The Home Buying Process in Portland OregonBy Wayne B. Prunerhttp://www.yourhomeinportlandoregon.com/ Wayne's Portland Oregon area Real Estate blogwww.activerain.com/wayneprunerApproaching the task of buying your next home can be overwhelming. There is so much to consider. Buying a home is one of the largest financial transactions of your lifetime. It's important to do it right. If you approach the home buying process intelligently and with confidence, you are much more likely to acquire a house you'll be proud to call home and the knowledge that you made the right decision.As you start down this road to home ownership, let me offer you some comfort. The whole real estate industry is geared towards getting you into a house. The real estate industry is a major financial segment of the eco... 04/29/2007

It was a little before 1:00pm, I did one more check up of the Hot Sheet. Nothing new. I had whittled it down to a total of 4 houses. Three Fixers of different degrees and a Home that had recently been rehabbed and on the market for only a few hours. Mike met me at the Front Door to the Hilton_Hotel in downtown Portland Oregon. The Real Estate Investors Seminar had been taking place in one of the meeting rooms and the Group was gathered there. As we approached the Group Mike asked if I was comfortable speaking in front of a Group of People. Oh yea I said let's get started.After a Brief introduction of myself I opened it up to questions from the Group or 10. At first there was some hesitancy, after all these people didn't know me. After a couple of quick questions and very thorough answer... 04/29/2007

Last weekend was really a pretty busy weekend. Like most Realtors at this time of year I have been really busy. Writing 2 offerson Saturday and following up with all the acceptances. I remember when Earnest Money Contracts  ( Thats an Offer Sheet in Oregonese ) used to be 1 page. Now they are 8 pages with at least another 7 addendum's. No wonder were running out of trees. Like I said it was a busy weekend. Busy weekends mean even busier Mondays as you follow up with all the paperwork. This Monday was no different the phone was ringing off the hook.   It was about 11:00 am I guess when the call came in. It kind of started like a Sales call but was asking about the Fixer market in Portland Oregon. As Real Estate Fixers are my main stay in business I paid close attention. The caller Mike o... 04/28/2007

In an effort to be as mobile as practical I have set out on a campaign to both benefit me and my Clients. Up until this point I had a pretty good system working. I am an active Real Estate Broker affiliated with RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors. The Company is located in a suburb of Portland Oregon. I am whats known as an Out-Of-Office Agent. That is I do not physically maintain an office space at my office.It was not just a cost savings decision that caused me to be and out-of-office agent. It was because I did not see the value. Having an Office space meant that I would have to commute to get there. Hence burning up valuable time which I could put to better use than behind the wheel stuck in traffic. But like I said I had a pretty good system working. I would generally get up in the mor... 04/26/2007

 Tips for First-Time Home Buyers in Portland OregonBy Wayne B. Prunerhttp://www.yourhomeinportlandoregon.com/ Wayne's Portland Oregon area Real Estate blogwww.activerain.com/wayneprunerThink credit. Poor credit will make you a higher risk in the lenders' eyes. Higher risk means your loan will be at a higher interest rate and your monthly payments will be higher. Manage your credit wisely. Make a point of paying your bills on time. Don't apply for credit you don't need. Don't max out your credit cards. Pay down your debts. Even if your past credit was poor, establish that you are now paying your obligations on time. Plan now to clean up your credit before applying for a loan. Arrange financing. Look into financing as soon as possible. Get pre-approved before you start looking for a house... 04/25/2007

Back on April 11th of 2007 I wrote a post on my Business Blog Portland_Flips  about Rookies_Mistakes when it comes to purchasing a Fixer Property in Portland Oregon. Now when it comes to Fixers, Flips, and Rehabs anyone who has ever done business with me will tell you straight up that I know what I am talking about. I don't mean to blow my own horn.  But after 18 years of working with Investors in the Fixer market you kind of know whats what.So that is why this Comment this Morning left on my email " I think that the information in this blog is false! The stories are fake and the real world would never see anything like these stories. Thank you "   caught me totally by suprise.It also caused me to start thinking about how and what we blog about. Certainly I don't think that any of us se... 04/25/2007

I invite one and all to post your Haves and Wants in the Haves_and_Wants Group. We all from time have a Pocket listing, you know the Sellerwho say's he would sell if we could find someone but for one reason or the other he just does not want to put it on the market. I have Sold many of these type of properties over the years. It is like my own personal little inventory with no strings attached, and no advertising budget to manage.I, like many of you as well know of several Buyer's who have asked me for that needle in the hay stack. You know what I am talking about. The type of property that comes on the market maybe once every 2 or 3 years or maybe even longer. The Point is that for all these special needs I think that it would be fabulous to have a reference point for all these propert... 04/24/2007

