Time for Your Grown Children to Learn About Real Estate and Purchase a Home! Owning a House Outweighs Renting

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Haris Wolfgang

Time for Your Grown Children to Learn About Real Estate and Purchase a Home!

Owning a House Outweighs Renting

For most buyers who intend to live in a home for at least three years, buyer may be a better option than renting, according to a report from online listing service Zillow. In more than three fourths of the 7500 US cities survey, buyers would break even after three years of owning a home. all possible costs associated with buying and renting are considered in the analysis, including down payment, mortgage and rental payments, transaction cost, property taxes, utilities, maintenance fees, tax deductions and opportunity costs.

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Some metro areas where home values plummeted during the house recession homebuyers broke even after less than two years of ownership.

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Oregon Style Resort Luxury Custom Houseboat Living

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Haris Wolfgang

Oregon Style Resort Luxury Houseboat Living

Be the Captain Your Own Floating Spaceship

I recently was invited to visit a architect friend/client brilliant custom houseboat on the Columbia River.

I was familiar with several of his contemporary homes he has constructed over the years , but was astonished at his new project.

Arriving at the a gate that felt like the end of the world and seemed to go behind the Janzen Beach shopping center leading to a bluff overlooking the slough and a massive platform of approximately 50 houseboats of all shapes and sizes.

Being familiar with form and shape having spent twenty years in a previous career in craft and design this riverfront experience took me back entirely to days working with internationally acclaimed designers and extreme creativity.

Roy has been crafting his spaceship waterfront sculpture abode for 8 years.

The Haiku symmetry of his circles on a rectangular platform was more like a floating living piece of geometric artwork Museum .

One Story Living . Design Your Own Custom Home

Roy has had a long romance with the simplicity of steel. The raw functionality of nuts and bolts transforming a geometric symmetry into an almost a living within a robotic futuristic intelligent dwelling.

Images of waves and silver pass through exquisite looking glass windows of semi-circles, architectural triangles framed by a horizon of soft green shorelines.

Cold smooth ice burnished Industrial sheet metal, textured quilted wall board and metal grating reflect cool shimmering watery shadows perfectly harmonizing the extremes of masculine and feminine .

* Find Your Own Lot & Design Your Custom home

Four humongous geometric light filled living spaces flow into each other. The bridge is a huge floating country kitchen area with massive food preparation counters and impressive builtin controls to engage the ship. The ten forward great room living area has a great circular fireplace with an eye on an expansive companion waterfront deck. The upper deck sports a master suite has a builtin circular bed with hidden triangular corner builtins. Overhead are outdoor grates and ladders to scale the balcony and imagined sails towering above.

The suite includes an accompanying cavernous multipurpose creative space.

Looking forward to the completion of the floating Masterpiece and a fitting name.

* Craftsmans Waiting for Your Design Updates

PROTECT HOME OWNERSHIP AND OUR ECONOMY FIGHT ELIMINATION MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Haris Wolfgang

PROTECT HOME OWNERSHIP AND OUR ECONOMY FIGHT ELIMINATION MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTIONS

Thousands of us, your Professional Realtors Association descended upon Salem this Thursday to defend and protect the American Dream of home ownership for Oregon families. Showing up to protect our economy and fight the elimination of our mortgage interest deductions!

We got face to face with your legislators strongly advocating to reconsider taking away our treasured Mortgage Interest deduction to pay for the Governors proposed PERS adjustments.

This valuable tool which has been helping homeowners and our economy to thrive has been in place since 1913. Realizing housing affordability for our families. We do not want to increase the tax burdens on an already stressed Oregon homeowner and reducing the opportunity for new young families to purchase a home.

REQUEST YOUR OWN FREE RADON TEST KIT TO CHECK TO PROTECT YOURSELVES AND YOUR PROPERTY

There are 12+ bills ready to change or take the mortgage deduction away. Our property taxes are already amongst the highest in nation. Help us protect the dream and our economic recovery!

What is Your Homes Value This Spring?

There is talk that the state would like to raise revenue by either limiting or curtailing the ability to deduct Mortgage Interest from your state income tax filing. I encourage you to get your views across to your elected officials by writing them from THIS PAGE

REQUEST YOUR OWN FREE RADON TEST KIT TO CHECK TO PROTECT YOURSELVES AND YOUR PROPERTY

REGARDS

HARIS WOLFGANG

A Home With Dignity Having The Right to Dream

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Haris Wolfgang

Part two

Maintaining Dignity when you don’t have ownership of your own bathroom that often ‘taken for granted’ amenity becomes a luxury. Sisters provides a home for clean safe facilities. The volunteer chosen to monitor their laboratories one Thursday afternoon was I. My past experience a few decades ago as a patrol monitor in a NY City elementary school never offered the lessons of service with the deepest kind of humility needed to humbly maintain the flow of the use of these truly essential amenities.

