PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: North Tabor

Hi Friends!

Welcome to a new segment on the blog where I will highlight various neighborhoods around Portland. First up is my neighborhood: North Tabor. I’ve lived in North Tabor for 25 years, serving the area as a Real Estate Agent for almost 16 years. I guess you can say I really like it here 😉
Now let’s take a deep dive into the neighborhood.

About North Tabor
North Tabor is on the east side of the Willamette River on the northern slope of Mt. Tabor. The I-84 forms its northern boundary, separating it from the Hollywood District, Rose City Park, and Madison South neighborhoods to the north. NE/SE 44th Avenue separates it from Laurelhurst to the west while NE 68th Avenue separates it from Montavilla to the east. East Burnside Street forms most of the southern boundary (separating it from the Mount Tabor Neighborhood), except for a section west of SE 49th Avenue for which SE Stark St. forms the boundary with the Sunnyside neighborhood.*
Not only is North Tabor public transit friendly, the 50s Bikeway Project also extends through the neighborhood.
The North Tabor Neighborhood Association holds Zoom board meetings once a month.


Mural in North Tabor

Rosemont Natural Bluff Area
The only official park in the boundaries of North Tabor neighborhood is the Rosemont Natural Bluff Area, which if you drive by you probably won’t realize it’s a park. One of the only remaining Baseline Mile markers from the 1850’s for the original Baseline Road (now SE Stark Street, see my blog post “Surveying Portland, One Marker at a Time”) is at the corner of 61st and Stark.

Food/Drink
Tabor Tavern – The Rib Dinner is awesome!
Big’s Chicken – I love fried chicken, so the Half Bird with Cole slaw is my go-to.
American Dream Pizza – This iconic pizza joint has been around since 1985. My favorite is a large half “Bill Walton”, half “Rat Pack”.

Market Stats
My wife and I love walking from our house up to the top of Mt. Tabor, looking at historic homes (like the Shogren House) along the way. 91 homes were sold in North Tabor last year which is almost double the amount of sold homes from 2019. Right now, the average price of a home in North Tabor is $554,325 with prices ranging from $485,000 – $650,500. It is definitely a seller’s market! Click here for a free home valuation.

Photos of the Shogren House via Shogren House MuseumShogren House via Shogren House Museum

Want to see your neighborhood in PDX Neighborhood Spotlight? Comment below!

References: * Wikipedia

Advantages to Selling a Home in Oregon This Winter

Photo by NeONBRAND via Unsplash

You might have read my previous blog on the advantages to buying a home in Oregon during the winter. The obverse of that article is that there are several compelling reasons to consider selling a home right now, even though winter has not been a particularly popular time to sell.

We are seeing historically low real estate inventory lately not just in the Portland market, but nationwide.

There was a 16% drop in number of homes put on the market in September compared to August. Lower inventory means a more competitive buyer landscape. Why is there a lower inventory? Sadly, one of the reasons is that this year’s wildfires destroyed over 4,000 homes in Oregon. Population growth also factors into a lower inventory. Some people concerned about selling their homes during the pandemic have chosen to hold off. This provides more space for you on the market if you list your home. Here are the precautions I take to ensure everyone’s safety.

Historically low interest rates of below 3% are motivating buyers.

Getting those incredibly low rates shaves off a remarkable difference in what homeowners pay monthly. The Freddie Mac chart below shows the drop in various types of mortgage rates over the past 12 months, bringing us to 2.67% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

Primary Mortgage Market SurveyÂŽ | U.S. weekly average mortgage rates as of 12/17/2020

Below is a sample mortgage payment calculation factoring in a 10% down payment with a mortgage rate of 3.0%, 3.5%, and 4.0%. So with today’s historically low interest rates, a buyer’s monthly payment would be even lower.

Monthly Mortgage Payment Comparison (Multnomah County)

The National Association of Realtors graph below shows us the median price of a home in the Portland Metro area has increased even though we saw a dip in price growth in 2019. The third quarter of 2020 has rebounded considerably. Fourth Quarter 2020 report was not available at time of publishing.

