Selling Home with Wood Stove in Oregon

The inclusion of Form 2.13 Wood Stove Addendum is crucial in the sale agreement if the property has a wood stove. The Clean Air Act mandates the Environmental Protection Agency to establish performance standards for all stationary sources of air pollution, including residential wood heaters. In 1991, Oregon passed laws to reduce and prevent air pollution caused by “solid fuel burning devices.” However, this does not apply to cookstoves, antique stoves, pellet stoves, masonry heaters, fireplaces, and central wood-fired furnaces. read more

Real Estate Market Update | Rising Interest Rates?

Real Estate Markets Reports Strong Numbers To Close Out 2016825 NW Portland Avenue - 201809029

Fed Raises Interest Rates

The Fed recently made the move to raise short term interest rates for the first time since the economic downturn of the late 2000’s. Fortunately, an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve does not equate to higher mortgage interest rates for home buyers. Mortgage interest rates long with long term debt actually lag behind short term interest rates with many experts predicting mortgage rate increases spread out over the next few years & not just days or weeks.

As rates begin to rise over the coming years remember, we would have to go back in time to the 1950’s, to find interest rates this low. Specifically 1956, the year Elvis’ “Heartbreak Hotel” hit number one on the record charts. read more