Welcome to Lake Oswego!

Three Ways to Ease Your Fears About Making A Move in 2016

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With low inventory in many markets throughout the country, many homeowners are afraid to sell their homes because they’re concerned that they may not be able to find a new one.

This can be a real problem, but if you are seeking to sell—whether to upgrade or find a new neighborhood—there are a few ways to combat the low inventory.

  1. Look to buy first

In most markets it is a real mistake to put your home up for sale before you start looking for your new property.

Identify the geographic area where you are interested in buying. Even if you don’t see anything on Zillow, it doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t find the right home.

  1. Think outside the box

Be proactive! Keep in mind that there are probably many people like you who want to make a move but are afraid as well. Have your real estate agent send a letter to the neighborhoods in the geographic areas where you want to live. The letter should be heartfelt and personal while announcing that you are ready to buy a home in that neighborhood. You could find a home to buy that may not even be currently listed or for sale.

  1. Protect yourself legally

Each state varies in how the purchase process is conducted. Talk to your real estate professional about adding a clause in the purchase contract for the home you are selling that will enable you to not sell the home if you cannot find a suitable home to buy.

Five Tips for Funding A Vacation

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There’s nothing quite like some well-earned time off in a cool new place, but vacations certainly don’t pay for themselves. Here are a few ideas for funding your next getaway.

1. The change jar: It’s not groundbreaking, but it works. Here’s an eye-opening stat: Putting $1.37 per day into your change jar adds up to $500 in a year!

2. Sell your stuff: We all have some clutter that we don’t need and have been looking for an excuse to get rid of, and that stuff can be pretty valuable. Think of what might be stored in your attic or basement—baseball cards, furniture, etc. It’s not junk, but it’s not doing you any good, and someone might find it valuable.

3. Set up a dedicated savings account: You could do this in your current bank account, or use one of several online services that are tailor-made for vacation savings. Have the money transferred directly from each paycheck so that you’re always saving on schedule.

4. Get the kids involved: Vacations are even more expensive when you’ve got a family. If your kids get money from jobs, chores, or an allowance, ask them to put a little money away for vacation here and there—it could end up paying for a meal or a night in a hotel.

5. Volunteer: Your church or community center probably organizes low-cost vacations where you can visit a new place and do some good by giving back to the community.

Why You Need to Move to Oregon!

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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.