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Portland International Auto Show | January 25-28th

http://portlandautoshow.com/


There will be plenty of experiences from; ‘virtual test drives’, facts about everything Electric Transportation, top of the line motorcycle exhibits, Luxury Lofts and real life test drives! You can experience everything transportation and check all of the latest and greatest vehicles in the market! This could be awesome for all ages! Click their link for more details

International Cat Show | January 26th-28th

http://www.tncc.org/

Wow! What a furry event – for a good cause! Go check out all of these felines this weekend, take 2 cans of food and get a discount on your admission ticket. Learn about all of the different cat breeds and support The Oregon Food Bank at the same time! Click the link above for more information about the show!

IPA Challenge | January 25th-31st

https://www.facebook.com/events/1801963616511423/

Are you a beer lover? This could be a fun event this weekend! The IPA challenge showcases 12 Oregon breweries, you get a $12 – 12 beer flight and try to match them to the brewery! Drink Responsibly! Click the link above for more info!

Mount Hood Cosmic Tubing (Open for the season)

http://www.skibowl.com/winter/mt-hood-cosmic-snow-tubing

Enjoy the snow, at night! Head up to Mt. Hood Ski Bowl and go sledding in the dark with over 600k LED lights, black lights, music & more!
Check out their website for more info regarding their schedule, pricing and ages. Happy tubing!

The post Weekend Fun! appeared first on The Reger Group.

1. Make sure you are READY

Making a commit to OWN a home is a big deal! It is one that takes a lot of planning, courage and maintenance. Many young people buy a home that they can afford and that fits their needs for RIGHT NOW – which is OK. Just make sure when doing so you are making plans for the future, you want to be able to make a return on this investment – if/when you decide to sell in 3-5 years. Make sure you think all the details over and over – and then maybe one more time!

2. Know your finances

Buying a home will most likely be the largest purchase you will ever make in your life. So, in order to do that – you definitely need to understand and know your finances. Your salary, current expenses and spending habits will be a huge factor once you meet with your lender. Remember, your mortgage won’t be your only expense when buying a home – there will be costs like fees, taxes, insurance, etc. Know that you can handle the unexpected costs.

3. Credit/Savings

Whether you graduated college with gifted grad money from your Aunt Pearl or you have been working since you turned 18 and built your savings by eating boxed ramen; your lender will need to understand your financial standing. You need to know how much you have or need to save and what your credit is looking like. Either way, a good lender should help you plan so everything is aligned. A lot of young people think that credit is a scary thing, when in retrospect, if you pay attention and have some responsibility – having more credit history is never a bad thing. This tip definitely goes hand and hand with Tip #2, so the bottom line is, you will need to get serious about your MONEY & CREDIT in order to even start the process of buying your first home.

4. Get that Approval Letter

As stated before, all the financial advice you have read so far can all be something a GOOD lender can advise you with more detail. Some people may think that they are more than ready to buy a home when in reality they may be 3, 6 or maybe 12 months out from even applying for that loan. Having a lender that you can confide in and will be honest with you is going to be more helpful in the long run. Make sure you don’t settle, there will be different lender institutions that can offer different loans options, rates and even types of assistance for certain incomes, etc. Don’t rush the process – do what is best for your situation and make that clear to who you choose for the lending process. We can refer you to some great lenders!

5. Trust your Agent

Being a first-time home buyer can be very overwhelming. Having someone who can help guide you throughout the process is something that can make or break whether you purchase YOUR ideal FIRST HOME. We have proper training, knowledge and resources you most likely do NOT have. We have the experience to negotiate all the logistics you probably have never even heard of until you get to the offer or the closing processes. Just remember, you aren’t paying a buyer’s agent commission! We will be taking care of the big stresses for you until the day you receive your keys!

The post HOW TO – BUY A HOME IN YOUR 20’s appeared first on The Reger Group.

