Several of the major cities in Oregon join other cities and municipalities across America in requiring sellers of single-family homes, starting in 2018, to disclose a "home energy report" and score at the time of listing. This is an effort from the US Department of Energy and the City of Portland to improve energy use and encourage making improvements to homes with a low score.  This from the Department of Energy website: "Developed by Department of Energy and its national laboratories, the Home Energy Score provides home owners, buyers, and renters directly comparable and credible information about a home’s energy use. Like a miles-per-gallon rating for a car, the Home…

Not all home improvement projects are created equal. Some home renovations are more "equal" than others, and that is especially true when looking for improvements and renovations which are going to effect your bottom line when putting them on the market for sale. When considering doing a home improvement or home renovation, consider what kind of return on investment that specific renovation will return. The project you are thinking about doing may not add as much value as you think it will when it comes time to sell. Check out the chart above for five home renovations and home improvements that really pay off!

As you may have heard, Oregon is now the first to have passed a state-wide rent control bill that is now law. Earlier in the month I attended  a class on the "State of Rentals in Portland". Among the hot topics of conversation was the proposed state-wide Rent Control bill, SB 608. Since that time, the bill has passed the Senate and has become law. According to the article from NPR, "Under this new law, landlords across the state could raise rent no more than 7 percent per year, plus the annual change in the consumer price index. The bill carves out an exemption for rental properties that are less than…