​Recovering from identity theft can be tough. There are easy steps you can take each day to keep your identity safe and secure. The information below outlines a few best practices to help keep your personal information from falling into the wrong hands in-person or online. You’ll also find some trusted credit monitoring services if you want some back-up security. We hope this information helps you avoid identity theft and find more peace-of-mind in your daily life!

Studies show that unwanted sales calls, robocalls and outright scam calls are on the rise. Between the extended tax season and COVID-19 pandemic, scammers had many reasons to call this year, and they’re not stopping yet. So how can you tell which calls are legitimate, and which ones are better off sent straight to voicemail or even blocked?

To help you spot these phony calls, we compiled a few tips, so you’ll never have to fall victim to scammers or illegal sales tactics. The information we're sending this month contains common types of phone scams and offers best practices for handling calls that look like they are from your bank or another local number but may actually be scammers. You’ll learn where to report illegal scams and robocalls and what Apps you can get to block pesky spam calls.

These tips will help you protect your personal information and give you one less thing to stress about in 2020. As always, if we can assist you or your family in any way to protect you from these common scams, we're here for you!

​If you’ve already spruced up your curb appeal, perhaps you’re ready to tackle some projects inside the home! Spending so much time at home during the past several months probably has you dreaming up a few improvements for your space — the information below contains innovative, easy-to-use apps that help you plan the perfect renovation! Learn where to get inspiration, how to start your planning and a few tools to use as you start your projects. You don’t have to take on a home renovation alone, either! We know a great contractor who can make your renovation dreams a reality in a healthy and safe manner. Just give us a call! 

It goes without saying that deep down, every homeowner aspires to have the most beautiful property on the block! Your home is your little piece of the neighborhood, so of course you want it to turn some heads. Now is the perfect time to make your home stand out!

Take advantage of the warm late-summer weather and spruce up your home’s exterior to make it shine. The information I’m sending this month offers simple ways to make your front yard pop. You’ll also get step-by-step instructions on how to create the most beautiful garden in town and what plants will thrive during the fall. All of these small changes will do wonders for your curb appeal and even improve your home’s value should you decide to sell this year or next.

It may be August but there’s no need to curb your enthusiasm when it comes to boosting curb appeal! Beautifying your home will benefit you and your neighbors year-round. If you start to think about selling, give us a call — we're happy to walk you through the process in a way that’s safe and healthy!

We hope you all are healthy and managing well with the current restrictions.
​
We have more good news regarding the real estate market as it continues to respond to the changing guidelines related to COVID-19. Check out our video below to see what's going on!  ​

These statistics are for the Portland, Oregon Metro Area excluding Yamhill and Columbia Counties & Mount Hood Area.

Closed Sales
June 2019:  2,756 
May 2020:  1,963
June 2020:  2,709 - Down 1.7% from June 2019, but up 38% from last month!
 
Pending Sales
6/16 – 6/30/20: 1,506     6/16 – 6/30/19: 1,327
7/01 – 7/15/20: 1,624     7/01 – 7/15/19: 1,204
Period Total 2020: 3,130   vs   Period Total 2019: 2,531
Shows an Increase of 23.7% in 2020 vs 2019
 
                                          Jan – June 2019                 Jan – June 2020
Average Sale Price           $456,700                              $468,500                              Increase of 2.6%
Median Sale Price             $407,000                              $423,000                              Increase of 3.9%
 
Sentrilock Lockbox Activity has been very strong.
Normally about 25,000 per week this time of year, has been at roughly 23,000 per week the last few weeks which is considerably higher than the 10 – 11,000 at the beginning of the pandemic.
 
The fundamental reasons for people to buy or sell hasn’t changed, and rates are still very low.

• Moving school districts
• Needing a home office
• Upsizing / Downsizing

 
The market is very strong, which seem counter intuitive!

If there is anything that we can do for you, please don’t hesitate to call!

If we can ask a favor, if you know anyone thinking about buying or selling, but they’re not sure about the timing, give us a call. We’ll take great care of them, go through the process with them, and see what’s best for them.

​Until next time, thank you and stay well!

When peer-to-peer payment (P2P) apps and mobile wallets make it so easy to spend cash in a flash, it’s good to have a roadmap you can follow to stay on top of your expenses. This information provides some strategies to help you account for cashless means of spending in your budget. Get tips on how to spend responsibly when it comes to P2P apps and other contactless methods of payment. Plus, check out a few great budgeting apps to keep you on track along the way. So whenever you tap your phone or card to pay, you’ll know exactly how that fits into your budget — even if it didn’t actually feel like spending!

As we come through the impact of COVID-19, contactless forms of payment have become more common over the past several months and, going forward, will be important in everyday life. Contactless payment tech is easy to use and healthier than exchanging cash, making it an attractive option for consumers looking for safety and convenience at the grocery store, takeout counter or in some cases, the gas pump.
 
As this technology continues to catch on in your community, and across the world, we wanted to send you a quick guide to how it all works. The information we are sending this month explains the various forms of contactless payment and where you can use it, plus some security tips for paying with your phone. You’ll learn more about popular peer-to-peer payment apps that allow you to pay someone back without handing off cash.
 
Our society isn’t going totally cashless anytime soon, but contactless payment is proving to be a secure, cleaner option at the checkout counter. Hope this helps you out next time you’re on a grocery run!