Real Estate Information Archive

Clackamas County Hearing for Short-Term/Vacation Rental Properties

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

by Liz Warren

The Clackamas County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on draft regulations for short-term/vacation rental properties in unincorporated Clackamas County at the Board business meeting scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 30, on the 4^th floor of the Public Services Building, 2051 Kaen Road, Oregon City.

The draft regulations are available for public review at www.clackamas.us/planning/str. People who have comments but are not able to attend the Jan. 30 hearing are welcome to submit their comments by email or US Mail to Senior Planner Martha Fritzie at [email protected] or Planning & Zoning, Development Services Building, 150 Beavercreek Road, Oregon City, OR 97045.

A second public hearing on the draft regulations and Board action is planned for the Board Business Meeting at 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 13.

Clackamas County defines a short-term rental, or vacation rental, as a dwelling unit, or portion of a dwelling unit, that is rented to any person or entity for lodging or residential purposes, for a period of up to 30 consecutive nights.

The draft regulations include provisions for short-term rental owners to register with the county and pay a fee, and for enforcement of the regulations to be carried out by either the Sheriff’s Office or Code Enforcement, depending on the issue. Key components of the proposed regulations include rules regarding maximum occupancy, off-street parking, garbage pick-up, quiet hours, and fire and safety requirements. The regulations would only apply outside of city limits in unincorporated Clackamas County.

More information is available on the project website at https://www.clackamas.us/planning/str.

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What Mt. Hood Buyers Want in a Home! GARAGES and PATIOS/DECKS

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

by Liz Warren

The 2 Surprising Things Homebuyers Really Want

In a market where current inventory is low, it’s normal to think buyers might be willing to give up a few desirable features in their home search in order to make finding a house a little easier. Don’t be fooled, though – there’s still an interest in the market for some key upgrades. Here’s a look at the two surprising things buyers seem to be searching for in today’s market, and how they’re impacting new home builds.

Homebuyers Are Not Giving Up Their Garages

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently released an article showing the percentage of new single-family homes completed in 2018. The data reveals,

64% of new homes offer a 2-car garage
21% have a garage large enough to hold 3 or more cars
7% have a 1-car garage
7% do not include a garage or carport
1% have a carport

The following map represents this breakdown by region:Evidently, a garage is something homebuyers are looking for in their searches, but that’s not all.

Homebuyers Are Not Giving Up Their Patios

Patios are on the radar for buyers as well. Community areas are often common amenities in new neighborhoods, but as it turns out, private outdoor spaces are quite desirable too. NAHB also found that,

“Of the roughly 876,000 single-family homes started in 2018, 59.4% came with patios…This is the highest the number has been since NAHB began tracking the series in 2005.”

As shown in the graph below, the number of new homes built with patios has been increasing for the past 9 years. Clearly, they’re a desirable feature for new homeowners too.

Bottom Line

Homebuyers are looking for garage space and outdoor patio living. If you’re a homeowner thinking of selling a house with these amenities, it appears buyers are willing to spring for those key features. Let’s get together today to determine the current value and demand for your home.

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What Mt. Hood Buyers Want

Forecast for Mt. Hood Market 2020

Monday, January 20, 2020

by Liz Warren

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Mt. Hood Economomic Forecast

Mt. Hood Log Cabin

Friday, January 17, 2020

by Liz Warren

Mt. Hood Log Cabin in Timberline Rim

Charming two bedroom log cabin in Timberline Rim near Brightwood. Open floor plan with all the bedrooms upstairs including a bonus sleeping area. Warm your toes up after a day on the slopes of Mt. Hood in front of the propane stove! It's only a block from the Sandy River too. Only 20 minutes to the slopes and a super easy one hour drive from Portland.

The cabin features stainless steel appliances, utility room, skylight, and two covered decks. The back deck is partially covered and the rest is sunny. A new hot tub was just installed too. Bonus outbuilding for storage!

Low HOA fees in Timberline Rim and amenities include pool and tennis court, lodge and common areas.

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Mt. Hood Log Cabin Brightwood Log Cabin Timberline Rim Log Cabin

Snow Coming to Mt. Hood Cascades

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

by Liz Warren

Get ready because snow is on it’s way to the Cascades! Predictions are that we could see six feet at higher elevations possibly bringing our current snow pack levels up to “normal”. I see huge smiles coming for skiers and boarders this next week.

Here’s some info on our forecast from KGW

Winterizing a vacant home tips

Government Camp Snow levels for January 2020