Gorge Real Estate Talk

We are pleased to release of our latest episode! In this week's installment, Alisha Nightingale engages in an enlightening conversation with her esteemed friend and former colleague, Dave Ashburn. Dave, who previously served as a Realtor at Windermere Real Estate Columbia River Gorge, has transitioned into the role of an appraiser for Hood River County. Although Dave has embarked on a new professional journey, he remains a part of our Windermere family, and we are delighted to have him join us to provide updates on his official appraisal work for the county. This episode is filled with invaluable insights, making it an essential listen for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of how appraisers assess homes and contribute to our local community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dave for graciously sharing his expertise, eagerly anticipating future encounters where our paths may intersect once more!

After taking some time for reflection and healing, we are thrilled to announce the continuation of Gorge Real Estate Talk. As many of you are aware, our beloved host and dear friend, Kimberly Salvesen, passed away on January 1st, 2023 after a courageous battle with Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Despite her diagnosis, Kim's indomitable spirit fueled her passion for the podcast and the real estate market. Initially created to keep our community members informed about the current state of the real estate market, the podcast evolved into a platform to spotlight local businesses and community programs. In today's episode, our new host, Alisha Nightingale, chats with Rachel Broughton and Kim Chamness, the new owners of Windermere Real Estate Columbia River Gorge, about Kim's remarkable legacy and the seamless transition of ownership. Although Kim's loss remains a heavy burden on our hearts and minds, the Windermere family has come together in a beautiful way to keep her vision alive. During this episode, you will hear from some of Kim's closest friends and colleagues about her inspiring impact as a mentor, a friend, and a pioneer in the real estate industry. We hope this special episode will serve as a touching tribute to Kim Salvesen and her extraordinary life. Moving forward, we have lined up some incredible guests and exciting topics that we can't wait to share with you. We appreciate your unwavering support and look forward to continuing this journey together.   To learn more about Kim Salvesen and her incredible life's journey, please visit below.   https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/obituaries/obituary-kimberly-salvesen/article_ff07bc60-92be-11ed-b330-7b96ff7e530f.html

We're back!  In this weeks episode, Kim sat down with Sam Struck from Strucksured Interiors. We learn all about Sam, what brought her to Hood River and how she formed her business. Sam and her team do an incredible job and offer some fanatasic design ideas for your new home or your home renovation! Check other their website AND there social media to contact Sam for your next project!    From www.Strucksured.com "OUR CALLING is to consider each project holistically, by designing spaces that reflect both functionality and each client's specific aesthetic, the landscape, and as well as their budgetary goals.   OUR VISION is formed by a deep respect for nature and our landscape coupled with an appreciation for clean, fine lines and a modern, fresh twist. OUR MASTERY comes from over ten years of experience designing for both international and domestic markets. We not only curate the materials and finishes needed to achieve your goals but also provide meticulously detailed drawing packages for your build team to implement on site. OUR PROCESS is the same for every project regardless of scope and size. Design is intimate--a reflection of who we are and how we interact in our near environment. This makes the process dynamic and responsive as we tackle each projects unique set of needs. We consider each project in its entirety, from inside and out, to ensure careful consideration as you move from space to space. We realize that in order to ensure the successful implementation of your space's design, we must be present and engaged in all phases of planning and construction. We love to see each project through the final touches. WE PARTNER with professionals across all disciplines and sectors of this industry. Working with us means you will have access to our network of architects, engineers, builders, suppliers, craftspeople and artisans. The synergy formed through collective collaboration is where the magic happens."

We're back and this time we're in White Salmon, Wa!  On today's episode, Kim sits down with long time friends and colleagues Carol Thayer and Ginger Swanson of Windermere Real Estate Columbia River Gorge.  In this episode we're talking about what these two ladies are up to AND... they want to invite you to a party this Saturday October 8th! These ladies are part of Soroptimist International, A global volunteer organization working to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. This party will also include a big Fall sale at The Enchanted Alpaca where a portion of the proceeds will be given back to our local communities! Find out more  about the event and what the Soroptimist group of the Mt. Adams chamber is all about.  Join us this weekend for some live music, some shopping and maybe a little real estate at the Enchanted Alpaca October 8th and 1pm!       

