Flowers and Fruit and Veggies… Oh, My! Portland Area Farmers Markets

May kicks off the season for fresh, locally grown produce available around the city, throughout the week at a number of different farmer’s markets.  Get fresh produce at a fraction of the price while supporting our local farmers!

Hillsdale Farmers’ Market
Sundays, 10am-2pm
May – Late November
Twice monthly, December – April
1405 SW Vermont
Rieke Elem/Wilson HS Pkg lot
parking entrance: SW Sunset Blvd
& SW Capitol Hwy
Eamon Molloy • (503) 475-6555
contact@hillsdalefarmersmarket.com
www.hillsdalefarmersmarket.com
Oregon Trail Food Stamp Market

Hollywood Farmers’ Market
Saturdays, 8am-1pm
May – October
Saturdays, 9am-1pm
November until Thanksgiving
NE Hancock between 44th & 45th,
One block South of Sandy
Sarah Broderick • (503) 709-7403
info@hollywoodfarmersmarket.org
www.hollywoodfarmersmarket.org
Oregon Trail Food Stamp Market

Interstate Farmers Market
Wednesdays, 3-7pm
Mid May – September 
Overlook Park, N Fremont & Interstate
(971) 344-0115
contact@interstatefarmersmarket.com
www.interstatefarmersmarket.com
Oregon Trail Food Stamp Market

Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market
Saturdays, 8:30am-1:30pm
Mid May – Mid October 
Millennium Park, 1st St & Evergreen
Maddie Ovenell • (503) 697-6590
movenell@ci.oswego.or.us www.ci.oswego.or.us/farmersmarket/default.htm
Oregon Trail Food Stamp Market

Lents International Farmers’ Market
Sundays, 9am-2pm
Mid June – Mid October
SE 92nd and SE Foster Road
Eliza Davenport • (503) 282-4245
LentsFarmersMarket@gmail.com
www.zenger.eroi.com/lents-internation-farmers-market
Oregon Trail Food Stamp Market

Lloyd Farmers Market
Tuesdays, 10am-2pm
June – September
NE Holladay St Between 7th and 9th
Eamon Molloy • (503) 730-8367
eamon.f.molloy@gmail.com

Montavilla Farmers Market
Sundays, 10am-2pm
Mid June – October
plus November 8th & 22nd
7600 block of SE Stark St
Gretchan Jackson
gretchan@montavillamarket.org
www.montavillamarket.org

Moreland Farmers Market
Wednesdays, 3:30-7:30pm
Mid May – September
SE Bybee and SE 14th St
Laura Wendel • (503) 341-9350
laura@morelandfarmersmarket.org www.morelandfarmersmarket.org
Oregon Trail Food Stamp Market

Portland Farmers Market
Eastbank
Thursdays, 3:30-7:30pm
May – September
SE 20th & SE Salmon St
Jamie Reckers • (503) 241-0032
jaret@portlandfarmersmarket.org www.portlandfarmersmarket.org
Oregon Trail Food Stamp Market

Portland Farmers Market
Portland State University
Saturdays, 8:30am-2pm Mid March – October
Saturdays, 9am-2pm November – December
Fall hours (Nov-Dec) 9:30am-2pm
South Park Blocks between
SW Montgomery and SW Harrison
Jaret Foster • (503) 241-0032
jaret@portlandfarmersmarket.org
www.portlandfarmersmarket.org
Oregon Trail Food Stamp Market

Portland Farmers Market 
Downtown
Wednesdays, 10am-2pm
May – October 
SW Salmon & SW Park
Jaret Foster • (503) 241-0032
jaret@portlandfarmersmarket.org
www.portlandfarmersmarket.org
Oregon Trail Food Stamp Market

Portland Farmers Market
EcoTrust
Thursdays, 3:30-7:30pm
June – September
NW 10th between Irving & Johnson
Amber Holland • (503) 241-0032
jaret@portlandfarmersmarket.org
www.portlandfarmersmarket.org
Oregon Trail Food Stamp Market

Portland Farmers Market
King Neighborhood
Sundays, 10am-2pm
May – September
NE 7th & Wygant
between NE Alberta and Prescott St
Joe Rodriguez • (503) 241-0032
jaret@portlandfarmersmarket.org
www.portlandfarmersmarket.org
Oregon Trail Food Stamp Market 

St Johns Farmers’ Market
Saturdays, 9am-1pm
Mid July – September
St Johns Plaza
Jana LaFrenier • (503) 970-9526
stjohnsfarmersmarket@gmail.com
www.sjfarmersmarket.com
Oregon Trail Food Stamp Market

For a complete list of Farmer’s Markets around Portland and Oregon visit the Oregon Farmer’s Markets Association.

Eat well and live well!

~Kori

RMLS Market Action Stats – March 2009

As Realtors, Maria and I are asked all the time, ‘how’s the market?’  We’ve been happy to report, things are picking up and now it’s official…

In the month of March 2009 we saw a 38.2% increase in closed sales over February 2009.  Although we are still down year-over-year, the monthly increases have been consistent (February 2009 saw a 17.1% increase in closed sales over January 2009).  Inventory levels continue to decrease which will eventually balance the scales between buyers and sellers – less inventory gives buyers less to choose from – creating greater demand for the homes that are on the market. 

