The Oregon Association of Realtors reports:

If you’re looking for a Christmas Tree Farm, click here for an interactive map of Portland area places, courtesy of our friends at First American Title.

From now until December 16, Windermere offices in Portland are collecting warm blankets and coats.  Drop off at any office listed here OR I’m happy to pick it up.  

Here’s a list from our friends at First American Title (I’m up for the Turkey Trot)

From our friends at First American Title, click here for an interactive map with all the details.

Not necessarily the best for quick return (important if you're selling in the next year or so), but the best value in the long term.  HouseLogic's "8 Most Financially Savvy Home Improvements are here

the question is how to do it so the value holds up for the long run.  

Here's HouseLogic's list of the seven "Kitchen Remodeling Decisions You'll never regret"

The $20,000 figure is from the 2016 "Cost vs. Value" report* that shows costs in Portland for 27 popular remodels .  It's for a "minor" kitchen remodel, (a "major" is $61,927 and an "upscale" $122,359).  It also estimates how much each project will return in short-term sale price. The "minor" kitchen remodel will increase your short term sale price by $23,197 – 11% over your cost, so a pretty good investment.  The "major" adds $48,371 and the "upscale" $87,667, but neither returns more than their cost.  Still, if you're going to live in the house for many years, there's no dollar value on the enjoyment you'll get from the new kitchen.  The report has figures on 26 other remodels.  Want a copy?  Let me know and it's on its way.  

If prospective buyers could spend a week in a house they're thinking about buying, it would give them a good feel for the neighborhood, including how noisy (or quiet).  Now there's a tool that can help with that. Enter the address at HowLoud and you'll get a SoundScore – a 50 to 100 rating (higher is quieter) on the ambient noise level.  While it won't tell you about the neighbor who leaves for work at 5:00 AM on his Harley, it will give you a look into noise produced by trains, airplanes, traffic, commercial sites and the like.  If this "takes off" it will become similar to a WalkScore as one independent tool to evaluate a neighborhood.

Oregon property taxes can by confusing.  Especially due dates and how they are prorated when you buy or sell.  Click Here for a simple chart from our friends at Ticor Title

"That house down the street has 3-foot tall weeds all over the front yard"

"That car has been parked there for weeks"

"The business on the corner is so noisy I can't sleep"

"The neighbor's dog barks all day and night"

"I don't think that apartment being built over their garage complies with code"

In the City of Portland, there is a place to file a complaint for all these issues and more.

Click Here for a list of the right phone numbers for each of these issues, and many others. You can also file a complaint on line for almost all.  

Personally, I've only filed one complaint like these.  It was for a home under construction that had stopped the building process and let the weeds get 3-4 feet high.  I filed an on line report and in two weeks they had been mowed.  

Beyond removing an irritation to living, some of these things actually affect the value of all the homes in your neighborhood.  So among other things, you're protecting your home's value when you file a legitimate complaint.