The crew is back! In todays episode, Kim is joined by her good friends and collegues, Chelsea Barnes and Shay Ryan-Blakslee of Windermere Real Estate Columbia River Gorge!    You might recgonize Kim's guest from previous episodes as both of these ladies hosted a couple of Gorge Real Estate Talk episodes themselves! In today's chat, we learn all about what Chelsea and Shay are up to this Fall and Winter season. Both of these ladies donate their time to some awesome community athletic programs for the children of the Gorge. Tune in to find out what fun programs are coming up in these next few weeks for your little ones as well as learning about these two amazing people! 

We're back and with a new guest host! Hosting today's show is Windermere real estate agent, Hallie Ballou of Windermere Real Estate Columbia River Gorge!  In today's episode, Hallie sat down with her good friend Caroline Lipps. Caroline is  part owner of Thunder Island Brewing Co. located in Cascade Locks, Oregon. These two ladies give all the details about how Thunder Island Brewing was founded and an update ontheir latest big project of moving into a new building in the heart of Cascade Locks! This episode is packed with good stories and fun times about one of the Gorge's premiere craft breweries! 

We're back! In today's episode, Kim is joined by her friend Lorena Lowell of the Small Business Development Center. We find out how Lorena found her way to the Gorge after growing up in Mexico and how she took a position working at the Small Business Development Center. So what is the SBDC and how can they help you? We'll tune in and find out what wonderful resource we have here in the Gorge!   From https://wsbdc.org "The Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a network of more than 30 expert business advisors working in communities across the state to help entrepreneurs or small business owners start, grow or buy/sell a business. SBDC advisors provide one-on-one, confidential, no-cost advising on all phases of small business development and are often co-located with economic development specialists in community colleges, economic development agencies or government agencies. Other services of the Washington SBDC include no-cost or low-cost workshops on a variety of business topics and customized market research services. The Washington SBDC, a member of the national America's SBDC program, is governed by a cooperative agreement between Washington State University, which is the statewide host of the program, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)."

On this weeks episode, we sat down with Beatriz Lynch from SafeSpace here in the Gorge. What is SafeSpace? We'll SafeSpace is the front-line responder to reports of child sexual and physical abuse, witnessing violence, and other serious maltreatment of children in the Columbia River Gorge. We wanted to bring them on and to tell us all about how the were started and what we can do to lend them a helping hand.  We hope you enjoy learning all about this amazing resource we have here in the Gorge and we hope you will reach out to them if you know of a child or family going through difficult and abusive situations.   From SafeSpace.com "As Executive Director, Beatriz is responsible for ensuring SafeSpace fulfills its mission to reduce trauma to child victims of abuse through multidisciplinary evaluation and advocacy in a safe and healing environment. With a BS in Social Work, Beatriz brings more than 20 years of working with children in various capacities.  ​ She is passionate about the work SafeSpace does in the Gorge Community, and committed to providing the highest quality services to every child who comes to SafeSpace.  ​ Beatriz gets really excited when the team is able to bring CAC services to new communities. She feels rewarded when a child leaves SafeSpace relieved they finally were able to tell their story, and someone was there to listen. She really likes the fact that SafeSpace has such a wonderful team to work with and great community partners that come together to help a child that has been abused.  ​ When Beatriz isn't advocating on behalf of kids, you'll find her doing calming activities like knitting and reading, or active out on the water SUPing or kayaking. Her side passion is raising Scottish Highland miniature cattle!"   ​

Kim's back in the hostess chair this week and today we're speaking with Joe Garoutte of Big Britches Productions and Carol Thayer!  We sat down to talk to these 2 about their production of "Rent" now playing at the Old Bingen Theater in Bingen, Wa! We get to hear all about the show, how Joe found his way to this are and how he found himself getting involved in our local theater!   

