IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ 
Greetings! My name is David Brown (and my dog's name is Shaman), and I am a retired real estate broker. I am the owner of Logion web Design and have been in the web design and internet marketing business for over eleven years.


This blog and my real estate web site has been at the top of Google for a number of years and is an example of "SEO" or search engine optimization for 'Salem Oregon real estate'. As a webmaster and marketer, I research the strategies, webmaster tools, and Google requirements to maximize results for clients.

I publish a blog : Likes, Tweets, and SEO for business. I also am a Facebook developer and design Facebook fan pages for clients. If you need help with real estate, I would be glad to refer you to a reliable broker. If you need help with web site development, design, and internet marketing, I offer a free initial consultation. Paid advertising is also available on this web site. 503-302-2333 - Amazing Grace - I am blessed to have a strong web business! 

Flooding Wreaks Havoc in Salem
City of Salem Publishes Flood Map, Schools Close,  and Governor Declares State of Emergency
This level of flooding here in Salem Oregon is a"40 year event". But it could get worse. Posted yesterday by the City of Salem re: the crest of the Willamette River today at 4pm @ 30ft. Map, warnings, and safety issues.
Evacuation in Turner / Photos of Flooding in Turner, Salem, and Albany /
Flooding Videos / Local News

view flood map
from the City of Salem flood map:
"The Willamette River is projected to reach its crest at approximately
4:00 p.m. on Friday. The areas shown in blue on this map indicate
locations that may be at higher risk of flooding as a result of the
rising levels in the Willamette River and its associated creeks. This
information is provided to residents and businesses to alert them to
areas of added risk. Note:
IMPORTANT:
This map is provided to alert residents and businesses of potential
flooding.
This map is based on rough estimates and is able to only
approximate areas at additional risks.
Regardless of where you are in relation to the areas shown on this
map, you should always be aware of your surroundings and take all
appropriate safety measures based on what you see.
This map is not 100% accurate. Flooding has, and will occur at
other locations.
All residents and businesses in Salem should continue to exercise
prudence and caution regarding rising water levels, flooding, and
personal safety."

Just published today in Wired Magazine:
Facebook in Oregon

Facebook and other high tech companies will help the economy of Oregon.
by David Brown


The "Silicon Forest" that centers around Beaverton and Portland is not the only tech hub in Oregon. Prineville, located near Bend, is the location of a  Facebook data center. It is also an example of how high tech companies do not always have to be located near a major metro area such as Portland.

Facebook, the amazing social media giant with over 800 million users and millions of posts and sharing going on daily, continues to expand and is building another facility next the current one in Prineville. Seventy per cent of the 55 jobs in the current data center are local residents. That's good news for an unemployment rate of 21%. Full story > 

Oregon can benefit from the continued increase of high tech and other businesses locating here. It's good for jobs, good for business, and good for the real estate market! Welcome Facebook, Google, and Yahoo!

Share this page on Facebook? See tabs below. - David Brown

News from the NAR - National Assn. of Realtors


Strong Temptations for Home Buying
The monthly cost of owning a home is more affordable now than in the past 15 years, and is less expensive than renting in numerous cities, according to The Wall Street Journal’s third-quarter survey. more >

New Home Sales Post Biggest Gains in Months
New-home sales for single-family homes rose 1.3 percent in October, marking the best pace for new-home sales activity since this May, the U.S. Commerce Department reports. more >

Don't Let Foreclosure Buyers be Tempted by Price Alone
Buyers may be swayed by the big bargain prices that foreclosures often offer. But before they jump in, some housing experts say they need to be warned that it may not be as big of bargain as they believe. more >
NAR Awards Grants to Promote, Expand Affordable Housing
The Housing Opportunity Program Grants, a National Association of REALTORS® grant program, has presented $62,500 to 19 local and state REALTOR® associations. Those associations will use the funds to promote and expand affordable housing opportunities in their communities. more >

Real Estate Forecast
"As the Economy Goes, So Does the Real Estate Market"
by David Brown, broker

Although we hear of some mixed good news and bad by various real estate market analysts, in general it seems that the overall market will continue to humdrum along with the rest of the economy, i.e. as the economy goes, so does the real estate market. Interest rates continue to remain very low but so does the number of qualified buyers. Seller-occupied properties continue to compete with bank owned REO's. 

The Oregon State Office of Economic Analysis just released it's full report - Oregon Economic and Revenue Forecast Nov 17th. In this report they summarize a key indicators that have already obviously affected and will continue to affect the housing market here. 

"Employment in Oregon in both the second and third quarters was essentially flat following a very strong start to 2011. The recent weakness can largely be attributed to public sector cuts as the private sector continues to add jobs. Overall, job growth is up 1.5 percent on the year, which ranks 13th across states.