In the Portland Metro Area, houses that are 4,000 square feet or larger would certainly be considered “big,” “spacious,” “ample,” “accommodating,” etc. Most families can get along quite nicely with the U.S. average of 2,600—so even Portland houses with 3,000 square feet can be thought of as providing a little extra elbow room. But are they “big”?

The reason the subject comes up has to do with the all-important listing language. It’s Job One for a new local listing that the descriptive language be as accurate as possible. It’s vital that prospective buyers come away with an accurate feeling for the property. Readers need to be drawn to the houses that should attract them—and, equally important, not be disappointed by the actual property when they tour in person.  

In other words, exaggerations are out. So when Forbes magazine ran an article about a listing for “The World’s Largest House,” it deserved scrutiny. Some of the specifics are mysterious—but overall, the details do make it likely that prospects would not be disappointed by many features of the actual property.

For instance, house hunters looking for a spacious backyard would view the included 1600-acre forest as more than adequate. For those worried about having accommodations for out-of-town relatives at Thanksgiving, it wouldn’t even come up: there are 110 bedrooms. If hygiene is an issue, that’s also no problem: there are nearly as many baths as bedrooms, plus “many vintage outbuildings.”

This is where the listing language comes into focus. That adjective “vintage” might turn out to be important, since the actual house was apparently built in the 12th century. “House” isn’t quite right, either. “Castello” is better (Italian for “castle”). In fact, Forbes’ World’s Largest House is a castle—but a “rare” one. It includes, for instance, a “large, whole, crenellated towered 12th-century fort” (so security-minded Portland Metro Area house hunters shouldn’t be disappointed). The commute, on the other hand, would be an issue.

But that’s also where the mystery comes in, because the listing agent does describe the 150,000 square feet (actually, “it’s 150,000-plus square feet”)—but not exactly where any of them are located. And since the most obvious point of interest—the property’s undoubtedly noble history—isn’t provided, Forbes understandably calls the listing “hilariously terse.” The privacy of the current owners is clearly being protected, but futilely so, since an aerial photo of the castle is provided. It’s understandably “quite famous” to everyone in the region, which is somewhere “east of Siena.”

Even those local house hunters with their hearts set on the right Italian castle will probably keep looking, though—although price wouldn’t be the obstacle (it’s “a steal” at $32 million). The fact is, it’s somewhere “in the heart of Chianti”—yet no vineyard is mentioned! Sometimes what’s not in a listing can be telling.

But putting that disappointment aside, fortunately—and much closer to home—there are many appealing local houses available on today’s market. Call us anytime to arrange a tour of the ones that meet your requirements!

Craig Reger Group

503.893.2022

We sell more because we do more.

The post Biggest House in the World appeared first on The Reger Group.

The article in came up with more pros than cons. No surprise there: we can all bank on the inevitability of that conclusion (that NOW is a good time to buy or sell) whenever we’re hearing from an industry whose business is buying and selling!  

So—how do you actually get the straight scoop on the subject?

The answer may lie in understanding why a true best answer for when to put up northwest homes for sale always does tend to be “now.” It’s because of a phenomenon called “The Riddle of the Ultimate Buyer.” The riddle goes like this:

The “Ultimate Buyer” is the prospect who will ultimately wind up buying your Portland Metro Area house. Before you put it on the market, there is no way to accurately forecast very much about who that will be. We can set our marketing outreach to target the haunts of the most likely buyer profiles (in fact, that’s what we do), but as any experienced local Realtor will tell you, the Ultimate Buyer could also be anyone—and their identity is often surprisingly unlike what anyone would have predicted. Frequently, their choice of which residence to buy has been shaped by equally unforeseeable motivations.

Not only is the profile of the Ultimate Buyer unknowable, her or his schedule is equally enigmatic. The only thing we do know for certain is that your Ultimate Buyer will be looking, become interested, and make an offer while your Portland Metro Area home is up for sale. If you put off listing for a month or two, those months might have been the only ones during which that prospect was looking to buy in Portland. That might have been the only time when that buyer happened to drive past your house (it would have been without my “For Sale” sign out front); might have been the only time he or she was available to take a tour; found suitable financing—any number of factors might have been in play.