These two ladies are back for another special episode at Evoke Winery in Hood River!  In today's episode, Shay and Chelsea go over what it's like selling your home in today's market. They dish out a few tips and tricks that will help you maximize your listing price as well as going over the importance of working with a trusted local real estate agent.  Kick back with your favoirte bottle of wine from Evoke Winery and join these ladies for a very important and informative conversation! 

We're back in action and talking Real Estate and banking!    In today's episode, guest host Shay Ryan-Blakeslee and Chelsea Barnes sit down with Dillon Borton of KeyBank in Hood River. Dillon is a Business Banking Relationship Manager at KeyBank and knows all about the financing needed going into a home purchase as well as using your assets to help you achieve other real estate investments! This is truly an episode you do not want to miss!       

We're back at it again! Kim and her good friend Matt Cole from DirectLine-IT, sit down for a talk about all things IT and our communities  As we roll into 2022, its important for small business owners to go on the offensive and put up a strong defense against cyber attacks. We wanted to hear all about what DirectLine-IT has to offer us as well as our small business community members when it comes to data protection and cyber security.  We also wanted just to play catch up with Matt! We wanted to find out what he's been up to and how he's able to be everywhere in our community all at once. Tune in for this great episode and find out what you can do to keep your business protected this new year.    From www.DirectLine-it.com "WHO WE ARE HONESTY, INTEGRITY AND TRUST ARE AT THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO. We believe in innovative solutions for the problems you face day in and day out in your business. We are dedicated and passionate about providing you with a customer experience you won't find anywhere else. DirectLine-IT was built on the premise of providing you with cost affordable IT solutions."

Happy New Year! We hope you all had a fabulous time with family and friends ringing in the new year!  With a new year comes new goals and challenges. One of those goals might be to make a career change. Have you ever asked yourself what it would be like to work as a real estate agent here in the Columbia River Gorge? Well in todays episode you get a 1 on 1 conversation with Kim Salvesen-Pauly, owner of Windermere Real Estate Columbia River Gorge! She goes over everything you need to know when it comes to making the jump to become a realtor and why you want to join a respected company like Windermere!  Feel free to give Kim a call and get your new career off on the right foot!   Windermere Real Estate Columbia River Gorge 504 Cascade Ave. Hood River, OR (541) 386-3444  

The gang is back together again after a little summer vacation! Now that we've rest and had our fun in the sun, it's time to get back to talking real estate and to some local businesses!    In today's episode, Kim sits down with Robert and Kristin of Alpine Sea and Co. This married couple recently opened a clothing and bag boutique in the heart of Oak st. in downtown Hood River! We had to bring these guys in to hear their story, what brought them to Hood River and what hurdles they faced opening a new business during the peak of Covid.  Make sure to check them out the next time you're visiting Hood River!    From Alpineseaco.com "Located at 311 Oak Street in historic downtown Hood River, OR. The back half of the Alpine Sea Co. retail shop is our design studio & creative space. The open floor plan provides customers a first-hand glimpse into our design process and current projects. As a team and a brand, we value well-made purposeful products. We make things that we want, need, and use. Supporting the community we live in throughout the process."

We're back with another episode of Gorge Real Estate Talk! In this week's episode, Kim sit's down with Nathan Bell of Gorgeous Real Estate in White Salmon, Wa. Nate has a very interesting story to tell about how he and his wife formed their real estate investment company and how they found themselves living in the Gorge. If you've ever wondered how to get started in real estate investing, you are definitely going to want to hear this conversation! 

