Jennifer Bukaty's Portland Real Estate Blog

Zip It

2008-07-15T08:53:24Z

Her words, not mine. Though I should be as direct as she is if I want to make the kind of splash she does. And for all her 90 lbs or so, she really IS a big fish. I spent my day sitting next to her in class and about fell off my chair when she casually mentioned that while she’s not as busy as she has been, she does have 40 quality listings at the moment. Yes people – I said FORTY! It turns out she is the top producer (for our company) in our area and among the top 30 in the nation. So when she peeps – I listen.

The truth is, I barely heard a word anyone else said. I was daydreaming about the beach at Sauvie Island – yes, that one – we’re enjoying a long stretch of glorious weather and I know it’s only a matter of time before it turns to rain. And I look good with a tan. So there I am daydreaming again – stepping eagerly into fairytales where anything is possible – even 40 listings. I call it my ‘zone’, because if anyone belongs there, it’s me. You might never know it, but I make most of my best calls from that capricious perch. To some it’s pure genius,… to me it’s often comedy. Nonetheless…

She said it. In response to a comment about counseling a buyer as to the wisdom of a particular purchase, she asserted that that we simply need to keep our mouths shut. House on a busy street? So what! Barking dog next door? Who knows what matters to your buyer and what doesn’t. She thinks this is absolutely none of our business.

I was astounded.

This is not to say that I didn’t grasp her meaning. Make the sale. Stop feeling responsible for the stupid choices others make. After all, taste is subjective. When we talk ourselves out of a particular property – we most certainly talk our clients out of that sale as well. And it may be the last we ever see of them.

But I do have one question: Where do we draw the line? Anyone who follows me knows that loverboy and I both live and breathe by the belief that nothing is more sacred than the protection of our clients. Is it enough to write a tight contract on their behalf? When and why should we look ahead at the wisdom of a particular purchase? When it comes time to sell, everything will sell if the price is right. Even Bernanke can’t predict the state of the housing market in five, maybe ten years from now. Is it arrogant to imagine that WE can? I admit it, she does has a point.

But I don’t like it.

Mortgage Pro Week in Review -- 06/23/08 through 06/29/08

2008-06-30T12:41:15Z

I was genuinely honored when Jeff Belonger asked me to write this review. I read so many mortgage posts that I figured I'd be a natural for this. You'll find as many mortgage writers among my subscription list as Realtors. How that happened is easy to see - the best Mortgage Pros seem to have a way of Romancing the Realtor in me. We all know that to survive in this business, we need each other. It's a natural pairing. When Realtors and Lenders get together, we make dreams come true.

We all need a little review now and then, so for this weeks featured posts, I present to you

Romance 101:

When it comes to romancing the girl in me, there's no question about it - only one person has the power to do that! Since you all expect it anyway, I won't disappoint you and neither will he. In true Sardi fashion, he teaches us what really makes the difference in the art of wooing a client with...

Testimonials Kick A$$! by Jason Sardi

On the other hand, if you really want to know how NOT to woo a Realtor, (and we all know a Realtor + Mortgage Lender = True Love!), you won't want to miss this no holds barred tutorial...

Ten Things To Do To Screw Up Your Presentation To A Realtor. by Chris Johnson

If Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus, then making heads or tails out of 'He said' 'She said' keeps us all guessing. Especially when it comes to figuring out what a pick-up line really means. Guess no further (and be prepared to laugh) with this handy little primer..

What it Really Means! by Jim Crawford

Now you're an expert. The flirting is working and you know exactly what you want. You go confidently in search of "the one", but try as you might, he/she is nowhere to be found. Maybe your standards are too high. Maybe you just want it all. Well who doesn't? Don't dispair any longer because you CAN have everything you've always dreamed of right here with the guy who has it all...

100% LTV, NO FICO, NO DOC - Worldwide, Commercial, Land, Residential Development by Rod Tinsley

If all is fair in Love and War, then what about Real Estate? What is acceptable when it comes to telling all? Is there really such thing as too much information? If you think you know the answer, you might need to rethink your strategy. Before you do though, don't miss...

What is fair game for a lender to share with a listing agent???? by Olan Carder

Ok, so now you've got 'em right where you want them. You've sealed the deal, so to speak. What happens next? We all know it doesn't take long before you both begin to lay down the law. Every relationship depends on them to survive. (If only my beloved would simply learn to follow them!) If you find yourself in doubt about what's expected from you, it's all right here...

