Landscaping: it’s an art form, one that can be hard to wrap your head around. That’s because, like all art forms, landscaping adds value to which it’s hard to assign a strict dollar amount. We’re talking about atmosphere, comfort, and that ineffable something that makes a space feel welcoming. But, also like all art forms, we can discuss its value because history shows that people will pay for that ineffable something! In 2020, the National Association of Realtors reported that homes with high curb appeal sold on average for 7% more than comparable homes with low curb appeal. Effective landscaping frames the home and gives the impression of a well-kept property. So just like choosing the right paint color or...
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10 Landscaping Tips to Increase Home Value in 2021
May 17, 2021
Landscaping: it’s an art form, one that can be hard to wrap your head around. That’s because, like all art forms, landscaping adds value to which it’s hard to assign a strict dollar amount. We’re talking about atmosphere, comfort, and that ineffable something that makes a space feel welcoming. But, also like all art forms, we can discuss its value because history shows that people will pay for that ineffable something! In 2020, the National Association of Realtors reported that homes with high curb appeal sold on average for 7% more than comparable homes with low curb appeal. Effective landscaping frames the home and gives the impression of a well-kept property. So just like choosing the right paint color or...
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A fresh coat of paint can work wonders – especially when you’re selling your home. We hear the word curb appeal casually thrown around quite a bit, but the term is rooted in reality. Prospective buyers are more likely to tour a home that looks more inviting from the outside. And the buck doesn’t stop there. Last year a joint study from the University of Alabama and the University of Texas at Arlington found that homes with curb appeal sell at an average of 7% higher than comparable (but less visually appealing) homes. If it’s been more than five years since your last paint job, we recommend you get a fresh coat before listing. But to speak of paint begs...
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Top 3 Exterior Paint Colors to Increase Home Value in 2021
May 14, 2021
A fresh coat of paint can work wonders – especially when you’re selling your home. We hear the word curb appeal casually thrown around quite a bit, but the term is rooted in reality. Prospective buyers are more likely to tour a home that looks more inviting from the outside. And the buck doesn’t stop there. Last year a joint study from the University of Alabama and the University of Texas at Arlington found that homes with curb appeal sell at an average of 7% higher than comparable (but less visually appealing) homes. If it’s been more than five years since your last paint job, we recommend you get a fresh coat before listing. But to speak of paint begs...
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Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the jobs report for April, and it was a huge blow. According to the report, the U.S. added 266,000 jobs last month. In any normal era, that would look pretty positive. But in the time of Covid-19, it’s a different story. Experts had predicted that we’d add about 1 million jobs, based on the expectation that vaccine roll out would have more people comfortable enough to reenter the workforce. Instead, we saw the slowest growth since January. So how does the jobs report affect the Portland real estate market, you might be wondering? The answer has to do with the Federal Reserve and its plans as we reopen – theoretically – the...
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Portland Real Estate Market Report: Interest Rates Steady, Demand High 5/2021
May 12, 2021
Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the jobs report for April, and it was a huge blow. According to the report, the U.S. added 266,000 jobs last month. In any normal era, that would look pretty positive. But in the time of Covid-19, it’s a different story. Experts had predicted that we’d add about 1 million jobs, based on the expectation that vaccine roll out would have more people comfortable enough to reenter the workforce. Instead, we saw the slowest growth since January. So how does the jobs report affect the Portland real estate market, you might be wondering? The answer has to do with the Federal Reserve and its plans as we reopen – theoretically – the...
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Why should I read your guide to getting licensed? I run a top 250 real estate team in the U.S. according to Real Trends. Personally I got licensed in Oregon in 2003 as a Broker, then later upgraded to a Principal Broker’s licensed and have also obtained the highest level of license in Washington, Managing Broker. I’ve overseen more than a thousand local sales. In addition to all of that, it would be because I run this website which produces annual, local real estate market research reports on the topics you would want to know before becoming a licensed agent in Oregon, and follow after you are one. I have a genuine passion for the industry, my clients, my fellow...
