Search all available homes in and around Beaverton - 03/31/11 02:41 PM


One think I love about Beaverton, Oregon and all of Washington County is that when you live here you can have a sense of pride. I've noticed a lot when people say, "Oh, you live in Portland?" The people who live in Washington County pipe right up and say "No, we live in Beaverton, just outside Portland" or Tigard, Hillsboro, it doesn't matter, we have a pride here and we don't want to be associated with another town even if is bigger, we are proud of where we live... Are you?
… (8 comments)

Your blood donation is needed, here are some donation places for you to go this week - 03/29/11 12:42 PM


Blood donations are still needed everywhere around the world and your local donations can and will help. Right now we have wars, tsunami aftermath and even people right here at home that need your help. The American Red Cross needs your blood, no matter the type. So, instead of saying "Oh, I'll donate blood next week" and then next week never comes. Donate today while you have time and are thinking about it.



Donating blood is quick, easy and like I said only takes a couple hours. Then the rest of the day or evening … (6 comments)

Time for the Clark family to visit a park outside Beaverton in Clackamas County: Mill Park - 03/29/11 12:57 AM

We liked this little park set along Johnson Creek, it made for a very peaceful time. The kids seemed to really like the play structure and actually didn’t want to leave. (That could have been also because it has been months since really had a chance to get our because of the rain)

This park located just off Johnson Creek Blvd and Linwood Ave even has a few parking places on the backside for people driving to the park. I enjoyed it because of the sounds of the creek, the kids enjoyed it because of the structure. It made … (13 comments)

Helping bridge the gap between renting and home ownership, one family at a time - 03/28/11 11:46 AM

Todd Clark and the Friendly Home team are here to help. Our goal right now is to help as many families go from renting to owning. With the historic low interest rates and prices that haven’t been seen in years, this certainly is the time to own.

So, call your brother, your sister, your parents, aunts and uncles, share the news that this is the time to own a home rather than rent. If you are presently renting, right now you could be paying less in a mortgage than you are for renting each month. (Amazing but true)
We are … (14 comments)

Real estate is all about focus! Are you focusing on the big picture or the immediate payday? - 03/27/11 06:47 PM

On thing I dislike about some agents is they are all about the deal. Deal? Deal? Really? It should be about the people, their future, and your future and not the deal at hand. If you focus on the deal, you are really just focusing on a paycheck and that leads to in my humble opinion moral and possibly ethics issues.

These are basically the same picture, just with different focal points
Think about your future, think about what drives happy clients to keep coming back and referring their friends to you. It isn’t about how you got a … (19 comments)

Pilkington Park in Lake Oswego, perfect for that spring picnic - 03/27/11 10:54 AM

Are you looking for a great park in Lake Oswego that you can have a small BBQ at, play a game of touch football or play catch with a Frisbee? If so, the Pilkington Park is the perfect park for you. This park features a large open area perfect for those places where you need a little more room. Heck bring you dog to this very pet friendly park and play catch with them as there is plenty of room to run.


Now, though there is no playground equipment in the park itself, if school isn’t in session … (6 comments)

There are certainly days I envy you! - 03/26/11 01:30 AM

I love Oregon, but I also love taking pictures of Oregon. But, there is nothing more frustrating that seeing what you think is a great shot and then getting home to see a rain drop right in the middle of the picture. You see, I look at some of my vacation photos and see that beautiful sun and think about here, where the last 24 of 25 days have had rain, and think, boy do I envy you people that are already seeing the early signs of spring.

So, as the global warming trend continues, (JOKING) we are going … (17 comments)

Beaverton Oregon Real Estate Sales by Neighborhood (03/25/2011) - 03/25/11 04:13 AM


This chart below breaks down Beaverton Oregon Real Estate homes sales by neighborhood, for the week ending 03/25/2011.
Here is a breakdown of real estate homes sales in Beaverton, Oregon for the week broken down by neighborhood. Just click on the link to your neighborhood for the complete breakdown of what the average of homes that are on the market, how long they have been on the market, how many have sold, what their average price was, and how long they were on the market.

