Portland Real Estate Podcast with John Hatch

At 3814 Southeast Martins Street, surrounded by mature trees on a hidden road, stands a hidden gem: The original house of Eastmoreland. This Queen Anne, New England-style farmhouse was built in 1892, and its breathtaking Victorian character still shines today. It’s been an adored family home for the past 20 years, and some may remember it from the 1998 Disney Channel original film, “Halloweentown.” On the outside, this three-story home has a large, dividable lot with lots of potential and three covered porches. The interior main level features large, formal rooms with high ceilings that open into each other and really showcase the benefits of a Victorian floor plan—not to mention all the exquisite, hand-milled woodwork and large picture windows. The large, open kitchen has original birdseye maple cabinetry built in and a farmhouse pantry with storage galore. “This Queen Anne, New England-style farmhouse was built in 1892, and its breathtaking Victorian character still shines today.” The second level includes three large bedrooms and a separate family room/office, and the master bedroom comes with an enclosed sitting porch. There are two staircases in this house, and the back staircase will take you all the way up to the third floor. This level has an open space with two additional bedrooms and a turret tower that is sure to inspire you. The open space is ready to become a new master suite, a bonus room, an art studio, or whatever your imagination fancies. As a final touch, this home has two wood-burning fireplaces with handmade tiles and wood carvings. The lucky new owners of this property will not only have an irreplaceable piece of Southeast Portland history, but they’ll also have the best of both worlds—they’ll have a direct path into the center of Eastmoreland and its top-rated schools and beautiful parks and they’ll be located only a few blocks away from the hot shops and local restaurants of Woodstock. If you’d like to know more about this one-of-a-kind home or schedule a showing to see it live and in person, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

Melody and I are currently touring 10 different ports from New York to Quebec to experience the history of New England and Canada. It has been very interesting to see all the architectural styles and learn about the real estate history as well. We’ve been to high-end areas in Boston and now we’re in Portland, Maine, home of the Bush summer residence. At one time, this was the largest commercial port in the country and the city that Portland, Oregon was named after. “Prices are high, but it’s still a great time to buy before they go up even higher.” Even though this area has a much different history than ours, the real estate market remains the same. Prices are high, but it’s still a great time for buyers to buy before interest rates go up and for sellers to sell before prices go up even further. If you have any questions for us in the meantime or if you need help buying or selling a home anytime in the near future, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

The numbers this fall are telling us something exciting—it’s time to buy! With plenty of inventory to choose from and interest rates still relatively low, patient homebuyers can finally take the first step toward purchasing a new home. “With a larger amount of inventory, buyers have much more to choose from and experience a much less competitive market.” Are you a home seller? There’s still great news for you, as price-to-list ratios are incredibly stable. See what else has made this the perfect time to buy (or sell) by watching this short video.

Today I want to give you a tour of my listing: the Poulsen House. Located in Portland at 3040 SE McLoughlin Boulevard, this iconic three-story American Queen Anne Style home is absolutely stunning.  Everyone who has crossed the Ross Island Bridge has seen this home’s three-story turret balcony overlooking Portland. Built in 1892 by lumber tycoon Johan Poulsen, the home continues to stand proud after having been restored to its original glory with some much-needed updates mixed in as well. As can be seen in the video, the woodwork is gorgeous with a carved oak fireplace and hardwood floors throughout. “Everyone who has crossed the Ross Island Bridge has seen this home’s three-story turret balcony overlooking Portland.” On the main floor, there is a formal dining and living room as well as a functional kitchen, remodeled to keep with the original character of the home. Going up to the second floor, there are large bedrooms and closets which were most recently used as inspirational office space. Said to have been the original ballroom, the third floor now also boasts three additional bedrooms and one additional bathroom. Whether used as an office space or for entertaining, the kitchenette on this floor is very convenient. If you know anyone who would be interested in this historic property, please contact us today.