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Learn How to Become a Licensed Real Estate Agent in Oregon – 2021 Update
May 10, 2021
Why should I read your guide to getting licensed? I run a top 250 real estate team in the U.S. according to Real Trends. Personally I got licensed in Oregon in 2003 as a Broker, then later upgraded to a Principal Broker’s licensed and have also obtained the highest level of license in Washington, Managing Broker. I’ve overseen more than a thousand local sales. In addition to all of that, it would be because I run this website which produces annual, local real estate market research reports on the topics you would want to know before becoming a licensed agent in Oregon, and follow after you are one. I have a genuine passion for the industry, my clients, my fellow...
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It’s here, as promised during President Biden’s campaign. Congress is on the cusp of considering two new pieces of legislation to promote equity in housing and first-time home ownership. Both drafts target lower income households. And with good reason: as we recently covered, home prices are up a jaw-dropping 12%. With home prices skyrocketing, legislators are looking into new ways to incentivize and enable socially and economically disadvantaged groups to make the leap into home ownership. If they come to fruition, these proposals would go beyond existing downpayment assistance programs. But how far beyond? And who qualifies? Let’s take a look and compare these two pieces of legislation. The First-time Homebuyer Act The First-time Homebuyer Act secures a $15,000 tax...
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Explained: New Legislation Promises Aid (Downpayment Money) for First Time Homebuyers
May 10, 2021
It’s here, as promised during President Biden’s campaign. Congress is on the cusp of considering two new pieces of legislation to promote equity in housing and first-time home ownership. Both drafts target lower income households. And with good reason: as we recently covered, home prices are up a jaw-dropping 12%. With home prices skyrocketing, legislators are looking into new ways to incentivize and enable socially and economically disadvantaged groups to make the leap into home ownership. If they come to fruition, these proposals would go beyond existing downpayment assistance programs. But how far beyond? And who qualifies? Let’s take a look and compare these two pieces of legislation. The First-time Homebuyer Act The First-time Homebuyer Act secures a $15,000 tax...
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Each year we write a report on the best time to buy a home in the Portland real estate market and the best time to sell a home in the Portland real estate market. Guess what? Those two optimal times are never the same. But there is a way to both sell in the best time of year and then buy in the best time of year! I’ll explain by the end of this article. Best Time of the Year to Sell a Home Every year in Portland the best time to sell a home is in the spring and early summer. The most optimal overall season is March through May. The reason for this is simple, supply vs. demand....
The post How to Sell a Home and Buy a Home in the Best Time of Year and Make $100K Extra. appeared first on Real Estate Agent PDX.
How to Sell a Home and Buy a Home in the Best Time of Year and Make $100K Extra.
May 7, 2021
Each year we write a report on the best time to buy a home in the Portland real estate market and the best time to sell a home in the Portland real estate market. Guess what? Those two optimal times are never the same. But there is a way to both sell in the best time of year and then buy in the best time of year! I’ll explain by the end of this article. Best Time of the Year to Sell a Home Every year in Portland the best time to sell a home is in the spring and early summer. The most optimal overall season is March through May. The reason for this is simple, supply vs. demand....
The post How to Sell a Home and Buy a Home in the Best Time of Year and Make $100K Extra. appeared first on Real Estate Agent PDX.
Divorce often brings out the worst in people, and aside from fighting over children, one of the biggest disputes in a divorce is often the award of the marital home. It’s often the most significant asset a couple has, and– especially if there are children in the marriage– the marital home may have substantial practical and emotional significance. The answer to the question of who ultimately will be awarded the house in a given divorce is long, complicated, and will depend on many factors. But with this article, we’ll try to break it down a bit. Who Gets To Live In The House During A Divorce? Unless there is a specific court order otherwise, both spouses can remain in the...
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Who Gets the House in an Oregon Divorce?