I felt fortunate to be suddenly switched to another job requiring no less humbling energy. However, it was a job I was much more familiar with – searching out small plastic numbers hidden amongst coats and enormous piles of belongings on tables and counters where our hungry customers awaited .

Plating and serving nutritious food with the amazing Sisters team- the trustworthy staff and regular and part time volunteers was like working as one . Feeling like we were perfectly integrated. A home encircled embraced by the flow of humanity.

My well intentioned waiter mannerisms didn’t exactly fit with folks who didn’t meet my eyes or often acknowledge my presence. Kindness met an unexpected response of extreme fragility. Sharing the same light and warmth but living on different planets.

During my first tearful introduction to Sisters I was very curious what the meaning of and how Sisters stressed the values of non violence, social justice and a home with dignity.

This is the real story of the Sisters Community.

Learning appropriate ways to care and hold the space to comfortably be inside of one own skin. Learning to how to offer dignity unconditionally.

“You people are like my family. I come here when I need time to be strong. Thank you.” – a Sisters Customer

NEXT UP – Proceeding to order and Vouchers.

With Dignity Having The Right to Dream of Mercy

Serving Through Dignity Those Who Do Not Own a Safe Living Space

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Haris Wolfgang

Serving with Dignity those do not own a safe living space.

Sisters of the Road Café- Portland Oregon At long last i had the chance to fill a two hr work shift at Sisters last week. The shift was preceded by a 2hr Intro session the week before listening in with a diverse 6th grade class of 12 yr olds. Lindsey the able volunteer coordinator shared the rich history and vision that Sisters creates their unique community, nourishing and serving their stakeholders, the volunteers and the staff.

Since 1979, Sisters has operated in the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood. At that time, the Cafe was anonymously christened when a circle containing three Xs – the hobo symbol for good food and hospitality – was chalked on the pavement outside the restaurant door. This symbol became Sisters’ logo.

Sisters’ customers, volunteers and staff have been creating community for more than three decades by building long term, stable and mutually supportive relationships. Creating a safe, hospitable space which offers delicious, nourishing food are our priorities in the Cafe. From the Sisters website. Go to http://sistersoftheroad.org

For many years I have been truly blessed to serve on a number of non-profit boards serving less fortunate sisters and brothers around the world. Working intimately on boards with lovely folks is truly a transformational experience by discovering our own God given natural talents and abilities. Yet the 18 yrs working on organizational process left a silent yearning within me to rub shoulders with the stakeholders I have served long distance. For this spoiled privileged American Suburbanite there was some fear of facing myself in the mirror of the eyes of the not so invisible less fortunate in our city.

My life experience has never reached the true bottomless depths of not knowing where you are going to sleep, eat or have the hope of human touch and belonging. So my first job I was assigned to at the Café was perfect.

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Opening Doorways into Oregon’s Castles . CapeCods. 2nd Homes. Investment Props

Part two to follow

Lovingly Restored Lake Oswego NW Craftsman One Story Mid-Century

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Haris Wolfgang

The ‘River Rock House’. The Art of Living Well.

A Hallmark Builders home lovingly handcrafted w/ nothing spared . NW Craftsman One Story Mid Century Home w/grand open natural spaces. Completely restored & reinvented craftsman quality . A perfect marriage of spacious warm intimate interior rooms & a nurturing private outdoor 1/3 acre sanctuary in Palisades Heights.

Nothing Spared Features

Entry and Foyer

Custom French Doors w/ side lights and custom stained glass inserts designed by seller.

Lovely Slate Floor and Wood Beam and 1x beveled ceiling with very large skylights

Two Lit Upper Ledge accent areas for collectable display items with Custom built cherry 8′x8′ lit glass display cabinet with large storage drawers. Fine Art display wall with custom lighting.

Great Room (23 x 15)

Massive solid wood ridge beam and large barge rafters with 2×6 beveled wood ceilings.

Brick and Natural River Rock with large 4’ firebox wood burning fireplace. New slate hearth and gas log starter. Two hand built matching cherry floor to wall built-in cabinets – one for a TV Display and storage components below. The other one for book display storage and accent lighting.