It is time for a summer market update, and this time, we are focusing directly on investors. Over the past 12 months, we have helped a lot of clients either sell a home and reinvest or leap into their first real estate investment. Let’s be clear: It is definitely still a seller’s market. However, there are three key market indicators that we want to focus on: 1. Inventory. Inventory is directly correlated to price and how we track the state of the market. Over the past couple of years, we have noticed that in the first part of the year, there is a lot less inventory and that prices tend to increase. As the second part of the year approaches, we see more inventory appear on the market and the prices tend to decrease. In fact, just last week we saw almost 40% of all active listings have a price reduction. With more inventory on the market, it allows for more options for buyers to choose from and reduces the competition. “A study from the MLS discovered that on average within a five-year period, homeowners increased their equity by $121,000.” 2. The rental market. In our neighborhood, new construction apartment complexes are popping up everywhere. On one hand, this could raise concerns about flooding the market. However, we need this form of housing, and if you look at what permits are being pulled in the city of Portland, you can see that there will be a lot less in the future. It is just a bit of a boom we are going through right now; I do not think we will end up oversaturated. 3. Interest rates. When I bought my investment property, interest rates had just ticked up slightly. That little increase really affected how I had to look at my numbers—what my monthly payment would be and how much I could rent it for. You will typically pay a little bit higher interest rates, so you will want to know your break-even point and what would be the most worthwhile option. That point could be close, so if you are interested, now is the time. A study from the MLS that was released a couple months ago tracked the five-year trend on home equity increases, and in that five years, they discovered that on average, the homeowner increased their equity by $121,000—that is effectively adding a whole new income to the household. Though it may take about 10 years to get that point, who doesn’t want that? If you are interested in learning more about investment, reach out to us. We are here and ready to help you.

I am delighted to show you your dream home. 3451 Cascade Terrace in West Linn, Oregon is sure to instantly feel like home to the whole family. Located in the beautiful neighborhood of Cascade Summit, which has some of the best schools in Oregon, this property is close to Oregon Golf Club, Willamette Village, and many other great parks and facilities. Luxury living awaits the purchaser of this property. The home boasts an incredible six bedrooms and seven bathrooms to go along with an updated kitchen, open floor plan, and vaulted ceilings. Additionally, everyone can enjoy the home’s exercise space, billiard room, and stage for your children to perform for you.   “To fully envision yourself living in this exquisite home, contact me to see the home in person.” With great outdoor features including a sparkling pool, shaded spa, and covered, outdoor cooking space, this home will provide hours of entertaining opportunities. To take a virtual tour of the home, you can visit the property listing on Redfin, here. If you want to see the home in person to fully envision yourself living in it, you can call me or set up an appointment on the website anytime. I look forward to showing you your future home.

We just sold this lovely home on Texas Court in southwest Portland, and I just wanted to say that it was a real pleasure to help these good clients in this transaction. I think this was our seventh transaction in which we’ve helped them buy or sell. We were so pleased to get multiple offers on this home and to be able to sell it in just four days. This home has the highest price per square foot in the neighborhood. “We wish them the best in their new home.” A lot of credit goes to the sellers, who maintained this home beautifully and put in some lovely additions. They’re also great to work with because they followed our advice and guidance, which resulted in an offer close to $20,000 over the list price. We wish them the best in their new home. If you or anyone you know needs professional representation or advice on getting top value for your home, please feel free to reach out to us. We’d be glad to help you.

