portland is home

Nothing says Holiday Season more than having a guest on your podcast show. This episode contains vital information for anyone with even the most modest investments as today the Portland is Home Team talks to Taylor Kittell a Founding Partner at Breakwater Law whose mission is to enhance the lives of their clients by building and protecting their property and legacy.    

Taylor approaches the difficult issues of planning for death and incapacity as an educator: every person should not only have an estate plan, but they should also understand it. Estate planning is not just about making a will; it is about coordinating your financial life, protecting assets for your loved ones, and making difficult times easier for those around you. It’s about creating a legacy. Based on her professional experience, and as a daughter, a mother, a wife, and a friend, Taylor personally understands the complexities of family relationships. She strives to be practical and responsive while producing top-quality estate plans tailored to each client’s unique circumstances.

CONTACT TAYLOR HERE

info@breakwater-law.com

Portland Office – (503) 878-8948

Tillamook Office – (503) 842-6633

A Newsletter from Audra:

Happy Holidays from all of us at RWG! Looking back on this past year, we're incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve the best clients anyone could ask for. Your kindness, generosity, and trust in us for your real estate, design, and property management needs mean the world to us.

This year presented its challenges, but we pivoted and worked tirelessly to ensure you received the best representation. Our team—Andrew, Lou, and our amazing support team—went above and beyond to secure the best rates, buy downs, and concessions for you. Experience matters, and it's why we're committed to being the best for you.

As December arrives, it's not just a favorite because it's my birthday month, but because of the magical lights, decorations, and the promise of longer days ahead. Ski season awaits, and this year, I'm diving into more skate/xc skiing—talk about an intense cardio workout! Wish me luck!

Wrapping up another year with a completed bathroom remodel brings us immense joy. Being part of making your homes more tailored to your needs is an honor, and we're grateful you choose us. If you've got rooms that need that special touch next year, we're booking up fast—reach out!

Thank you for entrusting RWG with your real estate, design, and property management needs. From all of us here, we wish you a holiday season filled with love, warmth, and cherished moments. Cheers to an amazing year ahead!

The term Today’s Market means something different to whoever you ask. This episode Andrew and Audra break down the actual conversations they’re having with clients and the potential clients. Andrew Galler’s Market Minute examines the statistics and what real-life real estate activity is like as of now.  

Plus, we dive into the must do maintenance items to tackle in June. Don’t procrastinate drop a line to The Portland is Home Team at hello@realtyworksgroup.com and have them help you get it DONE!  

Newsletter from the Gallers:

Hello Friends!

Doubtless you have heard the (true!) joke about the 11 seasons of Oregon…right? I think it goes like this: Winter, Fool’s Spring, Second Winter, Spring of Deception, Third Winter, Mud Season, Actual Spring, Summer, False Fall, Second Summer (1 week) and Actual Fall. I’m not certain if last Saturday was Fool’s Spring (seems a tad late for that?) or Spring of Deception…regardless, the point is that I feel this is how the Real Estate Market is right now.  

We are experiencing layers of distortions from the cumulative effects of the pandemic and the associated financial side effects. Of note:  

Continued high interest rates (and they fluctuate wildly day-to-day) 

The fact that somewhere in the neighborhood of 80%+ of all homeowners are locked in at interest rates below 3% (or so) 

Sellers staying off the market and  buyers with no home to sell blocked out of the market because their payment is too high for the home they want to buy.  

It’s a log jam, people!  

So, where does that leave us? We STILL have very low inventory + healthy demand in Portland. We are still experiencing multiple offer situations…but they are hit & miss and hard to predict which homes will yield offers. We are seeing homes that are well-priced and super market-ready garnering multiple offers. As we know, life is going forward regardless of the news cycles and we are always here to consult, advise, go to lunch or just chat! Please feel free to contact us anytime.  

We always cherish your support and our ability to help you, your friends and families!

In this episode we talk about the state of Real Estate around the States. Audra wanted to know what 700k got you in Chicago, Tulsa, Tucson, Cleveland, and Los Angeles. (The Portland market is not that outrageous after all.)

Then, in honor of Halloween, Andrew and Audra talk costumes, events, and share some of the scariest things they’ve seen in their 20 years Working Hard Welcoming People Home.  

And here's the Big October Question:

Would you buy a “Haunted” House or a Murder House?

With a tumultuous January on our minds Audra and Andrew are here for a short but much-needed reprieve and discuss the current market, inventory, and interest rates.  

What does it mean for all of us now and this quarter? Well, we’ll get some more of Andrew’s predictions which are always interesting and often prophetically correct!  

And if you have any questions they did not answer or ideas for a future podcast episode,  email audra@portlandishome.com.  

Check out LISTINGS  Realty Works Group

Quick Stats for Portland Metro Area:

475 Homes for sale as of December 31, 2020  

-28.6% from November 30, 2020

-43.2% from December 31, 2019

577 Homes under contract (pending) as of November 30, 2020  

-18.2% from November, 2020

+36.1% from December, 2019

730 Homes sold during December, 2020

-15.4% from November, 2020

+7% from December, 2019

$583,000 Average Sales Price for Sold Homes in December, 2020

+1.4% from November, 2020

+13.6% from December, 2019

21 Average Days on Market

0% from November, 2020

-44.7% from December, 2019

0.8 Months of Inventory as of December 31, 2020 (based on pending properties)

-20.5% from November 30, 2020

-60.9% from December, 2019

503.975.1829 / andrew@portlandishome.com

They are repeating their curated list of partners for January...because now that the holidays are over, you may feel like tackling your list of projects!

Does your HVAC need a tune-up or repair?

• Call Ted at Willamette Heating at 503.803.7074

Need some gutter cleaning, roof maintenance or general landscaping?

• Call/text Humberto at the Landscape Group, 360.771.4494

Do you need some trash or junk hauled after cleaning out your garage?

• Call/text SheHaulsPDX at 503.862.9186

Have you been wanting to do some interior painting for the holidays?

• Call/text Remy at RGF Painting, 503.281.7454

 Prepping = More Appealing

Audra has the magic touch when it comes to making your house look its best, she will make your daunting task your desirable bidding-war-worthy listing. 

Audra and Andrew talk about how to take the stress out of selling your house. They discuss all the ways they take EVERYTHING out of your hands. Plus, tips and free advice on the most daunting task there is! 

 "Professional, responsive, trustworthy and knowledgeable. What more could you ask for from someone to handle one of the most fraught and important transactions you are ever going to experience? Andrew, in partnership with Audra and Meg, exemplify the best qualities and skills it takes to function in their field at the highest level. No email unanswered, no question left unsettled and everything transacted with a very light and thorough touch. And when negotiation time came, Andrew was totally on it!! This was not our first real estate venture, so I can honestly say that this was by far the best experience we've ever had and we are now happily in our dream home (in record time) unpacking a mountain of boxes and muttering the Marie Kondo mantra....does this object spark joy?" -zuser20171030165022842