Hasson Company Agent Lobbies for Realtors in Washington, D.C.

Hasson Company Agent Linda McClellan will travel to Washington, D.C. this week to advocate on behalf of Realtors with Congresswoman Jamie Herrera Beutler. Butler serves the 3^rd Congressional District, in Southwest Washington

McClellan is the National Association of Realtors Federal Political Coordinator for Herrera (Butler?). The NAR FPC’s position serves as an educator and influencer to their members of congress, and advocates on behalf of the realtor’s party to create a nonpartisan approach to moving legislation forward  on issues pertaining to Realtors and homeowners.

“It’s exciting to be in the city of our nation’s heartbeat and watch as over 10,000 voices come together to speak up and protect the dream of homeownership. We are here to defend the American dream and make sure congress does no harm against people’s ability to own property.”

Issues covered at this year’s NAR Midyear Conference will include Bolstering Commercial Real Estate Lending, Protecting Home Ownership Tax Benefits, Reauthorizing the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program), and Securing the Future of Homeownership, among others.

For more information on Linda McClellan, visit our website.

Visit realtor.org for more information on the NAR Party Policy that Linda will be representing.

Hasson Company Welcomes Two New Brokers!

Shari Newman, a 17-year veteran in the real estate/development industry will be joining our South Metro branch and Tanner Michalowski, while new to real estate is no novice to the industry, will be bringing an extensive knowledge of home renovations to the Northeast Portland branch! Please take a moment to welcome Shari and Tanner to the Hasson Company!

Aside from Shari’s long history of real estate work in Lake Oswego, she is also involved in the community through various organizations such as the Arts Council for Lake Oswego, Columbia Willamette Women of Vision, LOJWC and Parrot Creek Diversion Panel.  As a Realtor, Shari is E-Certified, which means she has undergone specialized training in new technologies, which she incorporates into all aspects of her business. “The Hasson Company is going to be a perfect fit for me,” said Shari. “Networking is essential in this business, and The Hasson Company is so involved and connected with all of its neighborhoods, after so many years as a local business. Being here is a great chance to become even more connected to my real-life neighbors in the Portland area!”

For more information on Shari, visit our website.

Tanner has been an Oregon resident for 20 years, and joins the Hasson team with 5 years of experience in mortgage advising and business. While working out of the Northeast Portland branch, Tanner will specialize in fixer-upper homes centered around inner Northeast and Southeast Portland.  “I got into real estate in order to help people find homes that match their individual needs and wants. In a city like Portland, that’s especially important, as this city has such great, unique houses and neighborhoods,” said Michalowski. “Tanner joining our team is an extraordinary boon from any angle,” said Steve Studley, VP of Marketing and Business Development. “His understanding of renovations will broaden the scope of what our company offers our Portland clients.”

For more information on Tanner, visit our website.

We are proud to announce our support of the 30th Annual Irvington Home Tour!

Hasson Company Realtors, the Pacific Northwest’s leading real estate brokerage, will again sponsor Portland’s Irvington Home Tour on May 20^th, from 11-5. The Tour is in its 30^th year for 2012, with Hasson sponsoring for the last two.

Located in NE Portland, the entire Irvington neighborhood is registered as a National Historic district. Every year homes built at the turn of the 19^th century in this “streetcar” neighborhood are opened to the public for a glimpse into Portland’s real estate past.

This year’s tour offers seven significant examples of the finest Irvington architecture and design – colonial, Craftsman, prairie, and even an art deco home! For antique car enthusiasts, there will also be vintage cars along the tour route, courtesy of the Horseless Carriage Club of Greater Portland.

Tickets are available at Irvingtonhometour.com, they are $20 and include admission to the Tour Day lecture “Arts and Crafts Architecture, Uniting Design with Nature” by CJ Hurley, a National Arts and Crafts Design Expert.

For more information about the Tour, check out their website.

The Hasson Company remains deeply invested in its Pacific Northwest community. For more information on company sponsorships go to hasson.com.

The 18th Annual Community Awards are this Weekend!

Hasson Company Realtors is a proud sponsor of the 18^th Annual Northwest Examiner Community Awards which will be held this Saturday, May 12th. The event honors 12 individuals who have contributed to the quality of the community in different ways. While you are out-and-about enjoying Portland’s beautiful Nob Hill neighborhood swing by St. Patrick’s Church, located at NW 19th and Savier, for a quick presentation on the people who make Portland’s neighborhoods truly unique. Complimentary desserts and refreshments will be provided and everyone is welcome!

Spring Pest Control Tips!

Spring is a wonderful season in so many ways; the colors exploding into the trees and flowers, the (slightly) warmer weather, the baby animals appearing everywhere. One of the downsides to this otherwise lovely time of year is the reappearance of bugs that were gone for the winter. There are several ways to keep pests at bay around your house, though, without investing in chemical-laden sprays and traps that are not safe for children or pets. Here are several of our favorite tips. Have some we missed? Leave them in the comments!

