Portland Real Estate - Full Price or Nothing

Real estate prices in Portland, Oregon continue to soar. Everybody knows that. This is already a national phenomenon.

As a Realtor, sometimes I'm in awe at the speed and price of properties sold. Just when I finished doing a CMA, thinking that the price of a piece of property should be X. Before I get a chance to recommend a reasonable offer price to my client, the house was sold at X + a hefty premium. Honestly, some of the homes I've seen are not even fantastic. They get sold anyway, either at offer or above offer. It's almost reached a point of "I like it, I buy it" type of mentality. The fact is, if you don't, somebody else will.

My client and I tried to buy a home listed at $215,000. The price wasn't cheap, just above "market", I'd say. My client insisted on bargaining it down to $213,000. Well, $2,000 isn't a big deal so I let him. After all, we Realtors are supposed to follow instructions. The seller came back with a BIG "Rejection". Didn't even want to bargain or counter. That's the kind of sellers' market we're in these days.

Portland Real Estate News

Portland Real Estate News

Some Feng Shui Tips

1. “No Blue” Rule:
No blue roof
No blue exterior
No blue bathrooms
No blue kitchen
No blue bedding

Portland is a city that leans towards the yin side. Yin is feminine, nourishing, healing. However, too much yin energy can make you feel less energetic, even lethargic. Blue represents Water element and it is a very “ yin ” (or passive) color.

If you use blue on the roof of your home, it will keep you from earning a lot of money. The same thing will happen if the exterior of your home is blue. You'll find your earning power dwindling and weakening gradually, so that budgeting becomes a real concern. There's no power from blue here!

Blue roofs, however, are GOOD for bars or for restaurants that want to do morning or brunch business. (They are terrible for dinner business, though). Think IHOP!

In bathrooms or in the kitchen, you already have an excess of Water element from your water-based things like sinks, tubs, showers, toilets, etc. This can cause imbalance. The last thing you want is to add MORE water to the situation! That's why you should never decorate bathrooms or kitchens with the color blue.

Blue is also considered too “ yin ” to be used for bedding. Daytime or sunlight is a yang force, and nighttime or moonlight is a “ yin” force…because it is already yin at night, if you use blue bedding it will make you too weak. You'll develop stamina problems, restlessness, or just generally feel tired.

2. Try Not to Choose A Corner House
I know a lot of people like corner homes because it has more yard space and such. But did you know that corner houses can also be problematic? It is never good to buy a house that sits on a corner, particularly if it is on the corner of a fairly wide or busy road such as one with a traffic light, bus stops near by, or speedy traffic. For commercial property, however, it's the opposite. The yang energy brings customers.

3. Make Your Address Lucky - Quick and Easy
A quick and easy way to add some luck to your home is to make sure that the sum of all the digits of your house number is 8.

In the Chinese calendar, energy changes according to the era. We are currently in a new 20-year era which began on Chinese New Year in 2004 and will last until 2024. During this era, the lucky number is 8. If you get the chance, choose plenty of 8's in your life during this time.

One especially good way to energize your home is to make your address total the lucky number. Here's how to do it: Suppose you live at 10335 Main Street. Add the numbers in your street address individually: 1+0+3+3+5= 12

Now reduce the sum to a single digit like this: 1+2=3.

Currently the number energy from your address is 3. To turn it into lucky 8, you'll need to add 5. Do this by painting a 5 onto the front or the back of your address – in clear nail polish! No one will know it is there, but the energy of your home will be revitalized.

4. Small Over Large
When you hang decorations or pictures in your home, make sure you hang small items on top of large items. Never hang a large item over a small item! If you do, you'll create an energy of worry and apprehension that will spread to everyone in the family.

5. Less Is Best
Pare down your belongings so you aren't cramming more stuff into your life than you really need or have room for. Make some space by giving away, selling, or throwing away things that you don't need, that you don't use, or that are broken and can't be repaired.

Next, think twice before you bring new things home. After all, you don't want to “re-clutter” the space you've just managed to “de-clutter”. The basic rule should be to always buy the best quality you possibly can afford, but to only buy things you really need, want, and will use. Remember, less is best…and quality does count!