My expectations for a realtor by Paul McFadden

You fell in love, you knew it was right, you worked at it even when the passion was gone. If there is one thing you didn't plan on, it was this. Still, we all make mistakes. Divorce is never easy, but when it happens, you'd do well to follow this advice from Active Rain's very own Sage of Mortgages...

Divorce / Real Estate / Money by William J Archambault Jr (or Uncle Bill!)

It's inevitable, after it's all said and done, the vultures will find the carnage - they always do. Let's face it... it IS a jungle out there and we'd all be wise to better understand how to survive it. All the rules have changed since you were last in the game. No one lays it out better than this...

Freshly Killed Mortgages and Jungle Economics by Janet Guibault

How did it all go so wrong? After the tears have dried, we try to find a little solace in understanding. It isn't easy sometimes, but if you really look hard you'll find the answers. For a in-depth look at how it all went awry, you'll find it here...

A Very Simple View of Our Sub prime Crisis. Chap 3. Wall Steet Investment Banks. by Alan 'AJ' Nisen

Thanks for reading these terrific selections and until next week, I wish each and every one of you

all the love in the world!

MWA!

Up next week... Alan 'AJ' Nisen 06/30/2008 through 07/06/2008

Mortgage blogs by loan officers Here is a list of Loan Officers. If you are not listed, please email Jeff Belonger to be added. This way the person doing the Mortgage Pro week in review can try and find most mortgage related posts in one section. ActiveRain is growing rapidly and it is difficult to keep up.... If you think you have been ignored, you have not. This is open to all!!!

MORTGAGE PRO Week in Review A repository for the Mortgage Week in Review. Please don’t hesitate in joining this group.

I'm Calling Your Bluff... Yes YOU Blog Stalker!

2008-06-12T23:42:10Z

I don't know know who you are.

I don't know why you're stalking my blog. But I think you should just give yourself up.

Let's face it: if you like the content, then simply subscribe....

though I notice you haven't.

If you want to engage in meaningful conversation, then initiate one....

but you haven't. Not really.

If you want to talk to me, but you're afraid because you're really strange...

then I understand.

But please, will you LOG IN and stop freaking me out????

Another Rainy Day

2008-06-09T07:37:00Z

I have been observed, on one or two occasions, sitting on a mound of inky compost in my own sentient garden, whispering sweet nothings to my peonies and gentle enticements to the wallflowers. I know why I do this and so do they. A handmade poem, a bit of encouragement, or the telling of a titillating secret all contribute to our co-creative effort. Esthetic encouragement to their growth. A bit of practice for me.

I begin humming a soft lament from Les Mis - a spontaneous act that begins the dance of nature. Black as night, my kitty Sirius alights in the corner of my eye. Just there, he stalks me from between the razor blades of emerging crocosmia. Honeybees swirl about my sunburned shoulders and promise their allegiance. Sirius keeps them on their toes. The rare afternoon heat radiates the scent of lavender, rich earth and… a burning cigarette.

It is my neighbor Don. Just short of a century in age, he joins the growing cacophony and chides me with a lame joke. He points out the need for more judicious pruning. My garden, it seems, has entered middle age. Woody stalks produce fewer flowers, less robust flora. Here and there it seems I have allowed starry-eyed wildflowers to wend their fanciful ways among the disciplined hellebores. I am an easy touch, he says.

For many seasons he brought me the perfect cuttings, confessed his love for a long forgotten bartendress, regaled me with stories from a grander era of engineering. His bony hands gently shook as he paid respect to my late tomcat buried beneath the too blue forget-me-nots. His stooped frame throwing exaggerated shadows while his stories took their places among the contented foliage. Here in my imperfect utopia, my little bit of heaven – time stood still for him.

But there are predators in every garden. They have come and gathered him up like so many weeds … disenchanted by one who no longer produces flowers, but instead, requires staking and special care. Out with the old and in with the new. Such is the vanity of the human garden.

I watch as they roll him away. My tears are quiet so as not to disturb the emerging daphne. I keep them well hidden beneath the shade of my straw brim, careful not to let them to dry too soon. My garden needed him, and he it. Lest this relationship be misunderstood, there is a secret to the well-integrated garden. A sense of unity, homage to the passing of time – a reminder that we all require a bit of sacred ground.

Clouds advance and before I can collect my tools, my hair is soaked. I run for cover as the rain drenches the fragile new starts. Heavy drops of glitter settle upon their tender green leaves. But they are young and agile, and I know they’ll be just fine. It is in this moment that I struggle to find hope. And it is there, just where it should be… in my garden filled with the sweet scent of summer night rain on roses.

Is Anybody Home?