It’s officially springtime, and business is picking up. We had a financial planner come to our office meeting this week, and they talked about the effects of rising interest rates. The prediction is that interest rates could rise up to almost 5.5% by midsummer. This is really important because just a 1% increase in rates means about a 13% increase in your monthly payment, which affects many people’s ability to afford homes. Many buyers in the market have been waiting for the right time, wondering if the market will mellow out. The market may settle down in some areas, but affordability is going to impact buyers in a big way. “Just a 1% increase in interest rates means about a 13% increase in your monthly payment, which affects many people’s ability to afford homes.” To those who are sitting on the fence: Now is a good time to purchase. We’re seeing good inventory levels and homes are selling quickly. Buyers with a sense of urgency will be able to navigate the market. We’ve noticed some fairly aggressive showdowns where multiple offers are placed on homes that are priced correctly. It will be interesting to track how rising interest rates will affect buyers’ ability to remain competitive enough to beat out multiple offers so their offer is accepted. Stay tuned for our summer update where we’ll discuss this further, along with how it will affect price appreciation. If you have any questions in the meantime or are looking to buy or sell a home, please reach out to us. Let’s have a conversation about how we can strategize to help you succeed.

Welcome to 3245 Northwest Thurman Street. If you follow along in the guided video tour above, you can see a first-hand look at all the amenities and features that make this newly listed property special. This is a remodeled modern home with old-world historic details. By entering through the romantic iron gates, you’ll find yourself inside a private courtyard with 100-year-old brick walls. This home is truly one of a kind, with a floor plan centered around an outdoor courtyard which brings the outdoors in while maintaining privacy. It has three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and occupies just under 4,000 square feet. Rich with history, in the 1970s the structure was in disrepair and said to once be a Willamette Heights horse stable, then a trolly car garage, and then an auto barn. It was then repurposed during that time by homeowners truly dedicated to preserving the history while modernizing and honoring the historic neighborhood of Willamette Heights. You can still see the huge old-growth beams supporting the 12-foot ceilings of the kitchen, and you will notice many architectural details salvaged from other northwest mansions of the past, like the solid oak doors, the beautiful fireplace, and the antique door hardware. “This home is truly one of a kind.” Currently, it’s had over $50,000 worth of updates just in the last six months, in addition to the beautiful remodeled kitchen and bathrooms. The master suite and a second bedroom can be found on the main level, which showcases those beautiful floor-to-ceiling brick walls. The daylight lower level below that offers wine room storage, a dumbwaiter, wood storage, a huge family room with a separate entrance, and a second master suite or separate apartment that could function as an additional dwelling unit or a possible nanny suite. Once you fall in love with this amazing home, you can step outside and find yourself surrounded by one of Portland’s best neighborhoods. It sits in close proximity to fabulous cafes, restaurants, walking trails, and shops—not to mention some of the top-rated schools in Portland. This home does not disappoint. For more information about this home, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be happy to speak with you.

This week, we’re on the lovely island of Santa Lucia in the Caribbean. We’ve been looking at properties ranging from $300,000 to $3 million with other international Realtors. We were interested in the effect that the recent hurricanes had on the real estate market. Puerto Rico has had a lot of business failures and employment problems, which resulted in over 4,000 foreclosures and a 50% decrease in prices in some areas. “The recent hurricanes resulted in over 4,000 foreclosures and a 50% decrease in prices in some areas.” Because of this, there are some great buying opportunities in the short term. Places like St. Croix are still facing a lot of turmoil, so it might be better to wait in those cases. Santa Lucia, however, is completely unaffected. If you know anyone who’s interested in learning more about investing and purchasing in the Caribbean, I have contacts and information for you that will help. Feel free to reach out to me. I’d love to talk with you.

Should you put your home on the market this winter or wait until spring? We have a few statistics to help you make this decision today.   Should you list your home for sale in the winter, or should you wait until spring? December is actually the biggest month for us out of the whole year. We sell more houses in December than any other time of year. There are a few other reasons why you may not want to wait until spring to put your home on the market. For one, homes tend to show better this time of year. Tasteful holiday decor makes your home appear warm and cozy to potential buyers. Also, winter makes for an even playing field when it comes to curb appeal. According to Redfin, 9% of winter listings are more likely to sell. On average, winter listings sell a week faster and for 1.2% more money. “People don’t window shop for homes during a snowstorm.” During the peak season of the market, there are 45% more listings but only 23.5% more sales. More listings in January and February means more competition for you. We have about 2,000 sales each month at any given time of year. There might be an extra push of sales in the peak of the market, but you will have more competition. By selling in the winter, you will have less competition and more serious buyers. People don’t window shop for homes during a snowstorm. Even last year, when it was snowing for weeks and we had an ice storm, the real estate market kept going. It was amazing to see. If you have any other questions about selling your home this winter, or if you are interested in buying a home before competition heats up this spring, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

