Living Beaverton - Your guide to everything Beaverton

I was 14 when I bought my first one, though it was many years earlier when I received my first record. Over the next 25 years, I proceed to buy some 15,000 more albums of some of the greatest artists of all time, but do I really want to move them again?

If you have ever taken a wooden crate full of records from room to another, you know these things are heavy! But, the thing is that crate only holds abut 120 records! Now trying to imagine moving 125 of those boxes every time you move!

You see, these boxes really aren’t movable when you think about how much they weigh. It takes me 4 truck loads of just records every time I move. I can pay to move these records or I can hold a garage sale and sell them. Even at an average of $1 each, that could get me about $15,000, but the question is do I want to sell them or move them?

I’m really thinking I want to move them so my kids can enjoy them as I did, but at the same time, they don’t understand records, they think MP3s and CDs only. But, there is just something about a record that they can’t compete with.

What would you do if you were in my position?

Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - My family is considering a move, but do I sell or do I hold?

Are you and your family considering a relocation to Beaverton, Oregon, and one of the things you are worried about is how this will affect their kids and their school year? Relocating to Beaverton, Oregon, can be a fairly easy process, and so can Beaverton school registration at your children’s new schools. They key to relocating, and making the move as easy for your kids as possible, is to plan the move and know all the time lines before you relocate.

Many areas around the country have their last day of school in late May. If you are moving from one of those areas, I can tell you that you are real lucky, because you are going to be looking at family homes here, while the families here are still going to have their kids in school. A lot of the time, families here don’t have time to look at homes until late June, that is when the market here really picks up for buyers of the family size homes. Unfortunately, a lot of sellers also wait until this time before putting their homes on the market.

One of the things I suggest before your move is to check out the schools in the Beaverton area and find out what is the best fit for you and your family. Check out the police websites and see if the areas you are looking at have a higher crime rate than others. Find the type of home you are looking at and compare that with the school and crime reports. This little bit of research can quickly limit your search to certain areas of Beaverton. Though I don’t think crime here is bad at all, I know this is a very subjective thing.

One more thing I think that is important prior to your move is to get pre-approved for a loan. I know Beaverton is a lot higher priced than many other areas of the country and the home you could afford where you live now, and what you can afford here based on your pay, can be two very different homes. (So don’t be disappointed later, find out now.)

Another thing that is important when considering a relocation to Beaverton, Oregon, is the cost of living. How does that compare to where you are moving from? There are many great cost of living calculators on the net and if you haven’t checked any of them out, I suggest you do that before moving. Many people come to Oregon and love it because they come from an area that has a much higher cost of living and moving here makes them feel like kings. However, it is just as easy to have the opposite happen; they move here and feel like they are living in poverty because their paychecks just don’t stretch as far.

Many people relocating to Beaverton, Oregon, are also first time home buyers. Though this can add a little length to the transaction, I love the challenge of finding that dream home and helping families call Beaverton home. So, if you are looking to buy a home in the Beaverton, Oregon, area, give me a call and I would love to send you a relocation packet and help you enjoy Beaverton as much as I do. Hopefully you will call Beaverton home for a very long time.

Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - Relocating your family to Beaverton, Oregon, doesn’t have to involve taking your kids out of school early

I have been watching the news the last couple nights, and I have to say, I’m worried about our kids today. What are we teaching these kids? I remember when my spring break would involve going to downtown Portland for the day and buying records with my friends or driving to the Oregon coast for the day.

But, today, I have to wonder how far these spring break kids are going with the getting drunk thing. The news is reporting that people are coming down with the swine flu at an amazing rate.

Answer me this, since I’ve never drank… How drunk do you have to be
A) to kiss a Pig and
B) to kiss a pig with a runny nose?

 
Just asking.

Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - Who the heck are you kissing?

Just outside of Beaverton was a great little local family owned grocery store called Zupans. From time to time, when I needed something unusual, I could count on that extra 10 minute drive from my home to Zupans netting me the results I was looking for and they would have the item.

But, the economy has affected everyone including the Raleigh Hills branch of Zupans. There are many reasons the store could have been losing business, but my wife feels that it could be the introduction of New Seasons Market just up the street. I personally haven’t been to the New Seasons. I’ve always been happy with Zupans. So I’ll take what was a 10 minute drive and make it 25 minute drive and head to the one located at 7221 SW Macadam in Portland, where I actually first discovered them when I was given a gift certificate for a free turkey one year.


So, sorry Beaverton residents, if you liked Zupans, you are going to have to spend a little more gas to get to one. If you have been to New Seasons, feel free to tell us about it, we would love a review! 



Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - Beaverton residents lost their closest Zupans on Hwy 10 (Beaverton-Hillsdale)

Today’s lesson from a short sale listing agent is: don’t take the listing until you have all the paperwork in hand.

