WHAT WILL 2007 BRING?

Me moonlighting as a fortune teller


You don't need a fortune teller to predict what the Real Estate market will do in 2007. There are some pretty smart analysts around this country that speak on the trends of the market and how different areas dictate the ebb and flow of real estate to come. Of course, no one can predict the future with complete certainty; however, there are people who chart the market and can determine with some certainty, the trends based on the historical patterns.

I just read an article in Business Week (http://realestate.msn.com/Improve/Article_busweek.aspx?cp-documentid=1699105&wa=wsignin1.0) that really made sense to me. It can get really confusing when you're talking about the "increase in the decline" and the "decrease in the incline" etc. So read up and be your own judge of which trends in the market apply to you and your area.

SALVAGE HUNTS FOR PERIOD RESTORATION

If you ever take a drive down to Portland and have a little spare time on your hands, you really must stop in to Hippo Hardware. Actually, you need way more than just a little spare time. If you live in an old house and you are in the process of restoration or remodel, you need to visit this Portland Icon. Shoot...even if you're just thinking about restoration, you should check it out.

What do they have there? you might ask. EVERYTHING!! You name it! Screws, hinges, drawer pulls, door knobs, door bells, doors, claw foot tubs, sconces and light fixtures, banisters, windows, etc. Here's the rub. It's huge! You need a whole day to go through it all! You'll love it and see all kinds of things that your house is beggin you for and tons of stuff that you need for repair.

Hippo Hardware is right off of I-5 at the Burnside Street Exit.

My husband and I bought two ceiling light fixtures from Hippo. Brought them home, cleaned them up and my husband rewired them to hang in our foyer and a bedroom. They were considerably less expensive than purchasing the high quality reproductions. Check em' out!

STUNNING CHANGES FOR HISTORIC HOME!

wow! Never noticed this house before? It sits smack in the middle of the historic district on the main thoroughfare, North "I" Street. You might not have noticed it before as, it was light grey with white pillars and trim. Probably the most distictive feature about this house was the plaster casted detail at the top of the house. The castings were ribbons and bows that draped around the entire house's second story.

The castings were raised and painted navy blue, as was the front door. Yes...it was a distinctive historic home but now...WOW! It's about to become one of the most recognizable historic structure in the North Slope District! Ok....in my opinion. The horrible weather rolled in before the painting of the house could be completed but, upon completion the ribbons and bows will be painted black, along with the front door and all of the white balasts/railings and trim will be crisp antique lace, white.

There was some opposition from a couple of "North Slopers" who cringed at the thought of "RED." But red is a funny color. It was imperative that the paint was exactly the right shade of red. After 3 test patches on the side of the house, and the revival of the next door neighbor, the perfect shade was achieved. Understand that the body (the part of the house that is the actual structure, not to include balcony's, porches, railings trim) of the house is the only part painted red and the color was approved of with the thought in mind that the balcony's, porches, railings, trim would all be white and offset the boldness of the red.

WELL DONE! It's the perfect balance and an absolute fairytale house!