“18 Feng Shui Secrets for Buying and Selling Homes”
Need more Feng Shui tips? I've authored an exclusive Feng Shui guide for those who are interested. You can visit my web site at http://www.maxwellsinclair.com/feng-shui.php and sign up for an e-copy. Or you can call my toll free number: 1-877-629-5825 ext. 398 and get a hard copy sent to you. This is a FREE community service.

For Feng Shui consultations with Ally Sinclair, Master Feng Shui Practitioner, as seen on ABC News and The Oregonian, go to: http://www.threepennylane.com/1on1/1on1.php

Portland Real Estate Market

Talk about crazy! The Portland real estate market has entered a new phase. Homes, townhouses, and in some cases, even condos, are flying off the market. People are grabbing homes, almost any homes regardless of price.

I was tracking this townhome area in Beaverton (just bordering Hillsboro) developed by a reputable building company. For exactly the same home, there was a 15% difference in asking price. And you know what? People pay for it in full price anyway. Another example: my clients and I were considering this single family home asking $237,000. In my mind, I thought it was a little over-priced considering that the house across the road just sold for $224,000 and it was in better shape both inside and outside than the one we were considering. Well, 2 days later, that house was sold for $251,000.

Consider the Portland market is moving at a rate of about 10% annual appreciation, we're likely to see it hit another 4% to 5% point by the end of the year if this buying craze continues.

Our analysis is this: as long as interest rates remain reasonable and that the tech industry continues to thrive, the housing market in Portland will do well...very well.

Home Feng Shui Challenges in Portland, Oregon

Many homes in the Portland, Oregon area, particularly in the suburbs, were built with floor plans that present many Feng Shui challenges.

When Feng Shui is poor in a home, it could lead to arguments among family members, lack of energy, legal disputes, or runaway expenses. In some severe cases, it could lead to loss of jobs, divorce, or bankruptcy.

In our 15 years of practicing this ancient Chinese science, we have seen it over and over again the effect of Feng Shui on our every day lives. Many view that these negative occurances were just plain coincidence or just random bad luck. But when we start putting Feng Shui in the equation, we begin to see patterns of events linking to the choice of homes and floor plans, placement of objects, use of colors, and other Feng Shui principles. Many don't see it because they simply don't relate that physical environment has anything to do with the effects of their lives, particularly when it's part of the environment where they can't see. But just because we can't see it, doesn't mean that energy doesn't exist. (Think infrared and ultraviolet light.)

Imagine this more extreme example and you'll know what I mean: You are forced to live in a place where it's dark, humid, moldy, and you hardly see the sun. How would you feel? I doubt very much any one would feel energetic, positive, ready to roar daily.

Now how would that feeling affect your mood, your choices, and ultimately your decisions on daily lives? A depressive scenario? Exactly.

Another example: you live in a home where everything is made of metal. How would you feel? Or every room is painted black. How would you feel? Yes, you'll feel cold in a place where it's all metal; depressed, isolated and lonely where everywhere is black. These are extreme examples to show you how materials and colors have effect on our live.

Now, coming back to Portland. Many homes were constructed with Feng Shui challenges built-in. Not a good thing, no. For instance, think of the number of homes you've visited that have a staircase aiming right at the front door. Energy escape out of the door too quickly with that layout. If left unchecked, this can cause difficulty in career, money or even health, depending on the exact location of the staircase and the configuration of the stairs.

Another challenge in Portland real estate is when a house is built on a sloped lot. Portland, being a mountainous place, can hardly avoid homes built on a mountain. Again, this presents more Feng Shui challenges. Depending on the degree of the slope, and whether it's sloping from left to right or right to left of the house, it could cause anything from money problem to broken relationships. Sloped lot at the back of the house is too "yin" (in Chinese Feng Shui terms) can cause health problems particularly for children and elderly occupants.

Fortunately, almost every Feng Shui flaw has a fix though there are a few that cannot be remedied. The most severe one is if you see a sharp, or tall and narrow object (like a light pole) aiming directly at your front door. That causes "killing chi" targeting at the main bread-winner of the family. There are few full remedies for those situations.For more information on Portland Real Estate and Feng Shui, call (503) 805-5173.Web: http://www.maxwellsinclair.com/