Corvallis to get another shopping/business complex. Yesterday this woodpile was a building....

Hopefully this is not the most artsy photo I'll ever post on this blog....

Corvallis is still the same great little town I came to back in '76, and bit by bit it still changes.

Yesterday I saw the fences were up on 9th street and it was obvious changes were coming. Today a building that was there for ages was gone.

It looks as though the name of the new property is to be Riverbend Square (unless things have changed since the article I'm about to link). Click here for an article in the Gazette Times on the property.

Aloha,

  Steve

Here are some February 2017 real estate stats from Albany, Oregon...

I thought I'd pass along some recent real estate stats taken from the local multiple listing service we have available to us at work. Note: I've noticed I'm having trouble seeing the stats in Safari, not sure if it's me or my ancient Ipad.

   

Albany has had a pretty steady housing market it appears. Corvallis on the other hand is a bit different, to see Corvallis February real estate stats click here.

Here's Albany's statistics for March 2017.

If you are interested in selling your home or talking about the local real estate market, please call me.

A deck can be a nice addition to your home.....

• 

  Evaluate Your House for a Deck

  Here’s how to plan a new deck that suits your property, meets your budget, and offers the best return on your investment. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Home staging tips... help sell your house with these handy tips...

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  7 Tips for Staging Your Home

  Make your home warm and inviting to boost your home’s value and speed up the sale process. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Are you looking at buying some real estate, here's a few things to keep in mind....

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  Keep Your Home Purchase on Track

  You’ve found your dream home. Make sure missteps don’t prevent a successful closing. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

A brief visit to Flat Tail Brewing in Corvallis Oregon.....

The craft beer industry is alive and well in Corvallis.   When we moved away from Corvallis in '99 the craft beer industry was kind of in it's infancy compared to today.  Corvallis had one long time small craft brewery, Oregon Trail Brewery, when I moved.  On visits back we started noticing breweries popping up in town.  The brewing scene statewide has really increased, and Corvallis is definitely keeping up the place.

Early last week I received a text message from one of my co-worker scuba instructors from back in '99 who later became a part-time boat captain for me when I had my dive company... "Steve, we're traveling through Oregon, thinking of you, hope all is well" or something along those lines.  I gave him a call and let him know that if he needed a place to crash for a bit he and his significant other were more than welcome to stop in.  The next day he gave me a text from Flat Tail Brewing, which my wife and I gladly made our way to for a quick happy hour visit.  

You can see Captain Rich here wearing his Kona Brewing Company shirt.  When we lived in Kona KBC was a popular watering hole for the locals and tourist visitors alike.  Part of the shock of moving back here, after living in Hawaii for 14 years was how inexpensive happy hours are in Corvallis in comparison. After a light dinner, when the bill came through Rich took one look and said "I'm seeing a lot of 2.50 and 3.50, 4 dollar items, wow!" You don't find much of anything on the menu at that price in Kona, even at happy hour.  Corvallis has lots of good options for a happy hour for those who are inclined to do such a thing.

For me, seeing a face from the past was a blast.  I hadn't seen Rich and his S.O. in a bit over 4 years.  It was nice to see old friends and catch up and reconnect.

Later,

  Steve

Here's some Corvallis real estate stats from February of 2017...

 One of the great things about being in the real estate biz is we have access to local stats, and also to the stats our office shares with it's agents.  With my office's permission I am posting some of the February stats for the Corvallis area. These numbers were collected from the local multiple listing service. Note: I've noticed I'm having trouble seeing the stats in Safari, not sure if it's me or my ancient Ipad.



What does this all mean? You've got to do some reading between the lines, it's helpful as well look at some months I haven't posted, but inventories are quite low, yet sales are fairly high, in comparison to this time last year. It just might be a good time to be selling a home.

If you are thinking about selling a home, or would like to discuss the local real estate market, contact me.

Click Here: For the Corvallis real estate stats from March of 2017.

Need more space for your kid's stuff? Here's some storage ideas....

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  Kids' Rooms: Storage Solutions for Every Age

  From babies who adore you to teens who ignore you, kids change — and so do their storage needs. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Here's some homeowner tax deductions to remember....

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  Are You Getting the Home Tax Deductions You're Entitled To?

