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Avoid These Comments When You’re Buying a Home

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avoid-these-comments-when-you're-buying-a-home

Sometimes you need to keep a poker face when you’re buying a home. It’s not in your best interest to be totally candid with the seller and listing agent when you’re considering a home. Here a few things that are better left unsaid.

“This is at the top end of our budget”: Don’t let the listing agent know that a home is at the top of your budget. You want to keep all the bargaining chips you can, and letting the seller know your budget can hurt you when it comes time to negotiate.

“I hate the paint”: Or furniture. Or cabinets. Or any of the decor. No matter how hideous the wallpaper in the kitchen is, take care not to insult the seller’s taste. If they’re considering multiple offers, you don’t want to be the buyer that offended the seller!

“We can’t wait to renovate”: Customization is one of the big perks of homeownership, but it’s best to keep your renovation plans quiet for the moment. The seller may have a lot of memories in the home, and may not appreciate your plans to immediately tear down some walls.

 

Three Ways to Ease Your Fears About Making A Move in 2016

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With low inventory in many markets throughout the country, many homeowners are afraid to sell their homes because they’re concerned that they may not be able to find a new one.

This can be a real problem, but if you are seeking to sell—whether to upgrade or find a new neighborhood—there are a few ways to combat the low inventory.

  1. Look to buy first

In most markets it is a real mistake to put your home up for sale before you start looking for your new property.

Identify the geographic area where you are interested in buying. Even if you don’t see anything on Zillow, it doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t find the right home.

  1. Think outside the box

Be proactive! Keep in mind that there are probably many people like you who want to make a move but are afraid as well. Have your real estate agent send a letter to the neighborhoods in the geographic areas where you want to live. The letter should be heartfelt and personal while announcing that you are ready to buy a home in that neighborhood. You could find a home to buy that may not even be currently listed or for sale.

  1. Protect yourself legally

Each state varies in how the purchase process is conducted. Talk to your real estate professional about adding a clause in the purchase contract for the home you are selling that will enable you to not sell the home if you cannot find a suitable home to buy.

Five Tips for Funding A Vacation

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There’s nothing quite like some well-earned time off in a cool new place, but vacations certainly don’t pay for themselves. Here are a few ideas for funding your next getaway.

1. The change jar: It’s not groundbreaking, but it works. Here’s an eye-opening stat: Putting $1.37 per day into your change jar adds up to $500 in a year!

2. Sell your stuff: We all have some clutter that we don’t need and have been looking for an excuse to get rid of, and that stuff can be pretty valuable. Think of what might be stored in your attic or basement—baseball cards, furniture, etc. It’s not junk, but it’s not doing you any good, and someone might find it valuable.

3. Set up a dedicated savings account: You could do this in your current bank account, or use one of several online services that are tailor-made for vacation savings. Have the money transferred directly from each paycheck so that you’re always saving on schedule.

4. Get the kids involved: Vacations are even more expensive when you’ve got a family. If your kids get money from jobs, chores, or an allowance, ask them to put a little money away for vacation here and there—it could end up paying for a meal or a night in a hotel.

5. Volunteer: Your church or community center probably organizes low-cost vacations where you can visit a new place and do some good by giving back to the community.

Planning Your Next Vacation? Check Out These Websites

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Most travelers forego using a travel agent when planning a trip, and there are a ton of great online resources that can help you get great deals and save a lot of money. Here are five favorites:

1. airbnb.com: Still staying exclusively in hotels? It’s time to try airbnb.com. Residents in your destination city rent out their homes, from single rooms to entire houses, and it’s often much cheaper than a hotel.

2. www.AirfareWatchdog.com: The experts at AirfareWatchdog.com search and analyze thousands of fares to bring you the best possible deal. You can sign up for alerts on low fares to your preferred destinations, so you’ll always be ready to book a seat.

3. Hostelz.com: If you’re traveling alone, staying in a hostel is a great way to meet new people and save on lodging expenses. Hostelz.com has a ton of listings in about 9,000 cities.

4. www.XE.com: International travel means using different currency. XE.com is a great resource for exchange rates.

5. www.TripAdvisor.com: There’s no shortage of websites that are great for searching flights and hotels, but TripAdvisor.com is also a go-to resource for hotel reviews and travel advice.

Why Is Everyone Moving to Oregon?

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There are numerous hot spots around the nation, locations that people are flocking to in droves because the quality of living and offered amenities is simply extraordinary. Of these hot spots, it may come as a surprise to many that Oregon has topped the list for two years in a row. For us native Oregonians there is no question, this is the place to be!

In a recent study from United Van Lines where over 129,000 moves were tracked, the company found that “66% of all interstate moves in Oregon were from people moving into the state, rather than leaving it.” This again confirms what we just said, we Oregonians are here to stay. So what is it that’s attracting so many new residents?

The answer to the question is multi-faceted, though at the very core it can be attributed to the “long-term trend of migration to southern and western states where house costs are lower, climates are more temperate and job growth is at or above the national average.” The median price for a single-family home in Portland is $285,000, compared to $481,000 in Los Angeles and $881,000 in San Francisco.

In addition to lower real estate prices and a lower cost of living, Oregon is home to many great amenities including public transit, green space and the local arts and entertainment scene. Oregon is also an incredible Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts with endless hiking/biking trails, the Pacific Coast, Mt. Hood and countless other excursions. Portland’s central location to all of these amenities make it comparatively desirable to other Oregon towns.

Oregon is attractive compared to its northern and southern neighbors, Washington and California, so for those seeking a move to the west coast in general Oregon is a good place to land. Did you know that Portland has more breweries than any other city in the world? It also has the country’s highest percentage of two-wheeled commuters and is consistently voted as bike-friendliest. If you’re considering a move to Oregon then please start your property search by clicking the “Buy Real Estate” tab at the top of the page!