Insights & Guides
Portland Real Estate Blog
Market reports, neighborhood guides, and practical advice for buyers, sellers, and investors in the Portland metro area.
Your Neighbor Just Built a Backyard Cottage. Here's What That Actually Takes.
Everything you need to know about building or buying a home with an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) in Portland Oregon, including zoning, permits, costs, and financing.
I Get Asked About Portland Neighborhoods Every Week. Here's My Honest Answer.
A neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown of the best areas to buy a home in Portland Oregon, covering prices, character, schools, and what each community is really like.
Most Oregon First-Time Buyers Miss This Program. You Shouldn't.
A complete guide to Oregon first-time homebuyer programs in 2026, including Oregon Bond loans, down payment assistance, FHA loans, and what you actually need to qualify.
The Real Reason Portlanders Keep Moving Across the Bridge
Thinking about moving from Portland to Vancouver, Camas, or Ridgefield WA? Here is everything you need to know about the no-income-tax advantage, home prices, schools, and the cross-border commute.
Lents and Foster-Powell: Portland's Most Interesting Value Play Right Now
A buyer's and investor's guide to Lents and Foster-Powell in SE and East Portland: what is actually driving the investment interest, current price ranges, ADU potential, and a realistic assessment of what you are getting into.
St. Johns Is Not a Secret Anymore. Here's What You Need to Know.
A buyer's guide to St. Johns in North Portland: Cathedral Park, the commercial village, current prices, what the neighborhood is actually like to live in, and what to understand before buying.
Eastmoreland and Woodstock: SE Portland's Most Characterful Neighborhoods
A neighborhood guide to Eastmoreland and Woodstock in SE Portland: the historic architecture, Reed College influence, Crystal Springs, price ranges, and what distinguishes them from other popular inner SE neighborhoods.
Selling a Parent's Home After They Pass: What No One Tells You
A practical guide to probate real estate in Oregon for personal representatives, executors, and families navigating the sale of a home after someone passes. What the process looks like, how long it takes, and how an experienced agent helps.
Downsizing in Portland: A Guide for the Overwhelming Middle Part
A practical guide to senior downsizing in Portland Oregon: how to plan the timeline, what to do with decades of belongings, how to time the sale and purchase, and the resources that make the process less overwhelming.
What Actually Helps You Sell for More in Portland. Not the Myths.
A working Portland broker's honest guide to getting the most from your home sale: what preparation actually moves the needle, how pricing strategy affects final price, and the mistakes that cost sellers money.
The Portland Neighborhoods That Will Look Very Different in Five Years
An agent's perspective on Portland neighborhoods showing real investment momentum heading into the next several years: what is driving change, where the evidence is, and what buyers should understand before moving in.
Lake Oswego: Is the Premium Worth It? An Honest Answer.
An honest breakdown of Lake Oswego real estate: the neighborhoods, school district, price ranges, what the premium buys you, and when it makes sense versus when Beaverton or Tigard might be the smarter choice.
Mid-Year 2024: Portland's Housing Market Isn't What the Headlines Say
A mid-year 2024 market check from a working Portland real estate broker: inventory levels, price trends, where buyers have real leverage, and where sellers still control the conversation.
The Best 55+ Communities Near Portland (From Someone Who Helps People Move Into Them)
A practical guide to 55+ and active adult communities in the Portland metro area, covering what to look for, what questions to ask, and which communities Kara has worked with firsthand.
Cedar Mill and Cedar Hills: The West Side Suburbs Buyers Keep Discovering
Cedar Mill and Cedar Hills offer mature neighborhoods, large lots, and Beaverton School District access at prices well below comparable inner Portland options. Here is what buyers need to know.
Sellwood Is Still the Best Deal in Inner SE Portland. For Now.
An honest look at Sellwood-Moreland real estate: what the neighborhood is actually like, what homes cost, why it keeps topping best-neighborhood lists, and what buyers should know before writing an offer.
What You Actually Get When You Go Up Portland's West Hills
A practical guide to Portland's West Hills neighborhoods, including Forest Heights, Bridlemile, Hillsdale, and Council Crest, with current price ranges, schools, commute realities, and what makes each corridor different.
Portland Metro Service Area
Serving buyers and sellers across Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas Counties
Former professional dancer turned Portland real estate broker. Working in Portland real estate since 2015, personally, for every client. 500 transactions supported, 68+ closed sales, and a 5.0-star Zillow reputation to show for it. She handles her own calls, her own clients, and her own relationships. She writes about what she actually sees and hears from clients, lenders, inspectors, and other agents.
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Whether you are buying, selling, or just exploring, Kara is ready to put her 11 years of Portland market expertise to work for you.