  Here are the tax tips you need to get a jump on your returns. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

My wife and I have been considering putting a hot tub on the deck....

...next to our bedroom.  We had a hot tub back in the day in Hawaii, but it was about 200 feet from our door. Between that and being 82 most of the time, it didn't get a lot of use.  Corvallis weather is perfect for it much of the year, and we happen to have a deck right next to our bedroom.... we might actually use it if it's there.

At any rate, our deck is about 3 feet off the ground and might need some "help' supporting a hot tub. This article I'm linking might be of help to those who are considering the same....

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  Installing a Spa on Your Deck

  Evaluate the cost of purchasing, installing, and maintaining an outdoor spa to decide if it’s a worthwhile addition to your deck. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

And the crowd goes wild... Oregon State women's basketball clinches Pac 12 regular season title!

...and I mean wild.

Congrats to the women's basketball team for winning the Pac 12 regular season title outright.  Now it's on to the Conference tournament and the NCAA tournament.

Good luck!

A little snow in Corvallis this morning....

So I looked out the window at 8:35 and it was snowing. It wasn't sticking on the grass right then but started to stick a minute or two later....

I took this photo at the top of 29th street at 9am.  Pretty wintery looking in 25 minutes time. Wow. Snow is not a common event here, usually a few times over the course of 2-3 years, so I always get a bit excited when I see it.

Later,

Steve

Speaking of cold... click here for some home winterizing tips.

A little info on pricing your home....

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  How to Use Comparable Sales to Price Your Home

  Before you put your home up for sale, understand how the right comparable sales help you and your agent find the perfect price. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Real estate agents should be able to do a comparative market analysis for any home being sold.  I have access to the listings for Benton and Linn counties and would be happy to do a free, no obligation, comparative market analysis for you if you are interested in finding the approximate worth of your home in that area.  Please contact me if you don't already have an agent and are interested in pricing your home for a sale.

Went hiking out at Peavy Arboretum the other day....

Peavy Arboretum is a neat research forest area a couple miles north of Corvallis that my wife and I like to hit for a hike every now and then. I'd heard about it since I came to Oregon State University as a kid, but I really never went there until a couple years back.  It's loaded with year round hiking and is quite enjoyable.  I'm sure I'll post more on it later.  

Here's one of my favorite trees from the area.  They recently logged a good portion of the area we hike (I think it's still being worked, not done yet). We managed to hike a portion that was closed earlier and they've really thinned out the forest in that particular area, but they left several of the really nice trees, including this one.  It will be interesting to watch how the area comes back and grows in over time.

Later,

  Steve

Looking to purchase real estate, but don't have enough for a down payment?

• 

  5 Ways You Didn't Know You Could Save for a Down Payment

  One of the biggest misconceptions of home buying? The 20% down payment. Here’s how to buy with a lot less down. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Thinking about buying a home, here's some ideas to get you started....

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  7 Steps to Take Before You Buy a Home

  By doing your homework before you buy, you’ll feel more content about your new home. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Are you considering buying a "fixer-upper"? Here's some tips....

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  How to Assess the Real Cost of a Fixer-Upper House

  When you buy a fixer-upper house, you can save a ton of money, or get yourself in a financial fix. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Looking for something to do around Corvallis? How about visiting a winery?

  The Willamette Valley has long been known as a fertile and productive growing region. One of the crops that has really taken hold of the region the last 2-3 decades or so is wine grapes. The growth of the wine industry in the area since I moved here in the mid-70's has been amazing, at least to me. My wife and I noticed quite a change just in the 14 years we moved away from Corvallis.

 There are many many wineries within close range of Corvallis, say 35 miles or less, to visit through much of the year. The picture above is one I took while visiting Lumos Wine Company, which is just a few minutes west of Philomath and Corvallis, back in May of this last year.

 Visiting wineries can make for an enjoyable day of exploring or picnicking. Here's a website I found that has a list of wineries close to Corvallis.  Not all wineries are open every day so it's best to look up public hours on their websites before a visit. Have fun!

 Aloha,

    Steve

Thinking about buying a home? How much mortgage can you afford?

