As Bob Dylan once sang, the times, they are a-change’n. Isn’t that the truth? Lou and I were reflecting back to the time when we bought our first house. The house was only $46,000 in 1980 but the interest rate was over 16%, making our monthly payment with taxes and insurance over $900/month. Today, the first time homebuyer will pay somewhere around $300,000 and the interest rate will be about 4% (or for some, even lower!), making their payment with estimated taxes and insurance of about $1,900/month. And hopefully, salaries have crept up in the last 37 years! In 1980, we didn’t have any inspections what-so-ever, we didn’t even know they existed! We bought the house and hoped for the best. Today, the home-buyer will get a general inspection and most likely a sewer-scope, radon test, and add any other specialty inspections that the home inspector deems necessary. It’s not uncommon to get specialized inspectors to examine the furnace, chimney, fireplace, foundation, roof, electrical, or even figuring out the discoloration that could potentially be mold! We’ve mentioned how the current housing market is very tough for first time buyers. One of our strengths and favorite things to do is to work with first time buyers. We like to help and explain the process and make the journey a fun one! One of our preferred lenders, Joel Morgan of Options Financial has said that working with the Taubers is like working with your parents (only in a good way!). We are here to help you every step of the way, and we love what we do!

Spring is finally here and now is the time to be planting your garden. Do you love your home but have no place for a garden or perhaps not the knowledge to grow a great garden? Consider a community garden. They are popping up all over the city and you probably have one closer than you think. They are a fantastic option to have instead of growing a garden in your own yard. It is also a place to meet other gardeners who share a common passion and who can even share the work load when you go on vacation.

One of the most consistent questions that we get is: “Are we getting close to a housing bubble?”. Great question. According to Zillow (don’t fall over – but we do reluctantly quote Zillow every so often), The median home value in Portland is $360,000, according to Zillow. That number grew nearly 20% over the past year and is predicted to go up more than 5% by 2017.

Inner city North, North-East and South-East properties have gone out of control. For correctly priced properties, buyers are contending with multiple offers – sometimes 24 offers on the same property. So, does this translate to an imminent housing bubble?

One of our good friends and Tauber Team real estate partners is Joel Morgan. Joel is the Lending Solutions Officer at Options Financial. We trust Joel. He is an amazing resource for the Tauber Team and our customers. We asked Joel the question about the housing bubble and what his crystal ball told him. What Joel relayed to me made a great deal of sense. Conditions during the 2008 housing crash were much different than current conditions. In 2008, getting a loan was MUCH easier than current conditions. The joke was, if you were able to fog a mirror, you could get a loan. Current loan practices are much more stringent. Our customers are quite surprised at the level of documentation that is required to apply for and get a loan. Another thing is the current economy. We’ve had a steady decline in unemployment, and interest rates have stayed incredibly low – under 4%. So, Joel feels that we are not close to the dreaded bubble. And other financial gurus corroborate that prediction.

Real estate continues to be one of the best investments that we can make. And prices are close or above the same level prior to the last bursting bubble. But the difference is that our economy is strong with a good prognosis for continued strength.

For those that are curious as to what they can save on their current mortgage payments since interest rates are so low, I hope you’ll contact Joel and have a discussion with him. Give us a call for your real estate questions and needs.

What exactly does that mean? “The sultry part of the summer, supposed to occur during the period Sirius, the Dog Star, rises at the same time as the sun: now often reckoned from July 3 to August 11. A period marked by lethargy, inactivity, or indolence.” (source: dictionary.com). We have already seen several days well over 90 degrees so during these Dog Days, don’t forget about your furry friends. Most of you are going to be spending more time out of your home than in, and spending time with your whole family including your pets. Here are a few tips to keep your pets healthy and happy.

We seem to remember to keep out of the sun, hydrate, and maybe not take long walks in the heat of the day. But what about your dog? You know the asphalt gets very hot and you may even do the hand test to make sure its not too hot for their little paws, but did you know that since they are lower to the ground (where it is hotter) they may overheat faster than you? They can suffer from heat exhaustion just as much as a human can, and perhaps more. If you do go out, make sure it’s a shorter walk and don’t forget to use sunscreen on your white or hairless dogs. Even a dog that has white ears is susceptible to sunburn. Lather him up! Make sure you bring plenty of water for you and your dog and don’t let them drink from puddles and natural water sources. You have no idea what is in them!

We all like our dogs to come along for a ride, but remember that even a somewhat cool day to us can get very hot in the car. On even a warm (not hot) day, even parking in the shade with the window rolled down may be too hot. Err on the side of caution and leave them at home. You will both be happier in the long run.

Make sure to treat your pets for flea, heart worm, and ticks. You may think that ticks are just in the forest but they are everywhere.
If you have a second story window or higher, make sure they have screens or at least that your cat can’t get on the windowsill. Try to keep your cats indoors year around. There are a lot of hazards out there and it will help to keep the vet bills down!
We hope you can get some use from these tips. Just remember, consult your own veterinarian because we are Realtors not Vets! This advice is only tips to help keep you out of the emergency room and more time in your own home!