Centers of Excellence at Willamette University College of Law

Paul Kerley is the owner and president of Commercial Property Resources, Inc., a real estate investment firm based in Salem, Oregon. Prior to his work with Commercial Property Resources, Inc., Paul Kerley earned his juris doctor from Willamette University College of Law. This institution is home to two centers of excellence which focus on the education of students in two distinct legal areas.

Established in 2002, the Center for Constitutional Government is dedicated to helping its students understand the relationship between government and citizens, as well as the relationship between federal and state governments. Students that pursue studies from the Center for Constitutional Government can earn specialized certificates in law and government, or sustainability law. Additionally, the center hosts a collection of seminars, lectures, and symposia on public affairs which are open to all.

At the Center for Dispute Resolution, JD and MBA students at Willamette can earn certification in the legal practices of negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. In 1996, the center played a critical role in the resolution of a land dispute over part of the Willamette Valley, and continues to serve presently as a facilitator for disputes involving government entities and other organizations. The center also currently backs an online role-playing simulation exercise designed to prepare law students for situations in which they will need to utilize mediatory tactics to satisfy clients.                        

Rental Trends Favor Smaller Units with Better Prices and Locations

Dedicated to resident satisfaction and property maintenance, Paul Kerley is the owner and president of Commercial Property Resources, Inc., in Salem, Oregon. Paul Kerley owns and manages approximately 1,000 residential units throughout Salem and other parts of Oregon.

According to a recent article from Multi-Housing News, there is a new trend in the rental unit market that involves a high demand for so-called micro units, or rental properties that offer less space with greater amenities. The article states that renters are willing to sacrifice square feet for desirable locations, such as city centers, and more affordable prices. Despite ranging in size from 250 to 500 square feet, many micro units also entice renters with better amenities, including large closets, balconies, and high ceilings.

The article explains that micro units have grown in popularity due to a widespread rental supply shortage and greater demand for affordable units in urban locations. Along with supply-and-demand-driven interest, micro units appeal to renters who want to reduce their environmental impact and live in housing that is space-efficient, creative, and multifunctional. The article notes that smaller units have become more prevalent in cities across the United States.                              

Tips for Better Property Management

Salem, Oregon, real estate professional Paul Kerley has over 35 years of experience as a landlord and property manager. From single-family homes to condominiums and multifamily apartment buildings, Paul Kerley manages multiple properties. The most efficient and respected property managers follow certain business practices in order to foster positive landlord-tenant relationships.

Before signing a tenant, an efficient property manager establishes a reliable screening process. The careful screening of applicants will aid property managers in securing tenants who are responsible, reliable, and respectful of their landlords’ properties. In turn, to maintain a positive relationship with good tenants, property managers should make repairs and fulfill maintenance requests in a timely manner. It is important to provide advance notice before entering a tenant-occupied property.

It is also a good idea to make sure that all rental agreements and documents pertaining to the property are documented in writing and signed by both property manager and tenant. This helps to avoid potentially complicated situations that can arise when deals are struck via verbal agreement. Creating a walk-through checklist and completing the checklist as you conduct the pre-move-in walk-through with a tenant will help to establish the condition of the home prior to tenant move-in. Going through the same checklist process at the end of the lease period will help the property manager identify repairs that the tenant is responsible for. Additionally, landlords and property managers need to maintain the same set of rules for all tenants, as making exceptions can cause dissent among renters.

Hearthstone Apartments in Linn County

A graduate of Willamette Law School in Salem, Oregon, Paul Kerley is a real estate professional with more than 30 years of experience. Through his company, Commercial Property Resources of Salem, Oregon, Paul Kerley owns approximately 1,000 residential units. He is owner of several apartment complexes, including Heatherstone Apartments.

Located approximately 80 miles south of Portland, Heatherstone Apartments is in Linn County, a part of the Willamette Valley. A relatively sparsely populated area, Linn County is home to beautiful, undeveloped countryside. The area’s 22 parks provide easy access to hiking trails, fishing, and boating for local residents and visitors.

Constructed in 1968, Hearthstone Apartments consists of 38 units in two-story buildings. The apartments come with a parking space, kitchens with dishwashers, and a community courtyard. The nearest airport, Mahlon Sweet Field Airport, is approximately 50 miles away. However, Linn County is near Interstate 5, which provides a direct route to Portland and other destinations.                            

Three Ways to Streamline Your Property Management Activities

A successful real estate professional with considerable experience in the Salem, Oregon, area, Paul Kerley leads Commercial Property Resources. In this position, Paul Kerley maintains a heavy focus on the property management aspect of real estate. As property managers can attest, managing properties in an effective way requires streamlining activities whenever possible. Here are three ways to help your property management business cut costs and save time.

Go electronic: Although many real estate agreements are still carried out with paper and pen, the industry is quickly moving toward electronic record-keeping. Property managers enjoy access to a wide variety of specialty software programs that can help them stay organized and access documents quickly.

Set expectations with the property owner: Close communication with the property owner is a critical aspect of any property management operation. By establishing strict communication protocols with your property owner, you can ensure a free flow of key information.

Outsource: If your staff lacks a specific skill, don’t be afraid to contract the project out to a third party. If your contractor does a good job, keep his or her contact information on file for later use. Reliable labor is often hard to come by.

Oregon Symphony Offers Four Films with Live Musical Score Perfomances

Salem, Oregon, resident and Commercial Property Resources president Paul Kerley owns approximately 1,000 residential units throughout the states of Oregon and Illinois and possesses over 30 years of real estate experience. In his spare time, Paul Kerley enjoys attending performances at the Oregon Symphony, for which he owns a season pass. For the 2015-16 concert season, the Oregon Symphony is offering a Popcorn Package that enables audience members to watch full-length movies with musical scores performed by a live orchestra. 