Beveled wood 3/4 tongue and groove paneling on all walls. Doorway lintel solid clear wood and matching 6×6′ posts. 2 new skylights

Dining Area (12 x 11)

Double French Door out to a an enormous wrap around Patio. Wall to Wall hand built Cherry and Maple Buffet with china cabinets. Porcelain chandelier to match wall sconces.

Kitchen (13 x 11)

New Stainless steel appliances; Jenn-Air 36″ counter depth refrigerator with freezer bottom. Jenn-Air dishwasher. 36″Italian 5 burner Fratelli-Onofre dual fuel range + electric oven. Jenn-Air microwave hood.

Oversized Double Porcelain sink. Instant hot and cold with filtered water. Luxurious Caesar stone Counters. Lime stone splash w/glass insert accents.Limestone bar-in peninsular cabinets with stain glass accents and accent lighting.

Porcelain tile floor with inline heating and thermostat.KraftMaid Cherry and Maple Cabinets with self closing draws and 4 lazy susans. Under Cabinet lighting

Master Suite ( 22×17)

Radiant Heat Floors throughout w/separate thermo stat. Double French Door entry . Built-in headboard nook w/his and her individual down lights and reading lights for king size bed.

Corner gas fireplace with lit picture spot above.Intimate sitting area with a huge bay window and matching side windows.Two large wardrobes.

Large walk-thru closet with access to master bath.Two sono tubes for soft ceiling lite.New Plush carpeting throughout.

Master Bath (three rooms)

Separate His and Her lav areas. Hers with a built in dressing table.Custom glass tile work and glass block accent windows. Jacuzzi whirlpool bath with large French windows overlooking interior meditative garden area. Separate WC area w/Toto water jet toilet with heated seat and bidet features.

Powder Room

On glass counter lav with copper spout and faucet. Custom Mexican Tile counters and splash. Tile floor with matching splash inserts

Additional Amenities

Laundry Room/ Mud room/ Utility/ 1/2 bath with a sink. All new Custom Jeld-Wenn wood/aluminum clad low e casement windows. All electric updated w/new 200 amp service. New Porcelain wall scones.

All plumbing updated with 2 new water heaters ( 1 gas, 1 electric). Custom French doors. New fir wood interior doors throughout. Newly refinished oak floors throughout (under carpet two bedrooms). Abundance of storage space throughout. All living spaces have new ceiling fans.

Landscaping/Hardscaping

New Attached two car garage. Double doors with extra insulation and automatic smooth quiet openers. Beautiful Torch down rook- new to match original where needed.River Rock Exterior siding at Entry, Garage and Front Wall.

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Outstanding original Siding 11/4 inch thick cedar and new cedar shingle siding. All new custom Jeld-Wenn wood/aluminum clad low e casement windows and French doors throughout. Newly refinished oak floors.

Magnificent Rock Wall Entrance framing an elegant circular driveway with matching coach side lights . Fully fenced backyard with 16′x8 Japanese Style Redwood Spa house.

Sprinkler System. All new planting bed areas prepared for new shrubs, hedges. Bark Dust protecting the entire property. New Aggregate slab patio with reclaimed brick liners and walls. Native River Rock pathways and accent borders.

Tool Shed. Fenced Refuse area. Blue Heron Boat and Swim Easement.

Search for or design your own dream one story home.

Radiant Floors-Kitchen, Master Bath, Grand Foyer. Fabulous Hand Builtin Cherry Furniture Buffet, China Cabs, Bookcases, Custom Stained Glass, Porcelain Flooring, Timberline Style Cathedral Beamed Ceilings, Chic Italian Fratelli 5 burner stove, Glass counters & copper, Gazebo.

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REAL ESTATE is about Change & Life’s Process. Our companions are Time, Patience & the Unexpected.

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Haris Wolfgang

Part One

REAL ESTATE is about Change & Life’s Process. Our companions are Time, Patience & the Unexpected.

Late spring 2012, my seller stated lets sell. And it would be LATE SUMMER or EARLY FALL when we would sell his home. That would be the right time for him to sell his home.

Actually this was the 2^nd beginning to sell his truly lovingly crafted retreat in the city.

