One of the questions we hear pretty regularly, especially from first-time buyers, is: "Wait — what's the difference between an appraisal and an inspection? Aren't they kind of the same thing?" It's a fair question. Both happen around the same time in a real estate transaction, both involve someone walking through a home and writing a report, and both can affect whether a deal moves forward. But they're measuring completely different things, and confusing the two can leave buy

If you've been paying attention to the Portland metro housing market lately, you've probably noticed things feel a lot calmer than they did a few years ago — and the numbers back that up. According to Redfin, Portland home prices in early 2026 are up about 5% year-over-year, with a median sale price hovering around $525,000. Homes are still selling, but they're sitting on the market a bit longer — averaging closer to 55–80 days depending on the area, compared to the frantic 2