May 5, 2021
Divorce often brings out the worst in people, and aside from fighting over children, one of the biggest disputes in a divorce is often the award of the marital home. It’s often the most significant asset a couple has, and– especially if there are children in the marriage– the marital home may have substantial practical and emotional significance. The answer to the question of who ultimately will be awarded the house in a given divorce is long, complicated, and will depend on many factors. But with this article, we’ll try to break it down a bit. Who Gets To Live In The House During A Divorce? Unless there is a specific court order otherwise, both spouses can remain in the...
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Deciding on a list price is hands down one of the most crucial steps of selling a home. And the final decision rests with the owner, who must agree to a number after working with a real estate agent. It’s all too tempting for a seller list high, hoping to get the most they can out of the transaction. Unfortunately, that’s not always the best strategy, even in Portland’s hot seller’s market. Yet the fact remains that many sellers continue to list their homes over or at the high end of the market value. In 2019, the Journal of Housing Economics reported that the average homeowner overvalues their home by 8%. And Americans aren’t alone. For example, a 2020 JHE...
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Why Sellers Overprice Their Homes (and Why They Shouldn’t)
May 3, 2021
Deciding on a list price is hands down one of the most crucial steps of selling a home. And the final decision rests with the owner, who must agree to a number after working with a real estate agent. It’s all too tempting for a seller list high, hoping to get the most they can out of the transaction. Unfortunately, that’s not always the best strategy, even in Portland’s hot seller’s market. Yet the fact remains that many sellers continue to list their homes over or at the high end of the market value. In 2019, the Journal of Housing Economics reported that the average homeowner overvalues their home by 8%. And Americans aren’t alone. For example, a 2020 JHE...
The post Why Sellers Overprice Their Homes (and Why They Shouldn’t) appeared first on Real Estate Agent PDX.
The trend of home prices has only proved itself stronger this week. On Tuesday, Case-Shiller reported the biggest home price increase in 15 years. Their home price index found a 12% annual gain for the month of February, the highest recorded since 2006. That’s up from 11.2% in January. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index measures the price of home sales across the United States using the “repeat sales method.” This means that they calculate percent increase and decrease based on homes that have sold at least two times. Their methodology excludes new construction, condos, apartments, etc. Basically, they are looking at how single-family homes appreciate in order to gauge how much home prices in a particular month. The...
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Home Prices Soaring in the Portland Real Estate Market
April 30, 2021
The trend of home prices has only proved itself stronger this week. On Tuesday, Case-Shiller reported the biggest home price increase in 15 years. Their home price index found a 12% annual gain for the month of February, the highest recorded since 2006. That’s up from 11.2% in January. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index measures the price of home sales across the United States using the “repeat sales method.” This means that they calculate percent increase and decrease based on homes that have sold at least two times. Their methodology excludes new construction, condos, apartments, etc. Basically, they are looking at how single-family homes appreciate in order to gauge how much home prices in a particular month. The...
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Chances are you’ve passed by Foursquare homes in Portland dozens of times. Maybe you paused to take one in, admire the dignified simplicity of the structure. Whether you realized it at the time or not, you were looking at one of America’s most iconic home styles. And Portland is home to many of the country’s finest examples. Today we’ll take a dive into the history and characteristics of the Foursquare style home in Portland. What makes a Foursquare home a Foursquare home, how did this style come about, and why do we still love it? Let’s explore what makes these historic homes both modest and grand at once. What Is a Foursquare Style Home? The shortest answer to this question...
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What is a Foursquare Style Home in Portland?
April 28, 2021
Chances are you’ve passed by Foursquare homes in Portland dozens of times. Maybe you paused to take one in, admire the dignified simplicity of the structure. Whether you realized it at the time or not, you were looking at one of America’s most iconic home styles. And Portland is home to many of the country’s finest examples. Today we’ll take a dive into the history and characteristics of the Foursquare style home in Portland. What makes a Foursquare home a Foursquare home, how did this style come about, and why do we still love it? Let’s explore what makes these historic homes both modest and grand at once. What Is a Foursquare Style Home? The shortest answer to this question...
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