Portland Vancouver Hillsboro Local Market Report – Third Quarter 2020

If you are still on the fence about whether to list now or wait until spring/summer when house hunting is traditionally more lively, contact me today to have a conversation about your concerns. In the meantime, check out my article on being a prepared home seller.

Originally published 12/28/2020

Eight Things To Do Before Buying A Home

Are you ready to buy a house or condo?

Following are eight steps to prepare for this life change in order of priority. Being prepared paves the way to a seamless transaction.

tiny house with keys

Home Buyer Preparedness Checklist

1. Do Not Make Any Major Financial Changes

When you are getting ready to buy a home, and especially when you are under contract to buy a home, do not make any major changes in your life that affect your financial standing. Don’t switch jobs or do things that could adversely affect your finances, like opening new credit cards. Especially when in the transaction, do not buy a new car, new appliances, or furniture. Wait until after the transaction has closed before making any major purchases or life changes. A credit check alone can affect your credit score and may cause you to lose a home, even days before closing.

2. Get Pre-Approved

Getting pre-approved from a mortgage broker enables you to determine what your price range is, while taking into account what down payment you can afford. While pre-qualification is a good idea, having pre-approval is a better indication of your intent to buy. Realtors love working with pre-approved individuals because it shows you are more serious about buying. If you need a mortgage broker, contact me for referrals.

Many home buyers will look to the financial institution that they bank with as the first option when looking for a home loan. It is not the only option, and sometimes may not be the best solution. Mortgage brokers often have many more (hundreds) of options for finding loan solutions that can fit your needs and save you money. I recommend my buyers not only talk to their bank, but also to a mortgage broker and credit unions. Make sure that at least one is a local lender, as they can also know about special state and local lending programs that national lenders may not be aware of.

3. Make a “Dream List”

Compose a list of your requirements for the place you want to buy. Divide the list into things that are deal breakers and factors that are more flexible:

  • Is the school district a priority over your commute (if you have one)?
  • What about walkability score and access to services?
  • Or are you looking for a property that is more remote, because you want the acreage?

Having a defined list of “wants” will provide a clear vision of the property you seek and help your broker in searching out the best options for you. Work with your realtor on this list, and understand that often this list will evolve over the time of your search based on market inventory, price of the house, and other market factors. Browsing listings online can also help. Stop by open houses and drive to locations that you see in your online previews to start narrowing down those search parameters. Check out the property during the day and at nighttime, too.

4. Get A Referral And Start Discussions With A Buyer’s Broker

A buyer’s broker will provide you single agency representation. Oregon does allow for “dual agency”, where a seller’s listing broker can write an offer on their seller’s property for you. Remember though, that the listing broker has a contract with that seller and has a fiduciary responsibility to the seller. Working with a buyer’s broker offers you a real estate professional who has your best interests in mind in the transaction, guiding you through negotiations, inspections, and the entire home buying process. A broker can also help you research market conditions so you can understand the cost of homes in the vicinity of where you’d like to buy. Having comparable sales information helps determine how much to offer on a home.

5. Making An Offer

Once you’ve found a house you like, you’ll work with your broker to make an appropriate offer. Familiarize yourself with the process so you know what to expect. A good buyer’s broker can offer you referrals for home inspectors, contractors, or other professional services. Collect three referrals for each service. Home inspectors help identify any underlying issues your home may have, such as problems with the the roof, plumbing, or electrical system. There is an “Inspection Contingency Period” in Oregon real estate transactions. This is usually a period of ten business days to allow for a whole home inspection. The inspection report helps determine if it’s the right home for you and whether you want to negotiate needed repairs and/or a better price.

6. Home Insurance

Homeowner’s insurance is required when you purchase a home. Shop around to find the best rates. Bundling your home, auto, and other insurance can also be a way to save money.