The Hatch Homes Group is coming to you today from our annual retreat. We are busy planning for next year and brainstorming ways to improve our service. We’ve got some exciting things coming next year, including enhanced marketing and better client service. If you or anyone you know is looking for professional representation in a real estate transaction, let us know. We’re always happy to help out. “We’ll see you on November 21!” One more thing: You should have already received your e-vite, but our annual pie party is coming up on Tuesday, November 21. You can pick up your pie either at our office or at Angela’s house: 1934 SE Umatilla Street If you have any other questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

As of January 1st, 2018, the City of Portland’s Home Energy Score Program will officially take effect. Portland has a goal to reduce their carbon footprint, and this new energy score is a big step toward that. Under this program, home sellers will be required to hire an assessor to come to their home, assess its energy efficiency, and have them award a score based on the home’s efficiency. Studies show that 79% of buyers want to know this information, so disclosure is key. The report will give your home a rating of one to 10. We like to think of this rating as a “miles per gallon” for your house—a lot of nice cars with low miles per gallon are selling for great prices. This program is beneficial to homeowners in that these reports can notify them of money-saving home improvements and give them the opportunity to recoup the investments they make in any energy efficiency upgrades at the time of sale. “Think of this rating as a ‘miles per gallon’ for your home.” This program offers a few benefits to buyers, as well, including: Better insight into the full costs of owning or renting a home. The ability to compare energy costs and performance between homes. The knowledge of potential home improvements in advance of purchase. Access to additional mortgage products. If you’re a seller and you want to get your home’s official energy score, there are three steps you must take: Hire a professional assessor and get your rating. Provide the official report to your agent/buyer. Confirm all listings of your house show that number. If you’re a seller and you want to bypass this program, you still have time to sell, so don’t wait to get in touch with us so we can help you with that. If you have any other questions, just give us a call or send us an email. We’d be glad to help you.

On October 21st, Michele Descombes will be teaching a class instructing homebuyers about the home buying process and discussing what they need to know about our market. Looking to buy a Portland home? Search all homes for sale here. Looking to sell your Portland home? Use our free home evaluation tool here. On October 21st at the Umpqua Bank in the Pearl, Michele DesCombes will be teaching another home buying class. This class is intended for anyone who is interested in buying a home, whether you’ve owned one before, it’s been awhile since your last purchase, or this is your first home purchase. During this session, Michele will be covering a lot of great information about our market. As you might’ve noticed, it’s has shifted a little bit in favor of buyers, even though inventory is still a little low. She’ll also discuss what your options are in the home buying process as well as which loan programs are available for first-time homebuyers or low-income buyers who can qualify for a grant. “All types of homebuyers are welcome to join us.” If you’re renting right now, you’re probably paying at least 30% of your income on your rent. If you were to purchase a home using a grant program or any of the fantastic loan programs available out there, you could pay as little as 15% of your income.Michele will be teaching with Mac Dengsot of Umpqua bank, a home loan specialist. They both can answer your questions about anything regarding the process. To find out how, all you have to do is sign up and register here. We hope to see you there! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to speak with you.

