by Norm Rice on September 24, 2009
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?
by Norm Rice on April 8, 2009
You have an opportunity to create and present your own stimulus package to Portland, Oregon with every real estate offer your Portland Realtor writes up on your behalf. Investing in Portland Real Estate is more than just purchasing a home or a piece of property. Each investment you make, whether it be in the Ladds Addition area of inner Portland, or a condo in downtown Portland, you have begun a connection to our community and will make an impact on our local economy. For example, let’s say you move to East Portland, and the home your purchase needs new flooring, or some new closet or storage space, or perhaps you wish to become involved in the local Chamber of Commerce. As a buyer of a new home, you have also helped stimulate the area businesses around you. Your investment in Portland Real Estate has become a stimulus package – created not by our Government, but by you.
As with any stimulus package, your hope is that it will make a difference. As a taxpayer, we hope our government will choose wisely how it invests our dollars. When choosing where to put your real estate dollars, it is important that you feel not just comfortable with the home you choose, but with the surrounding neighborhood lifestyles and nearby businesses. The seller of a condo in downtown Portland for example, told me recently that when they originally moved to Portland, they choose not only the condo, but the area, because it reminded them of the view they had from their 43rd floor of their New York condo and loved its closeness to the all that downtown Portland has to offer. Bill & Kathy however found the quiet area of Summerplace in NE Portland a contrast to their work environments and enjoyed the amenities of this 55 plus community offered. Each of these real estate investors supported and stimulated their local area whether it was their enjoyment of the Blazers, reading their local East Portland news, insuring their home or condo with Pam Olson, or enjoying a relaxing cup of coffee or dinner at one of the many fine establishments on Hawthorne Blvd, or downtown Portland.
Where in Portland would you like to live and offer your stimulus package? And yes, of course, as a Portland Realtor, I am never too busy to help you put that package to work for our community. Click here to get started with your real estate search, or give me a call at 503-789-1246. Your comments below are also welcome and encouraged. Together we can make a difference in Portland.
Oh by the way … support some of the local businesses found to your right on this page. You can depend on their quality of service.
