SellPDX.com

I have added the top picks for Old-PDX homes on the Market.

Also: This Wednesday I’m attending a lunch presentation by the State of Oregon Economist Tom Potiowsky, Ph.D.

Stay tuned for an update after the presentation.

Popularity: 19% [?]

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My years long obsession with Old PDX homes finally has a home! I have been working for the last few months to put together a great website devoted to this wonderful and much loved style of home. Many thanks to Yvonne Legrice and Eugene Design Pro for helping make this dream a reality.

OldPDX.com

I will shortly be adding a section on Available homes that will be updated regularly.

Also soon to be added is a section interviewing architects, home restoration experts, and historians about what makes the Old PDX style home unique and special.

If you have a favorite Old PDX home send me a photo and I’ll add it to the tour of my favorites.

Popularity: 20% [?]

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I love numbers just as much as the next guy but numbers are empty without context. So today I am going to try and put a feel to the current Metro inventory statistic of 9 months. What does a 9 month inventory mean to you if you are a buyer or seller? How do you win in this market? Here are my tips for Buyers and Sellers for todays’ market.

Sellers:
Right now there are more sellers than buyers in the metro area. This doesn’t mean you have to have your house on the market forever to sell it, in fact you don’t want your house on the market forever. Average time on market is still under 3 months. Here is the plan for sellers:
1. Pretend your home is going to be on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens , your house and yard should look this clean and uncluttered. If there are any eyesores like an old fridge or a shed falling into the ground get rid of them. Also for most houses I’ve seen, you should have 1/2 to 1/3 of the stuff in the home. It helps to have a professional stager take a look at your house, even if they just re-arrange some furniture.
2. Price your house to the market. Now is not the time to price high and see what happens. I can tell you right now what will happen - you will sit on the market, likely not getting any offers and when you finally get down to the market price someone will want to push even further down and be more demanding during inspections. It’s always better as the seller to get an offer quickly.
3. Make your house easy to show. Don’t put an “appointment only” unless you absolutely have to.
4. If the market price isn’t what you want then stay off the market and live in the home or rent it out until you can get what you want.

Buyers:
Even though the numbers are on your side some neighborhoods are still in the seller’s favor. Here are my tips for finding a great home.
1. Decide clearly what you want: size, area, style, finish level, yard…. Get this as focused as possible.
2. Get to know the possibilities for your target home, area and price range. Drive the areas and keep a favorites list and track it.
3. Pick your Top 5 and tour them with your Realtor. This will show you what your options really are.
4. Make an offer - you never know what will happen until you put an offer in the seller’s hands.
5. Negotiate - Don’t be shy if the price isn’t where you need it but keep in mind that you have to step back in the negotiation process and see where you stack up at your negotiated price with the market - don’t negotiate yourself out of the house if you really want it.

Popularity: 26% [?]

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By reader request I am adding these new inventory reports: see the full list here
Detached:
97206 - 6.5 months
97213 - 7.2 months

Condos:
97206 - 12.8 months
97213 - 8.4 months

Popularity: 26% [?]

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So there’s good news every now and again. Watch this newscast in which a top national economist predicts Portland will appreciate 30% in the next 5 years. Watch Video Here.

Popularity: 25% [?]

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The $20,000 letter isn’t an antique written by a president or famous author. But it is one that you should write whenever you are buying a home. One of my clients recently sent me an interesting article from The New York Times.While this article has a template that focuses on the national trends in the market I think something simple and heartfelt will work better. So here are my tips to buyers about writing a letter with your offer:

1. Use the seller’s first name
2. Keep it short and be honest
3. Use the word “home” not “house” - Home is a feeling, a house is a place.
4. It should be 3 paragraphs as follows:
A. “I/We toured your home recently and we….”[explain how the house made you feel and what you like about it]
B. “I/We are….[tell the seller who you are, what you do, any unique hobbies, and any thing you plan on doing once you move in]
C. End with, “Thank you for considering our offer”
5. Include a picture

The whole idea of writing the letter is to help make a connection with the seller. Selling a home is a very emotional process, especially if someone has lived in the home for a long time they’ll have many memories associated with the home. Just like giving away a puppy from a new litter sellers want to make sure their home has a wonderful new owner.

Popularity: 30% [?]

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