2008-04-04T13:25:37Z

It isn’t supposed to happen this way. And I was unprepared for it.

It was later than usual on Friday evening and this was the last house on our tour. The property was vacant, so the late hour didn’t pose a problem. Even in the last light of day, everything about this house was lovely – it was painted a pretty red hue, the yard had been lovingly tended, wisteria draped it’s long arms across the front porch like an old friend. A single electric candle burned in the attic window. It felt welcoming. The listing indicated it was bank-owned and had been on the market for several months. A bit unusual for our market, especially in this neighborhood. And it didn’t make sense.

My client stood back while I unlocked the front door. He waited for a proper invitation like the gentleman he is. The old and worn porch boards hadn’t been painted in years. I stepped softly in high heels to avoid catching my heel and tripping. In the quiet of the moment, the sudden click of the lockbox release nearly startled me. It was then that my eye caught the slightest movement through the beveled leaded glass door. There again, in the barest of light, stood a child inside, and then another, both quickly darting out of sight. Before I could even surmise the why of it, there was a young woman from around the corner. Our eyes made contact but for a moment and then she was gone. As though they were never there.

My heart was pounding as I turned and walked back toward my client. I took him by the arm, though I couldn’t say a thing. He seemed to know the words I couldn’t find. An entire story unfolding in my eyes.

Twilight is the saddest light there is. But for her, the woman who lost her home, it surely arrived as welcome relief. The time of day when she and her boys could finally return safely to the place they called home. That they are sleeping in the attic in what was once truly their home… well, what does she tell them? Their bedrooms now stripped of toys, blankets and beds… do they dare ask? She knows she is marking time until…

Alone now and barely a block from my office, I park my car under a tree. My phone begs for attention with a dozen missed calls and texts. I am breathing hard to stop the flood of tears, but they insist. I want to go back, tell her a thousand things to make it better. Present them hot nourishing food. Apologize for the abuses in our industry that may have played a role in their misfortune.

But I don’t really know. It dawns on me that I don’t hold a single answer. Was she at fault? Is she a victim? Whatever the truth, her children certainly are. This isn’t how it should be. Homeownership is the American Dream. And it isn’t supposed to happen this way.

Mortgage Creative Writing Challenge: And the Winners are....

2008-03-31T18:41:10Z

Whatever you may have thought about mortgage posts, chances are, you didn't expect them to have much in the way of panache. With very few exceptions, I thought the same thing. Until I was inspired recently by a post by Jason Sardi - the never boring Mortgage Stud of ActiveRain - to issue a challenge to anyone willing to break the mold on this typically dry topic. And let me tell you, we were astounded by the creativity and genuinely useful information that came out of these terrific entries. There was nothing easy about arriving at our three winners.

Entries were judged in three categories: Creativity and Originality of Content, Actual Mortgage Information, and Lay-out and Staging.

I am excited to present the winners of the Mortgage Creative Writing Challenge!

1st Place for 1000 points, a pretty Gold Star and a Localism Feature

is awarded to

Janet Guilbault

for

One McMortgage, Please, With A Side of Lies

CONGRATULATIONS to Janet for telling it like it is in a way that absolutely everyone can understand. She cleverly relates the perils of getting our mortgages cheap and on the run. If you haven't been reading Janet's blog, you've definitely been missing out. Her analogies are consistently on target and her writing is eloquent and understated.

2nd Place for 750 well-deserved points

is awarded to

Joey Asterbaum

for

The Mortgage Rap - Sing along! It's educational, it's fun, and it's fo' rizzle, yo.

A most entertaining and original presentation of mortgage information in a format that will stick in your head for days! Go ahead and turn it up... I dare ya! Congratulations Joey! This was out of the box if a mortgage post ever was!

3rd Place for 500 points

is awarded to

Brian Brady

for

Queer Eye For The Straight Borrower: How Mortgage Planners and Wardbrobe Consultants Are Similar

The man in braces, Mr. Brian Brady, shows us how to obtain a smart mortgage and what NOT to wear in his clever and fashionable piece about what to consider when obtaining a mortgage.

CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS!

By unanimous agreement, the judges hereby award a well-deserved Honorable Mention to Mike Mueller for his very original and beautiful series of 17 Mortgage Haiku's, Zen and the Art of Mortgage Haiku. He accomplished the very purpose of this contest by achieving notice in two publications, The San Jose Mercury News and Redfin Blog. Mike, the spirit and enthusiasm you showed for this writing challenge is deeply appreciated!