Neighborhood # of Active Listings

Click on the map below … (4 comments)

Tigard Oregon Real Estate home Sales by Neighborhood (03/25/2011) - 03/25/11 03:39 AM


This chart below breaks down Tigard Oregon Real Estate home sales by neighborhood, for the week ending 03/25/2011. Sales have been off since last year but, but still there is hope on the horizon as more and more buyers are realizing the deal that are to be had because of falling home prices.
Here is a breakdown of real estate homes sales for the week by neighborhood. Just click on the link to your neighborhood for the complete breakdown of what the average of homes that are on the market, how long they have been on the market, … (0 comments)

Even with the real estate market spinning out of control, with the right agents, you can still be left with a smile on your face. - 03/24/11 02:30 AM

With all the doom and gloom in the real estate market you would think not a single house is selling anywhere, but that just isn’t the case. The fact is, we are seeing a record number of homes sold by my team, The Friendly Home Team at Knipe Realty in Washington County, Oregon.

Though many people feel the market is spinning out of control, just like this picture, my clients come out of the crowd and can be seen with smiles on their faces as they either sell a home through us or find that perfect home for their … (14 comments)

Going alone or hiring help, is it worth it? - 03/23/11 01:38 AM

Every day I see how many people try to sell their home on their own as a FSBO “For Sale by Owner” and I have to wonder, why?  Then it hit me, mainly because I was sitting here trying to do my taxes by myself. (Also not a wise move)
How do I know it wasn’t a wise move? Well, unlike real estate, I got a do-over, a second chance, a mulligan. I decided to take my taxes to a professional because as I was looking over all the new tax laws, even since last year, and I thought, I … (14 comments)

Yes, I will stand here for pictures, but you better feed me afterwards - 03/22/11 11:53 AM

Sometimes in life wildlife doesn’t always stand still for pictures or even stick around, but this duck was willing to come right up to the camera. Well, he was as long as he thought he was going to get fed by us. Seems many people to this park had been feeding him, because he knew that the kids were the ones to go to, not the adults. (LOL)

… (13 comments)

Facing foreclosure? Let the Friendly Home Team be your first aid - 03/22/11 12:57 AM

Many families are facing foreclosure everyday and though there may seem to be no solutions except foreclosure, give us a call and the Friendly Home Team may be able to help. We know lawyers that maybe able to help you with a loan modification or if you choose we can help you facilitate a short sale.

Look at the Friendly Home Team as your real estate first aid station.
… (9 comments)

A small way you and your teenage children can help Japan is by donating blood - 03/21/11 02:21 AM


Spring break is here in Oregon and what a better time for you and your senior kids who are old enough to donate to do so. What a great way to show love for your fellow man. Your blood is now needed in Japan and will help. The fact is I can just be me and donate an hour or two ever six weeks. The American Red Cross needs your blood, no matter the type. So, instead of saying "Oh, I'll donate blood next week" and then next week never comes. Donate today while you have time and are … (8 comments)

One of my accidental creative ad ideas that got me the most calls and leads has been sold! - 03/20/11 08:56 PM

A few months back, I had a listing that I forgot spare batteries for my camera and since I knew this was a great listing in a great neighborhood, I had to get creative to make sure the listing had pictures. This is what I put on Craigslist and the MLS for the first 24 hours. They ended up staying for 5 days because of the response I got.
So, now I’m happy to say this home has been sold!!!







… (94 comments)

As we pray for Japan, maybe they should pray for us - 03/20/11 04:50 PM

Over the past week we have been praying very hard for Japan and the Japanese people. They have gone through such devastation and continue to have troubles because of their reactors not cooling down. But, despite all this, I still look on this country now with such admiration and have to wonder about our own future here in the United States.

You see, I have a friend at church that owns a company in Japan and he happened to be in the United States when the devastation hit. Luckily for him he didn’t lose anyone or suffer to much … (15 comments)

Have you bitten off more than you can chew? - 03/19/11 02:57 AM

We have all seen it or heard about it, we call an agent, we email them and they never seem to get back to us. It could be because they are working a second job, it could be because they have too much work. Recently I’ve run into a few smaller companies that have taken on REO listings and what I have discovered is that they quickly realize they don’t have the staff or the time to really work them the way they need to be worked.