Choosing the Right Home in Portland Oregon   By Wayne B. Prunerhttp://www.yourhomeinportlandoregon.com/ Wayne's Portland Oregon area Real Estate blogwww.activerain.com/wayneprunerWhen you're in the market for a home, it's wise to have an idea of what you need in your new home. The home buying process can become overwhelming. With a little pre-planning you can lessen your fears and doubts and obtain the home that's best suited for you. Do not enter the market unprepared.Before deciding which house to buy, think about your lifestyle, your current and anticipated housing needs, and your budget. What factors are important to your specific needs?First-time homebuyers should not be thinking of buying a great home. Unless you have lots of money and good credit, this is an impractical approach.... 04/24/2007

 The benefits of Being Pre-Approved before buying a home in Portland Oregon. By Wayne B. Prunerhttp://www.yourhomeinportlandoregon.com/ Wayne's Portland Oregon area Real Estate blogwww.activerain.com/wayneprunerMost home-buyers have an idea of how much they can afford, but don't realize the value of being pre-approved before seriously shopping for a home. Meeting with a loan officer and subjecting yourself to financial scrutiny is a painful experience. There is always the element of uncertainty and the paperwork can be daunting. Consider this: You are going to have to apply for a loan eventually. It is always better to establish, with confidence, a price range of homes to consider early in the process. With all the loan programs available today, it has never been easier to qualify to bu... 04/23/2007

Portland, Oregon: 9 things to do after you sell, or buy, your home.By Wayne B. Prunerhttp://www.yourhomeinportlandoregon.com/ Wayne's Portland Oregon area Real Estate blogwww.activerain.com/wayneprunerMoving is the most stressful part of selling your home.  Here are some tips to make it easier.  Please comment on ways you made your move easier.1. Give your forwarding address to the post office two weeks before you move.2. Plan your move early.  Have a garage sale for items you no longer want.  Start packing and labeling boxes.  Label the box with important papers.3. For an easier transition to your new home, consider the layout and the decor of your new rooms.4. Inquire about connecting utilities at your new home.  A deposit requirement may delay new service.5. Notify your bank, credito... 04/23/2007

Did I mention the Fixer market in Portland is Hot !  Just as I thought I might have a tough time getting rid of this one the Market Heats up and I am suddenly flush with qualified Fixer Buyers. The Duplex in Alberta Arts was already a challenge due to condition. What I didn't need though was a tenant that couldn't speak English and was frequently not home. When faced with this kind of adversity I have seen some agent's throw in the towell. An uncoperative tenant, a less than perfect property and an unprodictable market. Suddenly the Market takes off. You won't beleve what happens with this one. Check_It_Out  and see how True Investors work the Deals.Herb Hamilton is a Real Estate Broker with RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors working in Portland Oregon                               " A Real... 04/22/2007

Back in February of this year I wrote a post about  Technology_and_The_Upward_Slippery_Slope  where I talked about being on the Technology Escalator. Once your on it seems as though you can never get off.It seems as if it was a self fulfilling prophecy because a few days back on April the 12th I wrote another post Deal_or_No_Deal  about buying a Laptop Computer and asking the question " Did I Wimp Out ?" or did I get a Good Deal or No Deal. I had just dropped my Wife at my Daughters home for a barbecue that we had planned for over a week. Even with all that advanced notice and planning someone had forgotten to buy the BBQ sauce. So I was off to do the honors. On the way back to my Daughters the phone rings. It's a Buyer client calling about a home that they had seen only moments ago.The... 04/21/2007

Located in the Central East side of Portland Oregon is Mt. Tabor Neighborhood. Mt. Tabor is also a long extinct Volcano and Beautiful City Park. With Hiking trails Play areas for Children, Pick-Nick areas and Beautiful Trees. There are Glimpses of Downtown Portland, Mt. St Helens in nearby Washington state and Oregon's own Mt. Hood.Mt tabor is also home to three open city water reservoirs. The Mountain and Park is surrounded by the residential neighborhood bearing its name. Homes in the area range from a few as old as 1888 and many more build around the turn of the century . In the 1950's many of the larger lots were broken down and new homes were built in this fast growing community.            Herb Hamilton is a Real Estate Broker with RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors working in Portlan... 04/19/2007