What is happening in the Portland real estate market? We have six important statistics to share with you today. Looking to buy a Portland home? Search all homes for sale here. Looking to sell your Portland home? Use our free home evaluation tool here. It’s time for your Portland real estate market update. There are a few important market statistics that we want to share with you today. First of all, there are 98 bumpable listings on the market right now. That means that these listings are contingent on something happening on the buyer’s or seller’s side of the transaction in order for the sale to go through. This is really important. In the past, sellers have been cautious about contingent home offers. Most of the time, sellers would wait to find their next home before putting their current home on the market. It’s very promising that there are 98 bumpable listings. With all of those contingent offers, we’ll likely see 98 new homes hit the market soon, which is good news for buyers. Next, there are 197 expired homes. That means these homes failed to sell in the last few months. As your agents, we look at why those listings failed to sell so that you don’t end up in the same situation. Another important thing to know is that 612 homes are back on the market. Buyers these days are more particular on what they want from a home. They expect the home to be in good condition for a certain price. On the other side, sellers are not willing to negotiate repairs, so these deals are falling apart and those homes are coming back on the market. That is great news for buyers. Those 612 homes increase inventory. Plus, you may even get a second chance at a home that you liked earlier but didn’t get a chance to make an offer on. “There is a disparity between buyer’s expectations and how sellers view the current market.” Sellers should take note that in the last week alone, we had 783 price changes. Although Portland is still in a strong seller’s market, it’s not as strong as some people may think. You can’t overprice your home in this market, and those 783 price changes prove that. We’re here to guide you. We can help you avoid that price adjustment by pricing your home correctly from the start. Finally, the number of closed sales in July dropped by 12%, while the number of pending sales dropped 7.9%. All in all, these numbers indicate that our market is shifting into a more balanced, healthy market. We are not in the housing bubble that everyone feared. Prices are still very healthy, and inventory is still fairly low, which makes it a good time to sell your home. That said, these numbers do show a disparity between buyer expectations and what sellers believe they can get out of the current market. Don’t forget those 612 homes that went back on the market after their deal fell apart. As we mentioned earlier, there is slightly more inventory for buyers to choose from these days. Make sure you take advantage of the updated inventory and low mortgage rates now. If you have any questions about buying or selling in our current market, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

You won’t want to miss this warehouse sale event. Looking to buy a Portland home? Search all homes for sale here. Looking to sell your Portland home? Use our free home evaluation tool here. Today I’m excited to announce that I’m partnering up with my client Adrienne to host an event. At this event, we’ll be featuring items from Adrienne’s online eco-fashion store, Faerie’s Dance. There will also be a doTERRA essential oils representative and a doctor specializing in whole life wellness plans. Many other female entrepreneurs are expected to attend, as well. There will also be coffee and cakes provided for your enjoyment. Additionally, there will be a raffle drawing for various prizes every half hour throughout the day. “You won’t want to miss this warehouse sale event.” One prize we’ll be raffling off early in the day will be two tickets to the Street of Dreams. You won’t want to miss this warehouse sale event, which will take place Saturday, August 26th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The sale will actually be located at an urban farm I sold about five years ago at 12400 SE Crest Drive, Happy Valley, Oregon. We hope you see you there. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Now that we’re halfway through the year, I sat down with my daughter, Angela, to give you a look at what’s happening in our market. Looking to buy a Portland home? Search all homes for sale here. Looking to sell your Portland home? Use our free home evaluation tool here. Now that we’re over halfway through the year, it’s time for us to take a look at what’s going on in our market. Recently, I was joined by my daughter Angela, the team leader for Hatch Homes Group, to talk about why it is that Realtors are feeling a little bit uneasy about certain aspects of the market. The number of days homes are spending on the market has risen a little bit, more listings have come on the market, and there have been more price reductions, as well. So why is all of this happening? As Angela explained, it’s likely caused by an uptick in inventory. She also mentioned, though, that homes that aren’t priced correctly are the only ones really having a problem getting off the market. Homes that are priced right are moving as quickly as ever and with record-low inventory. Buyers are more discerning, as well. Right now, buyers are less willing to settle for a property with problems. So, poorly-prepared homes are really struggling when it comes time for them to undergo inspections. For this reason, we’re experiencing a lot more terminations. “Homes that are priced right are moving as quickly as ever.” This is what makes it so important for sellers to meet with realtors; doing so can help them avoid termination. With all of this considered, many people are wondering if we’re in a bubble. Well, we actually saw this same thing happen last year. According to Angela, there is cause to be optimistic. Sellers who were trying to buy and sell at the same time are now finding themselves in a good position, as there is a little more inventory for them to choose from. The same can be said for buyers, as well. In fact, this is a better opportunity than we’ve seen for buyers in a long time. It’s also a good opportunity for sellers to get the most out of the market. And, because so many people are attracted to the lifestyle, we’re continuing to see an influx of population here in Portland. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

