MovingMoving to PortlandSelling Your home April 4, 2013

Q & A: What if I have a stupid question about Real Estate?

 

 

My clients will sometimes say, "I've got a stupid question for you…. what does <insert odd real estate term> mean?

 

Of course I always respond that there is no stupid question in this process.  This is a big deal, buying and selling a house, and one should never feel that they don't full understand every little bit of what is going on.  That's why you work with a Realtor who you trust. 

Still, it's nice to have a reference for all those terms that come up during your transaction. 
Below is a link to the Federal Trade Commission's Real Estate marketplace glossary. 

 

 
The Federal Trade Commission, the agency that promotes competition
 
and protects consumers, has prepared this glossary to help you
 
better understand the terms commonly used in the real estate
 
and mortgage marketplace.    You'll find it here. 
 
 
 
 
Portland Oregon Real Estate Information,
House Ideas,
Portland Oregon Highlights.
Caryperkins.com
 

 

by Cary Perkins

Current Portland Real Estate Market InformationMovingMoving to PortlandPortland Real Estate Data April 4, 2012

Rent or Buy?

Each quarter, Fannie Mae releases their National Housing Survey. They survey the American public on a multitude of questions concerning today’s housing market. We like to pull out some of the findings we deem most interesting each time it is released. Here they are for the most recent report:

84% of the general population believes that owning a home makes more sense than renting.

The Most Important Reasons to Buy a Home

When we talk about homeownership today, it seems that the financial aspects always jump to the front of the discussion. However, the study shows that the four major reasons a person buys a home have nothing to do with money. The top four reasons, in order, are:

  1. It means having a good place to raise children and provide them with a good education
  2. You have a physical structure where you and your family feel safe
  3. It allows you to have more space for your family
  4. It gives you control of what you do with your living space (renovations and updates)

The Home as an Investment

Though most people purchase a home for non-financial reasons, everyone realizes there is a money component to homeownership. Here is what they said on this issue:

  • 63% of the general population believes that homeownership is a ‘safe’ investment.
  • 53% believe that homeownership has more potential as an investment than any other traditional asset class.

Rent vs. Buy

We are always interested in the difference people see in renting vs. owning.

  • 64% of renters have aspirations to someday own their own home
  • 70% of renters think that owning is superior to renting

Bottom Line

Our belief in the value of homeownership grows each time this survey is released.

Beautiful Housescary perkinsCurrent Portland Real Estate Market InformationDaily House IdeaDecorating IdeasFront doorGardens and Landscapehouse idea of the dayHouse Ideaskitchen ideasMovingMoving to PortlandPortland OregonPortland Real Estate DataPortland Real Estate Statistics March 21, 2012

Cost -vs- Value on Home Remodeling

Get started on those home repairs, knowing what type of return they’ll have when selling your house.

From a minor kitchen remodel & cabinet re-facing -vs- major kitchen with new cabinets, and from attics to basements, this report is a useful guide explaining what you can expect to recoup during your home sale.  If spiffing up your house will help you to enjoy it while you’re living there AND you get a 91.5% return on your expense, why not call the contractor?

Also included is a link to the 2011-2012 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report.  This has national numbers and also drilled-down data for Portland here.

As always, if you have specific questions on what you might do to improve your home for sale, I’d love to come over and take a look around.  And for fun do-it-yourself projects, visit my Pinterest page for my collection of fabulous projects.  Please check back frequently – I add new content weekly.

cary perkinsMovingMoving to PortlandORPinterestPortland Oregon March 10, 2012

Moving to Portland Oregon

What better way to explore Portland than through pictures?  I’ve been collecting scenes from Portland, and have started to keep a file on a Pinterest page.  You can find it by clicking here.

 

Check back often, or subscribe to my Pinterest page.  You’ll also find pages on mid-century love, do-it-yourself ideas, restaurants, and awesome looking spaces to dream about in your next home in Portland, Oregon.  Obviously, I’m also the person to help you find it.  I love Portland, and I’ll show you nooks and crannies that will help you to love it too.

 

cary perkinsCurrent Portland Real Estate Market InformationMovingMoving to PortlandPortland OregonPortland Real Estate Data February 27, 2012

The Buyer’s Market is Coming to a close….a MUST read!

As inventory levels off, and buyers try to take advantage of the record-breaking low interest rates, Sellers are finding themselves in an advantageous position for the first time in a few years.  But that position may be short-lived.  Shadow inventory (foreclosures that the banks had been forced by the Feds to hold back to help stabilize the market) has been cleared to be put on the market very shortly…. and prices will undoubtedly go down  (it’s been predicted to be around 3-5%) before we see things level off .

I met Steve Harney in Seattle at the Windermere Symposium.  He’s pragmatic, crusty, and above all, SMART.  Here’s what he has to say to sellers:  click this link… You may enjoy the blog, with its insight to current market conditions nationwide.  (but many click-throughs to local stats)