Beginning in late 2015, the Oregon Symphony’s skilled orchestras and internationally acclaimed music directors will provide musical scores performed live in sync with four blockbuster films. The performances allow audiences to witness firsthand the creativity and dedication that go into film scores by watching the orchestra perform every note of the films' music. Additionally, it celebrates musical scores created by composers Danny Elfman, John Williams, Michael Giacchino, and Alan Silvestri. Performances are limited to one per film and take place approximately two to three months apart. 

Films included in the package are Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, the holiday classic Home Alone, the 2013 Star Trek reboot sequel Star Trek Into Darkness, and the 1985 film Back to the Future. The Nightmare Before Christmas starts the run on October 30, 2015, followed by Home Alone on December 19, 2015; the Star Trek Into Darkness performance takes place February 12, 2016 and the run concludes with Back to the Future on May 7, just in time for the film’s 30th anniversary. The Pacific Youth Choir and the Repertory Singers will take part in the performances. 

Oregon Symphony’s Popcorn Package allows subscribing members to attend all four performances for one set price. Package prices vary according to selected seating and range from $113 to $318. Tickets for individual performances may also be purchased. All performances take place at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland.

For more information about featured films and ticket prices, visit the Oregon Symphony website at tickets.orsymphony.org/subscription/packageDetail.aspx?pkg=312.

Commercial Property Resources Rejuvenates Albany Apartment Community

As owner and president of Commercial Property Resources, a real estate management firm based in Salem, Oregon, Paul Kerley leads the administration of approximately 1,000 residential units throughout the state. Paul Kerley founded the company in 1983, and has since owned and managed as much as $70 million in residential real estate in Salem, Cottage Grove, Hillsboro, Eugene, and various other Oregon communities.

In 2007, Mr. Kerley and his firm helped to rejuvenate a neighborhood in Albany. He purchased the property, an aging housing complex originally known as Valley Pointe Apartments, in May 2007, immediately changing its name to Albany Meadows. This initiated an extensive renovation project that completely transformed the once-rundown community. Originally built in the 1970s, the complex’s one-story buildings received approximately $1.5 million in renovations, including several improvements aimed at increasing energy efficiency. These upgrades included new insulation, sliding patio doors, and double-pane windows, as well as new roof vents and bathroom ventilation fans. Commercial Property Resources also installed 100 new stoves and refrigerators, as well as updated washing machines and dryers.

Mr. Kerley’s improvements were also directed toward increasing resident safety and quality of life. In addition to adding solar heating to the community pool and building additional community laundry facilities, he hired a full-time security guard and implemented a video security system. The renovation project also included the installation of automatic lights on patios and throughout the parking lot. These improvements led to a noticeable increase in the security of the complex, with Albany police reporting a sharp decline in resident service calls following the renovation.                              

Economic Outlook for Oregon in 2015 Is Mixed

Paul Kerley maintains a significant presence in Salem, Oregon's real estate market as the owner of Commercial Property Resources, Inc. Paul Kerley has experience in owning and managing commercial and residential properties, and his holdings range from condominiums to single-family homes in a somewhat improving economy for Oregon.

Oregon's improvements in the labor market have exceeded those of the United States as a whole, but still lag behind the performance of average states before the Great Recession. The unemployment rate for 2014 has actually grown; however, mitigating this concern is strong growth in the number of workers entering the job market. This dynamic of job seekers pushing up the unemployment rate is not unexpected; by this measure Oregon is expected to reach national pre-recessionary standards in 2015.

The state's housing data also looks promising. Oregon's population is growing, which increases the number of new households formed. Many of these new householders had been living with parents, with fewer young adults living at home in 2014.

These young people are mostly renters rather than owners. Oregon's rental numbers have jumped, largely as a result of student loan debts and fewer assets. As a result, demand for housing has gone up. This expansion is predicted to occur in multi-family housing as millennials graduate from college.

Home buying is most prevalent in the 25 to 35 cohort. Even though the weakened economy has driven up the traditional buying age, the overall trend of housing purchasing should continue in the years ahead.

Salem, Oregon - The Cherry City

An attorney who left the practice of law to devote himself full-time to the management of his growing portfolio of real estate investments, Paul Kerley owns and manages about a thousand residential units in and around the city of Salem, Oregon. A former licensed real estate broker, he has brokered hundreds of significant transactions, including one involving six power shopping centers with an aggregate value of $34 million. Paul Kerley owns a property management real estate firm, Commercial Property Resources, Inc. in Salem.

Nicknamed the Cherry City for its former prominence in the regional cherry-growing industry, Salem is the capital of Oregon and the seat of Marion County. Situated in the state’s northwest corner, it is home to about 160,000 people and ranks as the state’s third most populous city, after Portland and Eugene.

Because it is the state capital, government is the primary employer, followed by education and healthcare facilities. The city also serves as a major transportation hub for agricultural products, providing a convenient gateway to Interstate Route 5, which leads to Portland, just an hour west.

Founded in the Willamette Valley on the banks of the Willamette River in 1841, the city boasts four distinct National Register Historic Districts and a wide range of cultural opportunities, including the Mission Mill Museum, the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, the Elsinore Theater, and the Salem Chamber Orchestra, among many others. In addition, Salem offers a broad range of dining choices, including traditional restaurants featuring cuisines from around the world, franchise restaurants, coffee shops, and bistros. Visitors and residents alike can always enjoy the variety of sports and recreational opportunities available in Salem, including golf, water sports, and fishing.