What they do at that point is they put in the MLS, … (43 comments)

Beaverton Oregon Real Estate Sales by Neighborhood (03/18/2011) - 03/18/11 04:35 AM


This chart below breaks down Beaverton Oregon Real Estate homes sales by neighborhood, for the week ending 03/18/2011.
Here is a breakdown of real estate homes sales in Beaverton, Oregon for the week broken down by neighborhood. Just click on the link to your neighborhood for the complete breakdown of what the average of homes that are on the market, how long they have been on the market, how many have sold, what their average price was, and how long they were on the market.

Neighborhood # of Active Listings

Click on the map below … (1 comments)

Tigard Oregon Real Estate home Sales by Neighborhood (03/18/2011) - 03/18/11 03:56 AM


This chart below breaks down Tigard Oregon Real Estate home sales by neighborhood, for the week ending 03/18/2011. Sales have been off since last year but, but still there is hope on the horizon as more and more buyers are realizing the deal that are to be had because of falling home prices.
Here is a breakdown of real estate homes sales for the week by neighborhood. Just click on the link to your neighborhood for the complete breakdown of what the average of homes that are on the market, how long they have been on the market, … (0 comments)

The Oregon City Falls and the end of the Oregon Trail - 03/17/11 02:45 AM


Oregon City is one of the oldest cities in Oregon and many consider it to be the end of the Oregon trail, though many did end their journey here, there are still many miles to the Pacific Ocean. I do have to say with the beauty of the falls and the Oregon City area, I think I would have probably stopped here to have the very tough journey they all took to get here.

… (18 comments)

Finding out what is important to you! - 03/16/11 09:42 AM

One of the things I find interesting about both buyers and sellers in this business is everyone comes in to real estate knowing exactly what they want. However, they quickly discover that they need to ask themselves the serious question, “What is important to you?”

My important wasn’t my wife’s important when buying our first home in Beaverton, Oregon, and though we had talked about houses prior to getting one, we never really talked about what was important to us as individuals. Once we sat down and talked about our “What is important to us” we found a house … (23 comments)

That WOW moment when you know your buyers have found the right home! - 03/15/11 02:33 PM

There is nothing more exciting than seeing a wife’s eyes light up when she walks in to a home that has that WOW factor. At this point you watch the husband be a little more reserved as he tries to figure out what is wrong with this house that seems perfect, great price, low taxes and everything they want.

Can’t blame them, we have all heard it “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is”. But, in this business there is from time to time that truly WOW moment in time when all the stars align … (21 comments)

Reports of an FBI crackdown on short sale agents, what are you doing to protect yourself? - 03/14/11 02:27 PM

Over the weekend I read a great post by Donna Paul called, “FBI Focusing on Real Estate Brokers – Submit ALL offers”. In the article it says the FBI could be going after real estate brokers who don’t submit all offers for conspiracy to commit fraud against the lender.
Now, whenever my team submits an offer to the bank we always ask, do you want all future offers and 90% of the time it is, “No, we don’t want any other offers” and at that point we put all other offers in a backup position. This has worked very well … (37 comments)

What can help make you feel better when you’re sick? A call from Christine Donovan of course! - 03/13/11 05:22 PM

I’ve been sick the last couple days and I have to say I’ve been rather unmotivated to do anything but lie in bed and get better. But, me being me, I still answered the phone yesterday evening from my friend Christine Donovan in Costa Mesa, CA.
When Christine first called me and told me that she wanted to write a press release about me, I had to ask, why me? She told me because I was a good friend and worthy of it! That humbled me real quick and after reading the press release it was even more humbling. … (12 comments)

Every want to be a superhero and save a life? You can, just donate blood! - 03/13/11 04:10 PM


Have you ever thought about being a SUPERHERO? As a young boy I wish I could fly, save lives and now as an adult I realize I don't need to be able to fly to save a life. The fact is I can just be me and donate an hour or two ever six weeks. The American Red Cross needs your blood, no matter the type. So, instead of saying "Oh, I'll donate blood next week" and then next week never comes. Donate today while you have time and are thinking about it.



Donating blood … (8 comments)

NEW HOT LISTING! 4870 SW 194TH CT, Aloha, OR 97007 MLS# 11658822 - 03/12/11 10:45 PM
… (7 comments)

Activerain I now know your pain… Upgrading isn’t easy - 03/12/11 08:47 PM

Over the past year those of us who have been with Activerain awhile know of the growing pains it has been going through. I now know their pain as the calls and emails don’t seem to stop. On Friday I thought I would have a seamless upgrade to my website, well that seamless upgrade as we found out late last night wasn’t so seamless.