Surrounded by golf courses

We started the year before at the same time of the year. I usually encourage my clients to share their intentions for selling and envision their goals. John my seller felt ready move into the next stage of his life in a new location. We shared all the wonderful places we have visited in our lives and hopes to perhaps live one day. John was planning to follow a long held curiosity with the PNW indigenous tribal areas of Oregon and Idaho. And then a visit out of the country to scout out potential areas for his new life and future home.

paradise for cyclists

One of his principal hopes was to find the perfect buyers for his masterpiece home. Folks that really appreciated not only his labor of love, but they themselves had some special connection and brought something to compliment the unique qualities of this property.

Summer 2011 was a slow marketing time in this neighborhood. However , my seller was undaunted. and confidently predicted an end of summer that perfect buyer would be attracted. I eyeballed each showing for that perfect buyer. By late summer John was ready for a break.

Search for homes in Concordia and Alberta Arts

With the winter rains approaching , we had a hot Vietnamese lunch together and he considered trying to sell himself. Although in the healing profession, John is truly exceptional person and is so capable and could do just about anything himself if he applied himself. I didn’t exactly encourage him, but offered help if he needed it.

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REAL ESTATE is about Change & Life’s Process

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Haris Wolfgang

Part Two

REAL ESTATE is about Change & Life’s Process. Our companions are Time, Patience & the Unexpected.

The new year rolled quickly by and on the anniversary of our first effort and John announced we should renew the listing. He had been out of the country and was motivated to complete the process. And he told me he felt we would have an early September sale. Although I am by nature a romantic, after 24 years in my profession the pragmatist in me has emerged and whenever I hear words like ‘it was meant to be’ I cordially nod my head in agreement.

As a Realtor I enjoy marketing homes that have unique and special qualities. This property is stellar having been painstakingly and lovingly restored board by board into a cherished three story English style cottage. It’s located in a Columbia River Wildlife Sanctuary close to all the amenities of Concordia and Alberta and 12 minutes to downtown.

After literally thousands of direct marketing effort to tens of thousands Realtors on every internet site known to humankinds via two custom e flyers, three virtual tours, two you tube video’s, three weekly blogs touting, open houses and Realtor opens suddenly our perfect buyers found us.

Oh joy! The PERFECT PURCHASER. These potential new owners Larry and Dina saw the endless possibilities of this property. Envisioned uses even the present seller and creator couldn’t imagine. In the eye of the beholder, the qualities of this home where imagined even before the features were completed.

Searching Portland Oregon Homes ‘Country in The City’ Boaters,Golfers,Cyclists, Gardeners

Ordinarily great care must be taken to make sure both parties do not have substantial contact before all the inspections and contingencies are completed. In this case is was abundantly clear the minute those contingencies were completed the meeting was inevitable. Both parties demonstrated great integrity. And expressly wishing to make the process fair and beneficial for each other. Every element of the process has been extraordinarily cooperative and caring.

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Next Tuesday the PERFECT SELLER is organizing a little party with the neighbors for the PERFECT NEW OWNERS. And we close uncannily close to that prediction two years ago by the end of the summer.

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The Celebration and Union of Perfect Sellers and New Owners

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Haris Wolfgang

Part three

THE CELEBRATION

NE Portland Haven for Golfers, Boaters, Cyclists and Gardeners

It’s rare , in our fast paced lives where in our local living places we know few of our neighbors and total strangers become potential friends.

Only a small fraction of the local community (15) people showed up to welcome the new homeowners on Tuesday evening . And celebrating John leaving the local community. An impressive mostly organic potluck spread greeted the visitors in a mostly empty house. The new homeowners brought a couple of dozen folding chairs. We filled the great room , flowed into the kitchen and out onto the patio deck.

The relaxed feeling amongst this group reflected the care and respect that surrounds the unusually cordial relationships John has established in his stay in this Columbia East neighborhood. Learning about each others lives and values. Larry and Dina loving accepted the baton that John was passing over to them. His lovely community was becoming theirs.

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Where one or three of us like John, Larry and Dina can make a personal difference in our communities that transcends our politics , religion, person values.

Ne Portland Homes Search The Perfect Dish for the Perfect Seller and Buyers

Oh Joy! The Celebration and Union of Perfect Sellers and New Owners

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This summers Oregon Disney like Destination spot is found in West Linn.

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Haris Wolfgang

Does a dream home have to be 4000+ sqft and cost a million plus dollars?

This summers Oregon Disney like Destination spot is found in West Linn.