7. Managing A Contingency Purchase

A contingency purchase is when you want to buy, but your purchase is contingent upon the sale of your home. In the low-inventory market we are experiencing in the Portland Metro area, many people who are looking to sell and then buy again are finding it challenging. Offers where there is a contingency of the sale of a home are at a disadvantage when up against offers that don’t have a home to sell. When the client feels comfortable releasing their contingency, and if selling first, then renting until finding a new home is also an option.

8. Organize Your Household Contents

Start sorting your personal effects now. You have more stuff than you realize, guaranteed. Getting started on purging before packing will enable an efficient and less stressful move.

If you’re also selling, check out my Sellers Checklist. Contact me today to get the conversation going!

Published October 13, 2020

 

 

Home Seller Preparedness

Selling a home involves many moving parts, so it’s best to be proactive. Start planning upwards of 6 months ahead to avoid rushing at the last minute to complete deferred maintenance repairs, consider your next living arrangement, and be able to time the marketing strategically to local market conditions. Deferred maintenance can affect not only the value of what your home can sell for, it can also affect your time on the market. If you plan on selling without taking care of maintenance that you have not done on the home, then be prepared to price your home accordingly. Getting these critical components in place prior to listing could enhance the value of your home, ensure a smoother listing experience, and mitigate buyer negotiation leverage once you accept that offer.

Create a punch list of repairs.

Using an Excel spreadsheet, a pad of paper, or your smartphone or tablet, go room by room identifying what repairs are needed.

    1. Windows open and close easily.
    2. Install GFCI certified outlets.
    3. Doors close and doorknobs turn easily.
    4. Chipped or nicked trim?
    5. What else?

Perform a deep clean

Closets, oven, range, refrigerator (pull it away from the wall to vacuum the coils), carpets/hardwoods, windowsills, chandeliers/fixtures all need attention.

Hire a professional painter

Liven up the walls and doors inside and outside with fresh paint. When you’ve lived in a place for a while, your mind begins to ignore little inconsistencies. A new visitor to your home will notice these details, so keep in mind they contribute to the overall first impression. A professional painter can help repair cracks in ceilings and walls as well.

When getting your interior or exterior ready to be painted, think base colors like creams and whites for your paint colors at time of sale. You may love that purple colored room for your own use, but these more extreme colors can influence a buyer’s interest in your home. Provide the new buyer with a fresh palette to introduce their own color scheme to their new home. This one preparation can save you on market time, putting more money in your pocket at closing.

Install new smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Oregon law requires new detectors to be installed. There are some affordable smoke and carbon monoxide detectors available at your local hardware store.

Landscaping

It’s all about curb appeal! The first impression is usually the last.

  • Prune, weed, clear brush, mow, lay down fresh bark mulch.
  • Hire an arborist to shape existing trees (never refer to it as “thinning” a tree). In fact, this should be done even if you’re not selling!
  • Having a tidy home on the outside bodes well for the inside.

Assess the roof

One of the most overlooked components of selling a home is the roof condition. Inspectors will assess the condition of the roof after you receive an offer, so if repairs or even replacement are necessary, it will mitigate the need for negotiation on the price of your home while saving time on repairs already completed.

Organize Documents

Have your paperwork and invoices available for work you’ve had done on your home. If you had work completed by a contractor that required a permit, verify all permits were finalized with your local bureau of planning and permitting. You don’t want to get into a transaction on your home and have an open or voided permit come into question. If a final inspection was not completed, you may have to open walls, cut into sheet rock, or pull up flooring so as to prove to a city inspector that work was done to code. Avoid a potential nightmare in the middle of a real estate transaction.

If selling a condo, line up all your HOA governing documents and proof of insurance. Your management company may have a login to access documents electronically. Request access for your yourself and your agent, so a tedious yet critical detail is taken care of in advance.

Appliance Check

Ensure all appliances are in clean and working order. If there are any dings to the enamel, thermometer adjustments needed in the oven, thaw a freezer, replace the dryer lint filter, or anything else you find, these will be good to have taken care of before people start viewing your home.