We’re holding a seminar to teach you about investing in real estate with a seasoned property investment pro. Looking to buy a Portland home? Search all homes for sale here. Looking to sell your Portland home? Use our free home evaluation tool here. I’m excited to announce that along with Mark Irwin from Directors Mortgage, we’ll be holding a real estate investing seminar on Thursday, June 29th from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 9755 Southwest Barnes Road. Click here to register. It will be a basic course designed for first-time home investors. We’ll cover several key topics like how to determine what makes a rental property, how to finance one, and some reasons to buy one. We’ll also discuss the best ways to manage a rental investment property. Mark Irwin has been a real estate investor for more than 35 years and has worked with just about every type of investment property you can think of. We’ll also cover the real estate side of things like why you need a Realtor and how they will help you find the right property. To register, just click here. If you have any questions in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to seeing you there! If you are simply curious about the kinds of homes that are available on the Portland market right now, check out this complete listing: Click here to see all Portland homes for sale And if you need more advice, or you are ready to start looking for a home, get in touch with me at (503) 748-8310. I love working with first-time homebuyers, and I can help you get to your perfect new home with minimum hassle.

Recently, I helped sell my mother’s home in the United Kingdom, as I’ve always been interested in international real estate. Transactions are different in each country. Looking to buy a Portland home? Search all homes for sale here. Looking to sell your Portland home? Use our free home evaluation tool here. I’ve long been interested in international real estate and I have many connections with Realtors all over the world. This month, with the help of a great local real estate company, we have sold my mother’s home in the United Kingdom, as she is about to go into assisted living. It’s been an interesting process because things are done a little differently here. For one, the buyers are called applicants, and they are not legally represented here the same way they are in America. “In the United Kingdom, real estate agents don’t have to be licensed.” In the U.K., real estate agents don’t have to be licensed, and one in three transactions fail. You have to use solicitors and attorneys. The whole process takes approximately three months. That said, my mother’s 3-bed, 1-bathroom, 1,100 square foot bungalow sold for the equivalent of about $330,000. So, let us know if you know anyone who is interested in buying or selling a home. We can help them meet their goals anywhere in the world. We look forward to hearing from you!

As our most experienced agent, Angela Stevens is a vital member of the Hatch Homes Group. Looking to buy a Portland home? Search all homes for sale here. Looking to sell your Portland home? Use our free home evaluation tool here. Angela Stevens has served the Hatch Homes Group for 10 years and, after Melody and I, is our most experienced team member. She also happens to be our daughter. Angela started off as a transaction coordinator before handling the marketing for our listings. She then did a lot of short sale negotiations as the market bottomed out, which educated her about distressed properties. A few years after that, she decided to get her real estate license and become a buyer specialist. This transition helped her focus on working with both buyers and sellers and she feels this is the reason she can net sellers more money on their home sale. “We’re proud of the contributions Angela has made for our team.” Angela chose real estate because it allowed her to combine her passion for art and creativity and her passion for entrepreneurship. She loves the architecture of houses and the design aspect of the real estate business, and this industry fulfills her desire to be a businessperson. We’re very proud of Angela and the contributions she’s made to our team. Last year, we made her a partner of Hatch Homes, and now she’s being appointed team leader. In this new position, she feels that her experience will enable her to carry on her knowledge and educate the people she interacts with. She looks forward to strengthening her relationship with her team so they can do better and, in turn, help her do better and lead by example. If you have any questions or are looking to buy or sell a home in our market, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help.