Street of Dreams Vineyard Rivendell Manor

A Revamped yellow school buses bumps along a huge parking lot just east of the Shopping area onto Salamo toward the entrance of the new Street of Dreams ‘The Vineyard’ subdivision in West Linn

1. (7) Dream homes dot a hillside street nestled inside Cascade Summit. The Montauk , Calistoga, Oregon Dream, Da Vinci, Mystic Ridge, Rivendell Manor and 20/20 representing some disappointing conservative unimaginative redos. And a glimpse into the 21st century offering really exciting cutting edge NW Architecture. The leading edge is all about expanding the ultimate potential of the living space of a home. And some of these huge expensive 4000sqft + homes do superbly create multifunctional ways of making outdoor spaces fully livable interior spaces.

Does a dream home have to be 4000+ sqft and cost a million dollars plus ?

For the 99% still in the family or empty nester mode are evolutionary architectural and design features being made available by builders to offer safe, comfortable, sustainable, ethical lifestyles in the Pacific NW . During a huge historically social, environmental and economic time of change?

Street of Dreams Vineyard Mystic Ridge

Search for homes and builders that incorporate your own notion of sacred spaces, form and function ,that fit your pocketbook and ethics?

That cutting edge revolves around light bright Spacious Multi Functional Spaces with natural materials and high quality sustainable features. Many of these huge million dollar Dream homes could function just as well with 30-40% less sqft age. Utilizing many of the tremendously creative features offered:

1/ Oregon Dream home symbolizes the leading edge pushes the limit of integrating huge open spaces incorporating both a luxury traditional stone outdoor patio kitchen barbeque big screen motif adding a totally unique and brilliant side yard intimate Zen quiet hot tub meditative open space courtyard from a kitchen eating area bridging into the side yard.

Street of Dreams Oregon Dream Zen Garde

Street of Dreams Oregon Dream Ultimate Outdoor In Spaces

2/ Mystic Ridges Cliffside Mtn top spaces pushed the limits for a live in kitchen with your grown your own garden. Multi level carved granite counter with a sliding cutting board. Window and Door less openings with fully opening floor to ceiling, window to ceiling features. Unique glass panels for railings

Street of Dreams Vineyard Outdoors Interior Spaces Galore

An elevator to make all the levels of the building functional.

Decor zed Mirrored Shower and Soak Tubs
Transforming a large walk in closet to an ultimate functional dressing space. Transforming stairs into a luxurious marble tiled entryway.

 Pewter massive bathtub
 Yard reflective flaming fire pit sculpture
 Realistic hardwood flooring with slate entrance insets
 Tongue and groove ceilings of smaller rooms like studies
 Perfectly blended rich hardwood and handmade wrought iron railings
 Extreme effective use of 100% opening doors and windows to unite outdoor and indoor space into one
 Massive chopping boards replacing massive stone counters
 Silky Smooth Custom Cement counter tops blended with stone and natural wood
 Making brilliant use of a finite backyards using the corners installing a sport court.
 Fully Inlaid Opaque Private Windowed Garage Doors
 Full Rock garden front and side yards.
 Fully recessed walking pantry w/surround counter, food preparation, built in hutches, 2nd refrigerator.
 Brilliant kitchen colors and textures with counter and cabinetry surfaces blended in gemstone, granite counters, marble, travertine, corian, natural wood and creamy glazed wrought iron cabinetry.

My picks;

The ‘Rivendell’ European Manor has a timeless quality. It is slightly smaller per sqft without the guest house. Has a fine tailored feel with both open and multifunctional space with intimate arches, coved, tiled alcoves, ornate beams. The brilliant and functional kitchen layout offers magnificent blended choice of stone, natural wood and tiles. the best textures and hues.

Street of Dreams West Linn Vineyard Rivendells Brilliant Country kitchen

Mystic Ridge is over the top with its see through entry fireplace and wine closet, living room waterfall backdrop, flaming sculpture and kitchen cultivator for growing fresh veggies ++. However, the brilliant open floor plan works beautifully offering a perfect pallet to paint on in any price range.

Street of Dreams West Linn Vineyard indoor out waterfall

The Oregon Dream perhaps has the most basic potential as a cutting edge floor plan with all its rustic disappointments. The outdoor in spaces and huge open yet warm spaces, sustainable features ala photovoltaic solar, reclaimed recycled elements. The brilliant use of the usually unused yard spaces. Take the 4770 sqft down to 3250 maintaining these features and you have a prototype home that meets the needs of most of us.

: Street of Dreams West Linn Vineyard Oregon Dreams Outdoor In Living Spaces

What are yours?

Search for homes and builders that incorporate your own notion of sacred spaces, form and function that fit your pocketbook and ethics?