Vancouver, WA & Portland, OR Latest Real Estate Blogs & Local Insights

Clark County's New 20-Year Growth Plan: What It Means for Buyers of New Construction - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published November 7, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: On October 13, 2026, the Clark County Council adopted Ordinance 2026-10-01, completing the county's 2025 periodic update to its Comprehensive G

What's Already Required in a Washington New Build, and What Counts as an Upgrade? - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published October 30, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: New homes in Washington, including detached homes and townhouses, are built under the 2021 Washington State Energy Code, Residential (WSEC-R), sec

Can a Duplex or Fourplex Be Built Next to Your New Home? What Vancouver's New Zoning Code Means for Buyers - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published October 30, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: In many cases, yes. Since the City of Vancouver's updated zoning code took effect July 31, 2026, middle housing, includin

Why New Homes Cost What They Do: Impact Fees and Permit Costs in Clark County - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published October 15, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: Impact fees are one-time charges local governments collect from builders on new construction to help pay for the roads, parks, schools, and other publ

New Townhomes in Vancouver, WA vs. Single-Family New Construction: Which Is Right for You? - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published October 15, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: New townhomes in Vancouver, WA are becoming more common because the City of Vancouver's updated Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Map, and Zonin

New Construction Landscaping: What's Included, What You'll Pay Extra For - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published October 15, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: Most builders include only basic landscaping with a new construction home: grading, front yard seed or sod, and minimal foundation plantings. Backyard gras

Why New Construction Homes Are Getting Smaller (and What Builders Are Building Instead) - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published October 15, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: New construction homes are getting smaller. U.S. Census Bureau data put the median new single-family home completed in 2024 at about 2,146 s

Does New Construction Hold Its Resale Value as Well as People Think? - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published October 15, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: Over the long run, new construction usually holds its resale value, because land and location drive appreciation more than the age of the house. In the first f

What's Included in a Builder's Rate Buydown in 2026? - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published October 10, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: A builder rate buydown is money the builder pays toward lowering your mortgage payment, either temporarily or permanently, instead of cutting the home's price. A temporary buy

Best School Districts for New Construction Families in Clark County - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published September 4, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: Clark County has nine public school districts. Camas School District is consistently the top-rated, followed closely by Ridgefield and Hockinson, and homes in

Can I Use a VA Loan on New Construction in Vancouver, WA? - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published September 4, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: Yes, VA loans can be used to build a new home, either as a one-time close construction-to-permanent loan or a two-time close where a separate construction loan later con

Design Center 101: What to Expect When Choosing Finishes - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published September 4, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: A design center appointment is where you select the finishes for your new build, typically scheduled as one or two multi-hour sessions, and it's the point in the process

What to Ask on Your First Builder Model Home Tour - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks QUICK ANSWER: The model home you're touring almost never reflects the base price of the home you'd actually build; the countertops, flooring, and fixtures on display are typically several categories of upgrade above stan

Production, Semi-Custom, or Custom: Which New Construction Type Is Right for You? - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published August 18, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: Production homes come from a builder's pre-set plans on land the builder controls, offer limited customization, the fastest timelines (6 to 10 mont

Your First Year in a New Build: A Maintenance Checklist - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published August 18, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: A new construction home goes through a "settling phase" in its first year as framing lumber dries out and materials adjust to the local climate for the first time, which is

How to Handle Punch List Items After You've Already Moved In - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published August 18, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: If punch list items weren't finished before closing, document each one in writing with photos and dates, then submit a formal written request to the builder rather than

What Happens at the Pre-Drywall Walkthrough? - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published August 18, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: A pre-drywall walkthrough happens after framing, electrical rough-in, plumbing rough-in, and HVAC rough-in are complete, but before insulation and drywall go up, making it the only poi

How Long Does It Really Take to Close on New Construction, Start to Finish? - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published August 18, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: Nationally, new single-family construction takes about 9.1 months from authorization to completion according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 Survey of C

What Happens If a Builder Misses the Completion Date? - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks QUICK ANSWER: Most new construction purchase agreements list an estimated completion date, not a guaranteed one, and typically give the builder the right to extend it for reasons like weather, permitting delays, mate

What's Actually in a Builder's Purchase Agreement? (Key Clauses to Read Twice) - Realtor Cas Cassandra Marks Published August 18, 2026. QUICK ANSWER: A builder's purchase agreement is drafted entirely by the builder's own attorneys and typically runs far longer than a standard resale purchase and sa