Portland has a long history of focusing on practices that have made it one of the most environmentally friendly and liveable cities beginning when it was first laid out in 1910. City planners opted to make the blocks about half the length of other city blocks and to set a boundary to prevent sprawl. The smaller scale also makes possible for more natural light to be brought into both buildings and on the streets.

Portland boasts more than 315 miles (510 km) of developed bikeways to accommodate leisure bicyclists and the nation’s highest percentage of bike commuters (7%). It was also the birthplace of the FlexCar.

Portland’s building policy encourages green design features, which has helped put the city in the top ten for most LEED-certified buildings in North America. Portland’s Oregon Convention Center was the nation’s first convention facility to receive LEED certification in 2004. The nearby Rose Garden, the city’s largest entertainment and sports arena, is LEED gold certified.

Check out this video on how Portland is building itself green.

If living green is important to you, then Portland should definitely be on your list or places to live. For help finding a home that meets your needs, contact one of our certified Green Real Estate Specialists.

George just completed serving as President of the Salem Association of Realtors for 2011.  He volunteers in the community coaching track and football, as well as sits on the Board for the Marion County Planning Commission.

Thank You George for all of your contributions to the real estate community.

The Salem Association of Realtors chose George Grabenhorst from our Salem Business Center office as their 2012 Realtor of the Year.

George just completed serving as President of the Salem Association of Realtors for 2011.  He volunteers in the community coaching Track and Football, as well as sits on the Board for the Marion County Planning Commission.

Thank You George for all of your contributions to the real estate community.

According to statistics from the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS), the median sales price climbed nearly 2.5% in February 2012 as compared to the month before.

The Portland area is now seeing more competing bids from eager buyers for the limited number of homes on the market. That demand is starting to push prices up.

Inventory Continues to Shrink

The number of homes available for sale on the last day of the month dropped nearly 8% in February 2012 compared to the previous month.

February’s inventory was at the lowest level in more than two years and also the first time in more than two years that fewer than 9,000 homes were on the market.

The decline in February is the ninth consecutive monthly decrease in inventory.

Pending Sales Soar

Pending sales climbed nearly 25% in February 2012 as compared to last month and jumped nearly 47% as compared to last year.

(click on the table above to see it full size)

This report is developed monthly by RE/MAX equity group and is based on information from The Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) for the period stated above. Residential properties only in RMLS areas 141-156.

According to statistics from the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS), both pending and closed sales were up in February 2012 as compared to January.

The number of homes with an accepted offer jumped more than 19% comparing February to January and more than 41% comparing February of this year to February of last year.

Closed sales also rose in February, increasing more than 2% as compared to last month and more than 4% over last year.

Inventory Reaches Two Year Low Again

The number of homes available for sale on the last day of the month fell below 3,000 for the first time in more than two years, setting another two year low record.

February’s decline in inventory was the ninth consecutive monthly decrease in inventory.

(click on the table above to see it full size)

This report is developed monthly by RE/MAX equity group and is based on information from The Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) for the period stated above. Residential properties only in RMLS areas 11-82.

This is the highest tribute that the Clark County Association of REALTORS® (CCAR) can bestow on an individual. This person displays what’s referred to as “REALTOR® Spirit” – a faithfulness to the principles of the REALTOR® organization, professionalism and the Code of Ethics. They are an active professional member and are dedicated to the betterment of the membership as a whole.  They provide outstanding service and contributions to our association and the real estate profession.

Terry is the immediate Past President of CCAR and was named one of REALTOR® magazine’s “30 under 30″ in 2005. He has been selling real estate since 1998 and was named Rookie of the Year in 1998.  He is also a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame, the exclusive group of top producers at RE/MAX who have achieved more than $1 million in gross commission earnings during their career with RE/MAX.

Congratulations Terry!

According to statistics from the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS), the number of homes with an accepted offer jumped more than 40% in January 2012 as compared to December 2011.