• 

  4 Tips to Determine How Much Mortgage You Can Afford

  By knowing how much mortgage you can handle, you can ensure that homeownership will fit in your budget. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Here's some kitchen remodeling tips....

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  Budget Kitchen Remodeling: 5 Money-Saving Steps

  Can’t afford an entire kitchen remodel in one fell swoop? You can complete the work in 5 budget-saving stages (and still cook dinner during the down time). Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Safest metro area in the US? Corvallis perhaps?

I just re-found this article from the New York Times from back in the days when I lived in Hawaii. It was an article on being safe in terms of natural disasters.  In our case, being in Hawaii, we were at risk of volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis hurricanes and such.

The thing that I found most interesting was where the study determined was the safest place in the United States to live... Good ol' Corvallis.

The map in this post is taken from this New York Times article.

Some thoughts on that pesky bathroom mold....

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  How to Kill and Prevent Bathroom Mold

  Got bathroom mold on your ceiling? Here’s how to get rid of it and prevent future infestations, too. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Have you ever thought about remodeling your attic?

• 

  Evaluate Your House for an Attic Bedroom Renovation

  An attic bedroom remodel is an easy way to increase living space and avoid many of the zoning restrictions attached to adding on. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Tax time is coming up again.....

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  Will My Taxes Look Different Now That I'm a Homeowner?

  Magic 8 ball says yes. Here’s what to know to itemize tax deductions as a homeowner. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Beautiful day in Corvallis today! Here's a home improvement article I thought I'd pass along...

• 

  7 Hot Home Trends That Make Your Home Work for You

  Home improvement trends embrace energy efficiency, low maintenance exteriors, and double-duty space. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Oregon State women defeat UCLA....

One of the cool things about living in Corvallis is the access to events at the university, including Pac 12 sports. Pat and I went to a women's basketball game today and had a great time.

Would you like to improve the look of the entry to your house?

• 

  11 Ways to Create a Welcoming Front Entrance for Under $100

  Wouldn’t it be nice to approach your home’s entrance with a grin instead of a grimace? Take our tips for beating a clear, safe, and stylish path to your front door. Read
• 

  Creating Storage Underneath Your Stairs

  Sweep out the dust bunnies. Clear away the clutter. Time to put wasted space beneath the staircase to work with these customized storage solutions. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

I hope you might find these storage tips useful....

• 

  Creating Storage Underneath Your Stairs

  Sweep out the dust bunnies. Clear away the clutter. Time to put wasted space beneath the staircase to work with these customized storage solutions. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Covered Bridges near Corvallis, Oregon.....

Aloha,

 The Willamette Valley is a great place to explore, Oregon has one of the larger collections of covered bridges in the nation, something like 50 or so.  A large portion of them are in the valley and easy to get to by car, or bike-able if you're into such things.  Here's a shot I long-armed with the phone a couple years back while on the Covered Bridge Bike Tour, an annual biking event out of Albany.  

Here's a link to a map of covered bridges in Oregon: http://www.covered-bridges.org/bridges.htm 

Corvallis named one of the best cities to go to college and stay forever....

Corvallis is a great little town with a bit over 50 thousand full time residents.  One of the most obvious things about  Corvallis is it's a great college town.  Oregon State University is a big part of the city's identity, the town has a vibrant student population and the university is the town's largest employer.  I was looking up some info about town and ran across an article of the best 50 cities to go to college and stay forever.... and Corvallis was on the list.  I thought it kind of interesting, here's the link... Check out number 11

Welcome to my new blog....

Aloha,

  My name is Steve Frisbie and this is my new blog.  Follow me in my new adventures in Corvallis.  I came to Corvallis in 1976 as a 17 year old to gain  an education at Oregon State University, and never left... almost... In 1999 I moved to Hawaii, and a few years ago I came back.... People frequently ask me one question - "Why?"  Well, Hawaii was a blast, and I frankly had one of the most enjoyable jobs in the world, but I have to say Corvallis has a lot going for it, and it's HOME for both myself and my lovely wife Pat. The draw to return was too strong and it was time to come back, and it's great being back here. Hopefully I can share some of our love for the area, and maybe some good info as well along the way.

CLICK HERE TO JUMP TO MY NEWEST BLOG POSTS

  Thank you,

   Steve