And for sheer comedy, we wish to recognize Bill Engleman for his witty and downright hilarious post,The Mortgage Market and Pop Culture

Finally, a nod goes out to Angelina Jolie for her unexpected guest appearance in two of the entries. Sorry - no Angie pics on my post!

* * *

Thank you to all who met this challenge with your wonderful entries. Please don't miss a single one!

In no particular order...

mortgage creative writing challenge: A Tale of the Seven Dwarfs from Snow "Mortgage" White's perspective - 03/31/08 11:14 AM

While we all know that life is no fairytale, we often proceed through our decisions with the proverbial rose colored glasses. With each less than the best decision that we make, there needs to be one who comes in and handles the messes left behind. Sometimes it is our spouse, sometimes, ...
mortgage creative writing challenge: Mortgage Creative Writing Challenge : What a consumer should know first.... - 03/30/08 06:48 PM

mortgage creative writing challenge: So You Want a Mortgage........ - 03/28/08 12:53 PM
YOU WANT MONEY?
Well, it's not as simple as it would appear. More so today, than ever before you'll need a mortgage professional to guide you from the point of application. Through the programs you may (or may not) qualify for and the documentation you'll need to supply. To the actual closing ...
mortgage creative writing challenge: The Real Estate Gods Are Laughing - 03/29/08 11:43 PM
I have often wondered why it is we believe we can "own" real estate. Somewhere, there are Real Estate Gods, and they are laughing their heads off. They know the truth: we don't own real estate. It owns us.
Saying you own real estate is like saying you own your child. You nurture...

mortgage creative writing challenge: The pros and cons of a mortgage broker - 03/29/08 09:42 AM
I work for a mortgage broker but I am going to give you an insight into the difference between a bank and a mortgage broker.
A bank usually has different loan programs and rates for all of those programs. Many banks have a set rate for each particular program. A few banks allow ...

mortgage creative writing challenge: A Consumers View on Things - 03/27/08 05:37 PM
I've been watching as the housing and mortgage industry has been in "crisis" It has brought a few questions to mind that I'd like to ask.
I feel as if Andy Rooney is my muse.

If there are "Prime" loans and "Sub-Prime" loans, why would anyone loan to a person or persons ...

mortgage creative writing challenge: Refinancing, bank, and the crazy rules - 03/28/08 10:26 AM
Well I have another great story to tell about how crazy lenders are getting with their rules. The lenders, and banks are not making many exceptions any more and sticking to the rules no matter how stupid they are.
The mortgage loan is for a Metro Detroit home in Grosse Pointe which is ...

mortgage creative writing challenge: Views From The FBIs Padded Room - 03/27/08 03:30 PM
I've tried writting ths 5 times for Jason Sardi and Jennifer Bukaty's Creative Writing Challenge. Not as cool as Joey Aszterbaum, Joe Adams or Mike Mueller - as it's not not fiction and it's not a funny subject - but the people who targeted us for fraud (over 3 million dollars) were DEFINATELY Creative! ...

mortgage creative writing challenge: I Want to Buy a Home. Where Do I Go From Here? - Part 2 - 03/27/08 09:05 AM
From the Desk of Don Draughn, Mortgage Professional
Website: http://ahfmortgage.elliemae.net/ddraughn
In Part One of this series, we looked at how important it is to Find Out What is on Your Credit Report. Once you know what is there, you can either move to the next step - obtaining mortgage pre-approval or working on ...

mortgage creative writing challenge: An old book and an old man in the Mortgage business - 03/26/08 10:08 AM
Call NOW and for only $199.95 we will send you this wonderful blog called "Welcome to Mortgage Terms for Dummies", otherwise known as plain talk. With this handy dandy reference guide you can be talking like a mortgage geek within hours. Amaze and stun your Realtor friends when you toss out ...

mortgage creative writing challenge: Daytona Beach Homebuyer's Financing Advice From Your Real Estate Professional! - 03/26/08 08:32 AM
Life seems to roll by faster...faster than ever before, heck microwaves and computers sometimes are not fast enough. Because our lives move so rapidly we sometime make quick decisions and in the long run end up costing us our time, energy and money. It's those occasions where you wish that you ...

mortgage creative writing challenge: I Want to Buy a Home. Where Do I Go From Here? - Part 1 - 03/26/08 08:27 AM
From the Desk of Don Draughn, Mortgage Professional
Website: http://ahfmortgage.elliemae.net/ddraughn
Alright, you've decided you want to purchase your first home and you find yourself asking this question, "Where do I go from here?" This post is Part One of an eight part series to give you the direction you need to get on ...

