“Residential home appreciation rates continue to rise in smaller towns in the Northwest, even though many areas of the country are facing gloomy prices and it’s difficult to sell a home.

Salem, Oregon (Oregon’s state capital), may not be as busy and cosmopolitan as its neighboring metropolis, but it and the surrounding Willamette Valley continues to see rising home values (nearly 10% in the first half of 2007).  Why?  Perhaps it’s because the smaller city was not part of the original housing boom, and therefore didn’t have the same level of builder speculation as the big kids in the state.  Or it could be the plethora of recreational activities, seemingly closer at hand.

One economist from a federal housing agency, Andrew Leventis, says “The Pacific Northwest was a little bit late coming to the party. The extreme appreciation over the past five or six years in the country only just began in the Northwest a few years ago.” 

Nationwide, house prices rose 0.5 percent the first quarter of 2007 above the fourth quarter of 2006.  Oregon experienced a growth in the same timeframe of 10.77 percent.  Salem area prices are rising fast because, until recently, the capital city was overlooked and bargains are easier to find.

Food for thought, for those thinking about leaving the Rat Race and willing to commute a bit longer for a better quality of life in a smaller town.

“A recent survey of hundreds of residential builders throughout the U.S. shows that a majority of them found buyers willing to pay up to 25 percent more for a green-built home.  Are you one of them?

A green home is one built for conservation-minded use, with sustainable materials, designs and technology.  It uses less energy and natural resources and creates less waste.  It’s healthier and more comfortable for people who live in them than a traditional home.

If you don’t want to move, or spend the money for a green home, you can change your existing home toward being green by using basic weatherizing and energy-saving tools like:  programmable thermostats, correcting air leaks from the outdoors, insulation, fluorescent light bulbs, maintenance to your HVAC. 

The Northwest has the highest certification for green buildings in the U.S., rated by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), created in 1993.  U.S. Green Building Council is an excellent resource for many of the steps that can be taken to help with global warming and the environment by “greening” up your home.
 

“Staging” is presenting your home in its best and most appealing light to the majority of home-buyers and can help you sell your home more quickly for the highest amount possible. In theory, staging isn’t hard or costly, but in reality, many homeowners simply don’t do it because they don’t understand what they need to do besides turning on all the lights and picking up “stuff” off the floor. An easy way to see effectively “staged” homes is to visit decorated models. Staging a model involves some time and costs but builders are willing to invest the cost because they understand just how well a “staged” home sells. You too can profit from this knowledge.

#1 - Clean. Your home must sparkle! To achieve this level is usually only feasible by hiring a cleaning crew. In fact, having a cleaning service return weekly while your house is for sale is probably a pretty good investment and will save you the time and effort of doing it yourself, which you are likely to become weary of pretty quickly. Get your windows professionally cleaned inside and out too.

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