Cucumber- This is a trade secret not a lot of people know: Ants HATE raw cucumber! Peel a fresh cuke, and lay the skins around wherever ants are getting into your house. Make sure to change the peel frequently, though; rotting food will attract far more bugs than it will repel.

Mint and Basil- These two herbs smell delicious to humans, but flies can’t stand them! Keep one or both around the kitchen particularly, a fly’s favorite place! Note: This, as with most of these tips, is a repellant, not an exterminator. Bugs will flee the barriers you put up, but they won’t necessarily die.

Diatomaceous Earth, Boric Acid- Both of these substances are exterminators, for cockroaches and ants, respectively. Dust carpets and floors with either, and pests will die immediately upon ingesting them.

Soapy Water- Surprisingly, this super simple remedy will kill both cockroaches and ants quickly and effectively. Keep spray bottles around the house, and spray directly onto the bugs when you see them.

Sage, Rosemary, and Garlic- No, those aren’t the ingredients to a delicious pasta dish, they’re natural mosquito repellants! Mix one part garlic juice to five parts water, and spray on as you would a chemical bug spray. Sage and rosemary can be left in open jars in the kitchen, or thrown on the grill when grilling outdoors in a mosquito-prone area. Make sure to crush the herbs and replace them often to maintain the smell.

As you can see, many of the foods that bugs find repellant and/or deadly are not only safe for humans, but smell delicious to us! Good luck keeping the bugs at bay this spring and summer!

Hasson Company to Sponsor Vancouver Dozer Day for Children’s Charities

Hasson Company Realtors has joined with several other community-oriented local businesses to sponsor the Nutter Foundation’s Dozer Day event May 19^th and 20^th. Dozer Day gives children an opportunity to learn about construction machinery, while supporting many nearby children’s charities.

Hasson agents Katie Lingo and Jodie Sharp were instrumental in bringing the Dozer Day fundraiser to the company’s attention. “It’s truly amazing to see the construction and development community become so involved and support this event, in addition to the many businesses that chip in to sponsor,” Sharp said. “Dozer Days is an enormous community event that draws in residents and visitors, and gives back generously to the needs of children.”

“This is exactly the kind of event the Hasson Company loves to participate in,” said Katie Lingo. “It gives back to the community that sustains our business, and gives us an opportunity to interact with our real-life neighbors, all for an excellent cause.”

For information about attending Dozer Day, please visit their website!

Director’s Mortgage Brings us Market News

Monday, April 30, 2012

Will interest rates go up, down or hold?

Bond rates continue to fall slightly as a combination of slowing US growth and concerns over Europe’s debt issues getting worse has increased demand for the relative safety of US treasuries.  Spain is going into its second recession since 2009 and economists said U.S. reports this week will show growth in manufacturing and services slowed. Not only Spain but England too is in a double-dip recession. The austerity measures in Europe are making it virtually impossible for countries to work on expanding economic and job growth – simply put, you can’t save and spend at the same time.  It appears that Europe is figuring out they attacked their issues with only one eye open.

This week may point to a slowdown in the expansion of manufacturing, services and construction. As we all are seeing, what happens here and/or in other countries has an effect on the global economy.  While the US economy has been amazingly resilient in the face of the global economic crises, we are not immune to being slowed down by what happens overseas.

Coming Up…

The big report this week is Friday’s monthly employment report – currently the report is predicted to show an unchanged unemployment rate, and job growth of +162K non-farm jobs.  While this would be better than last month’s report, that is still not enough job growth to make a dent in the unemployment rate going forward, which reinforces the belief that our economic recovery will continue to be slow.

What this means to you…

The silver lining is that rates are expected to stay at near-record low levels – the problems the global economy is facing simply don’t have a quick fix.  That being said, we are hitting a point in the bond market that we have not been able to push through (which if we could would result in slightly lower mortgage rates) because once rates get this low, the appetite for these bonds starts to diminish.  That being said, we expect rates to stay “low” where they currently are but this market is volatile. We highly recommend if anyone has the ability to lock in their interest rate, to please do so – because a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.

Directors Mortgage is Locally Owned and Operated Company.

Get ready for National Open House Weekend!

National Open House Weekend, organized by the National Association of Realtors, will last all day Saturday, April 28^th and all day Sunday, April 29^th.

How will you plan your open house weekend?

Go to Hasson.com and run an open house search! It’s the perfect tool to organize your fun-filled home tour weekend. Select your search criteria, run your search, choose open houses that you would like to attend and watch as the locations are mapped out complete with driving directions!