Staging

Consider coordinating a staging company with your broker as the final step in preparing to sell. Staging will showcase your home to people who may not have an imagination or need a physical visual in order to imagine themselves having the lifestyle you’re selling. Part of staging involves decluttering and depersonalization. You want the new buyer to imagine themselves in your home, not what it was like for you to live there. Another side benefit? Packing up personal items saves you time for when the real move happens.

Photography

Use a professional real estate photographer. They have the digital technology to deal with minor touch-ups, enhance lighting, and streamline your photos for use in virtual tours and/ or 3D tours.

Pricing your home

Your broker should provide this “apples to apples” home sales comparison of properties within a mile or less and over the last 3-6 months. This information helps determine the best listing price. Keep in mind the market determines the actual sales value of your home.

Strategy

Pricing your home too high can cause the home to stagnate on market and necessitate a price reduction. Don’t wait too long to consider a price reduction if showing activity is not producing an offer. If you have been seeing double-digit numbers in showings without an offer, then a price reduction should happen within a few weeks. Perception is reality. If buyers see a home on market for more than a few weeks, their perception can be that there is something wrong with the home.

Portland is also known as a “polite market” where buyers will usually not make offers on homes they think are overpriced, so as to not upset the seller with a lower offer. Buyers in the Portland Metro area will often wait for the seller to make a price reduction before submitting an offer. Real estate values can be unpredictable, so keep an eye on factors like the state and national economy, unemployment rate, interest rates, and other factors.

Showings

Be ready to accept raw feedback about your home. You have memories and emotions attached to your property, so it’s best to remember to try to not take constructive criticism personally.

Create a showing schedule with your real estate broker that works both for you. Maximize the availability of the home to buyers to see your home, such as evenings, after work, and weekends.

I’d love to learn more about what your greatest challenges have been when selling your home. Did I miss anything on this list? I look forward to hearing from you.

Published September 10, 2020

Reasons I Love Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon has been in the news lately because of demonstrations in a 3-block radius from the Justice Center downtown. I thought now would be a good time to highlight what makes Portland great.

1) The variety of bar and restaurant options.

While Coronavirus has killed many of the burgeoning establishments (Pok Pok, Arleta Library Bakery & Cafe, Blue Hour, Tanker Bar, to name a few), others are still surviving on thin budgets while navigating the nightmare. Places like Advice Booth, Rose & Thistle, Ovation Bar (OK it’s actually in Milwaukie), Jolly Roger, Mad Hanna, Satellite Room, and Tabor Tavern are still open for business and somehow maintaining their sanity. Some restaurants are doing take-out and delivery. Some of my favorites are:

  • La Cocina Mexican Restaurant at 3901 N. Williams Ave. — new location in the space where the old Lompoc’s 5th Quadrant was.
  • St. HonorĂŠ Bakery at 2335 NW Thurman (get the chouquettes)
  • Hat Yai on Killingsworth or Belmont is a Thai-Malaysian place offering an interesting mix of excellent fresh fried chicken, curry dipping sauce, naan-like bread (roti), and rice.
  • Amalfi’s at 4703 NE Fremont — a classic Italian American eatery serving generations of Portlanders.
  • The Bite on Belmont (food carts)
  • Big’s Chicken on Glisan

2) Neighborhood shows of spirit in all the little ways

  • Sharing libraries: I’ve seen books and tools available to share.
  • Little gnome villages
  • Wishing trees
  • Random signs of encouragement
Telephone pole sign: “You bring joy to those around you”

3) Abundant, lush plant life

  • Tryon Creek State Park, Oxbow Regional Park
  • International Rose Test Garden
  • Japanese Garden
  • Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
  • City parks like Mt. Tabor, Laurelhurst Park, Forest Park

4) Public Golf Courses

Portland Parks and Recreation manages five golf courses throughout the city. These have been a way to get outside while maintaining physical distance. As you may know, I love to golf. They offer junior golf programs so the city’s youth can learn a new sport. Women-only groups are also offered. Colwood, Eastmoreland, Heron Lake, RedTail, and Rose City dot the map across town with beautiful green spaces to get that hole in one. They even offer a 3-year scholarship program for students entering their freshman year of high school. Hello, awesome summer job!