Pages, not found, links in emails not working, links from my blogs going to pages that don’t seem to exist anymore and it is so frustrating knowing that ½ my stuff is gone. Now, it … (17 comments)

Beaverton Oregon Real Estate Sales by Neighborhood (03/11/2011) - 03/11/11 05:42 AM


This chart below breaks down Beaverton Oregon Real Estate homes sales by neighborhood, for the week ending 03/11/2011.
Here is a breakdown of real estate homes sales in Beaverton, Oregon for the week broken down by neighborhood. Just click on the link to your neighborhood for the complete breakdown of what the average of homes that are on the market, how long they have been on the market, how many have sold, what their average price was, and how long they were on the market.

Neighborhood # of Active Listings

Click on the map below … (3 comments)

Tigard Oregon Real Estate home Sales by Neighborhood (03/11/2011) - 03/11/11 04:21 AM


This chart below breaks down Tigard Oregon Real Estate home sales by neighborhood, for the week ending 03/11/2011. Sales have been off since last year but, but still there is hope on the horizon as more and more buyers are realizing the deal that are to be had because of falling home prices.
Here is a breakdown of real estate homes sales for the week by neighborhood. Just click on the link to your neighborhood for the complete breakdown of what the average of homes that are on the market, how long they have been on the market, … (0 comments)

Would you help this person? Seems 12 other agents wouldn’t! - 03/10/11 01:39 AM

About two weeks ago I got a call from a person who didn’t live in the area and she wanted to buy a house. Now, these houses weren’t in my normal area, only a few miles away, but not a place I normally advertise. I’ve sold a few homes in that neighborhood and she found one of my old blog posts about that neighborhood.

She asked if I could go take some pictures of some of these properties since the listings only had one or two shots and most of those pictures looked like they were taken from the … (115 comments)

Please, board your cats and dogs about a week before your move… A cautionary tale - 03/09/11 06:22 PM

It has been a couple weeks now since my buyers moved in to their new home, yet something seems to be missing. The family cat came up missing a day before the move, they did notice the cat was acting a little weird a couple days before close and just really didn’t think anything of it.

What had happened was the cat was getting just as nervous about the move as the family and though they were keeping it in the house, she managed to escape and now hasn’t been seen since. This was an outdoor cat, but even … (22 comments)

Daddy / daughter dates are the best especially when it is a party! March Fourth Marching Band! - 03/08/11 09:44 PM

On March Fourth, I got to have a daddy / daughter date with my youngest daughter Natascha who fell in love with a band we met while we were on Vacation and they were returning from their tour. The band was the March Fourth Marching Band out of Portland, Oregon. (Here is our first post about our meeting)
We went and saw them as soon as we could when we got back to town back in November and when we heard they were having another all ages show on their 8th birthday. (March 4th of course) My daughter wanted to … (6 comments)

Does that creek behind the house flood? - 03/07/11 11:51 PM

This is a great question to ask and is a big concern for a lot of buyers. The same creek that you see as a beautiful feature can also be a horrible risk. Now, first of all having a creek behind the house doesn’t always mean the house will flood every time there is a big rain. The fact is only about 25 of the homes along a creek such as Johnson Creek and Butternut Creek actually flood. (Those are just the ones you hear about on the news.)

Now, the best way to find out if a property … (18 comments)

Yes, even you big banks can’t change the contract at the closing table - 03/06/11 09:38 PM

Well, Friday was a good day, my client finally got the keys to her new house, but it wasn’t easy. The delay in close was because the bank on this foreclosure was refusing to sign the settlement statement. They said they were refusing to sign and to pay the buyers prepaids despite us putting that in the contract and them agreeing to it. They thought my client would fold and bring in the extra $1,800 netting them more, they were wrong!

How did we get the bank to finally play ball? The buyer advised me to send a letter … (25 comments)

Where to donate blood in Beaverton and Tigard (March 7-March 12, 2011) - 03/06/11 06:24 PM

Procrastination is something most of us do. But, if you know you could save a family members life would you procrastinate? If your answer is no! This means today is the day you need to donate, because without your help, someone could die, maybe even one of your family members. The American Red Cross needs your blood, no matter the type. So, instead of saying "Oh, I'll donate blood next week" and then next week never comes. Donate today while you have time and are thinking about it.



