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 Every real estate market in the United States is localized, down to the specific neighborhoods in a city. I live in the Northwest, and I’ve seen how different my city, Portland, Oregon, is compared with national trends. Unfortunately, because we are all fed the national news every night, and our local papers regularly publish Associated Press articles, which are nationally skewed, we tend to have an inaccurate view of what is really happening in our own market. Thus, we mistakenly apply national trends to our local market, which spirals to adversely affect our own economy. There is something very important happening right now in the Northwest. Edge Multimedia is partnering with the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland’s PHMCC (Portland Housing Market Communications Council) to facilitate a large-scale marketing initiative to help share the true state of what’s happening locally, while also combating negative media attention in our local housing market. It seems that many homeowners as well as potential first time homebuyers are paralyzed by fear, thus they are overly concerned about purchasing a new home in today’s market. The reality of the situation is that this is a fantastic time to buy a home. Our goal is to inspire Oregonians with their love of the communities that they live in.  We will encourage, educate, motivate and inspire the metro public that now is the time for them to own a piece of the state that they love so much – by becoming a homeowner. We will ask: Do you love Oregon? Then own a piece. Find out more at BuyNowOregon.org. Home values in the Northwest have been somewhat isolated from what is going on nationally. Standard and Poor's most recent home price release shows that Portland has shown a minimal dip of only -.05%, which many economists consider flat. Compare this with Miami at -15.1%, San Diego at -13.4% and Las Vegas at -13.2% and there is a very dramatic difference between what is happening in the Northwest and what is happening nationally. Easily argued the greatest investment mind of our time, Warren Buffet -- who is also the richest man in the world (as of 3/5/08, he beat out Bill Gates, now #3) with a net worth of $62 billion, according to Forbes -- states it simply enough when he says “Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.” What great investment advice! If you are considering buying a home, now is not the time to wait, worry and wonder – it’s time to act. If you’re wondering whether housing prices might drop further, consider this: “Anything you gain by a further drop in (housing) prices might be offset by rising financing  costs,” says chief economist Jim Svinth of mortgage lender Lending Tree (Source: Time Magazine, February 14, 2008). This means that if you wait to buy a home because you think prices will drop even further (even if they drop as much as 10%), at best you will most likely break even in regard to cost because over the next months and years, mortgage rates will be on their way up. Read this interesting Time Magazine article, “Ignore the Headlines”, which speaks to this very topic. An owner-occupied home is nearly always profitable. What other investment can give you those kinds of odds? Mortgage rates are at historical lows and home pricing is conservative. Check out current mortgage rates and keep up with them via email, find out what your monthly payments would be and get pre-qualified for a mortgage online with HomeStreet Bank. |
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 Stephanie Chadwick will be the featured lecturer at a Public Relations class at the University of Portland on April 14th. Did you miss it? Link to Stephanie Chadwick’s Celebrity Playlist segment on 105.1 The Buzz (KRSK), Portland. Read Stephanie's column in the Business/Legal/Finance section of Connections for Women e-magazine. |
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 4/4-4/6: Garden Compass event at Dixieline Lumber & Home Stores in Rancho San Diego, California. Meet the radio personalities at Garden Compass and enjoy a tomato seminar and plant sale! |
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some of the content is hard to read. I feel that I need to warn you that the story may change the way you view life -- it will make you think and it might even make you take action. This is an incredible, gripping story that truly affected me.
would like to find a few great business reads, 
new client, the Portland Housing Market Communications Council (PHMCC). The council is made up of well-respected leaders in the housing industry including: Legend Homes, Riverside Homes, HomeStreet Bank, Lifestyle Homes, Parr Lumber, OHBA, John L. Scott, NW Natural Gas, Pacific Residential Mortgage, 
DR Horton, Pacific Lifestyle Homes and more. Facilitated by the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland, PHMCC will be showcasing the benefits of home ownership to the metro public and much more through their partnership with Edge Multimedia.
(2 kids-3 and 4) and reading when I get a chance. And OF COURSE listening to great music. 
everyday 
Edge Multimedia
PO Box 90057
Portland, OR 97290
(360) 557-6230, fax (360) 326-1633
© 2007 - Edge Multimedia, Inc