mortgage creative writing challenge: The History of the subprime implosion.......... - 03/22/08 07:39 AM
After a long week, I decided to take a break and watch a mindless DVD. I took one of my favorites from the shelf and popped it in. "The history of the world...part I" was my selection. It was typical Mel Brooks humor. Fact delightfully spun from a different perspective. After ...

mortgage creative writing challenge: Ask The Underwriter: Appraisal Review Part 1 - 02/11/08 12:49 PM
Appraisals are under UNDER ATTACK! Okay, I may be exaggerating but I've been blog searching for the last week and I think I can probably get a few high fives when I say they are being scrutinized!
As an Underwriter I understand why my fellow underwriter is asking for the extra comps, comments ...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Entries were judged in three categories: Creativity and Originality of Content, Actual Mortgage Information, and Lay-out and Staging.

Our five judges were Myself, Jason Sardi, Bill Archambault, Marc Grossman and guest appearance by Andrew Lenza. A hearty thanks to each of them for their hard work and thoughtful consideration of each entry!

Ask and Ye Shall Receive: Mortgage Creative Writing Challenge Extension...

2008-03-28T17:24:17Z

Asking nicely almost always works with me. And begging is an almost surefire pass to getting about anything your heart may desire. So when several potential entrants into the Mortgage Creative Writing Contest approached Jason Sardi and myself with a request for a short extension of our contest deadline, we agreed.

Why? Because it's the end of the month and many of you have closing deadlines tomorrow. Something we can both understand. After all, business is why we're here in the first place. Ok, some of us anyway!

CONTEST ENTRY DEADLINE IS EXTENDED TO NOON ON SUNDAY, MARCH 30TH

WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 31ST

All other rules remain unchanged:

First prize will be awarded 1000 points and be Featured on ActiveRain and in Localism!

Second Prize will be awarded 750 points

Third Prize will be awarded 500 points

All other entries will receive 200 points*

Give us your best, most dazzlingly creative, and most informative mortgage post ever! You don't need to be in the mortgage business to enter, as evidenced by some of the terrific posts that have been entered so far.

See them here:

Mortgage Creative Writing Challenge Entries

Entries will be scored on the following elements with each category weighted equally:

Category 1 - Creativity/Originality of Content & Subject Matter

Category 2 - Actual Mortgage Info helping Customers & Realtors alike; Relevance to Today's Market.

Category 3 - Readability/Lay-out, alas the Staging of the Post.

And finally, keep in mind the following rules....

1. You may enter as many posts as you like, but it must be completely original and authored by you.

2. Submit your post to Localism and any other groups you choose.

3. You must include the following Tag: Mortgage Creative Writing Challenge.... if you don't, you haven't entered the contest.

4. Bribing the judges will disqualify your entry - unless it's some serious cash! :)

5. DEADLINE for submitting entries is Friday, March 28th.

6. Winners will be announced Sunday, March 30th and the winning post will be re-presented here.

7. Only 200 points will be awarded per PERSON regardless of the number of entries submitted - with the exception of the Winners.

If you have any questions at all or simply wish to send chocolate our way, feel free to email Jason or myself!

Time For A Baby!

2008-01-28T21:24:42Z

It's no big secret that I’m sweet on babies. It’s pretty much all I dream about lately… to have my own little "Baby J". Girl or boy, it doesn’t really matter. And no, I’m not making any big announcements. Just yet. But if I were, I couldn’t be in a better place to give birth.

The secret is out: My beautiful Pdx is the best place to have a baby, according to FitPregnancy Magazine’s recent report on the nation’s top cities for giving birth. While this is high praise, it’s not surprising given our strong ‘Mama culture’ and our innate understanding that we, as women, were made for this. Our progressive local attitudes empower each woman to choose her delivery options, setting the stage for a joyful, safe, and meaningful birthing experience. We place high value on assuring a smooth and healthy welcome to our brand new baby Portlanders.

Consider Portland’s birthing report card:

Portland has a very low rate of maternal and infant mortality, according to the CDC;
We have 116 midwives per 1,000 births - the national average is 37 midwives per 1,000 births;
14.3% of Portland deliveries have a midwife in attendance;
Portland boasts one doula for every 146 live births – the national average is one per 649 live births;
Portland is home to a large number of high risk pediatricians – 69% more than average per capita.
Women are free to breast feed in all public places - and we do! Thanks to Oregon’s progressive laws on nursing, 88% of Portland babies are breast fed, and for a longer period of time, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Portland has more retailers of organic foods and vitamins than most places, supporting good health and nutrition for both women and our chiildren.

