I’m really proud of my daughter and her team this year! Her team of 12 and 13 year olds took on some much older girls, including some as old as 15 and ending up taking 6th place! To be honest we didn’t expect them to even do that good this year, but they stepped up. They played up this year so they could be better next year and they were awesome, but there some things that can only come with age and those include speed and strength that a 15 year old has that a 12 year old doesn’t. But, despite those setbacks they played their hearts out and did an awesome job. So, congratulations Crushers, can’t wait to see what you can do next year! 06/25/2011

Over the last four days my son has been playing in the Little League playoffs and thanks to a couple well placed hits including a double that knocked in a run. The Mariners Little League team my son plays on placed 2nd in the Forest Grove little league championship. Way to go son, we are so proud of you! 06/13/2011

Though the calendar says spring was her, the weather certainly wasn’t letting us know that it was spring, (It was 38 at game time) but still those two things don’t mean spring to me. What means spring to me is to hear that first crack of that bat hitting the ball into outfield as my kids started little league this week.  It was nice as I got my camera back just hours before my son’s first game last night. Though I’m a Red Sox fan the only win I’ve gotten to see this year was my son, since he has already gotten a better record than my Sox who started the season 0-6. (OUCH) 04/08/2011

Are you looking for great walking trails in the Beaverton / Hillsboro area? Then look no further than Rock Creek Trail which is maintained by the Hillsboro Parks and Recreation Department. This park is amazing and everywhere we went we could hear the animals. We saw ducks, robins, blue jays, squirrels and we could hear geese and frogs. (Never saw them, but they were there) We even found a couple Geocaches in the park, so if you are in to that, then make sure you stop here. Now, we also discovered a couple offshoots of the main trail and we are going to have to go back, because we didn’t have the time or the energy to follow them as well. But, we certainly had fun on the walking trails in Hillsboro and parking was easy. We actually ended up parking next to the Tanasbourne Community Poli... 01/31/2011

Buying a Home in Hillsboro, OR -- Hillsboro Real Estate Market Trends Year-End Review 2010 This post provides a comparison of property in Hillsboro that were listed and sold in 2010.  Hillsboro, OR area 152 -- Information for DETACHED PROPERTIES (no condo/townhomes/attached) Buying a home in Hillsboro . . . The charts below EXCLUDE foreclosures Report Summary Total Listed: 1,616 Minimum Sold Price: $49,547 Total Active Units: 338 Total Sold: 677 Average Sold Price: $262,238 Units Sold/Months Back: 56     Median Sold Price: $240,000 Months of Inventory: 6.0     Maximum Sold Price: $925,000   Buying a home in Hillsboro . . . The charts below INCLUDE foreclosures Report Summary Total Listed: 360 Minimum Sold Price: $35,000 Total Active Units: 91 Total Sold: 273 Average Sold Price: $194,698... 01/03/2011

Our Portland home staging company was contacted for a proposal to stage a home in Hillsboro, Oregon, that had been on the market for over 4 months.  The sellers had moved into their new home and hoped for a sale before the winter (and slower selling season) set in.  We gave them our suggestions for a few easy cosmetic improvements -- so they took the home off the market for a week, changed listing agents, and then we staged the home and provided new photos for the online listing. Without lowering the listing price, the result was a sale in just 21 days!  Here are some Before & After photos .... A few other "After" photos of this home .... ~ Why did this home sell after being on the market for over 4 months, just 21 days after staging? ~ Because the sellers knew that contacting a profess... 11/14/2010

UPDATE:  This home was on the market for 4 months, then was staged -- and has a pending sale just 21 days after staging! This lovely 4-bedroom home in the Jones Farm area of Hillsboro, Oregon has exceptional schools in a great neighborhood.   MLS # 10083255;  4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths;  2,490 sq ft.   Manicured backyard with deck & patio for entertaining family and friends; remodeled kitchen with slab granite counters and S/S appliances;  river rock fireplace in cozy family room.  Soaring windows let in lots of light! For more information on this property contact Tran Baunach, Re/Max Equity Group @ 503-809-9686   10/22/2010

New clients recently hired our company to stage a vacant home in Hillsboro Oregon, just east of Portland.  The property had been an abused rental, so when I first viewed it, I was able to provide the sellers with advice for easy cosmetic fixes, paint colors, etc.  They worked on the property for quite a few weeks, taking care of home repairs including replacing windows, reconfiguring the family room, and improving curb appeal.  When the staging was completed, I received a wonderful email from my client.  In part, it said "This house looked drab before and had been an abused rental, so we were all very sick of dealing with it. My 7-year-old would complain non-stop every time we had to go over there. As soon as he saw it staged, he said "I don't want to leave" and "I think we should just ... 08/30/2010

This lovely ranch-style home in Hillsboro OR is move-in ready and waiting for its next owner  SOLD quickly after staging  Brand new hardwoods in bright, open great room with vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.  Large backyard with huge deck is great for entertaining.  Living room has refinished hardwoods and a cozy fireplace for chilly nights.  New windows and furnace.  Designer colors used throughout make this home a showpiece! 08/13/2010

Transform a home very quickly with new flooring and especially, new carpeting. The renovation is not complete without a fresh new carpet and pad. New 100% Nylon carpets are the best investments, resist stains and absorption of cooking odors and generate less indoor pollution than others available today. They are also very reasonable and give you so much for so little spent.  I recommend that you:  -Buy new padding. Old padding holds more odors than the carpeting.  -Spend the money for an 8 lb. pad to provide the luxurious feel of top carpeting.  -Shop around and find the best buy locally. You will shipping costs or delays on your projects. -Match color tones to blend with your furnishings and wall colors staying on the lighter side to create the feeling of more space.  -Find carpets on ... 07/03/2010