Kim is back in the Hostess seat speaking with Janice Bell, local business owner of Arome located in downtown Hood River. In today's episode, Kim seats down with Janice to discuss the inner-workings of Arome. Ever wondered how Arome picks their local products or how they decide what items they like to have in their store? Well, Janice fills us in on their processes as well as giving us some news, THEY'RE OPENING A NEW LOCATION IN REDMOND, OR!  Tune in to this episode to learn about a local favorite store that you'll be sure to visit on your next trip through town.  From www.aromehoodriver.com "Our passion is in finding the flavors of the world and bringing them to your kitchen. Visit us at our Hood River shop, nestled in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, only one hour from Portland, Oregon. We have regular demos, and you can sample any of our flavors before you take them home.  If you cannot visit our shop, our online store allows you to take these taste home from the comfort of your own living room. We have fun gifts, hard to find spices, premium olive oil and vinegar, and quality kitchen wares." Arome is located at  105 Oak Street, Hood River, OR 97031 Business Hours Monday-Saturday 10-6 Sunday 11-5 Ph. 541-436-3005

We're back with another episode of Gorge Real Estate talk, but this time we're in a new location! Where are we you may ask? We're in Windermere Real Estate Columbia River Gorge's newest office location in Goldendale Washington!  From Cascade Locks, OR and  to all the way to the far end of Goldendale, Wa, this is our 8th and newest office location! What better way to break in the new comfy furniture than having a talk with the ladies who run this location. Kim sits down with Linda Phelps, Lindamay Woosley and Pat Chestnut to talk about their roles at this new location and to give our listeners a little background on this amazing team of ladies.  If you're in the Goldendale area and you're looking to buy or sell a home, stop by and pay them a visit! Whatever your need or questions is, they're there to help.   Windermere Real Estate Columbia River Gorge - Goldendale, Wa 103 W Main St. Goldendale, Wa.

On today's episode, Kim sits down with a local (and tourist favorite) farm stand owner, Tammi Packer of Packer Orchards.  If you've ever been to the Hood River area, chances are you've heard about the Fruit Loop. One of the stops along the Fruit Loop, #9 to be exact, is the Packer Orchards Bakery that is owned and operated by Tammi Packer!  During this chat you'll learn a little history about the Packer family and farm and what they love to do, which is hosting their vistor's with an amazing farm stand experience! From cookies to pie, from ice cream to farm fresh fruit, Packer Orchards has it all!    You can visit Packer Orchards at  www.PackerOrchards.com  The Bakery  3900 Highway 35 Hood River, OR 97031 (541) 234-4481 The Farm Place 3020 Thomsen Rd Hood River, OR 97031 (541) 234-4006    on IG and FB -  @PackerOrchards

We're back with another amazing chat with another local business to both the Hood River community as well as the Cascade Locks community! In today's episode, Kim sits down with Angel Williams of Spruce Gifts and Provisions. Spruce gifts is a non-profit organization whose proceeds help support the Oregon Wildlife Foundation. During this chat you'll learn all about the history of Spruce, the foundations they help support and how you can help support them and the wildlife we have here in Oregon. Plus you'll get to know a great person in Angel, who she is and what her interest's are outside of Spruce. Swing by their store and pick out something for yourself or a gift for a loved one and help a great cause!  From Spruce Gifts & Provisions "Spruce Gifts & Provisions is an Oregon Wildlife Foundation gift store, conserving Oregon since 1981. Proceeds benefit our work to create a healthy and sustaining habitat for all Oregonians. We aim to make every one of our customers feel like friends as we welcome them to our 'home'. Our landmark brick and mortar at Bonneville Hatchery is NOW OPEN!" Spruce Gifts and Provisions is located at  70741 NE Sturgeon Ln, Cascade Locks, OR 97014 and  204 Oak St, Hood River, OR 97031

Good beer and great people make up a good portion of the Hood River community and on today's episode, Kim sits down with the owners of downtowns 64oz Taphouse! If you have ever been in town, chances are you've stopped in at 64oz taphouse for a beer or two, we don't blame you! Listen in as Kim talks with the owners, Rod and Lorraine, of downtowns favorite tap room. Hear their story on how they formed their business and how they supported the community during the pandemic.  If you haven't visited them you, be sure to do! They are located at; 208 Oak St, Hood River, OR 97031

In today's episode, Kim is back in the host chair speaking to her long time friend and real estate agent, Ginger Swanson!  Kim introduces us to Ginger as she tells us about her approach to real estate and what makes her such a different and unique agent here in the Gorge. More importantly, we get to learn about a fabulous member of our Gorge community and what she loves to do to help others!  

