Portland Real Estate - Cycling your Dream Capital into Reality

Inspired by the recent news headlines that Portland has been named as one of the cyclist commuting capitals of the US, I decided to dust off my bike parked on its trainer in my office and put it to good use.   Since it had been some time since my shoes had hit the pedals, I soon found myself not part of a pack, but a follower.   Have  you ever noticed that if you are always simply following, if you never are able to get out in front of a pack as a leader, it can get discouraging and perhaps overwhelming, thus leading to complacent dreaming?   The view from behind may not always be that refreshing or exhilirating. A cyclist friend of mine recently commented how energizing it was when he finally put some energy to his pedal and set his own pace out front, rather than letting everyone else determine his speed or timing.

Recently so much in Real Estate news has been about whether or not we've hit the bottom - whether prices will continue to fall or will we now begin to see a turnaround.  Our view of the real estate market seems to depend on who we listen to, who we read, or who we are associated with.   As short sales and auction prices grab our attention, and as recent news reports about the welcome increase of home sales, we may find our blood starting to warm up and cycle again - thinking that maybe now is the time to sharpen our pens, call a mortgage broker or call Realtor Norm Rice.   Maybe it is time to not just be a follow of twitter or sound bites, but to get out in front of our dreams.

Real estate today is not and should not be just about the first time home buyer and $8,000 tax credits.  It is also about realizing our dreams and more importantly turning those dreams into reality. Dreaming of that escape near Mt. Hood, or that Rockaway Beach second home need not be like the tax credit that will soon go away.  I suspect many of us have Real Estate dreams born not yet experienced by the first time home buyer - dreams born from home-owner experience.   Perhaps it really is time to down-size and save, or even to upsize where we can entertain a life style we've finally deserved.

Cycling may find you at times following from behind, but isn't it time to get out in front for a fresh perspective?  Don't you deserve at some point to turn your dreams and hard work into reality.  From many perspectives, is there really a better time?