Donating blood is quick, easy and like I said … (3 comments)

Book reviews by Kids for Kids - By Nathaniel Clark (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) - 03/05/11 10:24 PM
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Book 1

By
Jeff Kinney
The book starts out with Greg’s mom getting him a diary to put all his thoughts and feelings in.  He makes sure you know that it is not a diary, it is a journal.  He really wants to be rich and famous so he can do better things than just answering people’s stupid questions. 
One of the parts that I thought was really funny was on the first day of school.  The teacher says, “I hope you all like where you’re sitting because these are your permanent seats.”  The … (11 comments)

Beaverton Oregon Real Estate Sales by Neighborhood (03/04/2011) - 03/04/11 04:53 AM


This chart below breaks down Beaverton Oregon Real Estate homes sales by neighborhood, for the week ending 03/04/2011.
Here is a breakdown of real estate homes sales in Beaverton, Oregon for the week broken down by neighborhood. Just click on the link to your neighborhood for the complete breakdown of what the average of homes that are on the market, how long they have been on the market, how many have sold, what their average price was, and how long they were on the market.

Neighborhood # of Active Listings

Click on the map below … (4 comments)

Tigard Oregon Real Estate home Sales by Neighborhood (03/04/2011) - 03/04/11 04:03 AM


This chart below breaks down Tigard Oregon Real Estate home sales by neighborhood, for the week ending 03/04/2011. Sales have been off since last year but, but still there is hope on the horizon as more and more buyers are realizing the deal that are to be had because of falling home prices.
Here is a breakdown of real estate homes sales for the week by neighborhood. Just click on the link to your neighborhood for the complete breakdown of what the average of homes that are on the market, how long they have been on the market, … (0 comments)

Maybe, just maybe, this time I will learn not to wait to the last minute. OH, it is the last minute…Guess not! - 03/03/11 01:48 PM

In the state of Oregon you are required to take continuing education courses every two years and that end of the two years ends the month of your birthday. Well, today, March 3rd is my birthday and every two years I say the same thing. I’m not going to wait to the last minute to take these courses.
Well, yesterday was a rude reminder as I got the call from the real estate school reminding me it had been two years since the last time I took courses through them and they wanted to remind me and wish me a … (18 comments)

Dry basements and attics yesterday, don’t mean that today! - 03/03/11 01:58 AM

Yesterday we set a new record for the amount of rain on that day in a 24 hour period. The previous record was set in the 1950s and yesterday we shattered that by more than double. One of the things buyers seem to always ask is, “How is the roof?”
Since I’m not an expert at roofs and really don’t like climbing on them, (not because I’m scared of heights, heck I used to bridge jump) I’m just afraid of falling. I know, silly difference, but jumping off a 50 foot high bridge into water below, I knew what to … (17 comments)

A place to run, jump swing, play basketball, more importantly smile! (Jack Park in Tigard, Oregon) - 03/02/11 01:31 PM

One of the most important things to a child when it comes to a park is that it is fun! To a parent it is, “can it wear my child out” and these two things are very different indeed. But, Jack Park in Tigard managed to do both with my family.

Swings, basketball, and things to hang on that my kids love! What I love is they are smiling and don’t want to leave, but once they do, you can start to see them fall asleep on the way home! This tells me they got some exercise which is … (12 comments)

Even figures like the Tigard family whom the town is named after didn’t need a large home. - 03/01/11 11:45 PM

In the late 1800s, John Tigard, the son of Wilson Tigard whom Tigard is named after, was a very important person to which to some may be obvious by the naming of the town. But, what amazed me is that his home wasn’t something you would expect from such a figure in the community.
His house was small, perfect for him, his family and their needs. He didn’t need a 3,000 sqft foot home, he should his importance by his actions. How you showing your importance? Is it the car you drive, the house you live in, or will it … (14 comments)

 
Helping Families Home is a blog set up to help families find that perfect home for them. I have a family and I understand how hard it can be to find a home that everyone is happy with. Let me help you find that home and help your family home.


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