We're back with another episode of Gorge Real Estate Talk! In today's episode, Kim sits down with local business owner, Sarah Keller of Knot Another Hat.  The ladies discuss Sarah's background and how she found herself owning her own business in downtown Hood River. They discuss it all on this episode and Sarah gives us some great insight on how to get started with knitting and how therapeutic it can be! Be sure to swing by her store next time your in downtown Hood river! Knot Another Hat is located at 11 3rd St #103, Hood River, OR 97031

In this week's episode Kim talks with Ginger Sadlier of Arrived Vacation Rentals of Hood River. If your looking for a short term rental or your looking to rent out your own home here in Hood River, Ginger is here to help you!  Get to know the person on the other end of the phone and hear all about what services Arrived Vacation Rentals offers for their clients and their guest.  From ArrivedNow.com "Arrived vacation rentals offer a more private, spacious and custom-furnished place to stay than hotels. From cozy cabins to luxurious properties, our vacation rentals in bend Oregon are convenient to popular attractions, outdoor activities, and local special events. With multiple locations available, we have properties everywhere from Hood River rentals in scenic Oregon to Kauai Rentals across the Pacific and even beautiful Palm Springs rentals luxury. Wherever you go, Arrived will be there to provide a place to stay. Whether you’re planning your family vacation, honeymoon, or best friends retreat, we have a vacation experience that you’ll remember for years to come."

On today's episode of Gorge Real Estate Talk, Kim sit's down with her long time friend and Real Estate Agent, Carol Thayer!  Carol has an amazing story to tell about her background and her passions. From practicing law, farming alpaca, running a brick and mortar store AND working in Real Estate. She really does it all! Get to know all about Carol and her views on Real Estate and her passion to help those looking to either buy or sell a home here in the Columbia River Gorge. 

In today's episode, Kim welcomes an old friend onto the show, Jacque Johnston of Hood River House Sitters.  Jacque, like many others here in the Gorge, is a transplant from Salt Lake City, Utah. We all know the Gorge is a great place to play and live, but sometimes, we want to get away and chase the sun. That's where Jacque and Hood River House Sitters steps in.  Hood River House sitters is a small family owned business that will take care of your home when your out of town. They will also keep an eye on any maintenance issues that may occur while your out of town and sun bathing on a beach somewhere. They offer so many good services for residents who love to travel, all of which can be heard in today's episode.    Visit www.HoodRiverHouseSitters.com to learn more about Jacque Johnston and her business. 

The gang is all here! In today's episode Kim sat down with Gorge Realty Group of Windermere Real Estate Columbia River Gorge.  If you've ever wondered how a real estate team works under the umbrella of a brokerage, this is a great interview to dive into. Kim speaks with the group about what makes them different than other realtors in the Gorge and what the benefits are of working within a real estate team. Find out what these realtors have to say about living in the Gorge and how they can help you maximize your Gorge life experience! 

In this week's episode, Kim sits down with one of her amazingly talented real estate agents and long time friend, Connie Thomasian.  Like many others living here in the gorge, Connie is a transplant and has been living here in the Columbia River Gorge for over 20 years and working as a real estate agent for 15. If there's one thing about Connie that sticks out, its that she loves her career and the Gorge lifestyle.  Peel back the curtain and get to know the agent behind the name on this week's episode!    A short Bio from Connie Thomasian "In March of 2000 my husband and I moved to The Gorge from Oakland, Ca. We had met windsurfing at "The Hatchery", in The Gorge and married 9 months later. After a stint in Seattle and the Bay Area, we decided to move to God's Country. With no job prospects and an 8 month old baby girl we made the leap. We have never regretted our move and are very grateful to live in such a wonderful place. My husband is a Mechanical Engineer with Insitu Group, of Hood River, OR and I am a Real Estate Agent for Windermere. I am licensed in Washington and Oregon and I work out of The Hood River, Bingen, Wa. and The Dalles, OR offices. I have been an Agent since August 2006 and in that short time I have earned the Top Producer Award with over 100 million dollars in sales year to date. I have continued to be a top producer in The Gorge for the last 13 years. I specialize in residential Sellers/Buyers and also represent Commercial Listings as well. I believe in a "No Pressure" approach to selling homes. I enjoy educating new home buyers and I am a fair but aggressive negotiator. My goal is to get my client the best possible price on their home with the least amount of stress. I can show and sell any home that is listed so if you see a piece of property that you would like to preview please feel free to give me a call. I would love to help you find your next home or investment property. If you are considering selling your home, please give me a call. I'd love to share Windermere's cutting edge marketing plan."