The Riddle of the Ultimate Buyer is such a puzzle that we can only rely upon the one thing we know for certain: that buyer can only materialize once the home is up for sale. That’s why now is a better time to list than a month or two from now, when the person who would have been your Ultimate Buyer has already moved into another Portland Metro Area house. They’re someone else’s Ultimate Buyer—and they won’t be back!

So, while there’s no pat answer to when is absolutely the best time to list a home for sale, logic says it’s more likely to be now rather than later. Especially while we’re wrapping up Portland’s peak spring selling season, when there are usually a greater number of potential Ultimate Buyers actively searching, it’s a doubly good time to give us a call!

Craig Reger Group

503.893.2022

We sell more because we do more.

The post The Riddle of the Ultimate Buyer appeared first on The Reger Group.

TV is probably what spelled its decline. The internet almost finished the job—but the Digest is still going in various forms. When you come across it online, it never fails to show a whole lineup of almost irresistible Click Me sidebars. A few weeks ago, for instance, local homeowners might have been snared by “20 Secret Hiding Places for Valuables in Your Home” (if your home will host an open house anytime soon, that one would be fortuitous); “Prepare to Be Amazed By the Gorgeous Way This Woman Transformed Her Simple Camper Trailer” (although the flashy red-white-and-blue stripes on the camper shell might have been overkill); “13 Neat Ways Milk Can Help You Look Gorgeous And Clean Your House Too!”(sour milk can renew tarnished silver; powdered milk can erase fine cracks in china).

But the most relevant attention-grabber of all (for Portland Metro Area homeowners, at least) would have been “10 Ways to Increase Home Value with Exterior Paint.” We all know that a fresh paint job will give any home a value boost—but what are the other 9 ways? Here’s a selection from the answer:

1. Color Correct for Value—which means “use eye-catching color schemes.” This was RD’s #1 way to increase value…but I’d have to caution that if a color scheme is a bit too eye-catching, it could accomplish the reverse…
2. Perception of Color is Very Relative—When choosing color schemes, remember that the colors need to viewed right next to each other to judge how they will actually appear to the eye.
3. Begin with the Value—The word “value” here means how dark or light the main color will be. Decide on it first, before trim colors.
4. Don’t Be Top-Heavy (Portland homeowners note: this was really the only one I thought could actually increase value)—Place darker colors below lighter shades to prevent a top-heavy look.
5. Choose Colors in the Right Light—view swatches in the same kind of light they’ll be seen in).
6. Play Up the Size (use light colors to enlarge a small house and dark colors to make a large house on a small lot look smaller).

I can’t really agree with #6; most local homeowners whose houses are set on small lots would still do well to have the home look as roomy as possible.

Following the original Readers Digest concept, this boils the 10 Ways down to 6. You really could shrink it all the way down to just #4—but since it would no longer be a list, that would be overdoing it. In fact, homeowners who clicked on the sidebar for “13 Tips for Selling Your Home” might actually benefit most from #9—which was “Get Real About Pricing.” No matter how many of the Selling Tips you wound up taking seriously, though, I would have to add one more truly practical one: Call Us!

Craig Reger Group

503.893.2022

We sell more because we do more.

The post Homeowners’ Tips appeared first on The Reger Group.

Whether an open house is likely to garner qualified traffic is a decision that clients and I work out together on a case-by-case basis. The choice has to do with the nature of the property, its location, history, and the state of the current market. Some properties are much better suited to being shown on a one-on-one guided tour basis, where questions can be answered and strong points pointed out; others shine in any circumstances.

