Andrew

Again, I asked a simple question. It is at the top of the page. Now, how you, Gloria, got the idea that I was trying to do something other than what my question asks, is unbelieveable to me. Really!

You wrote:
"If you are wanting to do this on behalf of a friend or client, and are taking any kind of fee for your work, you are practicing real estate in oregon without a license, and Im not confident a real estate attorney would engage in assisting you."

Where did you come up with this? There is nothing, NOTHING, in my post or responses that suggests or implies that I doing anything but looking for an attorney in Portland.

You know, I don't really like to get into it with anyone, but thus there have been four responses to my question and no one has answered it.

All of the responses have been great examples of a simple question going in one ear and coming out the other, rephrased in a new manor, total self-based. Amazing. - Mon Jun 23 2008, 01:53

Folks, I just asked a simple question. What I've received in return is nothing but unsolicited, off-topic advice. And...

I am still looking for a real estate attorney to draft a purchase agreement that adheres to Oregon's laws. I could go into greater details which might ultimately satisify your needs as to why I am looking for an attorney rather than a real estate agent, but suffice it to say that it is necessary for this transaction.

And Cameron, your right, ask a stupid question and you get berated in return. Let me know when the ink dries on your real estate diploma. - Mon Jun 23 2008, 01:25

Kelley said, "I would love to make a recommendation of a Real Estate attorney to you but I'm afraid I don't have one and I'm guessing that most of the 6,000+ Realtors here in the area don't either." Really?!

Every real estate agent I have ever worked with has had a rolodex of contacts and high at the list has always been a real estate attorney.

Oh and thanks for letting me know that not only don't I know what I need, but that you could instead help me with what you think is best for me and you. - Sat Jun 21 2008, 10:55

Forgive me for being so naive as to think that I could get a straight answer, let alone advice from a message board that is made up of real estate agents. Man! I have posed the above question a few times, each time in a different format and have patiently read the responses which all amount to same creative response: "pick me as your agent!" Not one time has anyone answered my question for a recommendation on a good real estate attorney in Portland!

In response to your question Mr. Cameron, your assumption is incorrect. It may be hard for you to believe, but there are situations where there is no value or no need to use a "competent real estate agent".

As an agent you are going to siphon off from the seller 3-6% (in this case 12-24K) of the sale for a deal that we have put together. By hiring an attorney I will cost $600 to $1000.

I am trained as an accountant and I have worked in real estate as an investor in the city of San Francisco for more than 10 years. One thing I have learned (and I should know better by now) is that you can't get a straight answer from a real estate agent! Sorry folks, it's true. Whether agents don't want to assume liability for an opinion or they are too self-serving, there are few out there that will give true objective advice.

My suggestion to those using this board for advice is to believe half of what you read and consider the source of the advice. For the other half, read books on the subject... it's worth your time and money. - Sat Jun 21 2008, 04:09

To answer your question why SF will likely weather the real estate storm: folks are highly educated, they have high paying jobs, SF is a unique culture not found anywhere else in the world, and the people who live in SF love it and don't want to live anywhere else. All that translates into folks that want to and can afford to stay.

Now about the misunderstanding with the Case-Shiller index and San Francisco. The index reports on the entire Bay Area. This includes places like Oakland, Fremont, Bentica, Walnut Creek, Vallejo and of course San Francisco.

These places have been hard hit by real estate slump. If you want to know about the general area, then it is a good index, however, comparing San Francisco with these places would be like comparing Manhattan to NJ. Really. Not only in proximity but also for the folks that live there. They are apples and oranges.

So, if you want to know about SF real estate, you're better off looking at a site that compares the performance of neighborhoods, year over year. Good luck!

Here's a site for condos: http://www.sfcondosales.com/condocount - Tue May 13 2008, 09:09

The weather and it's not close to anything you can walk to. In other words, it is the suburbs of San Francisco, in San Francisco.

p.s. If you're not familiar with the city, there are micro climates that can affect your living experience significantly. No joke! The fog in Diamond Heights is consistent and dissipates as it goes down the hill. A home just a few hundred yards from the area you're asking about can be consistently sunny at times of the day when DH is foggy! - Tue May 13 2008, 08:49

While you do have rights as a tenant, only if your name is on the lease do you have any real legal recourse. Furthermore, the recourse that you have will be limited to damages to the person that threw you out of the apartment. Does he/she have any money? If not, move on and look at this practically. In other words, do you really want to live in a place where you are not getting along with the other person? The law is there to help you, but it cannot solve your problems! - Tue May 13 2008, 08:41