This is a fabulous opportunity to explore Portland’s diverse neighborhoods and properties!

Make sure to tell us which open houses you attended in the comments.

Welcome to the EdgeUcation Center, made possible by Directors Mortgage

The EdgeUcation Center offers classes for Homeownership through the NeighborWorks of America non-profit organization. The center Features Homeownership Curriculum to help make sure potential existing and new homebuyers have all the information to make the best choice before choosing a lender or purchasing a home. Enrolling in a homeownership education class is the best first step for anyone who currently owns a home or is choosing to purchase a home. Now you have a “one-stop-shop” for learning more about important topics such as:

-  Steps in Buying a Home                    -Your Home Buying Team

-  Managing Your Money                     – Your Credit

-  Obtaining a Mortgage                      – Protecting your Investment

We look forward to providing you with important information and updates while answering all of your questions. Please visit www.edgeU.net to sign-up for any of these six classes at no cost to you.

Directors Mortgage is Locally Owned and Operated Company. If you have any questions about refinancing or purchase, please call our Sr. Mortgage Specialists at 888.636.1112. We have 17 office locations throughout Oregon and Washington to serve you.

March Market Update

We’re rolling out Market Update, a new feature on the Hasson Blog, which will be updated each month and will give our clients and agents a way to chart the Real Estate market’s movement. Better-informed agents and customers mean better-informed transactions, and more rewarding results! Market Updates will be getting its statistics and information from the Portland RMLS, Regional Multiple Listing Service. Our first featured month will be March!

The RMLS divides the Portland Metro area into geographical areas such as North Portland, NE Portland, SE Portland, West Portland, Lake Oswego, etc. These smaller areas help to identify some of the different sub-markets within the larger Metropolitan market. These areas are further divided into neighborhoods when attempting to prepare a market analysis for a specific property.

With this in mind, The Hasson Company actively lists and sells properties throughout the entire Portland Metro area. We have identified 15 different areas covering the Portland metro area, in an attempt to get a better idea of the different markets we’re working with.

The general market consensus lately is that Realtors nationwide are still operating at the bottom of the downward cycle that the industry experienced in sales volume and prices starting in 2007. There is some optimism though; that we are not going to be subjected to further major downturns, and that an actual, sustainable market recovery is on the horizon.

Of the 15 different areas that we analyze monthly, 9 showed lower average sale prices for the year through March. Currently we are experiencing very low property inventory throughout the Metro area. Where roughly 6 months of inventory is considered a balanced market, we are experiencing 4 months or less in all areas except Lake Oswego. Average days on market have dropped and number of homes sold and homes pending are all up during the month of March, as compared to the first two months of the year.

Questions or comments on this new feature? Let us know in the comments section below!

Earth Day is Almost Here!

Portland is a land of plentiful parks and what better way to honor our greenery than to celebrate earth day! It’s time you rewarded yourselves for recycling, riding your bikes year-round (rain or shine) and making good use of the city’s public transportation system.

For family activities that are both entertaining and informative visit Portland’s kid’s calendar online to plan a fun and educational weekend!

If you’re looking to celebrate without the kids stop by Rontoms on April 22^nd for an Earth day happy hour!  Oregon Council for the Humanities will be organizing a panel of local leaders to guide a discussion on consumer culture. This event is part of a series called Think & Drink, which “invites the public to think and talk together [with an] emphasis on infusing important public conversations with critical thinking and fresh ideas.”

Panelists include Brian Rohter, founder and CEO of New Seasons Market; Shane Endicott, founder of Our United Villages and the Rebuilding Center; and Collin Ferguson, founder, Cascadia Commons/Community Way. The panel will be moderated by Peter Schoonmaker, President of Illahee, a nonprofit forum for environmental innovators.

Have a fantastic earth day and let us know how you chose to celebrate in the comments!

Hasson Company Shares Expertise Nationally

Congratulations and welcome back to Patrice Kuchulis, our Director of Relocation, who just got back from leading a panel at the recent Leading Real Estate Companies of the World Conference in Orlando, Florida! Patrice led discussions on working with rental clients and how best to assist them, how to develop and manage Relocation Management Services (modeled on the Hasson Company’s trendsetting model), and helpful information and advice for Realtors seeking LRE training, among other topics. The Hasson Company was specifically recruited for this opportunity by LRE, which seeks only the best brokerage firms nation-wide. LRE has reported that Patrice’s audience evaluations have been outstanding so far, and continue to come in!

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® is the largest network of top independent local and regional brand-name brokerage firms in the residential sector of real estate. The 550 firms affiliated with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® are represented in more than 30 countries worldwide. LeadingRE affiliates hold the #1 position in sales in 40% of the top 96 markets in the U.S., more than any national franchise organizations. Visit the LRE site for complete information on LeadingRE statistics.

