Buying Real Estate

29May 2014 by admin

Should I Invest in Real Estate? Q & A With a Realtor on The Pros & Cons

Real Estate Investing: Five points to consider Disclaimer: I am not an attorney. I am not an accountant. This article is not tax advice. This article is not legal counsel. This article is not investment advice. As an Oregon Real Estate Licensee I cannot promise you future profits or losses. This article is written to encourage the public to educate themselves and to seek out expert opinions as applicable to their needs. The anecdotes contained herein are based on my own subjective experiences as a professional Realtor in business through the entire housing crisis. 1: Seeing a "Foreclosure Millionaires!!!" Infomercial/Seminar doesn't make you an expert. [caption id="attachment_6678" align="alignleft" width="131"]Beware of Get Rich Quick[/caption] Someone once said that "a rising tide lifts all boats" and this is certainly true for housing.…

28May 2014 by admin

Should I Buy A House This Year? Q & A with a Realtor

Buying Real Estate

As a professional Realtor in Portland, Oregon people ask me whether or not they should buy a house this year quite often. My answer is that there are many factors to consider and ultimately YOU are the one who has to live with the outcome, not your real estate agent, not your friends or relatives. Is it time to buy real estate? Nobody can make this decision for you. This article is written by an Oregon Real Estate Licensee IS NOT legal counsel and IS NOT tax or financial advice. Realtors cannot predict or promise future profits or losses and this article is solely the opinion of Richard Lockwood as of the date of publication (I reserve the right to change my mind and at some point in the future…

22Apr 2014 by admin

Portland Homes For Sale By Neighborhood

Buying Real Estate

To better serve the public, we've upgraded our home search features and now offer homes for sale by neighborhood for Portland, OR. You can also browse available MLS listings for the surrounding metro area. Our goal is to make your buying experience as easy as possible. Let us know what you'd like to see in person and we'll earn your business by providing exceptional service in a prompt manner. All of our team members are real estate brokers licensed in Oregon and we always have a team member ready to answer the phone to quickly answer your questions. Click Here For: Portland Homes For Sale By Neighborhood New to the area? You'll be able to take a glance at available houses and get an idea of what's out there and…

19Mar 2014 by admin

Are Zillow “Zestimates” Accurate?

Buying Real Estate

As a professional in the housing sector (Broker, Licensed in the State of Oregon) I have members of the general public ask me if Zillow.com's pricing estimates (styled as "Zestimates") are accurate. At the risk of raising ire, my honest answer is this: I have never personally seen a "Zillow Zestimate" even closely resemble an appraised value or be close to an actual Comparative Market Analysis. How Does Zillow Make Its Millions??? When questioning the veracity of a source of information, it's important to understand how Zillow makes millions providing such "free" services to the general public. Sites such as Zillow make money by netting consumers looking for real estate services and then selling those captured leads to local Realtors. As one local agent quipped: "Zillow wants to charge me…

27Feb 2014 by admin

Buying Your First Home: Escrow

Buying Real Estate

So you found the perfect home, now what? If you haven't found a home yet feel free to browse our powerful Portland Home Search Tools or simply give us a call and we'll be happy to help you find what you're looking for. What Is Escrow?* At the risk of oversimplification, escrow makes sure the seller gets paid and the buyer gets the house as outlined in the Real Estate Sale Agreement. A more detailed description follows. Merriam Webster defines an escrow as money or property held in trust by a third party to be turned over only upon fulfillment of a condition. In real estate transactions, a Title Insurance Company serves as this independent party; "insuring" that the buyer gets legal ownership of the property and the seller gets…

17Nov 2013 by admin

1st Time Home Buyers

Buying Real Estate

First time home buyers can depend on proven professional experience of the Lockwood Real Estate Team with Oregon Realty Co. We carefully and fully empower you to make decisions that are within your comfort zone walking you through the buying process step by step so you can make informed home purchase decision. Enjoy personal professional assistance addressing your questions promptly accurately. It’s your money your house; we help you acquire the home you what at the price you want while maintaining your exit strategy if the house proves to be a lemon and you want out. From finding the best mortgage loan for you to taking possession and title, we are there for you. Our team will dig deep identifying potential health risks like radon gas, lead paint, asbestos, mold…

12Sep 2012 by admin

Happy Valley Oregon Market Update

Buying Real Estate

Happy Valley Realtors Whether you're looking to sell or buy it's time to put our experience to work for you. We stayed in business throughout the recession and proved that we've got what it takes by working hard and also staying ahead of market trends. simply put, we're a dedicated team of real estate agents and we'll get the job done right. Hire The Experienced Team of Realtors We look forward to helping you today: 503-473-8001 [caption id="attachment_3456" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Area Market Conditions"][/caption] Housing: Recent Market Trends Median list price for Happy Valley, Oregon homes for is at $399,900 with an average of 180 days on market. An RMLS search of the area shows 26 detached homes sold in the 97086 zip code between 8/13/12 to 9/13/12 at an average…

11Sep 2012 by admin

Portland Housing Market

Buying Real Estate, Portland Home Values

Portland Real Estate Market Trends Median asking price for MLS Listings has dropped to $274,900 corresponding with the noticeable drop in activity from well-qualified buyers. Often, the start of the school year tends to go hand in hand with home buyers and sellers settling in to the routines of school and work and this decrease in moving, buying and selling of real estate has a seasonal effect on the Portland housing market. [caption id="attachment_3449" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Realtors Chart of Market Conditions"][/caption] Housing Supply And Demand Spring buyers came out in force earlier this year. Possibly due to relieved financial stress and an increase in financing options but also because the tide of foreclosures and short sales has put many former home owners back in to the increasingly competitive rental market.…

24Jun 2011 by admin

Portland Homes For Sale

Buying Real Estate

To shop the latest in listings, please visit our newly updated Portland Homes For Sale page. When people think of Homes For Sale in Portland, buyers wanting the best deals are increasingly willing to consider distressed properties... And, in this economy who can blame them. Sellers looking to dump negative equity often opt to hire short sale negotiators (such as ourselves) to market the property and handle presenting documents to the bank while maintaining regular contact with bank asset managers. These types of transactions often represent significant savings for savvy buyers willing to put in the time necessary to get one of these deals. With excellent Free Search of Foreclosure Listings today's clients are better informed than ever. Great deals do exist! Call us today to find out more about…

10Jun 2010 by admin

Happy Valley Oregon

Buying Real Estate

Happy Valley is located in Oregon’s scenic Clackamas county. This area offers both beautiful housing and exciting recreational activities. A quiet town nesting on and around the top of Mt. Scott; many available homes feature spectacular views of Portland and Mt. Hood making it one of Portland’s most desirable suburbs. Happy Valley has recently experienced a boom in business, and many local shops and national chains are minutes away from home. Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center services Happy Valley, and offers wonderful healthcare and medical resources. An appointment with your doctor does not have to be a hassle when the office is five minutes away. Increases in the number of foreclosures means that your money goes farther and fine properties can be purchased for cents on the dollar. [caption id="attachment_339"…