available in the form of an equity loan or a line of credit. The interest on these loans offers the added financial benefit of being fully tax deductible. One smart way to use these loans is to pay off debts that have higher interest rates and are not tax deductible.
Remember, though, that equity loans and lines of credit must be paid off when the house is sold, so factor that into any profit you may expect to gain. Some of you may think that it’s a scary market right now. But investing in a home is still one of the best ways to build long-term wealth and create short-term tax advantages. (Excerpted from Ownership Advantages, The Bulletin)
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Great Deals In Real Estate In response to the many questions I get daily on the subject, I am going devote this blog to a brief discussion of great deals in real estate and how to find them in this market." In conjunction with a title company and a lender, I will be holding seminars on this subject, so please give me a call or email if you are interested in attending a free class on Short Sales, Foreclosures and what is involved in purchasing property in these circumstances. I subscribe to a service whereby each month I get a list of properties that are in default, meaning the owners have missed at least three months of payments. This is pre-foreclosure, and the owners still can sell the home in the open market. They may or may not owe more than the home is worth. This is often a great time to negotiate a good deal! Short sales occur when the owners – who may or may not be current in their payments – owe more than the home is worth. In most cases, they contact the lenders, and the lenders participate in the sale of the property by approving the price and forgiving a portion of the mortgage to have the property off their books. The buyer can finance the purchase of the home. This is also a great time to find that deal! Foreclosure is the process whereby the lender takes the house back at public auction, usually at the courthouse. The lender is asking to be paid the amount of the loan, and many times the house is not worth this. Also, the successful bidder must pay cash and accept the property as is with usually no inspections. Not necessarily a great deal and you must be a savvy buyer for this transaction! Bank-owned property is post foreclosure, and most banks are getting “real.” These homes are priced just below market value or, sometimes, way below. In the 1990s banks had REO departments (Real Estate Owned), which became cumbersome and expensive to operate. The banks seem intent on not repeating that fiasco and are working hard to shed properties as soon as they come into ownership. There are some very good deals in these situations. Call me at 541-318-9909 or my cell 541-408-6720 or email me at Lconnelley@sunriverrealty.com to sign up for a class on understanding these processes and finding Great Deals!
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Tracking the Track Record What the ‘Experts’ Say about Housing Prices I know, I know, we all read the newspapers and see on the news that real estate is in a tailspin from which recovery is perhaps years away! Do you believe everything you read in the paper? Probably not. So why believe this dribble. This theme of news is inaccurate and insidious. It makes assumptions and applies those with a broad brush stroke to every area of the country. We have more Bend Oregon homes for sale than we have previously had at one time in inventory, but maybe only by about 10 percent. If you look at the MLS listings in Bend Oregon, you will see an excellent choice of homes and land. With over 50 families moving to our area each month, the inventory is healthy, but many of those new residents are afraid to buy because of what they see and read. The Northwest is still a healthy section of the country for real estate. So those people sit on the fence and watch interest rates creep up (they have risen over a percent in the past six weeks to about 6 ¼ percent today) while they live somewhere they don’t like and watch the homes they do love sell to other buyers. Does that make sense? I don’t think so! And if you are looking for Central Oregon ranches and farms, the choices are even greater! You can access these listings from my website. If you have any questions or can’t find just that perfect property, give me a call or email me. To put the negative news in context, check out the following quotes from the past decades. IT IS THE BEST BUYERS’ MARKET IN OVER 20 YEARS IN THE CENTRAL OREGON MARKETPLACE! Let me help you make it happen, whether for investment, a second home or your primary residence as you enjoy the paradise that is our beautiful area. “The prices of houses seem to have reached a plateau, and there is a reasonable expectancy that prices will decline.” -Time Magazine 1947 “Houses cost too much for the mass market. Today’s average price is out of reach for two-thirds of all buyers.” -Science Digest 1948 (average price at time: $8,000) “The goal of owning a home seems to be getting beyond the reach of more and more Americans.” -Business Week 1969 (average price at the time: $28,000) “The era of easy profits in real estate may be drawing to close.” - Money Magazine 1981 “If you are looking to buy, be careful. Rising home values are not a sure thing anymore.” -Miami Herald 1985 “Most economists agree… a home will become little more than a roof and a tax deduction, certainly not the lucrative investment it was…” -Money Magazine 1986 “We’re starting to go back to the time when you bought a home not for its potential money-making abilities, but rather as a nesting spot.” -Los Angeles Times 1993 Note that 1993 was the low point For real estate values in Los Angeles. “Financial planners agree that houses will continue to be a poor investment.” -Kiplinger’s Personal Financial Magazine 1993 “A home is where the bad investment is.” -San Francisco Examiner 1996 Average price of a home in San Francisco in 96: $250,000 Ten Years later: $750,000
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Eradicating Household Aromas Often one of the reasons that a home does not sell has nothing to do with its appearance at all, but rather the impact it has upon a buyer's sense of smell. To ensure your home passes the "odor test", here are some tips: - Try sprinkling a bit of baby powder on the pillow covers before putting the case back on.
