Carla Muss-Jacobs, ABR, CEBA, e-PRO, Realtor

If you're moving to Portland, you might want to know what the various housing styles are. Even if you aren't moving to Portland you might not know about the wonderful, diverse styles our area has to offer.

Here is a concise and complete list of the various housing styles you'll find:

2 Story - Home has two levels. The entrance is on the main level, with the living quarters (bedrooms) on the upper level.

A-Frame - The high-pitched roof in the shape of an 'A' clearly defines this architectural style. Many A-Frame homes are seen in the higher altitudes where heavy snows are common, and due to the steep pitch of the roof, can not accumulate.

• Bungalow - A gabled roof, and front porch is a typical style. Most are 1 1/2 stories, typically with a converted attic.

Cabin - Very small one-story structure with one or two rooms (Not shown).

Cape Cod - Typically a one-story with attic conversion, steep gabled roof with dormers.

Chalet - Another architectual style typically found in higher, colder altitudes. Common feature is the projected roof, a raised foundation and large windows. (Not shown).

Colonial - This is a traditional style, with small casement windows, always a two-story home, with steep roof, many "Colonials" have columns decorating the exterior, but they don't have to include them.

Common Wall - Common walls can be one or two-story and any architectual style. They have one wall which connects the residences (two properties are joined at the common wall). (Not shown.)

Country French - Can be a one-level or two-level (two being more common). Major characteristics are the curved windows (mostly shuttered), formal in structure with a deep hip roof line.

Contemporary - AKA "Modern," Contemporary styles homes have clean, uncluttered lines, are non-tradtional, and very simplisitc in design.

Cottage - Front porches are either non-existant, or very small. Windows are encased and sashed, rront door is very plain. Has a gabled roof line, but lower then a Bungalow style.

Craftsman - A stand out feature of the Craftsman is the covered porch with decorative braces on the front porch. A low gabeled roof with wide beams and exposed rafters also round out the destinctive style.

Watch for :

• Series II Daylight Ranch to Modular
• Series III Old Portland to Victorian

Have you heard about the next, Great American sports phenom ... Roofball?

Don't worry . . . no one else has either.

This "sport" is really pretty lame, and doesn't require much skill. Although, I'm sure the Roofball. enthusiasts will argue that it's a very technical skill, that requires years of training . . . but I doubt it.

The Roofball concept is simple: 1) Throw a rugby onto the roof, near a vent. 2) Score points.

Roofball scoring is as follows:

• Ball goes around the vent pipe = 10 points
• Ball "pings" the vent (hits it) = 5 points
• Ball bonus catch (after it comes off the roof) = 1 point
• Ball "pings" little vent = 5 points
• Ball "over" house = -5 points
• Ball "hits" car (parked in driveway) = -1 point

I discovered Roofball when I was clicking TV channels, and saw this inane (next) Great American pass time. I was amazed that it was even being televised . . . but it was. There's a referee, score keepers, play-by-play analysis . . . and the players. Leagues have formed, and there are CHAMPIONSHIPS each year!

And I sat and watched . . . grown men throwing the rugby ball up on the roof . . . near the air vent . . . for points.

It's very original, and all I can say is . . . it FIGURES it was first played here in Portland.

www.Roofball.org

2008 WORLD CHAMPION ROOFBALL COMPETITION -- OPENING

Read more about made up "sports" in an article by: Anjali Athavaley, The Wall Street Journal 9/28/09 "Making up a sport helps folks regain their Mojo" http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/10139526/Making-up-a-sport-helps-folks-regain-their-Mojo?GT1=39002#

Each September, 25,000 Vaux Swifts make a Chimney located at Chapman Elementary School in Portland, Oregon their home.

As they migrate in their route to a southern, warmer climate for the winter, they make the month of September as their home. They are native to the Pacific Northwest, but are migrating birds.

Vaux Swifts are the smallest Swift, and consist of eating little bugs.

With our classic Indian Summers-- hot, hot days, and cool, cool nights . . . the bugs are out en masse . . . so are Spiders . . . and so are Vaux Swifts!

Since the late 1980's the Chimney at Chapman Elementary School has been the place where the Vaux Swifts have come home to roost (sleep) during the night. I'm wondering if they came to Portland in the '80's after Mt. St. Helen's blew her top? Only conjecture . . . but I do wonder why the swifts started coming here in the 1980's.

The Audubon Society -- Swift Watch 2009 -- has a nice website dedicated to the Vaux Swifts and they offer free guides, binoculars and lessons during the month of September at Chapman Elementary School. http://www.audubonportland.org/local-birding/swiftwatch

What a great local evening event for family and friends!

Portland, OR Real Estate

Supra Lockbox Activity, week ending Sept. 13, 2009

The lockbox is the magic access key that allows agents to open the doors on listed property. It also keeps statistics, and as you can see, there has been a slight INCREASE in activity, and this includes Portland, OR real estate activity. In a nutshell, listing showings are up, on average by 3.9%.

This percentage is compared to the week prior, as shown on the chart.

With the $8,000 tax credit expiring about 2+ months out, it would be interesting to follow the Portland, OR real estate trend with showings going up, or down?

BUYERS: What that means for you . . . the properties you have interest in are getting shown -- to other buyers. These showings are for the RMLS Supra lockbox in the state. The Portland, OR real estate market might have slightly higher levels of activity.

SELLERS: Check and see with your listing agent if the STAT above, of 3.9% increase is holding true with your property. Are you getting any more showings??

Portland, OR Real Estate

Supra Lockbox Activity, week ending Sept. 6, 2009

The lockbox is the magic access key that allows agents to open the doors on listed property. It also keeps statistics, and as you can see, there has been a DECREASE in activity, and this includes Portland, OR real estate activity. In a nutshell, listing showings are down on average by 5.5%.

This percentage is compared to the week prior, as shown on the chart.

With the $8,000 tax credit expiring about 3 months out, it would be interesting to follow the Portland, OR real estate trend with showings going up, or down?

BUYERS: What that means for you . . . the properties you have interest in are getting shown -- to other buyers. But buyers seem to be out less then week prior. These showings are for the RMLS Supra lockbox in the state. The Portland, OR real estate market might have slightly higher levels of activity.

SELLERS: Check and see with your listing agent if the STAT above, of 1.4% increase is holding true with your property. Are you getting any more showings??