5) Appreciation for pets

I do not see the dog-friendliness in other towns like I see in Portland. Many outdoor restaurants offer water bowls for furry friends and even let them be with their owners. Tin Shed offers half-off dog meals when dogs wear their bandanas. The purchase is 100% donated Puplandia Dog Rescue. For the cat people, Purrington’s Cat Lounge is a place where you can grab a cup of coffee and chill with the cool cats who are up for adoption.

6) Being within driving distance to:

  • Mountains for skiing
  • Rivers and lakes for fishing
  • Pacific Ocean for whale watching and sunset gazing
  • High desert getaways
  • Wineries offering internationally recognized award-winning Pinot Noir. Lange Estate Winery in Dundee has a marvelous tasting room (by appointment only).
  • Countryside to visit dahlia farms, tulip farms, and goat farms

These are just some of my reasons. What else would you add to the list? Or if you don’t live here, send me a message if you’d like to find out in person.

Published July 30, 2020

 

Five Gardening Tips You Can Use Right Now

There are more than five things you could do right now, but why not start with your landscaping? Here are five helpful tips:

bright yellow flower
St. John’s Wort

1. Take inventory of the native and non-native species in your yard.

Are the non-native species crowding out native plant life? Native plants and trees in the Pacific Northwest like rhododendrons, ferns, Pacific Madrone, to name a few, require less maintenance than say, Black Lace Elderberry or bamboo. Even though there are benefits to the non-native plant life in your garden, consider weighing more on the side of the native species in the native-to-non-native plant ratio. Oregon State University has great information on native plant life.

large dark-leafed bushy tree with pink blossoms
Black Lace Elderberry (before pruning)

2. Identify your plant cycles

This is key when it comes to transplanting and pruning and is most obvious regarding when to plant. Bulbs and seeds will have different timing, depending on the plant. Lilacs should be pruned in the spring before they bloom, just after the blooms are gone, or in the fall.

3. Remove dead, dying, or out-of-place plants

You’ve heard the expression, “dead weight”. This applies to gardening, too. Removing anything that is on its way out means creating space for things to thrive. If the leaves on an artichoke are failing, for example, cut them off and you will see new growth emerge within a week or two. The plant is still feeding energy to the dying leaves, so the cutting away encourages newer, healthier growth.

4. Identify the borders

Remove or move anything that interferes with the boundaries previously set. The defined lines will lend a tidier look to your garden. Sometimes it hurts to remove some of the plants that have been nurtured over the years, but those could be transplanted elsewhere or given away to neighbors in your local free group. Or, redefine your borders.

5. Pruning is for suckers!

Ever notice little green shoots coming out of the base of your lilac, trees, or other woody shrubs? Those are called suckers. These should be cut back so the plant’s energy is focused on the main growth. See #4 for when to prune your plants. If you’re pruning a tree in the City of Portland, the code is very specific. Street trees require a pruning permit unless the diameter of the branch you’re pruning is ½-inch or smaller. There are many more restrictions and in-depth tips on the city’s website.

I hope these quick tips get you started with a garden maintenance road map! Please feel free to send me before-and-after photos of your work if you’d like it to be featured here. Or, tag me on Instagram at @seanbessorealty. Happy gardening!

Snowball Bush, a.k.a. Viburnum
Invasive Russian Sage
Peony in full bloom

Published June 16, 2020

Sean Besso’s Guide to Online Stay-At-Home Survival

person holding paper with words view from above showing shoe tipsWith the advent of Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s Stay-At-Home Order, we turn to the mighty internet for satisfying our immediate need for distraction, including news consumption. We don’t know when the order will be lifted, so to help with the challenge of keeping a positive mindset (which contributes to strengthened immune systems), be sure to get out and get some fresh air and exercise. Be mindful of employing physical distancing: maintain six feet away from others not in your household. You will want to keep 20 feet away from others in your household. Just kidding about that – but I’m sure there are new at-home dynamics at work.

