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Salem Keizer Living
Salem Keizer Living celebrates life in Salem and Keizer—sharing local events, real estate insights, market updates, new businesses, and the everyday moments that make our community special.

Latest

05
Oct
Earnest Money in Oregon: What It Is and When You Could Lose It

Earnest Money in Oregon: What It Is and When You Could Lose It

Earnest money is your good-faith deposit showing a seller you're serious about buying. It's held by a neutral third party and credited toward your down payment at closing, but you can lose it if you miss written notice deadlines or try to back out for reasons not covered by contingencies.
10 min read
03
Oct
How to Finance a Duplex, Fourplex or Apartment building in Salem & Keizer, Oregon

How to Finance a Duplex, Fourplex or Apartment building in Salem & Keizer, Oregon

The loan product that works for your small apartment building in Salem depends entirely on unit count, not price. Two to four units stay in residential lending with FHA and conventional options. Five units or more require commercial financing.
12 min read
02
Oct
Pumpkin patch with visitors selecting pumpkins among fall foliage

Bauman's Fall Festival 2026: Dates, Prices, and Real Family Tips

Bauman's Harvest Festival in Gervais opens September 19 through October 31, 2026, with weekday tickets at $20 (ages 3-25) and weekend tickets at $30. Admission includes the corn maze, hay rides, sunflower field, and rope maze.
9 min read
01
Oct
Sample rent increase notice showing legal requirements and formatting

Oregon's 2027 Max Rent Increase Is 10%, and Why You May Not Want to Use It

Oregon's maximum allowable rent increase for 2027 is 10%, confirmed by the Department of Administrative Services. The cap applies to most residential tenancies under ORS 90.324(b), but hitting the legal limit every year isn't a strategy.
9 min read
30
Sep
Close-up of a pre-approval letter showing loan amount and terms

Pre-Approved vs. Pre-Qualified: What Salem Buyers Need Before Touring

Pre-qualification is self-reported and unverified, while pre-approval is based on a lender's verified review of your income, assets, and credit.
10 min read
29
Sep
Marion County property tax statement showing assessed value and tax amount

Marion County Tax Statements Just Landed. Here's What To Do With Yours

The Marion County tax statement in your mailbox is not routine paperwork. It contains the actual dollar figure you need to update your rental property's cash flow worksheet and expense ratio before making any investment decisions this fall.
8 min read
28
Sep
Residential street in Salem, Oregon with homes and tree-lined neighborhood

Keizer vs. Salem: Which Is Actually Cheaper to Buy Into?

Comparing Keizer and Salem requires more than median prices. Learn how price per square foot, closing costs, and property taxes vary by specific neighborhood and taxing district, not just city lines.
9 min read
26
Sep
Court document or legal notice related to eviction proceedings

Evicting a Tenant in Salem or Keizer: What Oregon Law Requires

Evicting a tenant in Oregon requires following strict legal procedures. This guide covers the difference between for-cause and no-cause terminations, proper notice requirements, and the court filing process in Marion County for Salem and Keizer landlords.
10 min read
25
Sep
Sample home inspection report with findings and cost estimates

Fixer-Upper or Move-In Ready in Salem-Keizer: True Costs

The lower-priced fixer-upper isn't always the cheaper option once you factor in Oregon's labor costs, renovation financing, and carrying costs during rehab. Learn how to run the actual numbers on two specific homes before writing an offer.
8 min read
24
Sep
Multi-unit apartment building in Salem, Oregon

Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Small Apartment Building in Salem-Keizer?

Whether now is the right time to buy depends on one thing: whether a specific property produces cash flow you can live with at today's actual rates and rents.
11 min read