Leslie Newberry - Principal Broker - John L Scott Real Estate

09/12/2026

My new listing in Happy Valley. It's a beautiful home with lots of upgrades and space.

The marketing includes Zillow "Showcase" which allows you to virtually change the furniture in the rooms to whatever is your style! There's also 360* views and the layout.

Please take a look and share the listing!

This 4116 square feet Single Family home has 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. It is located at 11761 SE Catina Pl, Happy Valley, OR.

08/26/2026

PSA: I’m in it for another two years!! 🎉

This makes 28 years and counting—all with John L. Scott Real Estate.

I still love what I do—the people, the properties, the research, the problem-solving, and yes, the occasional hiccups and hurdles that make me stretch beyond my comfort zone.

So don’t think just because I’m cruising along above the posted speed limit that I’m anywhere close to being done. 😁

I’m in for the ride just as long as you keep calling me!

08/19/2026

𝗔 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆...

I've been researching comparable sales for a rural property with a shop/barn over the last week (for two different sellers), and I'm reminded again how often some of the most valuable information about a property never makes it into the listing—or at least not where it belongs.

RMLS gives us fields to identify things like workshops, barns, arenas, sheds and other outbuildings. But it ALSO provides supplemental pages where we can give buyers and their brokers the details.

How big is the shop? Is it pole construction? Wood frame? Does it have power? A separate electric meter? 3-Phase? Plumbing? Concrete floors? Heat?

How many stalls are in the barn? Is there a tack room? Hay storage? Water?

For rural and unique properties, RMLS offers supplemental pages for 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀, 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘀, 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲.

Yet as I work through comparable properties, I'm finding surprisingly few listings with those supplements completed—even when the property has substantial outbuildings, an arena or a second dwelling.

Yes, some of the information may be included in the public remarks.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘.

If I'm working with a buyer who needs a shop with electricity, plumbing or a concrete floor, RMLS gives me individual fields I can use to narrow that search. The same applies to barns, additional structures, ADUs and a whole host of other property characteristics.

Public remarks? Not nearly as dependable.

Maybe one broker calls it a "shop," another calls it an "outbuilding," another calls it a "detached garage," and somebody else simply writes "40' x 60' building." A remarks search may—or may not—find what we're looking for.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.

Years ago, RMLS recognized this same problem with something as basic as a property address. Brokers entered addresses manually, which meant one person might enter "Circle," another "Cir," and somebody might accidentally make it "Court." A typo, an abbreviation or even an extra space could skew search results and make a property harder to find.

Eventually, RMLS began populating address information from the tax records instead of relying entirely on brokers to type it correctly.

𝗪𝗵𝘆? 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮.

It's the same reason those searchable supplemental fields matter. I shouldn't have to guess every possible way another broker might have described a feature in the public remarks.

And, of course, even the best database can't return information that was never entered.

Or, as the old computer saying goes...

𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻, 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁.

If the shop has power, plumbing and a concrete floor—but those searchable fields are left blank—the database doesn't know they're there.

More importantly, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.

And then there are the photos!

Why, when a rural property has a fabulous shop or barn, is it buried at photo #37 after I've looked at 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺...𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺?

On a rural property, that shop, barn or arena may be one of the primary reasons a buyer clicks on the listing in the first place.

Give me a great front exterior. Show me the kitchen and living room. Give me an aerial so I understand the property. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽, 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮!

Yes, I'm stereotyping a little here, but I've always joked that the kitchen may sell 𝘩𝘦𝘳 and the shop may sell 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 😁 Either way, if you've got a great one, 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁.

There will be plenty of room farther down the photo lineup for another angle of the jetted tub in the primary bath or the walk-in closet. 😉

RMLS now gives us up to 2,000 characters for public remarks, which gives us plenty of room to tell a property's story. But let's face it...how many buyers…or brokers…actually read all 2,000 characters?

There's a reason for the old saying: 𝗔 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀.

Good listing photography isn't simply about having lots of beautiful pictures. It's about deciding 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗠𝗟𝗦 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝟰𝟴 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴).

The same goes for the listing data.

A 40' x 60' shop isn't just an "outbuilding."

A six-stall barn with a tack room isn't just a "barn."

A legal second dwelling isn't just "additional living space."

Those details can make a very real difference when a buyer's broker is searching for a property, when I'm researching comparable sales to determine value for a seller, or when an appraiser is trying to understand exactly what was sold.

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀.

Especially with rural and unique properties, there's considerably more to selling the property than putting a sign in the ground, taking pretty pictures and writing 2,000 characters for the MLS.