As the end of baseball season ends, my youngest had her end of the year party first.They decided to have it Out of this World Pizza and I have to admit I had never heard of the place before then. To be honest when I got the invitation I thought they had made a mistake. It was on the outskirts of Hillsboro, OR and in the middle of a heavy industrial area. (Not the place you would expect to find a huge pizza place)So, we went not knowing what to expect at all. Well I do have to say I was really surprised to get to the address and find a warehouse with the name Out of the World Pizza on the front. Then we walked in and it took up the whole building! It was a giant playhouse for kids and boy were my kids happy! (I think I saw them for maybe 10 minutes during the next two hours and that was ... 06/13/2010

When you are looking into making changes in your Hillsboro home, whether it is a large renovation project, an addition or, adding new flooring and paint - a good contractor with experience and practicing good craftsmanship can actually save you money. They will provide good insight into what the finished project will look like and how well it would add to the existing structure. They bring their training and experience to the job and are responsible to ensure a successful improvement. Most times, a Hillsboro homeowner will not follow the permit process and find themselves building out of established codes. Unless you do remodeling professionally, it can be difficult and expensive to purchase the needed tools to do the job right and, most importantly, provide the end result that will app... 05/18/2010

Our housing market is slowly changing but, you may not have noticed: -Interest rates are up and down lately and may impact the opportunity for many people to buy. If we begin a slow upward trend in interest rates, many will find their mortgage payments too high to qualify.   -While home prices are stabilizing, in some states, they are actually starting to rise up again. If possible for you to buy before the market climbs much higher, you might be on your way to a new financial future. Remember: paging rent is not building wealth but helping to pay someone else’s mortgage. Sometimes, for only a few hundred dollars more a month, you may be able to buy your own    It may behoove you to sell your home to move up. The neighborhood you couldn't qualify for in 2007/8 may be more affordable now... 03/02/2010

I’ve never been an enthusiastic proponent of laminate products. But, they do have a place in the market where hardwood and carpet is not is a realistic choice.    Last month I had the pleasure of working with clients who budgeted to make appropriate and reasonable changes in a home to be sold. As it turned out, I volunteered to be involved in the updating process and was very excited to do so.    My clients already had a competent contractor and we examined the home and determined, a wall-to-wall carpet in the living room needed to be removed and the kitchen, powder room and utility room flooring were all different on the main. I suggested that the entire main floor be covered with a laminate instead of multi surfaces and went into a research mode to find something light colored that d... 02/09/2010

  1. Paint- A very dramatic update to your home will be attained with fresh paint. Avoid white walls by adding a soft, light wash of color that "pushes" walls back, and creates warmth and a more inviting feeling.    2. Remove old hardware on cabinet doors, bathroom and kitchen faucets. Don't forget old door knobs, starting with your front door.    3. Make the repairs you know need to be made. You will enjoy your home so much more and you will be able to sell quickly. Buyers recognize a home that is well maintained.    4. Clean out old things you are not using and give them to Goodwill where someone else can put them to good use. A sparsely decorated home with interesting, but good quality items is far more appealing than a home that is jammed with too many collectibles full of dust!    ... 02/08/2010

Update:  This Hillsboro Oregon Seller rec'd 3 offers within 10 days of Home Staging ~ and accepted one for over asking price! Our Portland-based home staging company was recently hired to stage a lovely home in nearby Hillsboro Oregon.  Although this home was built in 2003, the furnishings that the sellers left behind when they moved out were making the home look a bit older.  By adding some color for "punch" and updated accessories, this home now shows as move-in ready for the target buyers, a young professional couple. Our staging service includes providing quick & cost-effective cosmetic fixes that the seller can do before we arrive to do the final staging.  See if you can spot a few changes between the Before & After Photos ... Sometimes a strong paint color scheme can put buyers of... 01/24/2010

Update:  This home was staged and listed, and the seller received 3 offers in less than 2 weeks -- and accepted one for Over Asking Price! Immaculate 4-BR home in Hillsboro's Orenco Gardens near Max light rail.  1,724 sq ft with 2.5 bathrooms.  4th bedroom is on main, perfect for den or office.  9-ft ceilings, upgraded cherry cabinets and hardwoods. Extra built-ins in dining area are great for entertaining and storage.  RMLS# 1000596  Open on Sunday 1/24 from 1 to 3pm, hosted by Diane Mealey ~ John L. Scott Realty Just two blocks to Max Light Rail!  Front yard and Park maintenance included in HOAs. For more details contact Diane Mealey, John L. Scott @ 503-380-1861 01/23/2010

07/08/2009

 Beaverton is full of many great parks and Sexton Mountain Park would be no exception, with a play structure, some sort of track for parent to exercise on and even a basket ball court.But, there is one thing that Sexton Mountain Park lacks, and that is parking! There is NONE! So unless you live within walking distance of this park, don’t bother even driving to it, because the streets are very narrow and every one of them has a no parking sign.I ended up not even taking my kids to this park because of the parking situation. I had to have my wife drop me off so I could get the pictures and then she came back 5 minutes later to pick me up after driving around the park to see if we were just missing a place to park.So, if you live in the Sexton Mountain neighborhood, enjoy your park, but if... 06/21/2009

 Harvey our r 06/10/2009