We're back with another episode of Gorge Real Estate talk and Kim brought back an old friend, Ray Broughton of CrossCountry Mortgage.  Last time they got together was episode one of the show and now they're back almost a year later to talk about the Real Estate market and the lending trends. A lot has changed since they last spoke and Ray is here to update us all on the current conditions of mortgage rates and how the process has changed since the beginning of the pandemic. This episode is packed with information and you'll definitely want to listen to this one. 

On today's episode of Gorge Real Estate Talk, Kim chats with the new owners of Windermere Property Management Columbia River Gorge, Rick and Carrie Guthrie.  Rick and Carrie are both real estate agents for Windermere and were presented with the opportunity to purchase the property management side of the company. Who better to take over than local agents from within the Windermere family!  Get to know a little bit about the Guthrie's and hear what their plans are moving forward with their new business endeavour.

On todays episode for Gorge Real Estate talk Kim talks with her friend and new roommate Lucy from Lucy's Informal Flowers. Lucy will be moving into the Windermere office located in downtown Hood River at 315 Oak street and they discuss all the plans for Lucy's new space! Lucy gives us some great insight on picking flower arrangements and what makes her and her business unique to this area.  She also gives us great little history lesson on the shared building and how it got its name as well as some history on downtown Hood River. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! From all of us here at Windermere Columbia River Gorge Real Estate!! We're starting 2021 off  by welcoming back Kim and her good friend Suzette Gehring of Peak Mortgage. Suzette is a well known dog lover here in Hood River, OR. She spends her time helping out the pets in need around the gorge on top of helping those who are looking to by a home...or some commercial property! Find out how you can apply for a commercial loan and how Suzette can help you with you with your real estate aspirations, all in this episode.     From Suzette Gehring, Peak Mortgage  "At Finance of America Mortgage, we don’t see customers as numbers and paperwork. For us, doing business is about making human connections. We listen to the people we serve. We find the right mortgage solution for their specific needs. And we help them achieve their dreams of homeownership. You’ll see it in everything we do."

In this episode Alisha sets down with Acacia Hall from FBC Mortgage. Acacia explains to us the process that goes into applying for a mortgage and what buyers can do to increase their chances for a better home loan rate. This episode is packed with great information for those who are in the beginning stages of applying for a home loan or someone looking to purchase their second home. 

Have you ever wondered how one goes about qualifying for a home built by Habitat for Humanity? Well in this episode, Alisha sits down with Don Wanzek, Board President of Habitat for Humanity located in The Dalles, OR. Don explains the process that goes into qualifying for a home and building one for those in need. Don also talks to us about the impact of COVID-19 has had on those who would like to volunteer their time to the program and what volunteers can now do to help the program during these times. 

Meet Nika Kermani, owner of NK Studios in Bingen, Wa. After spending some time away from home, to attend school and volunteering her time to teach dance in various parts of the world, Nika now finds herself opening a new studio in Bingen. Being from the Gorge, Nika has a strong relationship with the surrounding communities and their local artist. It's her relationships with the communities that has helped paved the way to her new studio. Set to open this fall, her studio will provide space for people to exercise and dance as well as be a space were local artist can gather and showcase their work. 