After a rocky start in the first quarter of 2010, the private sector has added jobs each of the past six quarters, for a total increase of 36,900, or 2.8 percent. In the third quarter there were notable job increases reported in construction, computer and electronic products, information, education and health services and leisure and hospitality services. Some of the weakest private sector industries were natural resources and mining, wood products, transportation equipment, food processing and retail trade. Budget shortfalls have caught up with the public sector, with declines in all three government levels, notably local education.

OEA forecasts an employment increase of 0.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 and 1.4 percent in the first quarter of 2012. Job gains will remain subdued in 2012, improving at a 1.3 percent pace, following 1.5 percent gains in 2011."

Nationally, we get mixed reviews depending on the source:
(But isn't real estate local? Why does national data help?)


Home Sales Rise to Boost Housing Market (Housing Predictor)


2012 - A Better Market Coming ? Make Money in 2012 Housing?
Strategies for Buyers and Sellers - Another Opinion - CNN.com

Where will Housing be in 2012 ? (Bloomberg)

CNN using data fro Fiserv: Salem, Oregon

Forecast change: second quarter, 2011 – second quarter, 2012	+3.7%
Forecast change: second quarter, 2012 – second quarter, 2013	+5%

Market fundamentals
Median Family Income (2010)	$55,800
Median Home Price (Second quarter 2011)	$137,000
Change in Home Prices (From second quarter 2010 thru second quarter 2011)	-10.2%
Worst 1-Year Home Price Change (1980-2011)	-11.7% (2008:Q1)

So how does the market affect your timing in buying or selling? This involves personal preferences combined with common sense. I have worked with both buyers and sellers who had great timing and others who did not. If sellers are also buying after they sell, usually it could me a lateral move and the "loss" in their sale is picked up in their purchase. For first time home buyers, this is great timing as long as they plan to not resell soon. The formula is much more complicated than this as every situation with a buyer/seller and a property has its own particulars. Working with a professional real estate broker is advised to help you navigate through the stormy waters of the process.

 - David Brown
www.RealEstateSalem.com
503-302-2333

Poems, Gnomes and Homes

As the blustering winds blow through the Northwest, some real estate deals will still close.
I had one close the other day I do not jest
Just in time for the Thanksgiving fest.

Garden Gnomes may be a gift for your home, and here's a link to browse an Amazon store. They can smile, sleep, and even some have good looks. They're not just pests in the Harry Potter books.  Consider them as a gift, and enjoy browsing a few, but if it's homes and not gnomes that your seeking, then use the other link in blue.
Garden Gnomes on Amazon.com / Search Homes for Sale

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving !
David Brown

Time to Change Course
(and to launch a new and unique real estate search program)

This is the title of the October issue of the Realtor Magazine published by the National Association of Realtors. It was to provide a preview of one of the main topics for those of us committed to stay the course after five years into this tough housing market. We are reminded in the article that some of the world's best innovations, and successful corporate startups were launched during tough economic times.

Although I did not attend, the annual conference for the National assn. of Realtors was in Anaheim, Calif., home of Disneyland. The keynote speaker was Michael Eisner, former CEO of Walt Disney Corp. He spoke on leadership lessons and how to survive in difficult times.

Another keynote speaker was Bill Taylor, the co-founder of award-winning business magazine Fast Company. In his new book Practically Radical: Not-So-Crazy Ways to Transform Your Company, Shake Up Your Industry, and Challenge Yourself, he showcases lessons from 70 leaders who implemented radical changes. Umpqua Bank, one of our Oregon-based banks, was also featured with their boost in customer base after offering a coffee-house experience at all of its 184 branches, with tellers receiving barista training!

More than 350 companies from around the world set up shop at the expo in Anaheim, displaying some of the best business-enhancing technology tools, and innovative products. I didn't need to be there to browse through the list and check the best ones out online. The category of technology and MLS solutions was the largest and I am researching this area. I am lucky that Coldwell Banker, my real estate company of choice, has cutting edge technology tools and resources already developed that I can integrate into my own web marketing. The bottom line for me is to provide the best service for my clients.

New Real Estate Search Program Launch
I am about to launch a new search program that is innovative and new, that no one else is offering locally. Like many other real estate search programs, it has the basic saved searches, bookmarked properties, setting of preferences, and accessing Home Value Reports. The unique aspects of this program go beyond any other out there: it is a geo-spatial search platform that delivers a totally new way to search for real estate online.

Every aspect of the search process is conducted on a map, creating a fluid and entertaining user experience.
Through the innovative Lifestyle Search System, users can visually see the relational perspective between all things important in their real estate decision making process. Looking for a home within a quarter mile of a high school, a half mile of a coffee shop, and 2 miles from a grocery store? This program can find you those homes.

Their platform is built on deep levels of data, including for-sale homes, historic ‘sold’ data, 60+ million not-for-sale houses, 130,000+ schools and universities, 12+ million businesses, demographics and statistical data, and much more. If you would like to try this out, please complete this online form below and I will notify you when it is available on my website.- David Brown, licensed Oregon real estate broker (503) 302-2333.