So Why Negotiate? Buying or selling a home is a rare opportunity to significantly improve your situation quickly. Since homes are ‘big ticket’ items, negotiating your next transaction more effectively could significantly save you time, money and stress. Examples might include ‘trading up’ to a home that’s newer, bigger, or having a better location. Financially […]
Oregon Real Estate Update
Here’s your Oregon real estate update in just 40 seconds! Just click below.
Interest Rates Up? Consider Owner Financing!
The factor of having no or little loan balance on a property is often the one limiting condition in determining if seller financing is an option.
Oregon’s Land Use Tug Of War
Since the 1970’s, an ongoing ‘tug of war’ has been at the center of Oregon politics. On one side is a coalition of environmentalists, some ardently anti-growth. On the other side is an equally diverse cross-section of private property rights advocates. So how does 1970’s Oregon relate to today? Ever since then, Oregon’s ‘urban-rural divide’ has […]
Oregon’s Real Estate Sky Isn’t Falling Yet
News outlets benefit from sensationalism, so sometimes it’s difficult to accurately assess headlines. No one can predict the future of Oregon real estate with 100% accuracy, yet there are basic facts for context about what some might presume is ‘clickbait’ news. The Long Game Depending on where in Oregon you live, our market has seen […]
Have Oregon Homesellers Missed The Mark(et)?
Given a recent rise in interest rates, some Oregon homeowners who planned on selling this year are now wondering about holding off. One reason given is that interest rates have dampened buyer activity. While it’s true higher interest rates make home loans more expensive, a key ingredient to selling any home is property inventory. The […]
Homebuying In A Pandemic
Pandemics can provide unique home buying opportunities. That’s because market disruptions often propel motivated home sellers to action. Yet outbreaks like the Covid-19 virus don’t automatically favor home buyers. So what’s the real scoop on buying a home during the Covid-19 pandemic? Do home buyers have more, or less of an influence in today’s real […]
Corona Virus And Real Estate in Oregon
Given concerns about the COVID-19 or Corona virus, many Oregon home buyers and home sellers are concerned about how it may affect their next real estate transaction. Related questions include “Will I be able to get a loan?” to “Are buyers still interested in buying?” and “Is the market going to improve, worsen, or stay […]
How Your Home Price & Market Time Are Related
With rare exception, most home sellers hope to sell their property for the most money possible, a perfectly reasonable approach. Yet if you overprice your property in an attempt to maximize your return, you’re likely to sabotage your home selling efforts, have your property on the market longer and receive less at the closing table. […]
Real Estate Soft Landing or Crash?
Real estate isn’t always predictable. Given changing conditions, language used to describe housing is rife with lingo from other industries that experience constantly shifting events—some catastrophic—like aviation. While housing is axiomatically ‘grounded’ compared to the aircraft industry, from time to time Oregon real estate market activity is described as akin to a ‘bumpy recovery,’ ‘hard […]
Power Homeselling: 4 Steps to Winning with Multiple Offers
Many homesellers are intent on either the hope of selling fast, or at the highest price. Yet there’s a way to help you accomplish both of these goals. How is this possible? The secret is getting homebuyers to compete for your property. Curious? Find out more…in this helpful real estate podcast! https://episodes.castos.com/Helpful-Interesting-Information-on-Oregon-Real-Estate/Power-Homeselling-4-Steps-to-Winning-with-Multiple-Offers-.mp3 Click here or […]
How to Sell Your Home with Minimum Hassle
Most of us are interested in avoiding hassles. Selling your house is no exception. But what about selling a home that could use some work, before you put it on the market? Concerned about the grind of preparing your property for sale? You’re not alone. Don’t fret about the work ahead! You have options. […]
The Perfect Home Sale: Fact or Fairytale?
Most residential real estate transactions are ultimately successful, meaning they actually ‘close.’ Such a ‘happily ever after’ scenario has sellers receiving their money and buyers, their new house. However, given the many steps along the way, many real estate transactions have a few ‘bumps in the road.’ Sometimes it’s a home inspection defect. At other […]
When’s Too Soon to List My House for Sale?