Find out more about Patrice’s outstanding work with the Hasson Relocation Department!

Hasson Company Website Wins Top Honors at Orlando Conference!

We’re excited to announce that the Hasson Company Realtors website won the Website Quality Certification Award for Interactivity at the recent Leading Real Estate Companies of the World conference in Orlando, Florida! The national conference attracted more than 1,000 of the best brokers in the country, and announced honors recognizing excellence in the real estate industry around the country. The Hasson Company website boasts a newly designed and relocated blog, as well as the groundbreaking interactive community search, relocation and cost of living calculator tools designed specifically for our clients.

“We feel strongly as though the web interface is where some of our most innovative services lie,” said Patrice Kuchulis, Director of the Relocation Department. “Receiving a national award for our excellence in Interactivity proves that clients, and other professionals, are looking to Hasson as an example of cutting-edge client-based technology.”

Many of Hasson’s interactive features can be accessed and explored in our Moving into the Area section.

Spring Cleaning Homecare Checklist!

Sunny days are on the rise here in the Northwest, and great weather makes for a perfect time to do some crucial (although not necessarily difficult) checks and repairs around your house to ensure its safety for the coming year. Below is a short list to get you started the next time the sun is shining!

Exterior

Once a year, it’s a great idea to inspect the exterior of your home for changes brought over the autumn and winter.

-Check your foundation for cracks. While looking, this is also a good time to check for plant growth that might be affecting your foundation and could cause problems later.

-Check doors and windows for a complete seal.

-Clean gutters, removing debris from the cold months that can damage the gutter and piping.

-Inspect your home’s paint, and touch up when necessary. This is an aesthetically pleasing task, but it also helps to seal your home against environmental damage.

Interior

Spring is as good a time as any to get interior tasks finished too. Most of these only need to be done once or twice a year.

-Change the batteries in your smoke detectors! Not spring-specific, but often forgotten!

-Drain a gallon or two of water from your hot water heater to extend its working life. Doing this on a day when you don’t need indoor heating is advisable.

-If you have a fireplace, having it checked and cleaned after a long winter of use will help ensure your house isn’t losing cool (or warm) air, and will prep the fireplace for the dips back into low temperatures we so often in the PNW.

-Check and touch-up the grout in your bathrooms, or wherever you have tile. The brighter light of the spring will make impurities more noticeable!

-In time for AC season, have the valves on your heating/cooling systems checked on by a professional.

This list is a good start to your homecare Spring cleaning. How else do you prepare for the sunny months? Let us know in the comments!

Make the First Step Towards Homeownership

If you’ve recently moved to Oregon and are looking to purchase your first home –

Directors Mortgage is here to help you get started.

Directors Mortgage is a locally owned and operated company, headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon. We have 17 offices throughout Oregon and Washington to serve you. We are one of the oldest, most respected names in the mortgage industry. Directors Mortgage specializes in residential loans, purchases, refinances, and debt consolidation. Our primary focus is structuring the financing of your new home to meet your personalized needs. It is truly our goal to exceed your expectations.

Our staff is one of the most experienced mortgage teams in the business, with each Mortgage Specialist having an average of 10 years’ experience in the mortgage industry. Once you call 503-636-6000, we will set you up with one of our mortgage experts and they will walk you through the simple steps of collecting which documents will be needed, and which financing plan will be perfect for you. We pride ourselves on providing you with the best customer service, standing by you all the way throughout the process so there are no surprises. Directors Mortgage is an A+ Better Business Bureau member.

You might also be pleased to know that Directors Mortgage is one of the highest ranked Corporate Philanthropists in the area. Giving back to the community is a vital part of what Directors Mortgage is about. Among 100 non-profits, Directors Mortgage supports various causes ranging from education, hospitals, children’s cancer research and services for children with disabilities. We are dedicated to making a difference in the community by giving back and always remembering that the community is what makes us successful. At Directors, we don’t just lend money, but also lend peace of mind.

Let’s get you started!

Spring is Finally Here!

Spring gives us a lot to celebrate, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Flowers come into bloom, the cherry blossoms along the Willamette explode in color for a few short weeks, the sun returns with more and more frequency. It’s also the season of two major religious holidays, Easter and Passover. If you’re hosting events for either holiday, we’d love to offer some links that will lend your home (and party) a handmade, cozy feel and will save your money for more chocolate bunnies!

Country Living has more than 20 Easter crafts listed, including gorgeous Easter eggs printed with intricate graphics transferred from the computer, papier-mâché nest baskets, and even placemats embroidered with silk flowers!

A tutorial on how to make a sweet centerpiece has been uploaded on Living Locurto that is sure to brighten your Spring table whether you’re hosting a party or not.