Sometimes you have to dig a little deeper.

And sometimes...you have to find those somewhat-hidden supplement forms and actually fill them out! 😉

𝗣.𝗦. If this were a listing description, I'd definitely boil it down. But because it's a rant...well, I could just go on and on!! 😁

08/11/2026

I walked past this the other day while out for a stroll with my daughter and granddaughter. Then I stopped, turned around and went back for a photo because the scene made me cringe in more ways than one.

First, there’s the obvious safety issue. This wasn’t a one-level ranch 10 or 12 feet above the ground. This fellow was walking around on a wet, steeply pitched, two-story home while dragging a pressure-washer hose behind him. What could possibly go wrong? says the woman whose husband has fallen off ladders and out of pickup trucks—but, thank God, not yet off a roof! 😂 I’m truly surprised I didn’t hear sirens a bit later.

But my REALTOR® brain was cringing for the roof, too.

I’ve worked through enough home inspections over the decades—and learned enough from people in the industry—to know that pressure washing a composition roof is a bad idea. Asphalt shingles are covered with protective granules, and a high-pressure stream can loosen and strip those granules, damage the shingles and significantly shorten the life of the roof.

Oh…and then there’s the direction he’s spraying, as if spraying itself wasn’t already less than optimal! Composition shingles are installed in overlapping courses so rain flows down and over them. Shooting a concentrated stream of water uphill can force water underneath those overlaps—exactly where no one wants it.

Moss and debris do need to be dealt with, but with roof-appropriate treatments and cleaning methods rather than several thousand PSI of enthusiasm!

If you need the name of a reputable roofer or handyman to check and clean your roof, please reach out to me before you go climbing up on the house with a pressure washer!

The life—and roof—you save may be your own!! 😁

08/11/2026

The stats are out for July, and depending on who you talk to, the market is either great, slow or flat. The interesting thing is, the stats can basically support all three of those statements as true.

Overall inventory is floating just above the bottom of the range generally considered a “balanced market” (3–6 months). BUT when you look at individual areas—or break the stats down by price range—the picture can change considerably. Inventory may shift into a robust seller’s market or remain in the balanced zone. At the upper price ranges or in some outlying areas, the numbers may reflect more of a buyer’s market.

John L. Scott Real Estate (my brokerage for my entire career) likes to emphasize that real estate is “hyper-local.” As I’ve mentioned before, the numbers for a specific area and price range give a much better picture of what’s happening in that particular market than generalized overall statistics do.

Case in point: I was talking with a client over the weekend who purchased a home about a year ago. She wanted me to run some numbers to see whether the market could support selling again this soon after her purchase. The area she’s in has been relatively flat, with only a minor increase in average sales price over the last 12 months compared with the previous 12 months. At the $900K+ price point, that’s not enough to offset the nearly $100K she’s put into upgrades and still come out in the black.

But when we look at the area she’s considering moving to, the picture changes. Average sales prices there have increased considerably more. So if she’s serious about making that move, the potential for stronger long-term appreciation in her preferred area may put her in a better position over time—even if she has to take a bit of a loss on her current home.

There are obviously no guarantees. But when we look at the history and trends of those specific areas, we can make a more informed prediction about the future—and a better decision about whether making the move makes sense.

I find the residential sales by price range (the red, yellow, green graph) particularly interesting this month. Compared with July of last year, both the $400K–$500K and $600K–$700K ranges took a slightly bigger piece of the pie, while the $500K–$600K range shrank a bit.

Still, more than half (52.6%) of all homes sold were in the $400K–$700K range. The percentage of market share drops rapidly as you move toward either end of the bell curve. I played with the numbers a bit to create the graphic below, which I think makes that concentration much easier to see.

Meanwhile, average and median sales prices appear to have hit their seasonal peak and have already begun to dip. Perhaps the rise in mortgage rates that began in May contributed to cooling sales in some of the upper price ranges. There are always multiple factors at play, which is another reason the overall numbers only tell part of the story.

But as I mentioned above—and as you can see in the stats below—homes are still moving.

So, how’s the real estate market?

It depends. Where? What price range?

Reach out anytime you have questions about the real estate market “in general”—or, more importantly, your little piece of it.

I’ve included several of the July RMLS statistics below, along with a link to the complete Market Action Report for anyone who wants to dig even deeper. https://www.rmlsweb.com/v2/public2/loadfile.asp?id=5879

06/11/2026

🏡 Real Estate Update: Coming Soon Listings Just Changed

Beginning today, June 11, RMLS is allowing "Coming Soon - No Showings" listings to be displayed publicly online.