- For persistent smells, try lemon oil or spray on the carpet, curtains, sofas, and even mattresses.
- Use a waterlogged sponge for bad kitchen odors such as those created from fried foods. On a plate, place a big sponge (natural or loofah) in very hot water. The vapor will replace the molecules responsible for the annoyance. Repeat as necessary.
- Place a few cubes of charcoal in a container and put the container in the closet. It removes that damp, musty smell. Blackboard chalk will work, too.
- Before throwing away orange or lemon rinds, toss them into a pot of simmering water on the stove to make the kitchen smell inviting and lift the cook's spirits. Combining them with cloves or cinnamon sticks is also very pleasing.
- Use all of those candle stubs after burning the bulk of the candle. Melt the stub in an old pan over water (like a double broiler). Pour the melted wax over pinecones and use as fragrant fire starters.
- To remove cigarette odors, put a saucer of white vinegar in the room. When the vinegar evaporates, the smell will be gone.
- Sprinkle a few lavender bath beads into water waste receptacles in the bathroom and kitchen. The scent is more subtle than that of "air fresheners", but still quite pleasant.
- Put a dab of vanilla on the tops of your light bulbs. Your home will smell delightful without agitating allergies with potpourri.
- Rose water, when put in a steam iron, gives your linens a fantastic, fresh scent - just like they hung outside next to a rose bush.
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Price just reduced!
• 1,435 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story "Sweet westside cottage"
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MLS®
$314,900
- Great Deal Downtown Bend
Northwest, Bend
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What a sweet deal! This chic 3 BR, 2 bath cottage in the heart of Bend close to the Deschutes River and Drake Park for walking and festivals. One block from restaurants and shops, yet on a quaint, quiet street of charming homes, this great single-level home with covered front porch, vaulted ceilings, laminate maple floors, large attached 2-car garage and alley access add up to that perfect downtown retreat. Potential for vacation rental.
Property information
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• 1,440 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm 2 story "Cottage/Bungalow"
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MLS®
$239,000
La Pine, Deschutes County
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Grab your cup of coffee & relax under huge pines on this 3/4 acre lot located on a quiet paved street with lovely homes amid the unlimited outdoor recreation that is Central Oregon. This cabin is a spectacular value having been totally remodeled into a well-designed, gracious home. Huge great room featuring wood burning white brick frpl & kitchen with new appliances. Fall in love with the private master suite with huge W/I closet & sitting room covering the entire second story. Private well with new pump.
Your picturesque cabin in the woods surrounded by huge Ponderosa pines and only a few minutes' drive to unlimited year-round recreation in national forest and Wickiup Lake.
Property information
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• 1,448 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story "Cottage/Bungalow"
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MLS®
$279,000
Cottage Canyon, Bend
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Knock-your-socks-off gorgeous! Come be amazed at the quality & surface finishes such as granite counters, wood floors, tile bathrooms & complete front & rear yard landscaping that are standard in all Cottage Canyon homes. What a great 1-level floor plan! Large great room, fireplace w/dry-stack slate surround, 2 master plus 1 bedroom, a den/office & extra 1/2 bth for your guests make this Cambria model a joy to live in. Well located in a charming neighborhood near medical, shops, restaurants. Now completed!
Extras such as landscaping, front fencing and gutters are included standard in Cottage Canyon homes.
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• 1,393 sq. ft., 2 bath, 2 bdrm single story
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MLS®
$279,000
Cottage Canyon, Bend
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Knock-your-socks-off gorgeous! Come be amazed at the quality and surface finishes such as granite counters, wood floors, tile bathrooms and complete front & rear yard landscaping that are standard in all Cottage Canyon homes. And what a great 1-level floor plan! Large great room, corner fireplace with dry-stack slate surround, 2 master suites, a den/office & extra half bath for your guests make this Cambria model a joy to live in. Well located in a charming neighborhood near medical, shopping, restaurants.
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• 1,238 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story
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MLS®
$285,106
Cottage Canyon, Bend
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The cozy Astoria single-level floor plan is designed for comfort & privacy with a master suite separated from the junior suite & third bedroom or office. No steps from garage into home. Upgrades are standard in Cottage Canyon homes with granite kitchen counters, tile bathrooms, wood floors and an elegant gas fireplace with slate surround. Fully landscaped. You will love your life in this charming neighborhood with homes built for your comfort & active lifestyle located near shopping, medical & schools.
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