One outcome of the pandemic crisis will be what people look for in a home. The way people look at a prospective home will take shelter-in-place in consideration. Does the home have: ample storage, private spaces within the floor plan regardless of square footage, freezer/refrigeration capacity, water supply storage, can an uninterruptible power supply be incorporated, and much more. If there are any modifications that can be made in this regard, now might be the time to make those improvements. In the meantime, please enjoy the list of free resources I’ve compiled for you and your family (special thanks to PDX COVID-19 Mutual Aid Network). If you have any new discoveries you’d like to share, please comment below.

CREATIVE

Portland Art Museum’s YouTube channel allows you to take a virtual walk-through of exhibit, Volcano! Mount St. Helens in Art, explore their online collections, learn about art conservation, experience artist talks, and more.

10 free university art classes via artsy.com.

Courses.com
Enjoy several free courses in architecture, drawing, and even guitar. Explore other disciplines for free, too.

Minimoog Model D App
“The Minimoog Model D App is a mobile transmutation of the world’s first portable synthesizer, the Minimoog Model D®. Optimized for use on all 64-bit iOS devices, anyone can jump in and play with over 160 included presets or lay fingers to the controls and begin exploring vast magical realms of creative potential.” Download the app here.

WELLNESS

Guided meditation series
With Open Sky Wilderness

Addiction recovery
OregonRecoveryNetwork.org

Entertainment

Get free unlimited smartphone data from all four major service providers (Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T) thanks to the FCC’S recent “Keep Americans Connected Pledge” which also includes: not terminating service due to an inability to pay, waiving late fees, providing WiFi hotspots.

60 days of free Comcast Internet for low-income households, the elderly, and veterans – continued service not required, can be cancelled at anytime.

Pluto TV

Kanopy, which also has kids-only TV. Library card required.

Free access to nightly streaming from the Metropolitan Opera

EDUCATION

20 days free access to Scholastic Learn at Home (up to 3 hours per day)
Free science lessons from Mystery Science (K-5th)
Gigantic list of free education resources.
This Free Virtual Field Trip List, a Google doc.
You can find a variety of free ebooks from:
     Early Bird Books
     Book Bub
     Free Booksy
     FreeEbooks.net

Oregon/Portland area specific resources:

Portland Area Student Meal Pickup Sites

The Multnomah Library system is an incredibly underrated gem with a ton of programs. Explore their website here: https://multcolib.org/

Portland’s Irvington Neighborhood, A Virtual Tour

Irvington is a Northeast Portland neighborhood that was originally part of the Donation Land Claim of 1851. Today, it is a thriving community of single-family homes and apartment buildings. The southern boundary of Irvington is NE Broadway Street. Boasting numerous restaurants, shops, and other services along this southern boundary (Things From Another World games and comic shop, barber shops, the tidy gas station Fastrack, veterinarian clinic, etc.), it makes for a great biking and pedestrian-friendly area of Portland. Catch the bus on Broadway to get to downtown in just minutes. The Pearl District is also just past the Broadway Bridge, so there is direct and efficient access to other neighborhoods. It is also close enough to the on-ramps for I-84 and I-5 (but not too close!). The northern boundary is Fremont Street, also a haven for shopping and dining.

Coming Full Circle

The Portland Streetcar was implemented in 1889, connecting more neighborhoods. Its relevance peaked in 1912, according to the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s website. The original Portland Streetcar service ended in 1950. The modern version of the Portland Streetcar, more efficient and practical for modern roadways, was implemented in 2001. Alas, history does repeat itself.

