Consider this recent information from NAR, National Association of Realtors, with reasearch completed by Lawrence Yun:

Consumers and homeowners who are in it for the long-term are once again coming out well ahead.

Because of the power of leveraging, $10,000 used for a down payment on a typically priced home in the United States at a typical appreciation rate of 5 percent will return $110,000 after 10 years. The same $10,000 invested in the stock market appreciating 10 percent annually will result in $23,600. No wonder the data from the Federal Reserve show consistent results year-after-year of the staggering difference in net worth between homeowners and renters. A typical homeowner had $184,400 in net worth versus only $4,000 for a typical renter.

Historically low interest rates and an increased inventory of homes make this a fantastic time to pick up a primary or second home on the mountain. Opportunity Knocks! With a projected population increase of 1,000,000 in the Portland Metro area, this will create automatic wealth for any property owner in the future!

Liz