Winter in Central Oregon might not seem like a good time to sell a home given the weather and the holidays, but it is actually much better than it seems. The weather this winter has definitely created challenges for buyers to view properties; when everything is covered in snow it makes it hard to fully […]
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Year in Review for Bend and National Housing
What is happening in the national housing market appears to be very true for Bend as well. According to the Beacon Report for December 2016, based on November MLS statistics, prices for Bend single family homes have increased by about 16 percent for the period of November 2015 to November 2016, but housing inventory has […]
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How the Fed Interest Rate Hike Will Affect the Housing Market
As anticipated, the Federal Reserve voted Dec. 14 to raise the federal funds rate by a quarter point. I thought it would be “fun” to show the effects of interest rate hikes on a $300,000 mortgage with a 30-year term: As you can see, a quarter point difference is not that significant, but a half […]
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Tiny Homes for Retirement
Tiny home living is often considered to be an alternative housing option for younger people—but in actuality, between 30 and 40 percent of tiny home dwellers are age 50 or older. The biggest appeal is cost. According to TheTinyLife.com, the average price to build your own tiny home is $23,000, or have someone build it […]
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Tips on Staging Your Home During the Holiday Season
Holiday decorations are an important part of the holiday experience for many homeowners, but it is important to take a few items into consideration if your home is on the market during this time. 1. Keep your windows clear. Try not to have the tree in front a window or decorations on your window. This […]
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What is the Different Between a Mortgage Broker and a Mortgage Lender?
A lender is a financial institution that makes loans directly to you, such as a major bank. A mortgage lender is represented by a loan officer who typically speaks only for that particular bank’s product line. In contrast, a mortgage broker is an independent professional who can shop around to find the best deal among […]
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Portland Growth Concerns Resonate with Bend’s Current Challenges
A recent article in the “Portland Monthly” addressed the growth challenges for Portland. While Portland is a much larger city, many of the concerns there are similar to what we hear voiced in Bend—providing some interesting information to consider. According to Wikipedia, Bend’s land area is about 33 square miles. Portland’s is about 133 square […]
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More Opportunities and Expectations for Housing Millennials and First Time Buyers
Nationally, first time homebuyers increased to 34 percent of the market share in September. A lot of this is attributed to the fact that most families with children—as well as move-up buyers—tend to make their moves during the summer months, thus easing inventory a bit for the first time homebuyers. The increase in September was […]
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Presidential Candidates Need to Address Housing Policy
It is disappointing to see that housing has not received greater attention during our current presidential race. Housing is such an important part of the economy, yet it rarely comes up as a point of discussion. Our declining homeownership rates have hit a 50-year low. Escalating rents and short supplies of affordable housing, many years […]
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Do Presidential Elections Affect Housing Prices?
When it comes to presidential elections, the prevailing wisdom seems to be that you should wait until after the election to purchase a home. As a realtor, I have heard this a few times. Each time I questioned the person to explain the basis of their opinion, they were only able to say that they […]