Craft Passion teaches you how to make (and grow) tiny egg planters, bringing the new growth of Spring into any space at all!

Downloadable Passover activities, crafts, and readings can be found on DIY Party Planner, making it your one stop resource for DIY event planning.

Feel Good Style has five Easter crafts that will get you party-ready, with minimal time, and common household supplies needed!

Adorable crafts and edible decorations galore can be found at Delish. Try the black licorice nest with chocolate eggs… Yum!

Martha Stewart offers simple, elegant craft and recipe ideas for a beautiful, homemade Pesach celebration for one or for twenty.

Want to avoid conventional dyes for your Easter eggs this year?  Vegetable Gardener shows us how to utilize the naturally vibrant colors of fresh fruits and veggies for our dyes! Step by step instructions are given to make egg decorating a green-living activity.

Congratulations to our Five Star Agents!

 

We are delighted to announce that 36 Hasson agents recently received the 2012 Five Star Professional Award! Only 7% of all real estate agents in the Portland Metropolitan area attained Five Star status! What an honor!

Five Star Professional completes a comprehensive client survey covering multiple categories including work ethic and client relationships. The report was created to assist consumers with the important decision of selecting a broker.  At Hasson Company Realtors we take tremendous pride in only associating with the most professional agents.

Congratulations to the following 36 Hasson agents who have been honored with this award, you deserve it!

Beaverton:

Tim Finn

Lake Oswego:

Pat Bangerter

Kris Burley

Susy Darm

Kathy Hall

Carole Sawyer

Oregon City:

Margaret Sansone

Portland:

Joan Amico

Dotti Belknap

Chris Bonner

Audrey Bonnet

Drew Coleman

Peter Dillenburger

John Ferguson

Melissa Finn

Mindy Forbes

Ed Geist

Lisa Hanna

Debby Hennessy

Mike Hensley

Leo Jacobs

Jordan Johnson

Rick Jolley

Ronda Joseph

Marcia Kies

Mary Ann McDowell

Tim Morgan

Declan O’Connor

Sonja Peterson

Erin Rothrock

Tricia Smith

Carolyn Weinstein

Robin Weinstein

Russ Homewood

Anita Singh-Cardoso

Donald Falk

Sherwood:

Amber Gardner

Jason Gardner

West Linn:

Larry Blackmar

Portland Monthly 2012 Real Estate Edition

Portland Monthly’s annual real estate edition has hit the stands! This year’s issue features the ultimate Garden Guide full of secrets for your backyard. It also holds the much-loved Neighborhood by the Numbers report, detailing everything from median sold price and days on market to bike lanes and bus lines. It’s a fantastic resource and to top it all off, Hasson Company Realtors has a beautiful four page spread featuring twenty-eight of our distinctive properties. We welcome you to browse through the spectacular homes currently showcased on our website. Whether you are looking for a lakefront property, sweeping views of the Cascade Mountain Range, or a downtown Portland penthouse we can help you find it all at hasson.com.

Tips For A Great Home Buying Experience

Q: I am planning on buying a home in Washington later this year and wondered if you have a few tips to simplify the process.

A: That is a great question and I am glad that you asked it. As with many important life events, planning ahead when you want to purchase a home is a wise thing to do. Here are some important tips to follow to insure a great home buying experience.

Get pre-qualified: When you know how much home you can afford – you know your power to buy. With this knowledge you can feel confident about your purchase and the whole closing process will be quicker and easier. And if there are any issues with your credit, this is the best time to address them. There are programs for buyers with little or no down payment and assistance with closing costs can be obtained from the seller or family members. Getting pre-qualified helps you identify the loan that best fits your needs and gets you started on the home buying process.

Pay your bills on time and start saving: There is nothing that impacts the success of your loan application like your credit history. Late payments on loans or credit cards will reduce your credit score and your opportunity for a good loan. And a good disciplined savings program shows the kind of behavior that makes a successful homeowner.

Watch your spending: Try to avoid any big purchases over the months that you are shopping for a home. They can make less money available for a down payment and may add another loan payment which increases your monthly debt load.

Work with a Realtor: Realtors work for you and the transaction, they lower your risk and they know the current market. Your best decisions and purchase negotiations are made with the expert help of a real estate professional.

Take time to choose: Select a neighborhood that you and your family want to be a part of; even a picture-perfect home can be a mistake if it is in an undesirable location. You can save yourself hours of shopping by making a list of features that you must have, would like to have, and definitely don’t want to have. Make it your goal to find the right home for your family without falling in love with one that doesn’t fit your needs.

Relax and have fun: Buying a home is a major life event and the benefits are a tremendous value to you when the process is done with careful preparation. Don’t put off the opportunity to own a home. Directors Mortgage is here to help you get started and we will be with you every step of the way. Give us a call today and start building for your future!