‘When’s too soon to list my house for sale?’ is a common homeseller question Realtors are asked. To be sure, there are a host of factors that influence the optimum time of year to sell. When considering the best time to sell your home, several factors stand out. One is the amount of homeseller […]
How to Take Advantage of Your Realtor
Gaining Advantage When buying or selling a home, any advantage could be helpful to make your decisions easier and more profitable. Few are more experienced and better positioned to provide homebuyers and homesellers with a meaningful advantage than an expert Realtor. That’s because seasoned real estate agents hold access to a literal wealth of information, which […]
How House Color Affects Your Selling Price
When paint time arrives, did you know some homesellers risk leaving ‘money on the table’ later by not taking advantage of ‘market-friendly’ house paint colors to more effectively attract homebuyers?
Realtor ‘Stress-Busting’ Tips for Homebuyers & Homesellers
Did you know the profession of real estate agent consistently ranks as one of the most stressful occupations? Yet, some Realtors seemingly deal with stress as if their work is a breeze. Ever wonder what their secret is? Burnout What is it that causes some real estate agents to ‘burn out?’ And as a homebuyer […]
Differences When Selling Country vs. City Homes
There’s something not only different, but truly special about being ‘out in the country.’ The sense of natural beauty, privacy and stillness is difficult to find anywhere else. Click the ‘play’ button below for this new podcast episode: https://episodes.castos.com/Helpful-Interesting-Information-on-Oregon-Real-Estate/Differences-When-Selling-Country-vs-City-Homes.mp3 Out In The Country The song ‘Out in the Country’ recorded by Three Dog Night […]
I Have An Offer On My House – Now What?
Selling a home usually involves a considerable amount of planning. And like many activities, with homeselling there is a beginning, middle and an end. So somewhere approaching the mid-way point in the homeselling process and well before the end, you’ll receive at least one offer. But what happens then? Questions 67 And 68 There are […]
Secrets Your Realtor Knows
On many Realtor property listings, there are one or more sections reserved for ‘private remarks.’ This private information is usually intended for real estate agents. What are these ‘private’ remarks and do they include information potentially helpful to buyers? And why are these remarks private? Find out in this edition of the Oregon Real Estate Podcast.
Deputized: How 2 Oregon Realtors Become ‘Policemen for a Day’
A fellow Realtor and I had been asked by our seller client to assist with the removal of squatters on her property and also make homeselling suggestions prior to her placing the home on the market. As a result, we were told to meet police at the property to assist with access, so the house could be vacated. Little did we know that we would not just assist with access, but were also about to become deputized as temporary police officers!
Can I Trust My Oregon Realtor?
Trust is an important factor when buying or selling real estate. Thankfully, trusting your Realtor is not typically super risky. That’s because consumer surveys consistently reflect a high level of satisfaction with Realtor performance. One study by Forbes magazine revealed 96% satisfaction for the real estate industry. So if many real estate agents were dishonest, we could expect that figure to be much lower.
This doesn’t mean blindly signing off on every suggestion one receives from their Realtor. But obsessively hand wringing over transaction minutiae is one sure way to make the process less enjoyable. A recommended approach is for Oregon homebuyers and homesellers to carefully read all documents, ask plenty of questions and work with a recommended professional with a solid track record.
Finding Your Oregon Real Estate Superhero
To adults and kids alike, superheroes seem to have time-tested appeal. Some think it’s because they look different. Indeed, some superheroes dress uniquely. Others believe superheroes represent the ‘good guy’ and these days, we can always use more good guys and gals. Yet others suggest that superheroes are in the rescue business and we all […]
What Agent 007 Can Teach You About Oregon Real Estate
Compared to the life of famed superspy James Bond, buying or selling Oregon real estate is dull and monotonous, right? Au contraire. You might be surprised to see how such a comparison actually sizes up. Click here or on the play button above to hear the audio podcast of this article. Not So Mundane, After […]
Oregon’s ‘Magic’ Real Estate Number
Sometimes absorbing the sea of Oregon real estate information is more like drinking from a fire hydrant. Yet, out of all the seemingly helpful real estate data bandied about, there is one especially helpful number, which when understood, can provide near-magical clarity to both homebuyers and homesellers.