When it’s decided that an open house looks to be a productive event, preparing the property will be nearly identical to that for any showing. The only difference is that more prospective buyers will not have any idea about the house—they will not have seen any photos or taken a video tour. For the owner, then, preparing begins with projecting how those prospects will take in the property. This is a list of the six approaches that are most often cited as being keys to preparing for open house success:

1. First Impression. Most commentaries point to the perennial first impression as being decisive in how the entire open house will be experienced. “First impression” is defined as the prospect’s takeaway from what happens during the walk from car through the entryway. It rates extra attention, so in addition to making it as inviting as possible (via landscaping and paint touchup where it’s needed), if the route unescorted visitors should take is ambiguous, strategically positioned arrow signs make your welcome explicit (in fact, a “Welcome!” Isn’t a bad idea, either).
2. Clean clean clean. “Clean” can include not just sparkling floors, sinks, and countertops—it means clean air, too: a few clean-scented floral plug-ins make it easy.
3. De-clutter. This could also be #2. You could argue that if a crowd shows up, clearing open space is even more important than usual (but it’s really important always!)
4. Stash personal items. This is 85% true; but the goal is to create the impression that this home is ready for its new owner. Massive family photo displays should be packed away, but a few personal favorite décor items can add a people-friendly touch.  
5. Light and bright. Curtains open, lights and lamps on.
6. The rest. The last of the “Top 6” tips is hard to determine—there are many candidates that are cited with equal frequency. Setting the dining room table used to be a leader, but formal dining rooms are disappearing fast. Setting out a local information sheet with great nearby Portland Metro Area restaurants and shopping venues is certainly a good idea for those new to the area. Being mindful of temperature control is important when weather might drive visitors away, as is buying new towels for the bathrooms and setting out cookies and lemonade, water or tea.

Northwest open houses are just one of the many ways your home can be offered to the public when you decided it’s time to move to a new place. All of them start with an easy first step: calling us!

Craig Reger Group

503.893.2022

We sell more because we do more.

The post Open House Approaches That Work appeared first on The Reger Group.

It’s pretty common to assume that their Portland Metro Area home buying venture can be wrapped up with a single offer—one that will either be accepted or not. But along the way, from the home loan provider to the title insurer to the seller, other bargaining points frequently appear.

A first local home buying venture is sure to run more smoothly if these basics don’t come as a bolt from the blue. Most of these five fundamental bargaining point basics might be guessed at, but anticipating them all will put any first-time buyer in a much better prepared position:

• Down payment. It’s not true that buyers must put 20% down to buy a house. Or 10%. The amount of the down payment is a bargaining point with the lender, who usually offers trade-off choices.
• Pre-qualification/Pre-approval. The difference between the two terms can make a difference in how eager some sellers are to talk turkey. Pre-qualified means the lender has received a potential borrower’s information; Pre-approved means the bank has verified it, which presents the buyer in a stronger light.
• Closing costs. The down payment isn’t the only “up front” cost: there are a variety of other home-buying fees and charges that must be paid before the deal is financed. It’s a myth that the seller is obligated to pay closing costs—it can be a bargaining point, though.
• Home inspection. The inspection report informs the buyer what might need to be fixed now or at some future time. If the buyer has made an offer contingent on a flawless report, if problems are identified the seller can offer to correct them, pay a named amount for a cash-back credit—or refuse (a “take it or leave it” stance). In any case, it’s another bargaining point.
• Asking Price/Offering Price. This is the bargaining point that is fundamental in every local home buying venture. The seller can accept, reject, or compromise with a counter-offer. Then again, if more than one buyer is interested in a property, stand back: a bidding war could erupt!   

With all these (and there can be more) bargaining points to deal with, a first-time buyer might feel intimidated. That’s where being able to rely on the experience of a veteran northwest real estate agent is such an advantage. It’s not just that you won’t be surprised by steps in the process—you will have access to the approaches and tactics that have led to success in the post. It’s another good reason why a strategic first call will be to our office!

Craig Reger Group

503.893.2022

We sell more because we do more.

The post Bargaining Point Basics appeared first on The Reger Group.

In the world of mortgage lending, the “jumbos” are home loans for amounts that rise above the limits set by the federal reinsuring entities—Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac (they aren’t exactly miniature outfits themselves). In circus lore, the name of “Jumbo” became legendary when, in the late 1800’s, P.T. Barnum thrilled crowds by starring the pachyderm of the same name—at that time the largest captive elephant in the world—in the center ring of his “Greatest Show on Earth.”