Hasson Company Agents Top MLS Lists Region-Wide

Hasson Company Realtors agents have topped MLS lists across Oregon, according to recently-released 2011 sales information.

Buccola Group, led by Gene Buccola, ranked number one in the Central Oregon MLS, completing 69.9 transactions, totaling $30,962,532.

Patrick Ginn, of Patrick Ginn Real Estate, completed 165 transactions, totaling $50,154,550 and putting him at the top of RMLS, the listing service for the entire Portland Metropolitan area and Clark County.

Together these two agents embody the hard work and dedication of a Hasson agent. Hasson Company agents regularly populate local, regional, and even national rankings. For more information on the Hasson advantage, please visit http://www.hasson.com/our_company/.

It’s Not Easy Being Green

A recent article in the Bend Bulletin showcased a particularly interesting project, dubbed Desert Rain, consisting of a large property constructed from the ground up using purely sustainable materials.

The project follows the standards of the Living Building Challenge, a program created by the International Living Future Institute to define best practices for building and construction. Make no mistake, buying exclusively local is a challenge. Yet Desert Rain was able to not only complete the endeavor, they took the local concept to another level.  Everything from lumber to nails was sourced within 600 miles of the building site.

Now being green isn’t just about building from the ground up, there are smaller-scale changes you can easily incorporate into your life. Check out Live Green to learn where to start!

As buyers create a larger market for green homes, knowledge about sustainability is becoming essential to the industry. Utilizing a real estate company that not only values sustainability, but has proven experience in the field provides a clear advantage whether you are looking to build your own green nest or buy one.

Our Green Certified agents are here to help, one home at a time.

Exciting News for the South Waterfront!

Working closely with Portland Parks & Recreation, the Portland Development Commission has finally revived their plan to extend the Greenway Trail and will begin construction on the first phase as early as July. The city’s plan to establish a network of trails connecting our parks has long been in the works, however, due to the economy, progression has been stagnant.  Well not for much longer!

This segment of the project is a wonderful step in the right direction! If you haven’t had the chance to explore the new developments of the South Waterfront you’ll soon be able to stroll around restored river banks and enjoy an abundance of new trails.

But that’s not all! This enhancement is part of a larger project to be completed in phases. To learn more about the entire project you can visit the Parks and Recreation site which gives an overview of the long-term plans. The Parks and Recreation service will also be working closely with the South Warfront Nature and Greenspaces Committee, which you can join, to receive ongoing updates regarding the project.

To learn more about the South Waterfront in general, or to search for properties nearby, visit our South Waterfront community section.

Welcome Nate Brantly, Christopher Nickel, Lauren Hasson & America Hopson!

Please join us in welcoming Nate Brantley, Christopher Nickel, Lauren Hasson and America Hopson!

Brokers Nate Brantley and Christopher Nickel, work together as The Brantley Group, and are an exciting addition to our Vancouver branch. Brantley, a Portland native and 10-year resident of Vancouver, was the recipient of the 2011 PREA Leading Edge Society Award. Nickel, a Washington native, has a background in sales and technology, joined the Brantley group because it’s “founded on integrity; to our business, our buyers, and our community.”

The Brantley group specializes in foreclosure sales, investment properties, and new buyers. Both Brantley and Nickel aim to incorporate new media and technology in all aspects of their business, which they believe is more available at Hasson than anywhere else.

“The Hasson Company is a breath of fresh air,” said Brantley. “There is such a positive attitude here, and that translates directly to our work with our clients!”

Lauren Hasson will be working predominantly out of the Northwest Portland branch, but will also operate as a mobile agent. With deep roots in Lake Oswego she will also be making frequent visits to our South Metro branch. Growing up in a real estate-centered family, Lauren joins the team having had lifelong exposure to the process of buying and selling property, as well as the fluctuations inherent to the market. Lauren attended the University of Arizona, graduating Summa Cum Laude in Communication and Theatre Arts before returning to the Northwest.

“It’s an exciting time to start in real estate,” said Lauren. “This company, besides being at the center of my family’s life, is cutting-edge in the Northwest, in working with new technology and enabling its agents to work remotely. There’s no business in the area like it.”

We are also enthusiastic to have America Hopson joining our Northwest branch. Born in Montana and raised in Texas, America chose to stay in the Pacific Northwest after working in development for the technology industry in Seattle.

“I’ve always been deeply invested in understanding and utilizing technology as it emerges,” she said. “The Hasson Company is invested in the same thing, and my past work will translate directly into the work I do for Real Estate clients.”

America lives in Northeast Portland with her family, and most looks forward to cultivating a community of clients and colleagues all dedicated to doing personally rewarding, effective business.

Patrick Ginn doubles down!

Every year the South West Washington’s Business Growth Awards (BGA) honors local businesses within the community for their innovation and success.

