Protected: Movers
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
How To Pick a Brokerage
Real estate and how it works is already confusing even before you decide to become an agent. I spent 20 minutes explaining what a brokerage is to my highly-educated friends and I don’t think they still got it. What I tell most people is that it’s probably not as big of a decision as you […]
The Value Of A Home
I have been reading a lot lately from people talking about pricing. Homes are only less subjective than art and collectibles. What is the White House worth? I got into an online discussion with an appraiser from the Southwest. He believed that only a licensed appraiser can determine the value of a home. Asking a […]
The Draw Of the Flaw
I stole the headline from the Washington Post because it is so good. Buying a home with real or perceived flaws can allow you to be in a neighborhood at a discount. It is just best that you understand why there is a discount. Powerlines are often an issue for many. No one has determined […]
I Don’t Double-End Sales (Representing Both Sides)
There’s two kinds of dual agency. One is where two people from the same office are helping the seller and buyer respectively. The other kind is when one agent represents both the buyer and seller. Agents call it double-ending or double-siding sales. While I have a couple of friends I truly respect and trust that will […]
Lowest Home Inventory In Three Years
It’s a great time to be a seller. December inventory is the lowest it has been in a long time. While the inventory was down, for the year sales are up, pendings were up and listings were up. Which all means the amount of buyers has increased as well which led to prices rising 7%+ […]
How A Simple Box Will Making Moving Day Easier
Unless you have an army of people or movers that are helping you unpack, here are some things you should store away in a separate box. Paper towels – There will be food in the middle of this process, or at least snacking. Something will break and drip, or something just won’t be clean enough […]
“What My Realtor Said” – My Perspective
I came across an article on WiseBread titled, “5 Things Our Realtor Told Us That Weren’t True.” I knew it wouldn’t likely be a glowing report for Realtors so I wanted to see what was said. If you read my blog you know that I have issues with what goes on in my industry so […]
When A Realtor Sells Their Own Home Part 1
When I first got into real estate I remember being told, “You should buy and sell your own home every four years so you stay in touch with how tough the process can be mentally.” It is tough. It’s been reported that it can as stressful as a death in the family. On Saturday we […]
Zen And Patience From Car Troubles
I have a degree in psychology. I read a lot about mindfulness. I try to practice patience and control over my emotions but these last two weeks I realized I wasn’t nearly as in control as I thought. To keep this short I will give the briefest of details. Dropped my car off at the […]
Home Showing: My Halloween Fright
This is a repost from 2007. About 4 years ago I was setting up showings for a client. It was about 4 days before Halloween and nasty weather. There was one house that was owner occupied but it said to call the Listing Agent. That almost always means there is some problem with something. […]
Realtor “White Lies”
I was at a restaurant years ago and asked if they Coke. The waitress said yes and came back with RC. I didn’t used to hate it, I just disliked the taste. Now I hate it because restaurants try to pawn it off as Pepsi or Coke and I have to ask more specifically […]
Lockbox Activity for Oregon, Up 11.9%
It would be nice if we could cross the 20,000 mark but these are good.
The Hardest Decision A Seller Has To Make
You would think it would be accepting an offer but it’s not. The hardest decision the seller makes is choosing the listing price. Most seller’s pay attention to their neighborhood, especially as they get closer to listing their home. So they get a number in their head. Then they talk to friends and probably a […]
USDA Loans – Sherwood, Tigard and Wilsonville – Not As Rural As You’d Think
USDA loans are for what is typically considered rural properties. Those areas are still mapped based on old population numbers. Now you can find new developments and gorgeous homes well within these boundaries. USDA loans require no downpayment and for a few more months there is no mortgage insurance required. The monthly mortgage insurance will […]
I’m Having Trouble Getting Agents To Call Me Back, This Is My Rant
UPDATE: It’s 2019 and I completely forgot about this and sadly, many agents are just as bad about returning calls. I finally found a way to vent my frustration about the lack of response from agents when I was trying to show their listings. It was tough to go back to my client over and […]
