Hood River Real Estate Update

I began my real estate career in 1993. I have always liked houses and am very knowledgeable about construction. I thought real estate would be a good way to combine skills and be able to both build and sell. My husband is a contractor and we have built 7 new construction homes together, along with 5 major rebuilds. When I say together, I mean it literally. My husband is not paper contractor and has no crew. It is really a family operation, my husband and I, and sometimes our sons when they're available.  We do all the layout for the foundation, setting up forms, pouring concrete, framing all the walls, sheathing, roofing, windows, doors, siding, drywall, painting, cabinetry, flooring, and finish work. The only thing we sub-contract is the excavation, plumbing, heating and electrical. (We actually put in our own furnace for the first time on the house we are now finishing). I also really like helping people, and searching out excellent deals. I must have the entrepreneurial spirit and I guess be a bit of a risk taker, as we have been in business for ourselves for over 25 years. 

Over the years I have sold and listed many homes and properties. The truth of the matter is I am more of a buyers agent. I work very hard and leave no stone unturned to find exactly what my buyers are looking for. I have worked for some clients for many years before they found what they wanted. Some are still looking and I diligently keep them up to date on listings as they come on. I worked for another Broker in Hood River for almost 7 years. When she became a manufactured home dealer, I left as I didn't want to sell them. I became a Broker myself in 2000.

The real estate market is ever changing. I believe it is important for a Broker to know specifically what is happening in the area they represent. It is also crucial that you keep up with continuing education, legal changes and all the necessary forms and paperwork. This can be slightly more difficult when you are licensed in 2 states with some differences.

Here is the latest home we are building in Hood River. We recently finished the outside soffits. Currently we are painting inside and plan to start on siding soon. 

 Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. Many entries on this blog are based on the opinions and  ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.  

A scorcher of a day is on tap for Hood River and the Gorge. Temperatures are predicted to reach 105 degrees in Hood River and even higher in The Dalles. There is currently no wind in Hood River and the  temperature continues to rise. Yesterday I was thinking back to those days in January when we had plenty of snow. Remember all that snow? At the time we were so tired of it.

Summer is definately here! Summer events are happening as well as the many outdoor recreation possibilities. Hood River Saturday Market was open yesterday with Marimba music and a full selection of vendors selling fresh grown produce, handmade pottery, clothes, jewelry, and food booths.

Below are pictures from my walk through downtown Hood River this morning. Stratton Gardens is in full bloom. The outdoor seating behind Horsefeathers is now  completed.

Perhaps the best plan for today is to find someplace with water and try and stay cool. One always popular spot is the Hood River Aquatic Center. The covers are off now for open air swimming.

Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. Many entries on this blog are based on the opinions and  ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.  

July 4, 2008- Hood River 4th of July Celebration - Annual 4th of July parade, Joe Kollas Memorial 7.4 mi Run/Walk, musical entertainment in Jackson Park, Home Run Derby followed by a ball game, then watch the fireworks over the river.

July 10-13, 2008- Rock & Gem Show- located in Cascade Locks

July 12, 2008- Jammin' July Streetfest- The Dalles

July 12-13, 2008- Hood River Cherry Days- Many varieties of frsh picked cherries will be available at farm stands, BBQs, live music, www.hoodriverfruitloop.com for more details

July 17-19, 2008  Fort Dalles Pro Rodeo- The Dalles- "Rough n'Wild" Pro Rodeo, parade, steak feed, dance, www.thefortdallesrodeo.com for more details

July 17-20, 2008 WIND Clinic & Sailing Regatta- Cascade Locks

July 19, 2008  Fort Dalles Days Run- 3K/5K/10K  walk/run  Starting at Riverfront Park in The Dalles at 7:30 am

July 26, 2008  TourdeCure  Summit to Surf 13 In this fundraising event for the American Diabetes Assn. you can pick your bicycle route. The Family Fun Ride is 10 miles, on the Mosier Tunnel Trail  Meadows to Hood River-36 Mile Leisure Ride   Government Camp-48 mile ride starting at Government Camp   "The Original"-+2 -56 Mile Ride starts at Welches, winds through Barlow and Bennet Pass  Summit-68 mile Starts at Welches, through Govt Camp, up to Timberline and down to Hood River   Super Summit-75 Miles Starts at Welches, up to Govt Camp then to Timberline, back toward Hood River and the Mosier Tunnels then to the finish line in Hood River  Fire & Ice-100 mile ride  This ride begins at Welches, up to Govt Camp, Timberline, coast to Neal Creek Road, through the Mosier Tunnels,Rowena Point ,Rowena and then Hood River.  www.diabetes.org/portlandtourdecure

 July 30-August 2, 2008- Hood River County Fair-  The Hood River County Fair is held each summer in Odell. 4-H and open class exhibits, food and vendor booths, entertainment, carnival rides

Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. Many entries on this blog are based on the opinions and  ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.  

The Discovery Center in The Dalles Oregon is a fun place to visit. The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center is the official interpretive center for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.  This 26,100 square foot exhibit wing holds interactive displays to learn about the volcanic activity, and floods that created the Gorge. Other displays show Native American traditions, pioneers, wildlife, and vegetation of the Gorge.  The Wasco County Historical Museum is also housed at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center.

According to Chief Economist of the National Association of REALTORS-Dr. Lawrence Yun- the state of Oregon has the lowest foreclosure rate in the entire nation.  Washington state has the second lowest foreclosure rate in the nation.  This information was presented at the recent Regional Home Ownership Opportunities Summit Hosted by the Portland Metropolitan Association of REALTORS.

Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. Many entries on this blog are based on the opinions and  ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.    