On this week of Gorge Real Estate talk, we mix it up a bit and chat with Gorge local August Jensen about psychotherapy and the importance of taking care of your mental health and how that translates into a happier, healthier, life. His mission is helping individuals and couples live more fully in relationship to themselves and others. His focus is on experiential, trauma-informed, mindfulness-based counseling for individuals and couples who are seeking relief from life’s difficulties.

Meet Cristine Baratoff, executive director of United Way in the Columbia Gorge. We all have a stake in what befalls our fellow man. We all benefit when a child succeeds in school, when someone finds a job that will help them provide for their family, or when more people are able to access quality, affordable health care. United Way improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good. We rise or fall together. With your support, we are reaching for great new heights. If you want to volunteer with United Way, or learn how to help out in other ways, go to https://www.unitedway.org/get-involved/ to find out more. You could even seek out a local council near you from Hood River, Klickitat/Skamania, to Wasco County.

On this week, we spend time with Steve Carlson from the Gorge Rebuild it Center to discuss how we as a community can re-think, re-use, and re-store our comes with recycled materials that would have otherwise been thrown away. Steve also tells us about Gorge Rebuild it Center as a business and its goal within the community to not only provide affordable home building materials, but also to educate us to be less wasteful and how we can improve our habits.

On this episode of the Gorge Real Estate Talk podcast, we talk with Laura Klement of Enerstructa, a sustainable home designer and builder in the gorge. We discuss the many facets of low energy living, and the improvements you can make, or the services you can purchase, to improve your home’s energy score to save money or to better market your home, and much, much more!

What do you get when you have luxury services in the outdoors? Glamping - and it’s coming to the Gorge on a whole new level. Brought to us by Under Canvas, Caitlan Cullen – Head of Real Estate, has joined us on Gorge Real Estate talk to chat with about everything and anything in regards to their new Under Canvas project in BZ / Husum, Washington. From amenities, purpose, service, community impact and campground perseveration. Their main purpose is to bring camping to those without the education or equipment needed for safe and fun camping, but still want to connect with Mother Nature. You can contact Caitlan @ her email: caitlan.cullen@undercanvas.com, or online at their website: www.undercanvas.com

Join us as we dive into the world of Financial Planning. Meet James Williams of Edward Jones and listen in as he discusses the different options for helping the community plan for their future financial goals. From retirement to college he is dedicated to investing his time to understanding what you’re working toward before you invest your money. To connect with James visit his website HERE

If you’re a local to the Columbia Gorge, then you’ve probably heard about the Hood River Inn on the Columbia River! But have you stayed overnight, tried their food or attended a conference there? On this episode of Gorge Real Estate talk, we meet up with Kathleen O’Connor-Mcnew to discuss what changes they have made due to COVID-19. Including; changes to their building, their social distancing arrangements, who has been visiting, and who they support in the local Hood River Community! All this and more, so take a listen.

On this episode of Gorge Real Estate talk, we meet up with Natasha Whitefield / Present Elect of the Mid-Columbia Association of Realtors (MCAR). Through realtor education services, creating charity opportunities, advocating for realtors, and more. Natasha explains her ideas and passions for how she visualizes helping realtors connect with the resources that MCAR provides, so that realtors in turn, can provide more back to their community as a whole and improve professionally.

When it comes to internet safety, most of us think we are safe right? Well, how do you know? Matt, the owner of DirectLine-IT (a Managed Service Provider company) asks a bigger question, can you afford not to be? Whether you are a traditional office supposedly emailing documents securely to end users, or a real estate agent trying to protect against wire fraud, how much can you afford to lose? If not money, what about your reputation? On this podcast episode, Matt from DirectLine-IT discusses just this, as well as the many other services that an MSP like his provides. Such as, computer performance, event tracking, remote repairs, and cyber security. You can find out more info @ directline-it.com