Under contract homes also climbed nearly 38% compared to last year.

Home Sales Rise Compared To Last Year

After strong home sales in December 2011 (uncharacteristic for the holiday season), sales declined in January 2012 as compared to December. However, sales in January 2012 increased nearly 6% compared to a year ago.

Distressed properties accounted for 44% of the sales in January 2012.

Inventory Reaches Another Record Low

The number of homes available for sale on the last day of the month slipped below 3,000 in January 2012, the lowest level in more than two years.

(click on the table above to see it full size)

This report is developed monthly by RE/MAX equity group and is based on information from The Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) for the period stated above. Residential properties only in RMLS areas 11-82.

According to statistics from the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS), the number of homes with an accepted offer jumped more than 35% in January 2012 as compared to December 2011.

Pending sales were also up nearly 35% as compared to January 2011.

Home Sales Inch Up Over Last Year

The number of homes sold in January 2012 declined as compared to December 2011 (which had seen an uncharacteristic increase for the season) but climbed nearly 3% above January 2011 sales.

Distressed Properties Pressure Prices

The median sales price appeared to have bottomed out in February 2011 at $214,900, and was consistently above that figure for 10 months.

In January 2012, the median sales price fell to $206,500.

The downward pressure on prices comes as distressed property sales rose from 34% of all sales in the 4th quarter of 2011 to 41% of sales in January 2012.

Distressed properties sold for an average of 36% below the price of non-distressed properties.

(click on the table above to see it full size)

This report is developed monthly by RE/MAX equity group and is based on information from The Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) for the period stated above. Residential properties only in RMLS areas 141-156.

According to statistics from the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS), in December 2011, pending sales were up 32.8% over December 2010.

And, closed sales for the month were up slightly over November.

Traditionally, sales drop off during the holiday season, but mild weather in the Portland area and continuing historically low interest rates helped lift buyer activity this year.

Record Low Inventory

Inventory (number of homes on the market) reached a new two year low in December and, it was the seventh consecutive month of record low inventory.

The number of homes available for sale on the last day of the month fell below 9,000 for the first time in more than two years.

2012 Predictions

Most experts believe residential real estate prices will stabilize in 2012. And, Goldman Sachs is predicting a 30% gain in housing prices over the next decade.

(click on the table above to see it full size)

This report is developed monthly by RE/MAX equity group and is based on information from The Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) for the period stated above. Residential properties only in RMLS areas 141-156.

According to statistics from the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS), the number of homes sold in December 2011 climbed nearly 10% as compared to November 2011, defying the traditional slowdown for the holidays.

Sales were also up more than 4% as compared to last December. Year over year pending sales jumped as well, rising nearly 17% comparing this December to last December.

Mild weather for December and historically low interest rates helped lift buyer activity this year through the traditionally slower holiday season.

Seventh Month of Record Low Inventory

Inventory reached a new two year low in December 2011. It was the seventh consecutive month of record low inventory.

The number of homes available for sale on the last day of the month fell below 3,000 for the first time in more than two years.

(click on the table above to see it full size)

This report is developed monthly by RE/MAX equity group and is based on information from The Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) for the period stated above. Residential properties only in RMLS areas 11-82.

According to statistics from the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS), the median sales price in November 2011 climbed more than 3% compared to the previous month. October’s median sales price had been a two-year low.

Inventory Falls to New Two Year Low

In November, inventory dropped to a new two-year low for the fourth consecutive month.

The number of homes available for sale on the last day of November 2011 was down more than 8.8% as compared to the previous month, and down more than 29% compared to last year.

Pending Sales Jump Nearly 48% Year Over Year

The number of homes with an accepted offer in November 2011 climbed nearly 48% compared to last year.  Pending sales were down just 3.70% from last month.

(click on the table above to see it full size)

This report is developed monthly by RE/MAX equity group and is based on information from The Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) for the period stated above. Residential properties only in RMLS areas 11-82.