The fallout from the recession has cut deeply into the housing security, employment and income of many Americans. But some parts of the country are clearly faring better than others. Here, are three interactive maps showing foreclosure and jobless rates as well as household income by county, provided by NPR.

Pdxpipeline is giving away a pair of tickets ($47) to A Christmas Carol at The Old Church. These two tickets are for front-row reserved seating and are valued at $23.50 each! To win, comment on their post why you would like to attend. Winner will be drawn and emailed on Friday December 16. To enter to win, go here!
 
 
 
 
 

Do you ever drive past these whole blocks that are nothing but grass and wonder what the deal is? I do. There’s one right in front of my office on the corner of MLK and Alberta in NE Portland. Apparently Clayborn Collins of Emmanuel Community Services will propose a community market (similar to Saturday Market downtown) at the intersection, which will serve to raise funds for an at-risk youth community program, at the King Neighborhood Association meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 14. Sounds like a win win to me. It will be interesting to see how this plays out! Read full article here.

The Santaland Diaries– For a slightly different take on the Christmas experience, checkout this performance based on the true chronicles of David Sedaris’ experience as Crumpet the Elif in Macy’s Santaland display! Gerding Theater at the Armory 11/29-12/31-website

1) Get recommendations
Ask for the names of reputable and reliable moving companies from friends, co-workers and family. Inquire about their experiences, and note what worked and didn’t work, as well as how much they paid. Seek out their advice on how to make your move a smooth one.

That depends. Like everything else in real estate it depends on the house and sellers. Based on a study by Realtor.com, 60% of agents say yes it is a good time to sell. 79% of the agents surveyed said that more serious buyers come out during the holidays, and 61% say less competition from other properties make it a great time to sell.

Well, here are some !
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I was just having his conversation with a client the other day. He’s considering moving and asked the typical question a potential seller would ask about how to price his home. I gave him a little speech that I give to all my clients when they are considering moving. Then today I see this article about overpricing a listing! Funny how that happens. So here I am writing a blog about it. And because I love me some charts, I have some really great ones to share.