One of the lessons you learn as a new agent is not to be too eager to take any and all listings and buyers. I understand you are hungry to put a commission check in your pocket, but this is exactly why you need to be picky about what listings and buyers you accept.

Today we are talking about short sale listings. One of the biggest mistakes I see from agents when they take a short sale listing is to hurry up and get it into the MLS, spend hundreds or thousands of dollars marketing a property, only to never receive a check.

Now, short sales are hard enough, but you shouldn’t make your job even more difficult by trying to gather the information you need for the bank after you get the offer from a buyer. You see, what tends to happen, is once you have that offer, the seller seems to disappear. I’ve seen many cases where the paperwork from the seller takes 3 weeks to get to you and during this time you are trying to keep the buyer’s interest in the property.

Now, had you told the seller, I can’t take the listing and get this on the market until I get all this information back, you will be amazed that within 24 hours they are calling with all that information. So don’t spend your money on marketing until the seller is willing to do their part or it could cost you more than a commission check, it could cost you your savings.

Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - Lessons learned from a short sale listing agent

The Saturday, April 25, 2009, edition of the Oregonian may have finally figured it out. The front page actually talked positive about real estate and how the time may be right to buy a home in Oregon.

WHAT? The newspaper is saying that people should buy? Are they crazy? This isn’t negative news! This doesn’t sell papers! At least that is what they have been telling us for the past 4 years… that real estate is horrible. It was horrible if you were a buyer, it was then horrible if you were a seller, but they never said a positive thing about it.

Well, today, they are telling people to buy because rates are at record lows and the prices are also. I think the Oregonian may not survive the next 10 years, but maybe, just maybe, being nice to the people that paid for your classified ads and kept you in business should be spoken of in a positive light.

Good luck Oregonian, but I have a feeling if it continues exactly as it is today, your paper might be going the way of the Dodo bird and will never be heard from again.

Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - The Oregonian may have finally caught on, but personally, too little too late!

The Oscar Meyer wiener mobile is a great memory. You see it and you get to stop on and pick up a wienie whistle. Kids, don't have one, oh get one, it is well worth it. It is a tiny whistle in the shape of the wienie mobile. This picture was taken outside the Fred Meyers on Pacific Highway on 4/23/2009 at about 4:30pm


Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - I don't feel like typing Saturdays: Your a Wiener!

Tonight we had a rare night off from baseball, so I decided to pack up the family and head to my parents’ house and watch the Portland Trailblazers game on the big screen. The first half was not looking good, but by the end of the game I was out of breath.

The Blazers got within 3 of Houston Rockets with 4 seconds to go and Blake shot a three that was partially tipped and missed. I have to say I can’t wait until Sunday night when game 4 comes up and the Blazers have a chance to tie the series again.

So, thanks, Blazers for a hard fought game. I know you were having an off night, but staying that close on an off night makes me believe that on Sunday you are going to get home court advantage back in our favor. We look forward to seeing you back here Tuesday night. Also it is really nice to have a team that you can be proud of again. THANK YOU!

Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - Even I was having problems breathing by the end of the Blazer game tonight

This chart below breaks down Tigard Oregon Real Estate sales by neighborhood, for the week ending 04/24/2008. Sales have been off since last year with the pending sales in Tigard, Oregon were down 26.0% from 2008 for the month of March when the last stats came out. The news isn’t a good for Tigard with the average sales price being down only 6.9% from the same time last year, but by up more than a percent since February. Though many foreclosed homes have hit the market, the hit to average price of homes seems to be less than expected.

Here is a breakdown of 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, how many have sold, what their average price was, and how long they were on the market.

Neighborhood                    # of Active Listings

Bull Mountain North Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	82
Bull Mountain South Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	138
Greenburg Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	44
Mountainview Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	114
Summer Lake Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	39
Summerfield Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	36
Tigard Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	22
Walnut Grove Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	26

Todd Clark - broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - Tigard Oregon Real Estate Sales by Neighborhood

This chart below breaks down Beaverton Oregon Real Estate sales by neighborhood, for the week ending 04/24/2008. Sales have been off since last year with the pending sales in Beaverton, Oregon were down 23.3% from 2008 for the month of March when the last stats came out. The good news is that the average sales price was down only 5.0% from the same time last year, but this was a 1% drop since February. We are starting to see a few more foreclosures hit the market, but things still seem to be picking up just a little.

Here is a breakdown of 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, how many have sold, what their average price was, and how long they were on the market.

Neighborhood                            # of Active Listings

Aloha Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	155
Cooper Mountain Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	110
Greenway Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	39
Hart Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	77
Highland Hills Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	45
Lexington Neighborhood, Aloha, Oregon :	50
Murray Hill Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	101
Sexton Mountain Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	95
Sorrento Ridge Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	65

Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - Beaverton Oregon Real Estate Sales by Neighborhood