Skamania County is located in southwestern Washington. It spans a distance of 1672 sq. miles on the north shore of the Columbia River. The Gifford Pinchot National Forest covers more than 80% of Skamania County. Portions of the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area are located in Skamania County. Skamania County is bisected north and south by the Cascade Mountain Range.  To get to Skamania County you can take State Route 14  east from Vancouver, WA or Interstate 84 east from Portland, OR to Cascade Locks and cross into Washington on the Bridge of the Gods.

Here are the annual rainfall amounts in Skamania County:

• Carson/Home Valley- 80"
• Mill A/Cook/Willard- 55"
• North Bonneville- 70"
• Skamania/Prindle- 70"
• Stabler- 99"
• Stevenson- 80" 
• Underwood- 47"
• Upper Washougal/Cape Horn/Skye/Mt. Pleasant- 56"

I lived in Stevenson from 1985-1991. It was a sleepy little timber town back then. Today Stevenson has turned into a popular spot with new shops, art galleries, antique shops, good restaurants-(Joe's El Rio, Big River Grill, The Crab Shack, and more) Bahma Coffee shop, a local brewery (Walking Man), and even fastfood-Subway Sandwiches.  The Skamania County Lodge has brought a golf course and destination resort facilities to Stevenson. The Interpretive Museum has interesting and beautiful displays.  The Stevenson Library has always been a favorite spot. There's also the luxury of having a Public year round indoor pool in a small town. Stevenson is located about 45 minutes from Troutdale. An easy drive to PDX.

If you are interested in moving to Stevenson, I would be happy to help you find the home or property you are looking for.

Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. Many entries on this blog are based on the opinions and  ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.    

Did you know ?

• Hood River County was once a part of the nation's largest county-Wasco County
• Hood River County was established as the thirty-fourth county in Oregon June 23, 1908 by passage of a statewide initiative     
• Hood River County today is the second smallest County in the state of Oregon
• The size of Hood River County is 522 square miles
• The elevation in Hood River County varies from 51 feet above sea level on the river to 11,245 ft at the southern tip on the top of Mt. Hood
• The Mt. Hood National Forest and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area own over half the land base in Hood River County
• Hood River County owns and manages 31,000 acres of forest. Another 28,000 acres is private forest land-managed for production of timber
• The population of Hood River County increased 21% from 1990 to 2000 to 20,411(5,831 in the City of Hood River, 1,100 in the City of Cascade Locks, the remainder in the rest of the County)
• Hood River County is the top producer of winter pears in the United States
• Irrigated cropland totals appr. 15,000 acres in Hood River County
• Agriculture, tourism, and recreation are the principal industries in Hood River County

 Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. Many entries on this blog are based on the opinions and  ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.    

Fire season in Oregon typically begins in May or June and ends when the fall rains come. During fire season open burning may be prohibited and other burning restrictions may apply.  To protect your home from fire danger you will want to keep a defensible space of 30-200 ft around your home. This can depend on the characteristics of your land including terrain, slope and also the type of vegetation surrounding your home. If you live in a rural setting or on acreage it is especially important to consider some fire prevention measures. These include:

• Maintaining proper access to your home and make sure your street address is visible and easy to read in case of fire or other emergency
• pruning the branches of trees below 12' to remove fuels that help ground fires spread
• Trim branches away from your roof and house. Keep your gutters and vents clean
• Maintain 30" of green lawn or fire resistant plants around your house
• Store any firewood away from your house.
• Replace wood shake roofs with comp or metal roofing
• Screen vents and under deck areas with metal mesh
• Trim branches along your driveway at least 14' tall and wide
• Have water and firefighting tools readily available in case of an emergency

Fire danger in the gorge is often a concern during fire season. Last summer a fire started on the westside of Hood River and many homes were threatened and people were evacuated. The fire was maintained and no homes were lost. During this fire a wedding that was taking place had to be relocated from Stonehedge Gardens to the Columbia Gorge Hotel.  Another fire started below Underwood and traveled up the steep bluff terrain to Upper Underwood. 6 homes were totally destroyed. Please do your part to be careful and protect your home and also our parks and state lands.

I took this picture of last summers Underwood Gorge fire from my house.

Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. Many entries on this blog are based on the opinions and  ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.    

The five mile Twin Tunnels Trail runs between Hood River and Mosier. This restored segment of the old highway passes through two climate zones. If you start at the west Mark O. Hatfield Trailhead near Hood River you will pass through a forest of fir trees and common western Oregon plants. Viewpoints along the 3.5 mile setment overlook the Columbia River. When you reach the Twin Tunnels you will see how the scenery changes leading through semi-arid terrain dotted with ponderosa pine for about a mile until you reach the town East Mark O. Hatfield Trailhead near the town of Mosier.  
 

Both trailheads for the Twin Tunnels segment require a day use pass ($3 per vehicle per day,

 Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. Many entries on this blog are based on the opinions and  ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.  

The Lyle Twin Bridges Museum is located at Third and Hwy 14 in downtown Lyle, Washington.  On June 14-15. 2008, there will be a booth at the Lyle Park Place for the 6th annual 13-plus Miles of Yard Sales. The sale hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum  first opened the Summer of 2007.  The museum's focus is on history of the Lyle area.  The collection consists of photographs, newspaper articles, Lyle(town) and Lyle School histories, mementos and other memorabilia.  Donations & information with a connection to this area will be gladly accepted.

Other museums in Klickitat County are the Gorge Heritage Museum in Bingen,  the Maryhill museum near Maryhill and the Klickitat County Historical Society located at the Presby Mansion in Goldendale.

Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. Many entries on this blog are based on the opinions and  ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.