When you’re getting ready to list your home, it’s of the upmost importance to ensure you are showing it in the best light. Taking time to highlight its strengths and fix up some of its possible weaknesses can make a big difference in how fast it sells. Here are our top five recommended repairs to make before selling your home.
Repaint walls.
Giving your home a fresh coat of paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to spruce it up, and generally, it can be a do-it-yourself project. Make sure cover any walls with scratches and chips and consider updating any accent walls with a more neutral coat.
Repair floors.
Hardwood floors are a very desirable feature in a home, so you want to ensure they look their best by fixing scratches or dull areas. If your carpet is worn or stained, consider replacing them. And don’t forget the tile in your kitchen or bathrooms. Re-grouting can go a long way in making dingy tile work look brand new!
Refresh the landscaping.
Show buy ...

A “1031 exchange” is the nickname used to discuss Section 1031 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service’s tax code. This section states that if an individual exchanges one investment property for another via a 1031 exchange, they may be able to defer capital gains (or losses) that they would otherwise have to pay at time of sale.
Section 1031 applies to “property” beyond real estate, but many 1031 cases deal with buildings and land. We’ll only discuss 1031's in relation to real estate.
WHY IS A 1031 EXCHANGE IMPORTANT?
So why is a 1031 exchange important? It allows real estate investors to defer paying capital gains and potentially build wealth through real estate investing.
Think about it this way. If you buy a piece of real estate for $100,000 and then sell it for $500,000, you are subject to paying capital gains taxes on your $400,000 profit. From that $400,000, you would lose, say, $120,000 to capital gains taxes. With a 1031 exchan; ...

One of the best things about living in Portland Oregon, is the mind blowing hikes in and around the City. They range from incredibly challenging to blissfully soothing, and all hikes end with the peace of mind that only the great outdoors can offer. 
Hoyt Arboretum
The best thing about the arboretum is the limitless freedom of its dozens of paths offered to visitors. Some of the trails are wheelchair accessible.
  
Tryon Creek
Tryon Creek is a lush, wooded reminder of the thick vegetation that once cloaked the SW hills of the Portland Area. Walking paths, bike and horse trails are within the sprawling forest which is centered on  a web of scenic creeks.
  

Balch Creek
The most scenic and diverse trail with waterfalls, old growth groves and ruins of an eloquent old stone building, can be found right in the city.

   
Lost Lake
The perfect place to catch the sunset on Mt Hood and a stellar spot for camping. The trail around th ...

While Portland’s restaurants definitely take advantage of the nearby abundance of farms, orchards, and vineyards, many farms actually host their own dinners. There are also a few secret dining experiences that also bring the farm to the table, or the table to the farm. What better way to “eat local” than sitting down, family style, to a long table laden with food grown only steps away from where you sit? 

Field & Vine hops about, hosting farm dinners around the region from March to December.
www.alliumoregon.com/field-and-vine-events

Outstanding In the Field travels around the word with stops in Oregon during July this year.
www.outstandinginthefield.com

Plate & Pitchfork is an adventurous evening that begins with a farm tour. 
www.plateandpitchfork.com 


The Side Yard is a monthly communal table urban farm supper club in NE Portland.
www.thesideyardpdx.com

Our Table in the Field is the farm dinner series of its eponymo ...

January 18, 2018 by jonkurahara



Are you a renter that has become tired of paying someone else’s mortgage and not building any equity? Or a homeowner who has a growing family and is in need of more space? Whatever the case, if you are in the market for a new home there is no time like the present. Let’s explore a few tips that will help you to prepare for the home buying experience.
Tip #1: Prepare For A Busy Spring Season
First, it should be pretty obvious that you aren’t the only house hunter on the market. Other local individuals and families alike will be searching for a new house to call their own. As you may know, the spring is generally when the local real estate market starts to heat up. So, if you are looking to buy, you may want to address your needs earlier in the spring rather than later. The sooner you can get the paperwork signed, the less of a chance you end up in a bidding war.
Tip #2: Mortgage Rates May Be Trending Up
While this ...