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Displaying blog entries 21-29 of 29

Give the Gift of a Home Cooked Dinner for a Friend who is Moving!

Tuesday, April 10, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties
Submitted by Sandra Hanis

While waiting in West Linn for my home inspector to finish up ...my client and I happened to pass one of the "home-cooked meal assembly kitchens". My client said she had tried it and would recommend it but not with the glowing terms you would expect to hear if someone had just kindly stocked your freezer with tasty meals for a month.

Portland Metro has at least 10 different kitchens and though it is not cheap, it could be an option for today's busy families instead of takeout or worse, fast food. What a great gift for a friend who is moving...or even better - assemble meals for both of you. Purchasing or selling a home can be stressful and clients often say their eating and sleeping habits change during the months leading up to the transaction closing.  For friends moving or new neighbors - a home cooked meal may be just what they need to make them feel "at home."  It is important to check menu selections and products used to get the best choice and value for your needs, but certainly worth a try! Bon Appetit!

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SW Portland: Biking, Schools, Homes!

Tuesday, April 10, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties
Submitted by Bruce Hecht
I was working with a out of town buyers last weeknd, showing homes and condos all around town. This couple had done their homework and were really prepared, mainly from links from our website.
 
These folks could move to any city they wanted, they chose to move to  Portland, Oregon . As we drove around and looked at homes  they quickly honed in on the RaleighWood / Raleigh Park /Broadmoor/Montclair areas of SW Portland.  They liked the areas due to the Raleigh Park school, Raleigh Hills Schools.  They also liked the lower taxes of Washington County as well as its proximity to downtown Portland.  The style of homes, bigger square footage and large mature lots was also a big draw to them.
 
They were also drawn to the fact that the SW part of town had so many great bike lanes and bike paths.  These paths and trails could link them to many parts of town and easy access to the 100's of other great ways to get around Portland Oregon on a bike.  These websites have many links to great rides and maps.  
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Helping your Children Invest in Real Estate!

Monday, April 9, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties

Submitted by Sandy Morley

This past week I have been working with a client who is from out of state and would like to buy a property for his son while he attends a four year college in Portland.  The family decided that rather than pay rent with the possibility of having to move mid-semester that it would be a wise investment to purchase a property where the son could live and also rent out an additional room or two to fellow classmates. 

After home/condo hunting within a couple of miles from the school we found the perfect townhome for the son.  With no HOA or lawn to take care of the son will have little upkeep on the property.  As a student he will also have a built-in population for renters, but if all else fails - he can always use Craigslist, the online community that helps people around the world find housing and other goods/events.

The benefit of owning the property in an active and growing city such as Portland means that in four years when the son has graduated the townhome will have increased in value if the area trends remain the same.  At this time they family can choose to sell the property, continue to rent, or perhaps the son will not want to leave his new home and the great city of Portland.

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The Role of Your Escrow Agent!

Monday, April 9, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties
When selling or purchasing your next home in the State of Oregon it’s a wise choice to choose a neutral third party to handle the transaction. This neutral third party is called an Escrow Agent. Both parties to the real estate transaction entrust legal documents and various funds to the Escrow Agent, which transfers the papers and funds upon the closing of escrow. As a neutral third party, both buyer and seller are assured that all mutually agreed to terms are met before the transaction is completed.
 
The authority given to the Escrow Agent is strictly limited by instructions provided by the buyer and seller (sales contract). The Escrow Agent is authorized by instructions to allocate funds for items during the escrow period, such as real estate commissions, title insurance, liens, recording fees and other closing costs. Instructions also specify the method of collecting funds, proration of insurance and taxes and time limitations of settling the transaction. The escrow process protects all parties involved by retaining money and documents until the instructions are met.
Submitted by Tammy LeMaire
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Be Aware of Hidden Lender Fees

Monday, April 9, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties
Hidden lender fees are often used by a large majority of lenders and brokers out there.  Instead of being straight-forward, and saying "Mr/Mrs Borrower, I am charging you 1% of your loan amount as an Origination Fee," they will try and hide their profits from you by breaking them into "junk fees."  They give them cute names, like "broker fee", "application fee," "administration fee," "processing fee" and so on. Don't get me wrong, sometimes some of these fees are valid.  You can almost always expect a reasonable processing fee on your loan. However, I have heard people brag about how their broker didn't charge them any "points or loan origination fees" on their loan, but when I looked at their Good Faith Estimate, I could see why.  The lender was making $4,700 on miscellaneous junk fees!  Keep your eyes open for excessive fees, read the entire Good Faith Estimate, and ask your broker or lender to explain where the money is going so you can know if you are being charged the norm, or if they are trying to deceive you.
Submitted by Shawn Headlee
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Earthquake Awareness for your home in Portland Oregon?!

Monday, April 9, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties

Submitted by Kate Baldus

The Big One.  That is what we all hear about every few years or so... usually after a major natural disaster in another part of the country.  We feel so lucky to live in the Pacific Northwest with no hurricanes or monsoons.  It is extremely rare to spot a tornado, the winter will see minor flooding along the rivers or at the coast, and unfortunately in the summer we have wildfires in our beautiful forests but they rarely threaten homes.  However, it is the Big One that we hear small rumblings about - will a large earthquake happen in the northwest in the next 100 years? 
 