We are seeing homes sell in days (Maria and I have been saying this all along - October 2008 “Stats vs. Reality“) – it’s all about price!  In order to sell in a matter of days, homes must be in the best condition, best location and the lowest price for those superior features.  Lipstick on a pig just doesn’t cut it – buyers are savvy and they know when they come across a great opportunity.

Rates are great and prices are still soft – if you’ve been thinking about purchasing a home or investment property, now, it’s a great time to buy!

~Kori

Build Your Own Hanging Basket at Al’s

This weekend, join Al’s Garden Centers (Sherwood, Woodburn and Gresham) for their “Build Your Own Hanging Basket: Buffet and Benefit”.  Pick from a “buffet” of preselected Grown by Al’s premium annuals and they’ll help you plant a hanging basket.  Two dollars ($2) from every basket will be donated to either the YWCA of Greater Portland or the Silverton Hospital Foundation so it’s a win-win for everyone, you get a beautiful basket at a discounted price and you help local non-profit organizations.

10″ hanging basket – $11.99
12″ hanging basket – $15.99
Soil, Fertilizer, Basket and Plants included!

When: Friday, April 17 – Sunday, April 19
Where: All three Al’s Garden Centers (Sherwood, Woodburn and Gresham)

~Kori

11th Annual Kitchen Revival Tour

Join the Architectural Heritage Center (and me, I’ll be a volunteer host at one of the homes that afternoon) this coming Saturday, April 18th from 10am - 4pm for the 11th Annual Kitchen Revival Tour.

If you’re thinking about your own home renovation project or you’re just a curious voyeur, the Kitchen Tour is a great way to see the interiors of numerous styles of homes from Queen Anne to Mid-Century Modern and how the owners have kept the architectural integrity while implementing modern day conveniences. 

Pre-registration is strongly suggested, click here for details. 

~Kori

Bird Watching on Sauvie Island

Biking Sauvie Island Bridge, St. Helens in background

We went bird watching on Sauvie Island this weekend.

For those of you not familiar, Sauvie Island, originally Wapato Island or Wappatoo Island, is the largest island along the Columbia River, at 26,000 acres (105 km²) and lies approximately ten miles northwest of downtown Portland, between the Columbia River to the east, the Multnomah Channel to the west, and the Willamette River to the south..12,000 acres of land on the island have been preserved as the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area. Managed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the wildlife area is a premier hiking, birdwatching, hunting, and fishing location.

The area is open to the public mid-April through September.

So, 15 minutes from downtown Portland, you can drive, bike or hike around this little piece of paradise and view close to 250 different species of birds. On Sunday, we saw, Bald Eagles, Blue Herons, Sand Cranes, a nesting pair of Ospreys and a ton of various water birds, ducks, geese etc.  Very cool. Click here to check out the official website

BUT REMEMBER, IT ONLY STAYS BEAUTIFUL IF WE MAKE AN EFFORT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

TREAD LIGHTLY UPON THE EARTH. PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT.

-Maria

120 Neighborhoods by the Numbers by Portland Monthly

The April 2009 edition of Portland Monthly Magazine is dedicated to the Portland Real Estate Market – something I found particularly interesting for people thinking about buying, selling or who just like to keep a pulse on their neighborhood was the acticle 120 Neighborhoods by the Numbers: a simple, interactive chart that looks at real estate numbers, school ratings, population, crime, parks and commute for 95 Portland neighborhoods and 25 suburbs.  You can look up a particular neighborhood or select an area from the map – check it out then use the information to see available listings by neighborhood.

~Kori 

What A Great City This Is!

Bald Eagle Flying Across America - and the Sellwood Bridge!

Driving around on Tuesday with a couple of my favorite real estate broker friends when we had the honor of observing a thing of beauty – a Bald Eagle flying overhead.

What’s so unusual about that, you say?  Well, we were driving West along Tacoma just approaching the Sellwood Bridge at the time.

The bird put on quite a show as it swooped from a great height down towards the tree lined beaches of the Willamette River. 

Even though all three of us in the car have seen Bald Eagles many times, we were all thrilled to see one well within the city limits.

What A Great City Portland Is!!!

 - Maria

Existing home sales spike 5% as reported by CNNMoney

Last week, CNNMoney reported, existing home sales rose 5% in February, a sharp recovery from the significant drop in the month of January.  First-time home buyers made up half of all purchases in February and sales of distressed properties accounted for about 45% of all transactions.  In the West, we saw activity increase more than 30% over last year!  Read the complete article from CNNMoney.

This report just confirms what Maria and I have been saying for months – although prices are down, our market is still strong and we expect it to rally soon.  Great rates and federal incentives are definitely helping the housing market and the proof is in the numbers.  Now is the time to buy!

If you are thinking of purchasing a home – whether you’re a first-time buyer or a current owner – Maria and I will be hosting another seminar in May specifically talking about how to take advantage of our current market and the incentives available.  Stay tuned for more information.

~Kori