10 Reasons Oregon Homesellers Hire A Realtor
There are many good reasons why Oregon homesellers hire a Realtor, including the handful of sellers who first try the ‘for sale by owner’ or ‘FSBO’ route. Here are ten of the most common reasons why Oregon homesellers hire a Realtor to get the job done right. Click here to hear the audio podcast version […]
Why Does My Realtor Do That?
Realtors must follow many rules and according to consumer satisfaction surveys, real estate agents do an overall good job. Realtors are trained to abide by applicable state and national real estate laws, follow accepted business practices and the Realtor Code of Ethics, which is considered a higher standard of duty. Yet as in other professions, sometimes […]
10 Reasons Why Winter Homeselling Is Hot
While there are cases to be made for homeselling in each of the four seasons, Winter is one of the most powerful times sellers can place their home on the market and for ten very good reasons. Hear the audio podcast version of this helpful real estate presentation by clicking here or ‘play’ below. Price […]
7 Strategies to Sell Your House Sooner!
Homeselling Strategies Sellers can employ certain key strategies to more successfully sell their home. What are these strategies and as an Oregon homeseller, what is it that you might need to know? As an Oregon homebuyer, it can be helpful to learn strategic insights on the homeselling process from an ‘insider’s’ view. Click here or […]
The ‘Art of War’ for Homesellers
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War Click here or on the ‘play’ button below to hear the audio podcast of this presentation. The ‘Home Front’ Without being overly dramatic, it’s helpful to realize that as a homeseller, you are in a ‘war’ […]
What’s An Oregon Acre Worth?
One frequent Oregon real estate question is ‘What’s an acre worth?’ When you think about it, this question is not so different than ‘What’s a car worth?’ since in each situation there are variables. With a car, the mileage and condition are very important to arrive at an accurate value. Land, too has unique variables. What are these variables and as an Oregon property buyer or seller, what is it that you may need to know? Find out here!
3 Questions Your Oregon Realtor Can’t Answer
Listen to the audio podcast of this presentation by clicking here or on the ‘play button’ above. When making the biggest financial decision of their lives, many homebuyers and homesellers understandably ask their Realtor to provide a professional opinion on a range of topics. Some common questions include if adding a bathroom will boost resale value, […]
3 Key Steps to an Oregon Home Sale
Click here or on the ‘play’ button below to hear the audio podcast version of this presentation. Selling an Oregon home can sometimes seem overwhelming and complicated. Yet there is a logical framework to the entire process. Once grasped, this makes the task far less daunting. Easy As 1-2-3 There is usually a very logical progression to […]
5 Little-Known Oregon Real Estate ‘Insider Tips’
As with any occupation, there are ‘insider tips’ in real estate. Exactly what are these little-discussed pointers and how can they benefit non-Realtors? In this edition of the Oregon Real Estate Podcast, we’ll briefly note why this little-known information can be so important, then we’ll get to these 5 little known ‘insider tips.’ Hear the podcast […]
Is Oregon a Buyer’s or Seller’s Market?