We’re holding a seminar this Thursday aimed at teaching you the ins and outs of basic real estate investment. Looking to buy a Portland home? Search all homes for sale here. Looking to sell your Portland home? Use our free home evaluation tool here. Thursday, May 11th, we’re hosting the first of a three-part series of real estate investment seminars at 7 p.m. at our office at Keller Williams Realty Professionals on the first floor, and we’d love for you to join us. Our own agent Michele DesCombes suggested putting on an investment seminar. I’ve always enjoyed investing in real estate over the years and helping others invest in real estate, and I was more than pleased when she came to me with the idea. Michele wanted to do a seminar because she loves working with investors. With the rental market how it is in Portland, she also realized that now is a great time to maximize the opportunity for investment and maximize your income. Michele is partnered with Mark Irwin, an experienced lender from Directors Mortgage with a wealth of investment experience who will speak at the seminar. “This seminar will teach you how to maximize your income.” We’ll also talk about how to get qualified and make sure your financing is in order, the differences between active and passive landlords, how to screen your tenants, and the rest of the ins and outs of basic real estate investment. The best part? It’s totally free. We even have a door prize. To RSVP, just click here to sign up. You can also visit our Facebook page or call us and we’ll get you signed up. In the meantime, we hope to see you there. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be glad to help.

Today we wanted to thank you for your business and wish you happy holidays. Looking to buy a Portland home? Search all homes for sale here. Looking to sell your Portland home? Use our free home evaluation tool here. Today, we wanted to reach out to you and wish you season’s greetings. We also want to thank you for doing business with us and making our job so enjoyable. We appreciate your referrals and your friendship. From our team to your family, we hope you have a safe and happy holiday season. If there’s anything we can do to brighten your day, please let us know. Happy Holidays!

There are 10 main factors to consider when making an offer on a home. Taking into account these factors will only make your offer stronger. Looking to buy a Portland home? Search all homes for sale here. Looking to sell your Portland home? Use our free home evaluation tool here. When making an offer on a home, there are 10 factors that you need to consider so that the offer is as good as it can be: Price. We tend to think of the listing price as being the proper price, but this isn’t the case. You have to think about what’s a good price for you, and what value really means to you. The key is to be flexible depending on what research your Realtor provides you. The earnest money. This sum is normally 1% to 2% of the sales price. If we have the flexibility to put some more earnest money down, that will be looked at favorably by the seller. The down payment. With a lot of financing, we can offer a really low down payment. The more you can put down, the stronger your offer is going to look. The closing date. It’s important to work with your Realtor and determine what a good closing date would be for both you and the seller. If there’s some flexibility you can give to satisfy the needs of the seller, all the better. The lender. Your pre-qualification is very important, but it’s also important who you use for a lender. Using an online or out-of-state source as your lender is a red flag for most listing agents. You have to have a good, credible source of finance. “Sellers prefer to deal with people that they like.” The possession date. Working out a possession date that is beneficial for both you and the seller will help enormously, especially if you need to work out a rent-back agreement. The inspection. These are critical in ensuring that what you’re buying is a good, sound property. Sellers can develop anxiety over this process, and they want to feel that it’s done in a timely fashion. The appraisal. Appraisals that can be done quickly can help the overall presentation of the offer. Concessions. You as a buyer may need to make a few concessions, such as closing costs, to close the deal. You also have to construct these carefully so they aren’t viewed negatively by the seller. The credibility of both you and your agent. Sellers like to deal with people they like. Time and time again, we’ve seen sellers accept offers that were inferior in price to other offers simply because they liked that particular buyer better. They will also gravitate toward a Realtor that they’re comfortable with. If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell real estate and values good representation, we’d love to speak to them. Just give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!