Buyers always ask me how they should choose a lender/broker. It is so important that the team of people you work with while buying a home is one you can count on and one that does their best for you. This article from Trulia explains it well. One thing it doesn’t mention that I want people to think about when choosing this person is whether or not they communicate quickly and effectively with you. This person should be putting their best foot forward in order to obtain your business. And if they are not doing that in the very beginning, well, I hate to think how they will behave down the road. Check out the article here.
How to Choose a Mortgage Person
November 15th, 2011 
admin Free Home Repairs for Those in Need!
November 14th, 2011 admin 
With the combination of cold weather and lots of rain, this time of year reminds me of that list of repairs I said I would complete last year! Like most of you, I try to prioritize based on what needs to be done the soonest, how much $$ I have to do it and the time of year. But what if you are on a restricted income and don’t have the means to do any repairs? Luckily there is an organization out there for free home repairs for those in need! The organization is called Rebuilding Together and their goal is to aid low income homeowners. To see if you qualify and/or if you know someone else who may qualify, checkout this article and spread the word!
Choose a Local Alternative to Toy Store Giants!
November 12th, 2011 admin 
Here’s a great list of small local toy stores all around Portland. Many of our local stores have done poorly or closed in this economy. Huge stores like Toys R’ Us are able to slash prices and undercut their small local competitor. So if you are able, checkout one of these great toys store! Go here.
Does For Sale by Owner Sell Faster?
November 10th, 2011 admin 
Www.ForSalebyOwner.com states, “According to the National Association of Realtors, for sale by owner sellers not only sell faster, but they usually get closer to their asking price.”
Misleading? Yes. They do sell faster but that is because they are severely under priced. And they do sell closer to their asking price as well but again it is because their price is significantly below market. In 2010, the median sale price through a Realtor was $200k for new and existing homes. The comparable for sale by owner (FSBO) price was $140k. Avoiding paying a commission results in a sales price that is 30 percent lower. Yikes!
The End is Near?
November 9th, 2011 admin According to The Wall Street Journal, the study “forecasts U.S. home prices will finally start to turn around by early next year. It forecasts home prices in 384 U.S. metro areas will rise by an average of 2.7% between the first quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013, with 95% of those metro areas showing gains in that time period.” I sure hope they are right. And if they are correct and you were contemplating when to buy, looks like now is your chance before prices rise! Go here to see the full article.
What is in a Mortgage Payment?
November 8th, 2011 admin 
I love it when I find a great graphic! This one shows what makes up a mortgage payment. I’m always searching for an easy way to explain different parts of the process of home buying and selling. It’s tricky because I want to make sure my clients have all the info they need but at the same time, doing that can sometimes overwhelm people.
If you are considering making your first home purchase, this is the easiest explanation I’ve seen yet. The price of $269k is just random. On the other hand, the rate of 4.54% was based on the current rate at the time the graphic was made. At this time the rate is at 3.83% so that should lower the payment a little bit.
Is your rent hike illegal?
November 7th, 2011 admin There are so many questions about the ins and outs of the landlord/tenant relationship. Each state has it’s own laws. If you are still renter, make sure you know what is and is not allowed by your landlord or property manager. Here’s a great article about a landlord raising rent after making a roof repair. Go .
Also to learn more about landlord/tenant law in Oregon, go here.
How would you score on the Buyer IQ Quiz?
November 7th, 2011 admin If you are buying or have bought, you should know the answers! It only takes a few minutes. Go here.
New Portland Program to Strengthen 155 Small Businesses!
November 4th, 2011 admin Some much needed assistance is on the way to 155 small businesses in North, NE and East Portland. The Portland Development Commission and 5 local non profits have come together to form the Small Businesss Development Program. The object is to strengthen and assist local companies with a variety of services. Some of these services include but are not limited to technical training, market research, book keeping, cash flow analysis and legal services. To see if your business is eligible and to read more about the program go here.
