• Walker Garbage holiday schedules, Recycle+ collection
• Free brake check with donated groceries
• Enjoy chef-crafted holiday meals to go from Market of Choice
• Help make the holidays better for those in need with gift cards
• The Agency Portland celebrates its first year!
• Cedar Mill Real Estate Market

Walker Garbage holiday schedules, Recycle+ collection

If your route day is on Christmas Day or New Years Day, you can expect service on the next day. For updates in case of severe weather, visit the Walker Garbage website.

If you are signed up for the Recycle+ service, it includes special collections a few times each year of specific items or materials for recycling or donation. You can set out string lights on your designated Recycle+ pickup day during the special collection months of December and January.

Include: LED string lights; string lights with small bulbs; and string lights without bulbs. Do NOT include: rope lights; novelty lights if you cannot remove the novelty bulb; inflatable yard figures, or other holiday décor.

Free brake check with donated groceries

December 1- January 10, Monday-Friday, 6 am-5 pm, Du Fresne’s Auto Repair, 10690 NW Cornell Rd.

Drive on in for Du Fresne’s 21st Annual Free Brake Month. With a donation of a grocery bag of food we will do a free brake inspection, and if you need brakes the pad and or shoes are free. You just pay the labor. All donations will go to the Portland Rescue Mission.

Enjoy chef-crafted holiday meals to go from Market of Choice

Sunday, December 1-Tuesday, December 31, Market of Choice, 250 NW Lost Springs Terrace. Place orders here.

Market of Choice makes holiday dining effortless with a selection of exceptional, ready-to-enjoy meals and sides that taste like they came straight from your kitchen. With something for everyone, choose from chef-crafted main dishes, such as all-natural turkey, boneless half-spiral sliced ham, and tender brisket, paired with an array of scratch-made sides. Complete your feast with delightful appetizers, decadent desserts, and thoughtfully curated wine pairings. 

You also have the flexibility of à la carte selections or can opt for one of the Chef’s Prix-Fixe dinners which serve two to eight people and are designed to bring warmth and joy to your holiday table without the fuss of cooking. 

Order online by December 21st for Christmas meals, and December 28th for Hanukkah and New Year’s meals. Pickup times are available from December 21-31. To learn more, please visit our website. 

Help make the holidays better for those in need with gift cards

Donations accepted thru December 18, Sunset Credit Union, 1100 NW Murray Blvd. #100 (across from the Safeway Shopping Center)

Sunset Credit Union is teaming up with Family Promise of Beaverton to help brighten the holiday season and support those less fortunate. One simple donation can make all the difference for people of all ages. We’ve found that gift cards from places like Target, Fred Meyers, or just Visa Gift cards are the best gifts for giving to this worthy cause.

Sunset Credit Union is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Washington County. To learn more, stop by our office at 1100 NW Murray Blvd, visit our website at or contact us at 503.643.1335.

The Agency Portland celebrates its first year!

The Agency Portland has just celebrated its first anniversary providing local real estate services. Managing Partner, Dirk Hmura and Managing Broker, Andrew Misk launched The Agency Portland after having successful careers at local brokerages. Dirk and his team were pursued by The Agency Beverly Hills to start the real estate company in Portland. They teamed up with Andrew and fast forward one year, the agency is now 30 brokers strong. Headquarters is in the flagship office at LifeTime Work, 500 SW 116th Ave., and at a boutique office on NW 23rd and Hoyt. Expansion plans to Lake Oswego and Vancouver are in the works as well.

Cedar Mill Real Estate Market

It is cold in Portland! We are seeing downpours in the neighborhoods and snow on the mountain. The onset of winter brings a quiet real estate market typical of our historical seasonal patterns. This season brings some unique twists. Buyer traffic has shown greater resilience compared to 2023, and the lower interest rates in September were a big part of that. Still, inventory remains higher than usual and buyer traffic is declining. 

There are some benefits for both buyers and sellers. This year, the market has been a bit more active. Buyer traffic typically drops a little faster during this time, but this year has shown a more gradual decrease. Lower interest rates in September are likely the reason, though rates have popped back up recently. Even with the September rate reduction, current traffic is similar to that seen in 2023 and is expected to continue its typical decline, especially since interest rates have risen. The year isn’t over, but we have a short amount of time left before the major holidays bring everything to a halt.

 Inventory this year has remained higher than in 2023. However, I predict a continued lowering of inventory for the remainder of the year. Even though we have a little more buyer activity, we also have more inventory to sell through. As we approach December, slower buyer activity is expected, and the number of days on the market will continue to increase. Lower interest rates may come into play, but the backlog from summer will likely keep inventory high for this time of year. 

As of November, 50% of listings have had price reductions. This time of year, for buyers, the price reductions and high inventory will bring more opportunities to negotiate. Next spring I expect buyer demand to dramatically increase (as it typically does) and that will likely be paired with low inventory. I expect next year’s home prices to increase, bringing multiple offers due to upcoming lower interest rates and a buildup of demand.

With almost 40 years as a realtor, I have vast experience helping buyers and sellers with volatile markets. It would be my pleasure to meet with you, to learn your plans, and to help you navigate this transitional period. This is a very complicated real estate market; I would love to help you understand it. Contact Jan Dempsey, Realtor with Windermere Group, at jdempsey@windermere.com, or 503.706.6358.