Two common real estate terms are ‘seller’s market’ and ‘buyer’s market.’ What exactly do these terms mean and how do they apply to our current Oregon real estate climate? First, let’s define a ‘normal’ real estate market. Terms like equilibrium and stasis describe real estate climates favoring neither buyers or sellers. For example, let’s imagine a […]
Farm Selling Basics
This helpful podcast from experienced Oregon Realtor Roy Widing outlines the basics of farm selling. Click on the above media player for the 8 key steps to a successful farm sale. Thinking of buying or selling an Oregon farm, ranch or rural property? Contact Roy with Certified Realty using the convenient contact form below, or […]
Add Oregon Homes to Endangered List
While we’re not quite at Passenger Pigeon or Dodo Bird levels yet, among the more scarce items in Oregon right now are available homes for sale. Scarcity By The NumbersNew figures for greater Portland and Salem show no sign of Oregon’s white hot real estate market slowing down, at least yet. The inventory, or housing supply […]
Real Estate Secret Revealed
For many, the sale of a home is somewhat of a mystery. What exactly is it that Realtors do to sell properties, sometimes in the dark of night? The ‘Secret’The answer is that Realtors do a lot of things, though some of them are not so well known. Today we’ll examine one of these ‘secrets’ […]
5 Reasons For Sunny Oregon Real Estate Skies
Now that Spring Break, Winter weather and ‘tax time’ are largely behind us, the forecast for Oregon real estate is sunny, indeed. Here are five key reasons for an optimistic 2016 Oregon real estate forecast, which are explained further below: 1. Interest Rates Remain Very Low2. Housing Inventory Is Very Low 3. Better Weather4. The ‘School […]
Oregon Housing: Holding Steady
Fresh figures were just released on Oregon’s real estate market by the Regional Multiple Listing Service, or RMLS. To put the results in a nautical vernacular, we remain ‘steady as she goes.’ Portland MetroLet’s begin with greater Portland, where our backlog of home supply is unchanged at 1.8 months. This means our housing supply remains […]
Tide Rises For Willamette Valley Real Estate
A Rising Tide Raises All BoatsReal estate activity in parts of the Willamette Valley may not be an economic tsunami, like greater Portland. However, since ‘a rising tide raises all boats,’ the effect of the Portland metro’s buoyant market continues to help ensure all Oregon real estate remains afloat. The reason? For one, the sheer […]
Portland Homes: Fade To Red
New figures from the Regional Multiple Listing Service suggest our current hot real estate market recently transitioned from white to red. No, that’s not wine we’re talking about. Instead, we’ve gone from white hot to red hot, because home supply just increased from a shockingly low 1.2 months to a slightly less alarming 1.8 months. […]
Oregon Real Estate: Breathtaking
There are many possible words to describe people, places, things and events. A recent shift in Oregon real estate brings to mind the word ‘breathtaking.’ And while that’s a term normally reserved for the Grand Canyon or certain Hollywood starlets, it also conjures the notion of astonishment, breaking fresh ground, entering a new phase, being […]
Oregon Farm Selling Made Easy
The sale of Oregon farms, ranches and similar rural properties usually has many ‘working parts.’ Yet there are seven basic steps to selling your Oregon farm. Since you won’t want to leave any money on the table, it’s best to do this right the first time. Here are those seven key steps to selling your Oregon farm, […]
Improve Your Credit
Thinking about improving your credit score in the New Year? It’s a great goal, especially if you may buy a home. While the path to a better credit score can take some work, those who make an effort to improve their credit agree it’s worthwhile. Here are two very easy…and very free…steps to help you get […]
Oregon Real Estate Strengthens
New figures for real estate throughout our region confirm a sustained strong Oregon real estate market.
Oregon Homeselling: Easy As Waltzing, 1-2-3!
While real estate can seem complicated, there is a logical progression helpful to selling an Oregon home and it’s truly as simple as 1-2-3. The process between buyers and sellers is routinely described as a kind of dance, so let the waltzing begin. Fundamentals There are plenty of related tasks associated with any real estate […]
Portland Metro: Still A Seller’s Market
Recently released housing figures confirm a continued “seller’s market” throughout the greater Portland metro area, which includes Multnomah, Clackamas, Clark, Washington and Yamhill counties. Multiple Market Factors Our sustained strong market is characterized by (1). Low inventory, (2). Short market times and (3). Rising prices. We currently have less than a two month supply of […]
Just Listed SW Portland Home!
This just-listed SW Portland home features nearly 2,600 square feet of living space on more than 1/3 acre, with a convenient downtown commute. Additional features include spacious rooms, a covered patio, plenty of storage space, a peaceful low traffic neighborhood, plus a detached double garage. Click here or on the below image to view the […]
Willamette Valley Real Estate Update
So while greater Salem’s market improvement hasn’t been ‘flashy,’ it is chugging along. This translates into a lower inventory of homes, generally higher prices and shorter market times.
Sing It Way Down Low, Portland
Perhaps even more surprising than a meager 1.6 months of housing backlog is our region’s five straight month trend of lowering home supply.
Is Seller Financing For You?
Oregon homebuyers avoid traditional lenders for many reasons and one mechanism they frequently turn to is known as seller financing.