It’s the time of year when real estate prices are falling and great deals abound.  Three listings of mine have just been reduced in price.  Click on any of the photos below to go straight to their details page.

 Cascade/River View Lots in SE Bend

Family Home In Traditions East Neighborhood in East Bend

Deschutes Mobile Home Park

Carbon monoxide detectors are simple fixtures located in most residential homes.  They set off an alert when the colorless, odorless, and poisonous carbon monoxide gas is measured in a room.  Oregon law requires them to be installed in homes with a CO source, or ones with an attached garage with that opens into the house.  Other states have similar laws–mandating carbon monoxide detectors.  All residential or rental properties transferring ownership need to be fitted with detectors before the sale.

Installation is relatively simple.  If you cannot hard wire them in, some are designed to be plugged in, and some are battery operated.  Oregon law requires any new instillations of CO detectors to be less than five years old.  The best places to install are in hallways by bedrooms, or in each bedroom itself.  Different manufacturers specify wall or ceiling, so read all packaging materials carefully.

Places you should NOT install carbon monoxide detectors are in garages, next to ceiling fans, gas burning appliances, gas fireplaces, gas water heaters, or in direct sunlight.   More information about the regulations can be found on the Oregon fire marshal’s website at Oregon.gov.  For residents of other states, visit your own fire marshal’s website.

A Bend, Oregon home under a dusting of snow.

There is a hint of fall in the air today.  Central Oregon temperatures are slowly dropping and all too soon cold winter weather will be upon us.  This is the best time of year to assess winter heating and determine ways to conserve energy and save on heating costs.  The following tips will help homeowners prepare for the cold weather.  Some take only minutes, others require purchasing a few supplies or hiring a professional.

1) To begin, a home energy audit can be extremely beneficial in determining where your energy use is ineffective.  Some electric or gas companies offer these audits for free, and sometimes government agencies offer heavy rebates.  Check with your utility providers for more information.

2) Install a programmable thermostat, then lower temperatures while you are away at work and at night.  This can create a 10% reduction in heating costs in only one season.

3) Clean or replace your furnace filters.  Clean filters will help your furnace run more efficiently.  Disposable filters cost only a few dollars.  Reusable ones will cost around twenty five dollars.

4) Turn your water heater down.  The recommended temperature is 120 degrees, but most water heaters are set high above that.  If you have an old water heater, the insulation might be insufficient and you can install a specially designed water heater blanket to maximize efficiency.

5) Caulk and weather-strip your home.  Seal any cracks around window frames, light switches, and electrical outlets with caulking.  Replace old weather-stripping in exterior door frames to create a tight seal against the winter chill.

6) Keep windows covered at night.  This prevents heat from escaping through the glass. Open up window coverings—especially ones with southern exposure—during the day, to absorb the plentiful Oregon sunlight.

7) Lastly, wear socks around your house.  When your feet are cold, the rest of your body gets cold so as a habit, wear socks and the chill will be much less noticeable.

Enjoy the winter, and if you are a Central Oregon resident, enjoy the snow!

Sources: money.com, kcc.state.ks.us, realestateinsidernews.com

For years the “American Dream” has been homeownership; a place of your own, a picket fence, a garage and a backyard. Every two years, the real estate website, Trulia, surveys Americans on their views on homeownership. This year the results showed that, despite the recession and despite foreclosure increases, most adults consider their personal American dream to own a home.

Eighty percent of those surveyed, claim that they plan one more home purchase in their lifetime. They are not actively looking but it is one of their goals. Sarah Stelmock, a broker in Fredericksburg. Vermont, says it is inevitable that people will buy because real estate is one of the best investments available. Even the young generation, the Millennials aged 18-34, dream of homeownership. Sixty five percent claim it as a major part of their American dream. The only worrying factors to them are saving enough for a down payment qualifying for a mortgage, and job stability.

The information gathered in this year’s survey showed that people are not as interested in large homes. Dubbed the “McMansion” by Trulia, these homes are over 4000 square feet and often located in suburbs and rural areas. The up and coming homeowner is more interested in urban areas, for reasons such as proximity to shops and short commutes.

In Bend, Oregon, thirty one percent of the population is between twenty and forty. If trends from the Trulia survey are true, this is a demographic very interested in buying a home. They will be looking for residences close to the college, the grocery stores, and their workplaces. If the questions of down payment, credit, and job stability can be solved, now is an opportune time for them to enter the housing market and fulfil their American dream of homeownership.

Photo credits: trulia.com