Having once lived in this neighborhood myself, it is near and dear to me. Please enjoy a selection of photos collected over the recent years and seasons. If you’d like to read a more extensive history on Irvington, please visit the Irvington Neighborhood Association’s National Park Service’s National Register Nomination submission. Enjoy the tour!

Photo Gallery

Portland’s Winter Light Festival Illuminates Riverfront

The Portland Winter Light Festival dazzled us this past weekend! The fifth anniversary of a newer Portland tradition spans the east and west side of the Willamette River. We enjoyed the impressive collaborative outdoor installations, giving us a chance to explore a different, temporary side of our beautiful city at night. Some of the installations featured here: Technicolor Dreamboat by Holst Architecture in collaboration with The Good Mod; Synapse by Cap Crescent; DiscoBug by Tyler FuQua Creations. See my Instagram story for the video experience, Strands of Dreams by Fritz Koenig, Smit Shah, and Zao Naegele.

We enjoyed a fantastic end to our evening with a walk across the Tilikum Crossing under a beautiful Snow Moon, the first supermoon of 2020, as we took in the Eastside displays of the Portland Winter Light Festival. The images here do not do the festival justice, of course, as it is a three-dimensional experience you just have to see in person. If you’re a stats geek (as I am), you may download their 2019 infographic to view the festival’s economic impact on the city. Discover more of this festival on Instagram at @PDXWLF.

‘Tis the season for giving and gratitude!

November 22, 2019

‘Tis the season for giving and gratitude! I’m honored and humbled to have participated in the following charities this past year. If you’re preparing your house with a “winter clean” in anticipation of guests (or the new year for that tax write-off) and are looking for places to donate clothing and household goods, please see my suggested charities. Feel free to post charities of your choice as well—always good to expand the list!

Charity Roundup

Children’s Cancer Association Wonderball While this year’s figures are not yet available, CCA raised $1.2 Million at last year’s Wonderball. My wife and I were proud to attend and contribute in association with Mark Aalto of Advantage Mortgage and his wife who hosted our table.

SOLVE Beach Cleanup has become a family tradition. This year’s efforts were the result of over 4,900 volunteers collecting and removing an estimated 21,000 pounds of litter. Sign up with me for 2020: https://www.solveoregon.org

sunny oregon beach coast cleanup solve

22KILL – Veterans suicide prevention through mental wellness and empowerment programs. This organization is especially important to me since my dad was a veteran of the Vietnam War. I have donated to and participated in golf tournaments benefiting 22KILL. Please visit their website for more info.

Cat Adoption Team Not only have I donated to CAT, but we have adopted cat family members from this great organization. They also accept donations at their charity thrift store, so please check out what they accept before donating.

We have also donated to and adopted cat family members from Oregon Humane Society – https://www.oregonhumane.org

From L-R: Chris Kane of Portland Bankruptcy Law Group, Me, Kyra Olsen of Rose & Thistle, and Al Ekman.

Kiwanis Doernbecher Children’s Cancer Program Portland Golf Tournament I’ve been a volunteer organizer and hosted two golf teams for this event for the last four years.

Friends of Outdoor School I was an Outdoor School counselor at Camp Meriwether when I was a Junior and Senior at Tillamook High School, so donating to this charity is close to my roots.

Friends of the Columbia Gorge I have donated to and volunteered at FCG since the Eagle Creek Fire in 2017. My wife and I have also purchased Timbers/Thorns scarves representing Columbia River and Multnomah Falls. Those purchases have helped fund efforts to restore the area.

Donation Guide

If you would like to donate to a local charity, below are some organizations to consider. Always check with the charity for donation guidelines prior to donating. Some of these organizations offer to pick up your items for a small fee.

Community Warehouse
William Temple House
Schoolhouse Supplies
Mainspring
Transition Projects

 

About Sean Besso

Whether you are an experienced investor or a first time buyer, I can help you in finding the property of your dreams. Feel free to browse through my profile and please don't hesitate to reach out for any of your real estate needs! Meet Sean...

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2207 NE Broadway Ste. 100
Portland, OR 97232
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