If you’re thinking of starting a family, P-town is the ideal place for making your baby dreams come true. A place where pregnancy is an enchanting experience, viewed as a natural and beautiful life event. Where birthing and early childhood resources are abundant, and like-minded Moms and Dads-to-be are plentiful. Whether you elect to have your baby at home, in a birthing center, or in a hospital birthing unit, you’ll find support and expertise that surpasses all other cities.

Now that my adorable little boy isn’t so little anymore, I find myself longing for another tiny sweet pea. And if there's one thing I do know for sure, it's that once pregnant, we have an unbreakable appointment to meet a stranger. So while I don’t know exactly when that appointment will be … I do know where. Because as it happens, I’m already in the perfect place.

Portland IS the place. If you’re considering relocating to our beautiful Pdx, I’ll be happy to provide you with all of your real estate and relocation needs to support you and your family with your transition into Portland.

JennifersPdxHomes.com

* Credit to FitPregnancy Magazine for the above statistics on pregnancy and childbirth in Portland Oregon.

My little guy once upon a time.....

A Long, Long Time

2007-12-12T23:59:39Z

No perfect holiday gathering,
No hanging of ornaments
In my house because
You are missing.

I hang memories now,
and string up empty dreams
In the candlelit warmth of a winter evening.
Enveloped by the granite certainty that
You are not here
And you never will be again.

I hold on tight
Though you have long since let go of me
mon père si désolé

Maybe you knew this day would come for me.
And another and another.
How charmed my life was while you were at
The helm.
Comprehending my heart so much better
Than I. Your perfect gift.

If I forget some of you,
well,
You’ll understand.
You always did.

You.
Over there and far away from me.
I forgive you on this December morning.
The exact day you left me,
A day when bees won’t sting, and goldfinches gather in flight,
A day when words don’t need to be spoken and when
Everything lost can be found again.

Hey Portland! Our Real Estate Market Defies National Trends

2007-11-05T22:40:45Z

We're different and we know it. You won’t find us running with the pack or playing by the rules.

They may call us ‘scenesters’, but that’s just not who we are. Flying below the radar smacks of our autonomous Pdx spirit, so is it any wonder that the current state of our local real estate market is still such a secret? While much of the nation is experiencing a slow down in the housing market, our town is still thriving! We’re a sparkling example of an independent community with priorities that define us as caring, supportive and locally involved. And it’s paying huge dividends….

~ We’ve seen an 8.9% gain in the median sale price for the second quarter of 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006, far outdistancing the national average of just 1.8%. Who else can say that?

~ Industry experts say that steady job growth, a inflow of newcomers, and fewer sub-prime mortgages made to high-risk buyers have helped bolster our home values and have led to a delinquency rate of only half the national average.

~ Growth constraints in our Oregon land use planning system is one of the reasons we're faring so much better. Our thoughtful perspective on development has impeded the unchecked over-building so prevalent in other housing markets. We protect our exquisite surroundings.

~ We have a nearly balanced buyer and seller market as defined by the national industry standards (NAR) with a 5+ month supply of inventory. We have something for everyone.

This really is the perfect time to buy…

If you’re even considering making a home purchase, you have an abundance of properties to choose from with interest rates that are very affordable. If you have good credit, cash reserves and a plan to hold on to your property for a few years - and why not? You love it here, right?
- then you should be taking advantage right now while the market is still hot.
Portland real estate is an excellent investment!

Sellers... You still have an advantage…

If you've built equity in your home and if you price your property realistically, you can take advantage of our recent 12-day decrease in average days on market. The imports love our low-key, open-minded attitude, and they’re pouncing on our properties. This is an excellent time to sell!

Resources: PSU Center for Real Estate, RMLS and Oregonian

Happily Ever After

2007-10-29T12:43:29Z

Her smile was simply dazzling when she pulled out her notebook at lunch the other day. A simple black leather journal overflowing with paint chips, fabric swatches and dozens of torn out magazine pages tucked loosely between the sheets. Her first house was just about to close and she couldn’t wait to show me the myriad plans she’d made for her new home. She flipped animatedly through her collection of ideas when one unintended scrap fell to the floor. A picture of a wedding dress. I just smiled.

There are no wedding plans on her horizon. Though I surmised from her flimsy explanation that this house represents the first step toward her goal of finding and marrying Mr. Right. She has a vision and I admire her for that. She’s the kind of girl who takes deliberate steps and plants the seeds required to make her dreams blossom. Vivid colors of wedding bouquet will emerge in full bloom in her new backyard before the seasons change. She knows exactly what she’s doing and does so without any fear of consequences. Whoever HE is, he’s a very lucky guy.