This Great 1900 Cosmetic Fixer was More of a Challenge to Sell than it should have been. SO What_happened ?  It should have been a Slam Dunk !        Sometimes that is just the way the Cookie Crumbles. Undaunted I started anew  with this Post : For_My_Cosmetic_Fixer  in the Irvington Neighborhood of Portland Or. As soon as it came back on the Market I was Swamped with Calls! In less than time that it takes to explain what happened with the first Buyer, we were Sale Pending once again. So Now I can Proudly announce an Update **** SOLD and CLOSED ***** The Cosmetic Fixer finds a new Owner. I also want to thank the hardwork of the Buyers Agent Darren in helping to bring this sale to a close.I eagerly look forward to the potential changes that this home built in 1900 will go through with it... 04/18/2007

Located in the Heart of the Humboldt Neighborhood in NE Portland is this Wonderful 1911 Fixer. For the past 8 years I have been trying to track down the owner of this property. The only activity that has taken place at this property over the last several years has been an occasional lawn mowing and just recently A brand new Roof.  Do you know this House? Can you      Help find the owner? I Have tried every thing I can think of and am still unable to track them down. I am an Oregon Real Estate Broker and I specialize in Fixers, Flips, and Rehabs. My long term clients Buy the Homes and Restore them to better than original status. Fair and Honest prices are paid. Our philosophy in purchasing property is one of a fair deal. What is a fair deal? A fair deal is one where all parties are happy... 04/16/2007

Come One Come All it is Time to formally invite all who are Interested in the Topic of Fixer properties to Join the Group Fixers, Flips & Rehabs.                                 http://activerain.com/groups/flips    Please follow this Link.The primary focus of the Group is on Fixers, Flips, and Rehabs. This is not the place for you to advertise your prime listing. THIS IS A PLACE FOR THE FIXER, FLIP or REHAB PROPERTY. With a little work and perseverance we can make this Group the RESOURCE CENTER for Distressed Properties.Do you have a Foreclosure? Has that home been abused? Lender says to be sold in AS IS condition? Then this is Your Place. Know of a resource in your area for fix up materials, this is your place to share.Thinking about getting into the Fixer Market and looking for Tips ... 04/15/2007

Just got back from the Portland Beaver's Home Opener and wow what a game. But, in the end the Beavers didn't disapoint. After 9 innings it was tied 9-9, but the beavers won in the bottom of the twelvth. I was so much fun. My kids are now at the age 2 of the 3 are in baseball themselves and didn't want to leave the game prior to it ending. Been going to the home openers for 8 years and never has one of my kids wanted to stay. OK the first few years they were asleep by the last inning, so I really dind't care what they thought.But, this time, THEY WANTED TO STAY! It was great! I have created baseball fans, that can keep the tradition alive of singing "Take Me Out to The Ball Game" durning the seventh inning stretch.What made me even prouder thought, was the fact that both my 8 year old an... 04/13/2007

Websites are they irrelevant? George Tallabas asks us the question What_Does_The_Consumer_Want? In regards to Web Sites we have all been looking for the Holly Grail. The Ultimate of Ultimate sites. But are we all wasting our time? I think that we are. In fact is submit to you that developing a traditional web site is not only a waste of time it is also fool hardy. An expense not worth bearing. Tell me this of all of you that have web sites, beyond the bragging rights and the self adulation of the site how much business does it actually get you. Be Honest! In any given month how many Clients can you point to that are a direct result of your traditional site? Sure we all want to think that we are doing great, we look to the numbers on the analytics side to show how many people have visite... 04/13/2007

For some time now I have been wrestling with my self over purchasing a Lap Top Computer or not. My dilemma is that I am a Portland Oregon Real Estate Broker who loves technology. Unchecked I will buy anything that sounds like a good deal and convince myself that it was a fabulous purchase.I do this with many things like Cars for an example. I get tired of owning and driving the same car so the next thing you know I Have convinced myself that I need one and Boom I am driving home in a different automobile than when I left that morning.So Back to my Lap Top Dilemma. This morning I took the Volvo into the shop this morning for an Oil Change. Chris the Owner of the Shop took me out into the shop and showed me that I needed to replace a Hydraulic line to the Turbo. Not all that expensive but... 04/12/2007

Portland, Oregon: Preparing children for the move.Moving is stressful for parents.  What is often overlooked is how stressful it can be on children, especially older children.  Helping your children cope with the stress of moving can be both painful and maturing.  Spend some time talking with your children about why you are moving.Many times children are concerned about losing their friends and going to a new school.  Let them know how important the move is to the family.  Mom or dad has a new promotion and a larger salary.  Or were moving to a bigger house, and you'll have your own bedroom. If it's possible, take them to the new house, show them around the neighborhood and tour their new school.  Let them know that they will not have to give up their favorite sports or hobbies.  If you... 04/12/2007