What does that mean for buyers?

✅ You'll be able to see upcoming listings before they become Active.
✅ You'll know when showings are scheduled to begin.
✅ You'll have more time to prepare financing, schedule tours, and plan your search.

What does it mean for sellers?

✅ More exposure before the first showing.
✅ Opportunity to build interest and anticipation.
✅ Potentially stronger launch-day activity once showings begin.

One important reminder: Even though you'll be able to see these homes online, showings, open houses, and broker tours are still prohibited until the property's official showing date.

This is a notable change for Oregon and Washington home buyers and sellers and another reminder that timing and strategy matter in today's market.

Questions about buying, selling, acreage, inherited property, or the local market? I'm always happy to help.

Leslie Newberry
Principal Broker | John L. Scott Real Estate- Portland Central
Licensed in Oregon since 1998
503.349.2727

05/30/2026

Public Service Announcement (Revisited):

I had a conversation this week with a family whose mother recently passed away. The house needs significant work, and one of the options being discussed was calling one of the many "We Buy Houses for Cash" companies that advertise heavily to heirs and estate representatives.

Before signing a contract, it's important to understand that an inherited home with deferred maintenance still has value—and you may have more options than you realize.

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that heirs need to spend thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars fixing up a property before it can be sold. In reality, many inherited homes are sold completely "as-is." The key is understanding the property's likely buyer pool and exposing it to the market so buyers can compete.

Last year, I helped sell a property that needed substantial work—we lovingly referred to it as potential "dozer bait." Squatters had moved in while it sat vacant, and much of the interior had been stripped down. Once the uninvited tenants were out, we marketed the property honestly, attracted the right buyers, and allowed the market to determine its value.

A couple of years earlier, I sold a home with "good bones" but significant cosmetic issues. By pricing it appropriately and exposing it to the market, we received multiple offers that pushed the price higher.

If you're handling an estate and aren't sure what to do with a home that needs work—whether structural or cosmetic—don't assume your only choices are spending a fortune on repairs or accepting the first investor offer that appears in your mailbox. Nearly one-third of real estate transactions are cash purchases, which means there is often competition among investors as well.

Take a little time to understand all of your options first. That extra knowledge can sometimes mean thousands—or even tens of thousands—of dollars to the estate and its beneficiaries.

Give me a call anytime at 503.349.2727 to discuss these options in more detail.

And if you know someone dealing with an inherited property, please share this post. Losing a loved one is hard enough without making a rushed real estate decision during a stressful time.

05/21/2026

NEW LISTING in Beaver, Oregon 🌲🌊

Properties tucked into Oregon’s coast range and river valleys have always held a special place in my heart. After more than 40 years of owning property in the coast mountains myself, I understand why so many people are drawn to the peace, privacy, beauty, wildlife, and slower pace these areas offer.

That’s one reason I was especially excited to bring this Beaver property to market.

This listing is also featured with Zillow Showcase — a premium marketing platform that John L. Scott has partnered with for enhanced photography presentation, interactive floor plans, virtual staging, 3D imaging, and expanded online exposure designed to help buyers experience the property before they ever step through the door.

Real estate marketing continues to evolve, and I’m always looking for ways to better showcase my clients’ homes and help them stand out online.

📍24775 River Bend Rd, Beaver, OR

Less than 30 minutes to Tillamook, Pacific City, Sand Lake, and Cape Lookout State Park — with awesome fishing opportunities right around the bend.

What are you waiting for? 🌲🎣

P.S. It feels strange not linking to the John L. Scott website page, but this Showcase presentation is pretty amazing. Be sure to check out the virtual staging and interactive 3D features!

This 1808 square feet Single Family home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It is located at 24775 River Bend Rd, Beaver, OR.

05/20/2026

Mortgage rates just hit a 9-month high this week.

That doesn’t mean buyers disappear — it means strategy matters more than ever.

Some buyers are waiting. Others are negotiating better terms, asking for rate buydowns, or finding less competition.

The market shifts… but people still need homes, job transfers happen, families grow, and life keeps moving.

If you’re wondering what higher rates mean for YOUR situation here in Oregon, feel free to reach out.

Read the article here: https://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/markets/mortgage-rates-05182026

05/01/2026

My first job in high school (at Freddy's) I had for three years. My second job (at Brod & McClung) was six years.... I'm not sure how I've been doing real estate for 27 years already! Maybe it's because "Tempus Fugits" (as my mom, God rest her soul, used to say) when you love what you do!