When the heart takes a sudden left turn, the landscape we call happiness changes entirely. All that is needed is a modern kitchen, some land and a mountain view. With a toss of her hair, she informs me that she is thrilled at the prospect of rediscovering life after divorce. The mountain on her horizon represents the hope she’d squandered back at the alter. Possibilities she couldn’t entertain while trapped at sea level. She feels younger out here in this untamed space. More alive. Hopeful. Whoever SHE is, she’s a very lucky girl.

Perhaps all the intensity I witness in those newly committed to the idea of whatever is simply accidental. As I take a deep, clean breath, I wonder at the prospect of finding genuine happiness. Whether that means being safely tethered, or whether it means being unconditionally free. I am genuinely curious about happiness - who has it and when, who has it and why. I am capable of pouring my purest self toward an empty space if I believe it holds some happiness for me. Though I could never pre-define what that bliss might entail.

A fast silence lives within me and refuses to tell me where I should go next. A gentle breeze carries the answers but I let it drift on by. If only I could clear a straight path towards what is undeniable, I would have my own set of happy blueprints in clear view. Knowing me, I would toss them in the fire and wait for the persuasive call of the next surprise. My happily ever after is comprised of not knowing what comes next. Or in imagining it. Which I find myself doing these days.

Every Time We Say Thank You

2007-09-22T18:30:42Z

It happened in that late hour when everything turns deep blue and the luminous light of day fades us into softer versions of ourselves. We’d spent hours together seeing house after house after house. Barely visible now, my shy client, the artist, finally spoke up and said, “I’m painting you”. When I looked over at him he was already looking down, hoping to avoid eye contact. “It’s the only way I know how to genuinely thank you,” he said. Then quickly retreated into the safety of darkness.

I remained silent, deeply moved by his expression of appreciation. Understanding that each of us has a certain way we express our gratitude and that for some, the undressed honesty of words can be more difficult than the minutes or hours spent crafting a memorable tribute.

Curiously, I’ve received artistic renderings of me as an expression of gratitude before, though at first I was uncertain of the message. Leave it to an eleven-year old girl to kindly explain her adorable ‘Jennifer’ drawing. “If you see you as I see you, then you’ll know exactly why I appreciate you.” She hugged me and ran.

Now I get it.

Appreciation is a place we visit from time to time. But how much time do we really spend there? Is it just a quick stop where we buy a Starbuck’s card as a way to thank our referrals? Or do we thoughtfully pack up our tools and plan to stay awhile, employing an honest effort toward creating something memorable?

I know this for sure… giving thanks is a reflection painted from the richest colors of our inner palette. It’s the perfect gift.

Far Away Home

2007-09-14T22:33:30Z

Almost sunset. I walk a little faster, hoping to secure a sweet little spot on the hillside where I’ll spread my blanket and settle in before the annual show begins. Heads are turning in every direction, searching for the first sign. But there is nothing yet. I lay back, staring into the silken blue nothingness that hovers high above me. Soft voices emanate from all sides, the social web of Portlanders making random connections across the schoolyard in that certain way we do. Mount St. Helens slowly melts away as the last light of day disconnects it from the sky marquee. Backlit now, the soft hues of a late summer sky frame the giant smokestack that is the focus of our collective attention.

A sudden hush falls over the crowd camped out here on the lawn at Chapman School in Northwest Portland. First one, then five, now a dozen Vaux’s swifts alight from nowhere and circle the chimney from a safe distance. I think of tiny black A-6’s on a reconnaissance flight, but then hundreds more circle in, diving and swirling in elaborate formation. It is extraordinary.

I stand in awe and slowly raise my arms without even being aware. I lift them higher still, as though my subconscious mind expects to lift off into the sky, light as air, like a paper ornament. I am transfixed. Diving in perilous beauty, thousands and thousands of little birds engage in an elegant waltz across the darkening sky. Each swift eventually disappearing into their cavernous roost on this cool September night.

There is no larger congregation of Vaux’s swifts anywhere in the world. Thirty-five thousand birds flock to this single boiler chimney for a couple of weeks every year before returning to Central America for the autumn migration. An artful biological spectacle I dare not miss. And just like the little birds, I return here too. And each year it seems I have never seen anything quite so beautiful.

VIDEO: Birds in Motion at Chapman School

An Old House You Could Love

2007-09-11T19:42:49Z

I was organizing some old family photographs the other day when I discovered something curious. While drifting back in time, I became conscious of a repeating image lurking behind the smiling faces of my tiny Mother and tinier aunts and uncles. There, in nearly every photograph, stood my architectural heritage. Silent and strong, the humble bungalow graced the backdrop of every generation of our family over the past century. It’s no accident then that I’m crazy about beautiful old houses. You might say I’m under a spell of sorts.