Following the disaster in relief aid in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina, Portland has stepped up the city plan implementing
an "Earthquake Survival Program."  Most Americans know to
keep a few jugs of fresh water, blankets, canned food and
flashlight in case of emergency, but now you can print off an
entire safety plan for you and your family.  Schools will
continue to hold earthquake drills and the Red Cross provides
safety prevention information on a regular basis.  The best
thing to do is to be prepared - today is a great day to sit down
with your friends and family and create your own emergency
plan.  Also look at ways to "earthquake proof" your home and
ensure that new construction is being built to the safest codes.  If you are interested in earthquake insurance a few websites will allow you to search for the best coverage available for your home as most insurance plans do not include earthquake or flood insurance.
 
Be sure and have these safety items:
1) Seismic Strap to anchor all of your appliances.
2)  Emergency Plan for your home and family.
We live in the amazing northwest with rivers, lakes, mountains and volcanos.  If an earthquake does happen - Portland will be prepared as possible!
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How to increase the value of your home!

Friday, April 6, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties
What is the value of your home?   While the market will determine the true value at the time of sale - other factors can significantly increase or decrease the amount buyers are willing to pay. Two things will impact the purchase price:
 
1.       How much does the buyer want your particular home - and at what price will they walk away from it?
2.       How much you - as the seller - put into making your home a buyer's dream?
 
Most prospective buyers will look at your home from one of three viewpoints.
 
1.       An emotional point of view
2.       A financial point of view
3.       A lifestyle point of view
 
When planning to list your home with The Rob Levy Team it will help to think of your home from a buyer's perspective and consider these common things:
1.       Location
2.       The size of your home
3.       The features your home has to offer
4.       The look and feel of your home
 
Most often the most important thing is the "feel" of your home when they walk in the door.   Is this a place they can call home?  See their furniture and decor?  Get excited about living in the neighborhood and having friends and family over?  Buying a home can be an emotional decision,  if someone feels comfortable as they walk through your home it can make all the difference. If a buyer does not feel comfortable, they will most likely not return a second time.
  
Obviously the way you present your property has a big impact on those who view it. It is important to make a good first impression, as this could determine how quickly you sell your home as well as the price you get for it.
                                                                                                                                                                        Pre-Listing!                                                                                                                                                   Before you put your home on the market you should go through all of the rooms and check for signs of wear and tear.  You may want to invite a friend or family member to come over with "fresh eyes" to look for blemishes you may not have noticed.     
                                                                                                                                                                 Cosmetic Touch Ups!                                                                                                                                Most homes will benefit from a few touch ups. It is amazing the results that can be achieved even on a very limited budget. Be sure to not overdo it as the amount of money you spend should be in the range of 1% - 5% of the value of your home.  New paint, lighting, or door knobs can make all the difference.  Don't forget to keep your house nice and clean as tidy and uncluttered homes will sell faster regardless of its age or its condition.  A few flowers in the yard or potted plants will welcome guests into your home.  
                                                                                                                                                                              If you have additional questions or need suggestions on ways to make your home sell please call The Rob Levy Team!
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Portland. Happy Hour. Real Estate?

Thursday, April 5, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties

Portland is a Happy Hour city.  If you walk into a restaurant and they DON'T have a Happy Hour - it is quite shocking.  The good news?!  Just about everywhere you may be looking to buy a home will probably have a neighborhood restaurant with a great happy hour.

A few of my favorite Happy Hour locations:

Brazen Bean (located on NW 21st & Glisan)                                                                                              5 pm to 8 pm Mon.-Sat. all martinis are $4 and they have a nice small plates dinner menu.       Sip cocktails outside or upstairs in a moody Victorian house.

Basement Pub (located SE 12th & Yamhill)                                                                                                3 pm to 8 pm Daily: 

Lucy's Table (located on NW 21st & Hoyt)                                                                                                     5 pm to 6:30 pm    Amazing food served in the bar at half price.  Delicious!

A daily reference for Happy Hours around town can be found on the Barfly website!

Enjoy another good reason to live in Portland!

 

 

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Call to Buyers! Great Homes! Terrific Rates!

Thursday, April 5, 2007
by Rob Levy, Prudential Northwest Properties

Submitted by Sandra Hanis

The market in the Portland metro area is far and away one of the strongest markets in the country. Currently sellers are seeing this and putting great homes on the market at very competitive prices. With the exception of a couple of key areas in the city we are seeing a number of great choices for buyers in all price ranges.

The last few buyers I have worked with from N to NE to SE and in neighborhoods like Raleigh Hills, Murrahill, Tualatin, Bull Mountain, Hillsboro, we have found more homes to their liking than we have seen in springtime for the last few years. Call your lender or use our in-house lender, Shawn Headlee. You will find interest to be extremely favorable to buyers as well as find many loan programs allowing you into your first home or possibly a move-up property, maybe even a second home or investment property.

Realtors have more time than in the last 2 years and you will feel less pressure to get just the right place. I encourage you to call one the Rob Levy Teams' experienced buyers agents. We know the neighborhoods well and are anxious to help you find the home of your dreams. If you are not quite ready yet, we are more than happy to help you explore your many options! Call us today!

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Displaying blog entries 21-29 of 29

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