Time for Reflection!!!!

As 2010 comes to an end, it is always a good time to reflect. This year has been a very exciting, but challenging year for me professionally. It has been so wonderful coming to work for Arbor Custom Homes. I feel so fortunate, in this economy, to have had such an exciting opportunity. I love it!!!! I really enjoy the people I get to work with. Kristi, the sales office manager is awesome to work with. She loves being the property manager at Arbor Pass, and is so enthused to teach me everything she knows about the condo's. We have had such fun working with buyers and meeting potential buyers. The real estate market has been challenging, but the Arbor team works so well together to make our buyers excited about the buying process. I hope that 2012 brings peace, joy and health and happiness. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Interested Rates have been going up. What are you waiting for?????

Interest rates are heading north for the holidays.......The interest rates have gone up about .5% this month. Its hard to say if they will come back down, or if we have hit our rock bottom? Do you realize how much this affects a buyer when the rates increase? With the rate increase just .5% this month, that has been a 5% loss in buying power. That means if you were qualified to buy a $200,00 home, you could now only afford a $190,000 home. So that means the buyer will be making the same mortgage payment on a home that is $10,000 less. The good new is that even with the rates increasing, they are still at record lows. In tracking rates over the last five Decembers, we are still the lowest that we have seen. In 2005 the rates were 6.27. So what are buyers waiting for? I think if you are ready to buy a home and waiting to see "what happens" you may miss the boat????? If you are serious about purchasing something you should speak with a lender as soon as possible to see what your options are? Arbor Pass is partnered up with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, and I work personally with Adam Ansteth. He knows the neighborhood at Arbor Pass and he has proven time and again how good he is at his job. Even thought we are at the last few weeks of the year, this is a GREAT time to buys a new home. What a way to start 2011. Happy Holidays and Cheers to you.

Arbor Custom homes Oregonian Article

There was an interesting article in the Oregonian last week about Arbor Custom Homes. The article had an encouraging message from one of our owners Wally Remmers. He was speaking at a banquet to subcontractors and suppliers of Arbor's. Wally is confident of a continued rebound in the year ahead. It was exciting to see that Arbor Custom Homes is going to be building around 350 new homes in the coming year. He admits that times have been very challenging as one of the last standing local builders in the Portland area. Arbor has taken some opportunities that are not part our their "normal" business model. I also like what Wally said about the downturn in the market "has thinned out the industry to the real players" The Arbor Crossing neighborhood was specifically recognized as an opportunity for buyers to take advantage of the significant price erosion in the Portland housing market. The pass currently has condos priced in the $209,000 price range. If you have the opportunity to read the article in full it was in the business section December 3, 2010. The article was written by Jeff Manning.

Fun Portland Activities during the Holidays

There are so many fun things to do around Portland during the holidays. Some of these activities have been traditions that my family have continued over the years since I was a child. We always have a great time cutting down our Christmas tree. There are quite a few tree farms close to the Arbor Crossing and Arbor Pass neighborhoods. Some of the ones my family has gone to before are:
Helvetia Christmas Tree Farm: 12814 NW Bishop Rd. Hillsboro, Or 97124.
Andy's Tree Farm: 14713 NW Germantown Rd. Portland, Oregon 97231.
Parry's U Cut Tree Farm: 45627 NW David Hill Rd. Forest Grove, Oregon 97116.
Baggenstos Farm: 20200 NW Murphy Rd. North Plains, Oregon 97133.
Hagg's Tree Farm: 18265 SW McCormick Hill Rd. Hillsboro, Oregon 97123.
Besides the family outing cutting down our tree, we usually try to do something festive around town. Peacock Lane has always been a favorite, whether we walk down the street and enjoy a hot chocolate, or stay in the warm car and drive down the beautifully lit street. The Queen Anne Victorian Mansion is beautiful this time of year. The Portland Zoo also has a light festival that is fun for the whole family, and one of Portland's biggest celebration is the Festival of Lights at the Grotto. Take some time over the holidays to slow down and enjoy spending time with your family and try one of theses great places to spend a day. with the family. Happy Holidays to you and your family. From Arbor Pass and Arbor Crossing.