Enter the bungalow. Humble, yet poised, the bungalow debuted on the American architectural scene at the end of the industrial revolution at a time when Americans were falling out of love with fussy Victorians. Which is fitting given the straightforward nature of my immigrant ancestors. This new style of house enjoyed immense popularity through the late 1930’s as an affordable dwelling for families of modest means. For about $1000, the flowing floor plan paired with tasteful artistic appointments meant the typical American household could enjoy an attractive modern home of sturdy construction.

The Arts & Crafts movement came slightly later, and quickly married style to the solid structural elements fundamental to bungalow design. With a low profile and prominent horizontal accents, the bungalow sports one to one and a half stories beneath a low-pitched hip roof that spreads comfortably into a wide overhang. Beautifully exposed rafter tails, beams and brackets beneath gables, and square columns; the bungalow bestows a sense of welcome congeniality.

As tiny as a portico or as wide as the house, the front porch defies pretense by opening directly into the living room. Some regard the front porch as the true hallmark of this breed. It was certainly intended as an extension of outdoor living. And that’s exactly how I remember it. The wide, ascending brickwork alongside the front steps of my Grandmother’s house provided a miniature stage for our childhood performances. We performed flips and aerials off the edge while Grandma pieced together puzzles at her outdoor table. Neighbors wandered over after dinner to share iced tea and gossip on the front porch as we played one last game of tag in the front yard before the evening light disappeared.

The warm glow of golden oak floors and generously proportioned millwork brings quality and light to this 5-7-room abode. And somehow the modest size has never felt crowded to me. With one bedroom on the main floor, our parents and grandparents enjoyed a measure of privacy. While upstairs in our slanted bedrooms, we whispered and giggled undisturbed far into the wee hours of morning.

Spellbound, I live and love in my own bungalow thousands of miles away from those imprinted in my childhood memories. So far away, and yet these familiar bones I call home let me know at the end of each day that I am exactly where I belong.

I am the Decider

2007-09-05T20:01:48Z

The troubles in the housing market are worsening, they say. Global warming is accelerating, butter flavored microwave popcorn may kill me, and my favorite shade of lipstick has just been discontinued. Again.

But I won’t listen to a word of it. I have too many wonderful clients who rely on me to help them realize their dreams. And I will. This gorgeous planet is still the most dazzling point in someone’s night sky. And my lips smile warmly at the prospect of discovering an even prettier shade.

So take your bad news elsewhere because I don’t believe in you.

I believe in the power of my own determined and enthusiastic spirit. Doubt and fear have never served me – nor have I served them in return. I don’t buy into the collective belief that all is lost because someone announces it is so. My limitations will not be decided by forces external to me.

I will decide.

I decide that the market is filled with buyers and sellers who need each other – and I will be the broker to bring them together. They will choose me because I offer the positive outlook that is in such short supply in our industry.

I decide that with all this love for our enchanting Earth, we will succeed in saving it before it’s too late. I know this is true because so many have already decided to make it happen.

I decide that a trip to the mall is exactly what I need today. I work hard and often forget that I need something too.

And it’s just a good thing I don’t like microwave popcorn, because I’ve already decided what’s for dinner. And it isn’t on the menu.

Dear Seller...

2007-08-07T23:19:50Z

Dear Seller,

I'm writing to you today with a very heavy heart, for the news I must deliver is not good. And while I realize this letter will come as a complete shock to you, I simply can't find the words to put it to you gently.

So here it is Seller, the plain, unvarnished truth as I know it: It's over.

Our glory days have come to a screeching halt. No more bidding wars, waived inspections or multiple offers. No more 20% increases in property values in a matter of months, and no buyers for your weekend remodel special. The shiny gold you bought has turned to straw.

A Buyers market it is and a Buyers market it shall be... as far as the eye can see.

But don't dispair my little Seller. We will face this challenge together - with courage and with determination. The old fashioned way. You will price competitively and I will market aggressively. WE will have patience. We will be kind to those making offers below our list price. And yes, we will make concessions.

We had a good thing going, you and I. You had a brand new pair of roller skates, and I had the brand new key.

But tomorrow is another day. The sun will shine again, the Buyers will come out to play.... and I promise that if you take my hand and follow my lead, we will get through these tough times together.

Sincerely,

Your Portland Real Estate Broker - Jennifer Bukaty