Today, the Portland home loans that borrow his name may not be elephantine, but they are larger than average. While one might think that lenders would view the larger loans askance, since more money involved would carry greater risk. You’d think they would give greater scrutiny and be more reluctant to lend for the same reason. But there are more and more indications that the opposite is true: jumbo loans are rising in popularity among lenders.

Financial commentators point to a number of reasons. CNBC cited the drop in interest rates as the cause of what they branded a “refinance boomlet” in the jumbo sector. After this month’s post-Brexit dive in mortgage rates, more borrowers had a larger incentive to refinance. CNBC found an average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed rate jumbos falling “to their lowest level since January 2011.”

The National Association of Realtors® found reason to point to the same conclusion—and provided a rationale explaining why “the jumbo mortgage business keeps getting bigger for banks.” In the wake of the mortgage crisis, with regulators pressuring banks to avoid anything that even smacks of risky lending, jumbo applications “typically feature borrowers with high credit scores”—a feature banks find newly appealing. “And,” according to the realtor.com website, “they aren’t linked to government programs that cost banks tens of billions of dollars in fines after the financial crisis.”

All in all, the gist of the news should gladden the hearts of any resident looking to buy or sell the level of home that warrants one of those local jumbo loans. For sellers, it means that a greater number of consumers may be able to comfortably afford a jumbo home loan, broadening the pool of potential buyers. For buyers, it could mean that “more house” is newly within reach. For either eventuality, I hope you’ll give us a ring!

The post Jumbo Mortgage Popularity Gains appeared first on The Reger Group.

Stone fruits and berries are at their absolute peak this time of year—so they make for a simple, elegant solution. It’s also one that’s easy to provide and appealing to look at…

Then again, if you are planning for your own local open house in this summer, you also have the option of upping the ante a bit—while still bringing the fruits of the season inside to the party. To add a delightfully unexpected and memorable surprise to your open house, consider baking a pie or two! Let the mouthwatering aromas fill the air just before show time—and be assured, the effect of that kind of old fashioned hospitality will linger long and memorably.  

Of course, it’s necessary to come up with an absolutely stunning pie—and since we aren’t all Julia Child-level kitchen whizzes, a little help might come in handy. Fortunately, help is here. This comes from Susan Hamilton’s book, Hit Woman, her memoir of the commercial music business and her adventures at its apex.  Hamilton’s cookery became almost as renowned as her music chops, and in an aside in an early edition, she shares the recipe for “the last pie crust you’ll ever use.” She recounts how it originated with a $1 mail-in classified ad from a long-forgotten Vermont newspaper. Here it is, reproduced (with her permission) for you to try:

3 ¾ c. unbleached flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

¾ lb cold unsalted butter cut into small cubes (3 sticks)

6 tablespoons cold lard cut into small cubes (about 3/4 stick)

½ c. ice water

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 whole egg

Pulse flour, salt and sugar in food processor. Mix ice water, egg and vinegar in glass measuring cup and set aside. Cut butter and lard into cubes quickly and place in processor. Use about 10 1-second pulses until fat pieces are the size of small peas. With the motor running, slowly pour the liquid into the mixture. When ingredients have almost massed together, dump contents into large mixing bowl and form a big ball with your hands. If necessary, give it a quick knead with the heel of your hand. Divide into 3 or 4 discs (3 for galettes; 4 for 9” crusts), place in Ziploc bags in fridge for at least a couple of hours. Crusts can be frozen for about 6 months.

— — —

Looking for an agent to list your Portland Metro area house this summer? Whether you plan to bake pies or just eat them this season, I’m here to serve up a creative marketing plan—why not give us a call?

Craig Reger Group

503.893.2022

We sell more because we do more.

The post How to Make a Memorable Open House appeared first on The Reger Group.