Oregon’s beautiful scenery is a year-round source of enjoyment. Driving in Oregon’s winters, however, can be challenging. Follow these recommendations so you arrive safely at your destination! Please click here to download the Oregon Winter Driving Guide
You’ve got a new job offer across the country and you are planning to pack your things, buy a Lake Oswego home and make the big move. However, when you tell your 17 year old daughter your plans, she lets out a mournful wail and cries that it is not fair. How can you possibly take her away from all of her friends, her favorite hangout spots and the cute boy she just started seeing?
Moving house is a difficult transition and it is even more traumatic for teenagers. The teenage years are an important stage where young adults establish their individuality and independence and during this time their social circle is extremely important to them. Being removed from that against their will can make any teen feel sad, confused, angry and resentful. Also, fitting into a new social scene in a different location can be a challenge for a teen that might be singled out as the “new kid.”
How can you help your teen during this transition so that the experience will be easier on them?
Here are some tips that will make the experience of moving house a little bit easier on your teenager:
In some situations, the better option might be to let your teenager stay behind. If they are in their older teens, they will have finished high school, maybe have a job and be independent people of their own. Perhaps they could stay with a family member or parents of a friend for a while until they are old enough to move out on their own. This might make them a lot happier in the long run, rather than taking them along with you if they really don’t want to move.
For more advice on moving to your new Lake Oswego home, please contact our team by clicking the “Buy Real Estate” tab at the top of the page and identifying a property that you’d like more information about.
Resources
Angry
Make New Friends
Have A Job
When you buy a Lake Oswego home, you need to know exactly what you’re buying. Imagine how frustrated you’d be to find out that the hot water heater wasn’t working—in the middle of a shower! This is why you should have a home inspection before you buy your home. A home inspection is an important part of buying your home. Before you hire a home inspector, ask candidates a few questions to make sure you hire a trustworthy inspector.
Let us help you find your new Lake Oswego home. Click on the “Buy Real Estate” tab at the top of the page to get started working with one of our amazing buyer’s agents.
Resources:
Home Inspection
American Society of Home Inspectors
Easy Household Repairs
Are you considering buying a Lake Oswego property as a second home or investment? Perhaps you are looking for a small cottage or apartment where you can escape for vacation, or maybe you want to have another home closer to family. Maybe you want to rent out your second property and make a steady income from your investment. Whatever the reason, a second piece of real estate can be a fantastic investment. However, sometimes getting a mortgage on your second home can be a challenge.
Generally, a mortgage lender will have tougher standards for second home loans than primary home loans. This is because usually when you are buying a second home your finances will be stretched thinner and you will have less money to spare because you are already paying a mortgage on your primary home. This will mean that your second home mortgage can be harder to get and might have a higher interest rate.
Here are some tips to keep in mind that will help you to get the best mortgage on your second property: Build up a decent amount of savings. Your mortgage lender will want to be able to see that you have a large amount of savings so that you will have enough to pay for the mortgage even if you were to lose your job.
Pay off any credit card debt. Many lenders will be hesitant to approve your second home mortgage if they see that you have a lot of debt on your credit card. They will want to see that you have a low debt to income ratio so that you will be able to pay back the loan.
Use the first mortgage as a good reference. If you have always made your payments on time and you are most of the way through paying off your first house, you could ask someone from your current mortgage company to vouch for you. The lender for your second mortgage will be reassured that you are a reliable person to loan money to.
These are just a few tips to keep in mind in order to make getting a mortgage for your second property as easy as possible. To find out more about investing in Lake Oswego property, please click on the “Buy Real Estate” tab at the top of the page to begin searching.
What Are the Hot Lake Oswego Home Décor Trends?
Just like fashion designs and hair styles, home décor trends are constantly changing and evolving. Each new season brings a new must-have feature for your home. In order to keep your Lake Oswego home looking fresh and chic, what are the hot trends that you can incorporate into your décor?
Bright Paint Colors
Vibrant (and even neon) hues are very popular in fashion at the moment and they also look really chic on your walls. If you are looking for a way to freshen up a dull room, a bright pop of color can really do the trick. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you keep the rest of the room neutral and use the bright color as an accent.
Original Artwork
Decorating your home with unique and original works of art from funky local artists is a hot trend this year. You could find such pieces at a local art fair or on online craft auction websites. You could also check out a local art school or university art program in your area where you can buy some student artwork at cheap prices.
1920s Inspired Designs
With the Roaring 20s being revitalized on the silver screen in the show Boardwalk Empire and the film The Great Gatsby, designs from the 1920s are becoming more popular. Why not incorporate some gorgeous Art Deco furniture or decoration into your home? Check out auctions to find authentic vintage pieces for cheap prices.
Simple Wood
Another hot trend is unfinished exposed wood furniture, with a very natural texture and feel. These simple wood pieces give your home a natural beauty that compliments any color. It works well with neutral accents to give the home a very peaceful and welcoming atmosphere.
Stripes and Graphic Prints
Crisp patterns, graphic prints and stripes are popular at the moment in everything from fabrics to wallpaper to furniture. If you really want to make your home décor look cutting edge, incorporate some of these eye-popping graphic designs into your décor.
These are just a few of the hottest home décor trends for the year. Which ones will you incorporate into the décor of your Lake Oswego home?
Resources:
Art Deco Furniture or Decoration
Artwork at Cheap Prices
Bright Pop of Color
If you are currently, or plan to be, house hunting in Oregon then let us tell you some of the top reasons you should consider moving to Oregon:
If you are looking for an excellent area to settle down with a family or even just for yourself a commonly overlooked state to settle in these Oregon. From the eclectic art scene of Portland to the natural beauty of Oregon city to the fantastic outdoor activities in Bend, Oregon has cities and areas that are perfect for nearly any personality type. Here’s some of the top reasons you should consider Oregon as a house hunter:
Most Oregon residents don’t leave the state once they move there: culture and Oregon is unique and all its own and if you are planning on making the move it’s important to note that Oregon ranks amongst the highest in overall happiness of state residents. Oregon residents enjoy zero sales tax and an extremely friendly atmosphere. When most people settle in Oregon they simply don’t want to live anywhere else.
