Real Estate Basics: Who Pays the Realtor?

Real Estate Basics: Who Pays the Realtor?

A question that some people don’t like to bring up is “who pays the realtor?” While it’s common in our culture to feel awkward about topics like this, no one should be afraid …

FHA and VA are both lowering their cost of lending

FHA and VA are both lowering their cost of lending

A little bit of good news: Both the FHA and VA are lowering their cost of lending in the next month. For FHA loans closed after March 20th 2023, the monthly mortgage insurance premium is going down from .85% to .55%.  For a $500,000 purchase, this 

Real Estate Basics: Getting Started With Financing

Real Estate Basics: Getting Started With Financing

Thinking about how you can buy your first home? Regardless of price, buying real estate takes a lump of money up front, but it may not be as much as you think. Things to consider: How much of a down payment will you need? How 

How to make a more competitive offer

How to make a more competitive offer

It is hard out there for buyers right now. In Portland there’s so much competition for the small amount of listings we have that along with high all-cash offers some buyers are doing things like waiving all inspections and agreeing to purchase homes as-is, even 

Real Estate Basics: Who Pays the Realtor?

Real Estate Basics: Who Pays the Realtor?

There is an updated version of this post with new information. Click here to read it. A really common question that people don’t like to bring up is “who pays the realtor?” While it’s common in our culture to feel awkward about topics like this, 

Real Estate in the age of Coronavirus

Real Estate in the age of Coronavirus

People have asked “Are people still buying houses during a global pandemic?” Yes! At least in Portland they are. We had a quiet month or so but that seemed to create more demand and buyers are back with a vengeance. Does this mean that everything 

This Year’s Market Report is here

This Year’s Market Report is here

It’s true, real estate has slowed down here in Portland! The annual neighborhood stats from Portland Monthly are here. After years of double-digit growth, the Portland market only had 5 percent growth in the median home sale price this year. Some highlights: The biggest drops 

Seeing Beyond the Surface Part 2: Exteriors

Seeing Beyond the Surface Part 2: Exteriors

Looking for a new home can be stressful and part of that comes from assessing something so important in such a short amount of time. When you buy a home you should always get the appropriate inspections, but before you even make an offer it’s 

Seeing Beyond the Surface Part 1: Interior Systems

Seeing Beyond the Surface Part 1: Interior Systems

Looking for a new home can be stressful and part of that comes from assessing something so important in such a short amount of time. When you buy a home you should always get the appropriate inspections, but before you even make an offer it’s 

Real Estate Basics: What Is Escrow?

Real Estate Basics: What Is Escrow?

When real estate agents talk about “Escrow” what we’re really referring to is the escrow period in a real estate transaction – the period of time between having an offer accepted and the closing or finalizing of the sale. During this time, a title company