What if we told you that homes that are staged prior to putting them on the market sell about 90% faster and at a higher sales price than homes listed without staging? Well that’s true according to Nicole Johnson with Columbia Gorge Home Staging. When you’ve decided to sell your home, it can cost a lot to have a vacant house sitting on the market when you already want to move on with your life. So how much does it cost you in the end to stage a home vs. not to? In this podcast, we hope to help you make that decision yourself with the help of Nicole’s staging expertise in the Columbia Gorge. We discuss the in’s and out’s of your home in regards to staging, the process of staging, and the subtle nuances otherwise not thought of by homeowners. There’s also a discussion of what other services home stagers might provide, what DIY projects you can do yourself before calling a stager, and more… For more information and to schedule with Columbia Gorge Home Staging, visit columbiagorgehomestaging.com

Visit Hood River, and you might just stay longer than you expected. That’s what a passionate Kate Schroeder might say who works with the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce. She joins us on this podcast to explain the roles and services that the Chamber provides. How they are not only focused on businesses and community programs, but also how they are promoters of Hood River and connectors of people. How do they do this? What are their goals? What specific services and information does the chamber provide? And to who? All of this and more, on this episode of Gorge Real Estate Talk!

Better safe than sorry, right? Whether you’re buying or selling your home, you will at some point want to get it inspected. Shawn Johnson of Columbia Gorge Home Inspections - a firefighter and paramedic in Hood River, discusses with us the importance of, and key of aspects of, a home inspection report. This includes: radon testing, moisture levels, electrical safety, rodents, and more. What levels of radon are safe? How well is my home insulated? What do you not inspect for? Shawn also discusses with us the tools he uses, what he has found unbeknownst to home owners, and what sets him apart from other inspectors in the Columbia Gorge. For more information and to schedule with Columbia Gorge Home Inspections, visit columbiagorgeinspections.com

On this episode of Gorge Real Estate talk, Kim interviews David Bennett – Owner of Invision LLC, a home builder here in the Columbia Gorge. That’s right! This podcast episode is all about construction. With Kim behind the mic, we get David’s insight into the home building market, opportunities, the trade as a career, and home prices in the Gorge. He also explains the importance of vocational youth programs in a time where schools are dropping hands-on elective classes. He offers us a solution that Invision supports, which is a youth program called, Rough Cuts. For more, you will just have to listen!

With his prior marketing experiences from when he lived in California, Mason Drexel from Gorge Media shares why he believes businesses in the Columbia Gorge, can benefit by utilizing online platforms to share their business’ story and mission. Funny enough, that’s also what Mason’s Drexel’s, “direct approach” mission with Gorge Media is – to help connect the right businesses and the right people together using social media. He explains how he can help you share your message within the gorge, and how businesses can do it for themselves. Contact Mason directly on his social media accounts @gorge_media.

The internet has changed the way we view and analyze real estate, and this is largely due to how we capture and showcase real estate with digital content. On this episode, Mary Frances – a real Estate photographer in the Columbia Gorge explains the importance of photography, her photography process, and the technologies she uses to best showcase homes for sale online.

Has COVID-19 changed the loan process or requirements here in the Columbia Gorge? Ray Broughton, from Cross Country Mortgage, speaks with us about the first things people should do when wanting to buy a house, tips for a healthy mortgage that set you up to succeed, and why picking the right loan officer is important. He also discusses jumbo loans – do they still exist? What if I am self-employed? How are appraisals being made during our social distancing orders? Then finally, federal rates and mortgage rates, do they work together? All of this and more on is answered this episode of Gorge Real Estate Talk.

Hello! Welcome to Gorge Real Estate talk, a podcast about - you guessed it, real estate in the Gorge! Join us as we interview business owners, real estate agents, lenders, inspectors, and others associated with real estate in our community. Where we take an inside look into the challenges, advantages, and lessons brought to you by professionals who deal with real estate here every day. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, or invest in the Gorge, we cover the full range of need-to-know topics helpful to anyone first time buyer or seasoned veteran, with information specific to the Columbia Gorge! In this first episode, we introduce your host Kim Salvesen-Pauly, a brokerage owner here in the gorge. Kim overviews her extensive background in real estate, her passion for it, and what you can expect to come in later podcasts. We hope you enjoy the show.