This year we are excited to nominate Patrick Ginn from our Vancouver office, because he is proof that hard work pays off! In as little as three years his business has more than quadrupled, which is particular impressive given the economy during this same time period. Starting in the business as a transaction coordinator and eventually becoming Team Leader for a very successful real estate team, Patrick went out on his own in 2009. By 2010 he had completed 61 transactional sides with a total sales volume of $15,446,142.02. With enough business and a mindset to grow, Patrick added Jessie Sadlier to assist his team. In 2011 he added Miranda Maldonado as Transaction Coordinator and completed his current team. Together they have accomplished 165 transactional sides with a total sales volume of $50,154,550 just in 2011!

Patrick has not only grown his business in regards to sales volume (production), revenue, net income,  and team members, he has also taken on multiple locations resulting in over 100 current listings. Patrick also continues to expand his role in key Residential development and construction projects. In doing so, his continued work on these projects has helped generate a significant portion of the new home construction activity within Clark County, directly benefiting the local economy and putting people to work

For 2012, Patrick continues to aggressively expand his business and his reach, and is on his pace for another year of growth following his record year in 2011. After being the top selling Broker in the entire RMLS in 2011, Patrick is on pace to remain the #1 selling Broker in all of Clark County.

Congratulations Patrick! Whether you win or not, everyone here at the Hasson Company is proud of your achievements.

Sustainable Living: Health-Conscious Fireplaces

Whether or not Punxsutawney Phil had seen his shadow on Groundhog Day, we in the Northwest know we still have a couple months of chilly winter ahead of us before spring.

Installing a fireplace, or using one that’s already built into your home, is a cozy, traditional way to heat your house while also encouraging relaxed nights gathered around the fire. As with many systems in your home, though, using a fireplace can have repercussions for your health and environment if you’re not careful. Natural Homes and Gardens last month published a blog post about what factors to take into consideration before using a fireplace.

First, the bad news. According to the NH&G post, burning wood emits dioxin, arsenic, and benzene, all chemicals with adverse effects on human health. Wood fireplaces also lose a great deal of heat, usually more than they create, through the vents needed to let smoke out of the house.

The good news: Wood burning is not the only way to heat a house through a fireplace! Pellet-burning fireplaces are becoming more and more popular, and burn sawdust, wood chips and biomass instead of wood. They release far fewer chemicals AND less particulate matter (the tiny particles that make your eyes burn and throat hurt when you’re near a fire for too long). These can be built as stand-alone units or as add-ons, and will generally cost around 3,500 including installation.
More good news: You don’t need to give up on wood-burning stoves and fireplaces, either. Just check to make sure your fireplace is EPA-certified, and if it’s not, consider having alterations made to bring it up to code. EPA stoves and fireplaces are built to create the same amount of heat while burning less wood than previous models. You’ll continue getting the warmth and experience of gathering around a fire, and you won’t be negatively affecting your health or the environment to stay cozy.

If a new fireplace isn’t in the cards for you quite yet, another way to improve the safety of your current setup is to have your fireplace checked by a professional every year. Smaller alterations made to lessen chemical and particulate output are a good way to stay safe while you save up to buy a cleaner system.

Stay safe and warm this winter!

Top Producers Have Some of the Best Stories!

Celebrating our top producers at the Oregon Gardens this year was a truly photographable event!

Our photo of the month for March captures Mike Hasson and Steven Studley cracking up in the background as one of our top producers, Drew Coleman, steps up to the podium to share his most embarrassing real-estate story. Drew was one of three agents to win this contest though all three stories managed to inspire both hearty laughs and jaw dropping gasps!

Karen Malanga and Ronda Joseph also stepped up to the podium that night and helped to get the celebration started!

Thanks to all who participated in the contest, and cheers to all of our top producers for making the evening a blast! Thanks to these photos we will never forget it.

Too see more photos from the top producers event at the Oregon Gardens visit our Facebook page and check out the new album!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

This St. Paddy’s, celebrate luck and good fortune with these creative, handmade decoration projects that think outside the glitter leprechaun box!

Tip Junkie is a great online resource for DIY decorating in general, and has a huge resource list for St. Patrick’s Day. Visit to find instructions for hosting St. Paddy’s parties, making hanging shamrocks, green garlands, and even decorative flower pots. All of the supplies needed are either found in most homes, or cheap and easy to find.

Home décor guru Good Housekeeping offers this tutorial for creating gorgeous napkin charms for St. Patrick’s Day, or any event when food or guests will be Irish.

Queen of DIY is another independent blogger focusing on homemade crafts, and here the site offers a sweet green shamrock garland that works especially well along the borders of doorways. Perfect for entertaining guests!