Don’t forget to browse the homes for sale by clicking the “Buy Real Estate” tab at the top of the page, and conversely if you are looking to sell and leave our beautiful state for somewhere else, click the “Sell Real Estate” tab and we’ll help you make the transition seamless.
If the previous article wasn’t enough to sway you to consider Oregon as a place you’d like to live, then please read on and let us remind you why you need to move to Oregon today!
Many people consider relocating to Portland, Oregon and surrounding areas for several reasons. Do you love the close proximity to the famous Oregon Coast, St Helens, Mt Hood and more? There are seemingly endless acres of large forest available for hiking, fishing and camping. Furthermore, there are great attractions where tourists can visit including luxury villas for rent and sale. Real estate business has been doing very well in this region given its close proximity to social amenities as well as other entertainment facilities. This state sets the national bar for bicycle commuting/riding in lieu of cars, making it recognized worldwide as the innovators of revolutionary waste recycling programs. There is a plethora of well established independent performance theaters as well as movie houses which serve homemade pizzas and beer.
What else are you looking for? When you move to this state, you will definitely enjoy the easy commute in the cities and its suburbs. There is a massive transit system connecting both large and small towns in the region. Furthermore, there are lower real estate prices as well as the cost of living thus many people find it easier to live here. This state is the home to several well known amenities including green space, public transit, local arts as well as entertainment scene. If you want to start a community garden, then it will be very easy for you to start one here at Oregon. Do you really love dogs, wine, beer, art and other outdoorsy stuff in general? Then you need to take your coat off and remain awhile because you are already home. Oregon is more attractive compared to the southern and northern neighbors, California and Washington, thus for those who are seeking to move to the west coast, Oregon in general is an excellent landing spot.
If you are considering making the move, please browse properties that are available for sale by clicking the “Buy Real Estate” tab at the top to get in touch with an agent today.
There are numerous hot spots around the nation, locations that people are flocking to in droves because the quality of living and offered amenities is simply extraordinary. Of these hot spots, it may come as a surprise to many that Oregon has topped the list for two years in a row. For us native Oregonians there is no question, this is the place to be!
In a recent study from United Van Lines where over 129,000 moves were tracked, the company found that “66% of all interstate moves in Oregon were from people moving into the state, rather than leaving it.” This again confirms what we just said, we Oregonians are here to stay. So what is it that’s attracting so many new residents?
The answer to the question is multi-faceted, though at the very core it can be attributed to the “long-term trend of migration to southern and western states where house costs are lower, climates are more temperate and job growth is at or above the national average.” The median price for a single-family home in Portland is $285,000, compared to $481,000 in Los Angeles and $881,000 in San Francisco.
In addition to lower real estate prices and a lower cost of living, Oregon is home to many great amenities including public transit, green space and the local arts and entertainment scene. Oregon is also an incredible Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts with endless hiking/biking trails, the Pacific Coast, Mt. Hood and countless other excursions. Portland’s central location to all of these amenities make it comparatively desirable to other Oregon towns.
Oregon is attractive compared to its northern and southern neighbors, Washington and California, so for those seeking a move to the west coast in general Oregon is a good place to land. Did you know that Portland has more breweries than any other city in the world? It also has the country’s highest percentage of two-wheeled commuters and is consistently voted as bike-friendliest. If you’re considering a move to Oregon then please start your property search by clicking the “Buy Real Estate” tab at the top of the page!
Located just south of Portland, between I-5 and the Willamette River, Lake Oswego is perfectly situated for commuters while still maintaining the charm and elegance of a smaller, rural city. Beautiful, pristine, and full of culture, Lake Oswego is also regarded as the premier place to live in Oregon!
With a population of just under 40,000 residents, and as winner of the prestigious America in Bloom award, the city of Lake Oswego is reputed for its commitment to preserving the city’s natural beauty and promoting local festivals. One visit to Lake Oswego will show why it draws thousands of visitors and is considered one of Oregon’s finest residential areas. Devoted to maintaining their city’s beauty and prestige, residents decorate Lake Oswego’s right-of-ways with hanging flower baskets in mid-May, beautifying the city throughout the summer for residents and visitors alike! The Festival of the Arts, held in June, also draws in approximately 25,000 visitors over the three day festival that features over 1,000 pieces of art from local to international artists. Art featured during the festival is showcased for display, education, and sale while food vendors, live music, wine and beer tents, as well as live entertainment, make the event a popular stop for tourists. Other events include plays from the Lakewood Theatre Company that performs everything from drama, to musicals and comedies year-round at the Lakewood Center for the Arts. Through the summer, Lake Oswego residents and visitors can also enjoy Thursdays’ Movies in the Park to take in an outdoor family movie in July and August, or enjoy live music at the Sounds of Summer and Moonlight & Music Concert series.
Other seasonal events in Lake Oswego include the Christmas Ship Parade, an annual lighted boat parade that runs from Riverplace Marina in Portland to George Rogers Park in Lake Oswego. The Christmas Excursion Trolley rides on the Willamette Shore Trolley allow participants to enjoy hot cider and cookies while watching the Christmas Ship Parade. Holiday Tree Lighting at Bigelow Plaza and Millennium Plaza Park promises to entertain residents as well with caroling, live music and visits from Santa during the holiday season! Learn more about other Lake Oswego community events here!
For more information about West Linn please click here or click on the About Lake Oswego link at the top of the page!