Highlights from the She Knows site are a photo-booth-ready St. Patrick’s Day frame and a beautiful wreath made out of scraps of green fabric. Reduce waste AND create a timeless, colorful home decoration!

Finally, All Kids Network offers a simple, kid-friendly craft project, making 4-leaf clovers out of bell peppers cut in half. A great way to let kids feel like they’re part of the decorating and celebrations!

Have fun and stay safe this St. Patrick’s Day!

Sustainable Living: Winter Energy Conservation

The Midwest may get winter weather a little more extreme than we usually see here in the Northwest, but Michigan-based web firm JSN Café published last year a list of ten ways to save on energy bills during the winter that can be used anywhere where the winter brings dark, chilly days.

Heat

JSN recommends replacing your current heating system, if your home was built more than ten years ago. This can be an expensive option, but can also cut your energy bills hugely, and may even qualify you for sustainability-based tax breaks. Do some research before replacing your system to find out whether or not your plans qualify for these deductions.

If redoing your house’s entire heating system isn’t feasible right now, try adding a supplemental source of heat. Radiant heaters are extremely light on the energy grid, and are perfect for placing at your feet while you’re relaxing. Pellet stoves, which were mentioned in our previous post, are also an eco-friendly option.

Insulation

If you’ve owned your home for several years, replacing some windows can solve air leakage problems and ensure you’re insulating your home effectively. Either by yourself or with the help of a professional, figure out where your house is leaking air, and do whatever improvements will solve those problem areas. Caulking windows and ducts, as well as adding insulation will help dramatically decrease the amount of warm air being let out of your house. Another way to cut heat loss is to close your fireplace damper whenever it’s not in use.

Water Heater Maintenance

The first and easiest way to start conserving energy during the winter is to turn down your water heater and thermostat by a few degrees, and leave it on this lower temperature. Turning it on and off wastes a large amount of energy, as does pumping the appliance up to a higher temperature sporadically. Choose a moderate temperature, set it, and use supplemental heating if necessary. Swaddling your water heater will also help maintain temperature, although be sure when wrapping it in insulation not to cover valves or pipe connections.

How do you keep your home eco-friendly and cozy during the cold months? Let us know in the comments!

Hasson Company’s Patrice Kuchulis Will Serve as PRC’s 2012-13 President

Director of Relocation and Corporate Services Patrice Kuchulis, CRP, GMS, can now add to her lengthy list of accomplishments the Presidency of the Portland Relocation Council for 2012. Kuchulis was elected to the position by the PRC’s Board of Directors.

Aside from her new position, Kuchulis is a member of the Employee Relocation Council (ERC), the Relocation Director’s Council (RDC), has served two terms on the Advisory Council for Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LRE), and has directed the relocation activity for The Hasson Company for 19 years.  Patrice is a regular teacher and speaker at national relocation conferences.

The Portland Relocation Council is an organization, which is dedicated to supporting and educating the Portland relocation community thru two local education seminars per year.  The audiences consist of Corporate HR specialists, Recruiters, Compensation people, real estate relocation specialists, movers, temporary housing and other vendors who touch the relocation process.

“The Portland Relocation Council is a true leader in the Pacific Northwest relocation arena,” says Kuchulis. ““Leading the PRC Board for 2012-13 will give me an even greater opportunity to strengthen the appeal of the Portland Relocation Council with the Corporate Community in and around Portland and regionally.  We have an exciting Board including Joe Willis and Kayla Soleglad with NIKE, Mary Bush with Tektronix,  Lisa Skillman with Con-way,  Kory Hauser with First Tech Credit Union,  Beth Archibald with Archibald Relocation,  Scott O’Neil with Swartz United, Wendy Sanman with Oakwood Corporate Housing, Vince Rosaur with Graebel movers and Susie McGill with Prudential NW Properties.”

Directors Mortgage Down Payment Ideas

Q.  We have heard that Directors Mortgage serves the Oregon and Washington. We would like to purchase a home and have very little available cash. Do you know of some creative ways to come up with a down payment?

A. That is a great question and I am pleased to tell you that there are many down payment sources that you may not have thought of.  Gift funds are a source that is often used. These funds must be gifted from a relative or domestic partner and can be used for settlement costs as well as for the down payment. You can also access funds for a home purchase from the cash value of a life insurance policy when the borrower is the policy holder. Borrowed funds that are secured by an asset or from a 401K or IRA are also acceptable. Another way to generate funds for a purchase is through the documented sale of an asset such as a car, jewelry, or coins. Monies from an inheritance, savings bonds, stock and mutual funds are also considered good down payment sources. While assets from the more traditional depository accounts such as checking, savings, and money market accounts are always welcomed;  Directors Mortgage is ready to creatively look at all down payment options and we look forward to the opportunity to make the dream of home ownership a reality.